Meet Phantogram: Non Hip-Hop Album Of The Year Contender Posted by Lucas G. on 02/20/14 | Filed under Non Hip-Hop, Meet

Normally, with these Meet joints, I try to get as obscure as possible. I always to my damndest to find something awesome that you probably haven't heard. Unfortunately, it isn't always easy to pick the needle out of the haystack. Bandcamp and Youtube searches are great, but sometimes the results are putrid. I tired and tried to find something totally new, but alas, nothing struck me, so I am going to go with a band you have probably heard of, but don't know nearly enough about; Phantogram. I have a feeling, like Portugal. The Man in 2013, Phantogram's new album,Voices, might end up being my favorite non-hip-hop album of 2014, so I figured it might be worth sharing. So take off your hipster hat and put on your I'm just here for cool music fitted and let's get some down with some new shit from Phantogram.

Fuck! "Fall In Love" is my fucking song. Phantogram's "When I'm Small" is always in steady rotation, but nothing else by them ever caught my interest (even the stuff the did with Big Boi never wowed me), until Voices. Starting with "Fall In Love" and then, following with "The Day You Died" among a few others, I am hooked already. Their sound feels more developed, more crisp, and more intoxicating than ever before. I'm not sure what it is exactly, maybe things just "clicked" but they are on point on Voices. I still haven't sat down and gave it a cover to cover listen (I plan to soon), but just a quick listen, and I can already tell they grabbed lightning in a bottle. Normally these electronic-heavy/pop groups don't do much for me, but the vocals of Sarah Barthel (who I am developing a unhealthy crush on by the spin) are just to amazing to pass up. They are fragile and soft, but still have this slicing, haunting vibe to them that draws me in like a siren to a wayward ship.

In the words of Clay Davis, "Sheeeeeeeeeeeit" I know it's only February, but I already know this will be one to remember when the dust settles. I literally never buy albums, ever, why pay for what I can usually get for free, but I already bought this without hesitation. It's everything I need from something  non hip-hop. I love electronic stuff, but the lack of vocals kills me, and I love female vocalist, but sometimes, it can get dull or repetitive; Phantogram combines the best of best into one fresh ass package. Sometimes you have to grow into albums or learn to love them, but Voices feels like on of those special ones where, after just one listen, you know it's one for the ages. We'll be talking about this one come December, no doubt in my mind.

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