the sunday superlative - 3/1/09

This Week: Good Songs by Terrible Bands: 2000s FM Rock Edition



I suppose this entry could also easily be subtitled Guilty Pleasures, because it's true: I like these songs quite a bit, but if you listen closely you can hear a small part of me die every time I admit it. The truth stands, though. I, the snotty and fairly unflappable indie kid, also occasionally listen to the radio, and sometimes I even enjoy it. Most of the time I'm appalled by the collective taste of contemporary mainstream America, but from time to time even the most appalling of bands manages to get it right.

So that's tonight's showcase. I'm sure you've heard of all three of these bands. They share two things in common: (1) they're all pretty huge right now; (2) they're uniformly terrible. I would never, ever purchase an album by any of these guys. The point I'm making, though, is that talent (or perhaps luck) can be found in even the most unlikely places. All three of these songs are quite good. I'd never condone listening to the remainder of their output, but even I must admit to sneaking a bite or two of these songs every once in a while.

Fall Out Boy - "Thanks for the Memories" (mp3|6.03MB)
Ever since I discovered and fell head over heels in love with Brand New (whose indescribably fantastic The Devil and God... I practically have memorized by now), I have a hard time discounting the entire musical umbrella known unfavorably as "emo." But let's face it: the vast, vast majority of it really sucks a big one. No "emo" band has enjoyed the same degree of mainstream success as Fall Out Boy, and I guess one could reasonably argue that none are as deserving (since they're all offensively generic enough as to be interchangable). But ugh, I can't stand them. These guys were the shit in high school, and I guess they continue to be. I don't care for their image, I don't like their obviously put-on emotional turmoil, I don't think Pete Wentz is omg hott, and my hair reflexively stands on end every time I hear their music. And that's why I perhaps unfairly regard the catchy and unmistakably homoerotic "Thanks for the Memories" as something of a fluke. It's a well-written song and I enjoy it more than I care to admit, but I'm just left with that nagging feeling that even a stopped clock tells the right time twice a day.
(from the 2007 album Infinity on High)

Maroon 5 - "Makes Me Wonder" (mp3|4.83MB)
My apologies in advance, but whenever I think of the singer of Maroon 5, I think of Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight: "What happened? Jer balls drop off?!" The man is one hormone injection away from sounding like Sheryl Crow. But in 2007, against all odds, he and his band miraculously managed to turn this into a good thing for three and a half minutes and deliver "Makes Me Wonder," which may well have been my favorite mainstream track of that particular year. I don't know what magic drug these guys took, but they embody that cocky white-boy funk thing so perfectly that Justin Timberlake might as well just throw away the latter half of his career (he can start by throwing away the first half, too). This is a frightening song. Absolutely terrifying. It has no right to be this damn good. But it's really, really quality.
(from the retardedly titled 2007 album It Won't Be Soon Before Long)

3 Doors Down - "Kryptonite" (mp3|5.37MB)
I remember when this song came out. I was in 6th grade. I even liked it then. This either means my taste hasn't improved, or this song is actually pretty good. Despite the answer I would lean towards, the band apparently favors the latter option, since they've spent the past decade trying -- and failing -- to rewrite it. Really, they should've just broken up. All of their songs sound exactly the same, like a second-rate 3 Doors Down tribute band (jesus god almighty) trying to one-up the only good song they ever had. Trust me, that's not a good place to be. But hey, at least this "Kryptonite" ditty is pretty good. I mean, it's not like "Stairway to Heaven" or anything, but in a loud mindless alt-rock sort of way, I find it pretty satisfying.
(from the 2000 album The Better Life)

Catch you folks later!

the sunday superlative - 2/15/09

This Week: Lea Stole My Theme



It's true. She did. I was going to go the sappy love song route, too, but she got there before me. I can't really complain, though: the Valentine's Day thing was out there just waiting to be capitalized upon. And it's not like there aren't, like, seven million sappy love songs I could've chosen from that wouldn't have overlapped the five she chose.

But let's face it. Two posts in a row with the same theme is boring. So I, thinking on my feet, decided to shake things up a bit and go for the diametric opposite.

This Week: Stalker Anthems

There are more of these than you realize. It really wasn't difficult finding three to throw in here. (Well, okay, four. "Gallery Piece" wasn't on the original lineup, but ... sorry, yeah, I had to.) And most impressively, I'll have you note, none of them are "Every Breath You Take." Because seriously, everyone's heard that one. It's the classic stalker anthem of all-time, and a great song, but really. I'd blogcast Kevin Barnes over Sting any day. I know he'd do the same for me. Plus lots of other things I will not go into.

