Swirling Melody

Alright, Bri. You were nice enough to me and I thought “I could do this. This could be fun.” So I’m a blogger now. Huzzah. I wrote the following review of “Dark Was The Night,” a charity album released by Red Hot for the iTunes store but it was too long so I copied and pasted it onto facebook and then here. Enjoy my first official review! Here’s to my quality going up soon! And hopefully I’ll figure out how to link to stuff (songs, official artist websites, et cetera.)

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“Knotty Pine” by Dirty Projectors and David Byrne – 8/10: This is a good opener, a kind of palette cleanser for the rest album. This is not standard rock, and you can definitely hear the David Byrne influence. I love the Piano beat throughout.

“Cello Song” by The Books and Jose Gonzalez – 9/10: I would go so far as to say that not only does this cover do justice to the original (by Nick Drake) but is in fact better, a rare occurrence in the music world. The sort of dull smack of the guitar in the background is a great effect, as well as the rain noises. I always loved this song, and this just confirms my love.

“Train Song” by Ben Gibbard and Feist – 7.5/10: I think this song’s score might be affected by how overrated it is. I think people go “OMG Feist and Ben holy shat.” Although, I’m listening to it now and it is pretty catchy. Fine. 8/10. … 8.5? Okay this is making me smile really big. 9/10. Congrats guys.

“Brackett, WI” by Bon Iver – 9.5/10: This song is a masterpiece. No really, It’s almost as good as “Skinny Love” (Which is a solid 10 in my book.) When he hits those harmonies at 1:15, it gives me goosebumps. And that bass beat is so pulsating. You feel the life in this song. And another thing, I don’t usually care about lyrics, I’m more of a “just listen to the music” guy, but these lyrics fill me with hope and longing. Another SCORE! for Mr. Good Winter (which is what Bon Iver means in French if you didn’t know.)

“Deep Blue Sea” by Grizzly Bear – 8.3/10: Reminds me of something Iron & Wine would write, but the vocals are nothing like him. It adds a fun touch to the Southern Gothic that we’ve grown to know. I’d never heard of Grizzly Bear before this album, but I’ll probably seek them out sometime soon. I’m impressed. Especially with their song with Feist. (See: Service Bell)

“So Far Around the Bend” by The National- 7/10: Eh. It’s okay. It’s not bad or anything, but it kinda seems like a song anyone could write. I’m sure this song will grow on me. They always do. Bonus points for the flute part after the hook. Very Sufjan. And I love Sufjan.

“Tightrope” by Yeasayer – 8/10: From the first notes of this song, I start giggling. And then he starts singing, and I keep giggling. Oh man. If being earnest can be this good, then please do. Also? “Never mind, never mind, never mind,” etc… get me every time. Especially that low one. Ahaha.

“Feeling Good” by My Brightest Diamond – 10/10: Since purchasing this album, this cover has driven me to exploring all of My Brightest Diamond’s work. It’s so simple, yet so powerful. The guiet grow with her Shara’s gorgeous voice, the slight dissonance of the strings, and then that smooth, slow bass groove comes in, and Oh! The trumpets. And then when she wails on that last refrain, perfection. I’m listening to this song again. And you know what? “I’m feelin’ goooood.”

“Dark Was the Night” by Kronos Quartet- 5/10: I would be okay if this song didn’t exist. I mean, it obviously has a melody, but it just sounds like screwing around with your badly tuned guitar and violin. Great title, boring song.

“I Was Young When I Left Home” by Antony and Bryce Dessner- 8.5/10: BEWARE: This song is a grower. Give it a couple of listens before you give it a final verdict. Kind of like “I Just don’t Think I’ll Ever Get Over You” form the Garden State Soundtrack. Gorgeous song of longing and reminiscence. Who’s singing? Antony or Bryce? He deserves an award.

“Big Red Machine” by Justin Vernon and Aaron Dessner – 10/10: What’s this? More strings? I’m always a fan of strings. Ooh and piano walls. And Bon Iver-esque vocals (Yes, I realize he wasn’t the first.) I can’t even understand the lyrics and this song makes me well up. That takes major skill. Maybe it’s not even supposed to be sad. I don’t care.

“Sleepless” by The Decemberists – 6.5/10: This is one of those bands that I never got into even though everyone I know says I would like them, and this song isn’t motivating me. Even when the rest of the band comes in at 3:00, I still feel like the song is empty. But then the backup vocals come in at 3:55, and I’m like “Ah, there it is.” But then is goes away again after the chorus is over. It’s almost as if the build is too slow. Which is interesting because I can contentedly listen to Iron & Wine’s “The Trapeze Swinger” all the way through. *Le Sigh*

“Die” by Iron & Wine – 6/10: Speaking of Iron & Wine, this song is a major dissapointment. There’s nothing here! C’mon, Sam.

