Reviews

South Sound Block Party: The Finale

Staged at the bottom of the Puget Sound, this festival was set to be the third and final South Sound Block Party here in Olympia, Washington. There was an exciting setlist for the finale. 

4:00 PM on the dot the gates open and a small line of people queue into the security check. In a little panic I jumped to the front of the line and tried to bypass security (really sorry!) getting stopped and searched immediately. Security at these things is pretty paramount these days! Things start out pretty calm and not too busy. The bar is open, food vendors are ready, and merch stalls appear to be prepared to handle all takers. I find my seat and wait for the show!

About half an hour later and the grounds are starting to fill up. A mild din begins rising out of the crowd as anticipation grows. There is also a delightful aroma emanating from the food trucks across the property. Everything seems pretty calm still, and it is a nice day to sit outside.

In a break from Olympia tradition, the show starts at 5:00 PM sharp! The band that kicked off this festival was Grrrizzly, consisting of two people playing the guitar and drums. Not too bad! Fifteen minutes later and the crowd had doubled in size. I can only imagine how much the noise is bouncing across the sound.

5:50 PM and the next band, Trust Fall takes the stage. Things get much flowier and chiller than the previous band. It feels much more like a nice, outdoor house show, but with a much larger crowd. The weather is also holding up, keeping nice and temperate with a cool and refreshing breeze.

6:30, a brief intermission before the next band begins. Several guests get up and wander about, sampling the offerings of the festival.

6:40 and the next band starts. They are called The Rat Utopia Experience and they appear to be clowns. They bring a lot more energy to the stage. The crowd is getting larger and more active and the music is quite good. There also seems to be some sort of sound issues going on but nothing too egregious. 

7:00 PM and The Rat Utopia Experiment ends with a bang. Everything is getting a lot more crowded and a little harder to navigate. The flow of time this evening also starts to get weird for some reason, being both slow and fast.

7:35 PM Annie Dirusso starts. They’re alright and have a much more eclectic vibe. There is a mild break from the growing crowd. Some friends I ran into had the following to say:

“Not too loud and a lot of seating!” – Friend 1

“South Sound Block Party” – Friend 2

8:00 PM rolls around and I am completely surrounded. People seem really excited and everyone is gathering closer and closer. It’s also getting chillier out so maybe people were just huddling for warmth! The sun begins to set and more and more people gather around.

8:15 PM it is getting cooler out and the sweaters are popping back on. The entire property is packed now, porta potties have been vacated of all their toilet paper, there’s a sudden blast of pizza smell wafting from the food trucks, and everyone is on their feet instead of a mix of sitting and standing. Excitement grows!

A little before 9:00 PM and Sleater-Kinney takes the stage to close out the first night of the festival. People around seem very excited and there is no longer any way to keep seated. The name comes from a street that runs through Olympia, Lacey and unincorporated Thurston County called Sleater-Kinney Road. Can’t say I’ve ever really listened to Sleater-Kinney, but they’re good and the crowd has a lot of energy! A great way to end the night.

Day 2

Upon arrival to the second day of the festival, I grab a delicious smoothie from one of the food vendors. I am not familiar with any of the bands playing today but I am looking forward to discovering new ones. I am also pretty tired already from the previous day, but that’s alright. It is a bit quieter and more laid back at opening than the previous day, and the wind was noticeably more blustery than the previous day. It did feel nice, but was wreaking havoc on everyone’s aluminum cans and plastic cups. 

2:30 rolls around and the first band starts right on time (I really appreciate this aspect of the festival). This band is called Alien Boy and they are alright. The style blends into the background a bit and everything is still very calm. 

The next band to play is Alex Vile, another one I have not heard. People were lounging around and a small crowd was forming around the stage. Lots of chatting and drinking was being had all around. The persisting pizza smell hung in the air and I was pretty tempted to get some.