Sarah McLachlan - "Possession" (mp3|4.26MB)
Chicks can be stalkers too. (This is the kind of statement I like to build up to by giving examples of male stalkerism first, but Ms. McLachlan's name unfortunately comes first alphabetically, so now I just look like a douche.) I must admit, however, that if in addition to stalking me they could also bust out the instruments and play a song as lovely as "Possession," I'd probably be sold. Too bad, with my luck, I'd probably end up getting stalked by, like, Bjork instead. But yeah: Sarah McLachlan seriously makes stalking sound completely un-creepy and even vaguely pleasurable. For both parties. It's a gorgeous song. They even play it on the radio sometimes, if you can believe that.
(from the 1993 album Fumbling Towards Ecstacy)

The National - "Brainy" (mp3|4.53MB)
This song is deceptive, you see, because it takes you completely by surprise. All of The National's songs sound fundamentally similar, so -- at least in the context of Boxer (a fine album, by the way, but you knew this) -- you're expecting "Brainy" to be another late-night urban lament just like its on-album predecessors "Fake Empire" and "Mistaken for Strangers." But it's not. Listen to what he's singing. That shit about the fingerprints? That's disturbing as hell. I bet you didn't realize such a soft-spoken, lovely song could be so unnerving. But it can. And trust me, you'll never listen to it the same way again.
(from the 2007 album Boxer)

Of Montreal - "Gallery Piece" (mp3|5.42MB)
No doubt the textbook example of pathological romantic obsession in modern pop music. I can't decide whether it's creepy or hilarious. Considering this man is singing it, maybe the answer is evident.
(from the 2008 album Skeletal Lamping)

Porcupine Tree - "Blackest Eyes" (mp3|6.03MB)
When people go nuts for Porcupine Tree, this is why. I like them. I think they're a good band. But man, they can be ridiculously overrated by some people. "Blackest Eyes" reassures me for four minutes that, yes indeed, there is something to all this giant praise. For one thing, it features just about the most seamless and wholly appropriate integration of metal influences into a straightforward pop structure I can think of. It's a song about a stalker/serial killer, right, so it makes sense that he's going to be pleasant and charismatic one moment, and violently off-the-rails the next. The music mirrors this to perfection, and the result is both intense and unforgettable. If all their songs were this good, they really would be the best band in the world.
(from the 2002 album In Absentia)

'Til next week! Yes, I'll be here. I promise. Stop following me.

friday five - 13/14.02.09 - happy love-or-whatever day

All right, let's get this out of the way first: I know I suck. It's okay, really. I've come to terms with this, and am currently seeking therapy for this very personal difficulty. Consider it, dear readers, a symptom of the fame and arrogance I've acquired over the past few months.

Hey! Why're you laughing?

In all seriousness, though, you've been jipped out of several Fridays' worth of music. I'm really sorry. You know what bites even more? I only have the typical five songs for you this week. I didn't include any bonuses. (Mainly because the internet I have has decided to take a few rides on the short bus.) But the selection I've chosen includes some really great stuff (see, there's that arrogance again), and hopefully quality will win over quantity. Because that decision is a lot easier to make when beer isn't involved.

Oh, yeah. It's St. Valentine's Day tomorrow today, dammit. So, uh, the theme is like, love-related. Or something. God, I can't wait for the post V-Day discount chocolates. HUZZAH. I'M GONNA EAT MYSELF SICK.





Cut/Copy - "Hearts on Fire" (mp3|4.46MB): Considering the fact that I recently saw the accompanying video to this lovely track (and was subsequently filled with glee), I had to post this. It's relevant! And it's sweet. Aw. Not to mention, of course, the unquestionable awesomeness of this band altogether (OH, by the way, I might see them in March; aren't you jealous). You know what? I could have put any Cut/Copy song here regardless of whether or not it had anything to do with love, and you wouldn't have cared one iota. Come on, admit it.

VHS or Beta - "Love in My Pocket" (mp3|2.95MB): We slowly begin the electronic fade out, moving from very heavy electronica influences to a subtler variety of this particular musical species by the notable VHS or Beta. The cheetah hunts for days, consumed with hunger. If she doesn't find suitable prey soon, she and her cubs will die. (Sorry, just noticed the similarity in expository structure.) Anyway, I was addicted to this album - Bring on the Comets, for anyone curious and unaware, yes, my minions, go forth - for a month straight in 2007, so now you have to suffer the consequences. Have fun.

White Whale - "I Love Lovely Chinese Gal" (mp3|4.10MB): There is absolutely no way, from here on out, that I can compensate for the intense nerdery that accompanies this posting. White Whale both excretes and absorbs coolness, sorta like osmosis in a cellular wall. I feel so cool for liking White Whale, but that coolness stems from a socially secluded kind of nerd-cool that only hardcore uncool people like me seem to appreciate. Anyway, have a song that sounds like it was recorded in a fish tank. The love abounds.

My Bloody Valentine - "When You Sleep" (mp3|1.67MB): Busy, slightly distorted, and highly rockin', My Bloody Valentine's Loveless is the perfect album to play on St. Valentine's Day - if only for this track, and if only for the opening lyric: "When I look at you / Oh, I don't know what I feel." You can apply that in so many different directions. I won't say what it means to me. Catch that on the next Maury.

The Cure - "Friday I'm in Love" (mp3|2.95MB): Awwwww. You guys know why I chose this one. It's Friday! (Or, it WAS Friday before I typed this. You're probably reading this on a Saturday. GUYS, I'M TRYING.) For all intents: Friday, I'm in love. With you! Not in the creepy way, but in the obsessive I-hope-it's-mutual and/or I-hope-they-don't-kill-me-in-my-sleep and/or I-hope-they-still-like-me sort of way. You know. Because I still have all of those weed emotions that grow in high school. And the Cure will always rock. And I'm an internet whore. And I stalk you. Okay, maybe this is the creepy kind of love. But you like it.

