The Strokes, a story about our generation

If there is one band in the modern-music-revolution-panorama WSG thinks will go down in history are The Strokes. Every single thing about them is absolutely amazing.

Starting with JC – Mr. Casablancas, who is  - without any question - one of the most charismatic lead singers of Rock & Roll as we know it today. The sweet-sexy-unique voice, the fuck-it-I-want-to-buy-your-jacket style, the drunk-shit-ass stage performances, down to the curious fact that he made his studies in Switzerland (where he actually met Albert Hammond, Jr).

As a band, besides the internal conflict 'JC vs. the rest', they’ve released what is one of the most precious things available out there – Is This It. It is probably the best Rock album of the past 10/11 years, a piece of art, a music treasure that we all should brightly place in our discography and make sure we share it with the next generations. That’s how much Is This It is valued for WSG.

We could sit here and be looking at our screens for hours if I was to post all their landmark songs, so WSG will have the difficult job of picking one. And yes, as much we respect each of all The Strokes songs, there is a different light, a sparkling sense of sarcasm, love and glory about You Only Live Once, from First Impressions Of Hearth. This is THE song of our generation, and that my friends, is my gift to you on this random Friday.


Oh, men don't notice what they got
Oh, women think of that a lot...
A thousand ways to please your man (oh-ho)
Not even one requires a plan (I know)

TV On The Radio, a story about modern genuine good music

There are few modern bands rated as high as TV On The Radio on the WSG list.

All their 5 albums are unique, innovative and – above everything – true quality works.

My favorite will always remain Return To Cookie Mountain with songs like Province, Wolf Like Me or Dirtywhirl. It just sounds like a  perfect orchestra across all types of sexy funk-pop-electronic vibes, a 10/10 album.

Coming back to their latest release, Nine Types Of Light is the band's 5^th album and is basically collecting the love from both Return To Cookie Mountain and Dear Science. I think that with the database of crazy-blinded-fanatic fans they’ve generated (yes, it definitely includes WSG, most likely on the first row) it’s impossible that anything they do doesn’t become epic. They’ve raised the bar up to that point where you ask yourself “am I really listening to this?”. Yes, they’re that good.

I’ve decided to share one of their classics (and on my ‘TV On The Radio Top-5’), from Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes – their second album from 2004 – Staring At The Sun. Enjoy young and cool people.


beat the skins and let the

loose lips kiss you clean
quietly pour out like light
like light, like answering the sun 

Amy Winehouse - a known destiny, an amazing singer

Yes, it’s all inevitable. Both Amy dying and me having to write a post about it.

With no surprises, one of the most promising and refreshing female singers of the 2000’s was found dead, most likely due to her known addictions to alcohol and drugs. She always found difficult to hide her problems and the music world could testify her degradation state during the several live performances where she was completely drunk and coked our of her mind.

Theories about her death might arise, especially when we all know she entered the sweet 27 club – Cobain, Hendrix, Morrison and Joplin are the other members. Did she killed herself to make a part of this restricted club? Most likely she was not even able to realize it, but WSG loves good speculation.

The truth is, without any discussions, she was a true classic rock star. From the talent to the polemic figure, she had it all. May she RIP, finally we will be able to enjoy her music and share it with our kids without having the unpleasant scenario she auto-created in the past few years. Thanks Amy for the good music and the sweet speculation.

Here Me and Mr. Jones live at Glastonbury



And on my favorites Tears Dry On Their Own

LCD Soundsystem

It’s Friday, and one cannot avoid thinking that weekend is just a step away. For that reason, and because WSG (aka Whatever Sounds Good) never posted an electronic-dance band, please welcome to the blog LCD Soundsystem.

Their self-entitled album LCD Soundsystem is one of the reasons why electronic-dance music is relevant. Either you’re a fan of the genre or you’re not, but this album demonstrates how you can love the music without being a fan – which for the sake of honesty and transparency, WSG is.

James Murphy created his own Dance-punk 2000’s style by combining 70’s beats with 80’s dynamics and a sweet-sexy-dirty electronic voice that turns LCD’s music into a new-wave-punk-dance-house-acid experience. It’s all there, pure and nasty.

Undoubtedly – yes, I don’t take any other opinion on this – Daft Punk Is Playing In My House is (and will be) their best song, and that’s what I have reserved from you:  

Toro Y Moi - Underneath the Pine

The first album is always a walk in the park, and young Bundick had a lot to learn. Well, he did. Underneath the Pine takes such a straight forward approach, it’s like we'd postponed all our youth dreams and suddenly a kind stranger reminded us of all those memories. The catchy electronic beats, the whole funky soul vibe...it’s all sweet and stylish, just how I pictured it.

Whatever Sounds Good keeps loving to death hearing the same track over and over, and what a perfect example of the description above it is: Still Sound.

Get addicted beloved readers:

A story about a Spanish Sahara

Sometimes words aren't enough. Simply magical. I just hope this song stays forever in people's ears and mind.

Cause I am
I'm the fury in your head
I'm the fury in your bed
I'm the ghost in the back of your head

tUnE-yArDs - Who Kill

Another big 2011 hit album, Who Kill from tUnE-yArDs. There is so much of weirdness as there is quality across this raveling epic piece of work. Can’t quite figure out where she got her inspiration, but tUnE-yArDs music sounds gold.

From Gansta to Real Live Flesh or the single Bizness, it’s all so special and unique...just like Garbus.

