The Oxhorn Music Mix

A lot of people have trouble with The Dismemberment Plans’ lead singer Travis Morrison (now of the Hellfighters). His voice grates. He released “the worst solo album. ever.” Other people find The Plan’s music full of anxiety. Or depressing.

Maybe.

But on this paean to a special soul in a big city, The Plan spin perfect poetry. With a simple guitar riff, distinctive drumming, a fat, dirty synth and heart-wrenching, vivid, lucid lyrics. Lyrics few writers have the depth or melancholy to draft.

Now I notice the streetlamp’s hum
The ghosts of graffiti they couldn’t quite erase
The blank-faced stares on the subway
As the people go home
The parks lay empty like my unmade bed
The streets are silent like my lifeless telephone
And this is where I live, but
I’ve never felt less at home
So I’m not unsympathetic
I see why you left
There’s no one to know
There’s nothing to do
The city’s been dead
Since you’ve been gone…

Sometimes I stand on my roof at night
And watch, as something seems to happen somewhere else
I feel like the breeze will pick me up and carry me away
Out and over this iridescent grid
Up and away from the bar fights and neon lights
Out and away from everything that makes me what I am
So I’m not unsympathetic
I see why you left
There’s no one to know
There’s nothing to do
The city’s been dead
Since you’ve been gone…

 

These are stark, stark words to describe a city no longer inhabited by anyone of emotional significance. A city that lacks its relevant animus. A mere entropic collection of humanity and decay. And yet it’s oddly beautiful.

All I Ever Say Now is Good-bye

As the song drives to its jerky conclusion, the drums hit: bang bang bang. Then sleek, drawn out notes float in, build up. Screams of “Good bye” rend the air. And then a gentle let down, like letting go, walking away from a lover forever, without looking back.

Sounds like the love child of: Controlling the Famous and Fugazi

Download The City

Download “The Dismemberment Plan” on eMusic along with 25 FREE Music Downloads.
Get Emergency & Ion Amazon.com

Photo by Kampers

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Editor’s Note: The following is a short story inspired by The Super Furry Animals’ Clouberries, please give it a listen while reading this post.

She cried, but not loudly. It was a low sounding drip, settling into the rhythm of busses and laughter that spread out from her ground floor window. How can you change? she thought. What kind of platform did she have to jump off from, at this point? It was an old, grey day; it had been too long since she thought in these comfortable spirals. She dropped to the floor, curled up next to a heating vent, and clicked the old stereo on.

Billy Allen, Billy Allen. It all came down to him, his cocky smile, his veiny fingers, his brusque way of existing in a world that was too simple for his tastes. The last time she saw him - the memory that set her emotions rustling out of the gate, a moment ago - he was wearing a too tight, over-clean suit, shaking her hand and that of her aging father, with a sideways smile. A few months later, she saw the headlines.

It was an old wood paneled floor, the kind that accumulated old dust and absorbed the creaking heat from the vent her back was pressed on. It was a shabby sort of comfort - she felt old fashioned, like she was existing in an old story that she had never properly visualized before, The Dead. The radio hummed slowly but with a strangely full sound, touching every harmonic, like a giant walking home from a too-easy victory, shamefully aware that he monopolized the attention of everything he passed.

She stretched her arms, almost touching the opposite wall - it was a narrow hallway. There was a rusty sounding guitar somewhere close, not coming from the radio. Perhaps out of fear, she only allowed herself to be halfway aware of it, but then the metallic hum started slipping from one side of her to another. Was it her imagination?

She stood up with a start, wringing out a spastic shiver, as if that would end the sounds - but it didn’t. They built up, playing scales, swimming carefully and sadly along the wave of sound flowing from the radio. And then she saw him. He walked through the door, with that same hesitant smile he gave her five years ago.

Do you hear it? she asked, her mouth drying up.

I think I hear something different, he said.He gave her a knowing smile, a loungey wink, snapped his fingers, and started dancing, pointing his fingers from side to side, looking at the floor with a bit lip of bemused concentration. The music came from every direction, it was a sort of old fashioned jazz lounge jive. Her cat slid on her back paws straight through the room. A pigeon slammed into the window, but wasn’t harmed. He put his arm around her, and they shimmied across the overlapping wooden slats of the hallway, laughing at the giddy beat.

It was a perfect moment, though she knew that some part part of it proved that she had, right there, given up her sanity. As soon as that thought fully formed, he turned and slammed his hands on the wall, in an all together over dramatic scene, from what she remembered of him. No, he said, this will only be a moment. I’ve demasted, sure, I’m out there, drinking what’s left in the liquor cabinet and drifting farther into the Atlantic. The newspapers are right. But you’ll keep going, you’re changing already, look at your hair - it’s shorter than I’ve ever seen it. But I thought you needed this.
So this is it?

He gave her no answer.

Of course, she thought. She closed her eyes, endlessly depressed, slinking to the floor, forgetting him again.

When she opened her eyes - just a second later - everything was the same again. Just her and a dusty hallway. She thought she heard the radio still playing, but it was only a car horn, some disgruntled driver, blowing through the street. The song must have ended.

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Black Keys Tour & Release New Album w/ Dangermouse

The Black Keys will tour, release new album this year, so says Muzzle of Bees. Looks like they’ll be in New York, Washington DC, Chicago, San Diego and everywhere in between.

