- Posted by Jneels -

Call it a curse, a calling, or just a pathetic obsession. Music is again my companion and the reason why I can’t sleep. The only thing I can think to do is submit my thoughts in a playlist to that potent digital audio brew we share.

For some reason, I never fully committed to The National’s 2007 release The Boxer, but I am deep into this album already. Brooklyn continues to produce some of the most credible sounds in the country, but this release is on the more melancholy and shoe gazey side of the spectrum. As much as High Violet is introspective and somber, beautiful hope rises out of its tasteful and patient 11 tracks. Its understated melodies and midtempos make it possibly one of the best headphone records of the year to date. High Violet holds weight without giving into electro trends or bending their sound to reach for anything. Its subtly confident and damn refreshing. “Lemonworld” was simply the track that made me give up on sleep and write the following.

MP3: The National – “Lemonworld”

I have been lucky to have Diego Garcia in my queue for some time. The singer from NY based Elefant has been working on a solo reinvention. He calls on his Argentine roots to reach for deep catharsis for lost loves and regrets. His latin croon in “You Were Never There” is retro and romantic with nylon string and cello arrangements throughout. He will be playing select dates at the Miami and Downtown LA Standard hotels in June. His band has started to take shape, and Josh Garza of the Secret Machines will be on drums for both dates.

Diego Garcia - ”You Were Never There”

Adding the Deftones to this list may throw you off at first, and the track title won’t help my case, but “Sextape” off of Diamond Eyes is an amazing display of distortion. People who are not usual fans of the Deftones could still appreciate this track as it’s the alt side of this ethereal mood I am haphazardly mapping. Verses build with delay-drenched guitar and release into heavy open riffs topped by Chino Moreno’s howling.

MP3: Deftones – “Sextape”

Doran Danoff is almost completely unknown, and “Bridges and Tunnels” is just a purely great song. Production is sparse. Production is too often the crutch artists lean on to compensate for unfounded writing. Doran uses only his voice, his story, and his piano and the outcome is heart wrenching. The lyrical intent is broad in ambition, but he is bold for not hiding behind confused metaphor and ‘self-congratulatory’ hip. I have had this song in my iTunes since 9.11.09, and is #6 on my most played list.

Thanks for the session everyone. Hope you enjoy.