Anyway, that's it! EAT CANDY.

<3,
Lea (FFR, soon to be banish-ed from her own kingdom)


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!

the sunday superlative - 2/8/09

This Week: Harmonica Highlights



Ladies and gentlemen, it's time we faced a sad fact that has been plaguing the musical world for quite some time: there is not equality among instruments. Not all are held in the same esteem, not all are regarded with the same amount of reverence. Oh sure, you've got your almighty guitar and your keyboards and bass and hifalutin drums, but what about the so-called "lesser" instruments? What has happened to them?

I'll come to the point: the harmonica gets a bad rap. In the social hierarchy of musical instruments, it's one step above the kazoo. And while many people will stick to their guns and continue hating it, I insist that it is merely misunderstood. Well, tonight all this is going to stop. I have brought out three songs (Lea roughed me up in the gym and told me that if I exceeded my limits again, I would pay in what she calls "moderately important body parts"; she also took my lunch money) that not only accentuate the harmonica's importance within the structure of a popular song, but in some cases suggest that it may even be an integral element.

We start with an obvious choice.

Culture Club - "Karma Chameleon" (mp3|3.90MB)
I fully expect this to get zero downloads (yes, I do monitor this, so if you ever want to make me feel REALLY good about myself, download something twice). Not because it's bad or because you know all about Thing George and his old band, but because you have it already. Come on. Let's face it. You love this song. You love everything about it. You love how catchy it is. You love how rebellious you feel when you dance to it while no one's around. And, most of all, you love that damn harmonica.
(from the 1983 album Colour By Numbers)

Doves - "Rise" (mp3|5.13MB)
2009 is, at least in conventional numeric terms, the end of a decade (yeah yeah there was no year zero stfu). This means that, come December, I -- the compulsive listmaker -- will be faced with the unenviable task of ranking my favorite songs of the decade. Luckily for me, the job has been made 1/25 easier, because I'd say there's a very strong chance Doves' gorgeous, ethereal "Rise" will find its way onto the list somewhere. Maybe it's just the fact that the first time I ever heard it was on a lonely summer night back in '07, but this more than any other song I can think of perfectly captures that lonely summer night feeling. It's haunting, it's lovely, and it has one of the most legitimately tasteful harmonica solos I have ever heard. Seriously, the harmonica elevates the song; it would certainly not be as good without it. The solo is so perfectly placed, so seamlessly integrated, that I honestly didn't even hear it the first few times. It's just a necessary extension of the music. It's an asset. "Rise" singlehandedly makes the case for the harmonica as an acceptable musical entity. And, yeah, it's also a fantastic song.
(from the 2000 album Lost Souls)

Bob Dylan - "Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands" (mp3|15.57MB)
Ah, but of course. Mr. Zimmerman is the king of the harmonica. I had to include him. But he gets a bad rap, too. Sure, he's an icon and all that, but I get the feeling these days that he's more iconic for being "that batshit son of a bitch" than for being a true musician. True, he probably is insane; and yes, he does have the most distinctive (read: highly irritating -- yes, even I think so) voice ever put to tape. But that doesn't mean he wasn't a prodigious talent in his time. "Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands," while not among his super-famous songs, may be the finest thing he ever wrote. Written for his wife, it's a love ballad that quite simply puts most other love ballads to shame. And if you think it's too long, that it drags, that he should've somehow edited it down: I'm sorry, but you're wrong. It's just so good.
(from the 1966 album Blonde on Blonde)

(If you really want a fourth song, though, check out The Beatles' "I Should Have Known Better." I'm sure it's in your personal library already. Anything by the Fab Four is wonderful, of course, and it's also one-fourth the length of "Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands." So there.)

... aaaaand I'll see you folks next week!

the sunday superlative - 2/1/09

This Week: Super Bowl Halftime: Alternate Programming



I don't know if you knew this, but the Super Bowl is today. I know! Crazy, right? I just found out, too. Naturally, this entails Super Bowl-ish things: millions of flickering TV screens, almost as many parties, countless bowls overflowing with Doritos, and -- of course -- the reason why everyone tunes in in the first place: the fast-paced excitement, the adrenaline-pumping promise of physical injury as a devotion to one's craft, that slow-motion moment when it appears if only for a fleeting instant that all of your dreams for the evening may come true.

I am, of course, referring to the halftime show. At least, most years. But let's face it, folks: I disapprove this year. I'm not the biggest fan of The Boss. Yeah, sure, maybe he was born to run in the U.S.A. (in which case, why doesn't he take the field like a man?), but that's boring. More than likely, people are going to get up, stretch out, and leave the room.

