Picks Of The Week: Beach House and The Wave Pictures

Welcome back to me! I've been missing from this blog for one month. I worked on two super awesome pilots, both of which you will likely see on NBC in early 2013, and two incredible season finales for Castle and The Big C. Always lots of pressure for great music in those season finales! Then I did take a couple weeks to decompress. Now I'm back, and promise you 'two-fers' for the next four weeks to make up for my absence and because I have so much good music stockpiled here to tell you about! Beach House just released their fourth album, titled "Bloom". This band from Baltimore has been bubbling under for some time, by which I mean that very few people knew about them for the last few albums, but those people told enough friends, who told their friends and now suddenly everybody is a fan for this new album. That's just how it works sometimes. It's a very worthy album for their breakout - slightly darker than their first few (you know I like that.) Beautiful, dreamy, lush, but still indie and interesting. And as a bonus, you can get it on Amazon right now for only $5! I mean, just skip the morning latte and get this album instead, it will last far longer.

Beach House - Bloom: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

For my second pick, I've been pretty intrigued with this album by The Wave Pictures for the last few weeks. It's a melange of many influences that I love, all mashed together into a fun and intriguing new sound. On any given track you might think "Belle & Sebastian", or "early Elvis Costello", "Art Brut", "Vampire Weekend" or even "Marc Almond from Soft Cell". I don't mind obvious influences when they are so varied and plentiful! The Wave Pictures write angular, clever, upbeat songs about strange characters living dark lives, and it's just refreshing and a whole lot of fun.

The Wave Pictures - Long Black Cars: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

Picks Of The Week: The 88 & Avalanche City

Super quick double recommend this week to make up for last week - April is a very busy time in TV land! Now in case you haven't noticed, I'm fond of albums. Singles & EPs I have no love for. They're at best too short to get an idea what a band is all about and at worst just an early release of something you're going to get later on an album anyway, and rarely worth it. So these two releases already had a hurdle to overcome with me but I've had to make exceptions to my album-only policy! First off, a band I've loved forever, The 88, has made a new EP that took my breath away even considering my high expectations of them. It takes an incredible amount of determination, perseverance, and talent to just stay together and survive as a band for 10 years in LA, let alone stay at the top of their creative game and do it without major label assistance. A standing ovation please for The 88! This EP has five solid tunes on it, I am particularly fond of "Do You Love Me" which has been known to be played on repeat in this house several times in a row.

The 88 - Actors EP: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

Secondly, I came across a video so charming (and I generally have little use for music videos) and a song so sweet that I was immediately hooked. Dave Baxter is the 'epicentre' (according to his website) of Avalanche City out of New Zealand. The debut album is available as an import, but a four song EP just came out in the U.S. digitally and I'm sure the album won't be far behind. So, so, so, so GOOD! It's impossible to feel sad while listening to this song or watching the video so keep it handy for those times when you feel blue.

Avalanche City - Love Love Love EP: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site (Watch the video here!)

Pick Of The Week: The Shins "Port Of Morrow"

Dear James Mercer, you really are a terrible boyfriend. You've spent five years away from the Shins, philandering openly with Dangermouse on the Broken Bells project, which although lovely didn't quite utilize your songwriting talents, did it? And now you bring us a new album and I suppose you'd like to be back in our affections as though nothing had changed. Well, we'll just see about that. Listen #1: We admit "For A Fool" is properly apologetic. And it is nice to hear your voice again. But we'll remain strong. Five years away, after all! Perhaps one more listen just to make sure. Listen #2: "It's Only Life" is very comforting. How is this album lush, yet also stripped down? Inventive yet classic. And oh, how we've missed your clever lyrics! We must get a grip! We're just being nostalgic. One more time, we'll keep our heads straight this time. Listen #3: We're melted. All is forgiven. Welcome back. The Shins - Port Of Morrow: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