In what could be the most interesting moment in music, Danger Mouse will be producing the New Black Keys’ album, “Attack & Release.” Maybe I’m crazy, but I’m looking forward to this madly come April 1.

Flight of the Conchords Manager Murray Hewitt’s New Year’s Plan

NME is reporting that Murray Hewitt, Flight of the Conchords’ mild-mannered manager has offered to be Oasis’ new manager. Considering the recent success of “The Doggy Bounce,” and Oasis’ fall from pop graces, what have they got to loose?

What advice does Hewitt offer?

Im not sure about the name. What does it mean? Basically it’s a small pond of water in a dry desert. OK, it’s not too bad, but you could do better? From the experience I’ve had I don’t think brothers is going to work. I might have to split you up into two different bands to be fair. One can be Oasis and the other one can be Mirage - that’s another desert name.

In other Flight of the Conchords news, the complete first season is now available!

Kinks REUNION??? Nope.

The Daily Swarm is the front-runner for the 2008 Buzzkill of the Year Award, dismissing reports of a Kinks reunion tour. Thanks for nothing.

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Listening to The Zutons is like walking through a carnival fun house - your body maintains its character, but it gets reflected in all manner of mutations. These Liverpudlian’s debut album Who Killed The Zutons? is a frenetic romp through front man Dave “Dickhead” McCabe’s twisted mind.

Featuring multi-part boy/girl harmonies, catchy guitar riffs, arena-rock drums, manic bass playing and highly original use of the Saxophone, The Zutons create an EXTREMELY compelling series of texture. The album includes, “Havana Gang Brawl,” arguably one of the top-ten English language songs written about the Cuban Revolution this Millennium.

Simply put, this is a really exceptional album that rocks hard but makes space some surprisingly touching ballads.

“You Will You Won’t” sounds like a modern stomp in the vein of Credence Clearwater Revival, complete with raspy vocals, anthemic choruses and sizzling guitarwork. It’s the lyrical equivalent of the eternal Loony Toons debate between the angel and devil on Bugs Bunny’s shoulder. I think.

Well the devil’s standing tall on the top of the hill
Pointing down his fork and betraying your will
You gotta make decisions whether old or new
Then god comes from the heavens and he’s saying to youYou will you won’t
You do you don’t
You’re saying you will
But you know you won’t

Sounds like the love child of: Kiss and Credence Clearwater Revival

Download You Will You Won’t

Download “The Zutons” on eMusic along with 25 FREE Music Downloads.
Get Who Killed The Zutons? on Amazon.com

Photo by Splendour in the Grass

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Although Tenor Saxophonist Eddie Harris got paned by critics for his commercial success outside the Jazz establishment, he knew how to write and perform a mean song. Theme in Search of a Movie seems to borrow as much from Burt Bacharach as Bill Evans, and succeeds as a statement independent of any one genre.

“What sort of movie are we talking about?”

Maybe a James Bond film? A psychological thriller? Maybe weekend at Berny’s III? Surreal horizons and tropical breezes, magical strings, an unspoken current, warm and gentle. They point South, the drums click, lead the way. Eddie maps the territory with a throaty sax and the aid of some well placed piano chords.

Sounds like the love child of: Burt Bachararch and Stan Getz

Download Theme in Search of a Movie.

Download “Eddie Harris” on eMusic along with 25 FREE Music Downloads.
Get The Electrifying Eddie Harris/Plug Me In on Amazon.com

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In a new Pitchfork interview, David Berman talks about the The Silver Jews’ New Album - Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea. We can’t wait to hear it later in the year. Until then, a quote from Berman about the new, hopeful sort of characters he now writes about:

It’s definitely more about human possibility. Even if the characters themselves are just kind of like rogues or whatever living by their wits, they’re much more of an indomitable character, like a Saul Bellow character or Henry Miller’s voice in his books. They’re definitely more persistent.

And don’t forget to feast on our previous post on the Tribe - The Silver Jew’s American Vagabond Hymn - Smith and Jones Forver

In other news from NME.com Radiohead Discuss A Green Tour. The other day Thom Yorke discussed the ecological footprint of Radiohead’s upcoming tour for In Rainbows. The conclusion? It’s your fault.Says Yorke:

“I guess it’s obvious – it’s the mass of people traveling to one place, that’s the really big impact overall.”

We’ll have more news as dates are announced, which will hopefully give you plenty of time to walk to the show. While you’re walking, download the rare Radiohead mp3 from our previous post on The Trickster, a rare Radiohead B-Side.

Photo by Kirstiecat

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Voted the best voice of the 20th century, Elza Soares sings with unrestrained passion and power in Saltei De Banda over a maniacal Brazilian big band ripping through the changes. Her voice commands each syllable with excellence, ennuciation and energy. Her shreiks hint at even more depth lying just bellow the surface. But it is also full of wonderful good humor and a fine spirit.

Sounds like the love child of: Ella Fitzgerald and Tina Turner

Download Saltei De Banda

Download “Elza Soares” on eMusic along with 25 FREE Music Downloads.
Get Samba Soul 70! on Amazon.com

Photo by Natureboi

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