Music In Parallel Motion

Xenophilia

2005-10-23T14:07:00.001-07:00

sometimes I think I'm willing to listen to anything as long as it's sung in a different language. Or at least with a heavy accent

1. Simone Cristicchi - Studentessa Universitaria 2. Amadou & Mariam - Coulibaly 3. t.A.T.u. - Cosmos [Outer Space]

Xenophilia

2005-10-23T14:07:00.000-07:00

sometimes I think I'm willing to listen to anything as long as it's sung in a different language. Or at least with a heavy accent

1. Simone Cristicchi - Studentessa Universitaria 2. Amadou & Mariam - Coulibaly 3. t.A.T.u. - Cosmos [Outer Space]

The trick is to not mention that it's been six months since you've written anything

2005-10-17T23:52:00.001-07:00

And now it's time to play SPOT THE HYPERBOLE*

One of the more unexpected but altogether healthy shifts in the Indie community in the last few years has got to be the aceptance and appreciation of pop music. So here I am sitting here and listening to these Robyn and Rachel Stevens tracks ("Be Mine!" and "I Said Never Again (But Here We Are)" respectively) contemplating which is the India-approved-pop song of the year. In Stevens' song the sudden change in the mixing for the line "I'd be better off without you" is one of my favorite moments in any song this year. When it comes down to it though I'm afraid the Swede beats out the Brit because, well, I'm a sucker for cheesy pop music with string sections. This is of course also why Electric Light Orchestra is the greatest band of all time. Furthermore I'm a big fan of unnecessary punctuation in song titles

Speaking of amazing pop music, Annie (no stranger to perfect pop songs herself) has now exposed to the world the greatest novelty disco track ever via her new DJ Kicks release. Lay witness as a seemingly benign Alvin and The Chipmunks-esque number degrades (or maybe rises like a phoenix of awesomeness) into a full on animalistic porno.

Of course if you're still looking for the perfect pop song perhaps you need look no further then Vince Clark's Pre-Erasure band Yaz. Vince Clark of course famous for being too gay for Depeche Mode. If you've ever wondered what it would be like to wake up in the future as envisioned in the early 1980's, this band is for you.

Meanwhile back on the indie-front, you have the new albums by Why? (giving up any pretenses of being a rapper) and Jamie Lidell, two of the most consistently rewarding albums of the year. These albums set out to further prove that hipsters are just as in to their woo's and sha la la's too, they're just much more oblique about it.

On the other hand, if you're one of the few indie rockers out there who still hasn't figured out that "Discovery" is a great record (and hey it takes all kinds) Mark Kozelek is here for you with an album under his Sun Kil Moon moniker made entirely of Modest Mouse covers. While this album is much much better than it might sound, the word fun has very little to do with it. But then again if you're looking for something not interesting in anyway, there's always the new Deerhoof and Wolf Parade albums**

And just to end things on a good note: slide guitars and Doug Martsch

*For bonus points figure out how many times the word Pop is used in this entry subtract one for every parenthetical and multiply that by the number of times the phrase "of course" used.

**Zing!***

***It is entirely likely that this is really just the writers attempt at being "edgy" and these albums will probably end up on a top ten list at the end of the year anyway.

1. Robyn - Be With! 2. Rachel Stevens - I Said Never Again (But Here We Are) 3. Electric Light Orchestra - Sweet Talkin Woman 4. Annie - Heartbeat 5. Bumblebee Unlimited - Lady Bug (I Just Wanna Be Your) 5. Yaz - Don't Go 6. a picture just for you 7. Yaz - Mr Blue 8. Why? - Sand Dollars 9. Jamie Lidell- Music Will Not Last 10. Why? - Rubber Traits 11. Sun Kil Moon - Ocean Breathes Salty 12. Doug Martsch - Window

Getting reacquainted

2005-06-14T23:56:00.000-07:00

For me summer always seems to be the time of year where my new music intake slows down drastically and instead I spend my time digging through cds to remember albums and artists that have fallen through the cracks in my regular listening rotation. Here are a few tracks that have found their way back into said rotation for one reason or another in the last week.

