James does music
1. The new Arab Strap is amazing. It took me a month to listen to it (which I blame at least in part to it having been released pretty low-key) but I pretty much haven't stopped listening to it since Sunday. The majority of the album is just about the most miserable stuff I've ever come across (and considering I'm talking about the guys who put the 'sad' in sadcore, that's saying a lot) but the last two tracks are - dare I say it - happy..? It actually works wonderfully (especially given my boner for the art of album construction) because it essentially drags you down in to the darkest reaches of emotional hell and then saves you. The last song is utterly wonderful and I'll probably transcribe the lyrics and past them here later (because I'm a dork like that.)
That said.. Arab Strap.. happy songs.. what's the world coming to? I can see it now... first comes not-miserable songs... then comes Aidan Moffett not-smoking-100-a-day... before you know it you've got Arab Strap belting out power pop to a bunch of indie kids.
Speaking of... musically it's a very accessible record, so prepare for the onslaught of hipsters name-dropping them.
2. What the hell is up with This Heat being so easy to get a hold of now? It took me sodding months to find their albums to download when I first got into them.... and now they're all over SoulSeek?? Please don't tell me this is just because LCD Soundsystem name-checked them. That said... I found that their back catalogue is getting a re-release... I found it out and I had to change my shorts.
3. I actually heard Sigur R
That said.. Arab Strap.. happy songs.. what's the world coming to? I can see it now... first comes not-miserable songs... then comes Aidan Moffett not-smoking-100-a-day... before you know it you've got Arab Strap belting out power pop to a bunch of indie kids.
Speaking of... musically it's a very accessible record, so prepare for the onslaught of hipsters name-dropping them.
2. What the hell is up with This Heat being so easy to get a hold of now? It took me sodding months to find their albums to download when I first got into them.... and now they're all over SoulSeek?? Please don't tell me this is just because LCD Soundsystem name-checked them. That said... I found that their back catalogue is getting a re-release... I found it out and I had to change my shorts.
3. I actually heard Sigur R