#3. Bombino - Nomad

Bombino - Azamane Tiliade

Well it's December and that means time to reflect on the past year in music. This year saw highly anticipated releases from household names such as Kanye West and Justin Timberlake, brilliant introductions from the likes of Jake Bugg and Chance the Rapper, and grizzled vets proving they still have what it takes to compete in the music biz in 2013 including David Bowie and Paul McCartney. All of these albums were great but they still could not make the cut (you'll see some in the honourable mentions section to come). So without further adieu I shall continue Some Strange Storm's Top 5 Albums of 2013.

In 2013 I discovered Bombino, aka Omara Moctar, a singer and insanely gifted blues guitarist from Niger. I wrote about him earlier this year in July. He has a crazy history of exile, executions, and the struggle for peace and I strongly recommend that you quickly check it out here:
http://somestrangestorm.blogspot.ca/2013_07_01_archive.html

Nomad is an album that commands multiple listenings. Produced by Black Keys guitarist and lead singer Dan Auerbach the album is deeply rooted in the blues and Dan gives it an electric, sonic boost. The album opens with "Amidinine", a catchy track with blazing guitar and sing-along chorus. Things tone down a bit with the chill "Ahulakamine Hulan" before kicking into another high gear for today's tune "Azamane Tiliade". This is one of those songs that instantly pumps you up. Although you can't understand a word he's saying, unless you are fluent in the Tamashek language of the nomadic Tuareg people, you know that this is a political song. Bombino sings with an intense fury that is echoed by his guitar shredding. Whenever I'm pissed off about something I turn to this track for inspiration in my writing. A brilliant song that you must check out as well as the psychedelic video that features Auerbach.

Other album highlights include the instrumental "Niamey Jam" with its buzzing organ part and choppy guitar, "Her Tenere" which must be a love song as Bombino sings with romantic passion, and the closer "Tamiditine" which is an incredibly peaceful statement song. You can hear the sadness in Bombino's voice but lurking close behind is hope; a hope for peace and happiness to his people. A brilliant desert blues song.

I won't be able to make another post til after Christmas so I'll say Merry Christmas! Be safe this holiday season and just "enjoy getting drunk and stoned with your friends and family, because that is really what Christmas is all about." - Ricky

Stay tuned for #2

TOP 5 ALBUMS OF 2013

#4. Daft Punk - Random Access Memories

Full Album

Daft Punk - Beyond

Well it's December and that means time to reflect on the past year in music. This year saw highly anticipated releases from household names such as Kanye West and Justin Timberlake, brilliant introductions from the likes of Jake Bugg and Chance the Rapper, and grizzled vets proving they still have what it takes to compete in the music biz in 2013 including David Bowie and Paul McCartney. All of these albums were great but they still could not make the cut (you'll see some in the honourable mentions section to come). So without further adieu I shall continue Some Strange Storm's Top 5 Albums of 2013.

With the recent surge of EDM (Electronic Dance Music for those unaware), especially and finally in the USA, the undisputed Kings, Godfathers, Legends, whatever you want to call them, of the genre had been absent for quite some time prior to this year. In late 2010 the duo of Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter released their first new material in over five years causing widespread hysteria in the music world. Turns out they were only releasing an original score for the Disney film Tron: Legacy which really only contained one EDM/Daft Punk song, the futuristic party-starter "Derezzed". Then three years later, in Spring 2013, word finally got out that the duo was releasing an LP of all new, original material and the industry went berserk. A 30 second teaser trailer which was played during the Coachella music festival and during an episode of SNL showed the robot-masked Daft Punk alongside R&B crooner/producer Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers, guitarist and producer extraordinaire of the disco group Chic. I vividly remember being shown this while at a hostel in Thailand and it got me extremely excited for the album and that particular single, "Get Lucky", to come.

The album begins with the proclamation "Give Life Back To Music" which features fantastic orchestration paired with the instantly recognizable riffing of Nile Rodgers; a sound that thankfully graces much of the album. This is quite the statement from a group that basically created the EDM genre through blips and bleeps of computers and synths. Yet here they are ready to move past it, bringing back live instruments and production to a genre that has been loathed by many as being too artificial. Basically they're proving that they can make an incredible EDM album without computers and are moving forward, ahead of the competition. Following the opener is the 9 minute epic "Giorgio by Moroder" which features a spoken word intro by Giorgio himself as he tells of his beginnings in the discotheques in Berlin in the early 1970's. The song then goes through a whirlwind of buzzing synths and spacey beats before crashing down with gorgeous strings.

There isn't a single throwaway track on the album but other standouts include "Instant Crush" featuring Julian Casablancas of The Strokes on lead, auto-tuned vocals over a laid back groove, another epic in "Touch" which showcases the voice and songwriting of Paul Williams and includes a brilliant middle frame of exuberant horns and strings, and "Lose Yourself To Dance" and "Get Lucky" which feature vocals by Pharrell Williams and guitar from Nile Rodgers. The latter is the definition of a perfect pop/dance song. Rolling Stone named it their song of the year and by now you have heard it a million times and may be sick of it but hopefully, like me, you still can't get enough of it and turn it up every time it's on.

The track I chose for today is "Beyond", co-written with Paul Williams. This is classic Daft Punk that uses auto-tuned robot vocals over a killer groove but also reflects their new live instrumentation with flourishes of orchestra strings and beautiful pedal steel guitar fills. I struggled to choose just one song from this excellent album and didn't want to use my personal favourite track "Get Lucky" since unless you live at the North Pole you have most definitely heard it many times before. Daft Punk decided to come back into the music world just when EDM was getting its most attention, putting a ton of pressure on the masters to come through with a hit. Well they certainly delivered, in fact they went above and beyond the call. Now if only they could do an epic world tour and finally start headlining all of those festivals that they are consistently rumoured to be at. I know I'll be there.

