Do You Disco?

Just stumbled across a great disco blog: http://www.americanathlete.blogspot.com/

Third (Portishead)

2008, CD

I cannot believe Portishead are back. Their album Dummy marks a pivotal point in my adolescence, and now acts as a touchstone to that time of my life. It has held up remarkably well over time. Most people who attempted to delve further into the Portishead canon, like me, were disappointed by their follow-up self-titled album. So I think most everyone wrote them off as a One-Album Wonder.

Then lo! and behold! TEN YEARS LATER Third emerges! Intricate! Ominous! Damn near earth-shattering! Trip-hop is reborn! Third is marked by all the characteristics which made Dummy a masterpiece, only the concepts are each furthered, all the risks are fully embraced, and their sound has fully matured into something truly unique.

My favorite track right now is "Magic Doors." Lyrics:

I can't deny
what I've become
I'm just emotionally
undone

I can't deny
I can
with someone else

When I have tried
to find the words
To describe this sense
absurd
Try to resist my thoughts
but I can't lie

All the muse
in myself
My desire
I can't hide
No reason and
I thought

I can't divide
they'll hide from me
I don't know who
I'm meant to be

I guess it's just the person
that I am
Often I've felt that
I don't wade
Into the gift of
my mistake

Again, again
I'm wrong,
and I confess

There's this hum ... this vibrating bass in the background that gets my blood up. In the foreground clangs a cowbell (hahaha), and as clear exclamation at various climaxes throughout the track someone crashes into a piano.

This is the absolute perfect album for dirty sex.

Sample MP3: "Magic Doors" - http://www.sendspace.com/file/dz7xgu

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/PORTISHEADALBUM3

Golden EP (Bear Hands)

2008, CD

"We're Bear Hands. We're from Brooklyn," announced lead singer Dylan Rau to a group of stone cold, non-responsive Philly rock fans impatiently milking PBRs.

"Make me care," I replied (outloud).

Make me care, they did. I had no idea who the hell Bear Hands were before they opened for Ambulance LTD in Philly a week ago. Like a less-eccentric, more dancable Annuals, the Bear Hands have the chops to hold their own on any small stage in NYC or Philly. They complimented the Ambulance LTD sound with their alt country leanings and dance rock sensibilities. For once I wish a band was a little less socially conscious, however. Their song about Vietnam is about 3 decades late. Yes, I know they're trying to draw parallels between Vietnam and Iraq, but it's lyrically sophomoric and bordering on insulting. My concert going friend visibly squirmed. His father served in the Marine Corps in Vietnam.

I'm not against protest songs or socially conscious art, but if you're going to go down that road, you'd best (a.) know what you're talking about, (b.) make a valid point, and (c.) execute the expression really well.

Dylan Rau may be no Bob Dylan, but he shines when he's writing lyrics about things of which he knows and has experienced. Failed relationships seems to be one of these topics (poor guy). Plus any band that makes my white ass shake is impressive.

Tracks of note: "Golden" and "Bad Blood." Words:

I would rather
bury you,
than marry you
at sea.

Swiftest current,
darkest waters,
we just fall asleep.

I would rather
bury you,
than marry you
at sea.

Sharpest waters
you can find
from here until
the East.

That's all that
you can be.
That never had
let us touch.
Let you down
easily.

Buh-ba-ba-ba
bah-Bad blood!

Sample MP3: "Bad Blood" by Bear Hands

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/bearhandsband

EP (Vampire Weekend)

2007, CD

The folks at OtherMusic seem to be pulling their hair out over this new NYC band. If you like your rock jangly and up-beat with sand in the bottom of its purse, and if you like your rock stars clean-cut and sporting oxfords, then these cats are for YOU. While I'm not blissfully bald after a listen, my ears are certainly pricked up. These preppy rockers are all graduates of Columbia and it shows in their lyricism. Example:

As a young girl
Louis Vuitton
With your mother
On a sandy lawn

As a sophomore
With reggaeton
And the linens
You're sitting on

Is your bed made?
Is your sweater on?
Do you want to
Like you know I do

But this feels so unnatural
Peter Gabriel too

Can you stay up
To see the dawn
In the colors
Of Bennetton?

Sample Track: Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa

Web Sites: http://www.vampireweekend.com/
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/vampireweekend

The Voyageurs and Their Songs (Université de Moncton Male Choir)

vinyl, 1966



This record cover includes a booklet written by Theodore C. Blegen and published by the Minnesota Historical Society, St Paul, in 1966. It details the life of the French Canadian canoe men ('The Voyageurs') of the North American fur trade. They sang as they paddled Birchbark canoes over the rivers and lakes from Montreal to the pacific in the 17th, 18th, and early 19th centuries.



The music however is the work of a Male Choir under the direction of Father Neil Michaud, C.S.C. of the Université de Moncton of Moncton, New Brunswick Canada. Basically what we have here is an award-winning super keen French speaking/singing all-male choir going full lilting tilt a cappella on some river songs. It is by and large very different from anything I've ever heard. Track #6 actually reminds me of African tribal songs or Southern slave hymns - like Paul Simon's Graceland without ... well, Paul Simon mucking up the works.

Sample track: Envoyons de l'avant