No Day Like Today is Golden Bloom‘s first full-band collaboration, as Shawn Fogel was long a one-man show. The album is filled with powerful indie pop and even a song inspired by Breaking Bad meth expert Walter White: “Shadow Of A Man.” Today, Golden Bloom makes MAGNET a mix tape.
“Flying Mountain” (download):
Willy Mason “Oxygen”
Shawn: I just recently heard this song for the first time, and it immediately became a new favorite of mine. It’s really hard to write a “make the world a better place” song without sounding cheesy, but I think Willy Mason hits the nail on the head with “Oxygen.” Video
The Mountain Goats “This Year”
Shawn: This song is the perfect balance of light and darkness. Even the disturbing imagery is full of beauty, and in the end, hope trumps hurt. Video
Dawes “When My Time Comes”
Josh: This song has been a go-to of mine for the past year or so. It sounds like it was recorded live in a living room. There’s so much energy in the choruses, between the three-part harmony and the pulsing bass line, but the verses just seem like a conversation with a friend. Video
M83 “Midnight City”
Josh: While I wouldn’t say I’m the biggest fan of electronic music, M83 writes great songs. Their melodies and harmonies are really interesting, and their production is first tier. Plus, this song has a sax solo. Video
PHOX “Laura”
Jeff: I’m skipping y’all to the climax of both PHOX releases (Unblushing features one-take demos that would eventually become the Friendship LP; both versions are wonderful in their own right), but this epic contemplation on hope and despair must be heard! These Midwestern quirk soulsters are wise beyond their squeaky faces; their undeniable charm is a infectious ticket to the top. Video
Jacob Augustine “Methadone”
Jeff: Jacob Augustine is deceptive. I almost dismissed his music on first listen as amalgamation of many popular lush experimental indie folksters. However, since his albums were free, I downloaded and put them on my iPod and listened to them heavily on a road trip through Maine this fall. It’s familiar territory sure, but Augustine manages to do it better, prolifically, and without middle-ground compromise. “Methadone” is a heartbreaking surrender to addiction in the form of a devotional love song … or it’s a devotional surrender to love in the form of a heartbreaking addiction song. Either way, from front to back, Augustine’s catalog is doing all the right things to my ears. Audio
Mew “Introducing Palace Players”
Justin: I cannot stop listening to this band. Mew has grown on me over the years to the point where I’ve gone days without listening to anything else. Dedicated listens to their full albums pay off. Video
Hoots & Hellmouth “Why Would You Not Want To Go There?”
Justin: A close friend slipped Hoots & Hellmouth’s album Salt into my iTunes a while back, so to me, this song just appeared in my life. An extra boost when I needed a reason for the sun to come out. Video
