"World News"

Artist: Local Natives
Album: Daytrotter Session [Mar 12, 2009]

The Local Natives are an indie-folk band from Silver Lake, California and have been likened to a west coast version of Grizzly Bear. I haven't been able to stop listening to their Daytrotter Session of "World News". The 3-part harmonies, sunny melody, and their revelatory rhythm greet you warmly as an old friend would, and make you feel safe. This is a song I would listen to on the way to (or heading back from) the beach... windows down, warm sun on my face, overcome by a quiet sense of peace and contentment (only expressed with bright eyes, a slight grin, and sigh). Although, while you're too busy drowning in the layers of simple genius vocal, piano, guitar, a floor tom, and whatever else they've found handy to bang on and produce gold... they mask an eerie set of lyrics. To me this song is, in simplest of terms, a classic embodiment of escapism. Not only does it trigger a sense nostalgia, but it cloaks reality... leaving one with a smile, but unsettled... quietly pining for what is not. The band's ability to connect with soul and their melodic inventiveness is so refreshing amongst a world of cold-pop-cliché... this fact alone is enough to draw you in and get you hooked. You can't help but to sing along with the harmonies and tap the rhythms on your desk or steering wheel and disappear to a time much simpler than this.


-Frey



  World News by swansting

"Grenade"

Artist: Bruno Mars

Album: Doo-Wops & Hooligans

This is an incredible minimal pop-centric hit from Bruno Mars. Starting with a reverse vocal fade in and keys that loop much like a certain Coldplay hit, this track keeps building layer upon layer, including some epic jungle-toms. It’s all real subtle though. No pretentious, over the top production to hide how bad a song can be. The songwriting can stand on itself. Simple, but demanding. Sweet and cutting at the same time. He’s used some incredible sense-bound language to prove his point about the song’s main character and her…um…areas of potential growth. But the real strength of this piece is Bruno’s voice. This guy can sing. Aside from the higher notes being…hmm…unreachable in nature, his gentle tone while he’s going for higher notes really helps hammer home the story of this song.

All in all: I love this track. And it’s been one of the constants in my listening quota these last few weeks. 

-David