So I envisioned a "what if?" scenario. What if I had been allowed to schedule the halftime show? How would I have filled those fifteen minutes? Well, may you wonder no more. By the powers vested in me, the following four songs (yes, I did four again -- maybe one of these weeks I'll learn my limits) would be performed by their respective artists in this order. I tend to be a modest guy, but I hasten to state that I am positive that, were this reality, America would not only stay firmly rooted in front of their TVs, but it would be far and away the most memorable and perhaps enjoyable stretch of the entire evening. So take heed, 2010 Super Bowl programmers. I would not mislead you.

Electric Six - "Dance Commander" (mp3|3.59MB)
Ours is a festive culture. We love to party, and dancing is in our blood. However, we're also hard workers: we earn our lazy Sunday evenings kicking back with friends, popping a beer, and watching the game. From my experience, once you're on the couch, you're on the couch. This is exactly why the halftime show is a perfect venue for the dance commander. Sometimes a person can't merely be talked into embracing his or her inherent dancing nature; sometimes, dammit, they just need to be commanded. Halftime is not an opportunity to get up, piss, stretch out, or get more hot wings; it's a time to bust a move. Were this to happen, I'd second the words of Dick Valentine to a tee: IT WOULD BE AWESOME.

Kelly - "Shoes" (mp3|2.53MB)
It's really just baby steps from Carrie Underwood to this. Let's not forget that women watch the Super Bowl, too, and that this enthusiastic endorsement of red-white-and-blue feminine consumerism would be heartily welcomed. Its accompanying YouTube video has spent two and a half years with "instant classic" status attached to it; this internet popularity is, if anything, the perfect signifier for a warm reception at the greatest of all American sporting events.

Styx - "Mr. Roboto" (mp3|4.36MB)
There's something undeniably beguiling about imagining this song being performed in front of millions upon millions of viewers. Seriously, imagine it as you listen. You'll see what I mean.

Team America OST - "America, Fuck Yeah" (mp3|1.93MB)
Super Bowl programmers are always looking for the ideal candidate to whip the crowd into a huge, patriotic frenzy. Why else would they book Bruce Springsteen? Well, I'll tell you what: no song in the past five years has made me feel as patriotic or as proud to be an American as Trey Parker's exuberant declaration of United States awesomeness. It's the sort of song so infectious, so utterly inspiring, that you not only find yourself shouting along with it immediately, but actually adding to it once it's over. While driving, for instance: "Subway; FUCK YEAH! Walgreens; FUCK YEAH! Stop light; FUCK YEAH!" It just makes you so damn happy to be alive in America in the 21st century, and I think more people need the feeling bestowed upon them.

See you next time, folks. Have fun tonight! I know I will. Probably bust out a favorite film or something.

the sunday superlative - 1/25/09

This Week: 2008's Overlooked Gems



Damn, I suck. It has been since November 30 that the last Sunday Superlative was posted here. You do realize this was two months, one calendar year, one U.S. president, and approximately 9,000 I-just-wet-myself reviews of Merriweather Post Pavilion ago. Time flies. In fact, the only thing greater in magnitude than the speed at which time flies is the degree to which I suck. This, sadly, is an irreversible condition. However, I can make amends for it, so that's what I'm hoping this post is going to do.

Inevitably, every year there are songs and bands that fall through the cracks. Damn good songs and damn good bands. Who knows why it happens? It just does. Especially in the digital age, there are so many bands making so much music that it's frankly a miracle that everyone doesn't get lost in the shuffle (though you wish some would, oh hi Deerhunter). This is my valiant attempt to highlight three of my favorite nobody-heard-this songs from 2008. While all you cool kids were off groovin' to Tha Carter III (or whatever it is you do with that album), I was checking out this good stuff. Enjoy.

The Lucksmiths - "Lament of the Chiming Wedgebill" (mp3|3.49MB)
In a word, beautiful. In two words, damn beautiful. I stand by my original comparison: it's like an Australian Outback version of The Decemberists' "Yankee Bayonet," with some swoon-worthy male/female vocal harmonies and a jangly guitar/harmonica interplay that sounds, indeed, like nothing short of a lamentation. But what a pretty, desolate, desert-tainted mournfulness it is. My only complaint is that the rest of First Frost didn't sound anything like this. Whereas the remainder was mostly generic, unremarkable guitar pop, this is something much greater. This is lovely. This is one that, if I don't watch it, I'll find myself listening to over and over again.

Pitchblend - "Somewhere I Could Never Find" (mp3|6.55MB)
Pitchblend have tapped into an interesting sound. They have, for my money, found the perfect combination of two seemingly incompatible styles: that dynamic Explosions in the Sky/Mogwai-ish post-rock and that emo-pop stuff you hear on the radio and don't like (not that I do, either). Evidently, they work a whole lot better together than I ever would have thought. The tuneful noisiness of the post-rock actually more or less nullifies the latter (I think it's mostly the guy's pretty standard-issue alternative-rock voice that leads me to the radio-pop label, actually) and the result is a very good song indeed. It's atmospheric, catchy, rockin', and even decently passionate. I freely admit it was in heavy rotation on my playlist last summer. Perhaps you can do it the same favor for the coming spring.

