No One Is Saying “Boo-urns;” Battles; Brandi Carlile; CocoRosie; etc.
No One Is Saying “Boo-urns”
Second post, and this site is already going to hell. Some work responsibilities got on top of me this week, so this post is pretty sparse. Apparently, disciplined writing takes a lot more than simply telling others, “I’m going to do this.” Next week: a concert review, more music, three book reviews, pretty colors arbitrarily designating different media, and some ill-mannered, amateurish editorializing. Hang in there. Tell ‘em, Solomon:
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Battles
A mix of myriad jazz and rock influences, Mirrored , the debut album from Battles, has manic energy to spare. What’s even more impressive is the degree of control the foursome has over that energy at all times. I don’t think I’ve heard another album this year where a band’s love of making music is so apparent.
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mp3 | Battles – Ddiamondd
But here’s the real gem:
What you need to do right now is watch the video for the first single, “Atlas.” It’s the perfect visual accompaniment to the band’s music. I can’t really make out the words, but I swear that oft-repeated refrain is “Sing this hook,” as if the lyrics are concerned with nothing so much as the construction of the song itself, which retains its power even in this abbreviated form — the album version of “Atlas” clocks in at just over seven minutes. Battles know how to use their little sonic corner to maximum effect. This is music that bounces around in its confinement and reflects back on itself, building momentum instead of disappearing. In Battles’ capable hands, a single drum kit can look (and sound, and feel) like a whole train of drum kits, stretching off into infinity.
Mirrored will be released on May 15th.
- Official site | MySpace
- Buy the “Atlas” single: Warpmart
Brandi Carlile
Brandi Carlile’s second album, The Story, is a bit more countrified than her first, perhaps due to the production work by T Bone Burnett. Regardless, the strong influence of Bends-era Radiohead on her songwriting (which she admitted to during an interview on KCRW), still comes through on a number of tracks.
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Carlile’s lyrics remain her weakness, but her voice is usually strong enough to sell them. In time, she could rise to Neko Case-like stature. The Story will be released on April 3rd.
- Official site | MySpace
- Buy The Story: Amazon
CocoRosie
Sierra and Bianca Cassidy’s songs are like the musical equivalent of Mark Ryden’s paintings. There’s a doe-eyed little girl, yes, but she’s wearing a Pickelhaube and holding a skinned rabbit and a butcher knife and her nightshirt is bloody in all the wrong places and maybe there’s a giant squid or something. If you don’t like CocoRosie, their third album, The Adventures of Ghosthorse & Stillborn won’t change that. But if you like CocoRosie, than this album might make you love them. I think I’ve already listened to it more than I listened to their first two albums combined. Some of the sisters’ most mature and accomplished work to date, there are some truly beautiful songs here. “Werewolf” is only one of them.
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mp3 | CocoRosie – Werewolf
The Adventures of Ghosthorse & Stillborn will be released on April 10th.
- Official site | MySpace
- Buy The Adventures of Ghosthorse & Stillborn: Amazon | Insound
Etc.
- Dylan Hears A Who — “Seuss via Zimmerman.” Genius.
- David Simon and Ed Burns, creators of The Greatest Television Show of All Time, will adapt Evan Wright’s Generation Kill as a seven-part miniseries for HBO.
- Most Americans don’t know a thing about the most important and influential force in their lives.
- Abigail & Brittany Hensel turned 17 last week.
- The Mauritanian ghost ships.