Sometimes you have to listen to an album more than once before you like it. For example, I hated M. Ward's last album, A Wasteland Companion. after the first listen. I really didn't want to hear it again, until I was reading an interview with M. Ward about the album. He said this one would take more than one listen to really like. Also, my good friend and Wires and Waves contributor, Jeff Poole, said he really liked it.

I decided to give it another chance. We were moving from Idaho to Oklahoma and had lots of time to listen to music. Not only did I not hate it, but I loved it. Moral of the story: Sometimes an album requires more than one listen to fully appreciate what was made.

This just happened to me again with the new Local Natives album, Hummingbird. I didn't necessarily  hate it when I first listened to it, but I didn't love it either. Their first album was so good and I felt like this album lacked some elements that I loved from Gorilla Manor. This album seemed a little more produced and the lyrics didn't sit with me as much as the first album. GM has catchy sing along lyrics that I loved. As I listened I didn't hear songs similar to "World News" or "Airplanes".

For some reason the other day I decided to give it another try. This time was totally different. I loved it. I think the anticipation of the record got to me, maybe. These guys have not digressed at all; in fact, I think they're getting better. It's not the same album as GM-- it's better. This album shows the progression of a band after a few years of touring nonstop around the world. Hummingirbd is better musically and lyrically. It maybe a little more complex, but that complexity is what drew me in the second time.

Posted by Zach 

Phosphorescent just put out one of the better albums of  the year, Muchacho. The normal twangy country sound is still there, but there are sounds on this album you wouldn't normally find on past albums, like the first three songs for example. The first song ("Sun Arise") sounds like an electronic version of the Fleet Foxes song with a similar title, "Sun it Rises".

Have you ever had the worst week ever? If so, you should try listening to Thursday. They will make you feel better. Audiotree recorded Geoff Rickly playing one of his new solo songs "New Sympathies," and it is great. The mixtape that he put out a couple months ago was pretty poor quality, as he just recorded it in his bedroom. I am looking forward to more music from Geoff Rickly for the rest of my life.

I think a lot of the inspiration for this post was drawn from this video out of Rexburg, Idaho. I'm sure it's also because ten years ago was the year my brother and I started listening to punk. Sean started buying and collecting all the Punk-O-Rama CDs and even the DVD which featured some classic music videos such as

and
and
and
That spring we went to a show at an old rest home in Idaho Falls featuring the likes of Fear Before the March of Flames and Anatomy of a Ghost. We went to Warped Tour that summer and I remember all the "true punks" who heckled anyone enjoying sets from bands like The Starting Line (I vividly remember Sean crowd surfing and then getting thrown into the air, doing a front flip and landing on his feet in the center of a circle pit during their set), The Ataris and Simple Plan. I remember the Suicide Machines dividing their crowd for a Braveheart mosh pit battle re-enactment. I remember my friend Matthew getting kicked in the face during Andrew WK's set and letting loose a gatling gun obscenity laced tirade before leaving the show with my Dad (yes, he accompanied us) to see a movie. I remember noticing a 2-person long line to meet Pierre of Simple Plan so I chatted with him for a minute as dudes with liberty spikes walked by and told him to eff himself (proudly wore a Simple Plan t-shirt to school that fall complete with Finch armband and spiked hair). The last sets of the night were Rancid, the Used and AFI. I was in heaven (my only regrets are not seeing Taking Back Sunday and Brand New as they played that day and I didn't yet love them). Thanks for accompanying me down this stretch of memory lane.

Seattle's own Telekinesis is coming out with a new album, Dormarion and NPR has a First Listen for it. I am listening to it right now and so far, it's pretty great so I'm just gonna go ahead and share this with you guys.
You should listen too. Right here.

If you know me deeply and truly, you know that I love Usher. This is my song of the day because it was stuck in my head. Also, you better believe that I am watching the Voice because of him.

Today I heard the most perfect song of my existence. I don't even want to say anything about it. Except his voice and the lyrics and the violin make a tear-worthy combination. It reminds me of Modest Mouse a little bit; I suppose it's because of his voice. The lyrics are so honest, and I feel like we can all relate to it every once in a while. No? Just me? Oh...well, okay. Anyway, I might cry to this later.