A Message From In(High)Fidelity

All the posts that follow this one, consist of pieces that were written at different times, over the prior eighteen months. Therefore, while the page tells you that the pieces were posted here in November 2006, they could have been written at any time between June of 2005 and November 2006. I simply point this out so that no-one is confused. Perhaps I have only caused more confusion. It doesn't really matter.... More music, maestro!

Say Hi To Your Mom - Impeccable Blahs (2006)

I bought this album a couple of months ago, and have not been able to stop listening to it since. Actually, I bought the album without having heard any of the band's music, however, I had seen the name around town and thought that with a moniker like Say Hi To Your Mom, it couldn't be bad. I love buying music that way from time to time, especially when the music turns out to be this damn good. Say Hi To Your Mom is a three piece from Brooklyn, although to my understanding, Eric Elbogen (guitar, vocals, synth, etc.) is the brainchild behind their very cool sound, and is, at present, the only member of the band. In the liner notes, the album is described as thus: "A record about vampires. Not creepy, goth vampires but rather people just like you and me who happen to get their nourishment from drinking blood." True to their word, this album is about vampires, however, the lyrics and the music (think along the lines of New Order guitars and synth sounds) are so catchy and playful, that these are the type of vampires that you would feel comfortable snuggling up with on a cold winters night. Vampires are people too. Impeccable Blahs is one of those albums that is immediately likeable and should appeal to people of varying musical tastes. In addition, it is the type of album that suits various moods and situations, which is probably why I have been able to listen to it so much. Standout tracks on the album include These Fangs, Snowcones And Puppies, and the quietly awesome She Just Happens To Date The Prince Of Darkness. This album comes with my highest recommendation, and will definitely be high on my Best Of 2006 list.

Check Out: http://www.myspace.com/sayhitoyourmom

The Decemberists - Her Majesty (2003)

Always being one step behind the cool people, just as the music world was preparing itself for the release of The Decemberists latest album - The Crane Wife - in October, I was just discovering the band's second album, Her Majesty, relased way back in 2003. Sometimes it can be good to be a little behind the pace. Her Majesty is a fantastic album, full of great tunes and great stories. That is The Decemberists' thing - or more so their leader, Colin Meloy's thing - they seem to write short stories that are set to music, more so than 'songs'. These story songs are all originals, however, they seem as if they could come from a different time, just as easily as this one. Dare I say, they are.... timeless. No, I probably shouldn't say that, because I'm pretty sure I heard that word used to describe Michael Bolton's latest album of Frank Sinatra covers. Here is a story that may go some way in describing what I hear when I listen to Her Majesty, by The Decemberists:
The year is 1803, and I have been convicted of stealing a loaf of bread from a baker in Baker Street, London. I am being transported to a convict ship, upon which I will be sent to Australia. As we near the dock, we pass a pub that is full to capacity with all the sorts you would expect to frequent an English pub in 1803: Dock workers, cutthroats, prostitutes, buxom waitresses who will freshen your drink, guv'nor. Everybody is three sheets to the wind and having a grand old time. There is a band in the corner singing shanties and folk songs about Chimbley Sweeps, The Solidiering Life, and your Red Right Ankle (which brings a tear to my eye). The song they are playing comes to an end, and someone yells "Play on, The Decemberists!" The last music I ever hear, before dying of scurvy on that dreaded convict ship, is that of The Decemberists.

Check out: www.decemberists.com

Common Market - Common Market (2006)

This album may be a little difficult to track down - unless you are lucky enough to live in the Pacific Northwest - however, it would be well worth your time (I ordered the CD from http://cdbaby.com/). I am well aware that hiphop is not everybody's cup of tea, however, Common Market have crafted fourteen tracks of back-to-basics (one DJ, one MC), old-skool, positive vibe hip-hop that beg to be listened, and bounced, to. To describe Common Market as 'back-to-basics' may be somewhat unjust, however, as the production on this album is second to none, as are the samples that have been used to construct this gem. Furthermore, the rhyme skills of Ra Scion (Sabzi works production and DJ duties) are up there with the best in the business. The lyrical content focusses more-or-less on telling it how it is, whether it is the state of hiphop in 2006, the state of politics and the need for change, or the state of male-female relations. This album does not have any pretension. It is basically two extremely talented hiphop heads pooling their talent to create something that is not only both musically and lyrically upbeat, but with tracks such as Connect For and Every Last One, is also carries a message of empowerment. It may seem somewhat preachy in parts, but if this is what goes down at church, I know where I'll be this Sunday. Definitely one of the stand-out hiphop albums of 2006 - the best sounds are coming up from the underground.