Stay tuned for #3

TOP 5 ALBUMS OF 2013

#5. Danny Brown - Old

Full Album

Danny Brown - Lonely

Well it's December and that means time to reflect on the past year in music. This year saw highly anticipated releases from household names such as Kanye West and Justin Timberlake, brilliant introductions from the likes of Jake Bugg and Chance the Rapper, and grizzled vets proving they still have what it takes to compete in the music biz in 2013 including David Bowie and Paul McCartney. All of these albums were great but they still could not make the cut (you'll see some in the honourable mentions section to come). So without further adieu I begin Some Strange Storm's Top 5 Albums of 2013.

Old finds Danny Brown at an introspective point in his career. The rapper is known for his crazy antics and wild partying which are illuminated on tracks such as "Blunt After Blunt" and "Die Like a Rockstar" from his 2012 LP XXX. On Old Danny takes a more serious look at his life and questions what he is doing. On "Clean Up" he raps about being in "hotel rooms crushing pills and menus / daughter sending me messages saying 'Daddy, I miss you' / but in this condition I don't think she need to see me." This brutal honesty proves that Danny can be an intelligent rapper and that he understands the consequences of his lifestyle. This sentiment is echoed during the hook when he proclaims "it's time for me to clean it up / I came too far to fuck it up." It's refreshing to hear an artist admit that their lifestyle is damaging to themselves as well as family and friends.

The album is split into two halves, side A and side B, with side A being more focused on introspection and personal feelings. In the opener "Side A (Old)" he laments how fans and critics want the 'old' hair-braided and dope selling Danny Brown back, telling the listener that this album is going to be different and you're gonna have to deal with it. Highlights of side A include "25 Bucks" which features vocals and production from Montreal duo Purity Ring and is about how Danny and his parents grew up without much money, the ridiculously awesome hook of "like open wide ho" from "Dope Fiend Rental" which features ScHoolboy Q, and the aforementioned "Clean Up" with its deep lyrics and excellent, haunting production.

But the brightest light of this half has to be today's song "Lonely". This song finds Brown opting to rap in a deeper voice, foregoing his higher pitched, unique style. What this does is allows the listener to really listen to his lyrics as he tells of his past and how he's lonely "'cause don't nobody really know [him]." A funny voice also states in French in the intro "well, maybe the bird / the bird sleeping inside of each of us / will rise up", alluding to his desire to change. This deeper style of rapping is brilliantly complimented with the production; gorgeous chiming guitars over a solid back beat and piano flourish plus the gospel break in the middle make for a truly beautiful song.

Side B definitely begins to stray back to Danny Brown's wild, party side as the production gets heavier and angrier. I like to compare this half to Kanye West's brilliant Yeezus which I call his angry workout album. I personally don't like this half as much and it is the main reason why it is #5 and not higher (had the album just consisted of side A it would rank as high as #2 on my list). Highlights include "Dubstep" featuring Scruffizer and some womp womp production, the after party/sesh anthem "Kush Coma" featuring A$AP Rocky and some great spaced out vocals, and the lush closer "Float On" featuring the beautiful vocals of British chanteuse Charlie XCX.

So Danny Brown's style and sound change definitely worked and I can't wait to hear what he has to come in the future. Stay tuned for #4...

Hallow Moon - Waiting For Chimera

http://neptoonrecords.bandcamp.com/album/hallow-moon

Hallow Moon are a band from Vancouver, BC that features a friend of mine from way back, Dan Ross on guitar. They play bluesy garage rock with brilliant splashes of psychedelia. The band recently released their self-titled first album through Neptoon Records, Vancouver's oldest independent record store. It is available for digital download or on vinyl from the website above (also free to stream!). 

The album kicks off with today's song "Waiting For Chimera", seven minutes of cosmic stomp rock with wailing guitar flourishes. It sets the tone for the rest of the album, showing that these guys aren't fucking around. The next track, "Don't Know Why", starts out with a pulsating, lightning speed riff that is one of the best I've heard in years. This song is the only one that I had ever heard before by Hallow Moon as it is their only video up on YouTube. I fell in love with it right away, digging the catchy chorus and cool video which you can check out below. Other highlights of the album include the chilled out guitars of "Sermons" and the thumping and chiming of "Single Life". Overall it's a great album and one that can be listened to over and over. Whether contemplating serious life decisions, working hard to get something done or just relaxing with a beer and a doob, it provides the perfect soundtrack. Support these guys and purchase the album today for only $7.

Hallow Moon - Don't Know Why

Some thoughts...

- A HUGE thank you to the staff at Sportstown tavern where I left my cell phone last night (what a moron!), as it was waiting for me behind the bar when I went back to hopefully find it today.

- On a related note the ND Grizzlies (men's competitive indoor soccer) are finally above .500. After starting out 0-3-1 we have clawed all the way back to 5th place with sights set on a top 4 finish and the postseason. However, the final week of the regular season features a must-win game for us as well as some help from the teams above. Fingers crossed!

- Holy shit it's already December! My oh my how the time flies nowadays. Guess that's the case when shit is getting done faster and faster all the time.

- Made the playoffs in fantasy football for the second season in a row. Here's hoping my boy Cam Newton and triple threat RBs Jamaal Charles, Danny Woodhead and Knowshon Moreno can lead me to victory.