Earth Intruder

Nattura-Bjork featuring Thom Yorke

I've said it before, I'll say it again. I adore Bjork. She can do no wrong. I loved her since I was 18 and I saw the Sugarcubes with my friend Jenny. However...

The last album, which I mostly loved, I did not love the collaborations with Timbaland. They were cool, but like some good ideas, I don't go back and listen to them again. Basically I thought Volta was stellar, but I felt the album lacked strong rhythmic tracks.

This track makes up for that shortfall. "Nattura" was released, I believe, to raise awareness of environmental concerns threatening Iceland (Nattura is nature in Icelandic, I'll hazard a guess).

In any event, what does it sound like? Well, it isn't "I've Seen It All", her amazing duet off the The Dancer In The Dark soundtrack. In fact, at first listen, it isn't immediately apparent where Thom Yorke is. But if you turn up the volume....OK, basically, Natura is Bjork wailing over a free jazz drum workout while Thom Yorke's disembodied voice haunts the song. In other words, its pretty much insanely beautiful and perfect.

Happy New Year-ABBA

Wistful and sad, I think the sentiment speaks for itself....can anyone make me cry like Agnetha?

Giorgio Moroder would be so proud

Casper The Friendly Ghost-Daniel Johnston

In honor of Halloween, I thought I'd review a Daniel Johnston song. If you haven't heard Daniel Johnston, well, you are seriously missing out. There was a documentary out about a year ago, and he is much loved in the music community.

I won't go into his whole back story (its on the Internet) in a million different variations. I will say that I love him. There is something oddly beautiful about his voice. Can he sing? Does it matter? I think there is just something fragile and incredibly honest about his voice. Particularly on this song (it is not a cover of the song from the cartoon).

And his songwriting skills are pretty amazing.

The Daydream-Tycho

Autumnal beauty...this song sounds exactly like its title. It is a 'day' song...there is something slighly light about it, like shafts of sunlight coming into a room. Yet there is something melancholy about it. One of the great things about instrumental tracks is that they leave so much for interpretation...its so much about the mood you bring to the song

This is a serious beauty...lovely music to reflect by. I don't know much about Tycho...this is from a compilation called Do That: Rare Birds From The Terrorbird Vault.

I'll Be By Your Side (Tensnake Remix)-Sally Shapiro

Sally Shapiro is a much raved about Swedish singer whose 2006 record Disco Romance hearkens back to the 80's and Italo-Disco and Pamela Stanley and Lime and Eurobeat. Its a beautiful record, stunningly so. As far as I know, this isn't her real name and she has never performed live.

Almost like Robyn, Lykke Li or even Justin Timberlake, this is a record that has generated an online buzz among music blogs. I've seen it reviewed in magazines that wouldn't normally touch this kind of music (shame).

In any event, the original is a lovely pop hit. You hear it, and, like Lykke Li and Veronica Maggio, you think "wow, this is what the last Kylie or Madonna record should have sounded like". Lyrically, the song is about devotion to a lover (perhaps not surprisingly, given the title).

Some time after the album came out, she has remixed Remix Romance Volume I and Remix Romance Volume II with, yup, all sorts of remixed versions of Disco Romance. And, in a nice surprise, almost all of them work or are at least interesting.

But this remix...man, this remix...its massive. Tensnake are doing the whole "NuDisco" thing (think Lindstrøm) and this mix is 10 minutes of Italo-disco heaven. Her vocals just weave in and out of the song...in dance music, this type of record is often referred to as a journey. It is certainly transportive.

They say when "I Feel Love" was played out (it was finished, put on vinyl and walked to a club) the reaction was so strong they just kept playing it over and over. This song gives me that feeling. You really don't want it to end. Giorgio Moroder would be so proud.

What Do You Want Make Those Eyes At Me For?

3 A.M. (Fucked Up)-Stars Of The Lid

Well, honestly, I could review this. Stars Of The Lid comes out of the Mogwai/Godspeed You Black Emperor (place exclamation point accordingly). And its a beautiful song.

However, the title says it all.

What Do You Want Make Those Eyes At Me For?-Emile Ford & the Checkmates

OK...kinda creepy! Not even kinda. Its a Joe Meek production (I've been listening to his work lately). The production is very good...and its campy and fun. The lyrics....well, basically its a guy threatening a woman for leading him on...and that he'll jump her later. Oh sure, its meant innocuous I am sure (I hope) but it has a dark side as well.

One Song Not So Glory

Searching For Mr. Right-Young Marble Giants

I hate to speak ill of the dead but....

When the Broadway musical came out, there were some heavy allegations that Jonathan Larson had plagiarized significant parts of Sarah Schulman's book People In Trouble. It never went to court...from what I understand, she didn't want to pursue after his death.

Um.....ok.....listen to this song. The Young Marble Giants were from Cardiff, Wales and were around in the early 80's....I guess they were a post-punk band (whatever that means anymore). In any event, I am sure they were big with the L.E.S. artist crowd.

It's a great song...it has a cool trick where it continues to build tension, threatening to explode....but never does.

Have you heard it? Jonathan Larson did...I am 90 percent sure of it. Yeah, the beginning is similar (but as the person I played it to said "lots of songs start that way")....but then there is the part of the song where she sings "teaching myself to be, the young untold".

I'm not crazy...I caught it on my Ipod while sitting on the bus...I kept thinking "hmmm....I know that song..."

Now listen to "One Song Glory" from Rent. THEN tell me I am crazy. I just listened to it again...and it freaked me out.

Acid Tongue-Jenny Lewis

Yeah, I know I already wrote about this song...but whatever. I decided today that if I ever star in an HBO show, this is going to be my theme song. "You know I'm a liar..."

