So Begins the Gauntlet: Songs of the Day
Okkervil River "No Key, No Plan" from Black Sheep Boy Appendix (Jagjaguwar)
Jenny Lewis "Handle With Care" from the forthcoming Rabbit Fur Coat (Team Love)
With the holiday onslaught upon us, there's a bigger task than managing my miniscule budget: the daunting task of picking my favorite albums of 2005. Knowing that this will take most of the month of December, I'm officially putting the new music blog machine in cool down mode. I'm not saying it's gonna be Operation: Shut Down, it just means more songs of the day and less full painstaking album reviews. Trust me, when you see the fabulous list in full effect, it'll all be worth it.
That being said, Okkervil River really skipped ahead. There are tons of records to address that came out months ago, but "No Key, No Plan" really shocked me like my beloved A's acquiring Esteban Loaiza. Seriously, what the fuck?!??!?
Really, after the last time I saw Okkervil River live, I was somewhat disenchanted. Yes, dear readers, it started to feel like a crash and burn relationship; I was falling out of love. Perhaps it was Will Sheff's strep throat or maybe it was the distraction of seeing an old friend for the first time in years, but I wasn't with them at Cafe Du Nord. I sung Black Sheep Boy's praises, celebrated the overdue discovery of the Austin band mere months ago. But after a few fistful of high lifes and an overdose of slow songs, I feared it was over that night.
"No Key, No Plan" is the shake up I desperately needed. This is Okkervil at my doorstep with a dozen roses, an apologetic expression and most importantly, some goddamn rock. Bursting out of the gate with raging drums and rollicking bassline, the song doen't rely on much more than simple old fashioned rock and roll methods. Sheff pens a catchy tune with organs ablaze over country-ish acoutic guitars. This is all before the call and response choruses, which, who am I kidding, is really all a guy needs. You had me at "You never earned your soul". I know, I know.
Now, I turn to Troop Beverly Hills indie-pop princess Jenny Lewis, who must top most geek rock dudes' Xmas wishlist, assuming they aren't embarassed to admitting they like uber pop success Rilo Kiley. Fess up, seriously, truth feels pretty good.
J-Lew and the Watson Twins: Uhhh. Best date ever?
In "Handle With Care", Lewis reworks the Traveling Wilbury's original with little to offer except for the already great tune that the supergroup (Harrison, Dylan, Orbison, Petty, Lynne, duh) already crafted. Granted she's got the chops, but at the end of the day, this is still just a cover.
But not all is lost. I told Brian Brophy the other night that I live for indie celebrity gossip, using Eleanor Friedberger and Alex Kapranos as my key example. If I was an insider, I'd have my own show on E! for indie rock gossip horseshit. One thing this cover has is a star studded cast, as Lewis enlists the vocal talents of Ben Gibbard, Conor Oberst, M Ward and n00bs (Row, for you) the Watson Twins. Pretty damn glitzy if you ask me, and if most of her upcoming solo debut Rabbit Fur Coat is laden with country-ish rock numbers in the vain of the Wilburys, with Lewis' keen ear for the melodic, it should be decent enough.
Gorilla Vs. Bear has the track for download here.
Alright, time to go, perhaps I'll see you guys at the Gogogoairheart/Joggers show Wednesday? Let's make it a date.
Okkervil River: http://www.okkervilriver.com
Jenny Lewis: http://www.rilokiley.com
Jenny Lewis "Handle With Care" from the forthcoming Rabbit Fur Coat (Team Love)
With the holiday onslaught upon us, there's a bigger task than managing my miniscule budget: the daunting task of picking my favorite albums of 2005. Knowing that this will take most of the month of December, I'm officially putting the new music blog machine in cool down mode. I'm not saying it's gonna be Operation: Shut Down, it just means more songs of the day and less full painstaking album reviews. Trust me, when you see the fabulous list in full effect, it'll all be worth it.
That being said, Okkervil River really skipped ahead. There are tons of records to address that came out months ago, but "No Key, No Plan" really shocked me like my beloved A's acquiring Esteban Loaiza. Seriously, what the fuck?!??!?
Really, after the last time I saw Okkervil River live, I was somewhat disenchanted. Yes, dear readers, it started to feel like a crash and burn relationship; I was falling out of love. Perhaps it was Will Sheff's strep throat or maybe it was the distraction of seeing an old friend for the first time in years, but I wasn't with them at Cafe Du Nord. I sung Black Sheep Boy's praises, celebrated the overdue discovery of the Austin band mere months ago. But after a few fistful of high lifes and an overdose of slow songs, I feared it was over that night.
"No Key, No Plan" is the shake up I desperately needed. This is Okkervil at my doorstep with a dozen roses, an apologetic expression and most importantly, some goddamn rock. Bursting out of the gate with raging drums and rollicking bassline, the song doen't rely on much more than simple old fashioned rock and roll methods. Sheff pens a catchy tune with organs ablaze over country-ish acoutic guitars. This is all before the call and response choruses, which, who am I kidding, is really all a guy needs. You had me at "You never earned your soul". I know, I know.
Now, I turn to Troop Beverly Hills indie-pop princess Jenny Lewis, who must top most geek rock dudes' Xmas wishlist, assuming they aren't embarassed to admitting they like uber pop success Rilo Kiley. Fess up, seriously, truth feels pretty good.
J-Lew and the Watson Twins: Uhhh. Best date ever?
In "Handle With Care", Lewis reworks the Traveling Wilbury's original with little to offer except for the already great tune that the supergroup (Harrison, Dylan, Orbison, Petty, Lynne, duh) already crafted. Granted she's got the chops, but at the end of the day, this is still just a cover.
But not all is lost. I told Brian Brophy the other night that I live for indie celebrity gossip, using Eleanor Friedberger and Alex Kapranos as my key example. If I was an insider, I'd have my own show on E! for indie rock gossip horseshit. One thing this cover has is a star studded cast, as Lewis enlists the vocal talents of Ben Gibbard, Conor Oberst, M Ward and n00bs (Row, for you) the Watson Twins. Pretty damn glitzy if you ask me, and if most of her upcoming solo debut Rabbit Fur Coat is laden with country-ish rock numbers in the vain of the Wilburys, with Lewis' keen ear for the melodic, it should be decent enough.
Gorilla Vs. Bear has the track for download here.
Alright, time to go, perhaps I'll see you guys at the Gogogoairheart/Joggers show Wednesday? Let's make it a date.
Okkervil River: http://www.okkervilriver.com
Jenny Lewis: http://www.rilokiley.com
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home