Uh Huh Her - "Covered" (mp3|5.39MB)
All I need to say is "chicks doing super catchy, melodic, energetic electro-pop" and this is already better than a good majority of that new Tilly and the Wall album. Actually, most of Common Reaction is enjoyable in that "this is probably guilty pleasure, but ... yeah, don't give a shit" sort of way, but "Covered" is definitely the standout. It's a pop song. It doesn't try to be anything else. It wants to get you to tap your toes and hum along and enjoy yourself. It successfully gets me to do all three every time I hear it. At the end of the day, could I really ask for more? If I did, I'd almost certainly be missing the point.

And that's all, fol--fuck it. I haven't done this in two months. I can be afforded one bonus song. Let's do it.

Chauchat - "Murdering Chair" (mp3|7.12MB)
This falls somewhere in between Neutral Milk Hotel (one of the best indie bands ever, and you damn well better agree) and Bright Eyes (who's good on the days he doesn't suck, which seem to be chosen at random). I can't pinpoint exactly where. It's certainly much more heavily weighted towards the "good" end of both (why would I include it otherwise?), and seems a fine example of how a straightforward acoustic ballad can skillfully build into a noisy, cacophonous lo-fi jam session (once again: NMH and Bright Eyes). I like it quite a bit.

And NOW I'm done. I'll try to be back next week, I promise. I realize that "weekly" does, in fact, mean "every week." Don't hold me to it or anything, but damned if I won't try.

friday five - 02.01.09 - bring in the new

Ironically, I we actually had no idea how to start this blog post. Or how to follow up that previous sentence with anything of substance. Instead, seeing as how your two DJs are in the same state - nay, in the same room - we decided to record an audio introduction to this week's theme.

Click here to download! (MP3|1.05MB)



Death Cab for Cutie - "The New Year" (MP3|5.54MB)
Chris sez: Call me a morbid bastard. Go ahead. Do it. But it's something of an annual tradition that somewhere in the duration of January's first week I must listen to this song. But it's undeniably wonderful. No one -- no, not even you -- is going to argue the point that Transatlanticism is Death Cab for Cutie's defining work (don't even try to fool yourself by thinking otherwise, Narrow Stairs fans), and I daresay this song kickstarts it perfectly. Kind of like, hey, this song kickstarts my year perfectly. Oh, Ben Gibbard. You're just that good.

The Dismemberment Plan - "The Ice of Boston" (MP3|6.83MB)
Lea sez: It seems appropriate for me to follow up a Death Cab song by a Dismemberment Plan song if only for the fact that the two in fact toured together as a parade of "Death and Dismemberment," which, considering Gibbard's preferred later melodic composition, is funnier than it should be. Anyway. "The Ice of Boston" pretty much defines the mood of the entire album (called, as if you really needed to know, The Dismemberment Plan is Terrified), and encompasses a myriad of realistic feelings, thoughts, and events as experienced by your typical socially dysfunctional geek and/or misanthrope. Except for, you know, the naked champagne part. Well, at least as far as you're concerned. I will say no more.

Brand New - "The Archers Bows Have Broken" (MP3|5.83MB)
Chris sez: Call me a desperate bastard. Go ahead. Do it. This song has nothing whatsoever to do with this week's theme, but if I may direct your attention to the band's name, you will quickly notice that they are not merely new. They are Brand New. And that by itself makes the song worthy of inclusion. That, and -- for the unforunate souls who have not heard it -- the band's 2006 album The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me is one of the greatest things I have ever heard. Honestly, I could have chosen any song from it and it would've suited me just as well. "The Archers Bows Have Broken" is merely the poppiest, most accessible, least soul-crushingly dreary thing on it. Hey. That works.

Radiohead - "Lucky" (MP3|5.95MB)
Lea sez: It seems appropriate for me to follow up a great song with another great song. Wait! Isn't that what this entire blog is for, anyway? Isn't it? ISN'T IT? Well, whether you agree or disagree with the latter statement, Radiohead's "Lucky" is presented in one of my favourite combinations: contrasting lyrics and music. It's a beautiful and mournful-sounding track with some of the most hopeful and optimistic thoughts one could have for the future. Maybe my luck will change.

Interpol - "The New" (MP3|8.41MB)
Chris sez: Call me an unconventional bastard. Everyone loves Interpol. I am no exception. Believe it or not, though, this is my favorite Interpol song. That's right. This one. Over the course of their stunning debut Turn on the Bright Lights (truly a best-of-decade candidate), the band adopts two stances: the angular, rockin' Interpol and the soft, restrained balladeerin' Interpol. "The New" is the only song on the album that seamlessly combines both aspects; it rocks and it's pretty. As a result, it's pretty rockin'. Oh god I am so done.

Alias - "Resurgam" (MP3|5.93MB)
Lea sez: It seems appropriate for me, as a primarily classical musician, to appreciate the finer points of purely instrumental music. And since I've posted so damn much of it on this blog already, I figure it wouldn't hurt to throw up another one. See? I'll never learn. Alias' "Resurgam," though - and I'm confident you'll agree - is an amazing classical-electric-trance(-core?) piece that just sounds like a new beginning. From the opening rises to the background voices and the steady, carrying beat, it's definitely a good start for anyone.