Check Out: www.myspace.com/commonmarket

Dinosaur Jr. - Where You Been (1993 / Reissued 2006)

My love affair with this album, and Dinosaur Jr, began in a far-off time called 1994. I was an impressionable teenager, and had recently been experimenting with substance(s) that were certainly not good for my mental health: baggy jeans, a bright orange Cross-Colours hat, and Kriss Kross. Things were looking grim. Luckily, at that time, my bedroom was next to that of my brother David. I began to hear strange, beautiful noises coming from his stereo. Songs that, for no reason I could pinpoint, picked me up out of my mediocre teen-existence and propelled me to some place better. To say Dinosaur Jr helped me to find myself in the teenage wilderness might be somewhat melodramatic, however, it cannot be denied that, at the very least, they gave me something to hold on to as I swam (sometimes drowned) in the bullshit that is a teenage existence. This album, made at the height of the grunge/alternative music era is a stone-cold classic. Fans of Dinsoaur Jr's earlier (pre-Green Mind) work will often dismiss the latter career albums, however, for the most part, this is due to ridiculous "indie-er than though" attitudes. J Mascis' guitar work on this album, and in general, is jaw-dropping , while his song-writing skills here are at their pinnacle. It is difficult to name favourite tracks, however, What Else Is New would be there, as would Out There and the quieter Going Home. The sixth song on the album, "Get Me, is quite possibly my all-time favourite song. The 2006 reissue of the album is blessed with three extra tracks - the stand-out of which is an amazing eight minute live version of What Else Is New, which is worth the price of admission alone.

Check Out: http://jmascis.com/

Mates Of State - Bring It Back (2006)

Mates Of State are a husband and wife duo from San Francisco that have had me smiling for weeks. I was never much one for maths (math for those of you who are American), however, the following equation has recently had me repeatedly pressing repeat: drums + keyboards + two part male/female harmonies = fuzzy, warm goodness. This album contains some of the catchiest, most poptastic (definitely a word) tunes I have heard for a long time. Fraud In The '80s and Beautiful Dreamer are two of my favourite tracks, though that being said, I don't think there is a a weak track in this collection. Basically, this is the type of music that makes you smile, and bob your head from side-to-side without any pretension - even as you sit, trying to describe to your friends what it all sounds like. I take music quite seriously, perhaps more seriously than necessary, however, taking music seriously these days doesn't mean it has to be all dark and depressing. In these troubled times, it is important to be serious about being lighthearted and having fun every once in a while. It isn't all bad!

Check Out: www.matesofstate.com

Okkervil River - Down The River Of Golden Dreams (2003)

More than anything, I wish I could be that guy that constantly knows and writes about every new "cool" band in a cynical "I'm-far-too-good-to-listen-to-this-album-let-alone-write-about-it-because-I-could-come-up-with-much-better-music-if-only-I-had-some-musical-talent-and-not-so-big-a-chip-on-my-shoulder-about-what-the-other-kids-said-to-me-at-school-that-made-me-stay-in-my-bedroom-for-the-better-part-of-my-life-with-headphones-on-listening-to-indie-rock-developing-my-fuck-you-I-listen-to-better-music-than-you" attitude, however, I'm not - depending on who you ask. As you read further posts on this blog, you will discover that I have a special affection for Okkervil River. There are album, Black Sheep Boy, knocked my socks off earlier this year, and I was full of rapture when I discovered that it was not their first album. I must admit, a strange feeling came over me as I picked up Down The River Of Golden Dreams. Oh, crap! "How could anything that came before Black Sheep Boy be as good?" I asked myself. "Surely, I am bound to be disappointed!" What a fool I was. Okkervil River, continue to knock me on my arse! This album is outstanding. By the end of songs such as It Ends With A Fall, The War Criminal Rises and Speaks, and Yellow, I find some myself in a state of strange awe, and have to bend down to pick my jaw up off the ground - such is their brilliance. The images that the songs conjure seem so real, that each one feels more like a short-film or a road-trip, perhaps, rather than just words and music. Without the presence of one weak track on this album, Down The River Of Golden Dreams is truly an exceptional album, and you would be doing yourself a grave injustice if you didn't track it down. So says I.

