Discussion
New St Vincent album
by Wayne on Apr.17, 2009, under Discussion
It’s true that I excite easily but there’s good reason for it with the release of a new St Vincent album ‘Actor’. Initial listens confirm the inclusion of heavier, guitar-fuzz elements, perversely scrawled over the melodic, lush backdrops. I enjoyed the quote somewhere… to paraphrase… ”like scrawling a cock and balls over a Rembrandt”.
The same chamber-music choral embellishment is all there, the same pencil-sharp, pastel tone voice, the intricate arrangements. Full review may follow in due course but for now, it’s time to return to the mix.
Spoon - Gimme Fiction (2005)
by Karloskar on Jan.22, 2009, under 4.75/5, Discussion
Spoon frontman Britt at Big Day Out in Adelaide, 2008.
Artist: Spoon
Album: Gimme Fiction
Year: 2005
Tracks: 11
Length: 43m 48s
Label: Merge
I’m pretty sure that the first time I heard Gimme Fiction by Spoon was on a stinkin’ hot afternoon in Paul’s car, getting a lift home from work. It was one of those “You need to listen to this…” moments. Paul put on I turn my camera on and I just didn’t get it. At all. I thought that it was repetitive and simple. It just didn’t do anything for me after a long day at work.
I don’t think the problem was that it was hot, in the afternoon or that I was tired after a day of sittin’ around behind a desk. The problem was that I didn’t know what I was supposed to be listening for. The bass and drums are really imposing in the mix and combined with the winding out of the 4G63 under Paul’s bonnet I heard nothing but bass, drums, a little bit of guitar and lots of falcetto. I was considering writing “too much falcetto” but I don’t think that there’s such a thing. Even the BeeGees could do with some more. It wasn’t until I acquired the album and listened to it like all music should be listened to the first few times (unless it’s live) - with headphones in a relaxed environment without visual distractions - that I realised that there was much, much more to I turn my camera on. Small, bright flourishes and subtle high-pitched notes give the track a huge range that I just didn’t notice the first time I heard it. It’s a great track. And it’s the second worst track on the album.
