The Journey Totally and Utterly Unfulfilled
There are times when throwing in the towel is perfectly acceptable. And this Journey Unfulfilled segment has not really brought me the artistic joy it promised. So here I will end this ambitious and aimless attempt at being epic and just give it to you straight. There are very few answers to find, and I have not the will nor the resources to pan for gold in a dried out stream. I will say I know the heart is a very dumb organ. And writing music tidbits while being a sad sack of shit is like drunk dialing or even worse drunk myspacing (slightly worst then sober myspacing). I'm not saying that what I write will be devoid of pathetic, embarassing, gushing nonsense. It always has and always will be. I just know I'm not fooling anyone. Also, this weekend I told The Kathleen that even if you workout, you want to let people know that you don't actually workout; "I naturally just look that fucking great." I am in the constant quest to portray myself as someone who sits down and churns out witty, insightful music criticisms on a dime, with no pre-conceived notions. But as we all know, that is complete horseshit. Nonetheless, I strayed. I will strive to build that image up again. Though it hurts to read the last two posts, I will look back on them much like a high school yearbook picture: what the fuck was I thinking? All I can do it laugh nervously and say "It was different time, man." So let's cut the chit chat and get down to the good stuff: a neatly packaged highlight roll call of the stuff that went down in my actual and very serious mental absence.
Item! Let's start across the pond. Art Brut's album Bang Bang Rock & Roll is pretty damn genius. Though it took me a second to get past Eddie Argos' rant/speak sing, the biting lyrics will make you chuckle, and their teeth grinding art punk will get the engines revving. Argos' delivery is as much part of comedy as the actual words. In "My Little Brother", he sings of his freshly rocknrolled sibling, "He doesn't listen to A-Sides/He made me tape of bootlegs and b-sides". There is a beautiful exasperation in his voice. In "Good Weekend" he yelps "I've seen her naked. (beat) Twice!" He's kind of like the asshole you find funny, eventhough, he's clearly an asshole.
Another British band Help She Can't Swim is also living off the hipster humor tip. I really don't know much about the group other than they sound like Pretty Girls Makes Graves meets Thunderbirds Are Now! and their album has yet to hit the states. Fashionista Super Dance Troupe is a vapid commentary on the scene, but I must say, half of it is pretty tight ("You dance like a dad at a disco/what would Morrissey say?"). And in their hookier moments, HSCS can be pretty deck (Death From Above Dan Rosen Rosen says that's the new hip word).
Still in the UK, I've heard about 10 seconds of the new Franz Ferdinand track and although I've gotten a thumbs down from the Gass, it didn't sound too bad. I hear there's a songs called 'Eleanor, Put Your Boots On" and that it's about that Eleanor. Oooh sexy.
Alex Kapranos and Stuart Murdoch has put their literal stamp of approval on the reissue of cult Scot favorites Orange Juice. The Edwyn Collins-led outfit's The Glasgow School is chockful of post-punk rhythms and pop delights. I don't mind jumping on this bandwagon if not just for "Poor Old Soul" which has "classic" written all over it.
Irishman-boy Patrick Wolf was recently arrested under the suspicion of burglary. That is so gangsta. Take that sissy Conor Oberst.
How's this for a smooth transition? Wolf Parade. The next big thing? Yes. Their self titled EP is phenomenal. Ranging from mid-tempo keyboard-heavy tracks like "Shine a Light" (which will appear on their full length debut on Sub Pop, Apologies to the Queen Mary) and "Lousy Pictures" (produced by Isaac Brock) to the creepy Modest Mouse-y jaunt of "You Are a Runner and I am my Father's Son" (also
produced by Brock) and the ear ringing post-punk danciness of "Disco Sheets". Their contribution to The Believer Music Issue compilation, "Claxxon's Lament" is also quite noteworthy, a understated, horn-accented cover of an unreleased Frog Eyes track with whom the band has ties to (sharing band members and such).
Wolf Parade find themselves on a huge tour with 2004 darlings Arcade Fire, whose contribution to the Six Feet Under Soundtrack "Cold Wind" is a tremendous song. Win Butler's signature hushed whine leads a morose (oh really? you wouldn't say?) tune, lovely in its dark melody and now too cliched funeral-inspired lyrics. It's a little too much but just enough at the same time. I am looking forward to the next Arcade Fire album being called Birthday Party and having songs about eating cake.
Talk about a hype machine, Alex Ounsworth and his staggeringly long named band Clap Your Hands Say Yeah have honchos and haircuts lapping up everything they have to offer... and all on one self released album and a little tip dropped by a little website that some people of heard of called Pitchfork. They have reviews and stuff. Anyway, I agree with Jacob "Louise" Rosenberg, in saying Arcade Fire deserved the hype. CYHSY however does not. This is not to say that they aren't a solid act. Their album is a excellent mix of dancy, wavey and jangly. Ounsworth does his best Byrne impersonation on some songs and on others, he has kidnapped DB and forced him top sing under duress. I really dig the record, but to say they're deserving of the accolades would be frankly, a little too nice.
