I Break Horses

Gee has Sweden advanced music over the recent years! This band is almost the flag of demonstration, begging the world to surrender to Sweden's non-stop excellence.  This particular song features multi-layers of delicious sound waves including traditional sing-song response folded neatly into layers of textural synths.  The outro of this song is absolutely epic.  Way to go I Break Horses! One of the best songs I've heard in a long time. I am officially recommending this whole album by them for your consideration.



Origin: Stockholm, Sweden

Artist: I Break Horses

Heartless Bastards

These guys really know how to make a heartwarming video. It effortlessly depicts the childlike wonder of romance with life with its expressive child actors and scenes from an America that is still promising, paved with roads and daydreams.

Origin: Cincinnati, Ohio
Artist: Heartless Bastards

Taylor Swift

Anyone that knows me, knows that I'm not much of a pop music listener. But I found an exception and it has taken me about 6 weeks of almost non-stop listening to much of her released material to confirm what I suspected from the very start. The question is- Is Taylor Swift a great songwriter? My answer is a resounding YES! As a songwriter myself- I am constantly amazed at her ability to string phonetically pleasing words together while still maintaining lyrical integrity towards the concept of her tracks. She also has a unique ability to add flourishes and nuances to the lines she sings...which consistently takes her lyrical lines to the realm of the exceptional. Not only do these lines sound phonetically incredible for the most part, they also sometimes include incredibly insightful observations for someone so young. Her songs themselves or the music- they give just enough a vehicle for her outstanding vocals to take the front stage. It is no wonder that her biggest fans know the words to all her songs and sing along loudly! They are just simply beautifully constructed. At times, she even takes chances and adds a spoken word, drops a beat into LFO absorption territory and always has a knack for just what spice or additive to add or remove from her song structure progressions to keep the momentum going, or to completely take a song off the path you think it's going. Her strategy, from what I see is to sometimes go off the path just to give the listener a look at the "forest" of the song only to snap you back in perfect time to see her walking through that forest in whatever mood or imagery she wishes to apply. One of the criticisms against her is that the majority of her songs tend to dwell on romantic topics or interpersonal observations. I can see her breaking out of this pattern if she wishes...but why should she? Her ever-growing legions of fans love her just how she is. 

Artist: Taylor Swift 
Origin: Reading, Pennsylvania USA

Jay Som (Song of the Year edition)

It's not too early to select Tion Tunesies song of the year 2017! This selection by Jay Som hits many good spots with its interweaving segments of sonic "bright lights."  Right from the start of the track to the end, the tune just keeps its listener mesmerized and energized with its spectacularly thoughtful playing and the dreamy singing of its lead singer Melina Duterte.  I was especially amused that they wear the baseball caps of their hometown team in a certain live video.  Here's to looking forward to what else this talented contingent brings in the future!

Artist: Jay Som
Origin: Oakland, California USA

Mac DeMarco

Can't get enough of this track so I had to reactivate this long-dormant blog to enthuse all about it. There is a very John Lennonish quality to the sonic construction in that it has this addictive supporting brass section and just the right splash of reverby-key/guitar not sure what it is, it serves as the perfect grazing ground for Mr. DeMarco's superb vocals to feed upon.  This track also possesses some understated yet very clever lyrics that match this tunes environment like a cold beverage does for a person on a hot summer day. End the summer and take a sip of Mac whenever you need to be reminded that great artists are still around us making fabulous music.

Origin: Duncan, Canada
Artist: Mac DeMarco

Yeek

Here we have a band that remembers how to put some "thump" into their tracks.  Very reminiscent of some of the better 80s style production where the driving beat leads from the front and the guys carefully craft a very catchy tune that is tailor made for singing along.  The guys create an effective harmony by layering two styles of singing that coincide with a jangly propulsive guitar.  Watch the video until the end for a laugh!  

Artist: Yeek
Origin: Los Angeles, California USA

BRONCHO

This artist is picking up the mantle of the great pop punk bands of the past and putting its own input on the genre. I feel a good connection to this sound as it manages to frame its surfy styled vocalist with a solid post punk derived rhythm section,  The solid guitars are expertly placed with the hand of amazing production strategies.  Ride out a few tracks with BRONCHO!  I believe this is a great road trip sound.    

Artist: BRONCHO

Origin: Norman, Oklahoma USA

Title Fight

These guys have apparently adopted a stylistic transformation and now appear to be wonderful new additions to the shoegaze camp.  Their clashing surf guitars merge and fold within magnificent combinations to the fabric of a well designed alternating aggressive/ dreamy vocal style. Their current path conveniently nods to their past while promising even greater returns to their future yet to come.  Our future as music fans looks bright with artists like this fabricating gems such as "Rose of Sharon."

Origin: Kingston, PA
Artist: Title Fight

Imagenes En Oscuridad

Fresh off the presses comes this sapphire-like shiny monument to the timeless ultra-dark synth symposiums of deca-dancing of years gone by as well as that which has yet to come.  This track features an irresistible circulation-driving pulsating synth which serves as the stage for the other various audio delicacies that dance in and out as the track rolls on.  The vocalist/songwriter provides the powerful melody that is apparently crafted from the very shadows of tortured places that only approach definition through artistic labors such as song, poetry and film. This music video conveniently provides all three forms of creativity.  Get your full dose of artistic darkness by watching this right now!