-On a different internet entity someone mentioned the Terry Jacks song "Seasons in the Sun" which reminded me just how much I love the original Jacques Brel version

-The new issue of the Believer has an interesting article about the Danielson Famile, frankly one of the most bizarre and fascinating bands working today. The girls are Sufjan Steven's backup singers and Daniel himself has been known to produce a Steves' album or too (plus Sufjan has played for the famile and Daniel's solo project Br Danielson.) Be warned however that that doesn't stand as any sort of sonic counterpoint though.

-I loves me some Howlin' Wolf, though I do have to admit it took me a while to really get into him because he sounds so much like John Goodman.

-It's the summer so you know what that means: the all girl summer fun band! A song that can't possibly be described better than they do themselves

-And cause anytime is a good time to post Love Vigilantes, here it is. Who would have thought that one of the best Harmonica parts in 20th century music would be brought to you by New Order.

1. Jacques Brel - La Moribond 2. Danielson Famile - We Don't Say Shut Up 3. Howlin' Wolf - Sittin On Top Of The World 4. All Girl Summer Fun Band - Ticking Time Bomb 5. New Order - Love Vigilantes

Comments on form

2005-06-10T11:02:00.000-07:00

I've addressed this before in other medium (namely through comments on the infifths livejournal feed) but there still seem to be questions so I thought I'd just clear this up here. The site works like this: every link on the page will take you to a site to download the song onto your computer, if you're wondering what song each link takes you to the tracklisting on the bottom of each entry (in smaller font and italics) correlates to each link (ie. track 1 is the first link track 3 is the third link etc.) Most of the time these links will take you the site Rapidshare.de, a German site (which should show up in English, if it shows up German I'd recommend opening it in a new browser or clearing cookies for that page) that some people have had trouble navigating. It goes like this: scroll to the bottom of the page, you will see a data table with lists of benefits for free and premium accounts (this is where some people get confused it seems, thinking that they need to be a member of the site), click the button under "free" and that will take you to a second page, scroll down to the bottom of that page and you will see a timer counting down the amount of time before you can download the track, when it hits zero a link will show up, click this and the song will start downloading on to your computer. That probably sounds more complicated than it really is but it makes for a safer site where the tracks aren't taken down automatically.

Hope this clears up any questions and enjoy.

Incestual Habbits

2005-06-09T23:51:00.000-07:00

From this month's music issue of The Believer

The Decemberists covers Joanna Newsom
CocoRosie covers Damien Jurado
The Mountain Goats cover the Silver Jews
Jim Guthrie covers The Constantines (with a little help from Owen Pallett)
Mount Eerie covers Thanksgiving (because any new studio work by Phil Elvrum is cause for excitement)
Devendra Banhart covers Anthony and the Johnsons
Wolf Parade covers Frog Eyes

1. The Decemberists - Bridges and Balloons 2. CocoRosie - Ohio 3. The Mountain Goats - Pet Politics 3. Jim Guthrie - Night Time Any Time (It's Alright) 4. Mount Eerie - Waterfalls 5. Devendra Banhart - Fistfull Of Love 6. Wolf Parade - Claxxon's Lament

An Accidental Memory

2005-06-07T13:19:00.000-07:00

It's been an exciting couple weeks and so I thought I'd share some adventures with you to begin a period of regular updating (Tuesdays, Thursdays, Sundays.)

Events of the last two weeks:
My bicycle was stolen, luckily Colin Meloy understood.
It was my birthday, I turned 21.
I had to take my computer in to be repaired and borrowed my father's.
School got out for the summer, only to start again a week later.
I listened to Eluvium's second album.
Other people also had birthdays in honor of which much partying took place and during the course of which copious amounts of garlic were consumed
I saw Architecture In Helsinki, who put on quite the exciting show indeed.
I did not update this blog.