The following band, Magenta Wave took the stage and they are alright. Following them was a band named Cheap Perfume busting in with a lot more energy than the previous bands today. Very entertaining band and had a lot to say regarding social issues, an exciting performance to close out the afternoon as we shifted to the evening hours. Apparently they are from Colorado.

Next up, Lovely Colors. Not really for me, but they had a modest crowd gathered around for their performance. Unfortunately not a very memorable performance and I do not have too much to add. Seems to cater to a younger demographic too, which is all well and good.

As twilight approached, the lineup took a series of unexpected and refreshing turns. Babes in Canyon brought a uniquely quiet, attentive vibe with a setup featuring a mandolin, keyboard, and drum machine. But the undeniable highlight of the day came around 6:50 PM with Sol. Delivering a vibrant performance, their set brought infectious joy and stage presence just as the sun dipped below the horizon. There’s something with Sol and sun in there.

8 PM and we are in the home stretch. The next band, Shannon and the Clams, takes the stage. Apparently they’ve been around for a while and stated some shows they’ve played at local show-houses over the years, such as the Phoenix House and House of Red (or just Red House I think). They commanded the stage with effortless humor and crowd work. For the first time all day, the venue erupted into a massive, full-floor dance party. They seem to have quite a local following as well, I have seen a lot of their merch on guests throughout the day. A very entertaining performance.

9:00 PM and the crowd is almost as packed as the previous night in anticipation for the finale and final show of the South Sound Block Party forever, Sleigh Bells. Once again, I’ve never heard of this band but I am excited to see what it is about. Delivering a wall of sound they closed out the festival with unrelenting energy. While day two began as a quiet, rambling afternoon in the Olympia sun, it ended as a chaotic, triumphant celebration of live music.

There is a particular kind of nostalgia that arrives early — the kind that settles in before the thing being mourned has even finished happening. That feeling hung over the shores of the Puget Sound this past weekend as the South Sound Block Party, held in Olympia, staged its third and final installment. It wasn’t a festival trying to prove anything. It didn’t have Coachella’s ambitions or its budget. What it had instead was a lineup built with real care, a footprint that never felt overstuffed, and the slightly eccentric intimacy of a music scene that has always insisted on doing things its own way. For a farewell, that turned out to be more than enough.

The Melodic Tree’s Top 3 Albums of the Year

3. Ben Varian – Quiet Fill

Ben Varian seems to have perfected the craft of pop music. with somewhat absurd lyrics and upbeat melodies and instrumentations makes it the ultimate pop album. Bringing the mundane into lyrics and making it actually enjoyable is a very difficult feat but somehow he made it. The name of the album is also aptly titled as it filled the time Ben was not doing something else, like going on tour with Dent May or recording a 24-hour live album.

2. Florist – If Blue Could Be Happiness

Florist is one of those bands that will tug at every one of the heart strings in your body whether you want it or not. The simplicity of this album is what intitally draws the listener in and the fragility in the lyrics keeps them in. In order to make sense with a parent’s death, Emily Sprague finds logic and comfort in everyday affairs while somehow still showing empathy through the lyrics about coping with loss.

1. Coma Cinema – Loss Memory

One of my favorite projects of the last few years recently put out its final release under the name. Filled with songs digging deep into his childhood and the pain that came with it. “At home there’s blood on my bed/and no running water/there is a room i don’t go in/i see myself through the door/me and my mom used to hide there/crying our prayers through a window.”

Favorite Bandcamp Releases of 2017

Ada Babar – (2018 Leaked)

Even though it isn’t technically out until next February, 2018, Ada Babar blessed us with putting it up on their Bandcamp this year. Their music is filled with seemingly inconceivable midi controls and even airhorns (as heard on “fav chair”). Ada put out a rather spontaneous album in a seemingly repetitive genre.

Body Meat & The Washboard Abs – Redux 

This split was the second of three releases from Body Meat and one of two from The Washboard Abs. Body Meat’s side of the split are a few of the best songs is filled with experimental songs that feels amorphic and as if everything in pop makes sense all at once. The Washboard Ab’s side features full band songs from previous songs and unreleased songs that seem to make the Washboard Abs as full sounding as they have ever been.

