Lon Gisland, Beirut

Artist: Beirut
Album: Lon Gisland, 2007
Label: Ba Da Bing!

Good music for a caravan, Beirut plays gypsy roots while lead singer, Zachery Condon, sings the sound of a subdued ringleader. The catch is the setup, a collection of instruments in arrangements that synergies to make the human instinct to dance visible. The first song on the album puts you in a different world: the "Elephant Gun" intro leading with a uke, then filled with accordion, crashing cymbals, and a well placed horn section puts you in Paris, or colonial Africa, or a Circus in the 30's, or in some universal space of time that Beirut creates. Beirut could follow in the foot steps of bands like them, Devotchka, and make a soundtrack that is synonymous with its movie. Or, they could tour a little more in America and break through here. The only problem with this album; it's too short.

The Play: Catch them in Paris with your best friend, dance in the back with someone you just met, after the show start the after party with your new friend's and best friend's arms around your neck, a cigarette to be shared, and Zach playing the accordion softly while taking with you and the band.

iTunes recommendation: It's short, get it all.

1. "Elephant Gun"
   
2. "My Family's Role in the World Revolution"
3. "Scenic World (Second Version)"
   
4. "The Long Island Sound"
   
5. "Carousels"
   

Sing the Greys, Frightened Rabbit

Artist: Frightened Rabbit
Album: Sing the Greys, 2005
Label: Fat Cat Records

Wake up, sad ain't sleepy no more. If the greys are worse then the blues they must come with some sort of alert outlook on life, or at least an up beat rhythm. Frightened Rabbit, hailing from Scotland, plays an up beat tune while singer Scott Hutchison's voice sings through either a real or manufacture pain, and a slight Scottish accent. It works. The range of the music, from urgent to playful, and the delivery of Hutchison make this album. The worst thing about them is their name: not so cool on a tee shirt. If you saw them in a local bar you'd say nice set after the show while you were buying an album.
Don't expect, grand guitar solos or wild musical expeditions. The foundation of their music is strong and they don't stray far from it, but when it's good why would you? In the way Modest Mouse's "Good News for People Who Love Bad News" album is layed out, "Sing the Greys" has three instrumental interludes, that as far as an album plays, it works well.

The Play: Get that paper you've been needing to write for your quantum English articulaiton class out of the way while you have a few ups and downs listening.

iTunes Advice: If you don't care about the album feel leave out the interludes, incidents. And if you just want to get a fell, "Snake" and "Music Now" are the ones to buy.

1. "The Greys" - 2:41
2. "Music Now" - 4:12
3. "The First Incident" - 1:48
4. "Yawns" - 3:19
5. "Be Less Rude" - 3:01
6. "The Second Incident" - 1:20
7. "Go-Go-Girls" - 3:34
8. "Behave!" - 3:28
9. "Square 9" - 5:16
10. "The Final Incident" - 0:47
11. "Snake" - 2:32