Hollow eyes burn.
Some songs stick with you for life. I think everyone has a certain song (maybe even two) that is the kind of thing that is as much as a part of them as their old stuffed animals are. A nostalgic, necessary kind of accessory. While mine would probably have to be some old Nirvana or Radiohead tune, there's more recent music that has come out in years past that has found a place in my very soul. It sounds tacky and it probably is but they're songs that give me shivers everytime I listen to them. The kind of things with specific images and memories associated with them.
Two acts that hold such an honor are Califone (from Chicago) and Polmo Polpo (of Toronto). Califone's "When Leon Spinx Moved Into Town" off of Quicksand/Cradlesnakes has a subtle, heartfelt guitar line that chimes in and carries on into a profoundly moving and wise poem of a song. Polmo Polpo (actually a brilliant man named Sandro Perri) has an album called Like Hearts Swelling that reaches new levels of sound/noise music. One particular tune, the opener entitled "Romeo Heart", has always been one of my favourites. At 8 minutes long, it inhales then exhales like a beautiful breath of a whole life. Its textures and deep brilliance are unmatched.
However, that's not the point. Both of these artists are coming out with new albums in the coming month which, for me, is something to celebrate. I've managed to find a few tastes of what we're in for and the going looks good so I thought I'd share. Califone's newest is called Roots & Crowns. Polmo Polpo's is actually an album of Sandro Perri playing acoustic-based/vocal renditions of his own songs, simply entitled Sandro Perri Plays Polmo Polpo. Also, I randomly bought an old book of Shakespeare sonnets (don't ask me why) and one of my favourites so far is below as well.
MP3: Califone - The Orchids
MP3: Sandro Perri/Polmo Polpo - Sky Histoire
Who will believe my verse in time to come,
If it were filled with your most high deserts?
Though yet heaven knows it is but as a tomb
Which hides your life, and shows not half your parts.
If I could write the beauty of your eyes,
And in fresh numbers number all your graces,
The age to come would say 'This poet lies;
Such heavenly touches ne'er touched earthly faces.'
So should my papers, yellowed with their age,
Be scorned, like old men of less truth than tongue,
And your true rights be termed a poet's rage
And stretched metre of an antique song:
But were some child of yours alive that time,
You should live twice, in it, and in my rhyme.
-- William Shakespeare
Two acts that hold such an honor are Califone (from Chicago) and Polmo Polpo (of Toronto). Califone's "When Leon Spinx Moved Into Town" off of Quicksand/Cradlesnakes has a subtle, heartfelt guitar line that chimes in and carries on into a profoundly moving and wise poem of a song. Polmo Polpo (actually a brilliant man named Sandro Perri) has an album called Like Hearts Swelling that reaches new levels of sound/noise music. One particular tune, the opener entitled "Romeo Heart", has always been one of my favourites. At 8 minutes long, it inhales then exhales like a beautiful breath of a whole life. Its textures and deep brilliance are unmatched.
However, that's not the point. Both of these artists are coming out with new albums in the coming month which, for me, is something to celebrate. I've managed to find a few tastes of what we're in for and the going looks good so I thought I'd share. Califone's newest is called Roots & Crowns. Polmo Polpo's is actually an album of Sandro Perri playing acoustic-based/vocal renditions of his own songs, simply entitled Sandro Perri Plays Polmo Polpo. Also, I randomly bought an old book of Shakespeare sonnets (don't ask me why) and one of my favourites so far is below as well.
MP3: Califone - The Orchids
MP3: Sandro Perri/Polmo Polpo - Sky Histoire
Who will believe my verse in time to come,
If it were filled with your most high deserts?
Though yet heaven knows it is but as a tomb
Which hides your life, and shows not half your parts.
If I could write the beauty of your eyes,
And in fresh numbers number all your graces,
The age to come would say 'This poet lies;
Such heavenly touches ne'er touched earthly faces.'
So should my papers, yellowed with their age,
Be scorned, like old men of less truth than tongue,
And your true rights be termed a poet's rage
And stretched metre of an antique song:
But were some child of yours alive that time,
You should live twice, in it, and in my rhyme.
-- William Shakespeare