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#MusicMonday, Vol. 53

What the CL Music Team is jamming this fine Monday, from Mutemath to The Black Keys, and more.

By Julie Garisto , Leilani Polk , Taylor Toothman , Joel Weiss , Gabe Echazabal , Ray Roa and Tony Green on Mon, Dec 12, 2011 at 8:00 am

Gabe - Pearl Jam, PJ20 (2011)
Excellent two-disc soundtrack for the intriguing Cameron Crowe-directed documentary that chronicles the rise of Seattle's favorite sons. Kudos for the respectful and well-deserved tributes to Andy Wood, the late leader of pre-PJ forerunners Mother Love Bone. The outtakes and live tracks found exclusively on this set make it a solid purchase. Proof that this band is still very much "Alive"...

Tony - David Ryan Harris, "Hold My Fire"; Brian Eno, "Another Green World"; Kool Keith, "Apartment 223"; Steve Coleman and the Five Elements, "Destination" (single); and Kings X, "Black the Sky"

Ray - Akron/Family, Love Is Simple (2007)
The Dead Oceans signees are ringing in the New Year with a new tour supporting a new album — S/T II: The Cosmic Birth and Journey of Shinju TNT — but the sounds of their 2007 LP are also a good primer for the live spectacle that is sure to ensue at Crowbar on January 10. Released on Young God records, the 11-song effort finds the band settling nicely into their now infamous experi-folk sounds. More than a handful of songs (take the seven-minute "Ed Is A Portal" for example) feature choruses of handclaps and exalted voices, but the album's quieter moments are impressively poignant. "Crickets" is laced with lucid slide-guitar, and everything comes together on album highlight "Don't Be Afraid, You're Already Dead," when what starts out as a simple, one-line verse unfolds unto three-voices delivering a "la-da-da-da-la-da-dah" that begs to be shouted along to.

Julie - Cloud Control, Bliss Release (2011)
I wasn't sure about yet another "freak folk" CD. Music of the psych-pop ilk tends to excite me at first but then it will often languish forgotten in a coffee-stained CD wallet in my car. Cloud Control, like Local Natives and Fleet Foxes, is one I will come back to. With strong melodies, sweet vocal harmonies, catchy beats and quirky charm, the textures go beyond the macrame of yer usual neo-hippie pablum, growing on you with each listen. It's gotten me singing along, shouting along. Yeah, you'll want to follow this Bliss.

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What the CL Music Team is jamming this fine Monday to rocket launch the work week. To check out previous entries, click here.

Joel - The Black Keys, El Camino (2011)
The Black Keys first teamed with retro-svengali Danger Mouse on Attack & Release. Songs like "Strange Times" hinted at the hard-edged catchiness these two parties could conjure together, but I think they were much more successful this time around. I've been addicted to the riffy "Lonely Boy" since I first heard it; and although I'm only wrapping up my second listen as I write this, the rest of the album is appropriately solid. Check out the stadium soul of "Gold On The Ceiling" and the "Stairway To Heaven"-channeling "Little Black Submarines." Set closer "Mind Eraser" also wraps things up nicely.

Leilani - Mutemath, Odd Soul (2011)
This album is blowing my mind. Seriously badass '70s-vibing prog-psyche rock grind and swagger, with crunchy guitars, fatty fuzzed out bass and synths, and a few noticeable electro-groove moments to keep things interesting. This will definitely be on my best-of 2011 list.

Taylor - Memoryhouse, The Years EP (2011)
No hurry, meandering, low-fi tunes...a perfect way to stay stress-dree on a Monday.

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About The Authors

Gabe Echazabal

I was born on a Sunday Morning.I soon received The Gift of loving music.Through music, I Found A Reason for living.It was when I discovered rock and roll that I Was Beginning To See The Light.Because through music, I'm Set Free.It's always helped me keep my Head Held High.When I started dancing to that fine, fine...

Ray Roa

Read his 2016 intro letter and disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. He became Editor-In-Chief in August 2019. Past work can be seen at Suburban Apologist, Tampa Bay Times, Consequence of Sound and The...