In this podcast we highlight our 30 favorite songs from 2015.
To listen to the top 70, check out our Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/user/1213031281/playlist/4xa2h2nMAukmVX89UgndZg
As 2015 comes to an end, we went through and relistened to the albums we were loving throughout the year, as well as some late newcomers. In this episode, we talk through how we go about making lists, what they mean to us, and dig into our 20 favorite albums of 2015.
Here's a link to that Liam Neeson bit we're always referring to: https://youtu.be/sqA577_IoBk
Our full 2015 list: http://www.velocitiesinmusic.com/lists/favorite-albums-2015/
Musical duos have a very unique dynamic compared to solo artists and larger bands. A duo indicates a partnership, with some kind of give and take or checks and balances within the creative process. While defining what makes a duo may seem like a simple task, it becomes more complicated when we take into account the roles each member play and the contributions they make.
Here are some great duos that you will NOT hear on this podcast but we would still recommend you check out:
- The Black Keys
- Suicide
- Richard and Linda Thompson
- The Kills
- Death From Above 1979
- Lightning Bolt
- Blood Red Shoes
- Rodrigo y Gabriela
- Cults
- Department of Eagles
- Majical Cloudz
- Matt and Kim
- No Age
- Ratatat
- Hall and Oates
Christmas music is a divisive subject this time of year, and not just for music aficionados. It's an inescapable part of the holiday season that some choose to embrace, while others strive to avoid. In this podcast, we go through our favorite Christmas songs, our most hated, and our favorite 10 Christmas albums.
November usually shows a decline in album releases as we approach the end of the year, but there were still a few great albums released this month. Here are the ones we highlight:
Khruangbin - The Universe Smiles Upon You
Grimes - Art Angels
Floating Points - Elaenia
Oneohtrix Point Never - Garden of Delete
Bill Ryder-Jones - West Kirby County Primary
Teeth of the Sea - Highly Deadly Black Tarantula
Cee Lo Green - Heart Blanche
Justin Bieber - Purpose
Lanterns on the Lake - Beings
Wreckless Eric - America
Anna von Hausswolff - The Miraculous
Adele - 25
Arca - Mutant
Freddie Gibbs - Shadow of a Doubt
Chorusgirl - Chorusgirl
TRAAMS - Modern Dancing
Shye Ben-Tzur - Junun
Ty Dolla $ign - Free TC
Jeff Lynne's ELO - Alone in the Universe
Enya - Dark Sky Island
Ringo Deathstarr - Pure Mood
King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard - Paper Mache Dream Balloon
Logic - The Incredible True Story
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Double albums are naturally a very high-risk, high-reward venture for a musical artist. It can be an opportunity to wow listeners with your songwriting variety and conceptual prowess, or turn them away with a self-indulgent epic that simply could have been trimmed down to a single LP. Despite the risk, double albums are a medium that some of the best artists in history have chosen to tackle, and the successes end up being some of the most memorable moments in music. In this podcast, Jake and Tom talk through their top ten double albums, what makes a double album successful, and how we define them.
See the full list here: http://www.velocitiesinmusic.com/lists/favorite-double-albums/
The Smiths were one of the defining alternative rock bands of the 1980s. Over a span of only four years they left an indelible mark on music that still hasn't been matched in terms of wit, identity, and songwriting craft. In this podcast we'll take you through the highs and lows of The Smiths' discography and legacy.
October 2015 was full of terrific new releases, but also a few disappointments. In this album wrap-up, we discuss:
Guy Garvey - Courting the Squall
Beach Slang - The Things We Do To Find People Like Us
Evil Blizzard - Everybody Come to Church
Vhol - Deeper Than Sky
Shining - International Blackjazz Society
Fuzz - II
Killing Joke - Pylon
The Game - The Documentary 2.5
EL VY - Return to the Moon
Beach House - Thank Your Lucky Stars
Joanna Newsom - Divers
Patty Griffin - Servant of Love
Josh Ritter - Sermon on the Rocks
Son Little - Son Little
!!! - As If
Borns - Dopamine
Majical Cloudz - Are You Alone?
