en-ushttp://cornx2.us/http://cornx2.us/img/logo/cornx2-128.pnghttp://cornx2.us/Sun, 5 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500Sun, 5 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rssplaylist@cornx2.us (Managing Editor)playlist@cornx2.us (Web Master)Playlisted at cornx2.usYour ears in the fieldYour near daily dose of MP3 discovery.CORN times TWO playlist : http://CORNx2.usplaylist@cornx2.usNohttp://cornx2.us/music/http://cornx2.us/music/anni-rossi/machine/MusicTue, 25 Jan 2011 11:00:00 -0800Anni RossiNoA review of the song Machine by Anni RossiThe multiple layered cello plucking and agile voice remind me of Emily Hope Price. The wintry imagery that runs throughout the lyrics are all about survival, but I'm not sure why the song is called 'Machine'. I love the way she sings 'little kids'; appropriately adorable. "Flinging ice and snow like little kids | We will still have our hair | We will still have our skin"00:02:33song, independent, music http://cornx2.us/music/http://cornx2.us/music/efterklang/mirador/MusicSun, 23 Jan 2011 11:00:00 -0800EfterklangNoA review of the song Mirador by EfterklangThe intro to this song is like church music for midnight mass when there's snow falling. There's a chorus and violins that make up kind of a chorus which ends up not being a chorus at all. The lyrics are so breathy and quiet it's hard to make out any of it, but it's still beautiful.00:05:08song, independent, music http://cornx2.us/music/http://cornx2.us/music/madagascar/goodbye-east-goodbye-west/MusicFri, 21 Jan 2011 11:00:00 -0800MadagascarNoA review of the song Goodbye East, Goodbye West by MadagascarWhat did I read somewhere that someone called this band? Victorian trance? They do use acoustic instruments to achieve a meditative result, yes. They use an accordion to its best effect in emulating a synthesizer. Also, there's a glockenspiel. Sold.00:05:59song, independent, music http://cornx2.us/music/http://cornx2.us/music/family-trees/dream-dream/MusicWed, 19 Jan 2011 11:00:00 -0800Family TreesNoA review of the song Dream Dream by Family TreesDreamy light pop that's also pretty light on the lyrics. I really like the light distortion on the xylophone during the solo. Romantic but not stupid. "Are you ready to believe in a world outside your dreams?"00:02:11song, independent, music http://cornx2.us/music/http://cornx2.us/music/grass-widow/to-where/MusicWed, 12 Jan 2011 11:00:00 -0800Grass WidowNoA review of the song To Where by Grass WidowThe odd rambly progression of the intro is kind of a head fake because the verse kicks in going straight ahead. The first verse is really just one line sung by two voices in unison. They keep doing that throughout the song with the voices singing in wider loops over one another. "He's going to where I'll end up | Did you hit a fork in the road? | Spoonful of sugar is breaking your back "00:02:31song, independent, music http://cornx2.us/music/http://cornx2.us/music/perfume-genius/mr-peterson/MusicMon, 10 Jan 2011 11:00:00 -0800Perfume GeniusNoA review of the song Mr. Peterson by Perfume GeniusSimple lo fi like Yellow Ostrich, 'cept this is a piano and voice and no real looping to speak of. It's a real heartbreakingly sweet eulogy for a teacher (?) who killed himself. "He made me a tape of Joy Division | He told me there was part of it missing | When I was sixteen | He jumped off a building | Mr. Peterson | I know you were ready to go"00:02:50song, independent, music http://cornx2.us/music/http://cornx2.us/music/yellow-ostrich/whale/MusicSat, 08 Jan 2011 11:00:00 -0800Yellow OstrichNoA review of the song WHALE by Yellow OstrichSomewhat whimsical track that is sorta like Tune-Yards in that it's all built up from looping one voice and instrument over and over upon itself. There are points where more sophisticated production are a nice surprise like the reverse echo at the :58 mark and then a rhythm guitar part at around 2 minutes. Sweet.00:03:42song, independent, music http://cornx2.us/music/http://cornx2.us/music/rafter/fruit/MusicThu, 06 Jan 2011 11:00:00 -0800RafterNoA review of the song Fruit by RafterThe plinky disjointed intro resists coalescing into a more solid bed of sound once the singing starts, if anything it gets plinkier. The vocoder jumps in during the second verse to add to the revelry and then the sampled horn phrase that drops in at the end carries the song all the way out despite shifting solidly off the beat, back on and then off again. Amazing.00:03:19song, independent, music http://cornx2.us/music/http://cornx2.us/music/add-n-to-x/plug-me-in/MusicTue, 04 Jan 2011 11:00:00 -0800Add N To (X)NoA review of the song Plug Me In by Add N To (X)The shuffly percussion track gives me happy feet and the vocal hook is perfect for getting