Scotch Sampler
- Thread starter scotchandcigar
- Start date
scotchandcigar
All I wanted was some steak
A couple of artists back, I featured Kurt Vile. He was originally a member of the Philadelphia band The War on Drugs, but he went off on his own. However, TWoD evolved into a mainstream group, while Vile remained in the underground. I'm not sure if it has to do with marketing, or promotion, or the accessibility of the music, but War broke-out big in 2014 with Lost In the Dream. They have a similar laid-back guitar jam sound to Vile, but with hints of Springsteen, Dylan, and Dave Matthews Band. Here are three of several hit songs from the album
They don't make any short songs, but this is a shorter version
The War on Drugs – Red Eyes (live on Letterman)
Probably their biggest hit from the album
The War on Drugs – Under the Pressure (live)
And my personal favorite, I love the guitar work
The War on Drugs – An Ocean In Between the Waves (live)
They followed-up in 2017 with A Deeper Understanding, which gave us this very Springsteen-like hit
The War on Drugs – Holding On (live)
This ballad isn't my favorite, but it's nice, and charted well
The War on Drugs – Pain
They don't make any short songs, but this is a shorter version
The War on Drugs – Red Eyes (live on Letterman)
Probably their biggest hit from the album
The War on Drugs – Under the Pressure (live)
And my personal favorite, I love the guitar work
The War on Drugs – An Ocean In Between the Waves (live)
They followed-up in 2017 with A Deeper Understanding, which gave us this very Springsteen-like hit
The War on Drugs – Holding On (live)
This ballad isn't my favorite, but it's nice, and charted well
The War on Drugs – Pain
scotchandcigar
All I wanted was some steak
I should also mention that their sound is obviously very reminiscent of Mark Knopfler's solo work.
scotchandcigar
All I wanted was some steak
The Dum Dum Girls was a project of L.A. artist Kristin "Dee Dee" Gundred (later of Kristin Kontrol), with an all-girl roster. The band name is a play on the Iggy Pop song Dum Dum Boys. The music can be categorized as dream pop, noise pop, or shoegaze. A good example is the title track from the 2011 EP He Gets Me High
Dum Dum Girls - He Gets Me High
The EP also contains a Smiths cover that got widespread airplay
Dum Dum Girls - There Is a Light That Never Goes Out (live audio)
This was followed later in 2011 by the album Only In Dreams, with songs like Bedroom Eyes, Hold Your Hand (about the death of her mother), and this super-cool psychedelic ballad
Dum Dum Girls - Coming Down (live)
Another successful EP followed, and then their final album was released in 2014. Too True contained the hits Rimbaud Eyes, and this awesome slow-burn shoegazer
Dum Dum Girls - Lost Boys & Girls Club
Dum Dum Girls - He Gets Me High
The EP also contains a Smiths cover that got widespread airplay
Dum Dum Girls - There Is a Light That Never Goes Out (live audio)
This was followed later in 2011 by the album Only In Dreams, with songs like Bedroom Eyes, Hold Your Hand (about the death of her mother), and this super-cool psychedelic ballad
Dum Dum Girls - Coming Down (live)
Another successful EP followed, and then their final album was released in 2014. Too True contained the hits Rimbaud Eyes, and this awesome slow-burn shoegazer
Dum Dum Girls - Lost Boys & Girls Club
sadchild
Dude
I've heard this once or twice, cool groove.
First time hearing this group. I dig this one.
HecticArt
Administrator
I’m trying to catch up on giving some of these songs a more thorough listen from when I was short on time.
Django is still my favorite from the batch.
It’s got an Oasis vibe going for it. I like it.
I know the band name, but either forgot about this one, or it reminds me of something else, but I like it.
I thought these guys were more electronic/mellow. I thought wrong.
Twins Basil!!! Twins!
I almost got that ukulele, but can’t remember why I decided against it.
Not bad. A little Dinosaur Jr / Pixies thing going on.
Django is still my favorite from the batch.
HecticArt
Administrator
Still catching up.
This is the one I’m most familiar with. I thought it was newer, but I had the timeline wrong. Great tune.
scotchandcigar
All I wanted was some steak
I've had a very busy week: I had this next post queued-up, but didn't have time. Sylvan Esso is a talented duo from Durham, NC. She's got a lovely, pitch-perfect voice, and he's a master of the beeps and bloops. Together, they have a great sense of rhythm, space, melody, and pace. Their music is danceable, and lyrically deeper than it might sound. They're one of those indie groups who have crossed over into mainstream with a few of their hits.
They hit the scene with their 2014 self-titled debut. The big hit from the album is this subtle, funkily syncopated tune.