Another Brooklyn favorite is officially back, a mere 6 weeks after I made jackass of myself by making fun of their "indefinite hiatus" status. Indeed, Les Savy Fav has returned. And before they make me look dumb again, as they do to many, one unsuspecting show-goer at a time, I will sh-sh-sh-shut up.
Switching gears, I can't tell you how excited I am for Dangerdoom, the collabo between MF Doom and Dangermouse. I've heard three songs off the upcoming album The Mouse and the Mask ("Mince Meat", "The Mask" (featuring the illustrious Ghostface), and "Sofa King") and oooh lord, I can't be more pleased with the pairing of the two most brilliant minds in hip-hop. Two of the tracks are a bit on the chill side, but I think Dangermouse is incapable of producing a uncatchy hook.
From rats to bats, Fruit Bats recently put out their third album Spelled in Bones. Where Mouthfuls is an excellent album of Shins-esque folk-pop, Spelled in Bones takes a baby step forward, with slightly more influence from 70s sissy rock. Eric Johnson writes a hell of melody but there really isn't much to the album. It's like an empty Wilco album or a really awesome updated James Taylor joint. Nonetheless, it's an enjoyable listen, with the top tracks being "Born in the 70s" and "Earthquake of '73". I bet Eric Johnson is an avid watcher of VH1.
Alright I'll wrap it up with some insane news of Jeff Mangum popping up at a Olivia Tremor Control show, singing with the band and crying. That is just amazing. Touching. Weird. But mostly touching.
Jeff Mangum and an ostrich: This makes total sense to me.
To show you I'm in it for the long run, here's the upcoming shit: The New Pornographers, Rogue Wave, Minus the Bear, The Lovemakers, Islands, Grandaddy, The Clientele and yes, more of The Fiery Furnaces. Honestly, there could never be enough.
So there it is. I'm mostly back.
Oh yeah, actor Jason Lee's kid Pilot Inspektor is named after the Grandaddy song "He's Simple, He's Dumb, He's the Pilot". Isn't that wonderful?
Art Brut: http://www.artbrut.org.uk/
Help She Can't Swim: http://www.helpshecantswim.co.uk/
Franz Ferdinand: http://www.franzferdinand.co.uk/
Orange Juice: http://listen.to/orangejuice
Patrick Wolf: http://www.patrickwolf.com/
Wolf Parade: http://wolfparade.cjb.net/
The Arcade Fire: http://www.arcadefire.com/
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah: http://clapyourhandssayyeah.com/
Les Savy Fav: http://www.lessavyfav.com/
Dangerdoom: http://www.dangerdoom.com/
Fruit Bats: http://www.fruitbatsmusic.com/
Jeff Mangum: http://neutralmilkhotel.net/
Read more!
Item! Let's start across the pond. Art Brut's album Bang Bang Rock & Roll is pretty damn genius. Though it took me a second to get past Eddie Argos' rant/speak sing, the biting lyrics will make you chuckle, and their teeth grinding art punk will get the engines revving. Argos' delivery is as much part of comedy as the actual words. In "My Little Brother", he sings of his freshly rocknrolled sibling, "He doesn't listen to A-Sides/He made me tape of bootlegs and b-sides". There is a beautiful exasperation in his voice. In "Good Weekend" he yelps "I've seen her naked. (beat) Twice!" He's kind of like the asshole you find funny, eventhough, he's clearly an asshole.
Another British band Help She Can't Swim is also living off the hipster humor tip. I really don't know much about the group other than they sound like Pretty Girls Makes Graves meets Thunderbirds Are Now! and their album has yet to hit the states. Fashionista Super Dance Troupe is a vapid commentary on the scene, but I must say, half of it is pretty tight ("You dance like a dad at a disco/what would Morrissey say?"). And in their hookier moments, HSCS can be pretty deck (Death From Above Dan Rosen Rosen says that's the new hip word).
Still in the UK, I've heard about 10 seconds of the new Franz Ferdinand track and although I've gotten a thumbs down from the Gass, it didn't sound too bad. I hear there's a songs called 'Eleanor, Put Your Boots On" and that it's about that Eleanor. Oooh sexy.
Alex Kapranos and Stuart Murdoch has put their literal stamp of approval on the reissue of cult Scot favorites Orange Juice. The Edwyn Collins-led outfit's The Glasgow School is chockful of post-punk rhythms and pop delights. I don't mind jumping on this bandwagon if not just for "Poor Old Soul" which has "classic" written all over it.
