"It comes back to me like pieces of a dream I can't remember/
and i don't think you took a breath from march until september/
when they sat me down and upped the dose/
said son tell us what to do/
this isn't only killling you/
this isn't only killing you"
-The Jim Yoshii Pileup - Silver Sparkler
There is a certain joy when a site you visit on a week to week basis finally updates. And that joy is augmented when the update contains an mp3 (unmastered or not) from the upcoming album. The JYPU create amazing music, some of the most emotional, cathartic stuff ever. I feel really bad, though, as I don't own any JYPU albums, and every time I start to get my shit together and attempt to start hunting the albums down, seeing as they are unavailable in any local stores, something comes along to cut me down at the knees. This something is usually a firing, or a laying off, or just a complete lack of money (Don't worry, I'm not gonna start asking for paypal donations, this site only costs me time, and time I have in abundance. My time is worthless)
Oh, right...the mp3
The Jim Yoshii Pileup - Silver Sparkler {link}
This is good, it is very good. Sad guitars chime in the peripheries of your headphones while the lyrics keep the tone. The music is less slow and grueling (and I mean grueling in a good way) than most JYPU. It keeps up a pretty brisk pace, and the backing vocals toward the end are so good. This is a band making progress. And it ends with the words "I'm Sorry" which I love. (I was actually thinking of doing a whole series of apology songs, and leaving off "All Apologies", I had some ideas, but ultimately couldn't think of enough songs I need to share, than this comes along. Synchronicity!)
Oh yeah, I'm on Web Nymph now. Thanks Web Nymph! I would link you permanently, as I would link many blogs permanently, but I don't know how. I'm really quite a luddite at heart.
Thursday, April 14, 2005
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
"Man, that's gayest shit I ever heard"
-Stinky The Grump
I know I said I would be by more often, and I plan on being by more often, but you know, the weather is turning nice and I find myself outside. Also, it can be ruff trying to get things up when...bah, I will stop whining. Here's a peace offering:
Sigur Ros - Odin's Raven Magic Chapter 3 (Yousendit file, so you should be left-clicking it)
Words can't describe this, it's from some Icelandic folktale or something, I really don't know. It's just magic. Pure magic. Does any more need to be said?
I know I said I would be by more often, and I plan on being by more often, but you know, the weather is turning nice and I find myself outside. Also, it can be ruff trying to get things up when...bah, I will stop whining. Here's a peace offering:
Sigur Ros - Odin's Raven Magic Chapter 3 (Yousendit file, so you should be left-clicking it)
Words can't describe this, it's from some Icelandic folktale or something, I really don't know. It's just magic. Pure magic. Does any more need to be said?
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
*Sigh* "It's Great To Be Here"
-Calexico
So, apparently Starbucks or someone has put together a compilation CD or something. And Calexico is featured pretty prominently with their cover of Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart". I was excited for this, as I came across a live version a year ago and it was just amazing. Today, I finally got my grubby lil' paws on the Starbucks studio version and...not quite what I was hoping for. It's still decent, and well worth the download, I mean purchase. So, I thought it would be nice to give you the live version, the version that's so dear to my heart.
Calexico "Love Will Tear Us Apart" (this is one of them there yousendit's so you havta right click on them there link)
What I love about this one is how Calexico turn it into an almost breathless declaration of love, whereas the original sounded like a suicide note. Another thing I love about this is the stage banter before it, when he goes, "Thanks to everbody here working with us, behind the scenes, up above, *sigh* it's great to be here", and then the opening riff kicks in, and then, after the first verse the guitar and the drums start to build and it's no longer an homage to Joy Division, but an entirely new song with an entirely new feeling. Download this, play it loud, and just enjoy the day.
Montag "Perfect Vision" {link}
With people all over Stars' album Set Yourself On Fire (which just now got released in the States, take that President Bush!) lately, as well as copious amounts of press covering the just released in January M83 album, I'm shocked and amazed that there isn't more about Montag.
Montag is Antoine Bedard, one of those lonely bedroom electro-pop genius types, from Montreal. Fresh off orchestrating the string sections on M83's glorious "Before The Dawn Heals Us", Bedard decided that it's not better off alone, and put together the new Montag release "Alone, Not Alone" with help from James Cargill of Broadcast, Sixtoo, and, like on this track, the lovely Amy Millan of Stars and Broken Social Scene fame.
This song is gorgeous, a fragile little keyboardy cut that highlights and emphasizes Millan's vocals, that sound fragile enough to break apart, but sharp enough to cut glass. You should pick up this album, and so should I, and I will, once my "Don't buy any more CDs before your birthday" mandate ends (tomorrow, baybee!).
Elsewhere:
-Chromewaves highlight a fun little interview with the aforementioned Ms. Millan as she buys booze and chats on her cellphone. Also available is an amazing, amazing cover of "Your Love" done live by The Decemberists. This is a cover that deserves to be blared loud out of houses and car stereos. Especially, the part when the singer gets the crowd to sing the chorus, then goes "That fuckin' sucked."
-The always prolific You Ain't No Picasso has a "new" Radiohead track that is pretty damned impressive. If anyone dug the Frakkur track I posted a couple months ago, you should really dig this one, it's all instrumenty and ethereal.
-Take Your Medicine is new to me, but is really good, and has recently decided to be a Brit-o-centric blog.
-The venerable Kelsery swears by My Old Kentuck Blog and I'm becoming a convert, too. A lot of blogs are all cookiecutterish and similar, whereas Dodge seems like a cool guy that you could hang out with who wouldn't irritate you like some of the cooler kids might.
-And it may be jumping on the bandwagon, but I really think Stereogum is pretty much one my favourite daily visits. It's hip, it's fun, it's frankly funny. I especially like it when Scott posts links to nudie pics or something b/c the comments are the greatest microcosm of the Internet one can find, for every snide hipster comment, there are two or three "OMG! Britney's boobies are HUUUUUGE!"
-Oh yeah, and I have another blog, but I'm really not sure what to do with it. It was really just more of a test to see what is there, and it is pretty neat, I must say.
I figure the mammothisity of this post makes up for my long absences, but it probably doesn't. I was thinking of doing a week of theme posts, but I don't know if I have that kind of endurance. I thought about a Best of the 90s week, or a best of Wong Kar Wai week (alternate title: Wong Kar Week), or maybe...bah! Any suggestions?
So, apparently Starbucks or someone has put together a compilation CD or something. And Calexico is featured pretty prominently with their cover of Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart". I was excited for this, as I came across a live version a year ago and it was just amazing. Today, I finally got my grubby lil' paws on the Starbucks studio version and...not quite what I was hoping for. It's still decent, and well worth the download, I mean purchase. So, I thought it would be nice to give you the live version, the version that's so dear to my heart.
Calexico "Love Will Tear Us Apart" (this is one of them there yousendit's so you havta right click on them there link)
What I love about this one is how Calexico turn it into an almost breathless declaration of love, whereas the original sounded like a suicide note. Another thing I love about this is the stage banter before it, when he goes, "Thanks to everbody here working with us, behind the scenes, up above, *sigh* it's great to be here", and then the opening riff kicks in, and then, after the first verse the guitar and the drums start to build and it's no longer an homage to Joy Division, but an entirely new song with an entirely new feeling. Download this, play it loud, and just enjoy the day.
Montag "Perfect Vision" {link}
With people all over Stars' album Set Yourself On Fire (which just now got released in the States, take that President Bush!) lately, as well as copious amounts of press covering the just released in January M83 album, I'm shocked and amazed that there isn't more about Montag.
Montag is Antoine Bedard, one of those lonely bedroom electro-pop genius types, from Montreal. Fresh off orchestrating the string sections on M83's glorious "Before The Dawn Heals Us", Bedard decided that it's not better off alone, and put together the new Montag release "Alone, Not Alone" with help from James Cargill of Broadcast, Sixtoo, and, like on this track, the lovely Amy Millan of Stars and Broken Social Scene fame.
This song is gorgeous, a fragile little keyboardy cut that highlights and emphasizes Millan's vocals, that sound fragile enough to break apart, but sharp enough to cut glass. You should pick up this album, and so should I, and I will, once my "Don't buy any more CDs before your birthday" mandate ends (tomorrow, baybee!).
Elsewhere:
-Chromewaves highlight a fun little interview with the aforementioned Ms. Millan as she buys booze and chats on her cellphone. Also available is an amazing, amazing cover of "Your Love" done live by The Decemberists. This is a cover that deserves to be blared loud out of houses and car stereos. Especially, the part when the singer gets the crowd to sing the chorus, then goes "That fuckin' sucked."
-The always prolific You Ain't No Picasso has a "new" Radiohead track that is pretty damned impressive. If anyone dug the Frakkur track I posted a couple months ago, you should really dig this one, it's all instrumenty and ethereal.
-Take Your Medicine is new to me, but is really good, and has recently decided to be a Brit-o-centric blog.
-The venerable Kelsery swears by My Old Kentuck Blog and I'm becoming a convert, too. A lot of blogs are all cookiecutterish and similar, whereas Dodge seems like a cool guy that you could hang out with who wouldn't irritate you like some of the cooler kids might.
-And it may be jumping on the bandwagon, but I really think Stereogum is pretty much one my favourite daily visits. It's hip, it's fun, it's frankly funny. I especially like it when Scott posts links to nudie pics or something b/c the comments are the greatest microcosm of the Internet one can find, for every snide hipster comment, there are two or three "OMG! Britney's boobies are HUUUUUGE!"
-Oh yeah, and I have another blog, but I'm really not sure what to do with it. It was really just more of a test to see what is there, and it is pretty neat, I must say.
I figure the mammothisity of this post makes up for my long absences, but it probably doesn't. I was thinking of doing a week of theme posts, but I don't know if I have that kind of endurance. I thought about a Best of the 90s week, or a best of Wong Kar Wai week (alternate title: Wong Kar Week), or maybe...bah! Any suggestions?
Friday, March 11, 2005
"The Goomba Of Ooh-Aah"
-Big Vito, WCW 2000
I found this at Music For Robots and thought I would share the love.
Ted Leo "Since U Been Gone"
This morphs halfway thru into "Maps" by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, which goes back to Kelly Clarkson's "Since You Been Gone". Sure, Ted's voice isn't quite good enough to handle the chorus, but who cares? It's Ted frikkin' Leo covering Kelly frikkin' Clarkson, what more do you want?
I found this at Music For Robots and thought I would share the love.
Ted Leo "Since U Been Gone"
This morphs halfway thru into "Maps" by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, which goes back to Kelly Clarkson's "Since You Been Gone". Sure, Ted's voice isn't quite good enough to handle the chorus, but who cares? It's Ted frikkin' Leo covering Kelly frikkin' Clarkson, what more do you want?
Saturday, February 26, 2005
"Get it together, grouch!"
-Dave Chappelle
Death Cab For Cutie, Photobooth{link}
The other day a friend emailed and asked for my favourite three songs ever, I, of course, gave her six, but in the ensuing days, I have been trying to piece together what my favourites are, and it's really, really difficult. B/c some songs I can only listen to when I'm happy, some when I'm sad, some when I'm introspective, some when I'm trying to sleep. How do I judge it? Do I base it on repeated listening? Is it fair to count Godspeed You Black Emperor! songs as they are in excess of twenty minutes? Finally, I just settled on the fact, that I really, really love this song.
It kicks off with casioesque drumbeat, and then turns into one of those sad sing-a-long type of songs that Death Cab do oh so well. I remember reading somewhere (NME?) that Ben Gibbard was a big fan of a few short story authors, and I seem to remember it mentioning Raymond Carver by name. Anyways, the lines "I remember when the days were long and the nights when the living room were on the lawn" reminds me so much of a particular Carver story whose name escapes me but has a recently left husband piling all his furniture on the lawn.
I know I'm not supposed to like Death Cab anymore, b/c they're all popular and everything, but the only way I could dislike them were if they were to do a re-make of "La-la".
American Football, Honestly? {link}
"Honestly I can't remember all my teenage feelings,
and their meanings,
they seem too see-through
to be true"
And so begins an amazing song by American Football, who just might be my favourite band to put out just one album. I really, really wanted to post "Never Meant" which is just the greatest break-up song ever recorded, but could not find it anywhere. But this one is good, too. I feel like this a lot, I'll go back through old journals, yearbooks, notes and think to myself "Did I really say this? Do this? Feel this?" It feels so weird, like you were somehow more connected to your own feelings back then, but are now cut off from them. I don't know, I got nothin' tonight. Just download it, and enjoy it. Then pick up the album. There's really no reason not to.
Death Cab For Cutie, Photobooth{link}
The other day a friend emailed and asked for my favourite three songs ever, I, of course, gave her six, but in the ensuing days, I have been trying to piece together what my favourites are, and it's really, really difficult. B/c some songs I can only listen to when I'm happy, some when I'm sad, some when I'm introspective, some when I'm trying to sleep. How do I judge it? Do I base it on repeated listening? Is it fair to count Godspeed You Black Emperor! songs as they are in excess of twenty minutes? Finally, I just settled on the fact, that I really, really love this song.
It kicks off with casioesque drumbeat, and then turns into one of those sad sing-a-long type of songs that Death Cab do oh so well. I remember reading somewhere (NME?) that Ben Gibbard was a big fan of a few short story authors, and I seem to remember it mentioning Raymond Carver by name. Anyways, the lines "I remember when the days were long and the nights when the living room were on the lawn" reminds me so much of a particular Carver story whose name escapes me but has a recently left husband piling all his furniture on the lawn.
I know I'm not supposed to like Death Cab anymore, b/c they're all popular and everything, but the only way I could dislike them were if they were to do a re-make of "La-la".
American Football, Honestly? {link}
"Honestly I can't remember all my teenage feelings,
and their meanings,
they seem too see-through
to be true"
And so begins an amazing song by American Football, who just might be my favourite band to put out just one album. I really, really wanted to post "Never Meant" which is just the greatest break-up song ever recorded, but could not find it anywhere. But this one is good, too. I feel like this a lot, I'll go back through old journals, yearbooks, notes and think to myself "Did I really say this? Do this? Feel this?" It feels so weird, like you were somehow more connected to your own feelings back then, but are now cut off from them. I don't know, I got nothin' tonight. Just download it, and enjoy it. Then pick up the album. There's really no reason not to.
Saturday, February 12, 2005
Guess who's Back in the Muthafudgin' House?
Half black half white, chick, we call her Minnie Mouse
-Jay-Z (mostly, although he doesn't actually say "fudgin")
I have a little time to spare, I thought I would share some great mp3s with you, my ever-so patient readers....someone is reading this, right?
Chris Walla Sing Again {link}
Whenever people talk about Death Cab For Cutie, the focus is always on Ben Gibbard. They always talk about his voice, his lyrics, his...er...hair (?!). But, what people often overlook is guitarist Chris Walla. The man is an amazing producer, he's done producing and engineering work for the likes of: The Prom, Kind of Like Spitting, Hot Hot Heat, Nada Surf, The Velvet Teen, David Cross, The Long Winters, The Postal Service, The Thermals, The Decemberists, Travis Morrison, and the Jim Yoshii Pile-Up. But, he also is a talented singer/songwriter in his own right, and has highlighted here on this pretty little live track "Sing Again". Just Walla and his acoustic guitar on the radio.
The Frames, Dream Awake {link}
I'm not quite sure why I slept on The Frames for so long, they make some really pretty, intense music. This is a new song from their just-released 2005 album "Burn The Maps", aside from the perfect honest lyrics, what I have come to enjoy most about The Frames is the way their songs build. This one starts with a whisper, and all of a sudden, the music stampedes to a loud, cathartic climax, with the lead singer singing "There's a fight that we're not conceding!" And the music never, ever concedes. Also, the previously-covered Damien Rice said that The Frames were an inspiration and an aspiration to them, so, really, how much more endorsement do you need?
-Jay-Z (mostly, although he doesn't actually say "fudgin")
I have a little time to spare, I thought I would share some great mp3s with you, my ever-so patient readers....someone is reading this, right?
Chris Walla Sing Again {link}
Whenever people talk about Death Cab For Cutie, the focus is always on Ben Gibbard. They always talk about his voice, his lyrics, his...er...hair (?!). But, what people often overlook is guitarist Chris Walla. The man is an amazing producer, he's done producing and engineering work for the likes of: The Prom, Kind of Like Spitting, Hot Hot Heat, Nada Surf, The Velvet Teen, David Cross, The Long Winters, The Postal Service, The Thermals, The Decemberists, Travis Morrison, and the Jim Yoshii Pile-Up. But, he also is a talented singer/songwriter in his own right, and has highlighted here on this pretty little live track "Sing Again". Just Walla and his acoustic guitar on the radio.
The Frames, Dream Awake {link}
I'm not quite sure why I slept on The Frames for so long, they make some really pretty, intense music. This is a new song from their just-released 2005 album "Burn The Maps", aside from the perfect honest lyrics, what I have come to enjoy most about The Frames is the way their songs build. This one starts with a whisper, and all of a sudden, the music stampedes to a loud, cathartic climax, with the lead singer singing "There's a fight that we're not conceding!" And the music never, ever concedes. Also, the previously-covered Damien Rice said that The Frames were an inspiration and an aspiration to them, so, really, how much more endorsement do you need?
Saturday, January 29, 2005
Top Albums of 2004
I don't think I have it in me right now to go into why each albums is where, isn't it enough that I wasted my time writing a list that may not be read by anyone? Here goes.
40. The Polyphonic Spree, Together We're Heavy
39. Squarepusher, Ultravisitor
38. Madvillain, Madvillainy
37. Switchfoot, The Beautiful Letdown
36. The Magnetic Fields, I
35. Piebald, All Eyes All Ears All the Time
34. Muse, Absolution
33. Morissey, You Are the Quarry
32. The Stills, Logic Will Break Your Heart
31. The Walkmen, Bows and Arrows
30. Feist, Let It Die
29. Jimmy Eat World, Futures
28. Straylight Run, Straylight Run
27. Mum, Summer Make Good
26. Wilco, A Ghost Is Born
25. Air, Talkie Walkie
24. Bjork, Medullah
23. MF Doom, Mm...Food
22. Iron and Wine, Our Endless Numbered Days
21. Handsome Boy Modelling School, White People
20. Masta Killa, No Said Date
19. The Arcade Fire, Funeral
18. Ratatat, Ratatat
17. The Killers, Hot Fuss
16. The Go! Team, Thunder Lightning Strike
15. Death From Above 1979, You're A Woman I'm A Machine
14. Wiley, Treddin' On Thin Ice
13. Joanna Newsom, The Milk-Eyed Mender
12. Stars, Set Yourself On Fire
11. Interpol, Antics
10. Snow Patrol, Final Straw
09. The Streets, A Grand Don't Come For Free
08. William Shatner, Has Been
07. Modest Mouse, Good News For People Who Love Bad News
06. Kings of Convenience, Riot On An Empty Street
05. Kanye West, The College Dropout
04. Rilo Kiley, More Adventurous
03. The Foreign Exchange, Connected
02. M83, Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts
AND.........
#1. Phoenix, Alphabetical
40. The Polyphonic Spree, Together We're Heavy
39. Squarepusher, Ultravisitor
38. Madvillain, Madvillainy
37. Switchfoot, The Beautiful Letdown
36. The Magnetic Fields, I
35. Piebald, All Eyes All Ears All the Time
34. Muse, Absolution
33. Morissey, You Are the Quarry
32. The Stills, Logic Will Break Your Heart
31. The Walkmen, Bows and Arrows
30. Feist, Let It Die
29. Jimmy Eat World, Futures
28. Straylight Run, Straylight Run
27. Mum, Summer Make Good
26. Wilco, A Ghost Is Born
25. Air, Talkie Walkie
24. Bjork, Medullah
23. MF Doom, Mm...Food
22. Iron and Wine, Our Endless Numbered Days
21. Handsome Boy Modelling School, White People
20. Masta Killa, No Said Date
19. The Arcade Fire, Funeral
18. Ratatat, Ratatat
17. The Killers, Hot Fuss
16. The Go! Team, Thunder Lightning Strike
15. Death From Above 1979, You're A Woman I'm A Machine
14. Wiley, Treddin' On Thin Ice
13. Joanna Newsom, The Milk-Eyed Mender
12. Stars, Set Yourself On Fire
11. Interpol, Antics
10. Snow Patrol, Final Straw
09. The Streets, A Grand Don't Come For Free
08. William Shatner, Has Been
07. Modest Mouse, Good News For People Who Love Bad News
06. Kings of Convenience, Riot On An Empty Street
05. Kanye West, The College Dropout
04. Rilo Kiley, More Adventurous
03. The Foreign Exchange, Connected
02. M83, Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts
AND.........
#1. Phoenix, Alphabetical
Saturday, January 08, 2005
Top 40 Songs of 2004
So, the album list is still coming, just give it time. To tide you over, here are...
The Top 40 Songs of 2004
A few quick notes on the rules/guidelines for this list.
-These are my top forty songs of 2004, it is not limited to best singles of 2004.
-All of these songs were either a) on an album released in 2004, b) released as singles in 2004 from albums that came out last year, c)became available this year despite maybe being older than 2004 (live albums, downloads, etc.).
-Older songs from newer soundtracks were excluded, so, for instance, everything from the Garden State soundtrack was pretty much ineligible, except for the Iron and Wine cover, which if I'm not mistaken was a B-Side from 2004 (and if I'm wrong, well...)
-Bands were not limited to one song in the Top 40. I figure if a band is good enought to come up with 2-3 songs in the Top 40, there is no reason to exclude them to let in a lesser song.
-I put some comments for each song in the top twenty, after that, I just let the songs speak for themselves, if anything needs clarifying, I'd be happy to explain it.
That said, away we go...
1. Modest Mouse- Float On: The romp-stomping best time of the year to be had. A jangly guitar and stilted vocals that tell you everything is going to be all right. I can envision listening to this song in twenty years and it still being as fun and meaningful as it is today.
2. Wilco - At Least That’s What You Said: If the entire album had been like this, it would be my number one. It starts out as a whispery ballad about someone the singer just can’t live with or without. Then, out of nowhere a burst of electric guitar comes in and the song erupts into the best breakdown/jam of the year with an amazing drum beat that you can’t help but tap your foot to.
3. Rilo Kiley - Portions For Foxes: This is an amazingly catchy song that really should’ve catapulted Rilo Kiley to O.C. guest appearances like “Float On” did for Modest Mouse. The most transcendant moment of the year comes toward the end of this one. Toward the middle of the song, Jenny Lewis sings “And you’re bad news/My friends tell me to leave you” and you think it might be over, but then she changes her mind “And you’re bad news/but I don’t care I like you/I like you!” and it’s all too perfect.
4. M83 - Run Into Flowers (Abstrackt Keal Agram Remix): While the original version of this song is great, the remix takes it to even greater heights. The beginning of this song is turned into a menacing hip hop song that wouldn’t sound out of place on the latest RZA-produced Wu-Tang solo album. Then it explodes into an amazing cacophony of electric guitar that just makes the song soar.
5. Joanna Newsom - Crab, Clam Cockle, Cowrie: Joanna Newsom seems to be the most polarizing singer of the year. I think Said The Gramaphone described her the best in saying she sings “in a borrowed voice.” And it’s that voice that drives so many away. But on this one, a tender ballad, one of the the greatest things occur. Newsom sings “I do as I please/I’m down on my knees/and your skin is something I stir into my tea/And I am watching you/and you are starry, starry, starry.” But when she hits the “Starry, starry, starry” part she does each word higher and more heartfelt than the last so it sounds something like “starry! STARRY!! STARRY!!!” And on that last “Starry”, her voice breaks through and the borrowed voice is broken for a second and you get a taste of what Newsom’s normal, speaking voice would be like. But, then she goes back to her “borrowed voice” and all you’ll get is that one glimpse.
6. Rachel Stevens - Some Girls: I always figured that the blonde girl with the bad teeth or the spunky brunette, Hannah, would be the breakout stars of S Club 7. As attractive as Stevens is, she was always the kind of plain one on S Club. Then this song comes along, a borrowed groove, pretty inane lyrics, really it shouldn’t work at all. But it does. And it does so well. This is just purely great pop music. As I’ve said before, if there were any justice in the world, this is what would be played daily on my local “hits” station.
7. The Foreign Exchange - Let’s Move: Somehow a rapper, Phonte, from a group (Little Brother) I’d never heard before this year, and a beatmaker, Nicolay, from the Netherlands who wouldn’t look out of place on your local debate team, came together on a message board and put together not only the hip hop album of the year, but the hip hop single of the year, as well. “Let’s Move” rides an entirely too-happy beat that works against all odds and provides the perfect backdrop for Phonte realizing that everything’s going to be okay despite the fact that he’s been writing cheques that should say “Spalding on ‘em”.
8. Snow Patrol - How To Be Dead: I get a distinctly Coldplayish vibe from Snow Patrol, which is fortunate, because I love Coldplay. Snow Patrol remind me of a younger (I don’t know if that’s true), hungrier, rawer Coldplay. This song, however, is the greatest radio hit that Coldplay never came up with. A weepy little one that keeps the music catchy enough and not ballady enough that it never becomes too much. The singer’s voice is too perfect, especially when he nails lines like “Dr. Jekyll is wrestling Hyde/for my pride.” Get in on them now, because I have a feeling they could be huge in a few years.
9. Phoenix - Victim of the Crime: Picking a fave track from my fave album of the year was difficult, as there is not a bad song on there, but this one is one I could never get tired of. The first thing you notice about this one (or at least I did) is how similar the music is to Dr. Dre’s “Still D.R.E.” But, I don’t think of it as a theft or a rip-off at all, because it’s done with such joy. Whereas Dre used the music to answer his critics that he was still hard, Phoenix uses the music to tell a sad little story about girls. The soundtrack to my summer.
10. Frakkur - ?: I don’t know the title of this, as it was offered up as a free download simply titled “Frakkur Live” on the Sigur Ros website (it’s still there, too). Frakkur is the side project of the lead singer of Sigur Ros and it’s truly amazing. To get the full effect, you have to see the pictures of him dressed up in a black and red marching band uniform with butterfly wings on the back. The song itself is a soaring epic with vocals, a choir, guys playing on pots and pans and no discernible lead vocals. Crappy live recording and flaws aside, this is amazing.
11. DJ Shadow - Blood On the Motorway: If you were smart enough to pick up the DJ Shadow DVD this year, you got a little bonus inside, a CD of live DJ Shadow material. Live, “Blood On the Motorway” soars as DJ Shadow adds a sample of strings that makes this even better than the original, which is hard to do.
12. Snow Patrol – Run: A brilliant quiet verse-loud chorus type song. The video to this one is the perfect complement.
13. Air - Alone In Kyoto: First surfacing on the Lost in Translation soundtack, Air brought this one back on their album this year and it’s amazing. A quiet, contemplative song.
14. Kings of Convenience - I’d Rather Dance With You: Kings of Convenience break from the Scandinavian Simon and Garfunkel comparisons for one glorious song on this one that espouses the virtues of forgoing conversation and just getting down: “I’d rather dance with you than talk to you”.
15. The Foreign Exchange – Happiness: “Good people, good loving, good music in my life it makes me happy”, I think that should’ve been the title for this list.
16. The Mountain Goats - Dance Music: I’m not sure where this came from, but it just kind of popped up online this year and it’s an amazing love song to dance music by John Darniele.
17. The Walkmen – The Rat: The best, angry moment in music this year as the Walkmen bemoan feel outside the crowd: “When I used to go out, I knew everyone I saw/Now I go out alone, if I go out at all” all over a rampaging loud guitar attack.
18. Dilated Peoples featuring Kanye West - This Way: Kanye West was all over 2004, but he’s not the highlight of this song. Instead it’s the flute. We need more flute in hip hop in 2005.
19. Death From Above 1979 - Romantic Rights: This is the way rock ‘n roll should be. Loud, a little obnoxious, and with a definite strut. And what’s most amazing about is that it’s just two indie rock guys, not some big rawk band.
20. Masta Killa, Old Man: Why this wasn’t ODB’s last big moment, I don’t know. This should’ve been all over the radio and everything. Masta Killa is happy to sit back and let Ol’ Dirty Bastard steal the show with his “I want two beef patties, special sauce on a sesame seed bun you big dummy!” line.
21. The Streets - Dry Your Eyes
22. William Shatner - That’s Me Trying
23. Phoenix – Everything Is Everything:
24. Kings of Convenience – Homesick:
25. Stars – Ageless Beauty:
26. Jon Brion – The Strings That Tie To You
27. MF Doom - Kookies
28. Switchfoot - Dare You To Move
29. Modest Mouse - The World At Large
30. Iron and Wine - Such Great Heights
31. Kanye West - Jesus Walks
32. Wiley - Pies
33. Phoenix - Love For Granted
34. Kanye West - Family Business
35. The Streeets - Blinded By the Lights
36. Dizzee Rascal - Dream
37. William Shatner - Common People
38. Bjork, Desired Constellation
39. Madvillain, All Caps
40. The Killers, Somebody Told Me
Number 41 is a number of songs that were close or that I stumbled onto late so I didn't feel right including them, they can be considered the runners-up if anything on this list is ineligible, then they can take that song's crown: M83 - America, Sebastien Tellier - Le Ritourenelle, The Arcade Fire - Neighbourhood #1 (Tunnels), The Go! Team - Ladyflash, Mase - Welcome Back, The Postal Service - Against All Odds, Gwen Stefani - Cool, John Mayer - Kid A, The Stills - Lola Stars and Stripes.
The Top 40 Songs of 2004
A few quick notes on the rules/guidelines for this list.
-These are my top forty songs of 2004, it is not limited to best singles of 2004.
-All of these songs were either a) on an album released in 2004, b) released as singles in 2004 from albums that came out last year, c)became available this year despite maybe being older than 2004 (live albums, downloads, etc.).
-Older songs from newer soundtracks were excluded, so, for instance, everything from the Garden State soundtrack was pretty much ineligible, except for the Iron and Wine cover, which if I'm not mistaken was a B-Side from 2004 (and if I'm wrong, well...)
-Bands were not limited to one song in the Top 40. I figure if a band is good enought to come up with 2-3 songs in the Top 40, there is no reason to exclude them to let in a lesser song.
-I put some comments for each song in the top twenty, after that, I just let the songs speak for themselves, if anything needs clarifying, I'd be happy to explain it.
That said, away we go...
1. Modest Mouse- Float On: The romp-stomping best time of the year to be had. A jangly guitar and stilted vocals that tell you everything is going to be all right. I can envision listening to this song in twenty years and it still being as fun and meaningful as it is today.
2. Wilco - At Least That’s What You Said: If the entire album had been like this, it would be my number one. It starts out as a whispery ballad about someone the singer just can’t live with or without. Then, out of nowhere a burst of electric guitar comes in and the song erupts into the best breakdown/jam of the year with an amazing drum beat that you can’t help but tap your foot to.
3. Rilo Kiley - Portions For Foxes: This is an amazingly catchy song that really should’ve catapulted Rilo Kiley to O.C. guest appearances like “Float On” did for Modest Mouse. The most transcendant moment of the year comes toward the end of this one. Toward the middle of the song, Jenny Lewis sings “And you’re bad news/My friends tell me to leave you” and you think it might be over, but then she changes her mind “And you’re bad news/but I don’t care I like you/I like you!” and it’s all too perfect.
4. M83 - Run Into Flowers (Abstrackt Keal Agram Remix): While the original version of this song is great, the remix takes it to even greater heights. The beginning of this song is turned into a menacing hip hop song that wouldn’t sound out of place on the latest RZA-produced Wu-Tang solo album. Then it explodes into an amazing cacophony of electric guitar that just makes the song soar.
5. Joanna Newsom - Crab, Clam Cockle, Cowrie: Joanna Newsom seems to be the most polarizing singer of the year. I think Said The Gramaphone described her the best in saying she sings “in a borrowed voice.” And it’s that voice that drives so many away. But on this one, a tender ballad, one of the the greatest things occur. Newsom sings “I do as I please/I’m down on my knees/and your skin is something I stir into my tea/And I am watching you/and you are starry, starry, starry.” But when she hits the “Starry, starry, starry” part she does each word higher and more heartfelt than the last so it sounds something like “starry! STARRY!! STARRY!!!” And on that last “Starry”, her voice breaks through and the borrowed voice is broken for a second and you get a taste of what Newsom’s normal, speaking voice would be like. But, then she goes back to her “borrowed voice” and all you’ll get is that one glimpse.
6. Rachel Stevens - Some Girls: I always figured that the blonde girl with the bad teeth or the spunky brunette, Hannah, would be the breakout stars of S Club 7. As attractive as Stevens is, she was always the kind of plain one on S Club. Then this song comes along, a borrowed groove, pretty inane lyrics, really it shouldn’t work at all. But it does. And it does so well. This is just purely great pop music. As I’ve said before, if there were any justice in the world, this is what would be played daily on my local “hits” station.
7. The Foreign Exchange - Let’s Move: Somehow a rapper, Phonte, from a group (Little Brother) I’d never heard before this year, and a beatmaker, Nicolay, from the Netherlands who wouldn’t look out of place on your local debate team, came together on a message board and put together not only the hip hop album of the year, but the hip hop single of the year, as well. “Let’s Move” rides an entirely too-happy beat that works against all odds and provides the perfect backdrop for Phonte realizing that everything’s going to be okay despite the fact that he’s been writing cheques that should say “Spalding on ‘em”.
8. Snow Patrol - How To Be Dead: I get a distinctly Coldplayish vibe from Snow Patrol, which is fortunate, because I love Coldplay. Snow Patrol remind me of a younger (I don’t know if that’s true), hungrier, rawer Coldplay. This song, however, is the greatest radio hit that Coldplay never came up with. A weepy little one that keeps the music catchy enough and not ballady enough that it never becomes too much. The singer’s voice is too perfect, especially when he nails lines like “Dr. Jekyll is wrestling Hyde/for my pride.” Get in on them now, because I have a feeling they could be huge in a few years.
9. Phoenix - Victim of the Crime: Picking a fave track from my fave album of the year was difficult, as there is not a bad song on there, but this one is one I could never get tired of. The first thing you notice about this one (or at least I did) is how similar the music is to Dr. Dre’s “Still D.R.E.” But, I don’t think of it as a theft or a rip-off at all, because it’s done with such joy. Whereas Dre used the music to answer his critics that he was still hard, Phoenix uses the music to tell a sad little story about girls. The soundtrack to my summer.
10. Frakkur - ?: I don’t know the title of this, as it was offered up as a free download simply titled “Frakkur Live” on the Sigur Ros website (it’s still there, too). Frakkur is the side project of the lead singer of Sigur Ros and it’s truly amazing. To get the full effect, you have to see the pictures of him dressed up in a black and red marching band uniform with butterfly wings on the back. The song itself is a soaring epic with vocals, a choir, guys playing on pots and pans and no discernible lead vocals. Crappy live recording and flaws aside, this is amazing.
11. DJ Shadow - Blood On the Motorway: If you were smart enough to pick up the DJ Shadow DVD this year, you got a little bonus inside, a CD of live DJ Shadow material. Live, “Blood On the Motorway” soars as DJ Shadow adds a sample of strings that makes this even better than the original, which is hard to do.
12. Snow Patrol – Run: A brilliant quiet verse-loud chorus type song. The video to this one is the perfect complement.
13. Air - Alone In Kyoto: First surfacing on the Lost in Translation soundtack, Air brought this one back on their album this year and it’s amazing. A quiet, contemplative song.
14. Kings of Convenience - I’d Rather Dance With You: Kings of Convenience break from the Scandinavian Simon and Garfunkel comparisons for one glorious song on this one that espouses the virtues of forgoing conversation and just getting down: “I’d rather dance with you than talk to you”.
15. The Foreign Exchange – Happiness: “Good people, good loving, good music in my life it makes me happy”, I think that should’ve been the title for this list.
16. The Mountain Goats - Dance Music: I’m not sure where this came from, but it just kind of popped up online this year and it’s an amazing love song to dance music by John Darniele.
17. The Walkmen – The Rat: The best, angry moment in music this year as the Walkmen bemoan feel outside the crowd: “When I used to go out, I knew everyone I saw/Now I go out alone, if I go out at all” all over a rampaging loud guitar attack.
18. Dilated Peoples featuring Kanye West - This Way: Kanye West was all over 2004, but he’s not the highlight of this song. Instead it’s the flute. We need more flute in hip hop in 2005.
19. Death From Above 1979 - Romantic Rights: This is the way rock ‘n roll should be. Loud, a little obnoxious, and with a definite strut. And what’s most amazing about is that it’s just two indie rock guys, not some big rawk band.
20. Masta Killa, Old Man: Why this wasn’t ODB’s last big moment, I don’t know. This should’ve been all over the radio and everything. Masta Killa is happy to sit back and let Ol’ Dirty Bastard steal the show with his “I want two beef patties, special sauce on a sesame seed bun you big dummy!” line.
21. The Streets - Dry Your Eyes
22. William Shatner - That’s Me Trying
23. Phoenix – Everything Is Everything:
24. Kings of Convenience – Homesick:
25. Stars – Ageless Beauty:
26. Jon Brion – The Strings That Tie To You
27. MF Doom - Kookies
28. Switchfoot - Dare You To Move
29. Modest Mouse - The World At Large
30. Iron and Wine - Such Great Heights
31. Kanye West - Jesus Walks
32. Wiley - Pies
33. Phoenix - Love For Granted
34. Kanye West - Family Business
35. The Streeets - Blinded By the Lights
36. Dizzee Rascal - Dream
37. William Shatner - Common People
38. Bjork, Desired Constellation
39. Madvillain, All Caps
40. The Killers, Somebody Told Me
Number 41 is a number of songs that were close or that I stumbled onto late so I didn't feel right including them, they can be considered the runners-up if anything on this list is ineligible, then they can take that song's crown: M83 - America, Sebastien Tellier - Le Ritourenelle, The Arcade Fire - Neighbourhood #1 (Tunnels), The Go! Team - Ladyflash, Mase - Welcome Back, The Postal Service - Against All Odds, Gwen Stefani - Cool, John Mayer - Kid A, The Stills - Lola Stars and Stripes.
Monday, December 27, 2004
Top Ten Music Videos of the Year!
So, putting together the lists for Album of the Year, Movie of the Year, and the very daunting Songs of the year is taking a lil' bit longer than I would have guessed, especially as I (and Calgore) have picked up a number of 2004 releases in the past week and a half, including Air, Stars, Death From Above 1979, MF Doom, Masta Killa, Dizzee Rascal, Interpol. But, I promise to work dilligently to make these lists happen. As it is, here is the easiest list I had to assemble.
I decided to keep these blurb-free, as there really isn't much I can possibly explain about each video without repeating myself. Your best bet is to just head on over to launch.com and watch all of them, b/c they're all definitely worth your time.
The 10 Best Music Videos of the Year!
10. Modest Mouse, Float On
09. m83, Run Into Flowers
08. Death Cab For Cutie, Sound of Settling
07. The Streets, Dry Your Eyes
06. Stars, Ageless Beauty
05. Snow Patrol, Run
04. Modest Mouse, Ocean Breathes Salty
03. Dizzee Rascal, Dream:
02. Kings of Convenience, I'd Rather Dance With You
and the winnah...
01. M83, America
I decided to keep these blurb-free, as there really isn't much I can possibly explain about each video without repeating myself. Your best bet is to just head on over to launch.com and watch all of them, b/c they're all definitely worth your time.
The 10 Best Music Videos of the Year!
10. Modest Mouse, Float On
09. m83, Run Into Flowers
08. Death Cab For Cutie, Sound of Settling
07. The Streets, Dry Your Eyes
06. Stars, Ageless Beauty
05. Snow Patrol, Run
04. Modest Mouse, Ocean Breathes Salty
03. Dizzee Rascal, Dream:
02. Kings of Convenience, I'd Rather Dance With You
and the winnah...
01. M83, America
Sunday, December 19, 2004
Has it been that long?
Boy, it's been much longer than I'd thought it had been, hasn't it? Wait, is anyone even waiting for another post? Somehow I doubt it.
Anyways, I saw the movie Closer, and it's a weird one. Well, it's not weird like David Lynch or Takashi Miike, but the structure of the movie is kind of weird in that you're always waiting for a climax or a big fight or something and it never quite happens. Anyways, I'll deal with the movie itself in the Throbbing Skank Ape 2004 Top Twenty Movies of the Year (coming soon, honest). The most important thing about the movie that is not Natalie Portman's ass is...
Damien Rice, The Blower's Daughter {link} (it's right at the top of the page, I felt guilty directly linking to it b/c I don't know how much bandwith they have, and, anyways, there's tons of other good Rice mp3s on the page)
This beautiful song opens, and closes Closer. I had never actually heard any Rice songs before, I only knew him as that guy who won the Shortlist Prize in 2003 whom I'd never heard of but beat The Streets, Cat Power, Cody Chesnutt, Interpol, Bright Eyes and Sigur Ros among others. Then i heard this song and it's just achingly beautiful, Rice's voice is great, sounding sometimes like David Gray, sometimes like Van Morrison, and other times like...someone else. When he repeats "I can't take my eyes off of you" you just know he's fallen hard and it just resonates with you if you've ever fallen that hard for anyone.
Frakkur, ? {link}
Frakkur is Jonsi Birgisson, the lead singer of Sigur Ros. I'm a huge Sigur Ros fan, owning everything of them I can get my hands on. Frakkur is amazing. Jonsi walks around in a sort of warped marching band outfit with butterfly wings strapped to his back (here) and playing a drum. A choir sings in the background, there are guitars, keyboards, and a guy banging on pots and pans. Everything just swells and shimmers for four and a half minutes before the keyboards quieten, and all you can hear is the drum, the pots and pans, and the choir and it goes on for almost eleven minutes. Sure there are problems, like an ear-piercing feedback in the middle and people holding conversations in the background, but that's what you get with live music. One of my favourite music moments of the year, I would love to have been there.
I'll try to be back sooner than later (especially if the rumored two week layoff from work begins this week, woo!). I got a massive Top 25 Albums of 2004 and a Top 100 Songs of 2004 to get to, I'm just wondering whether I should wait for Christmas and the albums I might be receiving then.
-caley
Anyways, I saw the movie Closer, and it's a weird one. Well, it's not weird like David Lynch or Takashi Miike, but the structure of the movie is kind of weird in that you're always waiting for a climax or a big fight or something and it never quite happens. Anyways, I'll deal with the movie itself in the Throbbing Skank Ape 2004 Top Twenty Movies of the Year (coming soon, honest). The most important thing about the movie that is not Natalie Portman's ass is...
Damien Rice, The Blower's Daughter {link} (it's right at the top of the page, I felt guilty directly linking to it b/c I don't know how much bandwith they have, and, anyways, there's tons of other good Rice mp3s on the page)
This beautiful song opens, and closes Closer. I had never actually heard any Rice songs before, I only knew him as that guy who won the Shortlist Prize in 2003 whom I'd never heard of but beat The Streets, Cat Power, Cody Chesnutt, Interpol, Bright Eyes and Sigur Ros among others. Then i heard this song and it's just achingly beautiful, Rice's voice is great, sounding sometimes like David Gray, sometimes like Van Morrison, and other times like...someone else. When he repeats "I can't take my eyes off of you" you just know he's fallen hard and it just resonates with you if you've ever fallen that hard for anyone.
Frakkur, ? {link}
Frakkur is Jonsi Birgisson, the lead singer of Sigur Ros. I'm a huge Sigur Ros fan, owning everything of them I can get my hands on. Frakkur is amazing. Jonsi walks around in a sort of warped marching band outfit with butterfly wings strapped to his back (here) and playing a drum. A choir sings in the background, there are guitars, keyboards, and a guy banging on pots and pans. Everything just swells and shimmers for four and a half minutes before the keyboards quieten, and all you can hear is the drum, the pots and pans, and the choir and it goes on for almost eleven minutes. Sure there are problems, like an ear-piercing feedback in the middle and people holding conversations in the background, but that's what you get with live music. One of my favourite music moments of the year, I would love to have been there.
I'll try to be back sooner than later (especially if the rumored two week layoff from work begins this week, woo!). I got a massive Top 25 Albums of 2004 and a Top 100 Songs of 2004 to get to, I'm just wondering whether I should wait for Christmas and the albums I might be receiving then.
-caley
Tuesday, December 07, 2004
So, these seem to be working for some people, although I can only seem to download the mp3s if I right-click on them, rather then left-click. Odd. I will keep trying to post mp3s where I can, but I will also always post the links, so even if the mp3 link works for you, you should try the link, as well, ‘cuz there’s often a whole lot more good music there, too.
Sunday’s Best “ When Is Pearl Harbor Day?” {LINK}
I’ve been racking my brains all day, at work, trying to think of something interesting to say about this song other then that it’s pretty and reminds me of summer, but came up completely empty. I thought about writing about how weird it is that the song is about Pearl Harbor Day (sort of, well, not really, but it is in the title) yet it reminds me of summer, and then it occurred to me that I couldn’t even remember when Pearl Harbor day is. So, I looked it up, and lo and behold, today, December 7 is Pearl Harbor Day. So, now you HAVE to download it, I’m probably not gonna stumble across another mp3 as a propos as today’s.
Sunday’s Best are a damn fine indie rock band, and the fact that their website is up for sale has me the least bit worried. They are one of those fine bands that never got the attention they deserved, aside from a weird repeated use of their song on the incomparable, but all too brief MTV series Clone High. Come back Sunday’s Best! I still love you.
The Appleseed Cast “Fight Song” {LINK}
There is no such magic at work with this one, just a perfect song, no crazy coincidences. The Appleseed Cast is a fine band (I should stop saying that) who are too often tossed in as another “emo” band. But The Appleseed Cast left the emo realm behind when they released the experimental Low Level Owl records and Pitchfork started to sing their praises, things seemed to be on the rise. Then, “Two Conversations” their most recent album came out and everyone jumped off the bandwagon. I guess it’s not cool to be “emotional” anymore. But the album is amazing, it seems to be almost like a scrapbook of a relationship on the downswing. This song is my highpoint of the album, aside from the closer “A Dream For Us”. The lyrics are terrific:
“So we’ll look out on the lake and we see the white light.
It should have been gold.
I said it was gold.
Then maybe all the crazy things you said would have some meaning”
This was my album of the year for 2003, you should go get it, now.
Oh yeah, and go on over to POP77 and download the Radio Dept. songs, especially if you’re into noisy ethereal music a la M83 or My Bloody Valentine. Then follow his links to download The Cardigans live KCRW set, as he says, if all you know about the Cardigans is "Love Fool" or "My Favourite Game", there is SO much more to them.
EDIT: It seems that the Appleseed Cast mp3 is not working, there is some kind of problem with Tiger Style records, so now, you're a gonna have to go to Insound, you can download it from there if you search for it, that works, honest.
Sunday’s Best “ When Is Pearl Harbor Day?” {LINK}
I’ve been racking my brains all day, at work, trying to think of something interesting to say about this song other then that it’s pretty and reminds me of summer, but came up completely empty. I thought about writing about how weird it is that the song is about Pearl Harbor Day (sort of, well, not really, but it is in the title) yet it reminds me of summer, and then it occurred to me that I couldn’t even remember when Pearl Harbor day is. So, I looked it up, and lo and behold, today, December 7 is Pearl Harbor Day. So, now you HAVE to download it, I’m probably not gonna stumble across another mp3 as a propos as today’s.
