So what will we call the type of music that comes after this? I mean, something will be inspired by this sound. Just cracks me up.
I came across this band thanks to nytimes.com podcast, Music Popcast. I usually end up fast forwarding through 90% of this broadcast but sometimes the 10% is worth it.
London based band, Micachu & The Shapes, released their debut CD, Jewellery, in early ’09 to mostly rave reviews.
It’s considered to be pop music and I guess that’s true but I would put it more in the experimental genre. I guess it’s a mix of the two.
In the podcast they refer to it as a “garbage” sound and I have to agree. There are bits and pieces of different sounds that you could visualize being tossed aside and it’s like this band has picked them up and put them together in a new way that makes them no longer trash.
I just came to the conclusion that the Finn Riggins have some sort of cosmic affect on my buddy Jim. See, it was March of last year that Jim first told me about this band because he had recently seen them live. One week later, Jim moved from Idaho back down to the Bay Area. Fast forward to today and my friend is moving to Chicago tomorrow and guess what he sent me just yesterday. This little gem:
Based on this information, I’ve decided that I have to promote the HELL out of this band over the next year. This way I guarantee that they will be on tour and hopefully will be playing somewhere in Chicago. I’ll send Jim a ticket to the show and then badda-bing!! Jim will be moving back. In case you can’t tell, I’m bummed my friend is moving away. So part (A) of my plan:
The Finn Riggins are from Idaho. Boise specifically. Hence the title…(I know, I’ll keep my day job) Anyways, they are a three piece boy-girl-boy band. Vs Wilderness was their last release back in September of last year and it’s been receiving great reviews.
There’s a lot to like about this record but I’ll just focus in on the lyrics. It’s a great blending of David Byrne, Bruce Springteen, and John Mellencamp. Reminders of social responsibility, the spirit of human beings, and the hard decisions we all have to make. Give it a listen and let me know what you think.
This song has been orbiting around my atmosphere for awhile now. I recall Liz posting it and telling me how obsessed she was with it. For her it was inspirational and suddenly she wanted to make a movie or create something. Then I saw them on Letterman and enjoyed the energy they brought to the live performance. They looked a bit out of place on Letterman, but obviously the exposure was good for them.
A month or two later I got a call from Amy asking if I could tell her the name of this song she heard on a commercial. She heard the opening whistle and just fell in love with it immediately. Unfortunately, it was too distorted coming out of the TV into the cell phone so I was unable to identify it, but she was on a mission. I believe she had it posted on Facebook within 20 minutes proclaiming her new found love. And finally, one evening about a month ago I was getting off BART and walking home around 11:00 at night and I heard a girl down the street yelling the lyrics, “ALABAMA, ARKANSAS, I do love my ma and pa!!” I really do like the song but after you listen to the lyrics you’ll understand why it’s so popular amongst the ladies.
The lead singer, Alex Ebert, started creating the character of Edward Sharpe while he was dealing with a particularly difficult period in his life. Now with the success of the band, he is also working on a 12 part musical where Edward Sharpe is the main character. You can watch the first two parts over on the bands MySpace page. It’s a bit “artistic” for my tastes, but I love creative people and really appreciate that he’s putting something out there.
I’ve discovered that the good thing about taking a year off from doing my blog is that I have an entire year of past music to pick from. On top of that, I’m starting up again right when everyone is releasing their “Best of” lists. Makes it almost too easy. But to prove I’m not just slacking off over here I’m going to mention a band that doesn’t even have a debut CD…yet.
This also gives me an opportunity to mention All Songs Considered. You might have seen that blog listed over there on the right-hand side –>.
I have to impress upon you that if you want to know about music, and you have very little time, just listen to that podcast once a week. It truly is the BEST podcast on music around. I donate to NPR strictly because of that show.
Now, that being said, they just introduced me to the Freelance Whales out of Queens, New York. I’m so used to seeing Brooklyn that I was a little surprised. Their debut CD, Weathervane, will be coming out March 16th and you can preorder it from their website.
The song I heard on All Songs Considered is called Generator^Second Floor:
It caught my ear for the same reasons a lot of songs catch my ear. Simple sound, harmonies, and great use of the banjo AND xylophone. But then I started to listen to the lyrics and guess what it’s about…death. I figured it was a sign I’m supposed to post about this song. It’s actually a bit of a “happy” look at death if there is such a thing: “You should tell your gathering friends/Please not to purse their faces grim/On such a lovely Sunday.” With the final sentiment being “life is long enough.” I look forward to the day I can say the same thing.
Another line from 500 Days of Summer which made me think of Ramona Falls.
I was fortunate enough to see Ramona Falls perform their second show ever at Café Du Nord. At the time that their debut CD came out I was about as deep in depression as I could get. And in the famous theme of misery loving company, I listened to it over and over. It’s a pretty dark CD over all but really good.
A friend told me that she thought of me when she heard this song…and I really couldn’t argue with her. It definitely rang true for me. I’m still dealing with depression and the number one thing that has helped me is hearing from other people. Somehow that reminder that we are all dealing with the human condition helps. So to add to the conscious collective…
The one thing that keeps happening for me that I struggle with is this suicidal feeling. Even though I feel relatively better (than I did six months ago) I still get that feeling. I’m trying my best to accept that it’s just the depression and not “me”…or that it’s not necessarily a weighed and perfectly thought out idea.
At this point, I’m pretty sure I have no interest in leaving this mortal coil and it’s almost become a fascination. Like…what would it feel like to have a bullet break skin and bone. I know that sounds a bit morbid, but just as an experience I’m curious. I think that if I could be assured a full 100% recovery with no lasting problems, I would definitely want to experience it. And if I’m completely honest with myself I also look forward to the subsequent sympathy and attention of the people I love…but I can share my abandonment issues another time.
For now, I just need to think of these feelings like sinus pressure from a cold. It’s not me but just a symptom of something I’m dealing with. So please don’t forward my mail just yet. Oh, and my apologies to Brent Knopf (the guy who created Ramona Falls) but I can’t listen to that CD anymore. It’s just a bit too dark, but I will definitely come back to it at a later date. He seems like such a sweet guy too:
I don’t actually believe that but it’s the line that caught my ear while watching 500 Days of Summer. Things are going to be a bit sporadic around here with little rhyme or reason other than what I feel like posting. Can you hear the apology in my voice? I’ll take this blog back eventually. I know I’m late in watching this movie, or loving this song, but here it is anyways:
Okay party people, I’m going to try ye olde “hey it’s a new year and I should do something inspiring for myself” trick. The format of my posting is going to change a bit. I had a conversation with my dear friend that also just happens to be a blogger and we discussed how this whole blogging thing can start to become a chore if you let it. She reminded me that the blog is mine to do with what I want and I don’t really have to answer to anyone. So I might lose some readers but I think not posting anything for nearly a year probably lost more…so here we go. First inspiration, one picture a day. And since I’m already one day behind, here are two:
Happy New Year to everyone and I’m telling you right now, it was predicted here first (probably not, but I’m going to claim it anyways) 2010 is THEE year. Whatever it is for you, this is it. I swear. And I’ll be happy to argue it with you on December 31st because I know I’m right. I have to give credit one more time to Liz for this gem that I can’t get enough of. Miike Snow – Miike Snow – 01 – Animal
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