#16 (Blog Launch Edition)

The Harlem Shakes formed when a couple of Yale kids and a couple of NYU kids boarded a sonic Amtrak headed to Jollyville and didn't bother purchasing a return trip. Exceedingly singable (not the Singability to match Bud Light's "drinkability"--that would be gross), frequently foot-tappable, and bouncingly bouncy, the band leads the league in "oooohs" and "ahhhs" choruses and jingly jangles. The Shakes's 5 track EP Burning Birthdays was a great palette-whetter, but also led to years of near signings and delayed record releases. For fans of the band, their March 2009 release of their first full-length "Technicolor Health" marks a long-awaited return. The first single off the album "strictly game" lights a fuse just like previous material, mixing pianos, synths, heavy bass, bachata rhythms and cowbell. The song also places hope at the forefront, singing for a better year in the face of a recession.

Put a little bit of bitter in your pink lemonade:

The Harlem Shakes, "Strictly Game"

Blind Pilot is a two-piece acoustic band from Portland that make you think: "hey, I could have written that song" and "hey I could have played that song on guitar AND on drums" only you've never played guitar before and you've definitely never played the drums. That may seem like an insult but I love the simple nature of their songs. When you have beautiful melodies and evocative songwriting, you really don't need much more. In retrospect, I suppose it's more like "man, I wish I had written that song, because I could have."

Blind Pilot, "The Story I Heard"

Enjoy.
"The devil you know is better than the devil you don't" someone once said,
Nick