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Obscure Sound: Best of September 2007

Wow. September flew by so quickly that I nearly forgot to post the monthly best-of compilation. I could easily blame it on the sudden onslaught of classes, but it could also be accredited to the rush of new music we have been t...
 
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Obscure Sound: Best of August 2007

August was certainly one of the most consistent months I’ve covered lately. Numerous bands featured with quality music… enjoy. 01. The Afternoons – Let’s Fall Apart (post) 02. The Virgins – Rich Girls ...
 
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Obscure Sound: Best of July 2007

July was another month containing quality music. A bunch of these new artists will most certainly see a deservedly large amount of exposure shortly. 01. Mono in VCF – Spider Rotation (post) 02. Testa Rosa – Ollie &a...
 
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Obscure Sound: Best of June 2007

June was quite a splendid month. Several artists that will most likely make a few of my year-end lists. Enjoy this one. As for a bit of self-promotion: today is my birthday. I can now be drafted but I still cannot legally drink...
 
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Obscure Sound: Best of May 2007

Here is the third compilation, gathering the best tracks featured on this site in May. As usual, you can either download the songs individually (by clicking on the song name) or as an entire RAR file by clicking the link below ...
 
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Obscure Sound: Best of April 2007

Here is the second compilation, gathering the best tracks featured on this site in April. The previous compilation in March went over well so I hope you enjoy this one just as much. As usual, you can either download the songs i...
 
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Obscure Sound: Best of March 2007

This is a new feature that I’ve been thinking of adding for awhile. Basically, seeing how many people seem to enjoy podcasts and compilations, I decided to collect fifteen of the most well-received songs that we featured ...
 
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  • Washington, DC act @thisiscigarette show a gorgeous sound on “Mood,” a consuming track from their new album Light Blues. This is a project that, throughout this album, emphasizes their ability to weave emotional lyrics and vocal performances with gently expanding melodies, full of developing guitar tones and simmering rhythms. From the soaring vocal second-half of “Soil & Green” to the overall feel of “Mood,” Light Blues is an album full of gorgeous moments — one of my favorite albums of the year thus far. “Mood” specifically is a gem, moving with an ethereal vocal presence that casts a hypnotic lull. Per the band, the track “touches on the feeling of wishing. Wishing something didn’t happen.” The track is about a close friend of the band’s, who passed away in a motorcycle accident. {Link to listen in bio}
  • Max Cohen is a multi-instrumentalist based in Los Angeles, crafting spirited and catchy material under the name Mr. Max. His incorporation of everything from punk to funk has been evident on past releases, like “Let’s Get Cucked Up,” and his fifth and most recent release “I Wish I Loved Someone” is one that pursues an aesthetic reminiscent of “a retro ’70s ballad, with hints of psych-rock and soul.” It’s an infectious, bright effort with various eclectic touches — from the lush synth-pop interlude at 02:50 to the shimmering rock chorus, which reminds aesthetically of Smith Westerns. “The lyrics detail the respective viewpoints of lovers with ‘less power’ and ‘more power’ in an intimate relationship,” Max says. “The song ultimately concludes that, despite the power struggles people tend to play in shallow relationships, we all wish to love and be loved authentically.” The track was produced by Alex Arias. {Link to listen in bio}
  • Seattle act Guests churn out an otherworldly, psych-friendly vein of folk. Yearning, lo-fi male vocals mesh cohesively with an angelic female vocal presence — a fun hybrid of psych-folk and sophisti-pop. Led by guitarist/songwriter Sean Canfield, Guests reminds aesthetically of Ariel Pink’s more understated, lo-fi material. The female vocal backing provides a carefree, psych-friendly feel reminiscent of ’70s sunshine pop, with Canfield’s fairly nonchalant delivery and brooding acoustics combining for a truly unique feel that incorporates lo-fi psych-folk as well. Subtly effect melodic transitions, like the one around 01:11, work well throughout. The “I’m happy to know you,” conclusion is very affecting, specifically. Cited influences include “eastern European folk, doo wop, 60s vocal pop,” and more, with the project playing their songs live without mics or amps — conjuring “an inviting campfire storytelling vibe.” I’m definitely into this project. {Link to listen in bio}
  • @giannaalessimusic powerful, soulful vocal presence leads stellar new track “Night Mentality,” a suavely entrancing piece of R&B-laden pop with smooth guitars and twinkling keys. A nice bridge at 03:07 shows a melodic, passionate turn. “Night Mentality” is a well-constructed track that we’re happy to premiere, one that shows the NYC-based artist’s strengths well. Alessi’s work as a vocalist began at the age of nine, when her grandmother Maria Leone – a former soprano at the Metropolitan opera – gave the young Alessi a voice lesson. Now based in NYC again after performing across the US and Europe, Alessi is working with producer Carey Clayton, who aids in channeling her consuming vocal talents into a convincing aesthetic with soul, R&B, and pop vibes. Alessi begins a residency at Groove in NYC’s West Village this summer. {Link to listen in bio}

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