Track-Fu

Hey, guess what -- we think you should go to the Rancho this Thursday night! Read on to find out why.

1. Howl - Islands

Zygiella's getting a lot of props on this week's list. Howl are playing the series' fourth installment this Thursday. I might not be able to go because I have to get up early, but I like this band so now I'm intrigued. They have an acoustic sound, slightly folky, but with interesting tempo changes and some really pretty instrumental and vocal bits.

ZYGIELLA.COM IV w/ Howl, Hungry Lake, Fleece Elves and The Paint Movement @ Rancho Relaxo, $5 (Thurs May 29)

2. Hungry Lake - War Crimes

This song by Hungry Lake is just a demo, so the muddy production can be forgiven. The bass is too high, and the vocals are too low. The melody is pretty good though and I like the chorus. I just can't hear the lyrics very well.

ZYGIELLA.COM IV w/ Howl, Hungry Lake, Fleece Elves and The Paint Movement @ Rancho Relaxo, $5 (Thurs May 29)

3. Fleece Elves - Subabdominal Messages

I've been noticing that I'm hearing more and more stuff that sounds kind of like it might have been played back-to-back with "Morale" on Much Music about 10 years ago. I take this to mean that the 90s are now retro, and I am getting old. Of course, that's my high school music so I have some personal nostalgia for it as well. I say all that because Fleece Elves kind of sound like that to me -- CanIndie 1997. I do not mean that as an insult, it's just what comes to mind.

ZYGIELLA.COM IV w/ Howl, Hungry Lake, Fleece Elves and The Paint Movement @ Rancho Relaxo, $5 (Thurs May 29)

4. The Paint Movement - Howl At the Moon

This song by The Paint Movement is kind of bringing me down! But it's nice, so I can't really complain. The sax (right?) is an interesting choice that works better than you might think it would.

ZYGIELLA.COM IV w/ Howl, Hungry Lake, Fleece Elves and The Paint Movement @ Rancho Relaxo, $5 (Thurs May 29)

5. Orillia Opry - Riverside 2

I think bands from Montreal often have something about their sound that somehow marks them a bit as being from that city. I don't know what it is, maybe just some kind of Euro-ness that works its way into their melodies and production. Distinctive culture and all that. Anyway, regardless of whether or not that makes any sense, I like this song by Orillia Opry. It's got a good subtle build-up and I like shared male/female vocals.

6. Young and Sexy - Saucerful of Fire

Young & Sexy were all cool a couple years ago, and I liked them well enough, but they never totally won me over. Second chance, guys!

Okay, it's not going that well so far. The song sounds a bit too "Age of Aquarius" for me, honestly. And I know what I just said about male/female vocal teams, but here it's not really getting me.

7. Spoonfork - Bustin' Heads For Doctor Death

My computer wants me to select Spoon for Spoonfork. Not really the same thing. There are parts of this song that I like -- the melody on the chorus is pretty good, the quieter breaks with the bass and guitar are cool. But on the whole something about it doesn't really appeal to me.

8. The Drift - Uncanny Valley

This has no words. I don't like the instruments used. I have a headache and I'm out of patience now. Sorry, The Drift.

Winner

Some solid tracks at the top of the list this week, but Orillia Opry most impressed me.

Loser

I felt like it wasn't fair to pick The Drift because I was kind of whiny by the end of this. But I wouldn't have really liked it either way, honestly.

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