stuck in your head for days. "Dooo doo doo doo doo | Plug me in, plug me in."00:03:38song, independent, music http://cornx2.us/music/http://cornx2.us/music/gunfight/empties/MusicFri, 24 Dec 2010 08:00:00 -0800GunFight!NoA review of the song Empties by GunFight!Saying so much with so little, I was drawn to the zen-like, debauched title of this one. Like my landlord said to me on the morning after the biggest Halloween party my 4 roommates and I threw in a big haunted house out by the highway, "Yeah, that was a real shit-kicker".00:03:42song, independent, music http://cornx2.us/music/http://cornx2.us/music/dd-mm-yyyy/imagine/MusicWed, 22 Dec 2010 08:00:00 -0800DD/MM/YYYYNoA review of the song Imagine by DD/MM/YYYYIt's time to play the game of 'how many beats per measure does this song have?' It rocks right along changing time signatures and kicking ass until the vocals start up as just 'Da-da-da-da da-da-da'. Normally I wouldn't stand for such foolishness but here it charms me to no end.00:03:04song, independent, music http://cornx2.us/music/http://cornx2.us/music/living-rooms/light-bright/MusicMon, 20 Dec 2010 08:00:00 -0800Living RoomsNoA review of the song Light Bright by Living RoomsThe intro is like an E.L.O. song. Circular, chaotic synthpop follows. There's a spazzy homemade guitar solo over what sounds like samples of a sword being plucked out of its scabbard. The vocals are so airy and full of reverb that they're unintelligible, but I don't really mind.00:03:44song, independent, music http://cornx2.us/music/http://cornx2.us/music/frontier-ruckus/silverfishes/MusicWed, 22 Dec 2010 08:00:00 -0800Frontier RuckusNoA review of the song Silverfishes by Frontier RuckusThis one's got a beautiful folk rock orchestra arrangement. I can respect lyrics that forgo rhyming in an effort to create a more prose-like narrative in a song, but with the profusion of internal rhymes in this track I feel it doesn't necessarily get in the way of my understanding what the hell the singer is talking about. 00:05:11song, independent, music http://cornx2.us/music/http://cornx2.us/music/the-glands/i-can-see-my-house-from-here/MusicSat, 18 Dec 2010 08:00:00 -0800The GlandsNoA review of the song I Can See My House From Here by The GlandsThis live recording of an anthemic track has a good energy not found in the studio version. I also couldn't find a version of the studio version online. The piano vamp sounds like the same one from the song Celebrate by Kool And The Gang. "I can see my house from here | And everything is crystal clear | Laying in on summer days | Stay in one place, someday everything will come our way"00:04:44song, independent, music http://cornx2.us/music/http://cornx2.us/music/eleni-mandell/make-out-king/MusicThu, 16 Dec 2010 08:00:00 -0800Eleni MandellNoA review of the song Make-Out King by Eleni MandellThis plain waltz gets right to the heart of the story; the title character is referenced in the first line of the song and the whole woeful tale is laid out from there. What functions as a chorus is just beautiful prose disguised as a song. "I'm never sleeping again | The make-out king is in my bed | I'm so tired I think I'm a junkie | He calls when he's drunk and drinks like | Nobody knows where he's going | And nobody cares what he's saying"00:03:25song, independent, music http://cornx2.us/music/http://cornx2.us/music/unknown-mortal-orchestra/ffunny-friends/MusicTue, 14 Dec 2010 08:00:00 -0800Unknown Mortal OrchestraNoA review of the song Ffunny Friends by Unknown Mortal OrchestraThe delicious off-kilter guitar riff gets right out in front and later becomes the exact melody for the chorus. There is a whole lot of strangeness for strangeness' sake but it seems like a central mission of the song and not just a tacked-on afterthought. 00:04:17song, independent, music http://cornx2.us/music/http://cornx2.us/music/tanlines/s-a-w/MusicSun, 12 Dec 2010 08:00:00 -0800TanlinesNoA review of the song S.A.W. by TanlinesReminds me of all the super fluffy 80s pop that my best friend in high school used to listen to. I could never get into it then, but the way that this track references that whole era makes this listenable. Not just listenable, but likable. Music to drive to your high school reunion to.00:03:35song, independent, music http://cornx2.us/music/http://cornx2.us/music/deer-tick/art-isnt-real-city-of-sin/MusicFri, 10 Dec 2010 08:00:00 -0800Deer TickNoA review of the song Art Isn't Real (City Of Sin) by Deer TickThis one has a great 70s singer-songwriter troubadour vibe. The lead guitar harmonies throughout are just lovely. "I need an old fashioned potion | There has gotta be some old recipe | Cuz I gotta get drunk | I gotta forget about some things"00:02:50song, independent, music