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.