Stars - "The Night Starts Here" (MP3|9.00MB)
Chris sez: Call me a straggling bastard, but I only discovered Stars in hindsight. This saddens me, because it means that there was a time when "The Night Starts Here" (one of those songs I love so much that, regardless of how many more Stars songs I heard in my life, will almost unquestionably remain my favorite) was not a part of my life when it very easily could have been. There's not really all that much that can be said about it. It's a gorgeous duet, with Mr. and Mrs. Vocalist trading some of the most swoon-worthy lyrics imaginable ("You drop a coin into the sea and shout out, 'Please come back to me.'") You will download it and like it. Even if you already have it and/or don't like it. This blog is all about NEW SHIT and I'm going to give you, like, a NEW OPINION too. I really need sleep. Good thing the night starts he--oh, just shoot me.

Voxtrot - "Future Pt. 1" (MP3|5.08MB)
Lea sez: It seems appropriate for me to not only post songs by my favourite bands, but to also post songs by those among my favourite bands who I happen to have seen live. And whose keyboardist happened to have given me a hug in the spring of 2007 BUT I DIGRESS. This is a song about growing up, and about hardship, and about being hugged by Voxtrot's keyboardist learning to live after mistakes and molding your future to suit yourself so that you, too, might be hugged by the keyboardist of Voxtrot.

Silversun Pickups - "Rusted Wheel" (MP3|8.29MB)
Chris sez: Call me an indie shoegazing bastard, but I love Silversun Pickups. To my way of thinking, their uniformly excellent debut Carnavas was guilty of having two song-masterpieces on it: the so-fantastic-it's-unfair "Future Foe Scenarios" (which is not included) and the would've-been-the-best-song-on-any-other-album "Rusted Wheel" (which is). I'm not exactly sure what it is about this song that pleases me so much, but it's ... so good. With an ellipsis for dramatic emphasis. The song takes us from summer to winter and beyond, its cyclical beauty something to behold. Also, if they had a keyboardist (do they?), I'm pretty sure I would have met him/her and hugged him/her. So take that, Lea. You are not the only person who has friendly relations with keyboardists. Of course, there's that one other keyboardist, too, but ... best not to talk about that one, lest I feel rejected. So, uh, Silversun Pickups! Pick it up! I'm so glad this is my last song, because these jokes are not getting any better.

Eagles - "Funky New Year" (MP3|5.64MB)
Lea sez: It seems appropriate for me to follow up a pile-up travesty of bad jokes and keyboardist-lovin' envy with a song that - okay, never mind. There's really no excuse for this song. There's really no excuse for me to like this song. And there's absolutely no excuse for two people to subject an entire diner full of patrons (among them, angry men in purple shirts with no sense of humour who shall remain anonymous because I don't know their names) to the song in proper jukebox-style. But there you have it. I mean, if you really think about it, there's really no excuse for us, either. (COME ON, GUYS. FUNKY NEW YEAR. YOU KNOW YOU WANNA.)

Okay. We're done now.

Click here to download the epic conclusion! (MP3|1.21MB)

Okay. NOW we're done.

friday five - 12-12-08 - piano highlights: soft and lovely

First off, it may be absolutely no surprise to you to learn that your weekly Friday Five audio consultant is no more than a dorky twenty-something college student with a full-time day job, an unhealthy love for Spencer Krug, an unhealthy disdain for prime numbers, and glasses. You may have also already assumed that most of my updates are conducted in a uniform I like to call "nighttime casual" - or, more commonly, my pyjamas.

There are two problems with the last statement. The first is the fact that I've publicly admitted my complete lack of decency. The second is that, given my state of dress is nighttime casual, I'm likely not at work (unless I feel the distinct desire to thoroughly irritate my boss). This means that if you are in the United States and work a typical eight-to-five like Yours Truly, you are probably not at work either. Being as I originally intended the Friday Five to be downloaded during the work day to ease the anticipation of leaving for the start of the grind-free weekend, posting songs after work seems to be a little counterproductive to the effort.

So, in an epic move to save face (and keep my job - see, everybody wins), the purpose of this blog is going to take a different direction. I'm still going to post five songs per week on Friday, but it's almost guaranteed that I'm going to post these songs in the evening for you to download when you get home. I'll say that it's intended to help you unwind after your workday, granted you're like me and don't actually have a social life to attend on Friday night.

ON THAT NOTE (and watch as I make this deft and smooth transition to something that's actually relevant to your interests), a musical element that's always helped me to unwind is the soft strains of a good piano. I adore the sound of the piano, especially when it's used to create quiet, flowing melodies. Mostly, though, I just love the instrument to pieces.

That's why this week's theme is one of a series: Piano Highlights. I've decided that I'm going to pepper the blog a bit with instrument highlights, and it seems natural that I should choose one of my favourites to go first. So, without further delay, I present:



Jens Lekman - Sky Phenomenon (MP3|5.58MB): This has to be one of the most wistful songs written by Swedish musical genius and beautifully insane Jens Lekman. (This is, of course, excluding such songs as "F-Word," which can be very wistful, especially if you're forbidden to swear.) The piano in this is simple and cyclic, like twinkling tones of a set of bells. Instant love. And, of course, there's this beautiful simile: it's like someone spilled a beer all over the atmosphere. Come on. If that imagery doesn't get you where it counts, then you're a robot.

