Catnip for Hipsters

copycats:

Good Ol’ Fashion Rump Shaker by The Hood Internet
Good Ol’ Fashion Nightmare by Matt and Kim + Shake Your Rump by The Beastie Boys
(posted by Nathaniel James)

Yeasayer - Ambling Alp (Memory Tapes Remix)

I tend to stay away from remixes as tracks of the day, but this Memory Tapes remix of the great new single, Ambling Alp, from Yeasayer deserves special attention. Memory Tapes has been one of the buzz bands of the last few months by being one of the pioneers of the “chillwave” (thanks for that one, Hipster Runoff) movement, and his simmering, low-key style is a perfect match for this band that refuses to be pinned down by a particular genre. By putting the hook right in the front of the track, this remix is forced to add more and more layers to keep the song moving forward and manages to never lose momentum in the process.

On a personal note, this will be my last post for three weeks as I head off to the south island of New Zealand to see this:

this:

and this:

Thanks for continuing to read and support Catnip.

perpetua:

Solange
“Would’ve Been The One”

This is here as a reminder that Solange does not need David Longstreth, Grizzly Bear, Kevin Barnes, or her profoundly talented and extraordinarily famous sister to be thoroughly wonderful. I’m all for this woman going wild, diving into the possibilities of music rather than trying to fit into the narrow definitions of what a modern R&B singer ought to be. So much potential, but she’s already put out some brilliant material. (I originally wrote about the song here.)

Absolutely floored as soon as I hit play on this track. While I’m sure she will always live in the shadow of her sister, Solange Knowles definitely proves on this track she has enough personality to come into her own. Make sure to also check out her cover of “Stillness is the Move” which is currently still up at Stereogum.

Title: Genesis 3:23
Artist: The Mountain Goats
Album: The Life of the World to Come

In the past The Mountain Goats have always primarily served as a mold for John Darnielle to pour his dark, expressive stories into, but in recent years The Goats have started to gel into a proper band. With Jon Wurster (of Superchunk and Scharpling and Wuster fame) now semi-permanently behind the drum kit, the band’s sound is more fleshed out and confident than it has ever been on their latest LP.

While every track on “The Life of the World to Come” is named after a verse in the Bible, this shouldn’t scare away any non-believers, as the 12 tracks are simply about “hard lessons” John learned from these specific scripture verses. After the fuller arrangements that the Goats explored on “Heretic Pride”, the sound has mostly been stripped back to the essentials (guitar, bass, drums), causing every note to hit with that much more force. While those unfamiliar with the Darnielle’s lyrics should look to “The Sunset Tree” as his strongest album, this album is filled with great tracks and is another wonderful addition to an impressive catalog.

Genesis 3:23 states “So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken.” and is taken from the story of Adam and Eve eating the apple in the garden of Eden (research!). On this track, which sounds strikingly like the musical opening from a lost 80s sitcom, the narrator of the story returns to his former home to see if the current residents are better off than when he haunted the hallways. While there is no indication that it was anywhere close to Eden, he is still possessed by the feeling of wanting to go back to the physical place where everything started, just like Adam and Eve’s desire to return to the garden.

Ween - Bananas and Blow

I have always had a bit of a love/hate relationship with Ween and their genre copping style. While they always seem to have their tongues planted firmly in their cheeks, sometimes they manage to come up with a track that is genuinely clever and exciting, like this classic from “White Pepper”. This track about getting stuck in a cabana with only the essentials is so infectious, with its great Caribbean rhythms and steel drums, that even if the lyrics aren’t sincere, the appreciation for the style certainly is. It’s nearly impossible to listen to this song and not immediately want to head down to the beach (bananas and blow optional).

The Boy Least Likely To - Every Goliath Has Its David

There are many bands that seem to never progress beyond their teenage years, but The Boys Least Likely To seem to be far more worried about who’s turn it is on the slide than an icky teenage love affair. This track off The Boy’s latest album, “The Laws of the Playground”, is precious almost to the breaking point, but it always seems more fun than twee, even with lines like “I’ve got puppy power!”. Re-imagining the story of David and Goliath as seen through the eyes of a child, this song is filled with handclaps, stomps, and all kinds of organic sounds that are perfect for pumping the kids up just before recess.

Guilty Simpson - Man’s World (Produced by J Dilla)

I came across this track on the sporadic but always entertaining Stones Throw Podcast. J Dilla chops up the classic James Brown hook which Guilty Simpson uses to preach about the tough love that men receive growing up. Guity has never sounded as focused as he does on this track, and it’s hard not to be affected by the love/hate relationship that he has developed with his father. It may be a man’s world, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy.

copycats:

Hot Like Fire by The xx
originally by Aaliyah

The xx take a 1996 R&B jam, remove the beats, add a lot of cross-faded atmosphere and their dueted voices to give us a sweet and sexy track about holding off a bit before having sex with someone. I’d argue the cut does a great job of musically capturing the feeling one builds up in this scenario.

Oh it’s gonna be, hot like fire
Take you higher
You can’t resist
Kiss, kiss, and kiss and kiss and kiss and…

It certainly sounds like the wait will be worth it to me. —indieandyy