Check Out: www.myspace.com/okkervilriver

The Mountain Goats - Tallahassee (2002)

I bought this album five days ago. It was one of those occasions that I bought three albums at the same time. You know how it is, you buy a few albums, and you try your best to give all of them your utmost attention, however, somehow, it just doesn't work out. You always go back to one or two of the albums repeatedly. I didn't know much about The Mountain Goats before I bought this album. I still don't. I knew that I liked one of the songs, as I had heard it on KEXP - in my opinion, the best radio station in America (check out www.kexp.org, if you don't live in Seattle; 90.3 on your FM dial for those of you that are lucky enough to do so). The Mountain Goats is pretty much one guy: John Darnielle; who is extremely prolific. As such, they are the type of band that has so many albums, it is hard to know where to begin. I began with Tallahasee, and I certainly won't be ending with Tallahassee. The Mountain Goats' music is of the mostly acoustic, singer-songwriter style, however, the lyrical content sets it apart from most of that which constitutes the singer-songwrite realm these days. There is an element of the lyrics that makes it all seem very 'real'. Darnielle doesn't seem to be mincing words... he calls it as he sees it, though in a lot of instances, I am still to determine what he is referring to. Track number 7, No Children, is my favourite thus far. Maybe I have it all wrong. I don't know. I do know, however, that I took a chance on The Mountain Goats, and I have been rewarded soundly.

Check Out: www.mountain-goats.com

Okkervil River - Black Sheep Boy (2005)

I bought Okkervil River's Black Sheep Boy some months ago, and have been somewhat reluctant to write about it ever since. Originally I thought I didn't want to write about it, because it seemed I had been let in on a secret that was too good to share. However, it soon became apparent that I didn't want to write about it because I was afraid. Afraid of what, you ask? Afraid of writing about something of which I am so in awe of. I know that the whole point of this exercise is to let you know about music that I have been enjoying, but this is different. I have listened to Black Sheep Boy innumerable times since I picked it up almost four months ago - I am currently listening to it for the second time today - and it continues to blow me away with every listen. It is a collection of 11 songs based around the fictional Black Sheep Boy, a character created by the band's extremely talented songwriter, Will Sheff (by way of 60's folk singer, Tim Hardin), whose lyrical imagery is often off-putting in its depth and beauty. With instrumentation including acoustic and electric guitar, pedal steel, wurlitzer, pump organ, mandolin, bass, drums, along with a number of other instruments, Okkervil River have created an album that not only mines the rich vein of music loosely termed as Americana, but also an album that stands alone as an underground classic in its own right. With my limited writing ability, I am unable to do this this album the justice it deserves, so I implore you to go out and listen to it for yourself. I dare say you will not be disappointed.

Check Out: www.myspace.com/okkervilriver

The Books - Lost and Safe (2005)

Perhaps to understand The Books, it is important to understand the concept of "mind races." All of you shoud be familiar with mind races, however, you may know them by a different name, or no name at all. Mind races are what happen to you late on Sunday night, as you lie in bed, thoughts of the week ahead inter-mingling with strange flashbacks and distorted, almost ethereal, recollections of the drunken night(s) before. Random images, sounds, thoughts bouncing around your head as you lie in the state that is not asleep, but not really awake either. It is a strange state of being, one that is not quite real, but that is deeply rooted in reality. The Books music is perfect mind races music. It comprises of softly played instrumentation, mixed with electronic bips & bleeps, and a variety of strange, sound bytes. In many of the songs, random pieces of dialogue from varying strange sources are incorporated into the music, over which, the lead singer sings in his hushed, almost computer-like vocal, echoing the same words. The dialogue ranges from upbeat to quite bizarre at times. Confused? Lost and Safe is probably not everyone's cup of tea, but it is great, chilled out music, to fill up your head space, when you need something a little off kilter to keep you on the level.

