NEW MUSIC FOR OLDS #23
Escape from Fuddy Duddy Territory
Why hello there. We meet again. Excuse me while I slip into something more comfortable.
In today’s installment of NEW MUSIC FOR OLDS:
Gimmicks that actually work!
Late night grooves!
Songs that have always existed!
A touching send off for Hjalti, the Stolid!
And, adventures in musical time-wasting!
Shall we begin? Yes, but first:
GOOD STUFF
The Glossary of Terms tolls for thee.
July Talk, “Hold”
Listen on Apple Music // Listen on Amazon Music
Album: Remember Never Before
Nutshell: Tasteful indie pop
Voltage: 5
Thoughts: This low impact indie pop tune gives me visions of 90’s VH1—INXS and Zooropa-era U2 spring to mind. If I was Canadian, I’d likely have heard of July Talk. They’ve won a couple of Juno Awards and have a sizable following, including lots of “superfans” speculating about the romantic status of the band’s dual lead singers. I don’t super care about the gossip stuff, but July talk (boring name) does have a neat gimmick. The two vocalists—one gravel-throated, one helium-induced—-sing back and forth to each other, as if in conversation. It borders on cutesy, but cutesy has its place. Consider me charmed!
Pairing Suggestion: Feeling an unexpected surge of love for your longtime significant other
River Tiber, “Hypnotized”
Listen on Apple Music // Listen on Amazon Music
Album: Dreaming Eyes
Nutshell: Alternative R&B
Voltage: 5
Thoughts: Most new music comes out on Fridays these days, so I usually spend an hour or so toggling through new releases once I climb into bed. I stumbled upon River Tiber (weird name) in one such late night listening session, and it was the perfect setting for this smokey, slightly trippy R&B. This album goes down very smooth, and I can tell it will be getting a lot of ear time. Oh btw, River Tiber is my second Canuck artist in a row. Does this entitle me to funding from the Canadian government? Make me an offer, Justin!
Pairing Suggestion: Nodding off in the VIP area.
Divorce, “Checking Out”
Listen on Apple Music // Listen on Amazon Music
Album: Get Mean (E.P.)
Nutshell: Country-tinged Britpop(?)
Voltage: 6
Thoughts: Sometimes you hear a song and think it’s a rip off, but for the life of you, you can’t identify the “original”. Eventually you’re forced to conclude that it’s just an extremely catchy melody. “Checking Out” starts out as something like a country song—odd, given that Divorce (dumb name) is from Nottingham, England. Maybe that’s not so odd—both Country and Britpop cherish austere songwriting. This tune has smart lyrics, a creative vocal arrangement and sparkling guitar tones, but it’s the faux-familiar melody that keeps me coming back. Here’s to songs that seem like they’ve always existed.
Pairing Suggestion: Singing along, possibly buzzed
So…feelings?
And comments?
SOME BULLSHIT
If there’s one thing to know about me, it’s this: I am the Lebron James of time-wasting. We’re talking decades of sustained excellence in the field of dilly-dallying. But this week, I really outdid myself.
I’d been struggling settle on a SOME BULLSHIT topic. I was alone in an upstate cabin, with two full days set aside for the task, but I kept coming up empty. Instead, I rewatched the first two Indiana Jones movies (spoiler alert: Temple of Doom is even worse than you remember). I completed four separate crossword puzzles. I gave the dogs a haircut.
But mostly, I watched amateur bassists play along to early 80’s British pop songs. Oh, you’d like to hear more about that? Well, if you insist.
A brief tangent:
I used to scoff at people who watch other people play video games. To be clear, I have nothing against video games. Quite the contrary. Just last night, I defeated two Drekis and a Berserker, bringing me that much closer to thwarting Odin and averting Ragnarok.
But the notion of sitting sitting idly by while someone else pushes all the buttons has always seemed silly and even a bit triggering, evoking the long hours I spent looking on in desperation as my older brother repeatedly hit ‘reset’ on his never-ending game of Combat. Oh how I longed to get my hands on that clammy joystick!
But I’ve since learned more about the culture of game-watching, and when I saw Bill Maher whining about it, I knew I needed to escape Fuddy Duddy territory.
I mention this because, who am I to judge passive game-watchers when I do the same thing with amateur musicians? It’s one of my all-time favorite productivity killers! Seriously, type any artist into the search bar, along with an instrument and the word “cover”. Pre-teens ripping though a Slayer classic? Yup. Disembodied hands playing the “Theme from M*A*S*H”? Way ahead of you. Anne Murray drum covers? They exist.
As I mentioned, this week’s rabbit hole of choice was the “New Romantic” era, with its under-appreciated basslines. Like, have you ever really listened to “Too Shy”? It’s Kaja-cuckoo.
FUN FACT: Kajagoogoo bassist Nick Beggs went on to play with progmeister Steven Wilson.
ADDENDUM: This fact may not have been fun. Hey look, a kid playing “Rio”!
And on and on. Poisoned arrows—they’re not just for perfumed fops anymore!
Fretless bass? Hell yeah, we got some of that.
Okay, just one more. Level 42 weren’t quite New Romantics, but man this song kicks a ton of ass.
Okay, I have to pull the plug. I cans’t waste time no more!
That’s all for today, friendies. I thank you for your support and I’d be honored if you’d consider foisting NMFO upon your friends and lovers.
Toodles.
Sorry that was River Tiber but u probably figured
As a bassist, i appreciate your choices. I can make it through Rio decently... John Taylor is really good. I can't do Too Shy yet. Nick Beggs is well beyond my capability, especially with slap technique. Give Alanis Morrisettes you oughta know a listen. Flea stuff the bass... Not ridiculously difficult, but lots of clever parts and improvisations.