Artist: Imagenes En Oscuridad
Origin: Miami, Florida USA

Charlie Hilton

Blouse's splendid vocalist Charlie Hilton has been working on some solo material while Blouse is on break and this is the first single off it! The track features some interesting starts and stops that propel the song forward over its sort of pony-hoof beat.  Hilton's vocals as usual are the glue that holds the track together as just the song seems to unwind and unravel, it springs back stronger and stronger until the pony finally kicks us off at the end.  The track leaves you wanting to jump back on for another ride.

Artist: Charlie Hilton
Origin: Portland, Oregon USA

Young Prisms

This album is perfect for all those long winter Sundays to come for when you need something to soundtrack your daydreams.  It is clear that this music belongs in the shoegaze family and its shifty colorful sounds meld very well with the lost-in-the-caverns of an urban apocalypse kind of vibe that runs throughout the various stylistic tunes on this album. Take a listen and make sure you have your favorite warm beverage with you and your most comfy blanket to scurry under.


Artist: Young Prisms
Origin: San Francisco, California USA

OK Go

Although this video isn't super brand new, it is new enough and good enough to where I felt the artist deserves mention/love on this blog.  The track has an excellent balance of easy going, singable lyrics carefully layered on top of a New-Orderish high quality rhythm section.   It seems like the bass has been doubled in lots of the songs, and for bass-lovers like me, it's bliss!   This song in particular also is versatile in that it can be utilized for anything such as driving or relaxing at home or even some dancing at a club if your local DJ is up with the Tunes!

Artist: OK Go
Origin: Los Angeles, California USA

Neon Indian

It's almost like the opening dangling seventies-style cosmic synth tones gradually give way and invite you to share in a great party that splices lots of elements from parties across time and space over the last few decades.  This pastiche mix seems to promise all kinds of good bouncy things for one and all once you swing into it and the finale of the track seems to provide a complimentary ticket for the following weekend or tune, whatever comes first.

Artist: Neon Indian
Origin: Denton, Texas

Craft Spells

This video is much late in coming and is actually one of the acts that precursed this very video blog, rocketing into existence.  Craft Spells is a relatively new band that offers incredibly beautiful songs that coincide with their brilliant videos.  Watch this one from start to  finish, it has elements of humor that meld gently with its darker themes.  Those jingly-jangly guitars and professional bouncy bass seems to come right out of The Smiths school of songwriting. I personally feel their style of guitar based orchestration is very well suited to fit this band's casually smooth vocalist.

Artist:  Craft Spells
Origin: Seattle, Washington USA

Talking Heads

This track earns the heritage award for the Summer 2015. It was one of the early voices of pro-environmental policies way back in the 1980s. It's even more relevant now, Thanks Mr. Byrne. It features an all-star cast of some of highly lauded musicians including The Smith's Johnny Marr, and the late vocalist Kirsty MacColl. The video itself also features some groundbreaking video technology at the time, which are the moving typefaces that run all over the screen at key sections.

Artist: Talking Heads
Origin: New York, New York USA

Death Grips

First song I've heard in a while that lyrically shoots a bird directly at the daylight and at the sun.  If only for that, in the midst of the stranglehold of humidity that has arrived once again for summer, it's a winner.   Furthermore, and more expansively I can't but help to bow deeply to the best song of 2015 that I've heard thus far.

Artist: Death Grips
Origin: Sacramento, California USA

Made in Heights

Crossover appeal!  A friend from L.A. turned me on to this pair of musical whiz kids. Their impressive blending of 90's styled drum'n'bass beats with modern catchy female lead vocals coincide with supporting layers of gentle, cascading synths that that seem to be of New Age origins.   I really foresee big things for Made In Heights, just because they would fit on various radio formats even up to including *gasp* Pop/Top 40! If only we, collectively, should be so lucky!

Artist: Made in Heights
Origin: Los Angeles, California USA

Captive

Happy May Day, workers of the world! There has been a slew of labor lately in the music making business towards recreating the magic of the post-punk era. I managed to find one of the shiniest examples coming across the video tubes hailing from Austin. These guys show a really good restraint in not letting their electronics overpower their wonderfully organic Martin Hannettish echoey production style.  Listen to their tracks, and you will definitely be held Captive.

Artist: Captive
Origin: Austin, Texas USA

Dan Deacon

Now this is what I like to see and hear when I think of the word "originality."  Dan Deacon provides a bit of what could be described as a convenient department store of sonic techniques that provide the perfect accompaniment to its slick and fascinating video theatre.  Vocoded voices bounce and resound inside a texture of well placed clicks and rise up to meet the catchy sing song chorus which heavily hammers its way into the sonic pleasure zone.

Artist : Dan Deacon
Origin : Baltimore, Maryland U. S. A.

Tragedy

Well folks, it is March already.  This month, it has been decided that TionTunes will pull out a different kind of manifestation feature a long overdue genre by digging out the Metal! This particular video is a very comical cover of something the best of the 80's used to have, that is, lots of visual delights going on in the background to support the foreground of inventive musical remaking of this classic Grease song.

Artist: Tragedy (orig. John Farrar)
Origin: New York, New York USA