Your Eyes Were Shining

Linda Scheynius

It’s been almost a decade since we’ve heard a full-length release from The Jealous Sound. Frontman Blair Shehan and guitarist Pedro Benito return with A Gentle Reminder, a stellar follow-up to 2003’s amazing Kill Them With Kindness. With help from Nate Mendel (Sunny Day Real Estate) and Josh Staples (ex-Velvet Teen) on bass, and Bob Penn on drums, The Jealous Sound’s reformation is more than fans could ever ask for. The entire album deserves a healthy heaping of praise. Pop-infused rock at its finest, The Jealous Sound continue right where they left off in 2003 – cascading guitars met with spacey, twinkling fills and pulled together by Shehan’s brilliant, and at times, gut-wrenching vocals. Your Eyes Were Shining finds the band treading old territory, but still managing to sound completely fresh. There’s even a little throwback to Shehan’s old post-punk band Knapsack in there (Cold Enough to Break, anyone?). The song truly embodies what The Jealous Sound is all about: a poppy, emotionally-driven band that’s a hell of a lot of fun to listen to. Thank God this band didn't try to reinvent the wheel or themselves. Welcome back, guys.

Listen to Your Eyes Were Shining below and make sure pick up A Gentle Reminder. Or you can be like me and pre-order the album on either pink or white vinyl.

Your Eyes Were Shining - The Jealous Sound

Heaven Can Wait

Heaven can wait, and hell's too far to go.

I've been on a bit of a Charlotte Gainsbourg kick ever since seeing Melancholia (which was by far and away the best movie of 2011; fuck the Academy). This has mostly applied to films, but her music hits a sweet spot too. She's the daughter of famed French chanteur Serge Gainsbourg, her music toes the line between French pop and indie rock, with a splash of jazz thrown in for good measure. Heaven Can Wait, her 2009 collaboration with Beck, recently received the remix treatment from another impressive French musician, the illustrious (yes, illustrious) Breakbot, who's work with this song is, as always, on point. While this is not one of his more daring or complex remixes, his take nonetheless funks the song up a bit, breathing new life into a song which is now practically eons old in 'blog years.'

Heaven Can Wait (Breakbot Remix) - Charlotte Gainsbourg


And the original:
Heaven Can Wait (feat. Beck) - Charlotte Gainsbourg

Best of 2011 : Mikayla's Morsels

Here are the LOOSE L!P's writers' favorite tracks and tidbits of 2011.
No explanation necessary; just trust us.

Finally, my list.
Disclaimer: I know "Mikayla's Morsels" is just about the lamest title of all time--actually it hurst to have it on here--but I had to stick with the alliteration trend, and you try to think of better.
- - -

*All links route to YouTube/Soundcloud unless specified as [mp3].
Feel free to download those bad boys.

TOP 11 SONGS
1. Foreign Language - Flight Facilities
Anywhere that plays this is the kind of place I want to be.
Bonus: best video of the year!
2. Somebody That I Used To Know - Gotye feat. Kimbra
Pretty Unforgettable. Bonus: Second-best video of the year!
3. Street Joy - White Denim
A grower not a shower
4. (TIE) The Bay / The Look - Metronomy [mp3] - The Look
In 2011, no one else did hooks this good.

5. Embody - SebastiAn
Simple yet effective funkfest
6. Helplessness Blues - Fleet Foxes
I cry 50% of the time I hear it
7. Twist - Peter & The Magician
I JUST FUCKING LOVE TO DANCE
8. Banana Ripple - Junior Boys
Nine minute wonder
9. Midnight City - M83
The song that was everyone's jam
10. Einmal In Der Woche Schreien - Siriusmo
All of Mosaik, really.
11. Belongings - Clock Opera
Coldplay wishes they sounded like this.

TOP 11 REMIXES
1. Always On The Run (Peter & The Magician Remix) - Yuksek
<3 French (Francophone) People
2. Stomping Grounds (Nightriders Remix) - Might
KILLS it.
3. Mother Protect (Goldroom Remix) - Niki & The Dove [mp3]
'11 was the year of the piano remix, and this was its crown jewel.

4. Raise Your Weapon (Madeon Remix) - Deadmau5
<3 French People
5. The Bay (Clock Opera Remix) - Metronomy
The way Clock Opera remixes vocal lines is unparalleled
6. I Follow Rivers (The Magician Remix) - Lykke Li
Piano Trend; Example 2
7. Free My Mind (RAC Remix) - Katie Herzig
Not especially creative, but exceptionally catchy

8. Hot Mess (Ride The Universe Remix) - Chromeo
Hot.
9. Still Sound (Xinobi Remix) - Toro Y Moi
I've exhausted this on repeat.
10. The Greeks (Moonlight Matters Remix) - Is Tropical
More fun than a barrel of monkeys.

11. Swimmhaus Johannesburg (Star Slinger Remix) - Fixers
Perhaps the best Star Slinger remix ever, which is saying a shitton.

FAVORITE ALBUM
White Denim - D

ARTIST OF 2011
Metronomy - They were everywhere, and with good reason.