Irishman-boy Patrick Wolf was recently arrested under the suspicion of burglary. That is so gangsta. Take that sissy Conor Oberst.How's this for a smooth transition? Wolf Parade. The next big thing? Yes. Their self titled EP is phenomenal. Ranging from mid-tempo keyboard-heavy tracks like "Shine a Light" (which will appear on their full length debut on Sub Pop, Apologies to the Queen Mary) and "Lousy Pictures" (produced by Isaac Brock) to the creepy Modest Mouse-y jaunt of "You Are a Runner and I am my Father's Son" (also
produced by Brock) and the ear ringing post-punk danciness of "Disco Sheets". Their contribution to The Believer Music Issue compilation, "Claxxon's Lament" is also quite noteworthy, a understated, horn-accented cover of an unreleased Frog Eyes track with whom the band has ties to (sharing band members and such).
Wolf Parade find themselves on a huge tour with 2004 darlings Arcade Fire, whose contribution to the Six Feet Under Soundtrack "Cold Wind" is a tremendous song. Win Butler's signature hushed whine leads a morose (oh really? you wouldn't say?) tune, lovely in its dark melody and now too cliched funeral-inspired lyrics. It's a little too much but just enough at the same time. I am looking forward to the next Arcade Fire album being called Birthday Party and having songs about eating cake.
Talk about a hype machine, Alex Ounsworth and his staggeringly long named band Clap Your Hands Say Yeah have honchos and haircuts lapping up everything they have to offer... and all on one self released album and a little tip dropped by a little website that some people of heard of called Pitchfork. They have reviews and stuff. Anyway, I agree with Jacob "Louise" Rosenberg, in saying Arcade Fire deserved the hype. CYHSY however does not. This is not to say that they aren't a solid act. Their album is a excellent mix of dancy, wavey and jangly. Ounsworth does his best Byrne impersonation on some songs and on others, he has kidnapped DB and forced him top sing under duress. I really dig the record, but to say they're deserving of the accolades would be frankly, a little too nice.
Another Brooklyn favorite is officially back, a mere 6 weeks after I made jackass of myself by making fun of their "indefinite hiatus" status. Indeed, Les Savy Fav has returned. And before they make me look dumb again, as they do to many, one unsuspecting show-goer at a time, I will sh-sh-sh-shut up.
Switching gears, I can't tell you how excited I am for Dangerdoom, the collabo between MF Doom and Dangermouse. I've heard three songs off the upcoming album The Mouse and the Mask ("Mince Meat", "The Mask" (featuring the illustrious Ghostface), and "Sofa King") and oooh lord, I can't be more pleased with the pairing of the two most brilliant minds in hip-hop. Two of the tracks are a bit on the chill side, but I think Dangermouse is incapable of producing a uncatchy hook.
From rats to bats, Fruit Bats recently put out their third album Spelled in Bones. Where Mouthfuls is an excellent album of Shins-esque folk-pop, Spelled in Bones takes a baby step forward, with slightly more influence from 70s sissy rock. Eric Johnson writes a hell of melody but there really isn't much to the album. It's like an empty Wilco album or a really awesome updated James Taylor joint. Nonetheless, it's an enjoyable listen, with the top tracks being "Born in the 70s" and "Earthquake of '73". I bet Eric Johnson is an avid watcher of VH1.Alright I'll wrap it up with some insane news of Jeff Mangum popping up at a Olivia Tremor Control show, singing with the band and crying. That is just amazing. Touching. Weird. But mostly touching.
Jeff Mangum and an ostrich: This makes total sense to me.
To show you I'm in it for the long run, here's the upcoming shit: The New Pornographers, Rogue Wave, Minus the Bear, The Lovemakers, Islands, Grandaddy, The Clientele and yes, more of The Fiery Furnaces. Honestly, there could never be enough.
So there it is. I'm mostly back.
Oh yeah, actor Jason Lee's kid Pilot Inspektor is named after the Grandaddy song "He's Simple, He's Dumb, He's the Pilot". Isn't that wonderful?
Art Brut: http://www.artbrut.org.uk/
Help She Can't Swim: http://www.helpshecantswim.co.uk/
Franz Ferdinand: http://www.franzferdinand.co.uk/
Orange Juice: http://listen.to/orangejuice
Patrick Wolf: http://www.patrickwolf.com/
Wolf Parade: http://wolfparade.cjb.net/
The Arcade Fire: http://www.arcadefire.com/
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah: http://clapyourhandssayyeah.com/
Les Savy Fav: http://www.lessavyfav.com/
Dangerdoom: http://www.dangerdoom.com/
Fruit Bats: http://www.fruitbatsmusic.com/
Jeff Mangum: http://neutralmilkhotel.net/
Read more!
