Fail Blog

Up until yesterday, I've been pretty consistent with my 'New Music Tuesday' bit. I've been wanting to do a bit more personal bits, as in, whats actually happening up here and that I'm not just focusing on music. Though it does pervade much of my time thinking...

Yesterday just didn't lend itself well to finding new music. I saw a few possibilities, but first of all: I didn't know that the new Keller Williams album titled 'Kids' would be a childrens music album. I know. You'd think I maybe could have thought of that beforehand, and while I enjoyed the tracks I heard, I didn't feel I could do a full review and be fair due to the only kids music I remember being some old Kenny Loggins or Rafi. So rather than compare 'Kids' to ringing banana phones and what not. I just didn't do it.

This last class (which is actually turning out to be more of a second to last class), needs more of my dedicated time. It just needs to be finished up, because the whole not working while Becca works 8-5, Mon-Fri is wearing on me. Not the most satisfying feeling like the bum at home all day. So I'm resolving myself to quicken my pace so that I can enter the workforce sooner than later and am looking into part time retail positions in the area. Also. Being inside the apartment all day just REEKS of cabin fever. Though I feel like I'm wasting my study time by taking walks or anything, and being a slight agoraphobe in a still-new city has been keeping me inside.

Becca's chair + neat lamp +guitar + window = VERY relaxing

Not to say I don't love it out there. Portland in fall is beautiful and not nearly as rainy as people are convinced it is up here. Its been in the 40's in the morning here, but the sun is still out and I am remembering again why I love fall so much. The colors. I did not realize until now that Santa Cruz had a dearth of deciduous trees. While I love the redwoods, I am loving the combination of the Pacific Northwest deciduous and evergreen trees.

We are fortunate enough to have a nice big old tree out of our second-story apartment for the view and blocking out some of the ugly buildings *cough* THE WELLS FARGO TOWER *cough*. The tree also draws a bit of attention from the local bird communities, which is tortuous, but entertaining for Samwise (our cat). Since I'm the one thats usually here during the day to watch his various antics, he frequently sits on the window sill staring up into the tree and doing that cat click-meow kind of thing. Anyways. Back to the books/pdf.

I think I've spent more time with pdf's and powerpoints in my entire college experience than with textbooks. Welcome to the future? Where is my hover board?

New Music Tuesday: Martina Topley-Bird's 'Some Place Simple'

I had a bit of trouble trying to find something to be interested in this week, searching my various sources for new albums this week. I'm pretty sure I listened to about 20 various new releases Myspace band pages that I would love to un-hear. Needless to say, I was very close to skipping this week's new release Tuesday.

That was until I found this. While I'm not even quite positive today was the release date, I don't really care at this point, because I was immediately drawn to Topley's sound.

The album's title is a perfect nomer (minus the mis-) with a toned down, simply orchestrated and beautifully vocalized collection of tracks.

In doing some simple research on her, I found her to be a collaborator on the first Tricky album, which would explain why her voice was a tid bit familiar. But rather, the tone she reminded me of, was of a slightly more subdued, yet sublime and more articulate Sia Furler (ala her album, 'Some People Have Real Problems').

All of the instrumentation are distinctly muted allowing MTB's voice to play center stage, which is perfect for overall sound. I don't have many albums that hit me fairly instantly as sounding this plain good immediately.

Interestingly enough, the album's architecture is part of what I find to be the most intriguing about the overall composition. The track titled 'Intro' is at number 7, letting me know that this whole time that the previous six tracks, MTB has been acting as her own warm-up act. And as promised and alluded to by the title 'Intro' its the beginning of a more upbeat and show stealing set of songs that treat the rest of the album as the main event.

Some highlights from this track set include the Nancy Sinatra's 'Bang Bang' inspired sound of 'Sandpaper Kisses', and the album finisher 'Harpsichord Kiss' sendoff track that leaves you feeling like the instrumental is pleasantly waving 'goodbye' and asking you to visit again sometime soon. Just an overall great album from an artist I'm glad to have just learned about today, and look forward to hearing more soon.

Martina Topley-Bird's 'Some Place Simple' -> 4.85/5

ADDENDUM: It turns out I didn't do enough research into her older albums to realize that this is a LIVE compilation album with just a few new tracks. However, considering it took me a while to find the information without noticing at all, I am even further impressed with the sound quality and clarity of the album.

New Music Tuesday: Belle and Sebastian's 'Write About Love'

Belle and Sebastian are one of those bands that I've heard about for years, had continually suggested to me, and even heard songs of and enjoyed what I heard. Yet, this is the first album of theirs I've actually really had a chance to absorb, so my history with them is the opposite of my review of the Mother Hips' 'Shootout'.