BEST 2011 COMEBACK
Death From Above 1979, fucking duh.

BEST 2011 BREAKOUT
Madeon, aka the future.

BEST 2011 CONCERT
Embody single release party @ Social Club with Mehdi (RIP), SebastiAn vs. Kavinsky, and DJ Premier

2011's BEST KEPT SECRET
Ennui

Best of 2011 : Colton's Choices

Here are the LOOSE L!P's writers' favorite tracks and tidbits of 2011.
No explanation necessary; just trust us.

Next up we have Colton's (of Crème de la CREM fame) list. He's worried its a little mainstream, what he doesn't know is that he and I share a considerable number of picks….so what does that say about me?
- - -

*All links route to YouTube/Soundcloud unless specified as [mp3].
Feel free to download those bad boys.

TOP 11 SONGS
- Sleepless ft. Antony for Cleopatera - Flume
- Polish Girl - Neon Indian [mp3]

- I Know the Truth - Pretty Lights
- On'n'On - Justice
- Tetra - SebastiAn
- It's Real - Real Estate
- Wildfire - SBTRKT [mp3]

- Steve McQueen - M83
- Beards Again - MSTRKRFT
- Phat Head - Skream
- The Night Out - Martin Solveig

TOP 11 REMIXES
- Mother Protect (Goldroom Remix) - Niki & The Dove
- I Follow Rivers (The Magician Remix) - Lykke Li
- Swimmhaus Johannesburg (Star Slinger Remix) - Fixers [mp3]

- Notorious Thugs (Big Gigantic Remix) - Big Gigantic
- Raise Your Weapon (Madeon Remix) - Deadmau5
- Pretty Lights vs. Summertime - Pretty Lights
- Houdini (RAC Remix) - Foster The People
- I Won't Let Go (Bag Raiders Remix) - Monarchy
- Melancholy Hill (Feed me Remix) - Gorillaz
- Miami (Pharo Black Magic Remix) - Walter Sobcek [mp3]

- Sun (Pyramid Remix) - Caribou

FAVORITE ALBUM
M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming
A true masterpiece

BEST 2011 COMEBACK
The St. Louis Cardinals winning the World Series.  Came down to the last pitch twice...

BEST 2011 BREAKOUT
Madeon.
This kid is about to explode.  Becoming pretty well known this year, 2012 will put him over the edge.  His festival circuit is soon to begin and there's so much in store for the French prodigy. 

BEST 2011 CONCERT
Pretty Lights Lollapalooza Aftershow. Benny the Bull made an appearance, made my summer

2011's BEST KEPT SECRET
The true implications of the NDAA, allowing the US government to detain "terrorist suspects" for indefinite amounts of time for national security. It ignores our Constitutional Rights spelled out in the Bill of Rights, allowing indefinite detention without trial.  The US is becoming a police state.  Why Obama signed the Act and why the public hasn't spoken out against it is beyond me.

If SOPA passes later this year, music blogs such as this will probably struggle to exist, as the Federal Government will have the power to shut down websites viewed as a source of pirated material.  WTF America?

Best of 2011: Russ' Roundup

Here are the LOOSE L!P's writers' favorite tracks and tidbits of 2011.
No explanation necessary; just trust us.

Today Russ, our lovable barely-reformed emo kid, graces us with his list.
- - -

*All links route to YouTube/Soundcloud unless specified as [mp3].
Feel free to download those bad boys.

TOP 11 SONGS
- Yuck - Holing Out
- St. Vincent - Cruel [mp3]

- Jens Lekman - Waiting for Kirsten
- Kevin Devine - A Story, A Sneak
- The Joy Formidable - Whirring [mp3]

- Bright Eyes - Shell Games
- Ryan Adams - Kindness
- Twin Sister - Daniel
- The Pains of Being Pure At Heart - Heaven's Gonna Happen Now
- The Veils - Bloom
- Owen - Too Many Moons (this is the best video ever)

TOP 11 REISSUES
In no particular order - except Brand New. Just kidding. Kind of.
- Brand New – Your Favorite Weapon
- The Smashing Pumpkins – Gish/Siamese Dream
- The Dismemberment Plan – Emergency & I
- Nirvana – Nevermind
- Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Let Love In/Murder Ballads/The Boatman's Call/No More Shall We Part
- The Beach Boys - Smile Sessions
- Olivia Tremor Control – Dusk At Cubist Castle
- U2 - Achtung Baby
- Granddaddy – Under the Western Freeway
- Sebadoh – Bakesale

FAVORITE ALBUM
TIE : St. Vincent - Strange Mercy and PJ Harvey - Let England Shake

BEST 2011 BREAKOUT
Yuck

BEST 2011 COMEBACK
Pulp

BEST 2011 CONCERT
Ra Ra Riot

2011's BEST-KEPT SECRET
Count Your Lucky Stars record label and the midwest emo revival.

Best of 2011 : Pat's Picks

Here are the LOOSE L!P's writers' favorite tracks and tidbits of 2011.
No explanation necessary; just trust us.

