friday five - 22.05.09 - thirty minutes to remember

I'm back! I've had cable internet at home for a few days now, and after I got it to work, I must say I'm in love. I know that having a speed of over 100kb/second on a regular basis may be old news for a good portion of you, but for me it's incredibly exciting. Whenever I download something, I just like to sit and stare at the progress bar. Sometimes I like to run Disk Cleanup on my new computer at the same time I'm downloading something and see which one wins.

Way better than Nascar.

Anyway, Memorial Day is coming up, and as such I will be attempting to avoid leaving the house all weekend. Seriously, when did the observation of hundreds of thousands of deaths suddenly equate to "I'm going to eat lots and get drunk"? It's the American dream, I tell you.

That said: on to the mix!


copyright 2008 Jeffrey Rowland of Overcompensating

Joy Division - "Atrocity Exhibition" (mp3|8.36MB): Let me be the first to say - if Chris hasn't already beat me to the punch (though I don't think so) - that Joy Division's Closer was one of the finest albums ever made. Despite the proliferation of amazing music today (especially this year, holy crap), the stuff that Ian Curtis churned out in this album ranks so much higher. The entire thing is brilliant, but it's terrifying. Most remember him primarily for having one of the most tragic deaths in the history of music, but spinning a song like this during days like these illuminates Curtis' poignance - and brutal foreshadowing - with startling clarity.
(from the 1980 album Closer)

Late of the Pier - "The Enemy are the Future" (mp3|7.23MB): When I first heard this band, I approached their music with the same reckless abandon that I did with Hercules and Love Affair. That is, I absolutely loved this CD, but I was initially tempted to forbid myself from thinking rationally while listening. Sporting psyched-out disco-style syncopation and catchy, schizophrenic lyrics, this is a song - like many others on the album - that runs on like a carefree dance party. Except it's a dance party wherein someone drops something of questionable legality in your drink and you spend the night freaking out about introspective minutiae.
(from the 2008 album Fantasy Black Channel)

Pluramon - "If the Kids Are United" (mp3|4.05MB): Given the recent (and by recent, I mean the past three or so years) revisitation of the progressive ideal by ambitious musicians of today - not to mention the surge in popularity that kind of music is receiving - I'm surprised more people haven't heard about Pluramon. With methadone-laced female vocals and a style audibly similar to The Cure, it becomes one of those bands you instantly reach for when it's nighttime and you want to be thoroughly blissed out before you sleep. Not really a song of reminiscence, but definitely a song of longing for peace.
(from the 2007 album The Monstrous Surplus)

Steven Wilson - "Abandoner" (mp3|5.50MB): To tell you the truth, it's incredibly difficult to glean specific meaning from any of this man's songs. Of course, this means that the songs in question are easily molded to fit any situation, which is just as good - if not better - than writing songs that actually tell you what the hell is going on. "Abandoner" seems like one of those eerie yet simple tunes, and while the distress isn't portrayed in the lyrics or melody, there's an interlude of pure, horrifying distortion at about 3:32 that completely changes the weight of the whole song. Um, auditory death.
(from the 2008 album Insurgentes)

The Decemberists - "Yankee Bayonet" (mp3|4.96MB): I'm a sucker for bouncy pop songs that include such visuals as bile and someone decomposing and being eaten by weevils. In all seriousness, though, hidden behind the catchy riffs and well-mannered beats, there exists one of the most heartbreaking stories ever set to music. Colin Meloy seems to be very adept at exploiting that talent, seeing as this album is rife with ironic exposition on love lost. Despite my adoration of the title trilogy and the epicness (is so a word) of "The Island," I can say with relative confidence that this is my favourite track.
(from the 2006 album The Crane Wife)

That's it for today. Even if you're planning on firing up the grill and cracking open a cold one this weekend, please take at least a few seconds to remember those who lost their lives to the violence of war. It isn't that difficult. And if you feel like today's post is chagrining your cheeseburger, a more upbeat and frivolous song for your festivities can be found here.

As always, send lovemail/hatemail/anymail related to the Friday Five to fridayfiveradio@gmail.com. Requests are always considered and welcomed. See you next week!