Voyeurism is underrated - Eric's Mix #2
Jun 14 '05
The Bottom Line The bottom line likes to watch.
Life is full of surprises. We tend to stick with the familiar and comfortable, inertia being the norm rather than the exception it should be. While I'm certainly not afraid of new experiences (such as this one,) I do tend to envelop myself in the security blanket of tried-and-true. Upon receiving this mix from the eligible Eric, I scanned the track list and saw many names I recognized. This should be easy, I'm familiar with most of these people. I can see it now, there'll be a slew of 5 out of 5 ratings and everyone will think I'm sucking up to the cute guy. That'll teach me to have preconceptions; turns out, things didn't go so easy... although I'll still suck up to the cute guy whenever possible. I ain't stupid ya know.
Felix Da Housecat - Rocket Ride
Starting off with a bang, this fast-paced dance number is heavy on the electronics, funky beats and fun. DJ Felix enlisted (invented?) all-girl group The Neon Fever who employ a sing/speak monotonous vocal style that's not really my thang but amusing and catchy nonetheless. Despite my gripes, this track is growing on me over time because it's so darn infectious (don't ya just hate it when that happens?)
3.5/5
http://www.emperornorton.com/mod/artistpage.php3?artist=felix
Scissor Sisters - Lovers in the Backseat
With a beginning reminiscent of Supertramp's Gone Hollywood featuring a plinky piano (just a little slower,) we then get into the retro 70's, disco/pop/dance sound that is Scissor Sisters. You can't not like this group with their tongue-in-cheek style and music that's total fun, chair-dancing goodness. Their over-the-top camp attitude, daring to turn classic hits completely on their heads and compelling enthusiasm all combine to make me love them. This album has been on my "must buy" list for a while and should be on yours.
4.5/5
http://www.scissorsisters.com/
The Arcade Fire - Neighborhood #3 (The Power Out)
Eric raved about this group a while back so I was eager to hear them. Sadly, I don't think I'm as impressed as he was. With a very frenetic sound, not much of a melody and high-pitched yell/singing, I couldn't get into this track at all to start with. However, over time, its driving beat, frantic wailing vocals and urgent - almost needy - intensity are (very) gradually growing on me. This track is from Funeral, an album many hailed as one of the best of 2004, so in spite of my initial misgivings, I know this Montreal, Canada based genre-smashing-and-blending group is worth giving more than a second chance to.
2.5/5 and rising
http://www.arcadefire.com/
The Shins - New Slang
This laid-back, mellow, soft feeling is a complete about-face in style. With an indie/folk tone reminiscent of The Finn Brothers' gentle thoughtfulness, this is lovely, relaxing and melodic. Very pretty, mostly acoustic and understated, I'd have to be in the right mood for it -- but when I am, it will be perfect.
4/5
http://www.theshins.com/
Sufjan Stevens - All The Trees of the Field Will Clap Their Hands
Another very slow, thoughtful sounding track with acoustic plucking of a stringed instrument I don't immediately recognize; there's a bit of a Celtic feel here. (Imagine my surprise when I discovered it to be a banjo -- I would have guessed lyre and many other instruments before the banjo.) Stevens' haunting vocals and sparse instrumentation make this spiritual (but definitely not religious,) song absolutely beautiful. I'm not sure I could take a whole album like this (I'd fall asleep,) but the occasional dose is soothing, comforting and affirming.
4/5
http://www.sufjan.com/
Mirah - Jerusalem
The pace steps up a little now with a soft indie/pop sound delivered by singer-songwriter Mirah. With sweet, high-pitched vocals and a too heavy drum beat we are told Mirah's thoughts on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: "So now Jerusalem, you know that it's not right. After all you've been through, you should know better than to become the wicked ones Almighty God once saved you from." This is an intriguing and thought-provoking subject that should have had a more interesting delivery.
3.5/5
http://www.kpunk.com/mirah/
The Wrens - Ex-Girl Collection
This begins slowly with what sounds like a few organ notes and I wonder if I'll ever hear any rock on this mix... then, the drums and guitars kick in and we get a great indie-rock-almost-power-pop sounding track that I like a lot. The vocals aren't the best I've ever heard but that doesn't matter while I'm bobbing my head and shakin' my rump. 'Nuff said, get yourself a copy of this.
4.5/5
http://www.wrens.com/
Iron & Wine - Fever Dream
An absolutely gorgeous folk track with a lovely acoustic guitar and tender, timid vocal that alights hesitantly upon your ears. The track lives up to the latter half of it's name for it evokes a dream-like feeling of tranquility and peace. Outstanding poetry set to outstanding music, "I want your flowers like babies want God’s love, Or maybe assurance tomorrow will come."
