miscellaneous post o' dooooooom
1) re: housing - postponed update on my house search due to lack of energy - suffice to say I've had my heart broken by two houses now. Current candidate is this adorable if weeny apt on the UWS.
2) re: The Raconteurs, Consolers of the Lonely - I can't stop listening to this album, it's that great. Been a fan of Brendan Benson since '96, when I actually used one of those listening booths @ Tower to listen to One Mississippi. By the end of "Tea" I was hooked. Got his next 2 albums, Lapalco and The Alternative To Love, and he just kept getting better and better. So when the Raconteurs formed I was mostly optimistic. Picked up Broken Boy Soldiers when it came out, I didn't love it though. And I've never been a huge Jack White fan, so I guess in retrospect it makes sense. I admire his loyalty to his own idiosyncrasies, but the Stripes always sounded to me like they were trying too hard. Something about their music is too opaque, I don't know. Or maybe it's just not poppy enough for me.
But I'm seriously jonesing for a new Brendan album, so when I heard about the new Racs I snapped it up and Oh. My. God. They took BB's genius for melody and rocked out with it, and JW's twisted lyrics rose to the occasion, and the band sounds like they're having so much FUN. I have been listening to Consolers more or less nonstop since I got it. Now I think I have a tiny crush on Jack White. I have to admit his singing is better than BB's on this album - he's got a fascinating electrified yelp that reminds me of early Andy Partridge. And "Top Yourself" makes me weak at the knees.
Bandom people, why aren't you slashing these guys? I love their adorable faux-low-tech website, and their ridiculous raccoon logo -
I couldn't help myself, I bought the map bag (in my defense it wasn't a totally frivolous purchase because I have been looking for a map bag for at least a year, and already bought several unsatisfactory ones on eBay):
And I love it! Adjustable strap, perfect size for carrying books, three compartments with the little one perfectly sized for my Metrocard holster, it's just awesome in every way. Plus the logo cracks me up every time I look at it. I bought my little brother a T-shirt with the Racs logo - if it wasn't one of those American Apparel ant-sized ones, I'd have gotten one for myself.
After realizing Consolers is seriously a contender for the best album of the year, I went back and listened to Broken Boy Soldiers again. I like it better now but BB's solo albums still beat it in my book. OMG I almost forgot, and I'm going to see them on May 30th @ Terminal 5!!! This is ridiculously exciting. Apparently the first show sold out so fast they agreed to 2 more, which also instantly sold out. I had JUST BEEN on their website buying stuff and neglected to sign up for the mailing list like an idiot. So I had to buy my tix on eBay.
BB/Racs links:
BB, One Mississippi + Wellfed Boy EP (Amazon)
BB, Lapalco (Amazon)
BB, Lapalco+Alternative To Love (import)
(Alternative To Love is not available any more new on Amazon, only $20 from London on his website or used on Amazon.)
Raconteurs, Broken Boy Soldiers CD (from their store)
Raconteurs, Consolers of the Lonely CD (from their store, and I specify CD because they do have it on vinyl as well, those crazy kids)
Downloads (all are AACs on MegaUpload, and it should go without saying but I'm gonna say it anyway, if you like these songs give money to the artists by buying their albums/products etc.):
BB, Me Just Purely - one of my favorite BB songs of all time - by the time he goes up the octave I'm in ecstasy.
BB, Metarie - I adore the harmonies on this, especially towards the end when they do that crazy dissonant bit on the chorus.
BB, Just Like Me - another contender for favorite BB song. This is so obviously about his manic depression and damn, boyfriend wrote the story of my life.
BB, Alternative To Love (title track, not entire album) - the end of this song with the intertwining leads just kills me.
BB, Between Us - this is a neat song where the verse is much more interesting to me musically than the chorus. And another one where I spend the whole song waiting for the kicker, "But I wouldn't mind if I went blind, maybe then I'd learn how to feel". (see below)
Raconteurs, Intimate Secretary - this song is awesome not least for Jack's ridiculously pretentious use of big words contrasted with the childlike recitations of the backing vocals, but the best part is the drum lick that happens in the 2nd and third verses - it made me realize that so many songs I like the whole thing but I LOVE one or two parts, and like a child myself I gladly wait for it to come, and when it's over I'll repeat it. (Silversun Pickups, "Kissing Families" is another such, as I previously noted.)
Raconteurs, Consolers of the Lonely (entire album in AAC format, zipped)
Raconteurs, Carolina Drama - This has rightly been hailed as the lyric winner on Consolers, a Gothic tale and mini-masterpiece of narrative storytelling. Here's a link to the lyrics. I'm just going to point out the bits that interest me as a writer.
