Author Archives: Jordan Coburn

[Indie] Sunflower Bean – Easier Said

Posted by Jordan Coburn - January 6, 2016

Sunflower Bean
Easier Said

Well, they’ve done it again. It hasn’t even been long since we featured them, but Manhattan-based Sunflower Bean has brought us yet another great track– “Easier Said.” This track comes as another teaser leading up to their anticipated album release with Fat Possum Records, Human Ceremony. We’re even bigger fans of this tune than the last we featured, and we quite enjoyed the previous jam.

And just a side note: Fat Possum Records is shaping up to be one of our favorites around here for indie releases. With names like Youth Lagoon and Modest Mouse on their roster, it’s gotten to the point where pretty much anything they release you can count on.

Back to the tune, “Easier Said” opens up with a guitar intro brought by Nick Kivlen that lays a foundation that’s reminiscent of one of our favorite indie bands, DIIV. We’d be content just listening to the guitar for 5 minutes, but front woman Julia Cumming comes in with her characteristically lofty vocals to deliver a harmonious indie jam that’s getting us excited for them to release the rest of their EP. Keep these magic musical beans coming Sunflower Bean.

PS they’re gearing up for tour so look out for ’em. And they’re playing at one of our favorite venues in San Diego– the Che Cafe! Long live the Che!

Indie

[Experimental] Arca – Urchin

Posted by Jordan Coburn - January 5, 2016

arca
Urchin

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As we sit here writing this post and listen to Arca’s newest track release, “Urchin”, we’re sort of frightened. For us this isn’t a new feeling when listening to the London-based gender neutral producer’s music in the night, but it is one that we welcome. Arca reminds us that there is beauty in ambiguity and darkness—the feelings many of their tracks leave us with.

After a critically acclaimed EP release with Mutant, we were really happy to see that they’d released another track so soon. After listening to “Urchin” we understand why this one came separately from the epic EP, however. This track embodies an industrially ambient density unlike any of their tracks from the unleashed Mutant, and that was made apparent upon the first listen. Retaining their quintessential qualities of stop-motion aesthetic synths, Arca creates an unprecedented low-end depth in this new track. Please keep releasing like wildfire. We can’t get enough.

[Deep/Tech House] Fabrikate – SDM ft. Gillette

Posted by Jordan Coburn - January 4, 2016

Fabrikate
SDM ft. Gillette

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Now that the New Year has started, you’re gonna need some hot new music to pump you up. If you were smart you made your New Year’s resolution to hit the clubs more, so we figured you’d need some inspiration. Well that’s what we’ve got for you here with Fabrikate’s new track, “SDM feat. Gillette”. We’re always fans of giving new artists exposure, so what a great way to kick off 2016—for everyone! Yay.

This track is a classic deep house tune but throws in some nice dubby riffs which round it out real nice– like your butt after getting on that resolution. The vocal samples of this track are perhaps our favorite part about it though, and we’ll just have to let you listen yourself to get what we’re talking about. Congrats Fabrikate on a successful single. Looking forward to you releasing more. Happy New Year y’all!

[15 to End 2015] Ninja Jordan’s Best of the Year

Posted by Jordan Coburn - December 30, 2015

2015 marks a new era in music. I know that’s a grand claim, but hear me out. We haven’t seen this kind of experimentation and innovation in many, many years– so much so that I’m taking it upon myself to title 2015 the year of the Phoenix. *Insert smoke bomb quick change effect here.*

The concept of quality music has entirely re-birthed itself and with it the consumer base’s understanding of artistry has grown ten-fold. Artists like Grimes and Kendrick have experimented with elements that have been foreign to any of their previous works, Thundercat has stepped on the scene in a mainstream way that I would have never thought possible, and the Biebs has actually issued public apologies for his shenanigans and it is on that principle that I include him on this list. Just kidding, he just made a great track with the help of good ol’ Wes and Sonny.

