I hadn’t seen this, but it’s appropriate since I just pre-ordered the band’s debut – Gorilla Manor – earlier this week through their site. If you’re patient (and in the US), the album comes out on February 16 via Frenchkiss. If you’re in the UK, it’s already out.
This song reminds me of that scene in Eyes Wide Shut where the artist formerly known as Tom Cruise rudely interrupts some creepy gang banging. More specifically it reminds me of the chanting the gang-bangees participate in prior to all the rampant banging. I’ve not yet gotten around to delving into the rest of this album but Pitchfork gave it a good rating, so it’s either good or they just think they should say that it is.
Wild Beasts – All The King’s Men (mp3) from Two Dancers
There are some artists who (in my opinion) should remain un-covered; Otis Redding is a prime example. There is something untouchable about his music – something that another artist cannot possibly replicate. And because of that, it’s almost criminal to try.
I’m not saying that The Big Pink set out to make something comparable to Otis Redding. It’s probable that they simply wanted to pay tribute to one of their favorite artists, and this was the best way they could. But in doing so, the result is quite nearly unlistenable. The track is void of all the emotion that Mr. Redding brought to it, and they stripped the song of all the sounds that made them compelling as a band. Even as a b-side to their Velvet single, this ends up being better left as something that stayed on the cutting room floor.
The Big Pink – These Arms of Mine (mp3) from Velvet
and for good measure…
Otis Redding – These Arms of Mine (mp3) from Pain In My Heart
We try to add something in the afternoon that’s worked its way into our heads, jogged our memory or otherwise has been forgotten. A lot of times I feel like I don’t enjoy music as much when it begins to seem like a job, so it’s nice to be reminded.
Anyway, this past weekend I made myself a new running mix for my training for the 5 mile Running of the Green here in Rochester on March 13th. Never having been a particularly big fan of running, it’s helpful for me to have music that can draw my attention away from the time that always seems to be increasing more slowly than I’d like – as well as the distance.
I picked this remix by Kids at the Bar off the blogs at some point last year, and it made its way onto my new mix, and it works like a charm. It came on right around the 25 minute mark of my run, right when I want to quit, and the handclaps and wobbly synth picked me right back up. Granted, I’m a long way off from where I should be, but I’ll get my ass there. I’ll post more of what I run to going forward. It’s a trial and error kind of project, and maybe it will give someone else new motivation.
Empire of the Sun – Walking On a Dream (Kids at the Bar Remix) (mp3)
This past weekend I ran across someone’s blog that said they liked our blog for “all the wrong reasons,” inferring implying that we weren’t indie enough, and – by extension – too mainstream. And, maybe that’s true. I haven’t ever thought to write about anything than that to which I personally respond (whether positively or negatively, although it’s generally the former), and I think it would be disingenuous of me to post something simply because it could be popular or because no one else had before. To be fair, the person did say that we kept the kind of music blog that he or she would, but it was kind of backhanded. Either way, we appreciate that people are reading, and that people respond to what we write. And with that out of the way, let’s get back into my 1000 Minutes project.
87. Bon Iver – Re: Stacks (mp3) from For Emma, Forever Ago
To be entirely honest, I think this entire album could eventually end up on this list, but for now, I’ll start here. “Re: Stacks” was one of my earliest introductions to Bon Iver, and the song is sparse and crushing all at once. It deals with the isolation that affects each of us at different times, and concludes with the songwriter’s liberation from it. It’s so universal that everyone can take from it individually. If I had the appropriate words, I’d describe it further, but it’s impossible for me to add anything to it.
88. DJ Shadow – You Made It feat. Chris James (mp3) from The Outsider
It’s hard for me to develop complete sentences to articulate my love for this song. Breathtaking. Most descriptions come out in fragment form – a single adjective. Surrounding. I never found out much about Chris James, but his vocal on this song is irrefutably stunning. Striking. Astonishing. It’s not often I feel limited verbally, but it’s nice to be reminded that there are things out there that can still render me so.
