May 25, 2012

May Mix: A Long Time Ago, In A Galaxy Far, Far Away …

Exactly 35 years ago today, one of the most famous movies of all time debuted on the big screen. You may or may not be a “Star Wars” fan, but very likely you’ve seen at least one of the films at some time in your life. Undeniable is the impact it had on the world of pop culture, especially film and the widespread understanding of monomyth.

In some ways, the franchise has become a mockery over time, not least of which due to the introduction of Jar Jar Binks and the weak, awkward chemistry between Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala in the prequels — and the geekiest of “Star Wars” geeks will give you plenty more reasons to wish a pox upon George Lucas. But something can definitely be said for the money-making empire that is “Star Wars.” This thing will never stop selling, and it’s truly a phenomenon that I may never fully comprehend. There are new movies being made every day, and yet these ones came with such force, appealing to all sorts of people.

Maybe it’s the characters — the wise and skilled Yoda, the eccentric C-3PO, the scoundrely Han Solo and of course every lady-lover’s sex fantasy Princess Leia. Maybe it’s the fantastic galaxy, one of the most expansive ventures movie-goers have ever taken into an imagined world. Or perhaps it’s all the human components that make us feel connected, despite how unreal it all seems to the naked eye. It combines comedy, romance, drama, science fiction, action and adventure. There really is something for basically everybody.

Why yes, I am sexy. Thanks so much for noticing, though I fully expected you would.

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May 24, 2012

Video Raid: The Hall of Mirrors, ‘Say Goodbye’

Recently I discovered this London dream-pop ensemble on bandcamp and snatched up their lovely Love Child EP. After learning a little more about The Hall of Mirrors, I found a video for “Say Goodbye,” not available on the EP, but possibly my favorite of all their tunes I’ve heard. It appears at one time the song was available for download somewhere on their site, but I can no longer find it. So instead, I’ve just been playing this YouTube clip relentlessly, familiarizing myself with the mime dance of what appears to be the band’s frontwoman, Jessica Winter.

Winter comes equipped with a voice like jazz-pop singer Katie Melua and theatrical music sensibilities. “Maybe,” off the EP, sounds like it belongs on a Broadway stage. This element in her music brings a very artful quality to the fore, and the old-fashioned moving pictures displayed behind her in the video suddenly make a lot of sense.

May 23, 2012

Band I Dislike, Song I Do Not: Foreigner, ‘Long, Long Way From Home’

Reasons I dislike Foreigner

  • I’m pretty sure when the band started they were just looking to fill that “poor man’s Bad Company” void.
  • Somehow Ian McDonald went from being a member of King Crimson when they did this to playing guitar on this horseshit.
  • If you’re like me and grew up in a town where your radio choices were basically “the good classic rock station” and “the bad classic rock station,” you’ve heard enough fucking Foreigner in your life. See also: Boston, Journey, Boston, Styx, Boston.
  • “I Want To Know What Love Is.” Get away from me.

Reasons I like “Long, Long Way From Home” 

  • If the sound of a clavinet doesn’t immediately arouse you, you might be dead.
  • If there’s one thing Foreigner could do, it was write a seemingly epic but mostly pointless story song with badass power chords. (I also really like “Jukebox Hero,” too, but that’s mainly for ironic reasons.)
  • Mmmm. Sax-UH-ma-PHONE!
  • It’s not one of the five Foreigner songs played to Goddamn death by classic rock radio. And it’s really short.
May 22, 2012

Beach House’s ‘Bloom’ is better than Wyld Stalyns

Remember that scene in “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure” when Rufus shows them the future and everything’s perfect and there’s this crazy music playing in a weird temple?

Okay, that wasn’t Beach House, it was “In Time” by Robbie Rob, but it should have been, because that’s what I imagine when I hear this Baltimore duo’s sumptuous third EP, released by SubPop on May 15th. Like some sort of utopian choir living inside a pipe-organ-future-temple.

The male-female vocals sound as though you’re hearing them from the inside of a womb—echoey, remote, but wise and comforting, with lush, parental harmonies. Ever-present drum machine beats offset the eerie drone effects of the synth/organ, throbbing bass lines and wavy guitars.  They take their time, deliberately adding layer upon layer of sound, driving verses (and the listener) to the brink, until their chorus bursts triumphantly open like some jungle flower in the steaminess of it all.  (Get it?  Bloom?)

My favorite track is “Lazuli”, which makes me feel as though I’m dozing next to a waterfall.  The beginning dissonant “ahhhhs” of “The Hours” sound like a nod to the Beatles’ “Because” and fool me every time, but then the track goes in a totally different direction.  The lyrics are simple but hit poignant nerves too: “Other people want to keep in touch/something happens and it’s not enough/never thought that it would mean so much”, they advise, and I am tempted to tell all of my faraway friends how much I love them, just in case.

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May 18, 2012

Band I Dislike, Song I Do Not: The Eagles, ‘Those Shoes’

Reasons I like “Those Shoes”

  • Joe Walsh. Talk box. My ears.

Reasons I dislike The Eagles

  • C’mon. They’re The Eagles. They fucking suck.
May 17, 2012

Video Raid: LA Font, ‘Sharks’

Los Angeles band LA Font is headed to the studio May 25 to start recording their new full-length album. The project was fan-funded on Kickstarter early this year and the band is eager to get these songs ready for your patient ears.

LA Font’s sound is reminiscent of garage rock from the early to mid-’90s with pleading, strained vocals and a Black Francis attitude. It all comes together marvelously in their 2011 single, “Sharks,” for which they recently released a music video.  Filmed in a busy McDonald’s parking lot, the guys have a day nearly as adventurous as the Mooby’s crew in Clerks II, strumming along during a burger invasion, chillin’ with a clown who’s into balloon animals, funning around in PlayLand, unsuccessfully attempting to stomach fast food and pummeling their drummer with the refuse. In the end, the burgers win, but we know in real life the band will live to play again!

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