If It's Too Loud...

Photo by Ebru Yildiz If the previous singles from Durand Jones & The Indications revealed the neo-soul titans dabbling in disco, "The Way That I Do" leaps headfirst into the genre. "The Way That I Do" is a straight up disco jam. The song may be laced in old school soul, but it's fully a dance song that sounds like it could be from the late 1970's. It features Aaron Frazer's falsetto over some of the smoothest music (including strings) we've heard in decades. I think we're all well past the whole "Disco Sucks" thing, and if you're not, you're going to miss out on songs as fantastic as this one. In a press release, Aaron Frazer says of the song: “Whether on tour or spinning records, over the years we realized how much we love making people dance. When the first notes hit or the needle drops and the whole crowd lights up, that's a feeling we held onto all through 2020. And that's what we're bringing on 'The Way ...

Photo by Ebru Yildiz Durand Jones & The Indications have become our favorite neo-soul band and with good reason. Their songs are just consistently great. Even as they slightly play with their sound, the results are fantastic. Their latest single, "Love Will Work It Out," drops the disco we heard in "Witchoo" and brings back more of the classic soul. This time around, classic soul is more along the lines of 70's soul. The groove in "Love Will Work It Out" is front and center, even in front of both Durand Jones and Aaron Frazer. This is the kind of song that would make Barry White and Isaac Hayes proud. In a press release, the band says of the new song: “For months into the pandemic and the racial/political chaos that ensued, we found it hard to write.  The biggest creative dry spell we'd experienced in a decade. The constant barrage of horrible news felt overwhelming, and songs just seemed inadequate in response to police murdering people in bro...

Photo by Ebru Yildiz Durand Jones & The Indications have been our favorite purveyors of classic soul for a few years now, but on their latest single they've decided to update their sound a bit. However, they've updated by going disco. "Witchoo" is an incredibly fun disco/soul jam that sees Durand Jones and drummer Aaron Frazer (who released the also great solo album Introducing... earlier this year) trading off vocals. "Witchoo" is a party just waiting to happen. It's melding such great retro genres together, and even including a little hip hop feel with the trading of lines and gang vocals for the chorus. You can watch the video for "Witchoo" below. Private Space is due out July 30 on Dead Oceans in association with Colemine Records. You can pre-order/pre-save the album here . For more on Durand Jones & The Indications, check out the artist's website . Current tour dates are below the video. Tue. Sept. 7 - Boston, MA @ Paradise Roc...

Photo via Facebook Originally recorded as part of Howard Stern's tribute to David Bowie, Durand Jones & the Indications have officially released their cover of Bowie's classic "Young Americans." It's the kind of cover that you don't initially recognize at first. It starts off as a mellow soul song, although there is the slightest hint of something familiar, especially in the horns. You might not recognize what it is once the vocals start, unless you're paying much more attention than I was. As soon as the "All right" kicks in, you'll know that this is the Bowie classic. It's the perfect cover in that way: Durand Jones & the Indications make it completely their own while keeping the structure of the original. It's a perfect tribute. You can listen to Durand Jones & the Indications's version of "Young Americans" below. You can get a copy of the original here . For more on Durand Jones & the Indication...

Photo by Rosie Cohe Durand Jones & The Indications just nail the whole neo-soul thing. Their latest single, "Morning in America," sounds like it could have been released in the 60's. The only truly modern aspect is the hip hop drum beat and a fuzzed out indie rock guitar solo to end the song. Despite it's calm and chill vibe, "Morning in America" is an overtly political song. It's written by drummer Aaron Frazer, the band says about the song: " The lyrics speak to how many of us feel every day in this time of political and environmental uncertainty— flitting between anger, despair, anxiety but ever returning to a sliver of hope that there’s still a path forward. We so often divide ourselves by our differences. Acknowledging those differences is crucial; listening to those different from us is crucial. But viewed solely through that lens, we are fragmented and few. When we look at the country along economic lines, however, a different pict...

Photo by Rosie Cohe We're quietly in the middle of a soul revival, and no one is doing it quite like Durand Jones & The Indications. Their latest single, "Don't You Know," features Aaron Frazer on vocals and sounds like it's straight from the 60's or 70's. Seriously. If the press release that came with this declared it was from a lost Motown session we'd all believe it. It's an impossibly smooth classic soul song, the kind we all need to hear every so often regardless of what style of music we prefer. As much as we loved their debut album, this new song feels like a step forward even though it's a throwback to half a century ago. You can watch the video for "Don't You Know" below. American Love Call , the new album from Durand Jones & The Indications, will be out March 1 on Dead Oceans/Colemine Records. You can pre-order the album here . For more on Durand Jones & The Indications, check out their website . Their ...

A slow week with the American 4th of July holiday: Album of the Week : Artist : Bat for Lashes Album : The Bride Quick Description : Newest album from the indie songwriter, more conceptual than her past work. Why You Should Listen : Bat for Lashes is always interesting even if she doesn't absolutely hit it right. Overall Thoughts : A concept album revolving around love and marriage (I suppose), this album is ultimately great not so much because of the nature of the music on its own, but on the quality of the execution. You get the tone almost immediately on the first track, and then you get the full flow of the thing as "In God's House" hits. This is absolutely an album I need to spend more time with, but it's still a strong highlight nonetheless. Recommendation : The only true must-listen this week. Artist : Sara Watkins Album : Love in All the Wrong Ways Quick Description : Latest solo album from the Nickel Creek violinist/vocalist. Why You Shou...

Photo by Casey Garnett There is currently this great resurgence of true old school R&B, and I'm personally thrilled by it. The latest to be handed the torch is Durand Jones & The Indication. On their new single, "Smile," Jones' voice definitely earns comparisons to Leon Bridges. However, the music just has this ever so slight edge to it. It's not a hard or aggressive feel, but more of just a funkier feel. It's combining classic R&B with a dancier feel, but still with live instruments. The sound of the backing band reminds me a lot of The Roots. The whole feel of the track might be caused by the recording process: They recorded directly to tape in a basement in their hometown of Bloomington, Indiana. That's pretty much how this style of music should be recorded. Durand Jones & The Indications self-titled debut will be out on Colemine Records on July 1. You can listen to "Smile" below. For more on Durand Jones & The Indica...