The Clock-Thom Yorke

OK...yes, it is kinda hard to accuse any Radiohead/Thom Yorke/Johnny Greenwood endeavor as being underrated. But I kinda feel The Eraser was underrated. To me, it felt like the other fork...this record is the natural progression from Amnesiac. If anything, it sounds more insular, paranoid and fucked-up.

This is my favorite track on the record....its very jittery...has a real sense of foreboding. And, like many a song, I thought, when I heard, it'd be hard to improve on that version. The original is well, delightfully nervous.

Well, check out the Surgeon remix of this song. It is the original version of the song, post-nervous breakdown, post-hospitalization, post shock treatment. Weird, scary...play it on your headphones and walk around a city. You will feel like you are the only person that knows that there is something eminent about to happen....it sounds like a pending emergency.

Listened to Exotic Creatures Of The Deep by Sparks today. Can we just call them a National Treasure and get it over with? Also, they are the gayest straight men alive. And frankly, I do mean that as a compliment.

Spank Rock Bump (Mochipet Remix)-Mochipet

How is a song like this not a huge hit? I don't get it....I expect Missy Elliott or Kanye West to come swooping in at any moment....

The Daydream-Tycho

Wow...talk about a song that sounds like its title. Minor key autumnal loveliness....like the sound of a heart breaking (my favorite, cheesiest and overused euphemism...but fuck it, it works). This is superbly beautiful...not in a Lisa Gerrard kinda way...not hugely gorgeous. More subtly gorgeous....maybe for my HBO series, this'll close out the series finale?????

Bad Babysitter-Princess Superstar

Try to listen to this and not crack the fuck up. Its brilliant...

The Cave (Part 1)-Gary "Spider" Webb

OK...one of the 3 gay High Holidays approaches....this year I finally put together a bunch of Halloween mixes. This, well, it harkens back to the 50's and novelty records. Its so weird....I love it...its funny and odd and frankly, strange. Probably only a hip-hop artist could do something like this now...and in a skit (think Prince Paul). Its basically spaghetti western guitar, a drum beat, this guy screaming "Julie", the girl yelling "Jimmy" back...drum solos...and then she screams. Frankly, its insane and kinda stupid and brilliant. Perfect for Halloween.

Big City (Everybody I Know Can Be Found Here)-Spacemen 3

Pre-Spiritualized swoony music to take drugs to and watch John Hughes flicks to. On drugs..."we are not alone" and all that

Lonely Teenagers

Requiem For Lonely Teenagers With Passed-Out Moms-Atlas Sound

Sad, woozy, and lilting...this is simply late-night gorgeousness. Has a vaguely psychedelic feel. Its an interesting side project of Bradford James Cox, the lead singer of Deerhunter. Kind of surprised me that it is a side project, cause I could see this being on a Deerhunter record.

No matter...reminds me of Galaxie 500 a bit. Off of the Another Bedroom EP.

Seal Eyeing-Animal Collective

Starts out with all these underwater sounds, and then this gorgeous piano comes in. Its hard to describe after that. Either you know how creative Animal Collective is...and you get them. Or you don't.

And about 2 and 1/2 minutes in, the song gets even prettier.

I really like the band, and have since Sungs Tongs. I will say that sometimes I think they pack too many ideas into a song. Not on this one...again, like Atlas Sound...very late-night and beautiful. And to think, this is a "B-Side" of new single "Water Curses".

On Your Shore-Enya

Enya gets kind of a bad rap. I mean, some of it is deserved. She essentially makes the same record over and over. If you buy one, you have them all.

But, well before Beck, she was a bedroom artist herself. She plays all the instruments, records all the backing tracks, etc. And she is from the extremely talented Clannad family (huge in Ireland). I think she bailed on them because she was the youngest. Like Andy Gibb.

That said, with all the studio tricks she layers her songs with, it is this song, that always chokes me up, always gets to me. I've put it on mixtapes and people always tell me that they had to check, that they didn't know it was Enya. Its off her first (and best) record Watermark. Its just her singing about finding yourself always on someone's shore. Ignore what you are supposed to think and realize its beautiful.

Under The Ivy-Kate Bush

I could devote an entire blog to Kate Bush and how much I love her. So to say I am way more than biased about her entire recording output is well, a massive understatement.

This song always makes me cry. There is something just so simple and beautiful about it--plaintive and visceral...its just arresting. I don't know, the imagery...I can't explain it.

Deliver Me-Robin Holcomb

When I make mixtapes, I have songs which are old standbys--I always come back to them, always put them CD's. This is one. Robin Holcomb has released maybe 3 records in the last 15 years...and this is from her first. I bought in Chicago in '93--i found it in the 99 cent bin. I think I had a read a review or something...I honestly cannot remember. But I know I bought it for around a dollar.

Its worth 99 dollars (and you can get this song in ITunes, as well as the whole album, simply titled Robin Holcomb). The whole album is great...but this song, man, this song.

Its just her singing very quietly over a piano. Again, like the Kate Bush song, its so beautiful its hard to put down in words. Maybe like a sunset...a perfect sunset.

Which might be a cheesy image (guilty) but it works. In the song, she keeps repeating "deliver me, the light is only perfect, for a very short time." So I guess it alludes to the concept of the Scottish gloaming (in a literal sense) and about a relationship in a figurative sense.

Whatever, its fucking gorgeous. You know what, it sounds like a prayer...there is something religious about it. Insanely beautiful.

In the depths of the godsick blues

I'd Rather Walk Than Run-Herman Düne

I am a sucker for this kind of song. Very sweet, could easily have come of the soundtrack to a movie like Juno or some other similar independent film. Don't know a great deal about Herman Düne, although I do know they are from France and have worked with the Moldy Peaches as a backup band.