http://cornx2.us/music/http://cornx2.us/music/corn-times-two/update-number-one/MusicWed, 08 Dec 2010 11:00:00 -0800CORN times TWONoA review of the song UPDATE number ONE by CORN times TWOIt's been a while since the last track review, so I wanted to let the feed subscribers know that there are more tracks on the way. Hang in there people, the music is coming back.00:00:40song, independent, music http://cornx2.us/music/http://cornx2.us/music/tame-impala/i-dont-really-mind/MusicMon, 20 Sep 2010 11:00:00 -0700Tame ImpalaNoA review of the song I Don't Really Mind by Tame ImpalaThe intro reminds me of Deceptacon by Le Tigre slowed down a little. The melody and vocals remind me of super-early songs by The Who, but the chorus about twice as dreamy and catchy. The weird instrumental breakdown is pleasant and anomalous. The production philosophy might have been called 'Abunchastuff' which, coincidentally, was the name of the school newsletter for the junior high I went to. Middle school is what they call junior high at a private school.00:03:48song, independent, music http://cornx2.us/music/http://cornx2.us/music/the-tinklers/if-you-want-nice-kids-be-nice-to-your-kids/MusicTue, 14 Sep 2010 11:00:00 -0700The TinklersNoA review of the song If You Want Nice Kids Be Nice To Your Kids by The TinklersThis has been stuck in my brain for days so I searched for the MP3 so I could figure out the damn lyrics and at least sound more articulate inside my own head. The real lyrics are way better than the fake ones I was using. "Rain wouldn't fall it was pretty dry | Told it to a cloud and it began to cry | If you want nice weather be nice to your weather"00:01:54song, independent, music http://cornx2.us/music/http://cornx2.us/music/yacht/the-afterlife/MusicMon, 13 Sep 2010 08:00:00 -0700YACHTNoA review of the song The Afterlife by YACHTThis one is catchy and spooky, danceable and ominous. The middle third of it is taken over with a sequencer funk jam that keeps promising to cohere into some kind of melody but remains tantalizingly chaotic. Chaotic good. "The afterlife | Hey! | We know how to make life go on | Death is not the end of this song"00:05:00song, independent, music http://cornx2.us/music/http://cornx2.us/music/cut-copy/where-im-going/MusicTue, 24 Aug 2010 08:00:00 -0700Cut CopyNoA review of the song Where I'm Going by Cut CopyIf you're going to write an anthem based on the beat from Rock & Roll Pt. 2 by Gary Glitter, then you had better have the good sense to throw in some chanted "YEAH"s in there to match and wisely, they do just that. The lyrics seem to be of the 'come along with me' variety, also a wise choice. A fun modern sounding pop song.00:03:36song, independent, music http://cornx2.us/music/http://cornx2.us/music/futurebirds/dirty-d/MusicSun, 22 Aug 2010 08:00:00 -0700FuturebirdsNoA review of the song Dirty D by FuturebirdsThe intro guitar lead really sets the table for a meal like Harvest Moon by Neil Young, but it's even more dreamy and echoey than that. It reminds me of some early Summer Hymns stuff, also worth digging in to like a fine meal. Cheers.00:05:35song, independent, music http://cornx2.us/music/http://cornx2.us/music/mouths-cradle/front-porch-back-porch/MusicFri, 20 Aug 2010 08:00:00 -0700Mouth's CradleNoA review of the song Front Porch, Back Porch by Mouth's CradleWhen I suggest this track sounds like Billy Corgan rapping over a handful of samples one of which is a Berlin cabaret-sounding piano sample, I don't mean to disparage it. I really like it's unique sound and all the different influences it draws from. "Duck and cover, better yet just lay low | We three kings and a whole lotta play-doh | Growing up grey in a world that's day-glo | Never name names better yet just say so"00:03:46song, independent, music http://cornx2.us/music/http://cornx2.us/music/casper-and-the-cookies/sharp/MusicWed, 18 Aug 2010 08:00:00 -0700Casper & The CookiesNoA review of the song Sharp! by Casper & The CookiesSuch a fun pop song. Is he making fun of the person he's singing the song to? It's hard to tell how he actually feels, there's the spoken word interlude that sound's like a lover's quarrel, but then some of the chorus seems charmingly adoring. "You're so sharp little birdy | Like a walnut | Like a moonbeam | You're so sharp"00:02:08song, independent, music http://cornx2.us/music/http://cornx2.us/music/folklore/the-party/MusicMon, 16 Aug 2010 08:00:00 -0700FolkloreNoA review of the song The Party by FolkloreThe sprawling and raucous sound hearkens back to 90s bands on Merge Records, (Butterglory, Superchunk) right down to the conspicuous trumpet sound horning (sorry) it's way into the mix. Of course I love the authentic crunchy guitar distortion. "Friends are all around but the friends are distracted | By the new