Music to my Ears

Let me start off by thanking those that put their input in for my class choices. I'm much obliged and will let y'all know which one I decide on. In part of starting this blog, I was determined that I wasn’t going to make this thing completely hackneyed (though there was plenty of drama to expound on this past weekend if I wanted to put that here). Part of my scheme to follow this through will be posts such as these where I actually put some effort into finding something I believe is meaningful to talk about. Music is always high up on the list of things to talk about, so here’s the deal- at least once a month, I’ll get a post up here about music and one about books. Seeing as how I’m doing the music early on in the month, I’ll do the book later on in the month. Ah, I can already see a pattern. First Wednesday of the month will be Affie’s Music Wednesday (forget Mondays, though it would be alliteration, my favorite element of poetic writing—I’m sad to admit that I have a favorite poetic element...especially since it’s sad in itself). The last Wednesday of the month will be Affie’s Book Recommendation (or non-recommendation).

So…Music Wednesday…I’ve got a solo artist and a band. All links will be to the artist’s websites…probably, maybe not. You’ll have to click on them to see. Let’s start with Mr. Solo Artist. *drum roll* Sufjan Stevens. Don’t you just love his name? It’s so not your typical Matthew or John. Like his name, he is a unique person, especially since he can play oboe, recorder, banjo, guitar, vibraphone, bass, drums, and the piano, just to name a few. I was in love with him from the first mention that he plays the piano. Guys that play piano, although often nerdy-ish, are the handsomest in my eyes, no matter how coke bottle the glasses are on his face. There’s one older fellow that plays piano at the Nordstrom at Perimeter Mall. He’s my idol since he can carry on a conversation with someone, play from memory, and do some insane improvisation with common songs so that you know what it is and wish that the original composer had gotten this guy’s input. Back to Sufjan: I bought his latest album, entitled Illinois(e). I’m impressed. The first song, Concerning the UFO Sighting near Highland, Illinois begins with piano, meaning the whole album begins with piano, giving it an overall appealing manner and smoothness that always appeals to me. Though it exudes a mellow feeling, there are upbeat moments in many of the songs, and some even have a good beat, like Come on! Feel the Illinoise! (which actually has a longer name since both parts 1 and 2 have separate names) that almost sounds like the Charlie Brown theme, only better and folksier, which the whole album has a slight indie-folk-rock feel. There are also tracks without words, the first being THE BLACK HAWK WAR, or How to Demolish an entire Civilization and Still Feel Good About Yourself in the Morning, or, We apologize for the Inconvenience but You’re Going to Have to Leave Now, or, “I have fought the Big Knives and will continue to fight them until they are off our lands!” (gasps for air after reading title longer than those of Panic! At the Disco), and without words and listening to the meshing of the instruments together gives it an almost classical feel, but more jazz. If you want someone better known that Sufjan reminds me of, I would have to say Damien Rice. This album I would suggest to everyone, but find a place to listen to it first (you can get 30 second clips of all but the last two songs at amazon.com) since it’s not mainstream in any sense of the classification and wouldn’t fit everyone’s tastes. The last cool thing about Sufjan, his record label is called Asthmatic Kitty Records. Simone is so sweet, so never make fun of kitties with asthma!

Now for the band: The New Pornographers. I’ve been bordering on getting really into these Canadians for about two years now and I found out that my Aunt had their second album Electric Version, I ripped two tracks off that I had heard about a year ago now. Being at my grandparent’s house this weekend (where my aunt still lives), I had plenty of time to go through my aunt’s totally awesome CD collection, scattered throughout the house. Remembering this album, I searched for it and have been hooked for…maybe five days? About five, yes, and I’m now “into” this band of six very cool Canadians from Vancouver. The gal that sings vocals for the band is Neko Case, who has a successful solo career of her own, and sounds very folk-bluegrass-old-school-country. When added to a group of five other guys, the band is given a folk feel, but still reminds me of a cross between The Features and The Dandy Warhols— neither of which are very well known so lemme think for a minute…ah maybe The Shins? They are still kinda not as well known as some bands, but I can’t think of anyone else who they sound like. Anyways, so it’s some good alternative rock and perfect for head banging and turning up the stereo, one of my favorite past times. Everything is catchy and upbeat that they play, and I believe three of the five guys play keyboard, which leads me to believe if they wanted to, they could play some mean piano because the keyboards are super. Just for note, this is their second of three albums that I’m describing, that sounds a lot like their first one, but I’m not sure about their third one. I’m doing the second one and not the latest one because I don’t have my hands on the most recent one. Two of my favorite songs are at the beginning of the album, The Electric Version and From Blown Speakers. Both are stuck in my head right now. This album I would recommend to anyone and everyone. Who doesn’t like something that they can blow their speakers to? Though I’m not wowed like I was with Sufjan (since their sound is common) they still have a good feel for their instruments and have confusing but meaningful lyrics, which isn’t what you would think when you hear the immediately moving beat, like as in dancing, not emotionally. This is fun music, and good for short car rides and playing so loud that you feel the beat and your ears ring when you turn off the stereo.

That was the first Affie’s Music Wednesday and I hope my readers take the time to go off and listen to some not so main-stream music and hopefully pick up a copy of one or the other, and I’m always happy to burn copies if you are really interested and it doesn’t take too many stamps to send a CD.