Soul Serenade

There are few albums that actually make me want to use the term space rock. The new Spiritualized record, Songs in A&E, is one of few that actually sends me spiraling weightless through the heavens. From moving melodies that lift you skyward, to chaotic soundscapes bursting like a picture from the Hubble Telescope, it's music that just makes me think of starry skies and cloudy galaxies.

But I mean that's just me responding to what I'd heard about Spiritualized, before I'd actually heard Spiritualized. It's a pretentious way of saying, this is a beautiful album. Songs in A&E is graceful, gorgeous, and epic. These are melodies that will stick with you from the moment you hear them. These are very earnest, very human songs, not movements from a rock opera for the far future.

Spiritualized - Soul On Fire

Songs in A&E (Sanctuary Records ; 2008)

"Soul on Fire" is a soaring gospel anthem, a song about a love that's gonna last as long as the stars themselves. J. Spaceman (real name Jason Pierce) sings of holding on for dear life to a lover who "set my soul on fire" and stirs "a hurricane inside my veins."

Spiritualized - You Lie You Cheat
Songs in A&E (Sanctuary Records ; 2008)

"You Lie You Cheat" is one of the better rockers, all scorching guitar feedback and distorted drums with gospel harmonies on top, while J. Spaceman takes vows against someone who's burned all their bridges.

My only real problem with this album is, it's more a record of melodies than songs. Huge, huge, melodies, squeezed for every last drop of emotion, raised to the loftiest heights; it gets exhausting pretty quick! But it's this straight approach that makes the album so instantly loveable, makes it feel so familiar, brings it down to earth.

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Aretha Franklin makes great "playing Evil Mummy with your 9-year old sister" music.
I'm back home in California and busy again and stoked about it and going to be writing a bit more. The people have spoken, long epic reviews are out, short lunch break entries are sweet. Two entries in three weeks is weak. I'm shooting for three entries in two weeks.
Cheers!

Working Out Technical Difficulties

Be back soon.

Waxing Philosophical (I'm Sorry)

I, and others, I suspect, have begun purchasing vinyl in lieu of CDs. The LP's praises have been sung by others before: large, beautiful, warm and deep-- we know, we know. And archaic, though that always seemed to me a tricky appeal. There's nothing inherently better about outdated technology-- that's obviously backwards-- but I'll be damned if that kind of thinking wasn't responsible for many a vinyl purchase. Now, though, I feel we've reached an interesting point with regard to vinyl's relevance: it's as unsophisticated as ever, but relatively speaking, it's as good as anything. I've got stacks upon stacks of CDs which haven't been played, or even opened, in years. In a room in an apartment in a city I don't live in anymore-- and I'm not eager to lug them anywhere soon. This is what I'm getting at: they might as well be LPs. Now, when any album is free and easy on the Internet, able to be enjoyed in the same immaterial capacity we've embraced for years (don't lie!). Now, when all the vinyl I want comes with a nice letter and a certificate for the album as mp3s anyway. Now, when the act of purchasing music in any physical medium seems like the most unnecessary and sincere token of appreciation. I hope this catches on; already Insound has declared this to be vinyl month, and more and more labels are repressing and sticking download certificates in 12" sleeves. If you've even considered buying vinyl, make the switch; at the very least it's a refreshing experience, if only for it's strangeness. And I think we're all in agreement that what music needs most right now is a refreshing experience.

Most recently I bought Fleet Foxes' self-titled album, which to my surprise and delight came with the Sun Giant EP on a second slab of wax. And, of course, a coupon for a free mp3 download.

Fleet Foxes - He Doesn't Know Why
Fleet Foxes (Sub Pop; 2008)

Like I mentioned earlier, Insound has really gone the whole nine yards with their vinyl promotion, including the announcement of their new LP+MP3 program. Figure it out.

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Let me officially re-welcome Dan to the site. Did you know Canadians make music? Check with him if you want to know more.

