A really swell movie

Okay, yeah right, this is a music blog. But I just saw the movie "Once," and it is a beautiful film about music and love. If you have never heard of this movie, then let me give a little synopsis. Basically, two musicians meet while one is busking for money on the streets. From the day they first meet, there is an immediate connection between the two musicians and a musically based relationship ensues.

There is not much dialogue in the film and some of it is in other languages. But you don't need to really know what the characters are saying. The soundtrack and the songs that they sing within the film help push the plot along just fine. Each song helps to convey the relationship that has formed between the musicians. Some of the songs are so haunting that you will get goosebumps at times.

An interesting factoid, in reality the two musicians, Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, in this film form the band The Swell Season. The director of the film originally asked them to write songs for the film but then decided he wanted to use them as the actors, which makes the whole story that much more interesting to me. If you know any musicians, then you know that there often is a very intense bond that forms between band members. Even though they may be platonic, the act of creating music together creates a very passionate relationship.



Side note: BTW- did you know that shoegazer bands are back? There was a recent article in the NY Times and long discussion on NPR this weekend regarding its comeback. Honestly, I didn't know that it had ever left, especially since I just saw Mojave 3 at the Cat's Cradle not too long ago.

I Dream of Electric Sheep

I have been listening to the EP "It takes Guts to Deceive Eloquently" by Lismore...a lot. Lismore comprised of Penelope and Stephen hail from Jersey City, NJ- a burgeoning scene on the edge of NYC. This EP is a nice introduction to the band. The EP starts off dreamy with the song "Seven Cycles." Penelope's ethereal voice is reminiscent of Julee Cruise (the songstress that gave Twin Peaks that haunting sound). Truly, her voice shines through on each song and is complimented by fuzzy electronic sounds and edgy guitar bits.

Remember that scene in the film "Brazil," where Sam Lowry has imagined that he has escaped the cruelty of his dystopian society to a pastoral setting? This EP takes you to that place of bliss, particularly on the song "Far Off and Away." The simplicity of the keyboards on this song really resonate in your brain and hook you even further. But, just when you think all these songs are mesmerizing you into a state of relaxation- the song "Cherry Bomb" comes along and blows you away with its glitchy, punky drum beats. You have now snapped out of your trance with its sexy beat and you want to dance.

I also recommend going to their website and checking out some of their songs in their listening station. They really rock out the edgy guitars and driving drumbeat on the song "Predicament." I am hoping they come to North Carolina soon, because I imagine that their energy live would be awesome.

In the Days Before Microchips

The Raleigh, NC band Roger Roger has a sound that transports you back to a time of conversion fans and lo-fi stereo. If you are old enough and had one of those record players with built in stereo speakers, then you know what I am talking about. When pushed to their limit, the music squeaked out of those speakers all warm and fuzzy. The sound was distorted and muffled but you did not care because you were listening to rock n' roll.

Their strongest song is "Made for Love," and is muffled and distorted in such a good way that you cannot help but love the lo-fidelity aspect. After many listens, it occurred to me that I love it so much because it reminds me of the now defunct- Dirty Little Heaters. If you know me, then you know they had a special place in my heart. Although Roger Ron doesn't have the powerhouse vocals of Reese Gibbs, and they only have percussion no drummer. Frankly, they need a power drummer like Mel Thomas. Roger Roger would then rock so hard, your face would melt.

Musically, Roger Roger is a good band. I would need to hear more songs and know more about them to have a fuller sense of where they are going as a band. As it stands now, Roger Roger has the potential to capture the attention of music-goers and get a solid following.

Coming Soon

Look out for reviews of Lismore and Roger Roger. Life has been hectic with CD release parties for the Future Kings of Nowhere and Boy/Girl. I hope to get to sit down soon and soak in some music.

Sympathy for the Devil

"Does the devil call you by name and do you and answer him the same?"
-Sequoya

The Durham, NC duo Sequoya has a newly recorded song, "Weary" up on their myspace page. Sequoya are Bonnie, former drummer for the Veldas, and Matt from Joy in Red. In The Veldas, Bonnie always seemed to be reserved as she kept a steady beat and drummed away in the background. Previous Sequoya songs have been more acousticore. I know that Aimee Mann has always been a big influence.

Contrastingly, this new song, diverges from the norm and is rocking. At first, you think it is going to be a quiet contemplative song offering comfort to a troubled friend. But this songs builds into crunchy guitar chords with a little added feedback. Bonnie's voice is clear and strong on this song. You get the sense that even though she offers comfort, that she is concerned that it will be hard to loosen the devil's grip on this troubled soul. Sternly she sings, "come to me, my dear, dear friend, I will comfort you, yes I will." The friend seems to be worn from the seasons of life, but I wonder if the singer is not wearied from the constant need to offer respite and salvation.

"Weary" is definitely a darker sound for Sequoya, but I think it really works. I look forward to hearing more of their future recordings.

One Word, Enthralling

Last night's Des Ark performance at the Cat's Cradle was nothing short of enthralling. This was the first time I had seen the band in over a year. Although I have seen Aimee perform solo, the full band adds a whole other dimension to the music.

Honestly, when she performs solo and acoustic, I often have to walk out of the room due to the heart-rending subject matter. The lyrics in her songs are so intense, that when she performs alone I feel the anguish within those songs so much more accutely. My instinct is to run.

Last night, I was transfixed and I wasn't going anywhere. The music and electrified energy of the performance was spellbinding. All I can say is the undulating guitars, the lasciviousness of the lyrics, and the dorky stories between songs are some good shit.

Listen Here

Drinking in the Soma

I have this belief that we all are attracted to music that reflects our own inner metronome. As I lay here on my bed soaking in the album "Tastes Change" by The Honored Guests, I am feeling a oneness with their music. Russell Bagget’s soothing vocal style, song arrangement and tempos make this an absolutely sublime album. This Chapel Hill, NC band has rather convincingly created a fantastic collection of psychedelia-laced British pop songs.

For instance, on the song "Say You Will", they fill in the longer spaces between lyrics with accents of electric kool-aid acid trips. These instrumental moments between one lyric and the next, gives the music an ethereal feel that evokes a hazy hash den in Morocco. (No, I was not smoking a hookah when I was listening to this.) I do get this image of Whirling Dervishes with the trippy oscillating tempo of the guitar and drums. I don't mean to imply they are doing heavy-handed psychedelic space jams, because they are not. However, this element imparts their music with a much more exotic appeal than the typical Teutonic pop song and keeps the music interesting and fresh.

I am also enamored with the song "Summer Snow." Again it is a little psychedelic, but I am not seeing any whirling dervishes this time- it's subtle and gives the song texture. As I listened to it, I was really taken with it's portrayal of that unattainable love. The whirling guitar only adds to the uncertaintity of this relationship. He pleadingly sings, "just give me something good to look forward to." How rare it is, like the summer snow, to have that other person reciprocate.

There are a lot of really great songs on this album. At first listen, many will make an obvious comparison to the Flaming Lips and British Shoegazer bands. Overall, I found their music to be alluring with finely placed moments of psychedelia. More importantly, I can listen to this album over and over again. Nowadays, that is as rare as a snowshower in the middle of July.

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Breakfast Mascot Records