“Service Bell” by Grizzly Bear and Feist – 9/10: From the first notes, this song has you squinting one eye and cocking your head. The whole sound is exploratory from the beginning. And then you get a minute in and this gorgeous noise washes over you, with that same quizzical feel. This song is asking you a hidden question. Genius.

“You Are The Blood” by Sufjan Stevens – 11/10: The Best Song on the compilation. Holy crap, Sufjan. I was very surprised when I initially heard the computer squawking, and then I remembered Enjoy Your Rabbit (one of his earlier discs.) The blaring horns give me goosebumps everytime, and I get images of a robot army or something (forgive my strange brain.) This song almost makes me want to shamble aimlessly around like a zombie; I’m not sure whether or not that’s a good thing. Even in the quiet parts it has this nervous tension that is threatening to explode at all times. 3:00-3:52 is almost scary. I was telling my sister about this song, and I said “It’s ten minutes long, so be prepared for a trek. A trek… OF PURE AWSOME.” Be sure to listen to this song in both headphones everytime, because it loses some of it’s effect if you don’t.

“Well-Alright” by Spoon – 8/10: Standard Spoon, which is by no means a bad thing.

“Lenin” by The Arcade Fire – 9.5/10: Huzzah for The Arcade Fire! The syncopated piano featured during the chorus is one of the best parts, as well as the standard singing/yelling that is SO Arcade Fire. I love them. So much. They’re so quirky! Like me!

“Mimizan” by Beirut – 8.7/10: Is that accordian? WHAT? Who knew that could be pleasant? Another grin inducer.

“El Caporal” by My Morning Jacket – 6/10: Another Eh. Honey, who told you you could sing? They lied. And they have backup singers that sound like the guy who sings “All Good Gifts” on the original recording of Godspell. This… this whole song was just a bad plan.

“Inspiration Information” by Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings – 7/10: These guys wish they lived in the 70’s. Total classic funk. Which I’ve never been a huge fan of, so there we go.

“With A Girl Like You” by David Sitek – 6.7/10: Oooooooooooh Booy! Sub-par singing accompanied by fuzzy electronics, and an attempted saxophone hook. Usually I would like this, if you took out the words “Sub-par” and “attempted.”

“Blood Part 2 (Featuring Sufjan Stevens & Serengeti)” by Buck 65 – 4/10: Um… What? Rap? This is an indie rock album. This song would be good if it didn’t feel so out of place. Maybe if there were a couple other rap songs, but maybe not even then. Take out the distorted wailing, then call me. It just makes me want to listen to “You Are The Blood.”

“Hey, Snow White” by The New Pornographers – 8.5/10: This song would be a solid 9 if there was a little less repetition and a little more lyrics. What does Snow White have to do with the company going public? But the harmonies are fun, and all the instrumentation.

“Gentle Hour” by Yo La Tengo – 9/10: Another band I should probably start listening to. And this song is motivating me. This gorgeous 5-minute piece nearly puts me to sleep. Not out of boredom, put out of the gentle rocking it gives my ears. Maybe I’ll put this song on whenever my dad gets angry.

“Another Saturday” by Stuart Murdoch – 5/10: This song just makes me roll my eyes. Stealing a melody only works if the melody isn’t boring, and if you can do something interesting with it. Not just plod through like a camel. Oh and your singing sounds like one to. Okay, that may be a little harsh, but…

“Happiness” by Riceboy Sleeps – 8/10: Beautiful 8-minute ambiance? Yes, please.

“Amazing Grace” by Cat Power & Dirty Delta Blues – 5/10: It’s Amazing Grace. It’s boring. Always.

“The Giant of Illinois” by Andrew Bird – 9/10: I’m always a fan of layers of sound, and this song deploys them masterfully, at just the right moments. Also, humming, when used correctly, is a very powerful effect. This man’s stratching vocals make this song what it is on the word “Giant.”

“Lua” by Conor Oberst and Gillian Welch – 7.3/10 : From the first release of the melody of this song, I’m intrigued. I was never a Conor Oberst fan because I felt I just couldn’t listen to his voice. But maybe it’s time to give the Bright Eyes hype-proclaimed-genius another try. The harmonies in this one are not standard, and are almost hard to listen to; they’re the only dissonance in the whole song as far as I can tell.

“When the Road Runs Out” by Blonde Redhead & The Devastations – 4/10: Ew. The only thing to hear in this song is a whiny, breathy, sad little girl. Backed by a really slow, percussionless, dirging, fuzzy piano played backwards that fades away until all you hear is static.

“Love vs. Porn” by Kevin Drew – 6/10: So, apparently the end of this album is actually meant to lull you to sleep. You’d think something with the word “porn” in the title would be harsher. Again with the distorted and quiet background, backing distorted and quiet vocals. Not even use of the trumpet could save this one. How sad.

Overall, this album is really good, but looses steam towards the end.