What Kind Of Other People?

I couldn’t let 2008 get away without at least making mention of the American Princes album, Other People; an album that was actually released last spring and which seems to have all but gone unnoticed on the “best-of-the-year” lists throughout the blogging community. A solid indie powerpop record that doesn’t necessarily try to reinvent the wheel but rather just give it a little bit of a tweak here and there. If anything, it tends to remind me of a not-so-straight-forward version of the Broken West album, Now Or Heaven, also released this year. However, in this case, the American Princes’ pop is just a bit more rougher around the edges but enjoyable all the same.

American Princes – “Gravel” (mp3)

(from the Yep Roc CD, Other People, 2008)

A Merry Christmas To All, and To All A Good Night...

I never quite feel right letting the holiday season pass us by, and Christmas day in particular, without posting this little gem from Martin Newell. And while this track is the only song found on The Greatest Living Englishman that references Christmas, there’s just something about this 1993 opus that screams holiday season to me. Probably because I tend to associate the holidays with what can only be described as traditional English countryside living. You know, things like carolers, bread pudding and a warm fire all the while surrounded by friends and family.

Along with Richard Thompson, Andy Partridge and Robyn Hitchcock as well as Richard Hawley, no one quite describes this type of lifestyle to me the way Martin Newell does.

Martin Newell – “Christmas In Suburbia” (mp3)

(from the Cherry Red CD, The Greatest Living Englishman, 1993)

Yes...Let's Make It Magic...

I’m not sure if this should be labeled as a Christmas song per say only because it’s one part of a larger opus that Steve Mitchell of the Pooh Sticks fame collaborated on with one Michael van der Woude in 1996. Going under the moniker International Language, the duo released just one album, Where The Bands Are, which was a bit of a concept piece that explored fandomania within pop culture. I love this record; a wonderful collection of indiepop tunes that are perfect to listen to should one find themselves taking rather long drives through the countryside.

Steve is also involved with the wonderful 45 Revolutions blog, a blog that I can only imagine delves into what would seem to be Steve’s rather extensive collection of punk, power-pop and new wave titles that those of us here at the Ditching Boy Trellises can only dream of having.

International Language – “Christmas Will Be Magic Again” (mp3)

(from the Sympathy For The Record Industry CD, Where The Bands Are, 1996)

Top Ten Favorite Songs (Plus One) of 2008

I opted for something a bit different this year and decided to post my Top Ten Favorite Songs (Plus One) of 2008 rather than albums mainly due to the fact that I just haven’t listened to enough new records to make any type of reasonable “best-of” list. In fact, I probably spent more time and money securing and listening to powerpop, punk and new wave albums from the late 70s, early 80s that I hadn't gotten around to hearing rather than any new fads currently gripping the imagination of all the cool kids. However, here are some particular tracks that did manage to make their way through the synapses to much enjoyment of yours-truly by managing to strike that special chord.

David Byrne & Brian Eno – “Strange Overtones”. This one was love at first hearing that, incidentally enough, was at the beginning of David Byrne’s set of the Chicago stop of his Songs Of David Byrne & Brian Eno Tour. Not only does this song make your sway have an overtly romantic vibe to it but the chorus is so darn catchy whereas it almost does annoy that person over “in the next apartment.” A wonderfully poignant moment from two geniuses who already possess an incredible body of work.

The Damned – “Diamonds”. So, Who’s Paranoid?, and this track in particular, is one of those rare moments where a group seen by some as being past their prime makes, upon hearing it, those same people go out and start buying stock in the band all over again. And while this record’s greatest moments aren’t necessarily regulated to this track, “Diamonds” does encompass everything we’ve always loved from these lovable, goofball punks over the years. It’s by far The Damned’s best album start-to-finish in a good long while.

School Of Seven Bells – “Half Asleep”. While I was never one to pay much notice to Benjamin Curtis’ previous outfit, Secret Machines, I did stand up at rapt attention upon hearing “Half Asleep” from his new band, School Of Seven Bells. What you have are very pop-oriented vocals from Claudia and Alejandra Deheza of On! Air! Library! backed by Curtis’ dreamy, atmospheric guitars. If your vision of the afterlife is perhaps one of walking through a gentle snowfall at dusk than this is probably the soundtrack you’d hear playing in the background.

Cut Copy – “Lights & Music”. While it was criminally ignored by just about everyone else, Cut Copy’s second album, In Ghost Colours, and this song in particular, were our own personal anthems all summer long. While not as guitar heavy as its predecessor, In Ghost Colours is more in tune with such 80s electro-pop acts like Electronic and the Pet Shop Boys while simultaneously giving nods to the Cure and Depeche Mode at the same time.

Chairlift – “Bruises”. Replacing the Icicles’ “La Ti Da” from 2007, “Bruises” has now officially become everyone’s favorite pop song heard this year in a commercial. We know we like it our household; it’s the type of song that has a little bit of something for everyone to enjoy, not unlike Feist’s “I Feel It All” which is another one we like to walk around humming to ourselves when we aren’t muttering in exasperation to all of life’s trivial problems.

