Posts tagged with the shins

12/22/2009

broken bells – the high road

broken bells

when i first heard about the broken bells project, i felt as though i was chris farley reading from the zagats restaurant guide of projects that are likely to be pretty awesome. if you dont know what im talking about, do yourself a favor and view this clip. this has got to be one of my favorite chris farley characters of all times. that leg grab is priceless. anyway, if you arent aware, broken bells is the collaboration of dj extraordinaire danger mouse and james mercer of the (what i think are now defunct) shins.

at first i was a bit skeptical, knowing that this could turn out really great or really not so great. but now that weve gotten a chance to hear something from them, by way of this track “the high road”, i can definitely say that im anticipating the arrival of the rest of the album. i like the blips and bleeps at the beginning, and its for some reason making me think of becks “guero” album a bit. and then it breaks into a nice and happy outro. outros are sweet. so far so good gentlemen. im hoping danger mouse really goes hard with the effects.

broken bells – the high road

buy it on Broken Bells - The High Road - Single - The High Road or amazon

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06/27/2009

climax week day 4 – the shins – sleeping lessons

the shins live

so let me start out this post by repeating what i said earlier in the week. im pretty sure most of you have heard most of these songs. but this isnt really about the hottest new music out there. while i want to bring you the hottest new music all the time, i just cant, so i bring the hottest new music whenever i can, and when i cant, i bring you a song thats been around that i like. maybe youve never heard it. maybe you forgot about it. maybe youve heard it a thousand times and hate it. either way, thats the story. on that note, todays song was really the inspiration for climax week.

its by portland-via-albuquerque band the shins and its the opening track of their last release “wincing the night away” and its a total speeding down the highway, middle of summer, windows down, music on full blast track. and by speeding, i mean going the speed limit, which is still pretty fast on the freeway. we here at dailybeatz are not about breaking the law, that would just be irresponsible of us. this is the best kind of buildup track, the kind where you can hear another piece of the puzzle joining in with every new phrase, where you know something big is coming, but you dont know what.

ive never lived in the city, but i picture this song as sort of representative of a morning subway ride from just outside of the center of town. the sun is just beginning to rise in your quiet neighborhood as you walk down the subway steps and the music begins. youre still waking up from your nights sleep as you get on the train. with every stop, more people enter the train and it gets a little louder and more chaotic. youre starting to wake up when you hit your stop and exit the train and then suddenly you walk up the steps as the song reaches the 2:27 mark (if only your morning commute only took 2:27) and BAM! sunshine, traffic, people, noise, commotion, life. everything you love about living in the city right in front of you. while im sure this description is a little too hollywood compared to actual city life, it still goes pretty well with the song. city folks, whats your opinion?

the shins – sleeping lessons

The Shins - Wincing the Night Away - Sleeping Lessons buy this track on itunes
buy this track on amazon

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