While following the Decemberists' broken down bus drama via twitter, and realizing they were stuck in Meloy's home state of Montana, it made me reflect back to an earlier time, a time before the Decemberists. Meloy's college band was named Tarkio, after the city in which they resided. Tarkio actually penned some pretty listenable tunes given their inexperience, and they released Omnibus through Kill Rock Stars in 2006, making some of those old tunes available. Although I'll admit that listening through the entire album can be tedious, it definitely has its moments, and two of my favorites are [...]
What brings you comfort? Say you were feeling really down and lonely, felt like nobody really gave a shit about you, what would make you feel better? I used to like to talk to my mom. Even if she started in ragging and complaining about something, she always made me feel better just by being there. Of course, I haven't been able to do that for a long time. Singing along to music helps most times, although it can also serve to deepen the pain, [...]
Ahh, Colin Meloy. Anyone who reads this blog regularly will know that I harbour a particular fondness for The Decemberists . I've seen them live on a number of occasions and enjoy the theatricality of their performances and the sheer amount of activity on stage and the mad swapping of instruments. As Colin Meloy has never brought his solo show (and hence, the chance to buy his solo tour-only EP's - grr!) to the UK, scratchy bootlegs aside, we'd never had the opportunity to assess what one of his [...]
I want to blog about a few of these (aka warn you about some of them), but I have a friend visiting from out of town and I don't have the time. Sorry, yo. Bob Nanna "Emperor's New Clothes" (Sinead O'Connor cover) Beat Crusaders "New Song" (Howard Jones cover) Gazzara "Turn it on Again" (Genesis cover) Graveworm "Holding [...]
Happy Valentine's Day! In the words of the paramour Lorelai Gilmour... "I need you to know you're the man I want to want." "Chelsea Hotel" - Rufus Wainwright "Roselin" - Maia Hirasawa (all time classic) "The Fighter" - Ferraby Lionheart "Weight of the World" - Tarkio "Hotel Song" - Regina Spektor
From Stanley Elkin's novella, "The Making of Ashenden," found in his collection Searches and Seizures . The story so far is that Brewster Ashenden is a legendary ladies man. He's finally found the woman of his dreams, and he journeys out to her estate, where her massive grounds include a pseudo-zoo on the property. At night Ashenden ventures outside and runs into a female bear in heat. This excerpt follows: All the time he was thinking this he and the bear continued [...]
Capitol just posted onto YouTube this short video of The Decemberists during the recording sessions of The Crane Wife . Sounds like they're working on some extended intro of "Summersong" that never made the cut. Check it out: We've also got a cool giveaway for you for one copy of The Decemberists' most recent album The Crane Wife on 12" vinyl . To enter, just leave your name [...]
T onight marks the first evening of Hanukkah . Growing up in the land of the Protestants, my interactions with people who are Jewish have sadly been relatively limited. It wasn't really until I became a teacher and worked with several Jewish students and families that I began to really get some grasp on the meaning of the miracle of light that is celebrated during these evenings. Best wishes and Happy Hanukkah! mp3 shoebox [...]
Sufjan Stevens, photo courtesy of madelien As 2006 comes to a close, I just realized that when January rolls around I will be celebrating 14 years of Saturday afternoons on KEXP and also celebrating hitting that milestone of 40. KEXP has taken me from my mid-twenties - my first show was the day before my 26th birthday, all the way through my thirties ( Troy , being 30 really doesn't suck THAT much), and now into the next decade. I can't believe it's already that time of the year to put [...]
It was appropriate to see the Decemberists in cartoon form as they accompanied the packaging of their latest escape to the land of the lost. Lost what? Some seem to think that The Crane Wife is the best thing they have ever done while others don’t even want to talk about the malaise that this album brings about compared to their prior workings. Is this their “cartoon graveyard,†the colorful
With the Crane Wife approaching us very quickly, I think it is important to look back and see what they have done before this. I'm going to choose one of my favorite songs from each album or EP. I'm also including a track from Tarkio, which is Colin Meloy's band before he was in the Decemberists. I hope you all go out and buy the Crane Wife and enjoy it. If you like any of the other songs, buy the album! You'll probably like it, too. Tarkio - [...]
I thought I would stick a few tracks in to begin the blog. It's never easy knowing where to start but here is as good a place as any: Tarkio - Tristan and Iseult Bright Eyes - First Day of My Life (Live) A king at night - Blinding Light
I feel like I really ought to say something profound and interesting. But, having gorged on an entire bag of TJ's chocolate pretzels, my brain can only say, "BZZZZZZZZ." So! I was at the gym the other day, and listening to the Mountain Goats while watching an insanely thin girl doing her workout. The super duper thing about gyms in L.A. is that there is a very high percentage of Beautiful People, doing their crunches and whatnot while you sweat through your workout, grind your teeth, and hate them. Therefore, I present our [...]
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Two lips, two lungs and one tongue
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indiechristoph
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