Pick Of The Week: Delta Spirit

Yes, this recommend is a few days behind schedule. But I did not receive this album until today so it all worked out for the best! I'm already a big Delta Spirit fan, so I'm not sure why it was not on my doorstep the day of release, but I'm just happy I have it now. This will be in constant rotation as I'm now an even bigger fan - they flesh out their strengths of classic, timeless rock on this new release. And while I am truly sorry that lead singer Matt Vasquez has apparently been suffering some heartbreak I must say it makes for some stellar new songs. His voice is unmistakable and his unaffected delivery very compelling - the production (by Chris Coady, who has worked with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, TV On The Radio, Beach House and the Smith Westerns) is excellent, lots of cool layering and breakdowns. Plus, they have a very sharp website and all kinds of free downloads on there, so do visit. If you like a good live show, they're crossing the United States on a three month tour right now, go see it! Delta Spirit - Delta Spirit: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

Pick Of The Week: She Keeps Bees "Dig On"

I liked this record when it came out last year but as time has passed I have become slightly obsessed with it so it's definitely due for a mention. Just imagine if The Black Keys were fronted by a woman, or if Cat Power became a power rocker. You'd like that, right? It's only $9 on Amazon, what are you waiting for? She Keeps Bees - Dig On: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

Pick Of The Week: Yellow Ostrich

Singer-guitarist Alex Schaaf takes his work into expanded territory on Yellow Ostrich's second album, Strange Land. His first album was a bedroom project but now with a complete band there's new instrumentation and a much bigger sound that comes from touring everywhere in the last year. Its still quirky, lovable, dynamic, fresh-sounding, and well worth a listen and a 'buy'. But you probably knew that from looking at the artwork! Yellow Ostrich - Strange Land: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

Internet Talk Radio Interview

Who knew there was an internet radio show devoted to Castle, and more specifically, the lovely Stana Katic? Well there is, and as Castle's music supervisor, the show hosts Pam and Sheryl deemed me worthy of an interview. They were totally cool and we had a fun time talking about Castle, music, music supervising, and the process of how music makes it onto a TV show. You can listen to the archive here: Stana Talk Radio / Tricia Halloran interview.

Pick Of The Week: "New Multitudes" by Jay Farrar, Will Johnson, Anders Parker, Yim Yames

You had me at "Jay Farrar" ... but feel free to throw in two of my other favorite songwriters of all time, Will Johnson from Centro-matic and Anders Parker from Varnaline. And just in case anyone still needs convincing, toss in Yim Yames aka Jim James from My Morning Jacket, because then this record is an absolute LOCK for pick of the week and there's really no point considering any other albums! Really you could give these four guys the phone book and get a pretty good album out of it, but instead they took inspiration from the unpublished notebooks of another stellar writer, Woody Guthrie. There's no lack of info out on the web about how this fascinating project came together, just search on "new multitudes" and have at it ... but get the record first so you can listen to it while you read up on it! Jay Farrar, Will Johnson, Anders Parker, Yim Yames - New Multitudes: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

Pick Of The Week: Lambchop "Mr. M"

Lambchop is an odd band, they'll be the first to tell you. And its not for everyone. There's not space on this blog to properly explain their quirky sound and outsider path to success but you can read all about it on AllMusic.com. They rarely (never?) misstep, so all their releases are recommended but the latest is particularly poignant as it is dedicated to Vic Chesnutt, a good friend and collaborator of  Lambchop mastermind Kurt Wagner. It deals with love and loss in a typically gorgeous Lambchop way, it's almost meditative to listen to it on headphones. Except for all the cursing. Nonetheless, if you're not already on board the Lambchop train, its a good time to take a ride! Lambchop - Mr. M: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

Pick Of The Week: Heartless Bastards

There's no lack of buzz on this release and well deserved. I love Erika Wennerstrom's vocals, her songwriting, her emotion, the production (by Jim Eno of Spoon), the way the record builds from a whisper to a wail, and I don't know why there is a buffalo on the artwork but I love that too. Anybody else hear a little Led Zeppelin in there? If more women found their way into rock in this gender-free way instead of in the more common girly way, there would be more records like this. And that would be a good thing. Heartless Bastards - Arrow: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