This is a beautiful lilting folk tune--reminds me very much vocally of Jens Lekman, which is a huge compliment.

Acid Tongue-Jenny Lewis

I have always liked Rilo Kiley and Jenny Lewis, but I never thought they quite lived up to the hype. In some ways (and this will be a weird comparison, so brace yourself) I have felt, at times, that there songs didn't quite match up to Jenny Lewis's voice. Like Eddie Vedder and Pearl Jam, who after Ten, always kinda bored me. I really liked the last Fleetwood Mac-esque record and I loved "Silver Lining"...but never quite up to the hype.

This song changes that analysis. Its incredibly seductive, with clever lyrics. For example, I love this section

I went to a cobbler
To fix a hole in my shoe
He took one look at my face
And said, "I can fix that hole in you"
I beg your pardon
I'm not looking for a cure
Seen enough of my friends
In the depths of the godsick blues

Her voice sounds marvelous on this track. Honestly, this reminds me so much of a Maria McKee song. They don't sound exactly alike, although they both have very clear voices. And there is a definite lyrical resemblance, although they are both very distinctive. And i think Maria McKee is a national treasure (and woefully underknown and underappreciated), so that is high praise indeed.

Can't wait for the album

Carnies

Hammerheads-Danielle Dax

I can't even really begin to describe the genre this song falls under. It is an odd odd song. Odd in a great way, though. To me, it kinda sounds like it could be right off of the soundtrack to "Nightmare Before Christmas" (perhaps a distaff resemblance to "This Town Called Halloween"). Or maybe evil honky tonk sung by a muppet?

And the lyrics, well, Danielle Dax, who was a member of the avant-punk band the Lemon Kittens before going solo, they are creepy. I don't exactly know what she is talking about...but its creepy, in the best way.

All of her stuff is totally worth checking out. Its highly original and very random in its range. If only all artists had the vision and guts as her...

Carnies-Martina Topley-Bird

First single off of her latest. She will be forever known as the voice of Maxinquaye and Pre-Millenium Tension. So I had high hopes. Err....don't love it. Its good, but doesn't showcase her voice as well. I was hoping, with the song title and her voice, that this would be eerie. Not so much. Well, as least not as much as...

I Lost My Heart In The Fairground-Glenda Collins

A Joe Meek production, this song is freaky. Its a 60's song, and very cheerful and happy....early 60's. However, she talks about losing her heart to the guy who runs the ferris wheel.

Ok...where I come from, you didn't speak to the carnie folks, let alone date them. Obviously high camp value, but great production and incredibly fun

42 More Things To Do In Zero Gravity

Mind Your Own Business-Delta 5

Way cool song by a legendary all-girl post-punk band. This is probably their most famous track. I heard it on the very cool way-worth-your-while Girl Monster compilation. Very edgy, with very distinctive guitars. In fact, so distinctive that I have to ask: Is the guitar eerily similar to "Seven Nation Army" by the White Stripes. Or am I just hearing things....? I feel Jack White has to have heard this track. You could pick way worst artists to be influenced by.

Void-Frank Murder Und E.V.A.

Found on 42 More Things To Do In Zero Gravity: An Icelandic Ambient Compilation, this reminds me so much of the Brian Eno track I wrote about yesterday. Eerie and beautiful, this is based on a simple guitar loop that is simply repeated over and over. There is something to be said for Phillip Glassian minimalism--it always gets me. Over that, the track just adds very cool (literally, as in chill) flourishes. I can easily imagine hearing it over the end credits to a Bond film.

Don't know anything about Frank Murder. I will say the compilation is well worth picking up, as all the tracks are worthwhile. The most famous act on here is Mum, although Trabant and Worm Is Green make appearances as well (among many other artists I have never heard of).

This

Happiness-Church

I don't think its THAT Church. This isn't the Australian band that has been around for 25 years and had a big hit in the 80's with "Under the Milky Way". That's The Church. This is Church.

And that's all I know, except this is very reminds me quite a bit of "Gobbledigook" by Sigur Ros. Or Animal Collective. Its definitely 2 minutes of a freak-folk party. Makes me want to hear more, which is always a good thing. I tried Googling them, but all that brought up was Christian rock band after Christian rock band. Which I'll avoid. Although I do have a very cool Stryper t-shirt I picked up at a resale shop....

Spiralling-Keane

Boy, did this catch me off guard. In a good way, a great way. I'd always relegated Keane to the C level. They are not Radiohead. They aren't even Coldplay, who has seemed to make an entire career recyling "Fake Plastic Trees" and "High And Dry". They do it well, but they kinda bore. Keane was even more boring...until this.

With the "whoops" and dancey groove, this sounds like nothing I've ever heard from the band. I could see hearing this in a club and going up to ask the DJ who it is. And then, like I was when I heard, I'd be floored that it was mopey ole Keane. I thought they would just spend the rest of their career scoring substandard WB shows. Congrats!

This-Brian Eno

Off of Another Day On Earth, his last solo record (he and David Byrne have a new one out, a followup collaboration to their widely influential Life In The Bush With Ghosts). What can I say....its Brian Eno (its a blog, so I guess i should say something). Insanely brilliant...not much there, but beautiful, haunting, kinda creepy even. Just a weird skittering beat, somebody reciting "This" over and over....and Brian Eno singing. Don't ask me why it works, or why it works better than most anything else out there. Again, he's Brian Eno. You gotta hear it to understand...

you make me feel like i'm in a film

Cling Film-The Sea Urchins

Don't know much about the Sea Urchins, except that I cannot believe nobody swiped this name earlier (or afterwards). I guess they are from West Bromwich, England (thanks Wikipedia!) and were released by the very esteemed Sarah Records. They didn't have many hits..."Cling Film" wasn't even released as far as I know.