5/5
http://www.ironandwine.com/
Björk - Desired Constellation
I have never "got" Björk and probably never will. I wish I did because I know she's amazingly creative and interesting (and Icelandic.) She has a pretty, tentative voice that fits her pixie-like features perfectly, but the music is just too abstract and trance-like for this rock chick. There's no denying her brilliance, this is one of the few tracks from her Medúlla album which uses an actual instrument (I think a keyboard is very sparsely played in the background.) Björk's voice is an instrument, which she uses to create sounds I wouldn't have thought possible. I do like it even with the squeals, high-pitched wails and strange noises -- I just don't understand it.
3.5/5
http://www.bjork.com/
Dios - Starting Five
Oooh.. cool... happy, fun, poppy stuff with high-pitched ooh ooh's = me like a lot. The track isn't very fast-paced and I'm not sure I could dance to it but it's catchy and appealing. There's a definite summer feeling here from the sounds of children playing in the background to birds singing and the light, airy perkiness.
4/5
http://www.wearedios.com/
Franz Ferdinand - The Dark of the Matinee
If you haven't heard of these guys yet, it's time to move out of that cave. Another smash hit from 2004 whose bandwagon I've yet to throw myself onto, (I'm old and set in my ways,) Franz Ferdinand is a Scottish group with a sort of punk/Brit-pop/new wave, fun, frenetic sound. Great guitars, drums and vocals all come together into a fast - but not too fast - immensely likable song (that, admittedly, I was already familiar with.) I'm not sure too many North Americans will get the amusing Terry Wogan reference but, hey, that's what computers are for! Can I still buy a ticket on that bandwagon?
4.5/5
http://www.franzferdinand.co.uk/
RJD2 - Clean Living
When a song has a mixture of pop, dance and electronica with very sparse lyrics, that's usually a combination destined for disaster with me. However, I like this, it has a sort of groovy funk going on that I can't help but head bob to. So what if the drumbeat is a tad monotonous, the hand claps are fun.
3.5/5
http://www.rjd2site.com/
Devendra Banhart - At The Hop
I've seen people rave about Banhart and I've seen others bash him mercilessly, so this is a track I was very curious about. He has a slight, warbling voice that's a little annoying but there's no denying his musical talent and creativity. If this acoustic guitar driven folk track is any indication, he's probably not my thing but it's interesting enough that I'll seek out more. I know, that only made sense inside my head.
I couldn't not include the following quotation, where Banhart is speaking of the first time he wrote a song: ""That's when I realized I could write about anything I wanted," he adds casually. "It was like being constipated and then taking a suppository.""
(From: http://www.younggodrecords.com/prodtype.asp?PT_ID=71)
3.5/5
Aberfeldy - Vegetarian Restaurant
With a country/folk sound, I like this one a great deal and there's a bit of a Grant Lee Phillips feel here, which always scores high marks with me. This two girl-three boy group from Scotland boasts great harmonizing, melodies and a sense of humour; when the fiddle kicks in, I'm having a good time with this mid-paced track.
5/5
http://www.aberfeldys.com/
The Dears - 22 - The Death of All Romance
Yay for Canadian music! This is cool and very hard to describe, (heh, like I did such a great job on all the others...) discordant in parts, with the interplay of two people seemingly singing their own version of the same song. Give it a chance though, let it seep in, and it becomes like a song from a movie musical with a split-screen showing the guy and girl each singing about the same event but seen through different eyes. Epic and sweeping, even the title would be perfect for a film (if you took the "22" off.) Moulin Rouge definitely springs to mind while listening to this brilliant song.
5/5
http://www.thedears.org/
The Postal Service - The District Sleeps Alone Tonight
I want to like this indie pop/rock track wholeheartedly and I'm trying to figure why I'm a little less than completely enthusiastic. Perhaps it's the disjointed feel I get for much of the track because the beat doesn't quite match the plaintive singing. However, two-thirds of the way in, there's a stretch I absolutely love where the beat and singing do meld and get faster. I wish the entire song sounded that way, but overall, this song is great and will probably prompt a purchase (again... getting mixes from people is dangerous to the wallet.)
4.5/5
http://www.subpop.com/bands/postalservice/
One thing's for sure: if I wanted the familiar, comfortable and boring, I'd never ask for a mix from Eric. While I couldn't have predicted some of the things I did and didn't like on this one, at the same time I'm not shocked to have liked it overall. I sure hope he keeps surprising me for a long, long time.
Thank you Eric!
*All quoted lyrics are the copyrighted property of their owners.
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dizzybint
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Member: Caroline
Location: London, Ontario, Canada
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One day, I might return...
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