New Mix: Explosions In The Sky, Parquet Courts, Wire, Told Slant, More
Clockwise from upper left: Explosions In The Sky, Frankie Cosmos, Parquet Courts, Told Slant Courtesy of the artists hide caption
On this week's episode of All Songs Considered, Bob helps Robin Hilton out of his annual NCAA March Madness depression after his Jayhawks lose yet again. Bob plays a mind-obliterating track from Explosions In The Sky. Robin introduces us to new music from punk veterans Wire and a new song from Frankie Cosmos but they all seem to simply taunt his loss.
We also hear a magnificent new song from Told Slant that features Felix Walworth, the drummer for Eskimeaux, Florist and Bellows. Then there's more explosive sounds from Parquet Courts and a new song by rhythmic sound effect master Walker Lukens. Robin closes out the show with a song by The Glands, one of his favorite bands from Athens, Ga. in tribute to lead singer Ross Shapiro, whose death was announced late last week.
Songs Featured On The Episode
Explosions In The Sky
"Logic Of A Dream"
From 'The Wilderness'
Bob thinks that The Wilderness is the best marijuana record (his term) since Pink Floyd's Meddle. The magnificent sounding "Logic Of A Dream" takes you on a journey as the song builds on pulsating drums and great guitar lines.
The Wilderness is out April 1 on Temporary Residence Limited.
Logic Of A Dream
Wire
"Internal Exile"
From 'Nocturnal Koreans'
Wire exploded onto the '70s rock scene with its seminal album Pink Flag. Since then, the band has undergone constant variations of line-up and sound and its new record, Nocturnal Koreans, shows the band deep in studio experimentation.
Wire's Nocturnal Koreans is out April 22 on pinkflag.
Internal Exile
Parquet Courts
"Dust"
From 'Human Performance'
Parquet Courts: great for existentialism and cleaning. Bob cranks music loud when he cleans his apartment, and Parquet Courts' new music is perfect, cathartic music for the chore. The last 40 seconds of "Dust" build something like a compressed version of Explosions In The Sky and pack quite the sonic punch.
Parquet Court's Human Performance is out April 8 on Rough Trade.
Dust
Walker Lukens
"Lifted"
From 'Lifted - Single'
Walker Lukens does not beat box so much as use his voice to make rhythmic sound effects for his curious, textured music. The vocal intro to "Lifted" started as an iPhone voice memo. With the help of producer Jim Eno, Lukens built the entire song around that one vocal bit.
"Lifted" is the first single off of Tell It To The Judge, Lukens' new album with his band The Side Arms, out later this year.
Lifted
Told Slant
"Low Hymnal"
From 'Going By'
Felix Walworth, singer and drummer of Told Slant, is a three time veteran of the Tiny Desk after performing with Bellows, Eskimeaux and Florist. Told Slant makes dark, delicate indie rock in the same vein. Felix wrote the music for "Low Hymnal" as just a tune that remained unfinished with for about a year before the lyrics arrived quickly following a series of personal crises. "Did I invite disillusionment and self-hatred into my life when I started writing about them?" Felix says. "Probably."
Told Slant's Going By is out June 17 on Double Double Whammy.
Low Hymnal
Frankie Cosmos
"Fool"
From 'Next Thing'
Frankie Cosmos, led by singer Greta Kline, makes wonderfully light, breezy, sweet songs that are just delightful. "Fool" is a song, according to Kline, "all about the times you put yourself out there and you feel like you failed."
Frankie Cosmos Next Thing is out April 1 on Bayonet Records.
Fool
The Glands
"I Can See My House from Here"
From 'The Glands'
There was a period in the late 1990s when Athens, Ga. bands were at a peak of collective, creative output. Neutral Milk Hotel released In the Aeroplane Over the Sea and bands like The Gerbils, The Olivia Tremor Control and The Glands all released seminal albums. Most of the bands went dormant after that time, but the music stands the test of time. The recent passing of Ross Shapiro, the lead singer of The Glands, comes especially hard — The Glands announced last year that the group was recording new music. We don't know what will become of that project, but, in the meantime: This one is for The Glands.