Still, this is a minor key beaut. Reminds me so much of college, of fall, of a time when it was actually kind of cool to be melancholy. Like you want to be in love, but aren't. And you think you are, and somebody breaks up with you, and you think you really hurt. You were only later, as an adult, to find out what that really meant. Its like that...that same kind of naivete, innocence and possibility all swirling about in 3 minutes of a pop song (if that makes any sense).

White Winter Hymnal-Fleet Foxes

If you haven't heard of Fleet Foxes yet, man, did you know Obama is our nominee? Where the hell have you been. They are kind of everywhere!!! You might want to catch up, before they appear on what will easily be a million end of the year best. Deservedly so, I might add, although I will caution that they are not that crazily original. I mean, they are...but only kinda. If you've been anywhere near the Polyphonic Spree or the Hidden Cameras in the last 4-5 years, there are some similarities. They certainly aren't the first band to resurrect 60's sounding harmonies. But they definitely do the Animal Collective/Panda Bear/Spree thing unbelievably well.

But they are certainly one of the best. And they have songs to match the stunning harmonies. Again, very autumnal....must be the solstice. If you haven't heard anything by them, I'd start here.

And honestly, one reason alone, if you listen to this song, you'll be happy. Yes, for 2:23, but still, you can't beat that.

I Need Another World

Hold On-Hot Chip

Pretty snazzy in its original form-"Hold On" is one of the danciest tracks off of Hot Chip's latest record Made In The Dark. If this band had come out in the 80's....or in some alternative insanely cool universe....they remind me so much of the OMD if they got beat up by ELO.

Not surprisingly, Ewan Pearson, like he did for Cortney Tidwell's "Don't Let The Stars Keep Us Tangled Up" last year, turns "Hold On" into 9 minutes of dance floor beauty. Again, like the aforementioned track, you want it to go on and on and on.

L.E.S. Artistes-Santogold.

I know....could i lag farther behind. Well, I didn't write on my blog for ages. Frankly, the moment I heard this song, I thought an ESG song sung by Dale Bozzio of the Missing Persons (since I am all about band vs. band clashing analogies). Yeah, that good. Early runner for single of the year. Avoid the Switch mix...typically too loud and banging, ruining all the Lower East Side nuances of the song.

Say So-Uh Huh Her

One of the songs that if you heard in a car, you'd roll down the windows and let the wind rush across your face. Stunningly beautiful gorgeous pop. Despite being named after a PJ Harvey track, it reminds me a bit more of a Go-Go's track...with maybe the Cocteau Twins on the chorus. No, not a fight between the two...

Humpty Dumpty-Aimee Mann

OK...this is kind of a dedication. Like if this was a radio show, I'd dedicate this song to my friend Lisa. Basically I've been missing her alot lately--we've been talking alot via email and text, but neither of us can get out to see the other. Anyways, she can listen to this song...and she'll get it. Its not a song that necessarily reminds me of our college days together (that'd be either Nirvana, "Fascination" by the Human League or...gulp....Colour Me Badd).

When I hear Aimee Mann, I always think that if Lisa wrote music, this is who she'd be. Vocally yes, but sentiment and lyrics even more. And frankly, that is a huge huge compliment. Anyways, love you Lees.

Another World-Antony & the Johnsons

Made me weep each of the three times I listened to it. Although I adore Antony, I didn't think that any of the songs on his last record matched "I Fell In Love With A Dead Boy" or "Cripple And The Starfish". I loved them all, but I wanted an out and out torch song.

And I've missed his Nina Simone/Jeff Buckley voice so much. Sure, hearing him duet with Bjork is amazing. And his work with Hercules & Love Affair is superb.

But this. Oh this. Utterly and completely gorgeous. Reminds me a bit of "Song Of The Siren" by This Mortal Coil, which is the highest compliment imaginable. When he sings "I need another world, this one's nearly gone. Still have too many dreams, never seen the light", I utterly choke up.

Ethereal sadness, yet oddly hopeful. I think that might be a humpback whale song 3 minutes in. Slays me.

Heartbreak Beat

Kim & Jessie-M83

My immediate reaction, from the opening notes of this song, is that it instantly reminds me of "Heartbreak Beat" by the Psychedelic Furs. Ok...I love this song, although it is not my favorite Psychedelic Furs song (tough call there....easily one of my favorite bands from the 80's....The Ghost In You, Torch, Get A Room, Heaven) but "Heartbreak Beat" is a very sexy song (in particular, in its first 30 seconds). It always reminds me of going out, of all the possibilities of a great evening and what that means. And of course, for me, at my age, it is imbued with a sense of nostalgia.

Well anyways, the beginning of this song reminds me so much of that song. The 80's reference is strong throughout (as on much of M83's latest record). Whats cool about this song is how it cleverly alludes to its references without copying them. Love the whole album as well...

When I Wake-The Changes

Superb 3 minutes of power pop. Reminds me of Nick Lowe or Marshall Crenshaw. This is a very very good thing. If it isn't summer, it will make you feel like it is

dark in the city night is a wire

Hungry Like The Wolf/View To A Kill/Skin Trade-Duran Duran

Although I wasn't quite the obsessed fan of some (or, alternatively, a Durani i think they are called?), I definitely dug them in the 80's (and still do). Anybody even remotely attached to pop music (or who liked pop music) had to have a favorite Duran Duran song in the 80's. These are my top 3.