Pleasure Systems – Antumbra Pull

Although I’ve listened to this album for critique several (several) times before the release and know Clarke Sondermann well, hearing the progress and emotions that went into the release in anticipation is why it made this list. Dedicated to their partner and is filled love and thank you notes to him, makes it one of the most sincere albums to be put out this year.

Ben Varian – The L.A. Concession

One of my favorite artists is also seemingly one of the hardest working ones as well. Having put out seven (7) releases (this EP, a live album, a 72-track “food journal” with Jake Tobin, a “Christmas gift” with his partner, a 24-hour recording session, a full-length album, and another album?), as well as go on tour with Dent May over the summer, this EP is both surprisingly nd unsurprisingly one of the best pop releases of the year. Ben never seems to dissappoint with absurd lyrics mixed with almost always upbeat melodies.

Lily and Horn Horse – Next to Me

The third release this year from Lily Konigsberg and second with this project with Matt Norman, it is filled with everything they claim to be inspired by, which is the “Baby One More Time” era of Britney Spears and Bill Callahan at his coziest. This collaborative album feels as though they have been making music together for years even though this is only their second release together.

– Isabella

Who Told You to Think??!!?!?! : Review

Three days ago milo released his third album, Who Told You to Think??!!?!?!. To put it simply, this album is great.

From the opening sample to the last bass warble this album is truly a masterpiece. Always a strong lyricist, milo flexes his muscles throughout and delivers many memorable lines. Some personal favorites include “I be to rap what Keynes be to Locke” and “Said the target audience was mothers of blonde-headed/Black boys, we shouldn’t be complimenting/Fence-building nihilists”. The more one listens to the album the more and more rewarding the lyrics become. With great production milo is able to weave words into clever poems that will leave you thinking about what he truly meant. There are certain aspects of the album and the way it makes one feel that are truly indescribable. In a year full of great rap this one seems to set itself apart from the rest.

Song Review: Love Galore

Last week, SZA released a new song. It features Travis Scott and is named “Love Galore”. A music video was released along with it and I would advise against watching it at work. Those are the facts. Now for some opinion. The song is great. SZA, as she often does, is able to pair her smooth and sultry voice with minimalistic beats that get out of the way of her voice. Crooning about lost lovers sounds like it could almost turn into the song of the summer between her great singing and Travis Scott’s auto tuned emotion. While Scott often uses auto tune, this slowed down and mellowed song puts the full effect of the software on display. Scott is able to reach out to the listener through the disjointed notes, perfectly capturing the disconnect of emotions. When contrasted with SZA’s clear voice, the effect is nothing short of great.

The music video however, while the butterflies are stunning, comes up short. See for yourself:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHXfCOjb3fk

Anna Don’t Disappear, album review

Anna Don’t Disappear is a strong showing out of Toronto based indie band Red Nightfall. The front half of the album sounds okay, slightly predictable even. The front half is reminiscent of bands trying too hard to fit a specific mold. On the second half however, the music becomes more stripped and raw. The band seems to really find a rhythm and a purpose. The second half is considerably more soul baring and raw than the first. It is refreshing to see a band evolve throughout the album. Namely, on the track “St. Petersburg”, it feels like the band is coming into their own as soul felt indie rockers. The track seems to highlight just what the band can do.

    All in all, the album warrants a listen. The emotional honesty of the second half is enjoyable and nice listening. While the front half of the album could use some work, the second half cements Red Nightfall as a band to keep an eye on.

 

You can listen to the album here.