Bizness official video – and a great one btw:

Foster The People - Torches

Torches is valuable because Pumped Up Kicks exists. Few songs will have such impact in 2011’s music list. It’s a joy to listen, a truly good pop song with a nice indie touch and a juvenile aura.

When browsing through what’s left of the album you’ll probably feel strangely bored, or even lost, but I can only think they'll come more consistent in their second album.

Et voila, the acclaimed Pumped Up Kicks official video:

A story about the music-religion

Not in my wildest dreams I’d ever imagine JC and Mr. JW could share the same stage to play one of my favorite songs, yet it happened. Well, I wasn't there, that’s a bit of a shame. For those who were – I hate you, with every drop of blood in my veins.

Big round of applause to JC who had the courtesy of bowing to Mr. God himself. He deserves that and more, much more.

Wu LYF = a new addiction, an old friend, a future passion

Another strong candidate to album of the year, Go Tell Fire To The Mountain by Wu LYF.

First work from this mysterious UK alternative-rock-electronic band that has won acclaimed critics from all music experts.

They sound fresh, controversial, happy and energetic.

We Bros

We bros you lost man

We bros so long

Put away your guns man

And sing this song

Dirt

No matter what they say

The Dollar is not your friend

Moloko - 11,000 clicks

I strongly advice any man music lover to watch Moloko’s 11,000 clicks DVD with their concert @ the Brixton Academy.

More than the lovely music, Roisin is just a pleasure to see. Her stage presence, charisma and, more than anything, her charm.

The whole concert is some kind of hypnotizing process that leaves every human being in her hands.

Leave you with a couple of videos to ensure I’m not the only one blessed with this gift.

Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago

“Music speaks what cannot be expressed, soothes the mind and gives it rest, heals the heart and makes it whole, flows from heaven to the soul.”

Sweet Adolescence in Oasis company

Within these small trips back in time, I found myself in the most arrogant inspiring moment all together from every one’s recent adolescent memory. It was Oasis. It was and it is, with every beat, walk or self-confident word.

Love the way in which the Gallagher’s make us as cocky-pretentious-proud-superior as themselves. It’s just a fresh full injection of egoistic feelings, and Whatever Sounds Good is a fan.

Hoping to inspire you (three) readers, and avoiding to share the obvious, I will post 3 of my favorites Oasis songs.

First, from What’s the Story Morning Glory, Roll With It – here live at GMEX:

From their first album Definitely Maybe, Cigarattes & Alchool – here live in their home town Manchester:

And their first single and still their best song, Live Forever taken from Definitely Maybe – here acoustic bringing together all the kinds of chills our poor bodies can take: 

Metronomy - a story about electronic funk pop in the English Riviera

Metronomy are one of the hottest bands around, no doubt about it. They’re simple but complex, with good beats, nice lyrics and great chemistry their music is just yeah-want-to-dance-and-love-everyone good.

The English Riviera is laid-back, it’s Metronomy at its pop-loving best. Like if they’re telling us ‘Just relax and enjoy the melody’. They grew up and probably understood how their music should sound – typical band evolution process I guess.

Whatever Sounds Good likes them and their English Riviera.

Enjoy the live version of The Look performed at the backstage of Glastonbury:

And here is the video clip of The Bay, one of my favorites: 

The Kills - Blood Pressures

In one word, The Kills are cool. Jamie has some sort of classy-sexy vibe going on (just ask Kate Moss what she saw in him) and Alison…well, she is…Alison.

Glastonbury always has the power to bring out what’s best on every quality band, and The Kills performance this year was no exception – unfortunately I wasn’t there but youtube and a few blogs/music sites allow me to have an opinion.

My favorite from Blood Pressures - Future Starts So Slow, The Kills live in Glastonbury:

And a beautiful version of The Last Goodbye: 

A story about 2011's good music

Sometimes there’s just chemistry, pure and simple natural connection. Guess that’s what happened between me and Destroyer. I would honestly say that’s what will happen with anyone that listens to Kaputt.

The year is yet to end, and I’m hoping for some interesting stuff to be released from here to December, but when it comes to Album of year 2011 I think Destroyer's Kaputt raised the bar quite high.

Kaputt is one of those albums that has no beginning and no end, a true beautiful structured piece of good music.

I suggest you people to simply buy the album, it makes it easier. In the meantime enjoy the lights of Blue Eyes and Chinatown:

BBC - A Different Kind of Fix

Bombay Bicycle Club’s new album will be out soon (Aug 29^th) => A Different Kind of Fix.

To open the appetite they’ve released the new single Shuffle.

Say your prayers.

Ryan Adams - Gold

Gold was – and still is – a huge breath of fresh air into the musical scene of the 2000's. The country-pop-blues-rock style of Mr. Ryan Adams delivered one of the most remarkable albums of the last decade – for the crazy-ass fans like myself, probably of all times.

As the young irresponsible kid I was in 2001, Gold was the sum of all troubles and fears, the true highlight of a man’s pain struggling to make way across a sea of doubts, difficult decisions and heartbreaks. Just what everyone needs when growing up.

Ryan Adams is just a normal random guy, with few ambitions besides sharing his wonderful music with the world. And that’s just what makes him (even) more lovable.

Words ran out.

Enjoy the live/intimate version of Rescue Blues:

Go nuts with one of the most amazing and brilliant songs of Gold last decade – La Ciniega Just Smiled:

And complete the adoration process – it can't get better than this – by falling in love to Nobody Girl: