Friday, August 29

Happy Birthday To Me

When Yer Twenty Two - The Flaming Lips
From Transmissions From The Satellite Heart (1993)

Tuesday, August 26

Gravitate

Jitterakadie - Death Vessel
Exploded View - Death Vessel
Both from Nothing is Precious Enough for Us (2008)

I enjoy a great number and variety of folk songs, but I enjoy my folk music the absolute most served one of two ways: 1. Inordinately jubilant and clear as crystal, or 2. Totally fucking apocalyptic. Luckily, Death Vessel had the foresight to include one of each on their (excellent) new album that was released last week. The former song makes me smile; the latter makes me shiver.

This band is a happy new discovery for me. Their songs are thoughtful, well written, and terrifically arranged. Joel Thibodeau's alto-tenor vocals (yes, that's a dude singing) are mesmerizing - as unique as Joanna Newsom's voice, but with a more immediate beauty. I have a soft spot for pure voices - the cleaner, the better - and I've never heard a more spotless tone and delivery than what he provides here.

An interesting aside: This band now joins my roster of "Bands with awesome-yet-deceptive Death Metal band names." The list so far:

The Grateful Dead
King Crimson
Smog
Murder By Death
My Bloody Valentine
Styx
Meat Puppets
Primal Scream
Black Mountain
Destroyer
Dead Can Dance
War
Death Vessel

Any additions or revisions would be appreciated.

All I Hear Is Music

In the Wilderness (Rough Mix) - Genesis
From Genesis Archive 1967-75 (1998)

It's no secret that Genesis is my favorite band of all time*. I think that trying to explain the why and how of it would probably be pointless - I can't even fully justify it to myself anymore. Genuine love of the music mixes with nostalgia and the feeling of discovery in such a powerful way that they become inseparable, forming themselves into my musical DNA. I suspect that this isn't uncommon for most people with regards to their favorite band - thus the Backstreet Boys embark on their seventh tour. Genesis are admittedly a weird band for a kid to latch on to - it's just that when most 13 year olds in 2000 were listening to Nirvana, Eminem, and Creed, I was listening to 70s prog-rock. Thanks, dad.

But anyway, I was paying my audio-tithe to Gabriel and co. recently when I stumbled across this gem. It's a demo from their first album, From Genesis to Revelation, released in 1969 when the oldest band member was 18. As you might imagine, it's a pretty crappy album - made worse by an idiot producer who decided that overdubbing horns and strings onto pretentious, amateurish songs would give 'em some real pizzazz (it didn't). Luckily, the version on the terrific Genesis box set has a stripped down and far superior version.

Ignore the lyrics please - they're pure silliness. Just enjoy a lovely song by a bunch of young kids on summer break, played with palpable enthusiasm and intimacy, and topped off by a minor miracle of a chorus.

*Peter Gabriel-era

Wednesday, August 20

Run Devil Run

I've recently decided to start running again - my end of summer ennui usually results in a brief period of physical exertion, cut short by a crippling combination of school and terrible weather. Still, I like pretending to be in shape. This all leads to the rather interesting question: what to music to run to?

I first tried on Arthur by the Kinks. BAD IDEA. It's a great album, but . . . not terribly motivating. Or kickass. Granted, I should have realized that 1969 concept albums by rock/music hall hybrid bands might not make a great jogging soundtrack. Oh well.

That's when I remembered that LCD Soundsystem, aka James Murphy, teamed up with Nike awhile back and created a long format track specifically for this purpose. So here it is, all 46 glorious minutes of it.

45:33 by LCD Soundsystem (2006)

Running while listening to this for the first time was AWESOME. I've never been a huge LCDS fan (despite having seen them live - best concert I've ever attended) - you see, I'm a pop type of guy, and they're firmly in the dance/electro camp. But I now realize that, if you can't dance, you need to be running when you listen to them - physically involved in the sound, but not distracted to the point of ignoring it altogether. A boring 8 minute shuffle becomes hypnotic. I actually ran about 20 yards past where I usually turn - it was that involving.