Markéta Irglová - The Hill (MP3|4.25MB): I loved this movie so much. I cried so hard because I'm such a girl. Once was actually introduced to me by my co-DJ, Chris, and I will never forgive him for it for the following reasons: a) it made me cry, dammit, that needed to be said again; b) it made me insanely jealous of Markéta Irglová for having such mad piano skillz and the romantic attention of an Irishman, and c) I will probably watch it every month or so until the day I die. Anyway, this song is beautiful and sad - beautifully sad, sadly beautiful, whichever - and is the perfect song to hear while it's raining a little, but not quite pouring.

Phoenix and the Turtle - Pianos (MP3|5.31MB): Another cNet treasure. It starts off more insistent than a lot of soft piano pieces, and a little more awkward, but it resolves into a cacophony of octaves and scales that transform into what I would classify as trance if any of it sounded like electronica. (Which it doesn't.) I understand that Phoenix and the Turtle have a completely different sound now, but it's this song which completely stole my heart. (Never mind that the piano cuts out about halfway and the melody's taken up by other instruments. It's the start that counts.)

Regina Spektor - The Flowers (MP3|3.59MB): First of all, if there's any chick alive and active that can totally and utterly rock the piano, it's Regina Spektor. I was introduced to her music by one of the many messageboards I frequent, and just the way her voice melds with the way she plays - it's perfect. This song is hard to classify; it's urgent and soft at the same time - still, I'd be able to relax to it, so that's why it's here.

White Hinterland - Calliope (MP3|4.42MB): Piano-driven from start to finish, this beautiful track from their 2008 release Phylactery Factory (the subject of which what has a variety of interpretations and uses) is the main reason I love White Hinterland at all. Not that their association with the Dirty Projectors or the fact that my best friend recommended them to me held ANY weight whatsoever. Anyway. Calliope listens to everything. Right?

And t-t-t-that's all, folks! I'll catch you all next week for another Friday Five. Be good, and don't do anything I wouldn't do. (Notice how I'm narrowing your options down OH so much.)


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!

friday five - 05.12.08 - she blinded me with science

This is going to be the shortest and most skeletal FFR post yet, excepting those dark and ominous Fridays wherein no posts were made. Not that I have a deep and crippling guilt about last week or anything. (In my defence, I was actually playing in a rock band - so it was sort of like I was giving music to people, only it was location-specific. Non-Marylanders, I promise never to betray you again.)

Now, however, it seems I've picked up the stomach flu from one of my coworkers. One thing after another, huh? Yeah, well, this blog doesn't write itself, although in the past few weeks it kinda has from my perspective (a very warm and appreciative thank-you goes out to my co-DJ, Chris, who was kind enough to pass up the opportunity to use his temporary blog-dictatorship to mock me relentlessly as I was nearly devoured by a papier-mache tentacled space monster every weekend, and who was also patient and resourceful enough to take on the Friday Five as well as his Sunday Superlative during my respite, and who also remains friends with me despite my tendency to create horrific and entirely preventable run-on sentences).

But I digress, and amazingly so!

Anyway, summaries are going to be short and sweet. Mainly, it's a download-and-enjoy sort of thing. I'm trying to remain horizontal as long and often as humanly possible, and sitting at the computer desk isn't exactly conducive to this effort. But! As always, I shall strive for a better entry next time.



DJ/rupture - Second-Hand Science: We(tm) (MP3|4.21MB): This is another classic example of me absolutely caving to the man, baa-ing on command, and having no regrets whatsoever afterward (unlike the morning after that last shot of tequila). Ganked shamelessly from Uproot - in my opinion, one of 2008's best electronic albums - "Second-Hand Science: We(tm)" is a blissful cacophony of dark, echoing synth and cave droning. Seriously, DJ/rupture and Perfume Tree should get married. No, I don't care if that isn't technically possible.

Les Rsidus Plasmiques - Donne Tes Corpse Les Science (MP3|4.38MB): Some of the most addictive songs I find are free. No, I don't mean free in the "well, it's on the internet, so no one will find out that I didn't pay for it" sort of way. I mean absolutely free, no strings attached, on cNet. This is another awesome song I discovered through one of my random clicking exploits; even though they sing in French, which I can't understand at all, they've had me rockin' for a good couple of years. (Artist information and site not found. If you are this artist, please feel free to submit your information.)

So Many Dynamos - This Can Be Useful in Rocketry (MP3|3.69MB): Not to steal the concept or thunder of this movement's leader, Amber, but I consider myself something of a Dynamovangelist (a self-appointed Bishop, I suppose). I could say so many things about this band, but none of them would adequately deliver a description of their collective Awesome. If you like the Dismemberment Plan, you'll like Dynamos. If you like Chris Walla's production work, you'll like Dynamos. If you have a beating heart, you will at least appreciate the nature of the Dynamos. This is one of their highlight tracks, if I may be so bold.

