Contrary to what you may read on just about any music site you might click on today, Pavement, the greatest American alt.anything band of all time have not yet reformed or announced any dates.
It does look likely though that my prediction of a 2010 reunion might just turn out to be spot on. There are a couple of rumoured festival/benefit gig dates and the absence of any sort of denial. On the other hand, Stephen Malkmus and Scott 'Spiral Stairs' Kannberg both have albums scheduled for next year and will presumably be touring those. Any Pavement reunion would have to involve a lot of rehearsing so its hard to see how it is all going to slot into the first 8-9 months of the year (assuming that they are going to play the Summer festivals).
One thing to be sure of is that 'Terror Twilight' gets the deluxe re-issue treatment next year and I am sure Matador would just love to tie that in with some kind of 'best of', to co-incide with a tour.
All just rumours and dreams for now. That's not to say that I haven't been dreaming..
[review of extraordinary Micah P Hinson covers record coming soon]
Thursday, 17 September 2009
Monday, 14 September 2009
God Help The Girl 'Stills' EP
Two albums have been dominating my listening time in the past few weeks and they are both records that I under-rated at the time of their release. I have considered re-reviewing both but it may suffice and ease my conscience to just go on about them endlessly and wait for the 'end of the year' lists to right my wrongs.
One is The Duke and The King's sublime 'Nothing Gold Can Stay' and the other is Stuart Murdoch's 'God Help The Girl' side-project. When I first heard this record, I thought it a little showy and forced. In my defence I did keep listening and what I heard eventually was exceptional songwriting from Murdoch and Catherine Ireton's wonderful, crystal clear voice. The songs are sad, happy, funny and wise, the story is compelling and the ending tugs at the heartstrings. It is a monumental achievement and a beautiful, winning piece of art. Thats what I should have said first time round. At least I have learnt my lesson and am now 'living with' albums a lot longer before writing about them.
Anyway, GHTG have now issued 'Stills', an EP of songs from the same sessions as the album but which didn't make the cut. This appears to have nothing to do with quality, but instead Murdoch's intention to sequence the album so that the story unfolds with each song. It works on the album but means that this EP is also essential listening.
From the brassy 'I'm in Love with the City' to the torch-song 'Stills' and the funny/tragic 'The Psychiatrist Is In' these are five more perfectly executed pop songs and fans of Ireton's warm vocals will find plenty to love here.
I have only two more wishes from God Help The Girl...a London performance of the album in its entirety and a box set with the album, the EP and the b sides.
Get to work then Stuart...
['Stills' is out now via Rough Trade on 10" vinyl and download]
One is The Duke and The King's sublime 'Nothing Gold Can Stay' and the other is Stuart Murdoch's 'God Help The Girl' side-project. When I first heard this record, I thought it a little showy and forced. In my defence I did keep listening and what I heard eventually was exceptional songwriting from Murdoch and Catherine Ireton's wonderful, crystal clear voice. The songs are sad, happy, funny and wise, the story is compelling and the ending tugs at the heartstrings. It is a monumental achievement and a beautiful, winning piece of art. Thats what I should have said first time round. At least I have learnt my lesson and am now 'living with' albums a lot longer before writing about them.
Anyway, GHTG have now issued 'Stills', an EP of songs from the same sessions as the album but which didn't make the cut. This appears to have nothing to do with quality, but instead Murdoch's intention to sequence the album so that the story unfolds with each song. It works on the album but means that this EP is also essential listening.
From the brassy 'I'm in Love with the City' to the torch-song 'Stills' and the funny/tragic 'The Psychiatrist Is In' these are five more perfectly executed pop songs and fans of Ireton's warm vocals will find plenty to love here.
I have only two more wishes from God Help The Girl...a London performance of the album in its entirety and a box set with the album, the EP and the b sides.
Get to work then Stuart...
['Stills' is out now via Rough Trade on 10" vinyl and download]
Friday, 11 September 2009
The Dodos 'Time To Die'
One of the unexpected delights of 2008 was The Dodos' 'Visiter' LP. Singer/guitarist Meric Long and drummer Logan Kroeber, crafted a vibrant and fresh sound that made excellent use of space, focusing on bouncy, upbeat numbers with occasional sparse, thoughtful ballads. The single 'Fools' was instantly catchy and memorable.
The follow-up has arrived quickly and was heralded by an reasonably good promotion, sell-out shows and consumer-friendly ideas such as streaming the album well in advance of its release. The only way was up, unfortunately the music is a massive disappointment.
Whereas 'Visiter' was a restless, jittery child, moving from one style to another with 60s strumming and heady drum rhythms, 'Time To Die' is a dense, humourless creation. The big problem is the sound, there is no variation, less acoustic guitar and a fuller, more consistent sound that doesn't suit the band. The songs are too long, usually stretching out over five or six minutes, sometimes devoid of melody, sounding tired and leaden.
There are but two exceptions. 'Small Deaths' combines acoustic and electric guitars to good effect and is catchy and easy on the ear, while 'Fables' is this album's 'Fools', light and summery, it floats around your ears.
