Archives : all posts by Dan

I've been listening to a lot of instrumental music lately. but let's not get caught up in that, the absence of vocals from these songs is hardly the most striking thing about them:

Cricket Engine - "Bonola Bars"

Any similarities to Ratatat are only positive and not derivative. Immediately you're invited in by a very poppy melody (one that could just as easily have been arranged with handclaps, tambourine, and ba-ba-ba's) and sit down in the living room of the song. Surrounded by people you know (the glitch) you feel safe and welcome. Then, at 1:17, the scenery out the window begins to move. The house is a car (the song is a promenade) and you pass by all the things you purchased in the last week. Some groceries, a pen, too much ginger ale, and some placemats for your table. I like this song, it says to me: "think about your life, but not too hard."

[their site]

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Cheval de Frise - "La Lame Du Mat I"

A french duo, thought broken up, but not. Some people say Don Caballero and Gastr del Sol, I say Explosions in the Sky with broken amps and vinyl strings. I used to be really scared of farm animals, because when I went on a tour of the Experimental Farm (not as bad as it sounds) an older kid told me not to pet any of the animals: "Buddy, that horse will fuck you up." this song brings me back.

[Buy their 2004 full-length]

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ALSO: I'd like to apologise for no post yesterday. Jordan e-mailed me from a blackberry in New Haven, but I wasn't checking my e-mail. So as recompense, here is one song reviewed in as much of Jordan's style as I can muster:

Nina Simone - "Marriage Is For Old Folks"

Marriage: Hey, Nina, what's up?

Nina Simone: Who are you callin' a quitter?

Watch how Ms. Simone bounds down the steps of a great cathedral, white gown catching on ill-kept steps, tearing away to reveal tight sequined nightclub dress and radio mic.

two needless analogies further illustrating the singer's independence

1. Nina Simone : one man | as | Garrison Keiller : a story not about cottages

2. Nina Simone : livin' free | as | Errol Flynn : cocaine

My editor doesn't like the repetition of "two people sentenced for life"; more creativity could've been employed. I half agree, but am snapping along too loud to notice.

[Buy]

The Winks - "The Film"

It seems like this song's title implies that it would be appropriate for a film's soundtrack, but I don't think so; this is video game music. Or, it's how video game music should be. It's a kind of beat that I wouldn't mind listening to for 45 minutes straight, with all the slight variations somehow set to a randomizer so I wouldn't ever hear a true loop. But I see myself coming in to a strange town at night, excited by all the strange faces that I know will talk to me. They will all give me information, about solving a puzzle, finding a lost object, learning a lesson, increasing my health.

You might have also heard "Snakes!", the single on this album (Slippers and Parasols) but if you haven't, go get it. It's way different, but it's good too.

[their website]

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Jemini + DJ Dangermouse - "Don't Do Drugs"

Don't you see that lanky, shaggy, muppet (with the half-closed eyes and the gold-toothed smile) doing a Silly Symphonies dance (legs like ribbons and arms cha-cha-ing downwards) and throwing his money into the air like fireworks?

That's not a question.

[Buy]

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Jonathan Goldstein - "The Greatest Phone Message of All Time"

it's 20 minutes, and it's RealAudio, but it's so worth it. Apparently Miguel Diaz didn't like it so much, but maybe you could put your comments up there to even the scales a bit.

Jonathan Goldstein now makes "Wiretap" on CBC. It's pretty much the same thing, but darker and more spare.

people who deserve credit for showing me these things so I could show them to you: Jon B, Karin.

Alden Ginger/Penner - "Untitled"

Ginger, Penner, whatever he's going by these days, it's Alden from the Unicorns. I'm posting this for two (2) reasons:

1) the lyrics are simple, and you can sing it all day.

2) I wanted to compare it to yesterday's Devin Davis song. A commenter (my namesake) linked the Unicorns and Devin Davis quite strongly, saying that all fans of one will be fans of the other. Now, I would have agreed wholeheartedly with dan before I heard this song (and all of Alden's solo stuff), but I can't un-hear it now. It gives a window into what kind of music this man is trying to make and what kind of breakthroughs he's accomplishing. This is true death folk. Not since Isaac Brock have I felt a writer (of lyrics, music) to be so conscious and at peace with death, impermanence, and coping. "I know you control the radio / so crush the pill into the show". Marvelous. I would have also posted "Suicide is a Shame", one of the new Unicorns songs that never got recorded (or maybe it did) but I have to find a better version first.
So, applying this retroactively to Unicorns songs, for me, they take on a greater weight, the lyrics are no longer flippant, they're a sneer before the execution.
How does this come back to Devin Davis? Well, I'm not a huge fan (yet), but I'm still a huge Unicorns fan. Devin Davis is anthemic, wailing, and raucous where the Unicorns/Alden are haunted, smirking, and aloof (seemingly not of this world, but actually the complete opposite). Plus, guy's voice sounds too much like either Blue Rodeo or Northern Pikes for me.

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The Robot Ate Me - "Bad Feelings"

I like it, I do, but I feel like someone quit the band between albums. Like, the "glitch" girl. I liked her. You should apologise about whatever fight you had.

most fortunate thing: the song gets better for its entire duration, it never gets worse or lags.
most unfortunate thing: now that I can hear his voice clearly, it reminds me too much of Ben Gibbard (same song twice).

