Archives : all posts by Dan

i like the way you are making me feel. (but not in a creepy way)

Cool tracks.

I would be very surprised indeed if you called me.

Thanks, as always, for broadening my musical horizons.

I'll be waiting for your call. :P

Wowsers, Birdmonster sounds rockin': what a great name too!

The interesting thing about the music posted on this blog (Dan in particular) is in your descriptions. You totally disregarded the actual musical implications of the song and instead went for the feeling it gave you. It's a cool way to do it, I think. Usually I will either be turned on or off by a description, if it is aimed at the music. But I can't gather an opinion on the music until I listen to it, which can usually be a good thing or a bad thing. Thanks, Dan.

You write so goddamned well. It's intimidating.

I actually look at blogs to try and find "experimental" music. No grimace.

Always found John Cage enjoyable to listen. Ryoanji and his music for prepared piano are amazing.
I have to think more about the image of a bra dancing on a washing machine... though not much more...

not to be picky, but the actual term is "dynamic." volume is accurate enough, though.

No, that's great. Me and Jon were trying to come up with the word for a long time. I kept saying it was 'timbre' and he was like 'that doesn't even make sense'. it was cool, our apartment was sweltering.

"Gene the Machine" is surprisingly pleasant to listen to. I want to see a special effect robot dancing to it, like in the in the dancing Citreon commercial.

Cage: I make Radio dramas for people with no ears.

That mood shift immediately preceding the Arlen/Dan duet, beginning at 2:30 and continuing through most of the last verse until the guitar solo, is true to the feel of Atlas Strategic version. The rest of it is identifiably Wolf Parade, I think. Very interesting to hear, thanks. Do you have any other Wolf Parade stuff that us lay-people may not have? I'd love to hear it, if you do.

By the way, anyone see the Pitchfork news item on Wolf Parade the other day? http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/news/05-06/09.shtml#parade

What do you think of the album's tracklisting? I have to admit that I was hoping that there would be some more new stuff. New to me, at least. I haven't heard 'Disco Sheets' or 'Fancy Claps' before, but maybe they've played them live since I last saw them?

i don't have anything else. i am also a layperson. i am not that disappointed about the tracklisting. if anything, it's nice to know that they are merely human, and not super-intelligent songwriting beasts.

also, arlen is not one of the singers. spencer. he has a new solo record coming out this month, he is called Sunset Rubdown. I would post something from that, but the best song has been posted already on another blog, and the other 2 best songs are instrumental and not jaw-dropping.
bonweekend.

Sunset Rubdown is playing a free show on Wednesday in Montreal, with the Shalabi Effect and a couple of other bands. Neat.

Dan, thanks for posting this- they played it live down in New York for that Believer show and I had no idea what it was. Pretty sure it was the last song they played and it was a nice way to end such an awesome show. Re: their LP's tracklisting, I'm sure they'll have some more new stuff on the way soon (like an EP maybe, after the album comes out), since the first song they played at the NY show was one that Dan claimed they 'wrote just last week'.

unfortunately, sunset rubdown are not playing fringe pop. but The Ten Commandments are instead. Wolf Parade is playing a free show at the end of the week though.

RE: the tracklist - I was originally a bit disappointed by the familiar names, but I think it's ultimately a really wise decision for them to come out swinging with what can only be stronger recordings of time-tested, incredible songs. Remember, most people will never have heard any of these before, and when they do, their asses are likely to be blown clean off, as mine was (I now use a poly shell) when I first heard the self-titled ep.

So glad they've included 'I'll Believe in Anything.'

question? i noticed that it said its a cure? is that the same song as its a curse?? anyone know?

"unfortunately, sunset rubdown are not playing fringe pop. but The Ten Commandments are instead. Wolf Parade is playing a free show at the end of the week though."

Huh? Where are they playing???? Please tell us!

Sam: x.

Thanks very much! I'll be there. Any idea if Nick Diamonds (of the Unicorns) is playing? I saw a reference to him playing Pop Montreal, but couldn't find him listed on their website. Unlesss he's going by some crazy name or something.

Goddamn, it takes a lot to actually stun me these days, but these guys drop me in my tracks like a horse tranquilizer.

Wow, that Honey Is Cool song is awesome, makes me want to hear Joanna Newsom backed by a rock band!

I didn't realize the lead singer of Honey Is Cool is the same woman from The Knife, I knew she sounded familiar. Thank you for both of these wonderful tracks!