Otherwise, this album is hard work and offers little reward for the effort it demands. It is an uninviting, occasionally tedious record and a massive disappointment.
4.6
['Time To Die' is out now on Wichita]
The follow-up has arrived quickly and was heralded by an reasonably good promotion, sell-out shows and consumer-friendly ideas such as streaming the album well in advance of its release. The only way was up, unfortunately the music is a massive disappointment.
Whereas 'Visiter' was a restless, jittery child, moving from one style to another with 60s strumming and heady drum rhythms, 'Time To Die' is a dense, humourless creation. The big problem is the sound, there is no variation, less acoustic guitar and a fuller, more consistent sound that doesn't suit the band. The songs are too long, usually stretching out over five or six minutes, sometimes devoid of melody, sounding tired and leaden.
There are but two exceptions. 'Small Deaths' combines acoustic and electric guitars to good effect and is catchy and easy on the ear, while 'Fables' is this album's 'Fools', light and summery, it floats around your ears.
Otherwise, this album is hard work and offers little reward for the effort it demands. It is an uninviting, occasionally tedious record and a massive disappointment.
4.6
['Time To Die' is out now on Wichita]
Thursday, 10 September 2009
Sleeping Years return with new material and UK show
Dale Grundle's The Sleeping Years made one of the finest albums of 2008 in 'We're Becoming Islands One By One', so it is great to hear that new material is on the way.
A brand new single will be released on 7" and download on 2nd November with an album to follow. More news on these when I've heard them!
In equally good news, The Sleeping Years will support The Notwist at London's Union Chapel on December 12. At last, a Sleeping Years gig in London on a Saturday.....
A brand new single will be released on 7" and download on 2nd November with an album to follow. More news on these when I've heard them!
In equally good news, The Sleeping Years will support The Notwist at London's Union Chapel on December 12. At last, a Sleeping Years gig in London on a Saturday.....
Monday, 7 September 2009
Micah P Hinson covers LP
Micah P Hinson's brand of country-noir is perfectly suited to soundtracking the start of Autumn, so what better time for Micah to release....a double album of covers?
Yes indeed, 'All dressed up and smelling of strangers' is released on cd and download on September 21st and has a quite mouthwatering tracklisting, which is below. Also, Micah plays the Cargo in London on 15th September.
The album is on Full Time Hobby and you can pre-order now directly from them.
1. Slow and Steady
2. This Old Guitar
3. Kiss Me Mother, Kiss You Darling
4. Not Forever Now
5. The Times They Are A Changin’
6. Suzanne
7. We Almost Had A Baby
8. My Way
Volume 2
1. Sleepwalk
2. Running Scared
3. Stop The World
4. Are You Lonesome
5. In The Pines
6. You Didn’t Have To Be So Nice
7. Listen To Me
8. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Yes indeed, 'All dressed up and smelling of strangers' is released on cd and download on September 21st and has a quite mouthwatering tracklisting, which is below. Also, Micah plays the Cargo in London on 15th September.
The album is on Full Time Hobby and you can pre-order now directly from them.
1. Slow and Steady
2. This Old Guitar
3. Kiss Me Mother, Kiss You Darling
4. Not Forever Now
5. The Times They Are A Changin’
6. Suzanne
7. We Almost Had A Baby
8. My Way
Volume 2
1. Sleepwalk
2. Running Scared
3. Stop The World
4. Are You Lonesome
5. In The Pines
6. You Didn’t Have To Be So Nice
7. Listen To Me
8. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Saturday, 5 September 2009
(500) Days of Summer - the film and the soundtrack
'Juno' seems to have sparked a trend. Kooky, introspective, happy/sad, indie-wannabe film with teenagers uses oh-so-tasteful indie soundtrack, creating a huge hit and a spike in sales for the associated bands. 'Juno' was the first, there have been lesser others, but '(500) Days of Summer' is the idealogical successor.
I saw the film yesterday and it is good. The story is a well known one. Boy meets girl, boy falls in love, girl doesn't. Well known in life but not, to be fair, in major-release films. There is no happy ending here, the girl, Summer (Zooey Deschanel....Ellen Page presumably, wasn't available) marries someone else and the boy, after something of a nervous breakdown (quits job, turns to archeology), eventually embarks on a new relationship. The film deals with the question of whether there is 'a one' for us all and whether fate plays a hand in us meeting that person. The boy meets his new girlfriend by chance and we are encouraged to think that this girl is his 'one', but many will leave the cinema thinking that this relationship is clearly doomed to failure as he will always love Summer. This stuff happens. So how much of a 'happy ending' it is really depends on your outlook. For me, it was pretty bleak stuff, but a well made, thoughtful film.
It won't be to everyone's taste, it is undoubtably very American and Zooey Deschanel is as kooky as the most kooky thing you could possibly imagine on Planet Kooky. She plays Summer as being very detached and slightly robotic, offering little hint of what is going on in her head, meaning that your sympathies are usually with Tom (played by Joseph-Gordon Levitt). Maybe this is how it was meant to be, it just felt a little odd to have such an undefined lead character.
