In Which Our Intrepid Heroine Makes Pronouncements About The Music She's Been Listening To

[beautifulduckweed]

I've been listening to a lot of new-to-me bands in the past month or two, and in my ongoing effort to Defeat the Doldrums, here are snarky vignettes about some of the more notable ones, since writing snarky vignettes usually cheers me up:

The Decemberists: I've listened to everything they've released except for The Tain (which I have in the car right now). Those of you who read this journal regularly have probably figured out I love them. No, seriously. I harbor a great and freakish love for this band. I can acknowledge that Colin Meloy's voice is kind of whiny and annoying, but you know what? I think it's perfect for the music. Love them. LOVE. THEM. Lookit, in one song, they use "truncated," "fallow," "elan," "oligarchs" and "dolor"--in relation to motherfucking Los Angeles. How can I not love them?

Also, the complicated rhyme scheme of "The Infanta" makes my heart bump around with happiness. Grade: A

Mates of State: I've only listened to Bring it Back, their sophomore effort. It's good, but not earth-shattering. I really, really enjoy a couple of their songs, like "Think Long," but the others range from mostly kinda OK to just a bit better than average. They do have a really cute schtick going for them: see, they're a husband and wife team who quit their day jobs to pursue their music-making dream, and their songs reflect a sort of wacky, cock-eyed optimism and happiness that occasionally make my dead black heart glow just a bit from the fuzzy, bouncy warmth. But that doesn't cancel out the fact that they can't really sing, and the songs are sometimes just a bit annoying. Grade: B-

Snow Patrol: They sound like they stepped straight outta 1997--in terms of sound, they remind me of those mediocre 90s alterna-bands who had a couple of catchy songs and then disappeared from the scene, e.g., Verve Pipe, Tonic, Third Eye Blind. Snow Patrol ain't bad, but when I listen to them, I can't help but think they would've resonated a lot more if I'd listened to them about 10 years ago. However, they reference Sufjan Stevens in one of their songs, so at least they have good taste in music, even if their own is kind of kinda meh. Grade: C

And speaking of which, Sufjan Stevens: I've only listened to Illinoise, and I like it. It's a little bit too pretty and smooth and squishy in parts for me to like with unqualified fervor (he reminds me uncomfortably of all I dislike about Death Cab for Cutie in those moments), but all in all, solid songwriting + interesting instrumentation = win. In terms of sound, this is what Iron & Wine would sound like if he grew some balls and shelled out for an inhaler (I mean, seriously, I love his songwriting, but that dude constantly sounds like he's about to expire from lack of breath). Sufjan Stevens: Like Iron & Wine, only with 100% More Balls and Lung Capacity! Hmm, has a certain ring to it. Sufjan, baby, you can use that for free. My gift to you. Grade: B+

Bonus: Dude is HOT! Whoa. Note to self: check him out in concert, if only for eye candy purposes.

Note to theotherjay: He's from Detroit. Michigan REPREZENT! (Which isn't remarkable, really, because so are loads of other musicians and bands--two right off the top of my head are Electric Six and The White Stripes.)

And speaking of comely singer-songwriters, this brings me to Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter: Nothing to do with the quality of the songs, but she's purty and her voice is gorgeous and smoky and it will break your heart but you won't care because it's a pleasant sort of death to be killed by such a beautiful velvety instrument.

Right, enough hyperbole. I've only listened to their debut album, Reckless Burning, and it's good. The band reminds me of how country used to be before Nashville shit all over it. A bit too slow and sad for my tastes right now, so I honestly shouldn't even give it a grade, but you know what? Fuck that, I live on the edge, the EDGE, I tell you. B+

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah: Oh. Mah. Gah. The guy's voice is beyond whiny. He wails, and wails, and wails, and sounds like some unholy combination of that guy from The Walkmen only even whinier, and he has all the enunciation skills of Ozzy Osborne after washing down one too many Vicodin with red wine, and as I listen to him, I think "Wow, if I weren't so dedicated to non-violence, I would totally punch this guy in the crotch." But you know what? The songs are so good that I can't stop listening to the album. I'm developing an unhealthy love-hate relationship with this band. Some of the riffs make me want to bounce with happiness, they're so good, and then the next moment, I'm dreaming of crotch-punching the lead singer. Rar. Grade: B+

(Music question for borktron: Hey, you're kind of an ELO afficionado, right? I really, really adore "Mr. Blue Sky" in all its cheesy overblown pop glory, and I remember you playing "Evil Woman" for me and me liking it a lot, too. Can you recommend an album of theirs to me, or should I just put a buncha stuff on hold at the library?)

(Oh, also: bank card STILL hasn't arrived yet. Those bitches need to get their act together, man.)

Coming up as soon as I'm done downloading and listening 'em: And You Will Knows Us by the Trail of Dead, and Bright Eyes (whose lead singer has been described as a "vagina," so now I'm REALLY looking forward to checking 'em out).

Comments

[quietselkie.livejournal.com]

I have Snow Patrol's "Final Straw" and don't mind it too terribly.

But hey, vocabulary in music! Yay! That's a serious string of $3 words though. Can you name the only pop song/group to use the word "placenta" in a top-40 hit?

I fangirl "Jump" (formerly known as "Jump, Little Children") hugely. Especially the sophomore release "Vertigo."

[misshepeshu.livejournal.com]

Can you name the only pop song/group to use the word "placenta" in a top-40 hit?

That'd be "Lightning Crashes" by Live, right? They released a new album recently, no? I saw their picture on my iTunes recently, and I was surprised.

I've listened to a few songs by Jump, and they intrigue me. I'll have to check some of their CDs out from the library.

[quietselkie.livejournal.com]

10 points! And a bonus for you: another cute owl picture.
http://imreallysad.com/51

[jennekirby.livejournal.com]

I'm right with you on Snow Patrol's sound--except that I wish it could be 1997-1998 forever in terms of pop music. :)

[misshepeshu.livejournal.com]

In that case, have you tried OK Go? If you like Snow Patrol and miss the late 90s sound, they're another good example of it. I like them a bit better than Snow Patrol, actually. I'd give them a B, B-.

The best albums of 97-98 (or at least the ones that had the greatest longevity with me) didn't really have that alterna-rock sound; I think that period probably marked the time my tastes started to change. Radiohead's OK Computer is probably largely to blame.

[borktron.livejournal.com]

I think I expressed my opinion last night, but I'd say that ELO is half crap, half awesome. I think your best bet would be to check everything out from the library, then pick-n-choose.