Ian Thornley - Secrets

Aw, heck. This is a music blog. Here's some great music.

Best of 2014 Part 5

Movin' right along...

#9

Big Wreck

Ghosts

I was super excited when I heard a new album from these guys was on the way, and it delivered in spades. For me this is their best work, in either incarnation (i.e. Thornley), since their first album way back in '97. The crunchy guitars, soaring choruses, and epic harmonies are all over this release. Ian's singing sounds great, the song writing is there, and don't forget his signature guitar solos. 

Thankfully they've eschewed radio hits for longer, more meaty songs, with only one clocking in under four minutes, and only two others under five. There are some truly memorable moments on this record, not least in the terrific album closer, "War Baby". It's crazy that these guys still aren't bigger than they are. In a world full of indie alternative experimental glitch step, decent rock bands are fewer and farther between. Here's to one of the very best.

Hey Mama

Come What May

Ghosts

#8

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings

Give The People What They Want

So what do you do when you get bile duct cancer, have half your digestive system removed, and lose all your hair from god-awful chemo treatments? Well, you kick cancer's ass and get back on the damn road pronto, of course. At least that's what Sharon Jones did. She delayed the release of this album until she got better so she could tour properly, and man did she do it right.

This is a super album, comparable to her excellent 2010 release "I Learned The Hard Way", absolutely stuffed with modern Motown masterpieces. Of course it helps that she has the best backing band in the business, but why not? The music suits them to a tee. Check out these clips, and this video, and tell me you wouldn't love to see their live show. Two thumbs way up.

Stranger To My Happiness

Now I See

Get Up And Get Out

#7

Todd Terje

It's Album Time

It's been a long time coming, and well worth the wait. Terje Olsen has been around the disco house scene for the best part of a decade, and this is his first full length release. It's hardly a surprise that he knocked it out of the park. Every note in every song seems charted to perfection, and his crazy keyboard licks keep it just that little bit unpredictable.

Upbeat, fresh, funky, bouncy, mesmerising. It makes you want to get up and go for a jog in the middle of the night. Or dance down the cheese aisle at the supermarket. Vocal samples are used fleetingly, mostly indiscernible from the other blips and bloops, and only one song features actual singing of any kind. Amazingly Terje has found a way to take his act to the live stage, and the performance of "Inspector Norse" seen below is just awesome. 

Delorean Dynamite

Inspector Norse

Leisure Suit Preben

EP #3

Vulfpeck

Fugue State

What a refreshingly bright sound these cats have. It's just so much funk, so much jazz. I'm sure you're familiar with their big hit by now. If not, you should be. I mean it's physically impossible to listen to this stuff without a smile on your face and your head nod on. Got a classy house gathering coming up? Here's yer guys. FollyFest? Hey... you know what... now we're on to something!

First Place

Sky Mall

Fugue State

Hot diggity, just two days to go in 2014!

Thornley - Provide

Another of my all-time favorites.

Big Wreck - Glass Room

Fixed my twitter feed.

Rejoice! 

Now enjoy one of my favorite live acts.

Big Wreck - Wolves

Latest video from one of my favorite rock ensembles.

Big Wreck - Control

Good day for some music videos, here's the second single from the new album "Albatross", released today! Can't wait to get it!

Thornley - Changes

Thornley is coming to FredRock! Awesome! One of my all-time epic party stories, if not THE epic story, involves a Thornley show from Molson Snow Jam at Marble Mountain. I'd tell it to you, but it takes about 30 minutes and is best told over beers with The Franchise present to fill in the blanks. This is one of his lighter sounding poppy tracks, but it's still pretty good. When he really rocks out, he's frickin' awesome. I HIGHLY advise you to check this show out.

Wong bong!