friends they found and they found them attractive"00:03:16song, independent, music http://cornx2.us/music/http://cornx2.us/music/bad-veins/gold-and-warm/MusicSat, 14 Aug 2010 08:00:00 -0700Bad VeinsNoA review of the song Gold And Warm by Bad VeinsThe acoustic guitar and bongo kickoff reminds me of many an Ed's Redeeming Qualities song and sets up an expectation of kitchen sink folk, but then the singer's stylish and expressive voice fires up and makes it clear that this is a band laying down an acoustic version of a rock song.00:03:50song, independent, music http://cornx2.us/music/http://cornx2.us/music/woom/quetzalcoatls-ship/MusicThu, 12 Aug 2010 08:00:00 -0700WOOMNoA review of the song Quetzalcoatl’s Ship by WOOMI like how the singer's voice is way out in front of the mix but also packed up in a reverb pillow. And how cute is the whistle sample? They remind me of Adult Rodeo or even Peter, Bjorn & John on this track. "Down by the water | Down by the sea | I drank a bottle | And lay down to sleep"00:03:18song, independent, music http://cornx2.us/music/http://cornx2.us/music/micachu/curly-teeth/MusicTue, 10 Aug 2010 08:00:00 -0700MicachuNoA review of the song Curly Teeth by MicachuI ran across a video for this song recorded live in a gazebo in a park in England and I fell in love with this band all over again. I couldn't find an MP3 of the live, somewhat stripped down version, but here is the album version in all it's layered glory.00:02:27song, independent, music http://cornx2.us/music/http://cornx2.us/music/king-charles/love-lust/MusicWed, 04 Aug 2010 08:00:00 -0700King CharlesNoA review of the song Love Lust by King CharlesIt's kindof a throwback to offer up relationship advice in popular song, but there's something about the manic pace and strange arrangement that updates this type of track just fine here. "You've the strength of the Greeks | You are God's masterpiece | You're every triumph every victory | I believe in every breath you breathe"00:03:00song, independent, music http://cornx2.us/music/http://cornx2.us/music/beach-house/silver-soul/MusicMon, 02 Aug 2010 08:00:00 -0700Beach HouseNoA review of the song Silver Soul by Beach HouseThis band would be filed right next to the Beach Boys in a record store if there were any record stores left. Not that this track sounds much like the Beach Boys, though. There are some lush harmonies and reverb but it chugs along at a shoegaze pace.00:04:59song, independent, music http://cornx2.us/music/http://cornx2.us/music/toro-y-moi/blessa/MusicSat, 31 Jul 2010 08:00:00 -0700Toro Y MoiNoA review of the song Blessa by Toro Y MoiPretty, atmospheric samples set the tone for this track. The production reminds me a lot of some old His Name Is Alive stuff. I like the little rhythmic changeup outro at 2:22. "I see the wind blow into my shoes | Each crying cuts into my nerves | It's hard to let you come on in | And let you know that I was hurt"00:02:44song, independent, music http://cornx2.us/music/http://cornx2.us/music/future-islands/tin-man/MusicThu, 29 Jul 2010 08:00:00 -0700Future IslandsNoA review of the song Tin Man by Future IslandsI like how the opening keyboard chords sound like there's a bunch of extra notes thrown in, it's like a sunrise. Sounds like a new wave Tom Waits I think. It's got an epic sweeping chorus without getting too blown up with a bunch of extra instruments, nice. "And time goes by | And you've got a lot to learn | In your life"00:03:14song, independent, music http://cornx2.us/music/http://cornx2.us/music/moon-duo/stumbling-22nd-st/MusicTue, 27 Jul 2010 08:00:00 -0700Moon DuoNoA review of the song Stumbling 22nd St. by Moon DuoAt first it sounds like we're in for a crunchy psychocore grind but then the organ comes in and softens things up a bit. There are some dreamy chord changes that could appeal to your average shoegazer, but still ends up to be a bit of a witch hunt like In A Gadda Da Vida. At least they had the good sense to stick to the riff and forgo the drum solo. 00:06:58song, independent, music http://cornx2.us/music/http://cornx2.us/music/my-robot-friend/why-wont-you-call-me-back/MusicSun, 25 Jul 2010 08:00:00 -0700My Robot FriendNoA review of the song Why Won't You Call Me Back? by My Robot FriendI love the unlikely rhymes in the verses almost as much as I love the unlikely scenarios that the verses themselves paint. The verses have nothing to do with the chorus, but the rhyme scheme sets up the payoff drop into the choruses in a way that only a pure pop song can. "On June 6th, 1944 on the northern coast of France | The allied forces landed and started to advance | They all trod off their battleships ready to attack | Rally, screamed their battle cry | Why won't you call me back?"00:03:12song, independent, music