20 Comments

Vari is the best shit I've heard since I can't even remember when. Holy crap thank you for following that other dude's substack and putting it on yours. As far as Indian music goes I've really only dabbled in some bollywood soundtracks and Junun, the Jonny Greenwood album he made with Indian musicians. There's nothing else like the tabla drum sound, anytime I hear that in a song I start bumpin.

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I'm thrilled to hear that! It really is like nothing else I've heard recently. What a massive talent.

And yeah, agreed re tabla. So fucking groovy. Put tabla in everything, I say.

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On Audio Spackle, you used to ask what music the guest wished they could like, and it's getting to the point where I suppose my answer would have to be Nada Surf because they will just not go away. Although it sure seemed like they were away for awhile there. Did I only imagine that? Anyway, I'll keep trying. Like how I watch Repo Man every ten years to make sure I still hate it and everyone who loves it.

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Yeah, at the end of the day, certain bands just to click with us. Especially one like Nada Surf, that isn't doing anything particularly revolutionary--the songs are either going to hook you o they're not. That's how I feel about The National--so many people I respect love them, and I can parse why people enjoy them, but...nope.

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Yes, I will not be listening to The National every so often to make sure I don't like them. They are like a micro Creed where it's hard to understand how they are so popular because no one you know can stand them.

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The longer we all keep spinning around on this planet, the more I am convinced that Nada Surf is actually the best band. Sure, they've got some pretty major hurdles to jump: The Beatles exist, so do The Rolling Stones and the Bay City Rollers. But what I am getting at here is that NS is simply better at songs than any other band. I think I've proven my point sufficiently here.

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You make a strong case here. But have you considered Saigon Kick?

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I say "unwieldly." I don't think "unwieldy" is a word. BUT, I just Googled it and as it happens I have been incorrect for my whole life, which is 53 years minus however old I was when I first decided I was right and everyone else was wrong about "unwieldy". Ok, this is humiliating. I'm just going to hit [BACKSPACE] and make this terrible confession go away\\\\\\\\\

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GODDAMMIT

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Drunk

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I sat next to Matthew Caws at a holiday dinner eight or nine years ago. What a lovely guy. We talked about leaving cults. It’s very cool that “Popular” enabled Nada Surf to keep doing what they do, and always good to hear something new from them.

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Wait, was he in a cult? Were you? Or you two were just chatting about leaving cults, as a topic?

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Matthew was not in a cult, but his father (a philosophy professor) grew up in a very repressive British sect called the Exclusive Brethren, which he fled after college. I was raised Mormon, which some people (like me) will call a cult and some won’t, but it’s damn hard to leave too, and destructive to the ones who try.

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He IS lovely! I was at a Nada Surf gig in a small venue and the whole band - all lovely guys! - hung out after and chatted with us. Matthew walked out on the floor of the venue with an acoustic guitar and sang for our small group of fans who knew better than to walk out during the encore! Their kindness is an essential reason why I love them and it’s great that they also write wonderful songs. I listened to the Bandcamp release party/debut of the new record and the whole band was in the chat listening with us and answering questions.

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That's so awesome. I don't know why I don't think to to participate in stuff like that. Was it a Zoom thing, or more like an AMA?

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Sep 30Liked by Christian Finnegan

It was hosted on Bandcamp itself, so audio and chat only, no video. It was great, plus I got that kid-getting-away-with-finding-the-hidden-candy rush of hearing the album a day early!

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You only think you've gotten away with it. You'll be hearing from the FBI shortly.

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Mark Robinson is such a psychopath that he's pushing this whole state blue! 💙💙💙

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Ugh, Kambri will be devastated/

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(Just decided that "Kambri loves Mark Robinson" is my new bit.)

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