"along with his older brother Billy" - the protagonist is introduced second, almost as if he's an afterthought, yet in the whole cast of characters he's the only one whose name is given.
"thank god he didn't own a gun" - editorial aside/narrator intruding into song - yes we know there's a narrator because he sets up the whole story, but it's just a little bit unusual for the narrator to be commenting in such a biased manner while telling the tale.
"Billy looked up from the window to the truck
threw up, and had to struggle to stand" - I love, love, LOVE how he fits the most active verb in the sentence into a list and it's not even the first thing on it! Similar to the introduction of Billy in verse 2. It's very clever because expectation is that the subject of the sentence or the most important thing will be first, not second or third or casually slipped in there like it's no big deal.
"He heard himself say 'That must be my daddy'
then he knew what he was gonna do" - Love the way he snuck that in there. As if Billy himself is not fully present in his own skin, he's hearing himself say it and that's how he knows, because he's only just now putting 2+2 together.
"He took a step toward the man on the ground
from his mouth trickled out a little audible sound" - You expect something trickling from a wounded man's mouth to be blood - again defying your expectations.
"the white milk dripped down with the blood" - most celebrated line in the song, and rightly so, the visual is so perfect and chilling.
"His mama reached behind the sugar and honey, and
Pulled out an envelope filled with money" - I don't know why I like this line so much. I just think it's cool that instead of starting with money and then you'd expect some lame rhyme, he starts with so specific a detail as sugar & honey and then gives you the more usual money. I just think it's cool.
"Just then, his little brother came in
Holding the milk man's hat and a bottle of gin" - the entire thing makes sense until the end - at least within its world of weirdness. And then it breaks down and you're left going 'bzuh?'
3) Random bandom link (hey, that rhymes!) - I dunno, prolly bandom people have all seen this but I thought it was amusing:
Pete Wentz Runs With Gays
4) Random Jossverse/state-of-TV-in general link:
Fox Plans to Run Fewer Ads in 2 New Prime-Time Dramas - this would be good news anyway, but the fact that one of those shows is "Dollhouse" makes it awesomesauce. The fact that Joss's new show is on Fox is not so awesome. Oh well, what can possibly go wrong?
5) And I only have one thing to say about my shows - at least "No Rest For the Wicked" didn't Joss my long-backburnered Eurydice story! This despite the fact that I've not written anything in weeks. I read McKee's Story and got stuck trying to outline even ONE of my WsIP, let alone all of them.
2) re: The Raconteurs, Consolers of the Lonely - I can't stop listening to this album, it's that great. Been a fan of Brendan Benson since '96, when I actually used one of those listening booths @ Tower to listen to One Mississippi. By the end of "Tea" I was hooked. Got his next 2 albums, Lapalco and The Alternative To Love, and he just kept getting better and better. So when the Raconteurs formed I was mostly optimistic. Picked up Broken Boy Soldiers when it came out, I didn't love it though. And I've never been a huge Jack White fan, so I guess in retrospect it makes sense. I admire his loyalty to his own idiosyncrasies, but the Stripes always sounded to me like they were trying too hard. Something about their music is too opaque, I don't know. Or maybe it's just not poppy enough for me.
But I'm seriously jonesing for a new Brendan album, so when I heard about the new Racs I snapped it up and Oh. My. God. They took BB's genius for melody and rocked out with it, and JW's twisted lyrics rose to the occasion, and the band sounds like they're having so much FUN. I have been listening to Consolers more or less nonstop since I got it. Now I think I have a tiny crush on Jack White. I have to admit his singing is better than BB's on this album - he's got a fascinating electrified yelp that reminds me of early Andy Partridge. And "Top Yourself" makes me weak at the knees.
Bandom people, why aren't you slashing these guys? I love their adorable faux-low-tech website, and their ridiculous raccoon logo -
I couldn't help myself, I bought the map bag (in my defense it wasn't a totally frivolous purchase because I have been looking for a map bag for at least a year, and already bought several unsatisfactory ones on eBay):
And I love it! Adjustable strap, perfect size for carrying books, three compartments with the little one perfectly sized for my Metrocard holster, it's just awesome in every way. Plus the logo cracks me up every time I look at it. I bought my little brother a T-shirt with the Racs logo - if it wasn't one of those American Apparel ant-sized ones, I'd have gotten one for myself.
After realizing Consolers is seriously a contender for the best album of the year, I went back and listened to Broken Boy Soldiers again. I like it better now but BB's solo albums still beat it in my book. OMG I almost forgot, and I'm going to see them on May 30th @ Terminal 5!!! This is ridiculously exciting. Apparently the first show sold out so fast they agreed to 2 more, which also instantly sold out. I had JUST BEEN on their website buying stuff and neglected to sign up for the mailing list like an idiot. So I had to buy my tix on eBay.