First up is the nu-disco-heavy grouping from resident DJ
(slash producer slash token Asian) Pat Lok.
- - -

*All links route to YouTube/Soundcloud unless specified as [mp3].
Feel free to download those bad boys.
TOP 11 SONGS - In Alphabetical Order
-- Bit Funk - Rap Music
GOOD DUCK SAUCE RIPOFF
-- Breakbot feat. Ruckazoid - Fantasy
JACKO FTW
-- Flume feat. Antony for Cleopatra - Sleepless [mp3]
PITCHBEND FLIPS THE BIRD TO AFROJACK

-- Gigamesh - It's So Intense
YOUTUBE LULZ + MELODYNE + MDMA = 17/10
-- Goldroom - Morgan's Bay
TALENTED BASTARD, H8 U
-- Herr Styler - Snow in Paris
5 DOLLA MEXICAN CIRCUS // BEST VIDEO OF 2011
-- Metronomy - Everything Goes My Way
#1 FOR SUNG IN THE SHOWER WITH THE LIGHTS OFF WHILE EATING ICE CREAM
-- Tensnake - Something About You [mp3]
POST-HACIENDA ANTHEM

-- The KDMS - Tonight
WHAT TOP 40 WOULD BE IF IT WASN'T RUN BY PEDOS
-- Stewrat - The Key
IF U BELIEVE IN LUV IT MIGHT SOUND LIKE THIS
-- Vanilla - Sure
I DON'T EVEN HAVE THE MP3 CAN SOMEONE SEND IT PLS?

TOP 11 REMIXES
-- Adele - Set Fire To The Rain (Plastic Plates Remix) [mp3]
Nü-Gay ANTHEM

-- BC x Delivery - Return To Me (Munk Remix)
MADE ME FEEL TWELVE YEARS OLD
-- Cassian - I Like What You're Doing (Lorenz Rhode Dangerous Mix)
TEDDY RILEY RETURNS
-- Chromeo - Hot Mess (Oliver Remix)
DROPPED THIS TO 900 PEOPLE THEY LOST IT
-- Classixx - Into the Valley (Julio Bashmore Remix)
EVEN HIPSTER DJS PLAY THIS
-- Golden Bug and Rodion - Do The Washing Machine (The C90s Remix)
MICKEY MOONLIGHT MIX EQUALLY NICE
-- Mark Ronson - Record Collection (Perseus Karaoke Mix) [mp3]
WAY "BETTER" WITHOUT THE "URBAN" "ARTISTS"

-- Maxxi Soundsystem - Get Up (Danny Daze SpinInOut Remix)
GOOD REMINDER TO DO UR LAUNDRY
-- Mighty Mouse - Ice Beer
EDIT? REMIX?? ORIGINAL???
-- Niki & The Dove - Mother Protect (Goldroom Remix)
I CAN PLAY THIS ON PIANO
-- T&K - Line of Light (Canblaster remix dreamy version)
THE LAST 133 BPM TRACK I LIKED WAS ARMIN VAN BUUREN

FAVORITE ALBUM
Bibio - Mind Bokeh // Metronomy - The English Riviera  -- I REALLY DIDNT LISTEN TO MANY ALBUMS
 
ARTIST OF 2011
Metronomy -- MORE HOOKS THAN A MEAT LOCKER

BEST 2011 BREAKOUT (BEST NEW ARTIST)
Oliver -- IF TIESTO IMPREGNATED PAUL OAKENFOLD THE RESULT WOULD BE THESE GUYS

BEST 2011 COMEBACK
Chris Malinchak -- ex-HOTT 22
 
BEST 2011 CONCERT
Dan Deacon @ Bonnaroo followed by WORST 2011 CONCERT - DEADMAU5 @ BONNAROO
 
2011's BEST KEPT (OR MOST UNDER-APPRECIATED) SECRET
Humans -- 604 COMIN AT YA

Live : Holy Ghost!

Aaaaaaaand we're back. My apologies for the unplanned hiatus--sometimes life happens--but what better way to get the ball rolling again than with a ticket giveaway? Huzzah.

Tomorrow night one of New York's finest, Holy Ghost!, will be hitting Dallas, bringing their insanely catchy electro-pop hooks to the Prophet Bar. Though I've never seen them live myself, I've heard that their show is a rollicking good time, and you can bet I'll be there dancing my butt off. If you'd like to join me, either buy tickets HERE, or Like Us on Facebook and follow the directions on our most recent status to be entered to win a pair of tickets (courtesy of our friends at Tactics Productions)! Until the show, groove out to their latest single, I Wanted To Tell Her, a cover of the 1983 Ministry song of the same name, featuring fellow DFA-ers Nancy Whang and The Juan MacLean. Released just last week, the song is a delightfully over-the-top, synthy throwback gem. Really, it doesn't get much more fun than this.

I Wanted To Tell Her - Holy Ghost!


And because you can never go wrong with an RAC Remix, ever:
Static On The Wire (RAC Remix) - Holy Ghost!