Monday , November 16, 2009
Heavy Rotation: Fredrik, Kevin Ayers, U2
Fredrik, "Black Fur"
Fredrik is a band from Sweden, kind of like one of those large, new-fangled "ensembles" a la Broken Social Scene or what have you. And their music sounds pretty much exactly like autumn: kind of pastoral, hushed, intimate, a little earthy and really, really pretty. I got turned onto them when I caught their super-gorge video for their song "11 Years" (which you should see, like, NOW) and their record, Na Na Ni, is perfect to drink tea and curl up to read a book with. This isn't my favorite track from their record, but it's the one that the record company people will let me post -- it's quite representative of what Fredrik do, though, all sparkling stillness and reflective melancholy. (PS - If you catch them at Pianos in NYC this Saturday, say hi! I should be there.) (Kat)
Beach House, "You Came to Me"
Oh, how long have we loved Beach House? Their record Devotion sounds more perfect to me now than when it came out -- once again, I think due to the change in seasons. This track is emblematic of their dreamy swooniness -- it's probably one of the most soothing love songs ever. (Kat)
U2, "Fast Cars"
I think this might be my favorite U2 song ever. Which feels like a hugely bold statement to make, but I'm feeling kinda bold today, so let's go with it. "Fast Cars" is an outtake off of How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb and, more importantly, it's one big shiny star on my "Stupid Love Songs: 50 Ways to Soundtrack Your Romantic Dysfunction" post from earlier today. There's also a more rawk, less Latin-ish version called "Xanax and Wine", which - despite its hot and exciting title - sorta pales in comparison. The bridge gets me the most, and when Bono sings that "Don't you worry 'bout your mind" lyric, I'm always like, "Okay, Bono! I won't worry about my mind!" And then I don't, and everything's just grand as grand could be. Whatta guy, that Paul Hewson. (Liz)
The Shins, "Turn a Square"
This song's on my stupid-love songs list too; in a lot of ways it's my #1 stupid-love song of all time. My heart's not really completely in it nowadays, but I still love it so much that it almost makes me nostalgic for being so torturously smitten with someone bad. (Is there a word that means "nostalgia for sadnesses past"? If not, let's invent one.) And in some ways I don't like to like The Shins anymore, mostly 'cause it makes me feel like I'm feeling Zach Braff's feelings, but "Turn a Square" is just gold and it's ALL MINE. Take that, Zach Barff. (Liz)
Duncan Browne, "Give Me, Take You"
My contributions to this week's installment of HR are an introduction to The Psofter Psyde of Psych, a new sub-genre of sixties shizz I just made up as I was typing this sentence (God! It's so convenient to be brilliant sometimes!). Since there is no more Ultimate Fashion Challenge, you no longer receive exclusive insider info about my frame of mind every week; in shorthand, the scoop goes: LAURA JANE HATES WINTER. Nevertheless, I am trying to maintain a positive attitude, and have christened this week The Sazerac of Shitty Novembric Work-Weeks. In order to keep my SAD at bay, I've had to listen to a hefty ton of Psad-Psych. Immediate Records-wunderkind Duncan Browne's 1968 debut is a huge part of the equation. This song is so damned plaintive, tragic and heart-wrenchingly beautiful, it makes you forget all your troubles, forget all your cares, and construct lengthy fake stories in your head about... (LJ)
Kevin Ayers, "Town Feeling"
Living in the sixties! And being The Girl in the Beatles! And dating The Soft Machine's Kevin Ayers! IRL, I think The Soft Machine suck. They're way too jazzy, and for dudes. I ain't no dude. Thank heavens for SM kinda-frontman Kevin Ayers' 1969 solo album, Joy of a Toy, which is cool, and non-jazzy. "Town Feeling" sounds sort of like "Give Me, Take You" by Duncan Browne, only less psorrowful and more pre-pre-pslacker. It's the perfect psoundtrack for walking against the bitter November wind, trying desperately to keep your hat from flying off your head.
PS: CAN YOU BELIEVE HOW UNBELIEVABLY PSEXY KEVIN AYERS IS??? (LJ)
Tags: Duncan Browne, feeling Zach Braff's feelings, Fredrik, Immediate Records, Kevin Ayers, Laura Hates Winter, nostalgia, Paul Hewson knows the score, SAD, Sazeracs, self-promotion, Soft Machine, stupid love songs, stupid-love songs, The Girl in the Beatles, The Psofter Psyde of Psych, U2
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4 Comments!!
Say something so insightful and witty, it will blow us away. (No pressure.)
Got something to say? We'd love to hear it! Name, email and "type in the weirdo drunken text" thingie are all required to comment; don't worry, we won't email you or anything, we just want to make sure you're not an evil spambot. Keeping in mind the good-times mentality we like to keep going here, we've worked hard to keep NOGOODFORME.COM as fun as possible. We welcome all kinds of comments, but insults/abuse/general bitchery are not tolerated. In other words, we put the smackdown on evil troll posts. If you want to be a hater, please go elsewhere. Now, as Salt 'N Pepa say, "Only the sexy people..."
I love "Girl on a Swing" too.
Kevin Ayers just put out a new record!
By Derek on November 13, 2008 7:16 PM
Apparently if you want to make dudes comment, you just have to mention Kevin Ayers.
OH look, the antidote to your SAD:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-C2Ar4gpi8&feature=related
By Jackson on November 14, 2008 7:53 AM
I also wanted to say that Soft Machine is very dude music for sure, but the first two records do have Robert Wyatt singing and his voice is very delicate and fragile.
Laura Jane, check out Robert Wyatt's first solo record "Rock Bottom" if you haven't already.
By Derek on November 14, 2008 1:28 PM
Duncan Browne is fantastic. I am sad his work was so overlooked and hope to God all of his albums get reissues someday.
And Kevin Ayers, damn.
I actually like Soft Machine though, despite their status as "Dude Music"...check out their first album. Anything with Wyatt singing = genius
By Emily on November 25, 2008 10:37 PM