The Music Note

From the classic, well-crafted pop of 2006’s High Society and its follow-up Chateaux Revenge , to country inspired fourth release Alaska , the Silver Seas are a band who have continued to musically evolve with each new record. However, latest album Moonlight Road marks their biggest transition yet, with a shift towards a wholly electronic sound. On Moonlight Road , the acoustic pop folk and catchy melodies – elements that all their previous albums shared – have been replaced with programmed drums, keyboards and layered vocals. In this respect, the album bares similarities to Josh Rouse’s 2018 release Love in the Modern Age , a comparison that is perhaps unsurprising given Daniel Tashian’s involvement as a co-producer on Rouse’s record. However, whereas Love in the Modern Age draws influence from 80s music, Moonlight Road’s electronic arrangements take a more fresh approach. Long-time fans of the Silver Seas may initially find Moonlight Road to be somewhat jarring in places, such i...

I've been meaning to compile one of these lists for a while now. A selection of songs that were my personal favourites throughout 2013, all of which feature regularly on my day to day playlists, yet still sound as fresh and innovative as the moment I first heard them. In the near two years that I have been writing this blog, I have been fortunate enough to have discovered some fantastic music from both emerging and established bands, many of which are unsigned or on independent labels. The list below features a selection of these tracks, along with key songs from more mainstream and universally recognised bands - all in all, a delightfully random mix of good songs. 'Ain't Messin 'Round' - Gary Clark Jr. On 'Ain't Messin 'Round', bright horns and momentous grooves offset perfectly against Gary Clark Jr.'s soulfully raw vocals. A furiously addictive guitar solo provides further edge to the whole structural arrangement. The track may well be the ...

Given the choice, I much prefer listening to music with a full band, compared to acoustically.  I do enjoy acoustic music, but for me it's just not the same as the excitement of hearing a full band, whether it be on a studio recording or in a live performance setting.  However, there are a few acoustic albums that I have found myself listening to a lot lately. The Silver Seas'  Chateau Revenge! - Blue Edition  is a re-recorded and instrumentally stripped down version of their original Chateau Revenge! album. What I really like about this alternative track-by-track rework of the original recording is that the majority of the songs take a refreshingly unique approach to the acoustic genre, with a fair few of the tracks sounding completely different to that of the original studio album.  This is by no means a criticism of the original album which remains my favourite release of theirs, I just think this alternative version offers some very interesting arrang...

Featured on the Nashville band's third album Chateau Revenge, From My Windowsill is a wonderfully sublime track with lyrics to match.  "And the taxis are rolling by / And the girls dressed in the latest styles / From the station to the concrete sky / There's no sign of heartbreak for miles and miles" sings lead singer Daniel Tashian, accompanied by backing vocals so melodic, you'll find yourself singing them all day.  My favourite part of the song is the middle 8, in which strings effortlessly layer progressive drums, making way for a beautiful guitar solo.