Sunday’s Best are a damn fine indie rock band, and the fact that their website is up for sale has me the least bit worried. They are one of those fine bands that never got the attention they deserved, aside from a weird repeated use of their song on the incomparable, but all too brief MTV series Clone High. Come back Sunday’s Best! I still love you.
The Appleseed Cast “Fight Song” {LINK}
There is no such magic at work with this one, just a perfect song, no crazy coincidences. The Appleseed Cast is a fine band (I should stop saying that) who are too often tossed in as another “emo” band. But The Appleseed Cast left the emo realm behind when they released the experimental Low Level Owl records and Pitchfork started to sing their praises, things seemed to be on the rise. Then, “Two Conversations” their most recent album came out and everyone jumped off the bandwagon. I guess it’s not cool to be “emotional” anymore. But the album is amazing, it seems to be almost like a scrapbook of a relationship on the downswing. This song is my highpoint of the album, aside from the closer “A Dream For Us”. The lyrics are terrific:
“So we’ll look out on the lake and we see the white light.
It should have been gold.
I said it was gold.
Then maybe all the crazy things you said would have some meaning”
This was my album of the year for 2003, you should go get it, now.
Oh yeah, and go on over to POP77 and download the Radio Dept. songs, especially if you’re into noisy ethereal music a la M83 or My Bloody Valentine. Then follow his links to download The Cardigans live KCRW set, as he says, if all you know about the Cardigans is "Love Fool" or "My Favourite Game", there is SO much more to them.
EDIT: It seems that the Appleseed Cast mp3 is not working, there is some kind of problem with Tiger Style records, so now, you're a gonna have to go to Insound, you can download it from there if you search for it, that works, honest.
Friday, December 03, 2004
Okay, it's official, I suck at this...
So, one out of two ain't great, sue me. The For Stars one sort of worked, the other takes a little more work. From now on, instead of this guessing game about whether or not they will work, I'll just give you some links to where the song SHOULD be. If it doesn't work, don't blame me, but please let me know, I'll see what I can do (most likely nothing). Anyways, onward we go... (And yes, I have gone back and amended the previous post).
The Jim Yoshii Pile-Up "Breakdown" {LINK}
I slept on this band for a while. I think the reason I didn't listen to them at first was because either (a) I thought Jim Yoshii was the lead singer and it was some kind of J-Pop thing. Not that I don't like J-Pop, just that a person can only handle so much J-Pop at once or (b) I confused them with Jim O'Rourke whom I was convinced I didn't like, but come to think of it, I've never heard Jim O'Rourke, so maybe I had him confused with P.J. O'Rourke who might be a writer I don't like, or might be someone I have confused with someone else. Anyways, one night I came across them when I was trying to find more songs by Death Cab For Cutie guitarist Chris Walla, I found out that Walla had produced an album by JYPU and downloaded "Breakdown" and WOW! I'm a big fan of sad music, sad movies, really, just sadness, itself. And this is sad, but good. It's very slow but builds to the loudness, kind of like a Mogwai song. My favourite part is when the lead singer (not named Jim Yoshii, there is no Jim Yoshii in the band) sings
"And often when I'm sitting in my room,
I stare at my poster of Prince,
and sometimes I think of you.
And I spit when I do.
I..hate...that...piece...of...me...it...looks...too...much...like....you."
Just so amazing. It's full of sadness, bitterness, anger, and disappointment. And the way he sings that last line of harsh guitar chords...amazing. You should go to their website, as well, there are more songs. I keep waiting for someone to stock their albums locally, I'm giving them to the end of the year before I hit the Net and order them all.
Antarctica "Absence" {LINK}
This is one of those songs that will always tie me to a specific memory of a specific time in a specific place. I was on a bus, coming back from Vancouver over the Connector through a veritable blizzard. I'd just found Antarctica's CD in the used bin at the awesome Zulu Records. I had heard this one before, and liked it. But, something about listening to it as the snow whirred past the windows fit it oh-so-well. Even if I'm playing this song on a car stereo, on a hot summer morn, with the windows down and a slurpee in my hand, it still reminds me of that winter, I think I repeated it somewhere in the neighbourhood of 8 times in a row.
The song, itself, is amazing. A breezy little electro weeper. I've never been able to understand the lyrics, or find them online, but they are quite plaintive, almost mournful. It's beautiful, and a friend told me the whole album was out of print and hard to find, luckily I'd found it before that became an issue.
Ah, what the hell, let's make it three!
Joanna Newsome "Clam, Crab, Cockle, Cowrie" {LINK}
A while back, on my now stillborn first blog, I pronounced the most exhilirating moment of 2004 as being when Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley sings "You're bad news, but I don't care cuz I like you...I like you!" I might have been a bit premature.
By now everyone must have heard of Ms. Newsome, the girl with the elfish voice and the harp, and I had, as well. I really dug the song "Peach Plum Pear" but kind of dismissed her as a one-trick pony, a novelty. Once you got over the incomparable voice, it got real old real quick, I assumed. Now, recently, the spectacular Large Hearted Boy proclaimed Joaana Newsome's "The Milk-Eyed Mender" as his album of the year, so I thought I would give her another shot. And I discovered the above song "Clam, Crab, Cockle, Cowrie."
It's different from "Peach Plum Pear" in that "C.C.C.C." is much more of a ballad, a little sad, and a little hopeful, but quiet and ponderous. And when Joanna sings,
"And your skin is something I stir into my tea,
And I am watching you,
And you are starry, starry, starry"
she really belts the "starry, starry, starry," out so that it should be written "And you are Starry! STARRY! STARRY!" and I just melt. I've listened to this song, and had this part, in my head for a couple of days now. So, it looks like the race for most exhilirating musical moment of 2004 is down to:
-Rilo Kiley "Portions For Foxes" [The part where she sings "You're bad news, but I don't care cuz I like you...I like you!"
-Joanna Newsome "Clam Crab Cockle Cowrie" [When Joanna sings "Starry! STARRY! STARRY!"
-Wilco "At Least That's What You Said" [ The part when the electric guitar cuts in and the song gets LOUD]
-M83 "Run Into Flowers (Abstrackt Keal Agram Remix)" [The part when the wall of electric guitar comes in and the song explodes out of the initial downtempo hip-hop beat it had going on]
Let the voting begin...or not...
The Jim Yoshii Pile-Up "Breakdown" {LINK}
I slept on this band for a while. I think the reason I didn't listen to them at first was because either (a) I thought Jim Yoshii was the lead singer and it was some kind of J-Pop thing. Not that I don't like J-Pop, just that a person can only handle so much J-Pop at once or (b) I confused them with Jim O'Rourke whom I was convinced I didn't like, but come to think of it, I've never heard Jim O'Rourke, so maybe I had him confused with P.J. O'Rourke who might be a writer I don't like, or might be someone I have confused with someone else. Anyways, one night I came across them when I was trying to find more songs by Death Cab For Cutie guitarist Chris Walla, I found out that Walla had produced an album by JYPU and downloaded "Breakdown" and WOW! I'm a big fan of sad music, sad movies, really, just sadness, itself. And this is sad, but good. It's very slow but builds to the loudness, kind of like a Mogwai song. My favourite part is when the lead singer (not named Jim Yoshii, there is no Jim Yoshii in the band) sings
"And often when I'm sitting in my room,
I stare at my poster of Prince,
and sometimes I think of you.
And I spit when I do.
I..hate...that...piece...of...me...it...looks...too...much...like....you."
Just so amazing. It's full of sadness, bitterness, anger, and disappointment. And the way he sings that last line of harsh guitar chords...amazing. You should go to their website, as well, there are more songs. I keep waiting for someone to stock their albums locally, I'm giving them to the end of the year before I hit the Net and order them all.
