Songs of the Week #3- Editors Pick
“the thick haunting cello parts, the crazy guitar”
JOHN:
“Baby” -- The Emerson Brothers, (covered by Ariel Pink's Haunted Grafitti)
The story of the Emerson Brothers, as I understand it, is that they were musicians when they were teenagers, writing their own songs. Their father, a farmer by trade, wasn't a fan of their music, but turned the barn into a recording studio because he loved and supported his boys. They made one album but didn't know how to shop it around. So they went back to the family farm. 30 years later, their children find a box of records with their parents goofy teenage image on the cover and sell it to Light in the Attic out of Washington. It is a beautiful, soulful record and I can only imagine what may have come from these boys if they had been able to fully pursue their dream. A great story, a great cover by Ariel Pink. Seek out the original, it is amazing, but listen here for how much influence a song can have even if it hasn't been heard of for over 30 years.
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MATTY:
"Silence" -- PJ Harvey
Last year at this time, we were overseas, doing a residency in Rotterdam in the Netherlands. We were probably a bit subconsciously homesick, and after looking around on the Internet one night, or else in iTunes, learned that there was a new PJ Harvey album out. "Silence" was the first track that we heard, and after downloading the entire album, we binged on it while writing in our studio there. Now, whenever I hear the album, I'm reminded of that perfect experience; and in reverse, I'll put the album on when I'm missing those moments, writing at night by candlelight in a strange and foreign land.
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ROY:
"Second Hand News" -- Fleetwood Mac
Catchy tune, perfect harmonies and backing vocals, awesome noisy guitar solo on the outro. Short and sweet and a great opener for a great album.
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CARRIE:
"Curs in the Weeds" -- Horse Feathers
I'm always happy to listen to sad-soul music. This song, and others by this band, make me feel like I've physically been displaced and moved to a location, city or nature, that I've never actually been to, yet still feels familiar. Plus, this line in the song is a small dagger, "It's like marrow without bone, to live in a house with no home." I guess they knew that line was good because they titled the album, House With No Home.
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SHENYAH:
“I Would Hurt a Fly” -- Built to Spill
I love the arrangement of this song, from the simple drum and guitar intro, the thick haunting cello parts, the crazy guitar breakdowns. The movement visits many emotions, I feel erotic, pity and rage. It’s sexy and frustrated. This album, Perfect from Now On, is stylistically one of my all time favorites. It timeless. Built to Spill really nails it.