I did a little research ahead of writing in order to not feel completely ill-prepared to review an already successful and well received band's 8th album and was able to see all of the previous album covers. I was impressed with the similarly styled covers, letting me know that they seem to be consistent in image, which could definitely convince me to check out the rest of their discography if I really enjoyed this one.

And now to the music. The first track, 'I Didn't See it Coming' immediately draws you in with its simple but effective piano and drum accompaniment. But what really gets me here is the melody of the chorus in this song. I've been humming it the last couple days. Simple, but pretty and effective for an upbeat pop rock song. The song also has the chance to evolve in the bridge with some fun organ usage and noisy bits to make it really build up for its triumphant return to that hookiest of melodies decorating the chorus. Needless to say the album starts very strongly with this.

I appreciated the immediate chip tunes sound of the synth in the follow up track, 'Come on Sister'. While not quite as strong on its own and brain stealing as the hook in the previous track, it serves as a good B side to 'Coming's A side sound.

The next real standout song of the album would be 'I Want the World To Stop', coming in after the pallet cleansing 'Calculating Bimbo' (slow jam pop song akin to the 'Sun King' by The Beatles in vibe). 'I Want the World To Stop' would sound fairly natural on the next Broken Bells album, with Stuart Murdoch's voice sounding like he has a vocal brother in James Mercer. Also the beat and production of the piece sound exactly like what Burton was aiming for with Broken Bells' debut album earlier this year. Yet, I have the feeling that since this sounded so natural for Belle and Sebastian, and I do not have the benefit of knowing their previous albums to make a correct call, I'd bet Broken Bells were more inspired by B & S than the other way around.

Now I have a habit of falling for the more upbeat songs on albums before the quieter and more understated songs such as 'Little Lou, Ugly Jack, Prophet John', but they just don't stick out very much to me, especially when sandwiched between 'I Want the World To Stop' and the excellently executed 'Write About Love'. I definitely prefer the songs with both the female and male vocals on this album.

'I Can See Your Future's horn intro and walking bass line creates a fun pop experiment with the beat being periodically dropped and the airy female voice being accompanied by even more orchestra work. You can tell the band was really having fun with this, and that can only make the listener have fun with it as well.

Overall the album is a fun 11 song modern pop rock album that could do without a song or so to feel complete. Again, as someone not familiar with the rest of their work and not sure where it fits in with their other pieces, I am seeing this as a stand alone album. And by itself I see a well executed album with some definite standouts and unfortunately some more forgettable tunes, but giving a full listen will not leave you disappointed.

Belle and Sebastian - 'Write About Love' -> 4.1/5

If you haven't seen this video about the making of the album and some interviews with the band, check it out. Its fun and gives a bit more insight into where it came from.

The Mother Hips - 'Shootout'

What can I say? I'm excited to finally have the last piece to the puzzle of the Hips' discography finally in my grasp. I've been able to get all of their other albums either in the store, or via download, but this one has eluded me for years. I did have all of their collection once when the Ruckus music program was still online and let me tell you, when the site went under, my Mother Hips collection was sorely missed. This was four years ago, but I finally ordered it used from a vendor on Amazon.

This is the sound. As said perfectly on 'Honeydew', where they can really just let their trade off jam solo's and smooth vocals really take hold. I'm probably a bit jaded knowing that the live version is much more satisfying due to the four times I've seen them live.

For the most part the album feels new to me, since I did not really get a chance to absorb it all when it was available to me before. Aside from a few like 'Honeydew' that I recognize as being more common live, the album is filled with plenty of new Hips songs for me to digest and enjoy.

This is the album that led to their release from American records due to it not being the commercial success they had expected (as far as I understand), and while I understand that in 1994 this may have not been the sound to sell the numbers needed for economic success. However, for me I believe artistically and melodically, the record is quite satisfying and successful in these regards.

'Mother Hips' is an amazingly melodic and well put together piece that should only be able to mellow you out with clever lyrics and smooth guitar and some fun soloing near the end. Usually its a bit difficult, I think, to perform a song named after the band in question, but they succeed in making it not sounding trite in trying to define them. Similar to the way that Wilco started their most recent self-titled album, with their self-titled song. They both work in a way I wouldn't have expected.

Coming at this from more of the perspective of someone that is already very sold on the Hips and all that they do, this review is probably more of just my comparing it to other albums of theirs and enjoying it rightly so.