Antarctica "Absence" {LINK}
This is one of those songs that will always tie me to a specific memory of a specific time in a specific place. I was on a bus, coming back from Vancouver over the Connector through a veritable blizzard. I'd just found Antarctica's CD in the used bin at the awesome Zulu Records. I had heard this one before, and liked it. But, something about listening to it as the snow whirred past the windows fit it oh-so-well. Even if I'm playing this song on a car stereo, on a hot summer morn, with the windows down and a slurpee in my hand, it still reminds me of that winter, I think I repeated it somewhere in the neighbourhood of 8 times in a row.
The song, itself, is amazing. A breezy little electro weeper. I've never been able to understand the lyrics, or find them online, but they are quite plaintive, almost mournful. It's beautiful, and a friend told me the whole album was out of print and hard to find, luckily I'd found it before that became an issue.
Ah, what the hell, let's make it three!
Joanna Newsome "Clam, Crab, Cockle, Cowrie" {LINK}
A while back, on my now stillborn first blog, I pronounced the most exhilirating moment of 2004 as being when Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley sings "You're bad news, but I don't care cuz I like you...I like you!" I might have been a bit premature.
By now everyone must have heard of Ms. Newsome, the girl with the elfish voice and the harp, and I had, as well. I really dug the song "Peach Plum Pear" but kind of dismissed her as a one-trick pony, a novelty. Once you got over the incomparable voice, it got real old real quick, I assumed. Now, recently, the spectacular Large Hearted Boy proclaimed Joaana Newsome's "The Milk-Eyed Mender" as his album of the year, so I thought I would give her another shot. And I discovered the above song "Clam, Crab, Cockle, Cowrie."
It's different from "Peach Plum Pear" in that "C.C.C.C." is much more of a ballad, a little sad, and a little hopeful, but quiet and ponderous. And when Joanna sings,
"And your skin is something I stir into my tea,
And I am watching you,
And you are starry, starry, starry"
she really belts the "starry, starry, starry," out so that it should be written "And you are Starry! STARRY! STARRY!" and I just melt. I've listened to this song, and had this part, in my head for a couple of days now. So, it looks like the race for most exhilirating musical moment of 2004 is down to:
-Rilo Kiley "Portions For Foxes" [The part where she sings "You're bad news, but I don't care cuz I like you...I like you!"
-Joanna Newsome "Clam Crab Cockle Cowrie" [When Joanna sings "Starry! STARRY! STARRY!"
-Wilco "At Least That's What You Said" [ The part when the electric guitar cuts in and the song gets LOUD]
-M83 "Run Into Flowers (Abstrackt Keal Agram Remix)" [The part when the wall of electric guitar comes in and the song explodes out of the initial downtempo hip-hop beat it had going on]
Let the voting begin...or not...
Wednesday, December 01, 2004
Yeah, we'll see how long this keeps up...
"It's nice to see you giving something back after taking so, so much."
-The Simpsons
I love mp3 blogs, love 'em. I'm too lazy and poor and unhip to ever get one going, but with some help from places that post great mp3s, maybe I can at least highlight some at a semi-regular pace.
Expect this to have ended by tomorrow, but for today...well...here we go...
For Stars "How It Goes"
Do you ever have memories that are so great that you replay them in your mind over and over and over again? But, when you recall these particular memories, the soundtrack that went along with them was either highly inappropriate, or just annoying? So, in your memory you substitute another song for whatever was playing in the background, and in a way, modify the memory forever.
For me, the memory is staying a week with a friend who'd moved to Washington. On our last day there, we decided that to overcome the lure of cheap American prices to go and see the ocean. The only problem being that the quickest way to get to the ocean was a three to four, to maybe even five hour drive out of Washington and into Oregon. But, we did it anyways. And aside from the beautiful Seaside, itself (which is pretty much my favourite place on Earth right now), my favourite memory is driving there. The sun was shining, the roads weren't too busy as it was late September, and the road was surrounded by trees and bits of sunlight crept in and poked between the leaves to bathe the car in a kind of scattered light. At the time, we were listening to the only CD my friend owned at that point which was Linkin Park, but since then, I've replaced Linkin Park with thi song, and every time I hear it reminds me of warmer days, on my way to the beach.
Kyle Fischer "One More Day"
(I don't know how to properly link insound.com, so here is a link for the mp3 search page, just type in Kyle Fischer and you should find it).
I'm not sure why I never quite bought this album, finding this song on a mix tape at work this week reminded me of just how in love with this song I was.
Despite this being from the Kyle Fischer of Rainer Maria solo album, he actually gets Caithlin De Marrais to sing this one (and actually from reading it, he uses her and Mike Kinsella of Owen and American Football on mostly the entire album), and it is amazing. My biggest problem with Rainer Maria is the same one I have with Velocity Girl and that is that the singer's voice is often just way too powerful for the backing music and it just doesn't mesh. But, here, Caithlin's voice owns the song and the music doesn't intrude and try to take it away from her. I can't believe this song hasn't been played during a film when the sad leading guy/girl is pining for a relationship he/she screwed up/were screwed out of.
-The Simpsons
I love mp3 blogs, love 'em. I'm too lazy and poor and unhip to ever get one going, but with some help from places that post great mp3s, maybe I can at least highlight some at a semi-regular pace.
Expect this to have ended by tomorrow, but for today...well...here we go...
For Stars "How It Goes"
Do you ever have memories that are so great that you replay them in your mind over and over and over again? But, when you recall these particular memories, the soundtrack that went along with them was either highly inappropriate, or just annoying? So, in your memory you substitute another song for whatever was playing in the background, and in a way, modify the memory forever.
For me, the memory is staying a week with a friend who'd moved to Washington. On our last day there, we decided that to overcome the lure of cheap American prices to go and see the ocean. The only problem being that the quickest way to get to the ocean was a three to four, to maybe even five hour drive out of Washington and into Oregon. But, we did it anyways. And aside from the beautiful Seaside, itself (which is pretty much my favourite place on Earth right now), my favourite memory is driving there. The sun was shining, the roads weren't too busy as it was late September, and the road was surrounded by trees and bits of sunlight crept in and poked between the leaves to bathe the car in a kind of scattered light. At the time, we were listening to the only CD my friend owned at that point which was Linkin Park, but since then, I've replaced Linkin Park with thi song, and every time I hear it reminds me of warmer days, on my way to the beach.
Kyle Fischer "One More Day"
(I don't know how to properly link insound.com, so here is a link for the mp3 search page, just type in Kyle Fischer and you should find it).
I'm not sure why I never quite bought this album, finding this song on a mix tape at work this week reminded me of just how in love with this song I was.
Despite this being from the Kyle Fischer of Rainer Maria solo album, he actually gets Caithlin De Marrais to sing this one (and actually from reading it, he uses her and Mike Kinsella of Owen and American Football on mostly the entire album), and it is amazing. My biggest problem with Rainer Maria is the same one I have with Velocity Girl and that is that the singer's voice is often just way too powerful for the backing music and it just doesn't mesh. But, here, Caithlin's voice owns the song and the music doesn't intrude and try to take it away from her. I can't believe this song hasn't been played during a film when the sad leading guy/girl is pining for a relationship he/she screwed up/were screwed out of.
Tuesday, November 23, 2004
We're back! Sort of...
"Fuck you fuser"
-The Motorcycle Diaries
So, the ape has become a skank, if blogger is reading this, I suppose they can delete throbbingskunkape as there seems to be no way I will ever get back into it.
In theory, I should be posting a lot more, in reality, that probably won't happen until I become jobless (possibly as soon as X-Mas). But, I will try. Scout's honour. But take that for what you will b/c I was never in the Scouts. I did go to Beavers once, and got chastized for not recognizing the Beaver Call. Sounds like a porno.
-The Motorcycle Diaries
So, the ape has become a skank, if blogger is reading this, I suppose they can delete throbbingskunkape as there seems to be no way I will ever get back into it.
In theory, I should be posting a lot more, in reality, that probably won't happen until I become jobless (possibly as soon as X-Mas). But, I will try. Scout's honour. But take that for what you will b/c I was never in the Scouts. I did go to Beavers once, and got chastized for not recognizing the Beaver Call. Sounds like a porno.
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