Check Out: www.thebooksmusic.com

Okkervil River - Black Sheep Boy Appendix (2005)

What's this? The same album twice? Of course not. Don't get me wrong, I like it enough to write about it twice, however, I hardly assume that you have the time to read the same thing twice. Besides, you're either at work - and no one wants to use their brain at work, or at home - and there is probably some crap reality show starting in a couple of minutes. Black Sheep Boy Appendix is made up of songs recorded at the same time as the original album, that were not included on said album. So - you're thinking - another band cashing in by releasing a mini-album of second-rate songs that weren't good enough to make it on a real album. How wrong you are! I really have no idea how Okkervil River have managed it, but these songs are equal, if not greater than, those which are included on the album proper. The songwriting is full of amazing imagery, with the same themes carried across both releases. It is not just the songwriting that impresses, though, it is also the impassioned playing of those songs that blows me away every time. If you've got the funds, I would recommend doing as I did, and buying both the album and mimi-album at the same time. If you are lucky enough to live in England, Virgin/EMI will be re-releasing both in a single package.

Check Out: www.myspace.com/okkervilriver

The Hold Steady - Separation Sunday (2005)

Time for some question and answer:
Q - Who likes rock'n'roll?
A - Who doesn't like rock'n'roll?
Q - Who likes bands that reference the Bones Brigade in the first song of their album?
A - A reference to the Bones Brigade in any song on the album kicks arse!
Q - Who likes songs that deal in everything from suburban boredom and religious symbolism to drugs and alcohol and hoodrat friends - wrapping it all together into some pretty smart wordplay?
A - You mean lyrics like: "I guess I've heard about original sin / I heard the chick blamed the dude / I heard the chick blamed the snake / I heard they were naked when they got busted / I heard things ain't been the same since." Or how about: "She said we didn't go to Dallas / because Jackie Onassis said it ain't safe for Catholics yet / Think about what they did to Kennedy / And think about his security / Then think what they'll do to you and me"
Q - Who likes singers that kind of sing-talk-testify, over the top of a rollicking, good-time rock'n'roll sound, incorporating drums, guitars, keys and the occasional horn?
A - Guilty.
Q - Well, if you like all of those things, you must love the Hold Steady's album Separation Sunday.
A - That is more a statement than a question, but, yes! With tracks like Hornets! Hornets!, Stevie Nix, Chicago Seemed Tired Last Night," and How A Crucifiction Really Feels - what's not to like. It is a damn fine album. Sure to put a smile on your face.

Check Out: www.theholdsteady.com

The Drones @ Spaceland - Los Angeles - February 17, 2006

With the fine album - Wait Long By The River And The Bodies Of Your Enemies Will Float By (see below) - under their belt, and reports of an awesome live show, it was with rather high expectations that I made my way to Spaceland on an unseasonably cold Friday night. While playing to sold-out crowds in Australia, The Drones are yet to make their mark on the U.S.. However, if what I witnessed on Friday night was any indication of their greatness, 2006 should be their year. The Drones took to the stage looking like those misfit kids at school with whom you secretly wanted to be friends, but who were always far too intimidating to approach. I'm not sure how to describe their music, other than calling it rock'n'roll. Think a drunken fight on a leaky boat between Nick Cave and Sonic Youth (with the Bad Seeds drunkenly cheering along), and you're somewhere to understanding The Drones (or maybe further away than ever before). The Drones don't play, so much as attack each song. Gareth Liddiard - lead singer/guitarist - leading the band with a menacing swagger. He and fellow guitatist, Rui Pereira, extrapolating inhuman howls and screeches from their respective instruments, all the while backed by the pounding rythm section of Fiona Kitschin (bass) and Mike Noga (drums). Tonight the band tear through a fifty-minute set, with an awesome rendition of Shark Fin Blues, and a closing track (whose name I don't know) that lasted close to ten minutes and left me virtually speechless by its was so damn goodness (I was at the show by myself, so its hard to say whether or not I would have been speechless had I actually had someone to talk to).

The Drones are an awesome band, who I have no doubt, will continue to blow audiences away. Luckily, you don't have to take my word for it, if you're living in Melbourne or London, the band are playing both of your fair cities in the next few weeks. Check out the Shows section at www.thedrones.com.au to find out where they'll be... and get there. While you're there, you can check out the video to Shark Fin Blues in the Video section.