The title track from Guillemots’ forthcoming third album, “Walk the River” represents a bit of a step forward for the band. While their previous efforts bordered on fanciful, this lead single is decidedly darker in nature, but it’s no less catchy than what you’ve heard before. Fyfe Dangerfield’s voice is one of my favorites; the chorus of this track should make it obvious why.
The band has been trying out new material at various secret shows throughout their home country of England, but no specific tour dates have been formally announced. In the meantime, head over here to grab “Walk The River” by paying with a tweet, or on Facebook, etc. I’m streaming it here in accordance with the band’s wishes, so if you want it, “pay” for it. You won’t be sorry – but do it quickly; it’s limited to 3000 downloads.
Walk the River is due out in April. You can pre-order signed copies of it now through Recordstore.co.uk for about $19.
I’m pretty happy about the start of the season for the Mets, but I’ve been here for the last three seasons – and I’ve been nothing but let down. I’ll save my excitement – if it’s still warranted at that point – for September. Happy Opening Day to all baseball fans, regardless of who your team is. (Except for the Phillies and Braves fans, if I’m really being honest.)
Anyway, here’s the 50th installment of my part of this project. And if you don’t know what this is about, check my full list here. Let’s get into it:
This is literally the third time that this track has gone up on this blog in the 14 months we’ve been at it, and both previous times it was also posted by me. I have an almost instinctual attraction to it; there’s a magical, sparkling feeling that surrounds it – not unlike how it felt to “be in love” at 13 and being entirely unable to express it in any useful manner.
The song doesn’t deal in the profound acts of love, but the stupid, breathless ache that afflicts us all when we finally find it. And I love that the title has “#43″ in it – as if it’s just a random plucking from a rash of ill-advised sonnets – because that’s the type that is universally identifiable.
I don’t have a lot to say in support of my penchant for this track. I debated between this and another one from the same album – and I’ll probably add the second one to the list at some point too. This isn’t particularly noteworthy; it’s just a solid pop/rock song that reminds me of good times. And really, there’s not much more that anyone could ask of a favorite song than that, is there?
This sort of song doesn’t happen for no reason. Fyfe Dangerfield has found his muse. You can hear it in the quivering quality of his voice from the outset of the track. It’s evident in the sparks seeping from each note of the song. The scales have dropped from his eyes. The shackles have been cast off, and the ensuing freedom is almost just too much to bear. This is the only reaction to such an occurrence.
If you’ve ever thought that you should be a little more into Guillemots, this is your chance to give it another go-round. Fyfe Dangerfield is their lead singer, and his solo debut – Fly Yellow Moon – is on tap for January 2010. It’s a promising start to what promises to be a good year.
The day here in Rochester is moving back and forth between overcast and hazy sun, and it feels as though it’s going to rain at any second. I’ve been shuffling through my iPod, and this song popped up in between inordinate amounts of Ryan Adams.
My girlfriend and I are going to The Little tonight to watch Away We Go and eat popcorn for dinner and be generally irresponsible with our Tuesday evening.
In a day late, no joking edition of the Smörgåsbord, we’re making a meal from some leftover goodness. First, a track from a band whose name we never know how to pronounce correctly, followed by some reheated British dubstep, smothered in a recently requested b-side and topped off with a Wino cover. Eat up.
001: Joywave - Ridge/Traveling At The Speed Of Light 7"
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Upcoming Western NY Concerts
NOTE: Concerts are in Rochester unless otherwise noted.
1/5: Les Racquet
1/12: Joywave with Old Tapes, Dave & Marissa
1/13: The Dads
1/14: My Brightest Diamond
1/17: Josh Netsky Band with Cuddle Magic
1/18: Tycho (Buffalo)
1/26: Avicii
1/26: A$AP Rocky (Buffalo)
1/28: The Crystal Method (Syracuse)
2/11: Blind Pilot (Ithaca)
2/22: William Fitzsimmons
2/24: Mike Doughty
2/25: Charles Bradley (Buffalo)
2/29: Summer People
3/3: Matthew Good
3/5: Evening Man
3/23: The Men
3/30: tympanogram’s 3rd Birthday with Born Gold, Old Tapes, TBA
4/20: fun.
4/23: Cults (Buffalo)
5/6: Bear In Heaven (Ithaca)
5/7: M83 (Buffalo)
an examination used to test the condition of the middle ear and mobility of the eardrum, and the conduction bones by creating variations of air pressure in the ear canal.
Basically, it sounded like a cool name for a blog intended to be primarily about music. We’d both had other blogs previously, but over beers it was decided that more damage could be done as a joint venture. And here we are.
We share a passion for the undiscovered and under-appreciated, and hope that you’ll be able to find something you love as well.
Disclaimer
The music offered on this blog is for sampling purposes only. If you enjoy something you hear here, please go out and buy the music, see a show, or purchase some merchandise. Posted mp3s are available for a limited period of time only.
If there are any materials featured here that are your intellectual property, and you would prefer them removed, please notify us and we will be happy to oblige.
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About the Author: Dave
I like music. I can't describe how I came to like the music I do, because I don't know how or why, I just do.
Many years ago, Napoleon's brother, my great-great-great-great-great-great Grandfather, came to America. He was asked his name on Ellis Island while being processed as an immigrant. Not understanding English, he was under the impression that he was being asked how he had arrived in the new land. So he turned around and pointed at the sea vessel and said, 'LaBarge.'
About the Author: Andy
I come by my music taste of my own free will. My friends listened to 2Pac, my parents to contemporary Christian and me? Sunny Day Real Estate. I can’t explain it.
“Music, true music, not just rock ’n’ roll, it chooses you. It lives in your car, or alone, listening to your headphones…” - Lester Bangs