1. Apology Song - The Decemberists 2. The Happy Birthday Song - Andrew Bird 3. 1921 - The Who 4. Living Without You - Randy Newman 5. A Summer Song - Chad and Jeremy 6. Another Lost Summer - Blanche 7. Nepenthe - Eluvium 8. Birthday Party - Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five 9. Need To Shout - Architecture In Helsinki **due to download limits on the site these tracks are on two different sites, this also means that some of the tracks will expire after 7 days. I apologize for any confusion**

A tropical heat wave

2005-05-22T19:20:00.000-07:00

Since last you heard from this little blog the most amazing thing has happened: the sun has decided to come out in San Francisco. In celebration I offer you this, the yin to the last list of songs yang: songs for a summer evening.

As far as I can tell from the beginning of hip hop through It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back the African American community lived in a constant state of mid-July. One of my personal favorite examples of such is this Afrika Bambaataa track. I love that they say "the song is almost over" while there are still 7 minutes left to the song.
One of my favorite more or less unheralded indie-rock albums of the last however many years is the Noise For Pretend album "Happy You Near." Take The Sea and Cake, push their bossa nova impulses into the foreground, and give them a female lead singer with an accent and you've got yourself Noise For Pretend. The refrain to this track has been stuck in my head for the last week.
Speaking of The Sea and Cake, here's the opening track from The Fawn. One of the best ways to spend a sunny day is listening to S&C (Also check out Sam Prekop's two solo albums)
Nothing says summer like Parallel Lines, one of the best pop albums of the 1970s.
Isobel Campbell leaves Belle and Sebastian after Walk Like A Peasant and (surprise surprise) it's really relaxed, quiet, and pretty. I spent a large part of a train ride between Portland and San Jose listening to this particular Gentle Waves album. This track is a bit more upbeat though.
And just to make sure that the number of men and women vocalists are equal here's the title track from Jens Lekman's album "When I Said I Wanted To Be Your Dog." Exactly the sort of song you need when you're walking home late on a hot summer night.

1. Afrika Bambaataa - Zulu Nation Throwdown 2. Noise For Pretend - Go 3. The Sea and Cake - The Fawn 4. Blondie - I'm Gonna Love You Too 5. Gentle Waves - Sister Woman 6. Jens Lekman - When I Said I Wanted To Be Your Dog

And for good measure

2005-05-18T18:32:00.000-07:00

Since I went longer than intended without updating I figured I'd put this up too, just a couple songs for the rain

British People love Americana
I love Drone music
Destroyer loves himself

Enjoy

1. Mojave 3 - Starlight No 1 2. Eluvium - Show Us Our Homes 3. Destroyer - Here Comes The Night

If you aren't expecting anything then you won't be, uh, you know

2005-05-18T17:36:00.000-07:00

*we interrupt this finals/technical difficulties/laziness inspired hiatus to bring you something like a concert review*

So I saw The Books last night down at Cafe Du Nord. I went into the evening with three biases:

1) I had warmed up to their latest album (Lost and Safe) much slower than the first two.
2) The thought had occurred to me that it could be one of the most boring shows ever, as so much of their sound is based on samples.
3) I was pretty disappointed after missing the two opening bands (Casiotone For The Painfully Alone and Mia Doi Todd, two bands/musicians that I may feel more connected to than any other, though that is for another time) due to class

However, by the end of the show these thoughts had all left my mind, having been properly blown away. What kept surprising me during the show (in decidedly different ways) was how dynamic and playful the band were as performers. Throughout the show the band played videos on a screen behind them ranging from montages to old home movies, to a rapid series of anagrams of the word "meditation" (which is not nearly as pretentious as it may sound.) The effect of this was completely captivating, particularly in the back and forth between the live band and these preprogrammed elements. The closest reference point to the show I can think of would be Laurie Anderson in the height of her performance arts days.

