Eric Chenaux - "Am I Lovely". The beatiful new album from Eric Chenaux is mint and lavender, Scottish-tinged, but filled with enough Toronto smoke to keep yr eyes from getting misty. His jazz-folk is free but not scary; it is affectionate in its harmonies and accepting of all comers. Look how "Am I Lovely" has no question-mark at the end; it knows the answer and whispers it. "Asking each-other / since we're together / am I lovely?" he asks, but Eric Chenaux dusts every listener with yeses.
Chenaux was first mentioned here by Carl Wilson. He's an important member of Sandro Perri's band. And both Dull Lights (2006) and Sloppy Ground (2008) are out on Constellation. [contact Constellation to pre-order]
Super Monster - "Oohlalala". Super Monster take three las instead of two. This song ain't chic; it's instead a song a little about losin' it, part skiffle, part Velvets, part Clap Your Hands. "You can't be sure if it's all in your mind," Mr Monster warns us, but there's no trepidation in him. He knows "we're gonna make it right to the end," and indeed the electric guitar carries us all the way to the song's final minute, to the arrival of the "ooh la la la", the cake and flowers, the new friends and fresh smiles and all the ingredients for a new mixed drink. (We'll call it the Thursday.)
---
In Sean Michaels news, there's a touch of Gramophone now in the National Post. I'll be writing a monthly column about six legal-to-download songs. The first one appeared on Tuesday, with a mix of songs familiar to Gramophone-readers and some stuff not yet discussed here. If you like the piece, um, let the Post know... I'm also rather pleased with an article I wrote for the Guardian website earlier this week, on rick-rolling.
Holly C, of Basia Bulat's band, has debuted a charming blog about weird rest-stop food. An asset for touring musicians and gastronomic road-trippers both. (Basia and Holly also did a Daytrotter session recently - the Daniel Johnston cover is def worth grabbing.)
Upcoming Montreal shows that I recommend fiercely: Sister Suvi on March 26, Dirty Projectors/No Kids on March 31, and the April 6 double-whammy of Receivers/Throw Me The Statue or The Luyas/Nat Baldwin/Sandro Perri.
[Photo from Gourmet Magazine - via No More Twist]
Posted by Sean at March 20, 2008 1:31 PMThe Post site is frustrating. The links are botched, and although I took the time to ferret out the MP3s anyway, most people won't. I posted a comment to this effect using a Bugmenot login (the whole "sign up for membership" process was just too involved for an American with a short attention span). I hope the comment moderator will fix the links before deleting my comment, but you might want to double-check that.
The rickrolling article was exactly what I wanted today, without knowing I wanted it. Thank you.
Posted by Lindsey at March 20, 2008 3:36 PMI can't believe I got rickrolled by your rickrolling article (and I just lost the game). Even as I was clicking I was thinking "why would this be a tinyurl....?" Touche good sir, touche.
Posted by justin at March 20, 2008 9:32 PMI ludicrously feel we almost have something in common now you've wrote for the guardian, even more than the time you posted a jonquil song (a band who were my uncovered gem after seeing them in oxford supporting a silver mt. zion) That thing in common being you've done an article for an english paper and me being english myself.
Posted by tom at March 21, 2008 12:23 AMAre you not afraid? You are violating rule 1, and now 4chan may come for the Guardian...
Posted by Yossarian at March 22, 2008 11:54 AMgreat news about the column Sean!
much congrats from this side of cananda
thank you! the Post links seem to be wonky if you haven't "logged in" to the side. pay-walls are stupid so feel free to complain!
Posted by sean at March 24, 2008 1:46 AMthat eric chenaux song is perfect perfect perfect. thank you.
Posted by alayna at March 24, 2008 5:40 PMraughlz, sean.
you bastard. that final rick-roll link made me puke laughter.
Posted by anonymous exposed at March 24, 2008 6:17 PMthe super monster's three "la la la" are exactly like the beatles' la's at "you won't see me" (rubber soul).
Posted by edgar at May 22, 2008 2:32 PM
and it will begin playing. All songs are also available to download: just right-click the link and choose 'Save as...'
