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On The List: Opsvik & Jennings

The New York-based duo of Opsvik & Jennings constructs beggingly cinematic soundscapes that feel both organic and modern at the same time. Their latest, Commuter Anthems, finds them settling into the comfortable terrain of their own strange genre.

Computer Anthems

We hope you enjoy our list. I picked the first ten and Eivind picked the last ten. I picked all newish pop songs that I really love, and Eivind mixed it up a bit more. We have been collaborating for almost a decade now, and it's cool to see how different some of our influences are.

- Aaron Jennings

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Tracks

1. Various Artists - Theme-Jon Brion

This is one of my favorite themes... so old timey and sad and pretty at the same time.

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2. TV On The Radio - A Method

I'm always looking for anthem-like pop songs to be obsessed with and listen to over and over, and this one definitely fits my OCD requirements.

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3. Pajo - Foolish King

I've listened to this song a thousand times for some reason.

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4. Wolf Parade - I'll Believe in Anything

I think this is one of the most powerful pop songs of 2005.

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5. Broadcast - Colour Me In

The reverb on this album alone is reason enough to put it in your top fav albums.

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6. Cat Power - I Don't Blame You

Probably one of my favorite Cat Power songs. Catchiest song ever, and I'm crazy for the backup singing.

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7. Low - Medicine Magazines

It's hard to pick a song from this album because they're all amazing.

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8. Field Music - Pieces

Another favorite!

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9. Boards of Canada - Peacock Tail

It's not always so easy to pin point what exactly makes the Boards of Canada so amazing. Or at leas it's not easy to verbalize it. But I have a real deep respect for their music, and basically think they're the masters of their genre. Eivind and I both had the same experience with Boards of Canada... At first, we didn't quite get what all the fuss was about. But as we listened more--it started to really captivate us.

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10. Beach House - Apple Orchard

I really like this album. And the simple instrumentation (organ/guitar/vocals) is appealing and refreshing.

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11. Supersilent - 6.2

Our label mates, Supersilent, is the group I feel has succeeded most in utilizing electronics in improvised music. Their record 6 combines noise, free jazz, ambient and rock--all improvised and beautifully recorded. It's one of my all time favorites.

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12. Anne-Sophie Mutter - Violin Concerto 'To The Memory Of An Angel': II. Allegro - Adagio

Who knew "atonal" music could be this beautiful? The recording with Mutter and Chicago Symphony is the one to get. Check out the last 5 minutes of the last movement, one of the most amazing drawn out endings ever.

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13. Pink Floyd - Echoes

I have a soft spot for epic music, and this piece has stayed with me ever since I first heard it as a kid.

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14. Sigur Ros - Svo Hljott

Speaking of epic, this one follows all the goose-bump tricks in the book so I can't help liking it.

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15. Gustav Mahler - Symphony No. 6 In A Minor 'Tragic': III. Andante moderato

Most Mahler symphonies have hidden gems in-between the Austrian marches and cheesy waltzes, this slow movement (3rd movement) from his sixth symphony is the shit.

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16. Brian Eno - An Ending (Ascent)

Eno's music for a TV documentary on the Apollo expeditions. This is a very simple piece that I really like, can't quite explain why.

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17. Neil Young - Out On The Weekend

I was kinda late in my appreciation of Neil Young, but have recently been getting all his classic records. I love Kenny Buttrey's drumming on this one. Simple drumming... a lost art?

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18. Le Mystere Des Voix Bulgares - Sableyalo Mi Agontze (The Bleating Lamb)

The first time I heard the Bulgarian Women's Choir I was floored, such soulful and pure music and a totally unique sound. Otherworldly.

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19. Frank Sinatra & Tommy Dorsey - In The Blue Of Evening

I'm fascinated by the pop and movie music of the late 30's and 40's, and the sweeter the better. The orchestrations and arrangements of this era are usually outstanding. You can still hear the tie to Wagner and the romantic period which is nicely blended with the pop music of the day which was Jazz. Sinatra, along with Miles Davis, is probably my all time favorite musician.

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20. Miles Davis - In A Silent Way / It's About That Time

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On The List Archive

Sybris Bowerbirds Deer Tick Arthur & Yu Opsvik & Jennings Deerhunter Lightning Dust Odawas Menomena Mary Weiss The Broken West Papercuts Baby Dayliner Currituck Co. Field Music Jana Hunter Citay Vetiver The Flaming Lips Wooden Wand Megan Reilly Samara Lubelski Great Lakes Eric Matthews Grizzly Bear The Clientele Starlight Mints The Essex Green Aloha Radar Bros. Shapes and Sizes Work Clothes Kelley Stoltz Silver Jews Dressy Bessy Elf Power [MORE...]

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On The List: Opsvik & Jennings

Computer Anthems

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