Dismissed as shallow and light at the time by some, many of their hits have remarkable staying power. In many ways, they represent the spirit of the 80's, as many of their songs are sleek and shallow. And I don't mean that in a bad way. To me, Duran Duran always comment on glamour and decadance with a style and panache that really nobody (save Madonna, who hoisted the "Material Girl" mantle on herself) could match. Their songs are accurate reflections of the consumer-obsessed 80's, and Duran Duran cast on ironic eye on the high-life (I mean, "Girls on Film" and "Rio" if you need more evidence). What is so interesting about them, in retrospect, is that they were able to be fey and vulnerable and get away with it--because they were straight and all dated models. Something that would trip up Culture Club, their only real rival band-wise on the single chart.

"Hungry Like The Wolf" is the first Duran Duran song I ever heard. Consequently, as often is the case with 80's bands, it is also my favorite Duran Duran song. Consider it Exhibit A in a case to sum up the band (both in its sound and lyrically). When I first heard it, i thought it was wild and scandalous and amazing. For a 12-year old (or 13) boy from Indiana, this song was dangerous and sexual and almost a bit frightening. Which of course made me love it. I think it might have been banned in Utah. Or the video was only shown late night on MTV. Oh, the scandal!!!

"View To A Kill"--there are bands/artist who should sing Bond themes and there are artists (though they may be quite talented) going head to toe with James Bond. I love a-ha and Sheryl Crow is just fine, but both acts subtle charms would be lost on a Bond theme. Sheena Easton was great, partially because she was young and cute and could have been a Bond girl.

Think of this way, once Shirley Bassey has occupied the spot, you have very big shoes to fill. Tina Turner fit perfectly, KD Lang (whose song was in the credits but was not the theme during Sheryl Crow's year) was also great. You need the talent or the look (or preferably, both) to pull of something of this cultural magnitude. Madonna, Bjork, Goldfrapp...all great candidates. Jewel, Ashley Simpson, please dear God, no.

Oh, and Duran Duran. It's a great song (from a not-so-great film, though it did have Grace Jones) and there is no better band to pull it off. A match made in heaven.

"Skin Trade" Not one of their biggest hits, but in my mind, actually, one of their best. In many ways, it shows how they evolved into a one-trick pony (OK, 3 tricks tops) to a much more stylized and smart band. To hear Simon LeBon criticize (in Prince-esque falsetto, no less) the very same shallowness that launched Duran Duran is post post-irony (or just one post...you get my point).

All She Wants Is-SCSI 9

No amount of writing could convey why I think Kompakt is one of the most genius labels on the planet. It just is...trust me (I will say that I am not alone in this assessment). Time after time, artist after artist, compilation after compilation...brilliant stuff. The quality control there is amazing

And this, off of Kompakt Total 5, is typically sly and yet brilliant. Its an odd quiet cool-as-ice cover of Duran Duran's minor hit from the 90's. One thing I love about the Kompakt label is that when they do issue a cover, it tends to be very subtle and pushes the song in a new direction. This is the perfect song to ride around on the metro to...with the simplicity and beauty of the best pop and yet the intricacy of architecture.

...or something to remind me...

Wishing (I Had A Photograph Of You)-A Flock Of Seagulls

OK...its a month away from 20th, so i figured I maybe write about some of the songs of my formative years. This is by no means there biggest hit (they are most famous for "I Ran (So Far Away)" and "Space Age Love Song"....the first was a top 10 hit, the latter a club hit (one of their many) but its their most beautiful. It sums up all that's great about the 80's. I am sure metal and grunge were reactions to new wave, but frankly, well, grunge was highly overrated and just gave people excuses not to shower (Nirvana aside) and metal, well, I always got a kick out of my Indiana classmates that called Duran Duran faggots for wearing makeup and then dug Kiss. Er, ok...

And nobody feminized music more than Prince (from the male standpoint)...but I digress

Billy Idol, when he wasn't embarassing himself with "Mony Mony", a career-stopping moment so risible he should seriously have been host, sang about "Dancing With Myself." This is the companion piece to that song...its got an odd metronomic beat that would be simply be impossible to dance to with anyone else. It takes romantic vulnerable to pathetic (and glorious) heights..."I wish I had a photograph of you, or something to remind me. If i had a photograph of you, i wouldn't spend my life just wishing."

To me, highschool is more about being in love with the idea of love than having the maturity to actually be in love. And this song sums that all up in a hyper-romantic glorious melodic messy 5 minutes.

It's My Life-Talk Talk

OK...if Gwen Stefani/No Doubt's cover of this moved any old Talk Talk records, then I can forgive her for ska. Can i say it...all ska sucks.

Talk Talk is one of the most underrated and underappreciated bands of the 80's, especially among bands that worked in the pop idiom (this would exclude say a Sonic Youth). There weird career trajectory didn't help. First album The Party's Over was great fun, while second record It's My Life got darker and more melodic (and featured this massively beautiful stunner, which was their biggest and only Top 40 hit...but it also featured gorgeous new wave songs like "Call In The Night Boy" and "Such A Shame",) particularly with "Renee", which would hint at where they were headed. Their first masterpiece (at least in the conventional sense) was The Colour Of Spring, which featured beer commercial minor hit "Life's What You Make It."

And then, totally out of the blue, came Laughingstock and Spirit Of Eden, which were odd distaff lonely icey jazz-hued records. And giving credit where credit is due, Thom Yorke has talked about how much these two records influenced him...and you can hear many echoes of Talk Talk in Radiohead (particularly on the stunningly beautiful b-side "It's Getting Late In The Evening"). These are two underrated classics...and their last recordings. Mark Eitzel (lead singer) did a similarly beautiful solo record....and then nothing.