The Melodic Tree’s Top Six Albums of the Year

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1. Car Seat Headrest – Teens of Denial

2016 was a break-out year for Will Toledo, aka Car Seat Headrest, whether it was signing to Matador Records to releasing Teens of Denial, their second on the label and first that consisted of entirely new material. On their thirteenth album, Toledo’s lyrics are, as always, emotional and reflective, looking at his dealing with mental illness and dealing with the inevitable feeling of dread that has been a recurring theme throughout this album and their previous 12. In the opening track, “Fill in the Blank,” Toledo goes on to say: “You have no right to be depressed. You haven’t tried hard enough to like it. Haven’t seen enough of this world yet. But it hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts. Well stop your whining, try again.” The idea of no one truly understanding his depression and what is going on inside his head repeats back and forth in this song until the outro when he affirms he has a right to be depressed and that he has tried to fight it. This reflectiveness is not uncommon for Toledo in the third track on Teens in Denial, “Vincent,” where he talks about googling his depression and his previous albums, especially the track, “We Can’t Afford (Your Depression Anymore)” on his album, Nervous Young Man. This cleaner sounding and breakout album from Car Seat Headrest is just the beginning of what will be even more critcal success for the band in the future.

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2. Bon Iver – 22 A Million

The highly anticipated return of Bon Iver and follow up to 2011’s self-titled, 22 A Million, heads in a completely different direction than what Justin Vernon has done in his history. However, it is somewhat expected from Bon Iver as For Emma, Forever Ago, showed what Vernon could do alone, not including what he released previously under his own name, and Bon Iver showed what could be done with a full band and recording with more people. 22 A Million shows what Vernon can do as a musician and what the band can do outside the realms they built for themselves in indie folk. This turn to a more experimental and somewhat strange new sound that Bon Iver brings to the table with this album is an interesting new step in what might be a new era of the band.

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3. Mitski – Puberty 2

The 25-year-old singer-songwriter, Mitski’s fourth studio album discusses the struggles of being happy from day to day, especially shown on the track, “My Body’s Made of Crushed Little Stars,” where she sings: “I don’t know how I’m gonna pay rent. I wanna see the whole world. Would you kill me, Jerusalem.” The lyrics go on to talk about how she hopes she does well in a job interview and the stereotypical interviewee line “I work better under deadlines” being repeated. This sort of trying to find something to grasp onto in order to find some sort of happiness in the cloud of depression and anxiety is a recurring theme throughout this album as Mitski shows off her chaotically good sound that she has had across her discography.

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4. The Growlers – City Club

The Growlers, have always managed to combine “country, surf pop and rock” all into one, something that is somewhat trademark to them and lead to the definition of their sound, “Beach Goth” to a popular festival under the same name. The industrial-esque funkiness of “I’ll Be Around” allows it to be one of the best tracks on the albums. Another notable track is “Neverending Line” because of how seemingly miserable the chorus sounds: “It’s the end of a line. Another shit job. Another piss-stained room. Another tomb. Another city. Hardly make it to the other side. Just to find, it ain’t so pretty.” The darkness of this song encompasses the album and its mood in what seemed to be one of the somewhat slower tracks.

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5. Iji – Bubble

The almost always upbeatness of iji’s (pronounced “eehee”) latest album, Bubble, is the perfect album for anyone in need for the perfectly groovy pop album. The song, “Wild Music,” is particularly a favorite, where the singer, guitarist, and saxophonist, talks about wanting to “play the saxophone in your band” and the fluidity of this track is both is invigorating as it gets to the two-minute mark and soothing at the same time. This eccentrically melodic pop album is erratic as they masterfully maneuver through these weird but engrossing 13 tracks.

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6. The Washboard Abs – Have U Scanned Ur Club Card

Denver-born and Olympia-based, The Washboard Abs’ Have U Scanned Ur Club Card gracefully goes through bedroom indie music as Clarke Sondermann sings somber and reflective lyrics in the seemingly melancholic backing tracks. The song, “Window,” is the perfect example on this album as the lyrics are earnest (i.e.“Early in the morning but later in the day, your brother snoring the sky will slowly grey, and I will drink my coffee and I will try to say I think about you often I hope you’re not okay”) and yet it is a seemingly warm song with the guitar repeats. The third track, “Sugar Skulls” differs n the sense that it is somewhat more upbeat and the Sondermann’s lyrics talk about self-destruction. They are one of our favorite local bands and it makes sense why they are on the rise and opening for bigger and bigger indie bands.

