Five Albums You Should Be Listening To Right Now
This week's curator: Max Levine-Poch, of This Bonus Track.
Every week, titans of the mediasphere give Hooksexup their album recommendations. This week: Max Levine-Poch, of This Bonus Track.
1. Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Up From Below
This is one of the most talented big bands in modern music. Up From Below features a huge range of genres, sometimes within the same song. This album can really be summarized with a lyric from "40 Day Dream," the opening track: "I know I'm sleeping 'cause this dream's too amazing."
Listen: "Home"
Home
2. Broken Bells, Broken Bells
Broken Bells is the sound of two musical geniuses getting together and playing around. Danger Mouse and James Mercer (of The Shins) formed this band in late 2009 and released this self-titled record that peaked at #7 in the US. I didn't hear about it until early September, and have since listened to it almost non-stop, racking up over 350 plays on my iTunes. The song "The Mall and Misery" got 110 plays all by itself.
Listen: Mall and Misery
Mall and Misery
3. Freelance Whales, Weathervanes
The Freelance Whales have soundtracked my long-distance and scenic commutes to and from school, since around February of last year. With a very unique sound, Weathervanes has been my go-to fireside album too. Melancholic at times and mellow and subdued at others, the sounds and songs from the Brooklyn-based, Craigslist-assembled band are a must-hear.
Listen: Ghosting
Ghosting
4. Miike Snow, Miike Snow
I was very skeptical a couple years back when I was first told of the band that spells Mike with two Is. But their self-titled debut has fought its way into my heart. This record includes pop, electronic, alternative, and unclassifiable genres; each song is a work of art. The indie-rock-sounding "Song For No One" is close to perfect.
Listen: Song For No One
Song For No One
5. Passion Pit, Manners
This twelve-song album is heavy on the synths, but it's extremely entertaining, from second one through to the end of the last of three bonus tracks. It's an uppity record, full of energy, spirit, and just fun. I like to imagine my musical-talent-less body playing on some of these tracks and having the best time.
Listen: Let Your Love Grow Tall
Let Your Love Grow Tall
Commentarium (34 Comments)
oh. cool. everyone already knows of every last one of these bands.
^ was just about to say... lol.
must be for these people: https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/musically-oblivious-8th-grader
Honestly Hooksexup, you guys need to keep up with the times. :)
Well, we ask a bunch of people to guest-curate the column, and about half the time people say the selections are too obvious, and the other half people say they're too obscure (and that we're all hipsters picking music they've never heard of to make them feel inferior... which I promise is not the case). You win some, you lose some, I guess. Thanks for reading!
well, maybe it's because i'm not american, but i've never heard of freelance whales. So i like this one!
For those of you who aren't happy with my picks, okay, I chose according to what i can't stop listening to. If you're already listening to one or some or all of the albums, great, but if not, check it out. Theres more music that i love out there that is worth talking about song-by-song-wise, but here are the albums that are assembled perfectly and where every song is worth listening to.
You should just stop doing this column. If you can't satisfy every reader, every single time then it is clearly not worth it. You introduced me to some great music before but since I already knew these five, I think it's time to call it quits.
Great picks, love the songs, good choice man!
Nice album choices, Freelance Whales is pretty sick, thanks for the article man, dont listen to the haters above
POOOOOOCH YOUR THE MAN!!!! EPIC PICKS!!!
yo bro have you heard of this band called Phoenix? they're like this new band totally awesome.
I like this column. If it weren't for some particularly good suggestions by it in the past, I would not have found out about some seriously obscure bands...as well as some I ought to have heard of by now. Stop being such music-elitist assholes and be glad someone is catering to the musically oblivious. Occasional trite music suggestions are just a part of getting the word out to those who have lives that DON'T revolve around Pitchfork.
As an avid reader of ThisBonusTrack.com, i've seen the variety Pooch's music, and let me tell you, its quite far ranging. So pooch..GREAT CHOICES, I really like what you've done here, sharing some moderately well known artists (including my favorite artist right now..the FREELANCE WHALES) and their great albums with the readers of hooksexup.com
Sorry Poch, bro. You did compile a super cool list, honest.
Shut up haters. Your probably just jealous that this Max guy got to write for this column and you didnt. Be thankful that someone is keeping the rest of us up to date. I myself knew of all of these bands before hand but that doesnt matter as that isn't what this column is about. It's about recognizing the artists and songs and albums that are worth sharing and beautifully created. So to that, I say THANK YOU MAX for reminding me of these 5 great albums!
I've never read thisbonustrack before but because of this i just did...its awesome way to go
ive never been on thisbonustrack but i like your choices so ima check it out
thanks for the songs bro
WOW! --- great finds!!!
Been following ThisBonusTrack for awhile-- great to see these boys getting some recognition for their hard work!!!!!
KEEP IT STRONG BOYS!
Max L-P....great job! Well written....good info. The haters probably prefer the music of "Britteny Spears! "
"What do you think?" I think this max guy is a talented writer.
just stalked him on facebook...hes hot too
I have to agree with all the haters. Having a column every once in a while, or one artist in the column, that I know is fine. But every single week hearing of old artists who have been around for a while? This is a problem. Hooksexup, time to hire new people to pick the songs.
And I do know what I'm talking about, I'm a radio DJ, so I understand the work it takes, but when it's your job, I'm pretty sure you can find new, underground artists, not the ones played in television commercials.
I've also been following thisbonustrack.com for a while now, and I have to say all my new music comes from there. Great job boys! keep it up! My itunes library would be nowhere with max and the team at thisbonustrack.
p.s. pooch is hot
Absolutely superb post.
All artists posted define only positive parts of the music scene
Hooksexup:
Hire this kid
@Nick
"If you cannot satisfy every reader you should stop the column"
I cannot tell if you are extremely sarcastic or retarded
Please enlighten me
Max been following thisbonustrack for a while, amazing site, keep it up.
hope to see more posts on Hooksexup soontimes man
Hooksexup: this kids got talent, keep it coming
haters gonna hate.
Freelance Whalers is a new one so will have to check them out. Re the haters/stale debate, maybe it's all in the naming of the column? It's a little prescriptive and adolescent sounding for a site which celebrates individuality sexual and otherwise. Things could be a lot worse. The column couldn't been called "Music to fuck to" and feature only banal deep house tracks - the sort of dreck your average Swingers club might refer to as 'the latest European sounds'.
Sorry... ** the column could've **. How the fuck do I turn off this predictive spell checking horsh't on an iPhone?
There's this awesome new band called the Beatles...
These albums are all unreal, your absolutely right. Just another example of how Hooksexup is continually able to find exceptional musical gurus who really know what they're talking about. Shoutout to thisbonustrack.com, easily one of the sickest music blogs out there. .......who's house? boathouse.
Fact of the matter is, this particular 5 best albums article has produced more comments then any other of the kind. Whether it be because of controversy or due to high quality is negligible. This article has probably brought more viewers to Hooksexup than any others
love these. it's neither too obscure/pretentious, nor played out. it's just a good time, as new music discoveries ought to be. thanks!
Tuochwdon! That's a really cool way of putting it!
Now you say something