Valentine's Day Playlist

The romantic and sexy editors over at the new Reign magazine asked me to come up with ten songs to make you swoon on Valentine's Day, it's a varied list from Billie Holiday to Wilco to James Vincent McMorrow, here you go! Ten Songs To Make You Swoon

Pick Of The Week: Dr. Dog

We love Dr. Dog! Each of their last several albums has reached a little bit in a new direction, their songwriting craft is in peak form, they're loose and fun without being sloppy or lame. They love their pop melodies and harmonies just as much as their raw vibe and fuzzy guitars, and it all blends beautifully. Recommended if you want a modern version of The Beatles, Dylan, The Band or any of the classic greats. Dr. Dog - Be The Void: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

Louis Armstrong Sighted On Castle

Even though I'm die-hard indie rock girl, 40s and 50s jazz is a secret passion of mine so working on this episode was quite a thrill! It was fun (and nerve-wracking) to try to find the right Louis Armstrong recording that matched the era as well as the band members we would have on-stage. Kudos to the Castle writers, who envisioned how beautifully "I Can't Give You Anything But Love" would work throughout three scenes and ultimately bring Castle the answer to the mystery. And a big thank you to Connie Boylan at ABC who worked tirelessly to cast the Louis Armstrong look-alike as well as period-perfect band members. Louis Armstrong - I Can't Give You Anything But Love: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

In order to have Tamala Jones (the actress that plays Lanie) sing "Comes Love" during the episode, we pre-recorded the track at a studio in the Valley. She was charming and funny! I think she was a little nervous but once she loosened up, man, she was channelling Billie Holiday and it was awesome! I'm not sure if ABC will make that track available to Castle fans, but meanwhile I'm recommending the Billie Holiday version if you like the song -- but Joni Mitchell does a great version too!

Billie Holiday - Comes Love: Amazon :: iTunes

Pick Of The Week: Imperial Teen

It's always fun when long-time favorites make a great new album and I have a chance to introduce them to a new audience. Imperial Teen released their first album a remarkable 16 years ago. Way back in 1996, their quirky pop (with a bite) was a bit rebellious since the music world was obsessed with post-Nirvana Alternative Rock. In retrospect, looking at the success of bands like Vampire Weekend and Ra Ra Riot, they obviously were just ahead of their time. There's nothing not to love about this album, its well-written, cheery, fun, and has enough rock to avoid sugar overload. It's perfect to get us through cold and gloomy February!  

Imperial Teen - Feel The Sound: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

The Big C Starts Production!

It's true, The Big C is back in production already, filming in Stamford, CT is officially underway. And the producers and I are already working on some fun musical treats for Season 3! The first episode is due to air on April 8 on Showtime. If you don't have Showtime, or haven't seen the first couple seasons, get thee to Netflix, you can rent Season 1 there! You can read about the Showtime season premieres on The Huffington Post here.

Pick Of The Week: Craig Finn

I still remember distinctly the first time I saw Craig Finn perform, with his band Lifter Puller, although many lesser shows have blurred in my memory since then. It must have been in 2000, after their record "Fiestas and Fiascos" came out. They played in the dirtiest, diviest club I have ever been to in Los Angeles (not surpassed yet), the wonderful and infamous Al's Bar. The performance was mind-blowing, to say the least, and the gritty atmosphere only enhanced the feeling that we were discovering something truly and incredibly awesome. As I recall it, there wasn't even a stage at Al's, the bands just played in a corner of the bar. Craig Finn has a passionate performance style all his own and stories that will sear your soul. Combined with the indie punk of a Minneapolis band, it was powerful and irresistable. Shortly after that performance, Craig moved to NYC and formed The Hold Steady, and I've seen some mind-blowing performances by that band as well, in much nicer venues. Now its time for his solo release. This album is not for punk fans, or indie rock fans, or alt-country fans, although it has a little of all those genres in it. This album is for Craig Finn fans. Way slower, and vastly stripped down from any of his band projects, his gift for storytelling shines through just like his performance did that night in 2000 from underneath the grime of Al's Bar. It doesn't really sound like most singer-songwriter albums, or any alt-country album, it just sounds like Craig Finn. And that's A-OK in my book. Craig Finn - Clear Heart Full Eyes: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

P.S. IF the title of this album is a reference to the motto "Clear Eyes, Full Heart, Can't Lose", written by Peter Berg for the best show ever on television, Friday Night Lights, then Craig Finn moves up from genius to über-genius in my world view.

