Well, the holiday is over, and people will soon be getting back to their usual schedules. As you may know, we skipped the S-25 Mix last Sunday to present New Indie Christmas Songs playlist.
Now, it’s time to return to regular programming. If you’re not familiar with this relatively new playlist series, The Sunday 25 Mix is a chance for all of us to kick-off our shoes, sit back and listen to awesome music from all eras and genres of, including, and beyond, indie music. We love the S-25 because it provides us an opportunity to share songs we’ll always love, ranging from 1960’s pop and jazz to 70’s glam rock, 1990’s alternative rock, 80s FM rock, recent indie rock, and more.
A staple of the S-25 mix series is the band profile. For each mix, we profile a band we favor. This week it’s Beach House. When the Baltimore duo of Alex Scally and Victoria Legrand emerged on music blogs like Pitchfork in 2006 as Beach House, music lovers all around the world were drawn to the duo’s dreamy, hypnotic, even haunting, sounds. The first single that launched Beach House was the eerie, but alluring, “Apple Orchard”.
“Apple Orchard” – Beach House from Beach House (2006)
Just too months following the premiere of “Apple Orchard”, as demand for more Beach House songs were hitting a feverish pitch, the duo released their eponymous debut album on Carpark Records. People just ate it up, especially in United States, Canada and Europe.
By 2008, Beach House were already one of the hottest new dream pop bands around, and the duo reinforced their position as excellent songwriters and musicians with the sophomore release, Devotion, later that year. Among others, one of the stand out tracks on Devotion was the hauntingly beautiful “Gila”.
“Gila” – Beach House from Devotion (2008)
The success of Devotion, and the growing fan base for Beach House in the U.S., Canada, Europe and other areas prompted the legendary Sub Pop Records to sign Beach House in 2009. Therefore, with all of those pieces in the right place, it was no surprise that Beach House released perhaps their best album yet, this year’s Teen Dream. Legrande’s vocals are simply intoxicating, part Nico, part Cat Power; Scally’s splendid instrumentation and song-crafting are the centerpieces which Legrande so wonderfully blends her unforgettable vocals with. Teen Dream has already made the Top Five or Top Ten of many year-end ‘best of’ lists.
So, in addition to the six-pack of tracks from Beach House, there are two dozen songs from an eclectic array of artists, genres and eras of popular music. Enjoy, and please RT, Like, Stumble and leave comments below.
“Under Pressure” – David Bowie & Queen from single (1983)
“Zebra” – Beach House from Teen Dream (2010)
“Ooh La La” – The Faces from Ooh La La (1973)
“Spirit in the Sky” – Norman Greenblum from Norman Greenblum (1970)
“I Want You To Know” – Dinosaur Jr. from Farm (2009)
“Gbe Mi Lo” – Ofege from Try and Love (1973)
“Super Sonic Rocket Ship” – The Kinks from Village Green Preservation Society (1968)
“Norway” – Beach House from Teen Dream (2010)
“Goods” – Mates of State from All Day (2004)
“Darkness on the Edge of Gastown” – Japandroids from No Singles (2008)
“Knockout” – Air Waves from Dungeon Dots (2010)
“It’s Raining Again” – Supertramp from Famous Last Words (1982)
“Downtown Train” – Tom Waits from Rain Dogs (1985)
“As You Turn To Go” – The 6ths from Hyacinths & Thistles (2000)
“Walk in the Park” – Beach House from Teen Dream (2010)
“Every Day is Like Sunday” – Morrissey from Viva Hate (1988)
“Never Ending Math Equation” – Modest Mouse from Building Nothing From Something (2000)
“God Save The Queen” – Sex Pistols from Never Mind The Bollocks (1977)
Knockout – Air Waves from Dungeon Dots (2010)
“Real Love” – Beach House from Teen Dream (2010)
“Killing Off Our Friends” – The Coast from Expatriate (2008)
“Roll With The Changes” – REO Speedwagon from You Can Tune a Piano, But You Can’t Tuna Fish (1978)
“Missionaries” – Gift Horse from Mountain of Youth (2009)
“Tokyo Witch” – Beach House from Beach House (2006)
“Killing Off Our Friends” – The Coast from Expatriate (2008)