One aspect of the film is that Tom and Summer have similar taste in music. "Sad English music" apparently, although I saw little evidence of this. The Beatles...sad? The Clash....sad? Does anyone still think of The Smiths as sad (ok they were listening to 'There is a light that never goes out' not 'Frankly Mr Shankly' but still). This is lazy and a bit cliched. The selection of songs used in the film is an exercise in making a mix tape of tasteful indie. It is more notable to look at what was missed off. I was surprised there was no Sufjan, Belle & Sebastian were mentioned but not used ('Another Sunny Day' would have fitted in well) and I was surprised not to hear 'Fade Into You' by Mazzy Star at some point).
This is all well and good but there will be none of this type of songs left to use soon. Its a positive thing if it encourages people to check out The Pixies or Regina Spektor for the first time though.
Oh and She and Him's version of 'Please Let Me Get What I Want' just reinforces what I have always thought...there is no point in covering The Smiths. You can't out-Morrissey Morrissey and a straight cover just sounds...boring.
Go and see the film though...
I saw the film yesterday and it is good. The story is a well known one. Boy meets girl, boy falls in love, girl doesn't. Well known in life but not, to be fair, in major-release films. There is no happy ending here, the girl, Summer (Zooey Deschanel....Ellen Page presumably, wasn't available) marries someone else and the boy, after something of a nervous breakdown (quits job, turns to archeology), eventually embarks on a new relationship. The film deals with the question of whether there is 'a one' for us all and whether fate plays a hand in us meeting that person. The boy meets his new girlfriend by chance and we are encouraged to think that this girl is his 'one', but many will leave the cinema thinking that this relationship is clearly doomed to failure as he will always love Summer. This stuff happens. So how much of a 'happy ending' it is really depends on your outlook. For me, it was pretty bleak stuff, but a well made, thoughtful film.
It won't be to everyone's taste, it is undoubtably very American and Zooey Deschanel is as kooky as the most kooky thing you could possibly imagine on Planet Kooky. She plays Summer as being very detached and slightly robotic, offering little hint of what is going on in her head, meaning that your sympathies are usually with Tom (played by Joseph-Gordon Levitt). Maybe this is how it was meant to be, it just felt a little odd to have such an undefined lead character.
One aspect of the film is that Tom and Summer have similar taste in music. "Sad English music" apparently, although I saw little evidence of this. The Beatles...sad? The Clash....sad? Does anyone still think of The Smiths as sad (ok they were listening to 'There is a light that never goes out' not 'Frankly Mr Shankly' but still). This is lazy and a bit cliched. The selection of songs used in the film is an exercise in making a mix tape of tasteful indie. It is more notable to look at what was missed off. I was surprised there was no Sufjan, Belle & Sebastian were mentioned but not used ('Another Sunny Day' would have fitted in well) and I was surprised not to hear 'Fade Into You' by Mazzy Star at some point).
This is all well and good but there will be none of this type of songs left to use soon. Its a positive thing if it encourages people to check out The Pixies or Regina Spektor for the first time though.
Oh and She and Him's version of 'Please Let Me Get What I Want' just reinforces what I have always thought...there is no point in covering The Smiths. You can't out-Morrissey Morrissey and a straight cover just sounds...boring.
Go and see the film though...
Thursday, 3 September 2009
single of the week
Single of the Week...
Apologies for lack of updates. Have been very busy.
Consequently I've found myself listening to odd songs rather than albums. I've got a backlog of LPs to review and will try to get them done at the weekend.
One of those LPs is the new one from The Dodos, the jauntily monikered 'Time To Die'. Its a bit different from last year's 'Visitor', generally less upbeat with longer, denser songs. More effort required, not to say that is a bad thing. Their new single 'Fables' is the exception though, a thrilling pop song with some lovely strumming and some satisfying percussion. It is one of those songs that you feel you must have heard before somehow. Will get a lot of play on the radio I should think. I like it a lot.
Will be blogging about one of the albums of the year in the near future, as well as a couple of gigs and the new Nick Hornby book, which is most certainly of interest to readers of a music blog. Oh yes.
Apologies for lack of updates. Have been very busy.
Consequently I've found myself listening to odd songs rather than albums. I've got a backlog of LPs to review and will try to get them done at the weekend.
One of those LPs is the new one from The Dodos, the jauntily monikered 'Time To Die'. Its a bit different from last year's 'Visitor', generally less upbeat with longer, denser songs. More effort required, not to say that is a bad thing. Their new single 'Fables' is the exception though, a thrilling pop song with some lovely strumming and some satisfying percussion. It is one of those songs that you feel you must have heard before somehow. Will get a lot of play on the radio I should think. I like it a lot.
Will be blogging about one of the albums of the year in the near future, as well as a couple of gigs and the new Nick Hornby book, which is most certainly of interest to readers of a music blog. Oh yes.
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