Darker My Love – “Two Ways Out”. This seems to be a case where an album’s lead single not only blows away, but completely annihilates anything else found on the record. I’m not sure if the band felt the need to not recreate the same sense of structure and atmosphere but nothing else found on their album 2 contains the same type of hooks that “Two Ways Out” has. One of the most perfect rock songs released this year.

Poni Hoax – “Crash Pad Driver”. I eagerly awaited Poni Hoax’s follow-up to 2006’s self-titled full length and while Images Of Sigrid doesn’t quite match the heights set forth by its predecessor, this song itself is a knock out. It has just about every type of musical genre that I love; lots of indie, post and art-rock along with dance and electronic elements that manage to pay appropriate homage to that time in the late 70s when both music and art successfully merged to create something truly unique.

Northern Portrait – “Crazy”. Readers of these pages are already boringly aware of my love for this song. It’s everything you ever loved about mid-80s C86 styled indie-pop. The concept itself could be a bit of a disaster as it maybe veers a tad too close to Morrissey & Marr but the fact that Northern Portrait are 100% dedicated to their influences make “Crazy” one of the standout songs of the year. Their follow-up single, “I Give You Two Second To Entertain Me,” would probably be just as good if the bar hadn’t already been set so high with this one.

Hercules & Love Affair – “Blind”. Another summer anthem. This one has a bit more of a lounge atmosphere to it that I find quite relaxing. While containing a hefty mix of classic 70s underground disco incluences, this one’s success also come from the pristine production tactics taken by the DFA Records crew that have all the kid’s head’s a’pumping.

Vampire Weekend – “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa”. Even after hearing it on their debut album last January, I knew then as I do know that this one would more than likely be on this list. You wanna know why? Those simple guitar chords, pure and simple. Perfectly hummable with just the right amount of precussion to back it giving the song a simple yet effective quirkiness. Being someone who likes to whistle, this one has never been far from my lips.

Death Cab For Cutie – “I Will Possess Your Heart”. While I’ve never found their live shows to be appealing, Death Cab For Cutie’s recorded efforts have always managed to hit a right chord with me. This was one of the rare (and I do mean rare) occassions where I was able to accurately predict just how big a band was going to become. However, over the years I’ve started to say to myself that perhaps I’m over Death Cab and that maybe their records no longer hold the same allure for me as their earlier efforts did. But then they go and release something like this and I go back and question whether or not everything I thought I ever knew about this band were actually true.

Mmm-mmmmm....

Pure, unadulterated fun, the Yum Yums 1998 album, Sweet As Candy, is all about the perfect 3-minute pop song. All of the clichés are here folks: powerchord crunches, sunny “you-better-have-blinders-on” harmonies and the too-many-times-to-count use of the word, “baby” in almost all of the songs. If this album weren’t so damned perfect it would almost be laughable in its blatancy. But perfect it is and definitely one to seek out; it doesn’t get much better than this. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Yum Yums “Miss You Baby” (mp3)

(from the 1+2 Records CD, Sweet As Candy, 1998)

Currently Making Me Swoon...

...is the holiday-themed single of David Gedge from the Wedding Present doing what he does best...croon. It's a nice little sing-a-long affair in which Mr. Gedge shares the vocal duties with American songstress, Simone White. I think the reason I like this so much is that, besides the lyrics, the music itself doesn't take an overtly holiday vibe outside of the occassional sleigh-bell.

Find it here.

Also, Bill Janovitz of Buffalo Tom-fame is helping us while away the winter hours by posting a cover of some of his favorite songs on his website once-a-week. Great pick for the first one; maybe my all-time favorite 'Mats' tune.

Go here.

My Kind Of Thanks...

I ended up capping off the holiday weekend with a boy's afternoon out drinking with some old friends at one of Chicago's many taverns followed by a nice meal at one of Chicago's many more Mexian restaurants. A fun afternoon/early evening with good friends that got me thinking about the long holiday weekend and what it all means in general. I love Thanksgiving. Not only do I love the food but I love the family time because it isn't time spent debating all day over how little you spent on Aunt Marge's scarf or whatnot in some misguided sense of guilt.

However, truth be told, I can't help but feel like the day itself seems to nowadays be more known as that little thing inbetween Black-Wednesday and Black-Friday when idiots prepare to run around in the hopes of getting their hands on a half-priced Blu-ray player or some other inane piece of technology that will more than likely be obsolete in a couple of years. I know I sound like an old man but I don't care; Thanksgiving rocks and I wish people would spend more time focused on that and not some bargain they may get on an item that, more often than not, is only for them anyways.

So, as a way to give thanks to some buds who favor this kind of thing and for taking the time to get together for a laugh, here's one from Perigueux, France's The Scuba Drivers who showcase a nice blend of pop and punk all together joined by a whole bunch of fat hooks. They put out a great mini-LP on Spliff Records, the home of many great French bands such as The Ambulances and Chameleon's Day. In fact, anthing with the Spliff label is probably more than well-worth owning. Oh...and I don't have an Aunt Marge for those of you who were wondering.

The Scuba Drivers "All Around" (mp3)

(from the Spliff Records mini-LP, Welcome To Hard Times, 1989)