Day for Night festival 2016 brings music and art together in Houston

Day for Night festival launched its second year to a hot and humid December day in Houston TX. This immersive festival full of art installations and music set the stage for some of the most innovative artists in all ends of the spectrum. During its first day artists like The Jesus and Mary Chain, Thundercat, ODESZA, Nick Murphy, DJ Windows 98, Tycho and Run The Jewels lit up the festival with Aphex Twin returning for the first time to the United States after 8 years.

During Aphex’s performance, festival goers felt the icy breeze come through as they cheered from relief, later to be rained on as they continued to dance to Aphex’s hits. It was reported that Björk was dancing in the front row in the rain. Art installations included works from NONOTAK, Ezra Miller, Tundra, and Shoplifter among many others.

During its second day welcomed in artists like Ariel Pink, powerful duo Lightning Bolt, Mykki Balnco, Kamasi Washington, hip hop veteran RZA feat. Stone Mecca, the reunion of Butthole Surfers, Kaskade and Travis Scott.

Björk performed an 80 minute DJ set complete with shrubbery around the stage, sporting a beautiful red outfit with an ornate lighted mask as her followers danced along to various sounds from tribal chants to pop hits. The packed stage where she performed was virtually inaccessible as the sea of people surrounded the stage.

Day for Night festival is among one of the most remarkable music festivals I’ve ever covered since the mixture of art and music coexisting in one place opened the minds and hearts of festival goers that are used to typical grass and mud festivals. It’s surely set a precedent in that community and we cannot wait for next year’s installment.

By: Oscar Moreno

Early Look at Local Natives’ “Sunlit Youth”

We here at Melodic Tree were lucky enough to get our hands on Local Natives’ upcoming album, Sunlit Youth, and after listening to it on repeat for a few days we thought we’d share a few of our initial reactions and maybe give you some things to look forward to on the official release date this Friday.

If you have already listened to the three singles that have been released off the new album – “Villainy”, “Past Lives”, and “Fountain of Youth” – or if you have read some of our past posts regarding Sunlit Youth then you are well aware that Local Natives have evolved quite a bit since their Gorilla Manor days. As a sort of an expansion upon the sound of their 2013 release, Hummingbird, LN has made synth sounds a much more prominent aspect of their music. The best example of this is the opening track and previously released single, “Villainy”. This song might show a closer resemblance to a group like Empire of the Sun rather than the sound we fell in love with on Local Native’s debut record, but is none the less a powerful synth pop opening to the album and a great indicator of the direction the band is striving towards.

If the sound of “Villainy” is maybe not your cup of tea, fear not for there are plenty of gems to keep you engaged throughout the rest of the album. For instance, possibly one of the best moments of Sunlit Youth is the vocals on the third track, “Dark Days”. Not only are the lyrics engaging and the melody beautiful, but the incorporation of Nina Persson’s voice is a godsend. Singer-songwriter of the Swedish pop group The Cardigans as well as a number of her own solo efforts, Persson’s tender voice lends perfectly to those of the rest of the band. As she takes the second verse solo and then harmonizes flawlessly with the rest of the group, one might think that she was meant to be a Local Native.

Although at this point you might have an idea in your head about what the whole album sounds like, we promise Sunlit Youth will surprise you, and that is what’s so great about it. In the song “Masters” the band flirts with electronica (side note: if Local Natives wrote more of this kind of music, clubs would be way better); we get an almost hip-hop vibe in the song “Jellyfish” featuring Moses Sumney; “Coins” comes out of nowhere with a surprisingly fitting quasi-R&B sound fit with wailing vocals and all; and even a throwback to the classic LN sound with “Ellie Alice”.