I had forgotten how well Murphy knows his way around constructing a compelling beat, and how he's one of the few guys who can inject these grooves and workouts with real pop hooks - check out the glockenspiel in the 12th minute if you don't believe me - not to mention a sense of humor. This piece holds up well to anything Can or Parliament (or whoever) put out. Listen to this song on your iPod and walk around to the beat - you will feel like the greatest P.I.M.P. in the galaxy.

Oh, and I ran the 1.57 mile loop around my apartment (thank you Google Maps) in 16:17. Keep in mind that there were stoplights. And the end is all uphill. And I stopped at an ATM.

Sigh.

Sunday, August 17

To Be Young (Is to Be Sad, Is to Be High)

New Romantic - Laura Marling
From My Manic And I EP (2008)

I had thought I would have so much to say about this song, but I'm finding writing a struggle today. So, I leave you with this:

1. Laura Marling is 18.
2. With this song, she simultaneously name-checks Ryan Adams and eclipses his entire solo output.
3. If I were still in high school I'd be listening to this song 5 times a day (as opposed to the twice a day I'm averaging now).

Thursday, August 14

C'mon Get Happy

While I was looking through the songs I've posted so far, I realized that this blog is full of tunes that are seriously aching, plaintive, mellow, soul-searching, etc., and not many that are, y'know, upbeat. I dunno, I guess those are just the kinds of songs I've been attracted to lately - I can only wonder what my therapist would think. Anyway, since I have even more downers in the pipeline, I figured I'd mix it up a bit and try to stay! positive! today!.

Learnin' To Love - Ween
From La Cucaracha (2007)

I'm an unabashed Ween fan. Dangerous, I know - they're a band that seem to inspire either fanatic devotion or all-consuming loathing, depending on your tolerance of poop jokes and the effects of Scotchguard on the nervous system. I, for one, believe them to be technical wizards, unparalleled stylistic chameleons, and some of the foremost melodists of our generation. Plus, songs about squelching weasels are just hilarious.

This one is from their newest album, which for some reason just kinda came and went without anyone seeming to give a crap. One hundred and forty six seconds side-splitting smile-inducing silliness, and a hook that any Nashville native would kill for. Doo-ba-lep, doo-ba-lep, doo-ba-lep . . .

This Here Giraffe - The Flaming Lips
From Clouds Taste Metallic (1995)

I love the Lips, but here's the thing: I can almost never listen to just one song alone. Their albums are like little psychedelic ecosystems - all the parts support each other, building an entire experience for you. Listening to one of their songs out of context is, more often than not, a disorienting letdown. I need time to enter their universe.

This Here Giraffe is one of those happy exceptions to the rule above (along with She Don't Use Jelly, Buggin', and, of course, Do You Realize). I dare you not to smile while you listen to this song. That wonderful goofy bassline. That dancing guitar, playing hide and seek with you. And of course the chorus: "This here giraffe . . . laughed." That's the whole chorus. Man, if that don't put a grin on your face, it's time to renew your prescription.

Tuesday, August 12

Kiwis

Miss These Things - The Bats
From Daddy's Highway (1987)

Between the Lord of the Rings movies (meh), Whale Rider (mmm), and Flight of the Conchords (yay) New Zeland has gone through a bit of a pop-cultural renaissance these last few years. But ho! I say. Pray allow me to direct your attention to The Bats, a band 25 (25!) years old from Christchurch, and the best thing since Dame Kiri.

This isn't the best song on their first album, but it's my favorite one. I've never heard a song's chorus sound simultaneously so humble and so epic. It really has no business being as good as it is - but hey, as a former co-worker of mine used to say, my hands are tied. This song will cool you off in the summer and warm you up in the winter.

P.S. - You know, I've always wondered where the "Old Zeland" was that prompted the New tag. Well, thanks to the almighty Wiki my question has been answered - it's Zeeland in the Netherlands. Not Zealand in Denmark however! Take note - there will be a quiz.

