I have much more to say about Broadcast but here’s “Tears in the Typing Pool” because I think it’s pretty amazing. There’s such a sadness to the way Trish Keenan’s voice sounds on this song and I can’t think of any other Broadcast song that sounds like this one. I read a review that mentioned how Tender Buttons was far more stripped-down than before and “Tears in the Typing Pool” is a fitting example of that transition. I can’t get over how gorgeous her voice is and how she sings, ‘roo-oo-oom,’ and especially this line:
“The letters are sighing, the ink is still drying I told you the truth and now I sigh too.”
I read somewhere what Keenan saidthis song means but it’s open-ended on so many levels. I have my own interpretation but I just wanted to post it because it sounds so good, so late at night; its emptiness is almost that much more mesmerizing. – Bryan
I love that cover and how its simplicity stands out at you. I love how the trees probably took the most time but the street's buildings and vehicles stand out probably the most. If you look closely at the right side, there is a red tint in one of the windows, the only shade not in grayscale. And well, the lettering too, that’s great. It’s always the simple things in life that matter the most, Bibio’s Ambivalence Avenue has a way of proving just how simple beauty can be so well done. I love the bigness of “Sugarette” and how it just explodes off the black and white canvas that Bibio has presented. On the previous song, “Haikuesque (When She Laughs),” he tenders towards a soft guitar and atmospheric blends to make up a misty demeanor but on “Sugarette,” through its own hazy introduction, the booming bass is what instantly stands out to you. Perhaps this is where Ambivalence Avenue shines over Bibio’s other albums – there’s a larger-than-life sound to his music this time around and the imagery was astounding – but whatever it is, “Sugarette” is definitely one of the highlights.
Here is the remix version of “Sugarette” by Wax Stag, found on The Apple and the Tooth. It’s a lot more dance-heavy but it manipulates the melody in such a way that it comes off as fresh and inviting, instead of over-polished. The effects are far more entrancing and well, it’s a great song on its own.
So after “Sugarette” neatly caps off the first part of the album, “Lovers’ Carvings” comes dashing in with a gentle guitar that simply swoons around a sunny, warm melody. The first half of the song follows this subtle and serene flow before Bibio brings in the drums and vocals on the back-end. The song’s so simply done that it’s downright stunning because of it and the words showcase the feeling of carving your initials with a lover and even as they fade away over time, “the meaning will never disappear.” But even at that, there’s so much to get lost away in when it’s this lush. – Bryan
Have you ever met someone, started talking with them, and in short, things seemed to have just, “Clicked”. That the resulting conversation from said meeting, which may or may not have included a number of adult drinks has come to a conclusion that the night for the two of you due to the awesomeness of your meeting shall not end at the close of whatever establishment you may have met at. Maybe this person became your beloved spouse... probably not. Maybe your “significant other” or whatever the hell the kids are calling it these days?? Maybe, but still probably not. One night stand?? Still, it’s hard to say... Actually, there’s a pretty good chance you didn’t even get a shot at getting into this persons’ chones! But that’s neither here nor there. What is here though, is an amazing ode to the very conversation that occurs during such chance meeting. The sheer rush of meeting someone you’re really really fucking into. Hoping the whole time your drunk ass isn’t just imagining that they digg you too, and then realizing that they actually do find you interesting and for someone reason has listened to you blabber about god knows what for who knows how long. The rush of realizing that the both of you are in no hurry to part ways. Well this is how Peter Bjorn and John apparently imagined the conversation. It goes a little like this... -nick Peter bjorn and john -young folks by amnyam
Boy: If i told you things i did before told you how i used to be would you go along with someone like me if you knew my story word for word had all of my history would you go along with someone like me
Girl: i did before and had my share it didn't lead nowhere i would go along with someone like you it doesn't matter what you did who you were hanging with we could stick around and see this night through
Both: and we don't care about the young folks talkin' 'bout the young style and we don't care about the old folks talkin' 'bout the old style too and we don't care about their own faults talkin' 'bout our own style all we care 'bout is talking talking only me and you
Girl: usually when things has gone this far people tend to disappear no one will surprise me unless you do
Boy: i can tell there's something goin' on hours seems to disappear everyone is leaving i'm still with you
Both: it doesn't matter what we do where we are going too we can stick around and see this night through
and we don't care about the young folks talkin' 'bout the young style and we don't care about the old folks talkin' 'bout the old style too and we don't care about their own faults talkin' 'bout our own style all we care 'bout is talking talking only me and you
I finally got out of my Spencer Krug kick with some snow and a day off from work. It’s a little strange really in that I’m at home and not really sure of what to do with myself. But so I’ve gotten tired of listening to music on the computer speakers because it sounds so bad and I decided to grab something on vinyl and just blast it off the stereo speakers. I remember listening to Antics in 2004 and loving its dark undertones and currents, and how everything swirled around their lead singer’s spectacular voice. I remember reading how this was ‘light Interpol’ as compared to the supposed ‘dark Interpol’ on Turn On the Bright Lights and well, I was still confused. Interpol’s always had a dark sound – and it’s a genuine darkness too, unlike what all the haters say – but on a few songs on Antics, I guess, they shine some light on the ominous snow.
One of the instantly recognizable songs is “Slow Hands” and its hugely dance-able rhythms and patterns. Not to mention that the words are some of the easiest to sing along to; but what really makes it stand out is how well everything seems to fit together. It’s kind of about being awe-struck with someone and realizing that there is so much going on around you that you’re missing out on. He sings “And I might stop and look upon your face…disappear in the sweet, sweet gaze” in where he simply gets lost by her “charms & grace.” The guitar is the stunning melody that always drives through and I especially love the way the instruments come in and out of focus before exploding on the choruses. All of it’s so well done, I wish I knew how to play guitar so I could sing “You make me want to pick up a guitar and celebrate the myriad ways that I love you” and actually mean it. Ha, until then.
