Deciduous Ears

Oh, I'm So Anti Anti

posted April 2, 2007, 9:17 pm | Log In To Post Comments | view comments (3)
Tags: Snowden, 120 Days, The Decemberists, Dirty On Purpose, Zwan, Elan Vital, Tangerine, Djali Zwan True Poets of Zwan, Hallelujah Sirens, The Perfectionist Blacklist

What I’m Listening to Lately:

Snowden—Anti-Anti: I heard Snowden perform live on WOXY.com during SXSW and was intrigued. They have a borderline electronic sound and, are just damn catchy at times. I ventured an email and soon enough the album arrived in my mailbox. “Between the Rent and Me,” “Anti-Anti,” and “Innocent Heathen” are some top tracks to check out.

120 Days—120 Days: Again, a WOXY.com discovery. In the same vein as Snowden (I often get them confused while listening to one or the other) they are just-about electronic, while still keeping feet firm in indie-rock territory…if possible. I like 120 Days much more than Snowden, their melodies and sonic landscape are much richer, and the vocals are much easier on the ear. “Lazy Eyes” and “Get Away” are good places to start.

The Decemberists—Picaresque: An older album I suppose, but I just picked it up after my love-affair with The Crane Wife. Wow. If you thought The Crane Wife was good, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet. Picaresque is one wonderfully odd story after the next, all with a sound that just feels more Decemberists-like than their latest release. That’s all just speculation however; I’m still a new fan finding my feet. “Eli, The Barrow Boy” is creepy fun. 

 

Random Media Player Game: 

Yeah, I know this has been popping around forever in various MySpace-esque forms, but I thought I’d just go through 5 songs on my computer’s media player, and explain why each one is good or bad. Sort of a random potluck of my music. I invite you to do the same, especially if you are lost for things to write about in your next blog!

1.       “Oct. 23” by Withdrawal, from The Perfectionist Blacklist: One of the first albums I got to review, Withdrawal is oddly linked to the Sandman comic series by Neil Gaiman in my mind—most likely because I was obsessively reading them at the time. But also because both are dark, dismal, and mystically creative. Withdrawal is a very weird band, just listen to “I, Claudius” and try to argue. But man is there some juicy stuff in there. “Oct. 23” is one of those juicy bits. Slower and more melancholy than the rest of the album, “Oct. 23” is less creepy/weird and more reflective/subdued. Certainly not the strongest track off the album, but certainly not a throwaway track either.

2.       “No Radio” by Dirty on Purpose, from Hallelujah Sirens: The first single off the New Yorkers debut album, “No Radio” is the peppiest track off the album and one of my least favorites. Dirty On Purpose—who effortlessly combine shoegazey stylings with ear-friendly summer-indie—are much better in “Your Summer Dress,” “Lake Effect,” or even “Light Pollution.” Still, “No Radio” has a kickin’ guitar solo and is quite bouncy. Something about it just gives me a headache though…much like owning a radio.

3.       “Rivers We Can’t Cross” by Zwan from the bootleg compilation Djali Zwan True Poets of Zwan: Besides the crappy quality of these recordings, Djali Zwan was a great find (I wish I could remember where I found it!) and sheds a lot of light on what most people consider Corgan’s piddly little attempt at stardom after ditching The Smashing Pumpkins. This band could have been bigger than the Pumpkins. Djali Zwan trounces Mary Star of the Sea by at least 12 songs, and has a greater range of diversity than the official release. “Rivers We Can’t Cross” is more traditional Zwan, and its summery qualities could have fit wonderfully amongst “Lyric” and “Endless Summer,” and does little else than show that Zwan indeed had dozens upon dozens of songs written before their destruction. I still don’t know why they broke up, and I much prefer a new Pumpkins, but damn: Zwan deserves a bit more credit.

4.       “Chatterbox” by David Mead from Tangerine: I like David Mead. I don’t love him, and I don’t listen to him much. But I like him. “Chatterbox” is probably one of my favorites off his Tangerine album. Its gloriously catchy, in that it reminds you of at least 20 other songs you’ve heard but can’t quite remember, and is still quite unique. Still, Mead never really connected with me. The song goes a bit longer than I would like (the odd sax solo isn’t to my taste), but still: nice job Dave!

5.       “Domino” by Pretty Girls Make Graves from Elan Vital: The only Pretty Girl Make Graves album I own, “Domino” is also probably my favorite track from this odd band. I still don’t remember just how I cam across them, or what drew me to them, or why I bought Elan Vital, but I still love breaking out the crazy drug-riddled dreamscapes now and again. “Domino” is the catchiest off the release, and most accessible in my opinion. Much like Sonic Youth, “Domino” combines Kim Gordon-like female vocals (which get surprisingly strong and vicious at times) with sidewinder guitar riffs and experimental tendencies. Yummy.

Your turn!

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