But I feel weirdly proud of all of them. And with that, I bring you my list of the best tracks of 2015. Hope you enjoy.

’Skrillex and Diplo – Where Are Ü Now (with Justin Bieber)’

Soundcloud

I know this song is everywhere all the time, but credit is due where it’s deserved, and thanks to this track made Bieber 10x more attractive. Probably ‘cause Diplo touched it. Mmmm Diplo.

’Shlomo – BURIED’

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“Buried” provides a haunting introduction to one of his best works so far, Dark Red, that I to this day cannot stop blasting, and sometimes I put a sheet over my head and lurk around to it and that’s not strange.

’Viet Cong – “Continental Shelf”‘

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Off their self-titled EP, “Continental Shelf” best encapsulates the emergence of a new age rock band that just seems to know what the freak (it might be 2015 but my lingo’s stuck in ’05) is up.

’Psychemagik – Mink & Shoes feat Navid Izadi’

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A new kind of dubby club music—this track just makes me feel like straight struttin’ and was one of the hottest releases in electronic.

’Lane 8 – Diamonds ft. Solomon Grey’

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This whole EP was just a great release for electronic music, and “Diamonds” is a beautiful example of the finesse Lane 8 put into this work.

’Major Lazer & Dj Snake – Lean On (Feat Mø)’

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I had the privilege of being on the Mad Decent tour this summer and watching the things that this song does to a crowd every night is incredible– this track gets my best vibes vote, and Wes gets the chillest life vote.

’Rae Sremmurd – No Type (Prod. By Mike WiLL Made It & Swae Lee of Rae Sremmurd)’

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Alright, this song just speaks for itself. Next.

’Courtney Barnett – Pedestrian At Best’

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My god I love the genre she pioneered with this release, and I love how incredibly distinct she’s made her character within every single thing she bestows upon us. Also possibly one of the most clever lyricists of 2015: “I think you’re a joke, but I don’t find you very fuuuuunnuuunnuunnuuunnny.”

’Jamie XX – Loud Places (ft Romy)’

Soundcloud

Jamie xx has always been a favo(u)rite of mine, and we send him our deepest congratulation(u)ns for the work of art he’s given the music wo(u)rld with his EP In Colour, and especially the track “Loud Places.” Also sorry for making fun of u.

’Thundercat – ‘Them Changes”

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Jesus, this song has the most talent I’ve seen since Jordan. The depth of this track is astounding and I thank Thundercat for his supporting role in Fly Lo and Kendrick’s works, but I’m so happy he’s made it big with his own stuff this time around.

’Deru – 1979’

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This song is much heavier than the rest and the artist is not well known, but Deru’s “1979” along with the rest of the EP is a work of genius—especially when you read how he recorded it. Just awe-inspiring.

’Bored In The USA’

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Another real talk post—Father John Misty you are inspirational and prophetic and thank you for delivering this ballad to us. The quality quotient of this song is so high that I’m convinced it will be listened to for decades.

’Grimes – Fresh Without Blood/Live In The Vivid Dream’

Soundcloud

Grimes kicked major ass with Art Angels and “Flesh without Blood” instills in me the happiness, weightlessness, and honestly hope that no other song in 2015 has. She is 100% the role model that all women, and all people because eff gendered statements Jordan, need.

’Tame Impala – Let It Happen’

Soundcloud

Woof, this is getting intense. “Let It Happen” wins the best alternative song of the year, hands down. I haven’t heard a breakdown like this since never.

’Kendrick Lamar – u’

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And finally, closing out the best of 2015, comes the best track off of the best album of the year in my opinion, “u”—a song that explores consciousness, vice and transformation like no other musical work I’ve ever heard. Kendrick’s theatrical performance in “u” sends the listener to their deepest and realest state—one of the wonders of musical composition that I am probably most thankful for.

And with that… here are Jordan’s top 15 tracks of 2015 listed from 15 to 1. Hope you enjoy.