For the longest time, I always thought of Interpol lyrics as some of the best around. It wasn’t until most recently that I found out they aren’t really that good? I’m not sure but I love the honesty and sincerity in something like “C’mere.” I remember being deeply in love listening to this song and lines like “Oh, how I love you, and in the evening, when we are sleeping” are easily affecting because of how they pinpoint just how beautiful normal life can be. The ‘oh how I love you’ line is so endearing, in how you get lost in her gaze (like mentioned before) and you just need to tell her how much you care for her. I still love the song as much as I ever did before – I’m glad it didn’t lose that luster and glean – but I can appreciate it for its overly lovely presentation now more so ,too. It’s a nice soundtrack to a snow day in. – Bryan
Speaking of Spencer Krug, Sunset Rubdown is his main gig – his main band in which he has now released three stellar albums with. This album, Dragonslayer, is easily still my most favorite album of all of 2009: it has heart, it has poignant stories, it has tremendous dynamics and diversity and it definitely has some of the most uplifting moments I could remember on any album from that year. I remember buying this and I think it’s the only vinyl I own that is autographed by all the band members; they were amazing to see live and even that experience still seems surreal. I tend to canonize things too much but in respect to what else came out, this is probably still the best album Krug has been involved in, in my opinion of course. And although this is the only song I will mention here, because it’s just so long and because I just found this amazing video for it, the entire album feels like one huge, gripping ride.
The last song, “Dragon’s Lair,” is not only the perfect kind of closure you would want – epic, plenty of different moods and a spectacular theme – but it’s this ten-minute beast of a song that is a thrilling ride all on its own. The story circles a dragon slayer who is realizing that at this point of his life, “it’s time for a bigger kind of kill.” He bids goodbye to his lover but in the most confident of ways, “I am sharpening my sword…so you can take me to the dragon’s lair, you can take me to Rapunzel’s windowsill.” And in the end, it’s still a love story on its own as he sings, “I see your face…when I close my eyes.” – Bryan
I’ve been going back and listening to a lot of albums I haven’t heard in a very long time. Lately, I’ve been going to the year 2005 on my computer and playing stuff from that year because 1) it was a monster year for music and 2) it was a year that WAS muffled and stuffy with nostalgia for me but now, I feel entirely invigorated by it. I remember hearing this kind of stuff and being bummed about the past and now I hear it and it simply galvanizes me as I strongly look towards the future. I mentioned Illinois earlier – which is also from ’05 – and now here is what many consider the best album of that year (not me but I still love it) Apologies for the Queen Mary.
For starters, the first song, “You Are a Runner and I Am My Father's Son” is such a great way to start any album: its stomping drums are a singular call to arms, Spencer Krug’s voice is the flat-out BOMB and that stampeding piano has left me exhilarated each and every time I hear it. “I was a hero early in the morning, I aint no hero in the night” is one of the best lines on the song and it also showcased just what Isaac Brock was capable of in terms of production. The sounds were open here, the clarity was surrounding the band’s impressive musicianship and this is a downright beast of a song.
I’m inclined to mention “Modern World” here because the transition from the aforementioned into it is one of the best on the album. It’s especially skillful in the fact that it goes from a wild, romping Krug song into this howling, smooth but tenacious Dan Boeckner song. I’ve always loved the way each musician can bring so much to the table and how they’re so different from each other and yet, they go hand-in-hand. The chemistry is undeniable and still, you can distinctly always tell who wrote what song. Looks like this is the official video to the song which I had never seen before until now:
And of course, I couldn’t mention this album without including “I’ll Believe in Anything” (power of 3) because it’s very simply one of the best songs I’ve ever heard. Sure it’s cliché but the way everything comes together around another stomping drum and this time, a stampeding guitar, and of course, Krug’s maniacal, awesome voice is amazing. At first he’s singing and asking for her to trust him “And I could take another hit for you, and I could take away your trips from you, and I could take away the salt from your eyes” and essentially saying that if he’s gonna believe in anything, she has to trust him too. It’s an entirely romantic song and well, I’m a foolish romantic so it definitely hits home here too. I love it when he sings, “So give me your eyes, I need sunshine” because everything looks beautiful with her eyes; what a wonderful line. – Bryan
This has to be one of my sweetest hitting songs of all time. It hits the spot in every possible way for me: it’s catchy, it’s sing-able, it’s got a tremendous guitar melody and ensuing solo and it’s downright poignant. I love how it’s basically about making it with someone, in the sense that you know and feel that you want them and that there are no holds barred. That sort of confidence is fantastic when the feeling is mutual and this kind of song is great for all those kinds of moments. The line that’s especially sweet to me might be “If I told you that I knew about the sun and the moon, I’d be untrue. The only thing I know for sure is what I wanna do, anytime, anywhere.” I’ve played this song so many times on “Guitar Hero” and it’s the centerpiece moment of their album, Era Vulgaris. I feel like this is just one terribly long bad post, sorry for the writing but the song is truly awesome. – Bryan
I have much more to say about Broadcast but here’s “Tears in the Typing Pool” because I think it’s pretty amazing. There’s such a sadness to the way Trish Keenan’s voice sounds on this song and I can’t think of any other Broadcast song that sounds like this one. I read a review that mentioned how Tender Buttons was far more stripped-down than before and “Tears in the Typing Pool” is a fitting example of that transition. I can’t get over how gorgeous her voice is and how she sings, ‘roo-oo-oom,’ and especially this line:
