vintage

Wow, my friends, it has been too long. Blame it on the black hole they label “school”; now that that’s out of the way, we’re back in business here. Shows to review! Artists to talk about! So much music.

I recently picked up Jason Collett’s latest LP Here’s to Being Here (it’s on marble pink vinyl!), which I’ve been thoroughly enjoying. I don’t know that there’s any song quite as catchy as “I’ll Bring the Sun” (from Idols of Exile), but “Papercut Hearts” is cute and a really good time, and “Roll On Oblivion” is a well-chosen way to open the record. The groovy “Charlyn, Angel of Kensington” is a slightly sultry, funky, fun song that I’ve been pretty into since getting the album, and Collett’s voice on this and a few others sounds uncannily like that of Peter Elkas. Funny, as the two are actually on tour together, covering both Canada and the United States in a giant sweep; clearly a well-matched pair.

I also got the newest Mountain Goats album, Heretic Pride (also on vinyl, but unfortunately, not coloured). Right away, Darnielle’s voice seems remarkably more nasal than on previous records, hitting its peak on the title track with its jerky lyric; I’ll have to admit, that track bothers me a bit stylistically, but most everything else seems to make up for it. Songs like the slightly ethereal, muted “Sept 15, 1983,” for example - perfectly arranged and performed, and probably among my favourites. It’s true, the titles seem to be more reminiscent of Zappa than Darnielle sometimes (”How to Embrace a Swamp Creature,” “In the Craters on the Moon”) , and I have yet to find songs that I love as much as I do those on We Shall All Be Healed, but like with most Mountain Goats albums, I think it’s a grower.

I have to say, too, that I recently discovered Phoenix’s album It’s Never Been Like That, and I am hooked. Prior to this musical epiphany, the only track of theirs I was familiar with was the frustratingly catchy “Too Young,” from 2000’s United (#6 on Jay Ferguson’s 10 perfect pop songs!). I loved it, but the rest of the album left me cold. Somehow, It’s Never Been Like That just passed me by, and I’m only waking up to it now. I can’t stop listening to “Consolation Prizes,” which is singalongable, catchy, energetic, and slightly electronic-sounding - in other words, trademark Phoenix. Once you hear it once, you can’t stop. Have a listen - but don’t say you weren’t warned!

Coming up: Brent Randall & His Pinecones, the Weather Station, and more. (Side note: My band, Entire Cities, are releasing a CD tomorrow! Reviews of the other bands shall follow.)