Stan Brakhage made an hour-and-a-half long silent film about the decision to start a family, the day or week (if it's even measured in time) that it takes for that decision to take shape. He uses a lot of solar flares and super novas to describe the epic feelings that go on. The utter happening of things, and how important that is. Then I think of this song, and the singer (or his 'character') throws around forever and always and love like they don't or shouldn't really matter. It feels so naive, like watching someone climb up shelves the way you would climb a ladder.

[Buy]

Les Angles Morts - "What's Real Summer"

Three ways to wake up: i) alone ii) together iii) alone. Such are the three parts of this song. And in that way it reminds me of a mini "Blueberry Boat" (the song, not the album). This whole album makes me write lyrics in my head, but not, like, English words, more like general impressions of feelings, that I immediately try to apply to my life, in the same way I do with lyrics (but from me, they oddly seem more imperative). So for this song, it's like an unintelligible growling, but I get the sense that they're trying to say we're never going to go home (that feeling + the recurring wave-melody = BB). So kudos to LAM for creating such emotional music in a really novel way. If this is some sort of extremely small (but filled with potential) sub-genre*, I think Les Angles Morts are currently the best.

Two of my friends are making visuals to go along with another song on this album ("Kaleidoscope", for those of you as quick to buy as me). I told them they should tell the band.

go see them sunday at sneaky dee's at 10pm, if you live here

*I can think of Need New Body and that's about it

[Buy]

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Josephine Foster and the Supposed - "Worried and Sorry"

I live in Toronto now. I moved last week. I'm sure lots of you are aware of the hate-hate relationship that Montreal and Toronto have, so it's hard to like both of them at the same time; you have to keep it a secret. Faking loyalty to everyone, playing both sides against the other, until eventually we can trick everyone into loving everyone else. Anyway, I was in Montreal for a last weekend weekend last, and I had to use Monica's stupid computer, which I'm pretty sure plays this song on loop. But it's lucky, 'cause it turns out this song is exactly the heartbreaker my broken heart was looking for. Ms. Foster's warbly loon-voice is at first objectionable, but quickly endearing, and then just downright perfect and irreplaceable. I never want to get up. I just want to lie in this mud puddle all day.

This is from her first album All the Leaves are Gone, and I have yet to hear her new one, Hazel Eyes, but I'll let you know soon.

[Buy either]

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also: I received a late entry in the contest today. I know it can't win anything, but I thought it was so awesome, I wanted to share it with you.

artist: Tim

Seven
Fat Sexy Guy

You should know this about me (not many do): I love parades. And not in a casual way, either. I seek them out. Strangers waving at you, mini-cars, slightly off-time choreography. And marching bands.

This, however, is not a regular marching band, as you can hear. I can't imagine them marching. Rather, circling. like predators.

I saw a picture of them at Burning Man, and I immediately felt like my life was missing something by not having seen that show.

Both tracks fade in, as if the band's always been playing and these are the most song-like portions of their chaos. (though these are probably just samples of larger tracks)

This band, while I would listen to them on their own, could be magic backing up another band (which, hopefully, they will).

[both tracks are available at their site]

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elsewhere: David Byrne.com now has web radio. a playlist of his choosing. a nice replacement to (R.I.P.) cbcradio3 (though they still put up all their radio playlists, and host the magazine's archive, which is a lot of music)

Man From Delmonte - "Drive Drive Drive"

Don't be fooled by the giddy opening chords, this is a bitter song. And not in a "oh, this is so mean it's funny" kind of way either. Because he's not just focused on hating the one he's with. No, it's "I need somebody new who needs me too"; this is anger, mixed with conviction, and sung in a lovely lilt. And it's this very lilt that keeps me coming back. Just as it does, I'm sure, for the Man from Delmonte's wife or girlfriend. Like he sings this song to her while she takes a shower, and he's brushing his teeth, so the toothpaste foam covers up most of the words, and she hums along to the melody.
[Buy from Vinyl Japan]

Atlas Strategic - "Jesus Christ"

This song might end your life. There are three characters (important!): the singer, the preacher, and that fucking sweet-as-sundae organ (both are one). Play it loud, the sun is out.
[Buy before they run out forever!]

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Also: I've been listening to Björk's Post for like the first time in my life. so forgive me while I catch up to the rest of the world and call it amazing. thanks to Kerri for forcing me to listen to björk tapes in the car. they prepared me well.

Yes - "Heart of the Sunrise"

Sometimes I wish that my life contained within it the events necessary to make listening to this song (during them) actually pertinent. For instance, running from the police. Or being a hero.
I think the people who write books on how to write a good short story must love this song. It starts with blinding excitement, gets into good character development (he can really wail) and has something besides the excitement to back it up (I feel lost in the cit-aayyy). And of course a great ending, both bookending the start and finish, but bringing some new interest in as well.
I'd like to see you make a better 10-minute track.

Actually, please do, and e-mail it to me. (see sidebar)

[free from progarchives.com]
[Buy Buffalo '66]

speaking of Vincent Gallo, he's curating the 2nd All Tomorrow's Parties festival of this year, and again, he's a complete mystery to me (Kid Koala? Buck 65? wha?)

Charles Manson - "Eyes of a Dreamer"

What is probably supposed to be the most whimsical line in the song, "it's all in the eyes of the dreamer", takes on new meaning when you think of the eyes he's talking about. This is the most melodic (and musically capable) song on LIE (titled later, I think, this was never released - yikes, pun) the rest of the album is not that good. very very angry.

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elsewhere: My sister sent me a song by Subtle (that's two for DoseOne, he's in), but I have nothing interesting to say about it, except that I love it. watch the radiohead-esque (and beautiful) video here