But this was what I heard first, and the song I love the most. But if you think its cool to 'discover' a band only to find out that they have a huge back catalogue...here's a band for you.

Forgiveness-Yeasayer

In the last 4 weeks no song has impressed me more. I'd read about them...I think they are out of Brooklyn and that "scene", but I wasn't prepared for how fucked-up, off kilter, drunk and beautiful this is. Right from the get go...the song sounds like a needle was just dropped into the middle of the record. Its a genius move...you have no choice but to pay immediate attention since you are transported to what sounds like 30 seconds into the song.

And the song...honestly, what's so great about it is that I almost can't describe it....pagan chanting, Bjork, Animal Collective, ESG, Fleetwood Mac's "Tusk" all come to mind. Yeah, i know...high praise...and I hate to damn it with such praise. But I don't lie. Beautiful and fucking brilliant. So far, song of the year.

How Swede It Is....

Subtle Changes-Sambassadeur

The perfect springtime song, with lush Bacharach-esque strings and gorgeous sweet melancholic vocals. And oh yes, from Sweden. No, its not "Lovefool" by the Cardigans....its less 60's, more 80's (for some reason it reminds me of an 80's pop hit). Think the Sundays with lush sexier less lonely vocals. I haven't listened to the rest of the Sambassadeur (they are named after a Serge Gainsbourg record, interestingly enough), but based on this, I am looking forward to hearing it (its called Migration--and released on the excellent Labrador records, which is based in Sweden). Saint Etienne, summer at the beach, drinks early on a hot evening...this evokes all of those. Let the swooning begin

Vi Kommer Att Dö Samtidigt-Säkert!

Equally gorgeous, with a 60's pop bent. I have no idea what she is talking about....and I don't imagine that Swedish rolls off the tongue like other languages....yet prepare yourself to hum Annika Norlin singing "ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh" all day. As far as I know, she's released one self-titled record. All in Swedish. Perfect after a long midsummer's night. Agnetha and Annifrid would be proud.

Not Revenge, Not Electronic, Not Monaco

Selfish-The Other Two And You

New Order (one of my favorite bands of the 80's, which is probably why I've stayed away from them, although at some point I will have to write about "Love Vigilantes") had a number of side projects. Maybe more than any other band. Perhaps the most famous (and successful) was Electronic, which was a supergroup (or duo) as it included Johnny Marr of The Smiths and sometimes vocalist Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys. Revenge and Monaco (which came a bit later) were not as well known.

Though, in my opinion, this is the most interesting of the side projects. And least recognizable...although a New Order fanatic could probably spot the resemblance. The Other Two And You had two records (I believe) and a couple of singles. The band was made up of Gillian Gilbert and Peter Hook and interestingly (and deceptively, this'd be the reason people probably couldn't stop that it was New Order) featured Gillian on vocals. Oh, and in the band, Gillian was the keyboardist, while Peter Hook was the percussionist.

It was a shame that Gillian didn't sing more. While she doesn't possess the greatest range, this is blue-eyed hug-yourself-while-you-dance beautiful. It'd be tough for me to pick a track that I love the most, but "Selfish" beats the others to the post. Its sweet and simple and yet the way she sings each phrase without much of a break just adds to its charm. And when she sings "No sense of reason, you think its true, why did you have to believe them" you'll swoon. Even the worlds greatest cynic would swoon...and if he doesn't, well then, he's selfish. If I hear this in a club (and sadly, its a rare occurence) it will lift my spirits instantly...its guaranteed to cheer the hardest of hearts.

Don't Let The Teardrops Rust Your Shining Heart-Everything But The Girl

I'm writing this out of a sense of condolence for a friend of mine, who is nursing a broken heart. Though a broken heart certainly cannot be fixed by a 3:18 song, well, maybe fixing isn't the point, as its just something that everyone goes through (and often, more than once in their life). Its the down side, I think, to all the upsides. But as much as that sorta thing hurts, well, if you avoided being hurt, you'd miss out on all the beauty and splendor out there.

Probably there are few songs that speak to that (and say it way way WAY better). This is one. It was never released as a single and isn't anywhere near one of their most famous songs. Its an older song...EBTG were not yet in dance/electronic mode. Yet, I remember buying the cassette at 17 and crying the first time I heard this song. Its truly beautiful and lush and poignant and honest and well, uplifting. Its a letter to a lover--its definitely got a dark side, as you can't tell whether they are together anymore. And its about an affair. But its a song about fleeting moments of joy and appreciating those, as they are fewer and farther between than we'd like. And yet, its somehow happy and heartbreaking at the same time, and frankly, well, you can't get a better reflection of life than that. And sung in Tracey Thorn's gorgeous, sadly underrated world weary voice...

So Los, my dear friend, feel better, take care of yourself and remember this...

Sorrow is a lonely road
Where the rain like your tears
Beats heavy on the roof above your head
Tomorrow is a lovers' town
That's been beaten down
And the hands of winter holds the life we've led
Instead of drowning in despair
For I find small comfort in a bottle
When we're apart
Don't let the teardrops rust your shining heart
I used to drive all night for you
While the children were asleep
And as the dawn broke on your room
Back into my house I'd creep
Where my husband slept alone
Of course he must have known
But we always hide the truth
For fear of losing what we own
So don't forget the words that we choose
And constantly misuse
They were written down every time we were apart
Don't let your teardrops rust your shining heart

Best Of 2007 (in no particular order, kinda)

Children Running Through-Patty Griffin
The fact that I haven’t seen this on any best list is both a surprise and a shame. It’s simply a beautiful record. Not surprisingly, the lyrics are stellar (Patty Griffin was successful as a songwriter, most notably for the Dixie Chicks and Emmylou Harris). C’mon, there is a Martin Luther King tribute song…and it works. Worth the price of admission alone for “Heavenly Day,” which, no matter when you play it, will cheer you up.