Thursday, August 7

Rondeau

Rose, liz, printemps, verdure - Guillaume de Machaut
c. 1350

Goin' a little old-school for this one. Guillaume de Machaut (c. 1300 - 1377) was a Medieval French composer and was generally acknowledged to be the "go-to guy" when it came to music in the 14th century. Reasons he was awesome:

1. He set his own poems to music, and was renowned as a great poet as well as a great composer.
2. He wrote the earliest Mass on record, the Messe de Nostre Dame (which is totally stunning).
3. His music is almost always beautiful while remaining extremely prickly. To my knowledge, only Machaut and Bach could write music as aesthetically pleasing as it is intricate.

I wish I could ramble on forever about the brilliant complexity of this piece. I wish I could, but I can't - mainly due to the fact that I have no idea what's going on musically. I ain't a slouch when it comes to music theory, but medieval theory is utterly beyond me. So, if anyone wants to give me a hand with hexachords, Guidonian hands, and musica ficta, well, you know where to find me. Anyway . . .

This rondeau in particular struck me immediately with that terrific lilting melody that kicks it off. The 4 voices criss-cross like crazy, singing countermelodies and counter-countermelodies . . . ah, my brain hurts just thinking about it. But it's beautiful! That's the crazy thing. Once you get those funky Middle Age harmonies in your ear, you realize just how lush and haunting and glorious the sound really is.

And the lyrics are perfect - simple and lovely, having aged stunningly well. Here's a translation:

Rose, liz, printemps, verdure.
Fleur, baume et tres douce odour.
Belle, passes en doucour.
Et tous les biens de Nature
Avez, dont je vous aour.

Rose, liz, printemps, verdure.
Fleur, baume et tres douce odour;
Et quant toute creature
Seurmonte vostre valour.
Bien puis dire et par honnour:

Rose, liz, printemps, verdure.
Fleur, baume et tres douce odour.
Belle, passes en doucour.



Rose, lily, spring, greenery.
Flower, balm and sweetest perfume
Beauty, you surpass them in sweetness.
And all the gifts of nature
You have, for which I adore you.

Rose, lily, spring, greenery.
Flower, balm and sweetest perfume
And since all creatures
You surpass in worth
I must say in all honor:

Rose, lily, spring, greenery.
Flower, balm and sweetest perfume
Beauty, you surpass them in sweetness.

I think Guillaume must have been getting all the 14th century honeys with stuff like that.

Wednesday, August 6

Eamus Catuli

Cubs in Five - The Mountain Goats
From Nine Black Poppies (1995)

This is the kind of song that makes me just love, love, love John Darnielle. Being funny and heartbroken all at once is a task most songwriters find impossible; here it comes across as simply effortless. Two minutes of bliss.

But hey, the Bucs did win Super Bowl XXXVII, and the Cubs are up 5 in the NL Central, so who knows? Maybe John has a shot after all.

Sunday, August 3

Songs Without Words

Stephanie - Lindsey Buckingham
From Buckingham Nicks (1973)

Denise at 16 - Al Stewart
From Bed-Sitter Images (1967)

I think these songs both aim to capture the same sentiment; if not that of a first love, then a love of exceeding novelty and sweetness. They're both acoustic instrumentals, they're both from their respective artists' first albums, and they both make me feel . . . wistful? Bittersweet? I can't find the right word, but it's an extraordinary emotion. Sometimes lyrics are simply unnecessary - what words could create the moods of these songs? I also wonder about the title characters, what they look like, how they act - perhaps Stephanie is a little more bubbly, and Denise a little more coy.

Stephanie is from Buckingham before he joined Fleetwood Mac, off of his and Stevie Nicks's album (still unreleased on CD!). Denise is from Stewart before he achieved his limited fame in the 70's playing "historical storytelling" songs - a decision I wish he hadn't made. Songs about Sir Richard Grenville and Jean-Paul Marat can be fun, but from a songwriter of his calibre I prefer a tender song about a pretty girl. Sufjan Stevens, you'd be wise to listen.