Have A Pink Martini With FeFe Dobson on Castle tonight!

 

Such a fun episode! No better song than the charming "Lilly" by Pink Martini to start off our dog-themed show. Pink Martini are one of the hardest working indie bands in show biz, they've released six studio albums and have performed endless charming live shows to enchanted audiences during their long tenure together. Lucky you, new fan, they just released a retrospective CD so you can get right to 'the best of' and it includes "Lilly"!

Pink Martini - "Lilly": Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

Canadian songstress FeFe Dobson knows how to mix in the dance beats, but she's a rocker at heart, I can tell. She has a still-sizzling hot album out from 2010 with "Watch Me Move" as well as many other gems, she'll get any party started!

FeFe Dobson - "Watch Me Move": Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

Pick Of The Week: Her Space Holiday

I have not fallen in love with any 2012 releases yet (except last week's pick, Snow Patrol), so I am pulling another 2011 release that deserves mentioning. Her Space Holiday is a project helmed by the talented Marc Bianchi and this album is significant because he has decided that after 15 years and six full-length albums he's closing this musical chapter. He'll continue creating music (keep an eye out for "The Boys & Girls") but we must sadly say good-bye to the indie-tronic pop with the charming talk-singing style and the broken-hearted lyrics. Maybe he's not broken-hearted enough for Her Space Holiday anymore! So a fond farewell to a musical project that has brought me many many hours of listening pleasure. The most recent album is self-titled, but I'm also going to call out my other two fave HSH albums, 2005's "The Past Presents The Future"and 2003's "The Young Machines". Her Space Holiday - Her Space Holiday: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

Her Space Holiday - The Past Presents The Future: Amazon :: iTunes

Her Space Holiday - The Young Machines: Amazon :: iTunes

Pick Of The Week: Snow Patrol

Thank you Snow Patrol for releasing an excellent album in a time that's otherwise a bit slow for new releases. This is the band's sixth release (yes, they had three albums out before most people ever heard of them) and its usually right about now that bands achieving their level of success start to self-destruct and make a crappy album because they've lost touch with reality. I'm pleased to report that none of that applies here. This album is a gem and I'm all the more impressed that they've been able to navigate their success without losing what make their music special. Snow Patrol began recording this album in Joshua Tree, California (remind you of anyone else?) and completed it in various Los Angeles locations. They also had help from pals as varied as Michael Stipe, Lissie, Queens Of The Stone Age guitarist/keyboardist Troy Van Leeuwen and the LA Inner City Mass Gospel Choir. Gary Lightbody wanted to make 'an ambitious record', well, mission accomplished.

Snow Patrol - Fallen Empires: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

Pick Of The Week: William Elliott Whitmore

It's traditional that I spend the last couple weeks of the year sorting through any remaining unfiled piles of CDs in my office so I can start the year with a clean slate and plenty of room for the new releases. So I end up listening to even more music than usual in the countdown to the new year and invariably I find one gem that I missed during the year that absolutely slays me. William Elliott Whitmore's record is it for 2011. It's clarity and passion woke me up as if somebody poured cold water on my spine. His songs are remarkable in how they profoundly and simply address today's issues while putting them in historical context. It feels rural in its soul but with a voice that no intellectual could ignore. He could play equally well to any demographic in any state or city in the U.S., and that is a rare thing. I hope you enjoy, keep an eye on this one for sure. William Elliott Whitmore - Field Songs: Amazon :: iTunes :: Official Site

P.S. New Year's Resolution: one post per week for the next 50 weeks on a recommended album.