Finally, I Might Like Music Again-ish.
August 10th, 2006 . by matt
Regina Spektor
Originally uploaded by Chase Allgood.
I have been listening to this girl. Her name is Regina Spektor. I bought her first album, and it took me a long time to like it. But for some reason I stuck with it. That’s not something I usually do with music… multiple listens. Maybe because before now, I was tainted by the music industry and their ridiculous obsession with finding a “hit” that would “catch” a listener upon first listen. So I stopped listening.
She sings weird. She writes very silly lyrics, sometimes. But I really love Regina Spektor, right now. Her new album, ‘Begin to Hope’, is even better than the one before, “Soviet Kitsch”. It IS more “accessible”, which I admit to liking, but it’s still odd enough to be an aquired taste, if that’s your thing.
Thanks to iTunes little “You MIght LIke This Person if you Bought This Album” business, I just got the new Arcade Fire album, attracted by a review that warned that the album was a slow burn, but worth the work. So far, they’re right. It’s awful indie rock for me. But I promise to hang in, there. It’s an album that speaks of recently passed loved ones, and this month I’m kind of into that.
Also, Wolfmother is pretty neat. For lots of noise. And echoes of Jethro Tull, towards the end of the album. Again, not really my thing, but I’m trying to expand.
Then I start thinking, “what IS my thing, exactly?” Well, there’s not much to it.
Matt’s Top Five Favorite Songs for a Good Long While:
Losing My Religion, by R.E.M.
the Luckiest, Ben Folds
Almond Kisses, Spacehog
the Origin of Love, Steven Trask/John Cameron Mitchell
Words of Wisdom, Evan Bivins
The top five are only placed there because those songs continue to invoke an emotional response in me when I hear them… due to the nature of the lyrics, or the nature of the sense memories they call up in my brain. I have been accused recently of being someone that likes pop songs, and I did not in any way deny this. And what’s worse is that I feel completely validated by my love of pop, due to the fact that for many years I was a part of a group that wrote all kinds of music, most of it with pop sensibility but sometimes not. My favorite Jump songs were the poppier ones, of course. For someone that tends to complicate things in his life, I sure do like a simple tune.
So I am sure that there are some suggestions for me. Though I can’t promise to be as good as Zach Braff about checking out groups that people recommend, I’m certainly in the market for things to listen to. Thanks in advance!
i can’t really seem to take ‘about:face’ by the working title and ‘mutemath’ by mute math off of loop-repeat on itunes.
someone sent me ‘poor little rich boy’ by regina…i dont know that im really into it. acquired taste is a good way to put it. not that its offensive. just that its for the right mood or something.
and there’s nothing wrong with a love of pop.
and i’m not saying that just because jtimbs’ sexyback is completely the proverbial shit
but yeah. the working title and mutemath.
let me know your thoughts.
also ‘the luckiest’ never fails to shamble me. excellent choice.
Nothing wrong with pop. Music is like reading or the movies. Sometimes you want to be challenged and have to think deeply about meaningful issues and such, and sometimes brain candy is exactly what the doctor ordered.
I still can’t get into Regina Spektor and I’ve been trying for awhile now.
Almond Kisses is a great song. I love Spacehog. In fact, I love all those songs in your top 5 except the Ben Folds, but I’ve never really liked Ben Folds.
recommendations:
The Divine Comedy - I really don’t know how to describe them. They have quiet a few pop-ish sounding songs though and new album out that I just can’t stop listening to. And I think they toured with Ben Folds a few years back…actually, now that I think about it, I vaguely remember an old journal you wrote on the jump site about seeing The Divine Comedy open for Ben Folds. But I still recommend The Divine Comedy!
::writes down others recommendations to check out::
music i can’t stop listening to right now:
Mighty Purple (mightypurple.com)
rock/pop (local to CT band whom i’m sure i’ve mentioned before on opium). their new stuff is pretty different from their older stuff but all of it is incredible and awesome. “para mejor o pejor” is my favorite album of theirs although “prefables” is also really awesome.
Todd Snider (toddsnider.net)
folk singer who has songs about everything from beer runs to child abuse. favorite album: “Near Truths and Hotel Rooms” because it’s live, has funny stories for some songs and is also kind of a “best of” album. this guy is amazing. just put out a new album too “the devil you know”.
Jonathan Coulton - “Skullcrusher Mountain” (jonathancoulton.com)
if you want a laugh and a catchy tune you won’t be able to get out of your head and will have people looking at you funny if you sing aloud go find this song. it’s a free download on his site.
it’s a twisted song from the point of view of an evil mad scientist. and it’s a love song. sorta.
he also has a bizarre remix of “when i’m 64″ and “25 or 6 to 4″.
Common Rotation
folk/pop duo made up of Adam Busch (aka warren on buffy) and Eric Kufs
really good music.
okay okay i’ll stop now. hehe
“i kissed your lips and i tasted blood” is a great lyric, innit? haven’t checked out her new album yet, but it’s on the list.
i went to high school with a now up-and-coming rap group supreeme, and i’ve been told by fellow grady high alums that their first, totally indie album is better than the new we’re-on-a-record-label one. http://www.supreeme.com/Bangers/
“80’s crack dealers” is a favorite. “international bachelors” is another. i’m really amused by the fact that i saw them at house parties back in the day, and now they’re warped tour veterans!
and i finally found the tiger lillies’ album the gorey end! crazy hilarious. totally up my alley. that was your doing, daddy-o.