[Electronic] Balam Acab – Spent Lives

Posted by Jordan Coburn - December 29, 2015

Balam Acab
Spent Lives

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Which witch house wins? Balam Acab’s witch house wins. Balam Acab, otherwise known as Alec Koone, caught our attention a long time ago with his work, and a few days ago he released a new EP—Child Death. Aside from the real cute name, Child Death shows us not one side, but many sides of the Ithaca-based producer. The 5 track release takes the listener on an electronic journey that’s both light and dark at times, but mostly dark. It’s like the soundtrack for that really messed up version of Hansel and Gretel. Fun, right?

The second track off of Child Death, “Spent Lives,” caught our attention here at TMN the most. This mini-journey just takes you everywhere. It starts out with sci-fi spacey sounds, placing you in a twinkling landscape that speaks in chrome. Then Alec brings us into a darker place that seems more apropos given the EP’s name, and we’re sucked into a wormhole of echoing vocals, screeching samples, and deep and haunting bass tones. We actually find it to be very similar to Arca’s works, and that’s a big compliment. We think as subgenres of electronic get more and more exposure, witch house will be one that everyone knows. And when that happens, Balam Acab will be at the forefront right up there with oOoOO and Holy Other. And rightfully so.

[Alternative/Rock] Ty Segall – Buick Mackane

Posted by Jordan Coburn - December 21, 2015

Ty Segall
Buick Mackane

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The thing we love most about Laguna Beach-born garage rock prodigy Ty Segall is that his, or their, music speaks for itself. Without the need of an introduction, one listen to their stuff and you’ll know exactly what they’re all about—some badass, lo-fi, grungy rock n’ roll. The prolific Segall has done it again with his band in his track “Buick Mackane” off of his latest release Ty Rex. The fantastically named EP gives birth to more of what Segall has blessed us with over the years with upwards of eight studio albums, and we couldn’t be happier for the times their music brings us back to.

“Buick Mackane” features a Hendrix-esque introduction and a final product that perks up our ears especially as Zeppelin fans. We know these are intense comparisons, but trust us, their work deserves it. We find this release to be particularly refreshing in a world of electronic music (which we’re not knocking at all) and are thankful for groups like Ty Segall that continue to take us back to the roots of where one could argue it all began—rock n’ roll. Paired with a more modern mix of drums and hyper-distorted vocals, “Buick Mackane” is a song that can be enjoyed by all. Like, our parents would like this stuff. But like, cool parents. How awesome is that. Isn’t music grand.

Alternative/Rock

[Alternative/Rock] Youth Lagoon – I’ve Seen

Posted by Jordan Coburn - December 15, 2015

Youth Lagoon
I've Seen

Soundcloud

Trevor Powers, aka Youth Lagoon, has been an indie favorite of ours since his first release Year of Hibernation back in 2011. Mastering the DIY, low-fi electronic ballad game, Powers created a work of art then that has gone down as an instant vinyl classic for the modern music generation. Following that up with his next release Wondrous Bughouse in 2013, Youth Lagoon showed us that he had some pretty complex composition skills under his belt and delivered an album that was full of playfully eclectic beats, sounds and vocals. Now in 2015, Powers has begun releasing another set of songs that could fall into their own genre entirely, the newest one being his single “I’ve Seen.”

Playing with elements of acoustic guitar and theatrical keys we hear a change in the rhythm sections that used to be dominated by distorted strings. Powers’s’ voice falls in and out of the track which is a dynamic that we’re very appreciative of because it gives us more time to listen to the instrumental mix of dry and wet strings and synths combos. This pulls Powers’s work up and into a new kind of experimental music for him. With these new sounds and his natural affinity for the piano, the track has started to take on something that resembles an early Radiohead, and here at TMN, that’s a pretty big deal. And we heard he’s on tour with Taylor McFerrin, who is also great. Catch that show if you can.