You're welcome, No Frontin. You're invited to my birthday.

"Nach Heart" totally rules. I think it's hilarious that I can understand so very little of what she's singing, given that it's English.

Lately, Sweden is kicking all kind of ass on my stereo.

Well there goes another $12, "The Skin of my Yellow Country Teeth" is an amazing song despite the dancy drum beat intro. What a voice. They have nice looking T-shirts too!

They have possibly the worst singer since Conor Oberst, but me likey.

check out their website and download the very talking heads-ish tune over and over again - amazing!

I bought the CD cos these tracks sounded fantastic. Thankyou!

(Although "The Skin..." is definitely, as you suggest, at least two and a half minutes too long.)

"Talking Heads-ish" is right on, Josh. The singer sounds like a self-consciously drunk David Byrne; trying to present himself as wound up tight but continually betraying his looseness. But it's this proximity to the Talking Heads that forces me to repudiate your claim, Dan, that "It sounds like so many bands, but just way better." They sound like the Talking Heads, but way worse. That said, I do like the singer, just wish the band was more interesting.

Dropped in as usual, found great music as usual. Thank-you so much, this stuff is on the top of the list to purchase. I'm going to drive swiftly around the corners of country roads to this music, and there will be big skies overhead. Love it.

I was thinking of a drunk Neil Young (after the goldrush period)...
"just way better" though just way too long.
thank you.

"That said, I do like the singer, just wish the band was more interesting."

I feel the opposite. I'm not big on cracking voices. That said, I love the song (and his voice) in "In This Home On Ice".

Good good good. Good.

Excellent find. THANK YOU.

must...stop...listening..to.. "Country Teeth". At this rate, I'll be sick of both tracks by Tuesday. Loving them right now, though. so thanks!

guitar is fine and dandy but the voice is well magnificent,,,cracked up like a pair of dirty [trainers left out in a snowstorm,,,,,thank god the music industry dont have it all their own way

I never heard of saidthegramophone nor pitchforkmedia until this evening (I am clearly in good company with the likes of Ounsworth). Oh and I never heard of Ounsworth either. Who IS he?

I listened to the NPR story then did the links and listened to lost & found then tidal wave then all the iTunes clips. I like the title track best ... oh well ... their music has something going. But what is the name about? I clapped my hands and said yes and absolutely nothing happened. Except I DO know who Ounsworth is now. So I suppose that happened.

I don't post to blogs either. But I do think it's cool that this stuff is on iTunes already. It's good the way this speed of light stuff works. And I know where edinburgh is.

It’s good to see that a band van still create a buzz without the aid of compromising themselves in order to make themselves "accessible."

the LP would be a great addition.

Everybody's talking about how similar to David Byrne the singer sounds. Well, that's true! But I also hear bits of Tom Yorke all over the record. Especially on "In This Home On Ice".

Everything about this album is enticing....the name is weirdly attractive...the graphics are strange and like a kid's artwork...the music is just wonderful and I think EVERYONE has been waiting for music that wasn't some whining mtv yawn of post grunge. Clap your hands did it. And the fact that they did it without a stupid giant label makes it better. I am personally attracted to the innocence of their album, which would probably have been destroyed or left to rot by a big label.
Clap your hands and say yeah for the internet.

Wow. the first time I heard this disc was a week ago while I was washing dishes at work. I instantly started tapping my feet and smiling uncontrollably. I've now listened to it more times in a week sonce any other record ever. The first thing I thought of was Talking Heads because of his voice but I refuse to classify music. The beats are simple and the lyrics are great. So glad that mainstream bullshit music industry didn't get their hands on clap your hands.

If you love these guys you should hear the Hackensaw Boys from Charlottesville VA. We would love to hear from you about our new cd "Love What you do"

You can find us on iTunes.

namaste

I like CYHSY. It may have something to do with Alec Ounsworth being my nephew. But I play their songs on my radio show in Fairfax County, VA. We were talking about which song they would play on Letterman over the christmas holiday. I said I really liked "Is This Love". Whether or not that's why they played it, I don't know. But I enjoyed it just the same. Alec is an amazing guy. Always very mellow and loves playing with Opal. The springer spaniel that his dad takes care of. Unfornately the other springer spaniel, Reba passed away . Bummer I remember Reba since she was a puppy. I'm really happy that Alec is doing well with CYHSY.

Cheif, no offence, but how about talking about the music in your track reviews?