Sylvan Esso – Coffee (live)
Here's a track with a great groove
Sylvan Esso – H.S.K.T. (live)
Their follow-up album was 2017's What Now, which gave us some even bigger hits; like this brazen F.U. to the music industry
Sylvan Esso – Radio (live on Fallon)
This is one of those songs that's dark, if you listen carefully
Sylvan Esso – Die Young
They hit the scene with their 2014 self-titled debut. The big hit from the album is this subtle, funkily syncopated tune.
Sylvan Esso – Coffee (live)
Here's a track with a great groove
Sylvan Esso – H.S.K.T. (live)
Their follow-up album was 2017's What Now, which gave us some even bigger hits; like this brazen F.U. to the music industry
Sylvan Esso – Radio (live on Fallon)
This is one of those songs that's dark, if you listen carefully
Sylvan Esso – Die Young
HecticArt
Administrator
I always thought (like I'm guessing most people) that Sylvan Esso was a she not a they.
I like what I've heard on satellite so far. There are a couple of these I need to listen to later though.
I like what I've heard on satellite so far. There are a couple of these I need to listen to later though.
A very apt description.
scotchandcigar
All I wanted was some steak
The band named itself after a character in an early iOS game titled "Swords and Sworcery".
scotchandcigar
All I wanted was some steak
But without the short husband.
scotchandcigar
All I wanted was some steak
I feel like we've come full circle; not because I'm done with favorites, but because I started this thread in 2015, talking about bands like Wolf Alice. This British group's breakout song became big in 2015, but it was introduced on their 2014 EP Creature Songs. It's kind of an indie anthem
Wolf Alice - Moaning Lisa Smile (live)
In 2015, they released their first complete album, My Love Is Cool. Songs like You're a Germ, Your Love's Whore, and Freazy were hits in the UK, while this was their radio-friendly hit song in the US
Wolf Alice – Bros (live)
Another one of my favorites from the album is this rocker
Wolf Alice - Giant Peach (live)
Their 2017 album Visions of a Life was big in the UK, winning them the 2018 Mercury Music prize. I wasn't thrilled with the few songs played here, such as Don't Delete the Kisses, and the dyslexically named Yuk Foo (which is a really out-there song, if you want to check it out). And this year, they have a new album out.
Wolf Alice - Moaning Lisa Smile (live)
In 2015, they released their first complete album, My Love Is Cool. Songs like You're a Germ, Your Love's Whore, and Freazy were hits in the UK, while this was their radio-friendly hit song in the US
Wolf Alice – Bros (live)
Another one of my favorites from the album is this rocker
Wolf Alice - Giant Peach (live)
Their 2017 album Visions of a Life was big in the UK, winning them the 2018 Mercury Music prize. I wasn't thrilled with the few songs played here, such as Don't Delete the Kisses, and the dyslexically named Yuk Foo (which is a really out-there song, if you want to check it out). And this year, they have a new album out.
scotchandcigar
All I wanted was some steak
It's cute. But Ellie Rowsell is cuter, so I went with the live performance. 
scotchandcigar
All I wanted was some steak
It's a female-fronted twofer day! (I probably won't be posting tomorrow.)
I don't tend to gravitate towards "fluff", and this next band has put out quite a bit of light, silly stuff. The L.A. band Best Coast originated as a duo making retro beach songs with a comic twist. Their 2010 debut album Crazy for You (the title song's video is directed by cats) contains the hit Boyfriend, and the song When I'm with You - whose video features Bethany taking her date (Ronald MacDonald) to an In-N-Out Burger. Their follow-up album and EP (2012-2013) featured more of the same light, beach-ready relationship music, with perhaps less sarcasm.
But with 2015's California Nights, they added a dreamy, psychedelic component to their beach songs, with extremely positive results. Songs like Heaven Sent and In My Eyes got radio airplay, but the big hits were these
Best Coast - Feeling OK (live)
In my opinion, this is one of the best songs of the 2010's
Best Coast - California Nights
They've continued to release albums within the past year.
I don't tend to gravitate towards "fluff", and this next band has put out quite a bit of light, silly stuff. The L.A. band Best Coast originated as a duo making retro beach songs with a comic twist. Their 2010 debut album Crazy for You (the title song's video is directed by cats) contains the hit Boyfriend, and the song When I'm with You - whose video features Bethany taking her date (Ronald MacDonald) to an In-N-Out Burger. Their follow-up album and EP (2012-2013) featured more of the same light, beach-ready relationship music, with perhaps less sarcasm.
But with 2015's California Nights, they added a dreamy, psychedelic component to their beach songs, with extremely positive results. Songs like Heaven Sent and In My Eyes got radio airplay, but the big hits were these
Best Coast - Feeling OK (live)
In my opinion, this is one of the best songs of the 2010's
Best Coast - California Nights
They've continued to release albums within the past year.