What We're Listening To: April Fools Edition

The first of April is nearly past and I've made it through the day without falling victim to any serious April Fools jokes. Hopefully, you've done the same. I for one am known for falling for the April Fools gags on NPR's All Things Considered. If you are feeling particularly fooled today, you can recover by discovering some great new music. Today we present snapshot reviews of The Decemberists, Ghostland Observatory, Dengue Fever, Beirut, Jens Lekman and The Dodos.


The Decemberists—The Tain

I love The Decemberists to the point that I wish that Colin would agree to donate sperm to father my child. And by donate sperm, I mean bed me. I went to see them last summer when they played with the Baltimore Symphony (my parents flew down to come with me), and it was the best show ever. I thought knew all their main stuff, but in that show they played The Tain, a 5-part, 18-minute song that I fell in love with right away. Their music is like an epic poem in length and lyricism and I never get tired of listening to it. - Amy

Ghostland Observatory—Papparazzi Lightning

This Austin, Texas based duo's music style is described as "electro-dance soul rock," but I just call it kick-ass. The lead singer channels Freddy Mercury and the drummer wears a cape. The band just released a new album, but I'm still busy rockin' out to this one. Better late than never, I guess. "Sad Sad City" is my favorite tune on the album. I learned about these guys because Zack interviewed the guy with the cape last week. - Ben

Dengue Fever—Venus on Earth

This is a Cambodian psychadelic rock band introduced to me by my Cambodian ex-roommate. When I listen to their new album I'm instantly transported to much preferable state of mind. - Ben



Beirut—The Flying Cup Club

Beirut's multi-instrumentalist vocalist front-man Zach Condon is only 22. And that makes me sick. His second album, The Flying Cup Club, is an veritable smörgåsbord of nontraditional instruments and musical styles. Rich, warm tones and military drums are overlaid with a highly vibratoed, swooping tenor voice that some compare with that of Rufus Wainwright. The result is a really unique album full of surprises that, honestly, took me a bit of time to get really into. But I'm glad I did. Check out "Nantes", "A Sunday Smile" and the seemingly gay-themed "Cliquot", which has for its chorus: "What melody will lead my lover from his bed / What melody will see him in my arms again." - Michael

Jens Lekman—When I Said I Wanted to Be Your Dog

In excited anticipation for Wednesday night's show at the Black Cat, I am listening to Jens Lekman's "When I Said I Wanted to Be Your Dog." Jens voice and style is a love or hate deal and I am definitely on the side of the former. Often described as Belle and Sebastian meets the Magnetic Fields, Jens seems to overcome the underproduced and monotone sound of either. Also, what is not to love about this lyric? "When I said I wanted to be your dog, I wasn't coming on to you, I just wanted to lick your face." - Robert

The Dodos—Visiter

I missed the Dodo's show at DC9 on Sunday, and for that I am an idiot. This band has a great way of taking really familiar musical elements and making them sound un-obnoxiously contemporary. On "Jodi," the 6-minute song at the album's center, "Buckets of Rain"-style gentle guitars give way to hard drumming and an insistent chorus, without ever sounding too offputting or mechanical. And "Fools", an earlier track, actually incorporates tasteful yodeling into its hook. It's like Animal Collective, but you don't need to be on mushrooms to fully enjoy it. - Zack