Volta-Björk
This isn’t on many best lists. Why? Because it didn’t appeal to critics and fans. In some cases, I think that was because it wasn’t Homogenic or Debut or Post. But its charms reveal themselves after more listens. Who else would even record a song called “Earth Intruders,” let alone it being a collaboration with Timbaland? Despite the presence of drums, it’s as inaccessible and insular as its predecessor, Medulla. Yet it rewards. The song that I was most excited to hear, “The Dull Flame Of Desire,” a ruminative ode to love featuring Antony (of Antony & the Johnsons), is an absolute stunner.

In Rainbows-Radiohead
The quality of this record almost got overshadowed by its marketing. In some ways, it’s their most accessible record in ages. Gone is the paranoia and the loneliness. It’s almost a…dare I say….happy record. OK, that’s Radiohead happy. My favorite part: the ballads. This is worth 50 dollars for “All I Need” alone.

Kala-M.I.A.
Along with Radiohead, let’s get the obvious out of the way first. Yeah, her dad is a Tamil Tiger, a member of the Sri Lankan revolutionary group. Yeah, she’s namedropped by everybody…don’t be shocked when Justin Timberlake collaborates with her. Sophomore slump…no way. Political, driving, fun-as-shit. As cool to listen to on your headphones as it is to dance to.

Neon Bible-Arcade Fire
Speaking of sophomore slumps…this was a big one. Moving away from the Talking Heads references to Bruce, Arcade Fire made a great record. Maybe better than their last…I can’t tell yet. Worth the price of admission alone for the whoops on “Keep The Car Running.” The Killers wish they made this record. So do the Smashing Pumpkins.

Oblivion With Bells-Underworld
Let’s call it. Underworld kicks the shit out of the Chemical Brothers. Nobody else can make epic soundtrack house like this. This is a record to get lost in…maybe the record of the year in my opinion. It doesn’t even include one of my favorite singles of last year, “Peggy Sussed.” If you want to be really cool, see if you can find their 10 minute bootleg of “Don’t Stand So Close To Me” by the Police. (Sting so wishes he were that cool.)

Chromophobia-Gui Boratto
Architectural techno via Germany…and yet, you can dance to it. I kept waiting for this to disappear up its own ass…and it doesn’t. This could make the list for “Beautiful Life” alone, which is, essentially, a 2007 update of “If You Were Here” by the Thompson Twins. Which is the song that Molly Ringwald kisses Jake Ryan over the cake to. And, to be honest, if I equate a song with Jake Ryan, it’s making the list.

The Reminder-Feist
Ignore the commercials. Ignore the SNL appearance. Actually, ignore what you think about the first 2 singles. And give it a listen. Did anybody do this better this year? With PJ Harvey exiled to a haunted house, Fiona Apple languishing in some dirty bathtub somewhere and Tori Amos so desperately in need of an editor, the answer is…no. Smart, funny, beautiful, painful. Its worth-the-price-of-admission moment: “The Park.”

23-Blonde Redhead
Honestly, if I had to give a Grammy for “Record of the Year”…and I hate the Grammys (and have hated them ever since “Don’t Worry Be Happy” won…not convinced?…two words: Milli Vanilli)…this would be it. All the others aside, I don’t know a record that references 50’s and 60’s pop and Sonic Youth and still sounds so beautiful. It only makes sense…this isn’t Blonde Redhead’s first record…it’s like their 6th or something. That allows a band to mature and explore and expand…and then you get this. When I first got it, I walked around the city and played “Silently” over and over and over…

Music For Tourists-Chris Garneau
Dare I say...Jeff Buckley. There…I said it. I hate to saddle him with those comparisons….it’s a beautiful voice on a sad quiet record. A stunner…in the race to be the next Jeff Buckley, it’s between Garneau and Patrick Watson…

Ma Fleur-Cinematic Orchestra
…who features on this record (Patrick Watson that is), along with Louise Rhodes (from Lamb) and Fontella Bass. Is there a band out there whose name represents their sound better than Cinematic Orchestra. “To Build A Home” sounds like it could be from a Broadway show (and yes, I mean that as a compliment). For some reason, the phrase “chamber music” always comes up. Don’t ask me to explain…just buy this. And yes, if you like Minnie Ripperton, you will like this.

Out Of The Woods-Tracey Thorn
Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous. Almost makes up for the fact that Everything But The Girl records a new record, oh, I don’t know, every 5 years. Beautiful languid melancholia one moment, gorgeous house the next. What I love most…nobody else does this, nobody sounds like this…she’s Gilberto and Dusty all in one.

Loney Noir-Loney, Dear & Káta Hornið-Teitur
I’m lumping these together. They don’t sound alike, that’s not it. Both of these artists are out in the States in a myriad of different incarnations, but I don’t think these records were recorded this year. I heard them this year. Teitur is a singer-songwriter with beautiful quiet songs and your new favorite artist from that bastion of pop, the Faroes Islands (look it up). Loney Noir is Norwegian and sounds like Sigur Ros kicking the shit out of Chris Martin of Coldplay (shouldn’t someone?).

Goodbye-Ulrich Schnauss
Think the Cocteau Twins. Think lush and romantic. Think heartbreak and smoking drunk at the age of 17 and wishing that you were so in love that you could actually get your heart broken. Then go buy this.