This is The Books first tour, and as such they clearly are not entirely used to the medium (manifesting itself in a handful of technical malfunctions) yet this also gives the band a certain amount of earnestness which makes these problems completely forgivable (even endearing at times.) It also becomes clear that their last album was written specifically so that they could begin to play live (after starting with Lemon of Pink's "That Right Ain't Shit" they played almost exclusively material from said album) and it works really well, greatly increasing my appreciation of the album.

So there you have it, I realize I may not have done the best job of putting this experience into words, the certain intangible sense of vitality the whole show had, but I guess all I can say is to check this band out live if you ever get the chance (for those of you 21 and older they are in fact playing again at du nord in about three hours) and to do everything in my power to convince people who haven't to give them a listen.

Plus they had their female member sing a French song nearly acappella, which lets face it is pretty much my favorite thing in the world.

I'm using a new server now for these, you'll have to do some scrolling, and the site may or may not be in German but the links never expire. So there you go
1. The Books - Smells Like Content 2. Casiotone For The Painfully Alone - Toby Take A Bow 3. Mia Doi Todd - Johnny Appleseed 4. The Books - That Right Ain't Shit

KEEEEEEEEEEEP ON LIFTING ME

2005-05-04T01:14:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I really am working on those reviews I mentioned last time. I've been having a hell of a time getting my thoughts out without degrading into complete obtuse pretentiousness. But I'll get them out here by the end of the week, or your money back.

Right now though, I just wanted to take the opportunity to express how unbelievably and orgasmically good Jackie Wilson is. I mean seriously folks. Admittedly this statement is pretty obvious, but god damn.

And while we're on the topic of obvious statements, Bluegrass is pretty much the warmest genre of music ever. I've been enjoying the hell out of this new Jim and Jennie & The Pinetops album, it's pretty much impossible to listen to it without cracking a smile. Well unless you get your laughs by drowning puppies I guess.

Also, Liquid Liquid: a pretty great band.

Next time: Food: I hear that's pretty cool!

1. Jackie Wilson - Higher and Higher 2. Jim and Jennie & The Pinetops - Country Boy Rock and Roll 3. Liquid Liquid - Optimo

and in music news

2005-04-29T12:36:00.000-07:00

Today is truly a sad day for both lovers of music and driving.

"Texas Won't Name Road After Willie Nelson"

AUSTIN, Texas - Singer Willie Nelson's name is off the road again.

A state legislator had proposed naming a 49-mile stretch of Texas Highway 130 being built around Austin in Nelson's honor.

But two Republican senators, Steve Odgen of Bryan and Jeff Wentworth of San Antonio, said they didn't want Nelson's name on the road that crosses their districts, citing the musician's fondness for drinking and smoking, and active campaigning for Democratic candidates.

"It's frustrating, and sad in a way, but at this point, there is no reason to make this an unpleasant experience for anyone, especially Willie, so I'll take no further action on the bill," Sen. Gonzalo Barrientos, an Austin Democrat and the bill's author, said Wednesday.

Barrientos said he wanted to honor Nelson, "who has been responsible for so much good music and so many good works."

-AP

A quick one, while my internet is not away (oh I'm so clever)

2005-04-29T11:57:00.000-07:00

The last week has been an incredibly good one musically. This is not to say that all this amazing stuff was released, just that I've found myself enthralled with different music every day of it. As such I've written and rewritten this entry about a half dozen times. My plan is over the next few days to write several entries focusing on one album in each (what a revolutionary concept, I know.) As for the here and now however here are a few songs I've found stuck in my head at different points over the last few days. I've been thinking lately about what a bizarrely selective process that of getting songs stuck in your head is, usually when you (or at least I) say you've got a song stuck in your head it's really only a chorus, a hook, a line, hell the other day I had the way sufjan stevens sings "Chicago" stuck in there. Anyway here you go:

"If you set your mind free baby maybe you'll understand". *this has to be one of the most brilliantly bizarre pop-songs ever*
"we aint got nothing but they don't really care, they don't even know, you know?"
"when they make the movie of your life, you're going to have to do your own stunts. Cause there's nobody who call pull the same shit as you"
"run to the bus stop, it's never on time, I couldn't care less cause you make me feel fine." *seriously, how can this song be so good? By all accounts it shouldn't be. Well, there goes my street cred*
"there's a skirt in the bedroom that's pleasantly low"

1. Prince - Starfish and Coffee 2. Stiff Little Fingers - Alternative Ulster 3. Smog - Feather by Feather 4. Melanie C - Suddenly Monday 5. Palace Music - New Partner

In The Wind

2005-04-25T17:18:00.000-07:00

I downloaded the new Ben Folds album the other day (not that I am advocating downloading music, stealing IS illegal after all) for old times' sake. It occurs to me that Mr. Folds is in fact a really good producer, if not always the most interesting songwriter. This not what I wanted to talk about however, instead I just wanted to bring up how much THIS song sounds like "Dust In The Wind."

Also on an entirely unrelated note does anyone know what happened to Susan Anway after Stephen Merritt took over leadsinger duties in the Magnetic Fields? As much as I love 69 Love Songs and Holiday part of me has just been waiting for the follow up to The Wayward Bus and Distant Plastic Trees. To use an Allmusic Guide comparison too apt to pass up, I miss that Petula Clark fronting the Young Marble Giants feel of those first two albums.

1. Jesusland - Ben Folds. 2. Dust In The Wind - Kansas. 3. Falling In Love With The Wolfboy - The Magnetic Fields

First Posts

2005-04-22T12:42:00.000-07:00

So it looks like we found a permanent home quicker than I thought, so here we go. To start things off right here is a list of a few things that bring me joy, as always the links will only work for a few days.

The feel of Bill Withers live from Carnegie Hall album. It's like you were just at a political rally in the early 1970s but then the rain outside turned into a huge storm so everybody decided to just stay, luckily a really great funk band just happened to be at the meeting and then the spirit moved that nice clean-cut fellow who had put together the evening in the first place
The huge success of "Hate It Or Love It."; 2005: the year awesome broke.
When people use the word "flabbergasted"
Any version of the old Carter Family song "Can The Circle Be Unbroken." If musicians like Sufjan Stevens and Br Danielson want to continue de-ghettoizing (take THAT spell check) non-secular music they could learn a thing or two from the carters. (See also Ramblin' Jack Elliot, Willie Nelson, and the Johnny Cash/Carl Perkins song "Daddy Sang Bass")
Northern Soul and 1960s French Pop genre compilations. In fact genre compilations in general. Let it here by known Genre Comps are the new Albums.
Old gay couples and teenage lesbian couples on public transportation. Also: Marimbas!
Mark Kozelek. The front man of the Red House Painters and more recently Sun Kil Moon. This man's voice and guitar work have an ability to cut right to the heart of me that very few other musicians have. Why is this man not a superstar? He was in Almost Famous and had a song used for a car commercial, shouldn't we be seeing him on MTV Cribs by now?
Another Girl, Another Planet by The Only Ones and Roadrunner by The Modern Lovers. In my opinion these two songs are probably the best ever written. I don't think it's possible to listen to Roadrunner without shouting out "RADIO ON" at least once and if you listen to Another Girl and don't want to jump around you are probably in a coma (but hey those guys like to jump around too, haven't you seen that movie Awakenings?) In all likeliness I'll further expound on these two songs in the future, actually Ill probably come back to most of these.

Next time: Something interesting!

1. Better Off Dead - Bill Withers 2. Hate It Or Love It - The Game (ft 50 Cent) 3. Can The Circle Be Unbroken - The Carter Family 4. Willie Hutch - Luck to Be Loved By You 5. Nitty Gritty - Marie Claire 6. Nagoya Marimbas - Steve Reich 7. Up To My Neck In You - Mark Kozelek 8. Golden - Redhouse Painters 9. Salvador Sanchez - Sun Kil Moon 10. Another Girl Another Planet - The Only Ones 11. Roadrunner - The Modern Lovers