A Sound

I've been listening to A-bands/artists/albums/soundtracks (Amelie, About a Boy) as often as possible this past week and a half, enjoying such bands as Akron/Family, Animal Collective, Air*, Arcade Fire, ABBA, The Animals and of course Ace of Base, but, admittedly, every once in a while, I stray. I skipped to the Bs to share my thoughts on David Bazan's new album Curse Your Branches. (Bs, C, and D!). You can read it here now, or you can be a purist and wait until the Bs or even the Ds or not read it at all.
Do visit http://silencemagnifiessound.blogspot.com/ though, if not to read my more of my writing (which I can't imagine you could possibly be sick of so soon) then to get a break from my words and read those of some others who know a thing or two about music. Expose yourself to some music you've never heard or even heard of in most cases and your ears will thank you. Mine have. I know the site starts with 's', but I honestly couldn't wait that number of weeks to give you and your ears an opportunity to experience a new sound. I cheated for you. And you're welcome.
Above is a picture of Albemarle Sound in North Carolina for the sticklers. Pretty, isn't it? Are you in Awe?

*Here's some words about Air that didn't make the site, because the RIAA (2 As!) is run my arrogant assholes (2 more!):
"How can you hear air, you can't even see it," "...more like error," and "I really like Air. I need it to survive," jokes aside, Air is a good band, not just to abuse for jokes and jabs, but to listen to as well. Although it is one of those bands it's easier to say you like then actually invest time in listening to and money into buying their albums. They've been around a while, over a decade (since 1995), and some people, myself included, just lost interest. (There were albums after Moon Safari? Yes, four of them.) But my enjoyment of Air has been resuscitated by the duo's latest album, the fifth after Moon Safari, sixth in total.
The album is called Love 2 (don't worry, there wasn't a Love 1), and I love it, or as they would say, "je l'aime". The synth and computerized vocals are balanced by "real" instruments (including some prominent piano) and the leading men's airy voices, with the occasional female, for a sound that has a bit of soul. In fact, a few tracks sound suitable for '70s TV drama theme songs ("Night Hunter") or the background music in a retro porno starring a sleazy lounge/tequila bar singer and a stripper, excuse me, exotic dancer, who has fallen on some hard...times (see/hear, appropriately named, "Tropical Diseases", with appropriate lyrics too "Woman/Woman/Make me feel warm inside."). Some of the songs ("Be A Bee", "Sing Sang Sung") have a genuine joy that I didn't think the French were capable of, though it might just be the xylophone. For Air, this album's got a lot of substance; Fog might be more accurate - light without being vapid.