In summary, Sunlit Youth is engaging but perhaps not what longtime Local Natives fans would expect. We still hear their signature cryptic yet beautiful lyricism paired with gorgeous harmonies, but now the musical context in which those aspects appear is different. So if you’re willing to give this new evolution a chance, we think you’ll have no problem remaining a die hard Local Natives Fan.

The Melodic Tree’s top 10 albums of 2015

10. Wanted On Voyage – George Ezra: There is something about George Ezra’s low, fairly surprising voice that captured the hearts of his fans that lead to his ultimate widespread success on this album. Songs like his hit “Budapest” gives the aura of him being from another era and not a British twenty-something. The variety of the album while also maintaining its simplicity makes it accessible to a wider range of audience.

9. Currents – Tame Impala: Tame Impala returned on this album with as much ambition as they had before. They have returned with their familiar sound but somehow managed to come back fresh and the band never seems to fail and experimenting with their music without much disappointment.

8. If I Should Go Before You – City & Colour: Maybe this album is on the because Dallas Green never seems to fail at pulling at the heartstrings of everyone who comes across his music, however, this album seems to maintain a much more electric sound compared to his previous releases. But, the lyrics stay true to his much praised sound and maintains his classic voice while transitioning to this new sound.

7. Nathaniel Ratecliff & The Night Sweat – Nathaniel Ratecliff and The Night Sweats: It’s such a strange happening when a band like this releases an album so strong and have a song named “S.O.B.” about drinking after a breakup. However, this didn’t take away from his massive voice is overwhelming and is accompanied by what sounds like a band that belongs to a soul artist at the start of that era. This album is one that helping lead the way to new soul becoming more and more popular.

6. All We Need – Raury: It’s hard to find such an ambitious 19 year-old who can have such an eclectic sound on an album. Combing soul, hip-hop, and folk, Raury genre hops throughout the album and never seems to miss a beat of it. The lyrics stay the main catch as the transition between melancholia,  especially in tracks like “Forbidden Knowledge,” and optimism as the album progresses.

5. Vestiges & Claws – José González: In the subtle layers in each song, his voice stays soft and calm with cyclical guitar. The track “The Forest” features the flute and cello which seem to add the sense of solitude that is recurrent in the album. Even though his songs are gradual, the have massive themes including how to situate in the world and making your voice heard.

4. I Love You, Honeybear – Father John Misty: As a sincere ode to his wife, Father John Misty demonstrated the intimacy and attachment he has felt towards her through of it. The stand-out track on the LP is the hit, “Chateau Lobby #4 (In C for Two Virgins)” where he displays this grand sound through brass and strings.

3. Prom King – Skylar Spence: Ever since transitioning from Saint Pepsi to his current stage name, the sound that comes from Prom King seems to be the monument that seems to suit such a name. This type of nu disco sound is hard to discover anywhere else and seems to focus thematically on love, which especially shown in tracks like “Fall Harder.” Skylar Spence fulfills wishes that any fan would want to hear on this first album under the name.

2. The Epic – Kamasi Washington: Kamasi Washington’s jazz debut is one of a kind and seems to move seemingly track after track. Even at three hours, the album has a smooth energy to it, never letting it feel like it should be any less. Every aspect of the album seems to be meticulously put together, which makes it such a compositional overload. Such a jazz album now is hard to come by and with the sound it has, it sounds similar to those that influenced him as a child. No matter what is going on, The Epic seems to never disappoint.

1. To Pimp A Butterfly – Kendrick Lamar: Kendrick Lamar probably had the most groundbreaking year with this album. It maintains this cinematic way of incorporating various themes, dealing heavily with racism, and networking various dramas and different characters. Lamar has this overarching tone of chaos and wryness, sometimes may it be all at once, but under the chaos, there is the narration of avoidance of the manifestation of the devil, Lucy and saying his fame has not helped his family at home.