Soundwise, it seems to fit pretty rightly between 'Part-timer Goes Full's higher production value and the alt-country melodious 'Later Days'. 'Single Spoon' is a perfect example of more of their sound to come in their next album, while the follow up, 'So Much', would have sounded more in line with the material from 'Part-timer Goes Full'.

Basically the album is meeting and surpassing all of my expectations for it, in it being the last Hips album to round out my collection. I'm going to enjoy it being nestled in between 'Part-timer' and 'Later Days' when I do my chronological listen through on their albums every few weeks or so. Their sound is just something between the Beach Boys, Neil Young, and the Eagles to name a few, yet none of those comparisons feel satisfying or give these guys enough credit. They are their own, doing what they've been doing, better and better for 20 years and I look forward to the successor of 'Pacific Dust' and seeing them up here when they're in Portland.

Mother Hips - 'Shootout' -> 4.3/5

Birthday Cat

So, I was trying to think of something nice to do for my family's cat that is turning 15 today, as I can't be there to give her some nice petting and appreciation for the day. Here goes...

Happy Birthday Zoe Selene!

I know I won't be able to see her soon, but she's just been a great cat since we got her when I was in 3rd grade, and its been admittedly sad to see her less and less since leaving home for school in 2005. I miss her being used to wake me up in the morning for school since she has a penchant for the kneading on my chest and purring in my face behavior. Anyways, I figure this is as best a way as any to express missing a pet right? Even if she did end up adopting my Mom moreso than she was supposed to be my pet. But lets face it, a third grader with borderline ADD is probably not going to remember to change the catbox or feed the cat every day consistently. I'm mostly glad she's just made it through some of her tougher times and I look forward to seeing her again, so happy birthday Zoe!

Love,

Kyle

New Music Tuesday: KT Tunstall's 'Tiger Suit'

Now in looking at the releases this week, I saw a whole lot of 'meh'. Not to say that there aren't some great albums that came out this week, I just didn't find any to be excited about and when looking at the others that I did not recognize and testing out some songs, nothing really screamed "review me!!!". Anyways, I remembered kind of liking Tunstall's 2004 single, and breakout hit, 'Black Horse and the Cherry Tree' mostly due to the creativity and realization that acoustic looping and one-(wo)man-band could be well received by the greater public. I loved this mostly due to my obsession with a certain Keller Williams (who comes out with a new album 'Kids' in a couple weeks that will most definitely be on this blog). But I digress.

Anyways, Ms. Tunstall is not the most familiar artist to me other than that first single and I think I've heard clips of 'Suddenly I See' all over various TV shows and movie trailers. It has that kind of generic stock-photo quality of song that saturates media lately. Its not bad, but it also doesn't really stick out. Well now that you know about my prejudice to her work based on the little I've heard before, I'd like to say that when I did actually get the chance to listen to her album, I was pleasantly surprised. For the most part.

She definitely has the tendency to fall back on that stock-photo singer songwriter pop-ness between much better, solidly executed cousins to those filler songs. She really hits her stride when she embraces the beat a bit more. It seems that her voice gets more motivated as well to let a little bit of the gritty tones through that give the music a bit of a more unique feel than when she stays subdued, as heard on 'Push that Knot Away'. This track is one of the strongest with the same kind of foot stomping beat and acoustic guitar strumming that gave 'Black Horse' that sound I liked before. Also the thumping bass that drops in the bridge could make anyone at least be tempted to attempt their best air bass while bobbing their head. If I were her I'd keep exploring and working with this overall tone and sound than the bleached out electro-guitar pop of 'Glamour Puss'.

This is a difficult listen for me only in the sense that I know that I just want to keep hearing songs more along the lines of 'Push', 'Golden Frames', 'Come on, Get In', and 'Madame Trudeaux' where Tunstall seems more comfortable than maybe the more radio and MTV friendly sounds of '(Still a) Weirdo', her first single from the album.

Overall, I know theres a lot I like here with the more alt-country rock dancy songs beating out the more pure dance-guitar -pop-electronic ventures she seems to be split between. She just doesn't seem as comfortable with the latter as when she gets to have some fun with her guitar. She thrives when she gets to be herself as that floor stomping, guitar riffing, and soulful voiced songstress; unfortunately she only gets to do that for a handful of songs on the album.

KT Tunstall - 'Tiger Suit'-> 2.8/5

Watch her performing 'Madame Trudeaux' live to see what the album could have been if it hadn't been so distracted with less stand-out filler songs.