#465 – The Magnetic Fields, ‘69 Love Songs’

69 Love Songs (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Released: September 7, 1999
Label: Merge
Genre: Indie pop, baroque pop
Producer: Stephin Merritt

This is a magic little (big?) somewhat-oddity – a concept album about love songs (Merritt has said it’s not about love, but love songs), 69 in total, across 3 discs. As you’d expect there’s variety in the musical style across so many songs, but they’re basically folk-pop and you can’t not be delighted in sitting down for an afternoon and listening to these at length. Cute more than deep, this is a simple pleasure, but a big pleasure nonetheless.

And how I hope for me to one day see the album performed end to end over 2 nights, as has been done a handful of times since it was released. How very cool.

Best track: There’s a lot in here, and frankly a lot that I can’t remember. Grab a six-pack and sit in the sun and enjoy the whole album.

These weeks: I spent a few weeks on this album, which was probably unnecessary.. it’s long but not really that dense, but having said that it certainly wasn’t wasted time. One thing I have let up on a bit is listening to the album on my commute to work and I’m going to be re-instituting that rule, just to make sure I stay on track. Anyway the last few weeks have been fun, work is kicking along, and it’ll be Christmas party season soon. I’m enjoying my sessions with my PT and have been eating a lot better and drinking less and sleeping better, and it’s amazing how much better you feel when you make a handful of positive changes. And then you wonder how/why you didn’t make these changes so so long ago..

And my friend Ken and I went to the One Direction concert – an absolutely cracking time, and, well, say what you will about them but those lads work hard and know how to put on a good show.

#473 – The Smith, ‘The Smiths’

 

The Smiths (album) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Released: February 20, 1984
Label: Rough Trade (UK), Sire (US)
Genre: Alternative rock, indie pop
Producer: John Porter, The Smiths

Now THIS is an album that I’d really been looking forward to – this project was spawned from me wanting to listen to The Smiths, and New Order and Joy Division – so I had high hopes this week. Now, it’s not as though those hopes have been dashed.. but.. well I guess just like Life After Death, The Smiths’ debut album will require a whole lot more listening to pick apart and deconstruct and appreciate and understand. This is layered stuff and I know I’m not quite giving it justice right now. On my first few listens this seemed like such an oddity: the songs were very same-y, almost folky, and Morrissey’s moaning vocals sort of lurched from one track to another, plus the songs seemed to be so strangely constructed, so there was no easy way to get familiar with choruses and verses and melodies of each song.

If I hadn’t found it all so funny and silly I probably would have been disappointed. The adolescent complaining of some songs is almost absurd and you can’t help but elicit a laugh, and you feel like grabbing Morrissey by the shoulders and shaking him and urging him to wake up and smile! But I can’t call this funny and silly. The music is really something and there’s such a denseness and (obviously a) moodiness to it all, and as a whole album it impresses me, and there’s no denying The Smiths’ legacy. Even if you do listen with a wry smile.

This will grow on you though, which is probably the mark of a great album.

Top track: “This Charming Man” and “What Difference Does It Make”.

This week: Biding time until America. I haven’t yet worked out what albums on the 500 I’ll be listening to when we’re there, but I hope they’re good (and American!)..

#494 – MGMT, ‘Oracular Spectacular’

Oracular Spectacular (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Released: October 2, 2007 (digital)
January 22, 2008 (CD, LP)
Label: Columbia, RED Ink
Genre: Indie pop, neo-psychedelia, indietronica
Producer: Dave Fridmann

We started listening to this driving out of Smokey Bay in South Australia, coming into the last days of our big road trip. I’ll be honest and admit I’ve caught myself regretting this trip. Not that it’s been bad, I get the feeling I’ll be wishing for this same feeling of freedom and possibility soon enough, but objectively it just hasn’t seemed like much of a holiday. We’ve seen a lot sure, but all we’ve really done is drive. I get 20 days’ leave a year, and I’m spending most of it driving. Somehow though, I know I’ll look on this trip with a lot of fondness. People do talk too much, people do too much. There’s a simplicity to all this and I’ll smile when I remember it.

Now, I LIKE this album, second only to The Stone Roses out of the countdown so far. Of course I know a few of these tracks from Triple J, and this style is right up my alley. This is sort of what I like to call smart pop: good tunes, lots to it if you want to listen close, but fun to listen to, you can dance to it, and super-well produced. Young people making really good, modern music, and it makes me feel good. Ladyhawke and Cut Copy make me feel the same.

Anyone who complains about “the youth of today”, or Gen Y, or whatever other baseless moaning about their own shortcomings directed at young people the Boomers partake in, need only listen to this to see what being young and talented and bright-eyed and fun is all about. Better yet, fuck off and then listen to it.

Top track: “Time to Pretend” – such a great hook, such a great tune! Try listening to these lyrics as you drive a desert thinking about the future and see how you feel. And then do it, because there’s no time to lose.

This is our decision, to live fast and die young.
We’ve got the vision, now let’s have some fun.
Yeah, it’s overwhelming, but what else can we do.
Get jobs in offices, and wake up for the morning commute.

This week: I will remember this holiday as a great one. Driving is cathartic in a way. We saw Australia (we conquered Australia!), we drove over 5,000 kms, we avoided any breakdowns, arguments or freakouts, we re-calibrated  and we shut some doors and opened some others. This year is going to be good, we just need to get it started. And as I head back to work, I’ll remember what really matters.