A Bit of a Break

this blog isn’t dead, but things are going to be kinda slow around here until i finish my MA research project (due august 1st).

i’m working on reviews for the new beck and made out of babies records. i should also have a concert review coming up as well.

Filed under: News

Sigur Rós – Með Suð í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust

on their most straightforward and accessible release to date, sigur rós trade their e-bows for acoustic guitars and explore the freedom of being sigur rós, while shedding much of the ethereal sound they’ve developed over the years. they continue to craft very uplifting songs, but this is the first record of theirs that hasn’t been emotionally overwhelming, with the opening song “gobbledigook” showing a very different side to the band: their sense of humour. so while these songs don’t swell with emotion like one might expect, they still manage to rouse the listener in new and surprising ways. “ára bátur” best resembles what the band has done in the past, yet instead of relying upon crashing guitars for the song’s climax, they use a choir and orchestra to create the desired mood with cathartic bombast. aside from that gorgeous number, however, much of the record spends too much time struggling to find itself, which sounds pretty, but is more tedious than anything else.

just as an aside– if you have any interest in icelandic music and also have some time to kill, i recommend watching ari alexander ergis magnusson’s documentary screaming masterpiece, on pitchfork.tv. it’s a pretty informative take on the music scene in reykjavik, balancing talking-head interviews and musical performances quite well. be sure to act quickly though, its time on pitchfork.tv is short (its run ends this friday).

Filed under: Album Review , 2008, iceland, Með Suð í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust, reykjavik, screaming masterpiece, Sigur Rós

A letter to Peter Gabriel from the desk of Michael Rancic

dear peter gabriel,

apparently you want to cover vampire weekend’s “cape cod kwassa kwassa.”

please don’t.

love,

mike.

Filed under: News , "cape cod kwassa kwassa", awesome letters, cover songs, peter gabriel, vampire weekend