Listen to Beirut! They are quite hot right now. Also, Elbow is a great band that it seems many people haven’t heard of.
I love Regina Spektor. I find her playfulness really refreshing. I actually prefer Soviet Kitsch, because the latter half of Begin to Hope bores me to death. Too much slow packed together. I suppose that’s what I should give a few more listens to.
let’s go see wolfmother at centerstage in atlanta sept. 18 (monday)! i love that band…these aussies played there a few months ago–sold out.
3 of your top 5 are easily in my top 10!
My newly discovered artist that I can’t get enough of is Feist. We saw her at Lollapalooza and I immediately came home and bought her album, Let it Die, off iTunes. My favorite song so far is “When I Was a Young Girl”.
I don’t usually get really into female artists… no reason in particular, just a fact. She reminds me a little of Hope For Agoldensummer and also Fiona Apple, only not as angsty and scary. I saw Fiona live this summer and didn’t stay for the whole set because I think she’s actually insane, and it’s hard to watch someone go through that onstage.
Anyway, all that to say you should check out Feist!
as an addendum to my previous comment:
i started back at my radio station today, and the new albums that i enjoyed that i can recommend are jim noir’s tower of love, and the village green’s feeling the fall. both are pretty 60’s-influenced and poppy. and today a cd i ordered arrived called dark cabaret, a compliation of underground cabaret-type groups, including the dresden dolls. after an initial listen i’ve got a few more artists to check out, one being jill tracy. you can find it here: http://www.projekt.com/projekt/product.asp?sku=PRO00176
hope you’re feeling better.
just know you’re loved!
Gah. The Luckiest. Every time I hear that song I become entranced. And I’m convinced that I’ll never be able to listen to Words of Wisdom without crying. Your brother writes the most incredibly powerful lyrics. And Losing My Religion was the song that made me fall in love with the mandolin.
Lately I’ve been listening to a lot of:
Brandi Carlile (for my tragic side)
Keane (for my brit pop side)
Hem (for my peaceful side)
Josh Rouse (for my sexy side)
Matt Wertz (for my boys with guitars side)
Mat Kearney (for my odd acoustic yet slightly rappish yet kinda like Chris Trapper but not quite side)
Laura Veirs (for my girly naturey side)
I recommend all of them. I’ve even tried out The Fray. Not too bad I must say.
…and of course Jay’s myspace. =)
If you’re ever feeling kind of funky and cool (or british), check out Babyshambles. The frontman is a total trainwreck but the music is so cheeky that I can’t help loving him anyway. Down in Albion is the album you’d want, I think.
I stumbled upon your page the same way I stumbled upon Regina Spektor. I, too, had a simialr experience with her cds. I fell for her voice, really clear and amazing, and her song writing is quirky, and lyrics awkward, but it grows on you. I think music like this isnt the type you hear and go “yeah, okay, I like that”. Its more like falling in love, as in when you hear it you think “hum…I’m not sure about this, I want to understand it better” then “I need to listen again” and then “I want more” when finally, you’re hooked. And its not perfect, and it doesnt make sense, and it goes against your previous beliefs of what makes a good album…
wolfmother is fun, but how long can you pretend youre in the 80s? not very long. although i love that ‘woman’ song.
this year i swear by the soph albums by keane, snow patrol and the sounds. fuckin amazing.
do you listen to sufjan? bono will always be my jesus, but theres something about sufjan that makes me feel loved. and banjo never sounded so pretty.
i think the above gal megan must work for aware records.
laura viers’ ‘magnetized’ is the bomb. as is the cover two french girls did of it: http://streamos.nonesuch.com/download/nonesuch/french_magnetized.mp3
ooo! and dude you must, if you havent already, check out DeVotchka. hey scored “Little Miss Sunshine” and are pretty damn cool. stream some of their stuff on their myspace. and they covered ‘the last beat of my heart’ and ‘venus in furs.’ nuff said.
zach braff zach braff zach braff!
I’m late on commenting, but I just found your blog so forgive me.
When I first discovered the Arcade Fire I couldn’t tolerate the vocals, but after hearing the album a few times I actually started craving them. If you end up liking them I highly suggest seeing them perform because it’s an amazing experience.
Finding new music is hard these days because there’s so much out there to filter through - the best way to find out is through word of mouth, really. The internet makes it so much easier, otherwise, how would a girl living in Texas find out about a band in South Carolina? That’s how I found JLC so many years ago.
There’s also pandora.com which is an interesting concept, but to me, kind of a crapshoot.
Sun Kil Moon
album: “Ghosts of the Great Highway”
ethereal
[url=http://halfpriceviagra.blogspot.com/]Half Price Viagra[/url] & [url=http://hometown.aol.com/maoko7676/Girls.html]Girls[/url]