Stick Around for Joy

Toronto's Ohbijou play gorgeous orchestral pop that's both expansive and understated, huge and intimate. I've been lucky enough to see them play twice, once in a cathedral and once in a small club. In the steeple of Toronto's Music Gallery their songs took on chilling emotional heights; downstairs at New York's Knitting Factory, they played a quiet but dynamic set that won everyone over.

Ohbijou - The Otherside (Remix)

Swift Feet for Troubling Times (2007)

Their remastered debut ends with this soaring version of "The Otherside," which races through what was first a darker, lilting ballad. I love how it just swells, this kind of unfolding sweetness that's one of the band's real strengths. They know how to pull back then race forward in such a way that the songs gradually reveal themselves, like a joy that bubbles up to the surface.

Ohbijou - Favourite Skin

Swift Feet for Troubling Times (2007)

"Favourite Skin" is achingly slow, and so so sparse. It has a real patient beauty to it, especially those strings going in to the chorus. Casey Mecija sings of the devotion you feel for someone through thick and thin, wherever you go.

Also if you drop by their website make sure you listen to "Steep"-- it' a stunner.

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p.s. Hi, I'm Dan, and I'll be joining Brian here at Bows Plus Arrows. We both studied under a heroic High School Biology teacher, where Brian introduced me to the magic of Pavement and The Anniversary. Since then I've moved to Toronto to study audio production. Toronto's home to some amazing bands that I'll sure be writing a ton about.

Right now I'm back in California for the summer and stooooked to be writing here. I'll make a Muxtape for next time to say Hi; the website's not working too well for me right now.

The Best News You Never Thought You'd Hear This Year

I just got a press release for the new album by Dri, or Adrianne Verhoeven (ex-Anniversary). While I don't have much to say about her music, I mention this because the press sheet revealed something altogether more exciting:

The Anniversary are putting out a new album!

In June!!

Okay, so when they say new they mean old and unreleased, but nobody's complaining. The Anniversary used to be my favorite band, back when "favorite band" was a very serious honor. I tried to get a copy of everything related to the band, but there's no way I've heard every one of the 26 (!) songs set to appear on the album. Excuse me-- double disc (!).

Devil On Our Side Track Listing:
Disc 1

1. Fletcher Durbin
2. Alright For Now
3. Alone In Debtford
4. Those Eyes
5. Hold Me Tonight
6. Lowtide And Hospital Bed
7. The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter
8. I Haven't Slept
9. Diamonds And Daisies
10. Kids In Carolina
11. 100 Ships
12. Till We Earned A Holiday

Disc 2

1. Vasil & Bluey
2. To Never Die Young
3. What's My Name? My Name is...What?! What?!
4. I Believe That The End Of The Reign Of Terror Is Soon Near
5. O' Lady Butterfly
6. Che
7. Ain't That Bad
8. Kali
9. I Know What's Best
10. Lover
11. Let It Slip
12. Lodi
13. Strings Break
14. High School Talent Show

For those who don't know, the band has been broken up for something like five years, or as long as they were together. I guess the timing seemed right? Anyways, I copped the title of this one for a poem I wrote in high school that went on to win an award from the city:

The Anniversary - I Believe That The End Of The Reign Of Terror Is Soon Near
Devil On Our Side (Vagrant; 6/24/08)

C'mon, you'd do the same.

Make Me One

I'll be away for a week or so; if you miss me just check the Muxtape! Don't ever come back here again if you're not feeling it.

So Much Silence's Muxtape is 180 degrees from mine, but killing it just the same!

You haven't heard The Explorers Club but they will blow your mind. Or grin like an idiot.
Oh look-- they've made you a Muxtape.

The Explorers Club - Do You Love Me
Freedom Wind (Dead Oceans; 2008)

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The Clientele - Share The Night (stream)
That Night, A Forest Grew EP (Acuarela; 2008)

The Clientele show us a new one from their upcoming Acuarela EP, That Night, A Forest Grew. It's called "Share The Night" and it pretty much makes sense given the band's direction to this point. It's good, but I can't help holding it up to their haunting Ariadne EP, which was great.

The Clientele - Ariadne Sleeping
Ariadne EP (Acuarela; 2004)