Track Review: Sunset Rubdown, Phoenix, A.C. Newman

April 20, 2009

Hey, I’m gonna review some tracks now. Ready, Go!

MP3 Sunset Rubdown – Idiot Heart

I realize that I’ve become programmed to love everything that Spencer Krug puts out but this song takes the guy’s talents and general awesomeness to another dimension.  It’s amazing how easily he blows away anything on Random Spirit Lover (still a big favorite for me) with “Idiot Heart”. The guitar! The backing vocals! The incredible attention to detail! It absolutely rocks in the most extremest of ways, the song is a complete rush.  The last 60 seconds especially is mind-blowing.  Conclusion: I love this track in every way, download right away if you haven’t already.  Also, I hope that you die in a decent pair of shoes (you got a lot of long walking to do).

MP3 Phoenix – Listzomania

For whatever reason this track didn’t hit me like “1901″, “Girlfriend”, and “Lasso” did at first.  I saw “Listzomania” as a solid opener but not as a first single.  After playing and replaying Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix and then playing it again it’s become one of my favorites on an album that has nothing but strong tracks.  The song perhaps best defines the retro/classical guitar pop vibe of the album and it’s all so catchy, dancey, vibrant and inescapably fun. There’s an official video out but I prefer  this brat pack mash-up video made with scenes from “The Breakfast Club”, “Footloose” and “Pretty in Pink”. Fantabulous!

MP3 A.C. Newman – The Heartbreak Rides

I’m a bit late to the party on this one but I’ve really been getting into Get Guilty lately and this song especially.  I think it’s a contester for prettiest song that Newman has ever written (and that’s including NP’s songs).  The melody is subtle but absolutely gorgeous and the simplistic chorus of Newman chanting “Yo Ho!” is really quite brilliant.  The song crescendos to a triumphant climax that features lovely instrumentation fills from strings, woodwinds, and brass alike. Wonderful song.

Posted by Taylor in Track Review