Dan Friel - Life
Luke Haines - British Nuclear Bunkers
Neon Indian - Vega Intl. Night School
Deerhunter - Fading Frontier
Coheed and Cambria - The Color Before the Sun
Israel Nash - Silver Season
John Grant - Grey Tickles, Black Pressure
Editors - In Dream
Wavves - V
Mercury Rev - The Light In You
Shopping - Why Choose
Hey Colossus - Radio Static High
Kylesa - Exhausting Fire
Blitzen Trapper - All Across This Land
Deafheaven - New Bermuda
The musical world is full of larger-than-life personalities. Some are politically minded, some are egotistical, and some are just rude. In today's culture, where artist's are given a platform not only for their music to be heard, but also for their thoughts and opinions to have a far reach, these non-musical factors can play a big part of the way we hear their music. In this podcast, we discuss the overall impact of this phenomenon and discuss high-profile examples such as Kanye West, John Lennon, and Miley Cyrus.
Thirty-five years after vocalist Ian Curtis's untimely death, Joy Division continues to inspire artists in the post-punk and rock genres. With only two masterful LPs created in two short years, they stand as a testament to the fact that music doesn't need exuberant personalities and prolonged careers to make a significant impact. In this artist deep-dive, Jake and Tom go through Joy Division's history, discography, and influence on the last four decades of music.
Despite his tragically short musical career, Nick Drake remains one of the most influential albeit underrated figures in acoustic and folk music. In this artist deep-dive, we walk through Nick's discography, discuss his character and how it affected his music, and the impact he's had since he passed away over forty years ago.
Let's talk about how to get into new music, and how technology has changed that process. This includes word of mouth, music clubs, radio, magazines and other publications, best-of lists, blogs, streaming sites, and a fun game you can play with your friends called Music League.
Jake and Tom go through Modest Mouse's discography, discussing high points, low points, style, and general impact on modern music.
Jake and Tom give their thoughts on some albums that came out in September 2015. Albums include:
Bring Me the Horizon - That's the Spirit
CHVRCHES - Every Open Eye
Julia Holter - Have You In My Wilderness
Kurt Vile - B'lieve I'm Goin' Down
Youth Lagoon - Savage Hills Ballroom
Battles - La Di Da Di
David Gilmour - Rattle That Lock
FIDLAR - Too
Widowspeak - All Yours
The Dear Hunter - Act IV: Rebirth In Reprise
Lana Del Rey - Honeymoon
Ryan Adams - 1989
Metric - Pagans In Vegas
Iron Maiden - Book of Souls
Idjut Boys - Versions
Slayer - Repentless
Disclosure - Caracal
The Wonder Years - No Closer to Heaven
New Order - Music Complete
Big Grams - Big Grams (EP)
Mac Miller - GO:OD AM
Motion City Soundtrack - Panic Stations
Blackalicious - Imani, Vol. 1
The Dead Weather - Dodge and Burn
Silversun Pickups - Better Nature
Jake and Tom discuss the different factors that can make or break a concert experience. What are some of the best concerts you've been to, and more importantly, why?
Jake and Tom talk about why, in the age of music streaming and downloads, people have begun buying records. Is it an issue of sound quality, is it nostalgia, or both?
Rock Legends. These guys redefined rock and roll in the late 1960's and 1970's. In this artist deep-dive, Jake and Tom from Velocities in Music break down the history, style, influence, and most importantly, the discography of Led Zeppelin.
What qualifications does a person need to review music? Does a person need experience to give there opinions on an album or artist? Velocities in Music dives deep into this question as they reflect on their experiences reviewing albums and the feedback they received.
Jake and Tom discuss what they've been up to over the last year, why they stopped posting album reviews, and their plans for the future.