BB/Racs links:
BB, One Mississippi + Wellfed Boy EP (Amazon)
BB, Lapalco (Amazon)
BB, Lapalco+Alternative To Love (import)
(Alternative To Love is not available any more new on Amazon, only $20 from London on his website or used on Amazon.)
Raconteurs, Broken Boy Soldiers CD (from their store)
Raconteurs, Consolers of the Lonely CD (from their store, and I specify CD because they do have it on vinyl as well, those crazy kids)
Downloads (all are AACs on MegaUpload, and it should go without saying but I'm gonna say it anyway, if you like these songs give money to the artists by buying their albums/products etc.):
BB, Me Just Purely - one of my favorite BB songs of all time - by the time he goes up the octave I'm in ecstasy.
BB, Metarie - I adore the harmonies on this, especially towards the end when they do that crazy dissonant bit on the chorus.
BB, Just Like Me - another contender for favorite BB song. This is so obviously about his manic depression and damn, boyfriend wrote the story of my life.
BB, Alternative To Love (title track, not entire album) - the end of this song with the intertwining leads just kills me.
BB, Between Us - this is a neat song where the verse is much more interesting to me musically than the chorus. And another one where I spend the whole song waiting for the kicker, "But I wouldn't mind if I went blind, maybe then I'd learn how to feel". (see below)
Raconteurs, Intimate Secretary - this song is awesome not least for Jack's ridiculously pretentious use of big words contrasted with the childlike recitations of the backing vocals, but the best part is the drum lick that happens in the 2nd and third verses - it made me realize that so many songs I like the whole thing but I LOVE one or two parts, and like a child myself I gladly wait for it to come, and when it's over I'll repeat it. (Silversun Pickups, "Kissing Families" is another such, as I previously noted.)
Raconteurs, Consolers of the Lonely (entire album in AAC format, zipped)
Raconteurs, Carolina Drama - This has rightly been hailed as the lyric winner on Consolers, a Gothic tale and mini-masterpiece of narrative storytelling. Here's a link to the lyrics. I'm just going to point out the bits that interest me as a writer.
"along with his older brother Billy" - the protagonist is introduced second, almost as if he's an afterthought, yet in the whole cast of characters he's the only one whose name is given.
"thank god he didn't own a gun" - editorial aside/narrator intruding into song - yes we know there's a narrator because he sets up the whole story, but it's just a little bit unusual for the narrator to be commenting in such a biased manner while telling the tale.
"Billy looked up from the window to the truck
threw up, and had to struggle to stand" - I love, love, LOVE how he fits the most active verb in the sentence into a list and it's not even the first thing on it! Similar to the introduction of Billy in verse 2. It's very clever because expectation is that the subject of the sentence or the most important thing will be first, not second or third or casually slipped in there like it's no big deal.
"He heard himself say 'That must be my daddy'
then he knew what he was gonna do" - Love the way he snuck that in there. As if Billy himself is not fully present in his own skin, he's hearing himself say it and that's how he knows, because he's only just now putting 2+2 together.
"He took a step toward the man on the ground
from his mouth trickled out a little audible sound" - You expect something trickling from a wounded man's mouth to be blood - again defying your expectations.
"the white milk dripped down with the blood" - most celebrated line in the song, and rightly so, the visual is so perfect and chilling.
"His mama reached behind the sugar and honey, and
Pulled out an envelope filled with money" - I don't know why I like this line so much. I just think it's cool that instead of starting with money and then you'd expect some lame rhyme, he starts with so specific a detail as sugar & honey and then gives you the more usual money. I just think it's cool.
"Just then, his little brother came in
Holding the milk man's hat and a bottle of gin" - the entire thing makes sense until the end - at least within its world of weirdness. And then it breaks down and you're left going 'bzuh?'
3) Random bandom link (hey, that rhymes!) - I dunno, prolly bandom people have all seen this but I thought it was amusing:
Pete Wentz Runs With Gays
4) Random Jossverse/state-of-TV-in general link:
Fox Plans to Run Fewer Ads in 2 New Prime-Time Dramas - this would be good news anyway, but the fact that one of those shows is "Dollhouse" makes it awesomesauce. The fact that Joss's new show is on Fox is not so awesome. Oh well, what can possibly go wrong?
5) And I only have one thing to say about my shows - at least "No Rest For the Wicked" didn't Joss my long-backburnered Eurydice story! This despite the fact that I've not written anything in weeks. I read McKee's Story and got stuck trying to outline even ONE of my WsIP, let alone all of them.