Just a suggestion

Seriously. What are these people PLAYING???? How does it make you FEEL???? What other stuff does it SOUND LIKE or RIP OFF???

Shape up.

Uh...you complainers do know this is an mp3 blog? That is, if you wanna know what the song sounds like you can actually listen to it? And I'm pretty sure that the description for each of these tracks makes it clear that they make Dan feel good. What's wrong with that?

Um, I just wanted to say thanks for the music. I enjoy reading your descriptions; they're very lyrical. This image - "I feel like I'm sitting, hiding, under stairs, listening to people go up and down, but they're doin' something really bad" made me want to write a poem or something. I don't know....
Um, I just wanted to say thanks for the music. I enjoy reading your descriptions; they're very lyrical. This image - "I feel like I'm sitting, hiding, under stairs, listening to people go up and down, but they're doin' something really bad" made me want to write a poem or something. I don't know....

Ha. The people looking for shit capsule sounds-like bullshit reviews can go to All Music Guide. This is an -amazing- post, wonderfully written, and it's exactly what I think Gramophone should be about.

And i love that Lay All Over Its song! Like C.O.C.O with something much darker on top.

Indeed, Kyla is awesome!

Thanks!

My God. With utmost respect, these three were awful.

That's funny, Ian, because I thought these three posts were great.

Good choices, Dan.

The kyla song is great, who is she?

Also I for one like your comments, I don't really need a blow by blow of every song when I can be playing it while I read your comments....Isn't that why mp3 weblogs are so great?

All fair comments, I just thought that being a music site, you should, you know, talk about the music.

Yeah tapdancing about architecture and so on, but like, surely there's a more appropriate way to showcase your linguistic abilities.

But this isn't *just* a "music site". We're not one of those mp3blogs that just posts a song saying "check it out", or "french punk: dig it!", because I think those blogs suck. I love reading good writing - about life, about, love, and yes, about music. I like learning about the images a song evokes, the -way- people hear it. I like imagining songs in new ways. StG is *willfully* devoted to "showcas[ing]" literary abilities - it's about interfacing btwn writing, music and the self. We try to make the writing poignant, whimsical, accurate, -true-, and we experiment too. Sometimes you need nonsense or indulgence to communicate the importance/spirit of a song.

And the "dancing about architecture" comment always makes me laugh because I would -love- to see someone dance about architecture. If it was done well, man, it would be awesome!

Yes- this is a site where good music provokes good writing, and we then get the chance to appreciate both. I learned long ago: if there's something here I want to know (even more) about, I copy and paste the band's name into google or rocket, and get more than I need to know. Jeez, feeding your head doesn't mean being spoonfed...

(It's Canon, "A composition or passage in which a melody is imitated by one or more voices at fixed intervals of pitch and time", not Cannon.)

But nice game!

I've always thought there might be a connection between Nick Drake and Homestar Runner. Thanks for the good songs today.

haha! bravo for including a homestar runner song. this can only be good.

and that headphones song is fantastic, thanks!

"And both seem unaware of what they've done."

Has Homestar ever been aware of anything, really? :)

This game sounds cool. Hey, it could turn into a phenomenon, I bet. "Six Songs to Steven Malkmus", anyone?

the jeep song by the dresden dolls/black jettas by ima robot.

both about seeing the car that their ex drives. the jeep song is more about having a stomach lurch every time she sees the car. in black jettas the singer sees the car everywhere and thinks his ex is following him.

did i understand the concept correctly?

yes! more!

Tom Waits - Murder in the Red Barn
Violent Femmes - Country Death Song
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Song of Joy

Not only are these all about murder, but they share a similar atmosphere.

Billy Joel - Goodnight Saigon
Eric Burdon & the Animals - San Franciscan Nights

I'm not sure why I associate these songs. I guess the time frame they evoke.

The Anniversary - The Heart is a Lonely Hunter
Stars - Reunion

Both songs elicit a sense of aching nostalgia.

Fun Game! Thanks for the songs.
The Anniversary - The Heart is a Lonely Hunter
Stars - Reunion

Both songs elicit a sense of aching nostalgia.

Fun Game! Thanks for the songs.

This could even be turned into a chain of songs, with each song linking to the last in different and interesting ways. Each person could chip in a track that relates to the last track posted.

Heh, I just picked up Nick Drake's "Five Leaves Left" this past weekend. My fave tracks so far are Time Has Told Me and Three Hours. Not as good as "Pink Moon", imo. Ramble over.

Thanks for posting that great, great tune.