“The guy from Blue’s Clues” was the number-one name attached to rumors of heroin-soaked death when I was in college, edging out Lane Staley and Jerry Cantrell, who were locked in an amputed-leg-wrestling match for second place. When you questioned whether or not “the guy” had really died, people who had obviously never seen more than five minutes of the show would say, “Well, that’s why he was replaced so suddenly,” because that’s how they heard the story. Then we’d throw something heavy into a gorge and pass out.
So it’s cool to see “the guy”, Steve Burns, not only came back from the dead, but with a solid album, just like Pete Doherty but without the sick implant. Songs for Dust Mites is heavily influenced by the Flaming Lips, which isn’t surprising, since his entire music career basically happened because of The Soft Bulletin, which he heard at a party.
Months after his unexpected creative explosion, Burns cold-called his favourite producer, Dave Fridmann, who’d worked with Mercury Rev, Mogwai, Sparklehorse and The Flaming Lips. The producer’s chilly response thawed when he recognised Burns’ name (Fridmann had just held a Blue’s Clues birthday party for his children) and turned into enthusiasm when he heard Burns’ demos. Next, Flaming Lips drummer and arranger Steven Drozd joined them, then came Lips bassist Michael Ivins, who engineered several of the sessions. Finally, even Wayne Coyne wafted into Burns’ orbit. But instead of music, Coyne wanted Burns for the movie he was directing called Christmas On Mars.
I realize that the album came out in 2003, and that it’s already been written up in Spin and the Observer as of last forever, but I’m just relieved to know he’s alive. And that the Flaming Lips are involved somehow. Somebody get the guy from Steampipe Alley high and play him some Yoshimi.
Steve Burns – “Mighty Little Man” (MP3 Link Expired)
(via That Girl Needs Therapy)
Update: Scott told me about Steve’s TMBG cover, which isn’t nearly as old as the rest of this post.
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hey, just to let you know, i ran into steve at a friend’s birthday party a few months back and he’s already amassing songs for his second album. got to listen to demos of three of his new songs and they’re even better (in my opinion) than the stuff on songs for dust mites and is a bit of a departure from the flaming lips inspired music. really good stuff. keep an eye out for it next year.
are you implying that babyshambles’ down in albion is “solid”? you mean, like a solid hunk of uninspired tripe, yea?
Usually you guys are on top of it, especially with the expanded writing pool, but dude…this is waaaay lame. It’s nice to give a decent disc a shout out but I swear Scott mentioned it back, oh, in 2003 when it first came out…
Hmmm, maybe he didn’t, I can’t remember…but I do know it got a fair amount of coverage due to a) Blue’s Clues and b) The Lips so this entry just seems a tad out of touch.
The guy from Steampipe Ally is Mario Cantone!!
regarding the “steve overdosing” rumor:
i dated a guy for 3 years who was steve’s best friend in high school. the two had a falling out because the Ex banged steve’s girlfriend or something. anyway, the Ex was still friendly with steve’s mom–they lived minutes from each other and were working together on some local museum-type project.
when we heard the heroin rumor, the Ex was actually really upset, and thought he should call steve’s mom to offer his sympathy. he said, “hi, i just wanted to call and say i heard, and i am so sorry.” pause. “well, you know, about steve.” pause. “well…isn’t he dead?” she was like, “WHAT?!?!? WHAT ARE YOU TAKING ABOUT?!?! OH MY GOD!!!!!” and hung up in a tizzy.
ooooops. that poor woman.
As the mom of a two-year old, i think this is the funniest news i have read all day. i missed it when it came out before. thanks! i like your diversity.
Thanks for the link, I’m glad someone else appreciates this good stuff – and that I’m not the only one who just discovered it recently! =D
“Songs for Dustmites” was my Totally Out of Left-Field Most Surprisingly Good Album of 2003. Props to Steve and the Lips for making beautiful music together!
Now, let’s just hope Wayne Coyne doesn’t decide to push “Christmas on Mars” back another five years!
snooze…
snooze… even mtv knew this two years ago.
Yeah, old news.
Although, I was glad to hear about Coyne finishing shooting on Christmas on Mars a few months ago.
maybe DORA & BOOTS can outdo them…
& do something with THE ARCADE FIRE….
swiper….no swiping…..
no cars go….
c’mon vamonos….
Personally, I liked the songs that (I believe) were the demos or early songs…the early version of Mighty Little Man, Dirty Hair Breakfast, I Wanna Be Your Alpha Male, etc.