Modest Mouse - We've Got Everything (MP3|5.44MB): Okay, I admit that I just chose this one because it has "science" in the lyrics. Not necessarily describing a particular science, but comparing everything to a science, insomuch as everything can be quantified and utilised in a form not unlike actual science. If you read the previous statement, I am so sorry. Delirium loves company. Especially when Modest Mouse is involved. And yes, I saw that guitar for sale. Thanks for freakin' asking.

Thomas Dolby - She Blinded Me With Science (live) (MP3|6.24MB): Of course, I had to throw this Thomas Dolby classic in here. The post would be empty without it. God, I love the 80s. (NOTE: I didn't go the Oingo Boingo route! You thought I would, but I didn't! Ha! I sure showed you!)

Anyway, back to bed for me. Why is Pepto-Bismol pink? Universe, you are so weird.


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!

the sunday superlative - 11/30/08

This Week: Old School Prog-Rock



We all need to start somewhere. For me, it all began with prog-rock. 7th grade. 2002. That was the moment when I finally stepped back and started exploring stuff that interested me. Yes. I was the kid who, at that tender young age, was rockin' to GENESIS and ELP and VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR and all those hip dudes. I was a tremendous dork.

But prog-rock is an incredibly dorky genre. In fact, if we're talking superlatives (and clearly we are), it is likely the dorkiest genre. That's because the people who were in prog bands were dorks. They were the kids who always got an A+ for being different, going above and beyond, and doing something creative; the music they all ultimately went on to make carries the exact same qualities. Why settle for a four-minute pop song when you can write an eight-minute one with several movements and highly literary lyrics? Or why not just fill up an entire vinyl side with one song! Or, in Jethro Tull's case, actually fill up both sides of a vinyl with one song! HELLZ. YEAH.

So it's a dorky genre. But don't be so quick to judge, all you cool indie hipster kids. Hold your horses. With each passing month, it becomes more and more clear just how influential these old-school proggers were on the bands we know and love today. In fact, it seems like prog has made somewhat of a full-fledged comeback as of late. Predictably, nothing makes me happier.

So let's check out a few choice old-school prog-rock cuts. This is the stuff entire musical foundations are built on. And I would know.

Genesis - "Dancing With the Moonlit Knight" (mp3|5.55MB)
I know. A shocker, right? Guess what: before Genesis was a big 80s pop band led by Phil Collins, they were a smaller 70s prog-rock band led by one of my musical heroes, Mr. Peter Gabriel. Fewer people know this than should (and the distinction always calls to mind that unforgettable quote from Bret Easton Ellis' American Psycho), but it's true. And while 80s Genesis is somewhat of a guilty pleasure, there's no guilt in this earlier stuff. It's damn good, and it's really not much of a stretch to say that -- from roughly 1971 to 1974 -- Genesis was the best prog-rock band on the planet. "Dancing With the Moonlit Knight" may be the single best song the band ever put to tape. At the very least, it's always been one of my huge favorites. It's deliriously complex, every member gets a little chance to shine, and somehow it all fits together beautifully. I love that ethereal "aaaah!" that comes in around 3:45. Love it.
(from the 1973 album Selling England by the Pound)

King Crimson - "Epitaph" (mp3|8.10MB)
More or less, this is where it all started. Of course there were disparate catalysts leading up to this (The Who Sell Out, Days of Future Passed, Sgt. Pepper even), but the true birth of prog-rock is generally pinpointed with the release of King Crimson's In the Court of the Crimson King. Iconic cover art notwithstanding, I can see why it left an impression. Forty years later, it's still as thrilling and as challenging as anything on record store shelves. There's always been debate over which of the five songs is the best, but I've always been partial to the yearning, minor-key "Epitaph," which may well have been the song that got me into this kind of music. The chronology is a bit fuzzy at this point, but I remember in 7th grade I heard my dad listening to this album; this song just blew me away. I promptly stole the album from him and fell in love with the whole thing on my own terms. The rest is history.
(from the 1969 album In the Court of the Crimson King)

Yes - "Siberian Khatru" (mp3|12.38MB)
I was never the biggest Yes fan. When a band is viewed as indulgent and pretentious even within the context of the most indulgent and pretentious rock genre of all-time, you know there's issues. But nonetheless, their influence is undeniable, and -- like it or not -- their '72 album Close to the Edge is something of a masterpiece. "Siberian Khatru" is both the highlight of that particular record (its shortest song, lol), and for my money the best-ever Yes track. I didn't know such a thing as "psychedelic funk" existed in 1972 (maybe they created it, who knows), but for lack of a better term, that's what this is. But it's thrilling stuff. Indulgent or no, these guys always had a keen ear for melody, and they latch onto several here that they manage to seamlessly weave in and out of each other for nine minutes without ever having it get the least bit boring. And it's fun. Prog-rock can be fun, kids. Yes! Yes!
(from the 1972 album Close to the Edge)

And if that's just not enough prog for you, I highly recommend trying the full albums for each. They're all incredibly rewarding listens.

See you all next week for more Sunday Superlativeness! Adios.