Posts Tagged ‘Röyksopp’

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Album of the Week: Röyksopp – "Junior" (2009)

2010/01/08

Track 2: The Girl and The Robot:

Röyksopp. Many of you probably have never heard of them, but have likely heard their music. e.g. That song that plays in the Geico Caveman commercials when he is in the airport on the moving walkway… That's Röyksopp. The music for the startup video for Mac OS X 10.3… That's Röyksopp too. But those are on older Röyksopp albums. I'm here to talk about their 2009 album "Junior".

I already geeked out about the first song "Happy Up Here" and included the album at #3 on my "Top 10 Best Albums of 2009" list. Now I am adding "Junior" to my "Must Own Album" list.

In "Junior", Röyksopp combines the energy of dance or techno with the meditative calmness of ambient, all in a way that still seems accessible and pop-like. Perhaps that is the definition of "house" music, that they are frequently categorized as, and they fit well. The album has a playful quality in the lyrics and the videos too that only adds to my appreciation. I have to believe they do not take themselves too seriously. They are having fun and have produced something fun for us to listen too. I suggest watching the videos for "Happy Up Here" and "The Girl and The Robot" (below).

Also I love their use of electronic slurs and rasp sounds in several of the songs. Those sounds are more akin to sounds heard in video games or sound effects than music. I belkieve any kind of sound is eligible to be an "instrument" and experimenters are to be commended for ever expanding the notions of what is an "instrument" and what sounds can be used in "music". Bravo.

Here are my 5 favorites from the album, with "Happy Up Here" being my favorite and "The Girl and The Robot" being a very close 2nd.

Track 1: Happy Up Here

Track 2: The Girl and The Robot

Track 3: Vision One

Track 4: This Must Be It

Track 6: Miss It So Much

PS: I know I've been slacking on my album of the week selections. Hopefully with the holidays being over I will return to my weekly stride.

Click here for other album suggestions!

Click here for more info on Röyksopp – "Junior".

The MP3 album may be purchased here:

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Top 10 Best Albums of 2009

2009/12/31

The end of a year. The end of a decade. The end of an era perhaps. I anticipate a year of change. "Spiritually, ecumenically, grammatically"… well, maybe not ecumenically, but definitely musically …and grammatically.

This past year has had several songs and abums I loved. I would say these are my "Top 10 Best Albums of 2009":

1. Franz Ferdinand – "Tonight"

Franz Ferdinand's "Tonight" is the winner in my mind. I still am gushing over it months later.

2. Metric – "Fantasies"

Metric's "Fantasies" is not too far behind and has really inspired some of my drumming.

3. Röyksopp – "Junior"

Röyksopp's "Junior" is like a shiny new toy you cannot help but play with and show off to your friends.

4. Coconut Records – "Davy"

Jason Schwartzman's music is good. I don't think he should stop acting because I like his work in that medium too, but Coconut Records is quality.

5. The Sounds – "Crossing The Rubicon"

I have been a little obsessed with these post-punkers this year so of course I had to include their latest album on this list!

6. Owl City – "Ocean Eyes"

Adam Young totally seems like the nice guy who cannot sleep and writes awesome Postal Service influenced songs in his basement.

7. Grizzly Bear – "Veckatimest"

These guys have a mesmerizing quality and I still cannot put my finger on it. Heads blowing up perhaps?

8. Matt & Kim – "Grand"

The album is good, but "Daylight" is genius in my opinion. So simple, and yet so complex. I still am working on Kim's drum line.

9. Animal Collective – "Merriweather Post Pavilion"

I kept hearing about these guys and finally gave them a listen. I like. I like.

10. The xx – "xx"

The xx is the only "new" band on this Top 10 list, and I only *just* got their album, but I like what I hear so much they are on the list!

Now to be fair, there are still a lot of albums on my "to do" list from 2009 so I reserve the right to add to this list. I'm still discovering music from over 10 years ago, so I am serious. Also I only recently aquired the "Animal Collective" and "The xx" so I reserve the right to rearrange it too if they sink in and I find myself all a twitter.

(Huh… I just realized Twitter has ruined the phrase "a twitter". Maybe it is apropos though. People do seem to be "a twitter" about Twitter. I am still betting eventually the tweeters out there will realize it is just microblogging… blogging with severe restrictions… and thus probably not going to last the test of time. People tend not to favor the thing that has severe restrictions. Microblogging = severe restrictions. And yes, I realize I am a user too, but I really only use it as a channel for my RSS feed. I digress.)

Check out the Top 10 and report back here. I want to know if you like them or not. Let me know what your top 10 (or top 3 or whatever) are too!

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Röyksopp – "Happy Up Here" (2009)

2009/11/29

You know I really like it.

I can't help but look for new music all the time. The stuff I know is good, but experienced. Done. I have ridden that ride. I want to hear something new. Perhaps familiar, but different in some way.

I find it shocking when I talk to most people about music and they are still listening to the same 10 albums they've had for the past 10 years. They cannot even remember the last time they got a new one. These people do not actually like music. Or they are the kind of people who eat the exact same thing for breakfast every day. Boring! And disappointing too. Break out of your rut! Today, I have a different flavor for you to try.

Make sure to watch the video too. It is awesome. You Space Invaders out there will love it!

Whatever you do
Whatever you say
Nothing could push the feeling away
It's here in my heart and it's here in my head
I feel like I'm part of a book I've read

And every page and every paper
Seems to be part of human nature
Sending me back down on memory lane
My favorite record is playing again

Song Recommendations

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Click here for more info on Röyksopp – Junior – "Happy Up Here".

The MP3 may be purchased here…

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