The Runners Up (in no apparent order)
Walls-Apparat
And Their Refinement Of The Decline-Stars Of The Lid (lump-in-throat beautiful)
Night Falls Over Kortedala-Jens Lekman
Sound Of Silver-LCD Soundsystem
From Here We Go Sublime-The Field (coolest house record of the year)
Ulual Yyy-Islaja (like stumbling onto some pagan ceremony in the Finnish forest)
People I Barely Know-ST (insular bedroom pop that sounds like a breakup…instead of tormenting your ex-girlfriend by blogging on MySpace, make a record!!!!)
Mirrored-Battles (yeah, everyone loves it, but hey, its cool)
Stateless-Stateless (“I think I might have inhaled you, I can feel you behind my eyes, you’ve gotten into my bloodstream”...sexiest song of the year with "Bloodstream")
Bloom-Louise Rhodes (its all about the voice)
We Are All From Somewhere-Exploding Stars Orchestra (its jazz, which I know nothing about, but I dig it)
Night Drive-The Chromatics (frankly, this record is very dirty. In a good way)
In Our Bedroom After The War-Stars (literate, smart, charming and romantic…they just keep getting better)

Mix albums and compilations you absolutely need
Fabric 34-Ellen Allien
Please Please Please-Tobias Thomas
Prins Cosmo Galactic Prism-Prins Thomas
Kompakt 8-Various

OK, anything by Kompakt is required listening. These are amazing records and easily could have made the above list…these go well beyond the average DJ record. It’s between Ellen Allien and Prins Thomas for the best. Prins Thomas is “space disco” and it’s F-U-N-K-Y and weird and dubby and made 5 people at my old job come by my office and ask: “What the fuck is this?” And these were not cool people.

For the Ellen Allien record…imagine the coolest club in the world, now imagine it 30 feet underwater. That is what it sounds like.

now this is what we call haunted volume I

Everything Is Low-The Go Find

The Go Find's second record, Stars On The Wall, was a bit of a letdown on the first listen. I just didn't find it as immediate. The songs off his first disc, Miami, were understated and austeer, yet very catchy at the same time (and all minor key and heartbreakingly romantic in many spots, most notably on "What I Want"). On my first listen through Stars, I have to confess, I was a bit disappointed. I think it was an expectation thing...I basically a sequel to Miami.

After many listens though, the charms of Stars On The Wall have been revealed. The record is quieter, more acoustic, and for me, sadder. This, "Everything Is Low", is my favorite track on the record. The Go Find vocalist, Dieter Sermeus (who sings with the band Orange Black, this is a side project), doesn't have a huge range vocally, but he does a lot with a little.
Its a sad sad song...the part that gets me...when he sings...

Would you break me up
Would you let me know
If I try to run
Send a car across
What a wreck I am
Your eyes
Would you let me out

I'd start with Miami, however. Its a beautiful insular lonely record. The moment...for me, far away, is on the aforementioned "What I Want." It's a love song...the narrator is simply telling someone how much he cares for them, how much he loves him/her. And on the chorus he then says, "...it's what you want....too....I can tell." Its almost as if he is talking someone into getting back together, talking them into admitting they love him.

And the song kinda stays there for the first 2 1/2 minutes....and then, it just simply lifts up and he starts singing "I can tell, too much is never enough, when it comes up to you" and the music swells and and...well, you'll fall too...its a heart-melting moment.

Anyway-Tulipomania

The first time I heard this band it was on a Wire compilation from last year ("Same Ole Song" I believe). They definitely stuck out (first of all, they were melodic...I love Wire magazine but its a little pretentious at times and I've heard stuff they adore that sounds like a hair dryer being dropped down the stairs. Merzbow, you know who you are). Whatever the case, it was a very cool song...definitely made me want to hear more...somewhat of a Cure-like feel to the beat, funky and danceable. And the vocals, well, they stuck out then...I can't remember what I wrote about them last year but anyways, this song...

When I was a kid, my favorite Disney ride, far and away, was Haunted Mansion. I remember being entranced by its beauty and begged to go on it again and again. Actually, its still my favorite ride hands down. One of my favorite scenes was the ballroom scene, where all these ghosts are flitting in and out of view and off and on the dance floor. I believe there's music playing during the scene, but for the life of me, I can't remember what the song is.

This should be the song. Talk about haunted. A dance party for the ghosts of lost loves, if you will. The music is somewhat driving, somewhat dirgelike, taking all the best parts of the Cocteau Twins and Ride without sounding derivative (the backbeat actually reminds me of a song by a kinda unknown shoegaze band Chapterhouse and their lone hit "Pearl"). So thats all good.

Going back to the haunted house analogy, there's a scene on the ride where a female ghost is standing in a lonely room a bridal gown with her red heart beating. There's also a scene where a disembodied head is speaking from inside a crystal ball. (I'm really loading up on the analogies here, no?). Anyways, the female vocals sound like they are being sung from the head in the crystal ball. They flit in and out off the song, just like those dancing ghosts (are you with me still ?)

And those male vocals? Yup, the ghost bride with the bleeding red beating heart, she'd be singing them. And yes, that's a huge compliment. To say that Tom Murray's vocals are distinctive would be an understatement. If Anthony of Anthony & the Johnsons and Liz Fraser of the Cocteau Twins had a child and signed it up for vocal lessons with the ghost of Jeff Buckley, he would sound like this. Unlike those influences however, the vocals are more contained within the song...the seem to move with the narrative and though distinctive, are almost instrumentation. Wraith-like, eerie and stunningly beautiful...his voice is a voice that probably divides a room. I'll go on the haunted ride again...y'all can go ahead and ride the ultra annoying Space Mountain ride.