Odawas’ fantastic The Blue Depths LP brought a subtle sea change for the Chicago-via-Indiana duo: the old signposts still stand (Neil Young, Grandaddy, lots of emotion), now weathered and washed with wisps of ’80s synths. The windswept, electronically infused lead single “Harmless Lover’s Discourse” is the set’s signature piece, pathos and nostalgia deep in Michael Tapscott’s voice as he sings “this could be the last day on earth,” bottling up a Big Moment in a touching four-minute pop elegy. So I guess you could say it moves me. This unassuming video by Elephant is a perfect counterpart. Choosing a still to represent the piece was impossible, given that the entire video is a series of clips surveying modern life, rubbish and beauty alike; it’s a composite of the Little Things, the shit you might miss when you’re gone, up close and from far away, shot and sequenced beautifully, bringing some new depth to the lyrics. It’s a slow news day. Watch it twice.
Odawas – “Harmless Lover’s Discourse” (MP3)
You should take this, too:
Odawas – “Swan Song Of The Humpback Angler” (MP3)
The Blue Depths is out via Jagjaguwar.
On tour:
04/11 – Merced CA @ The Partisan#
04/13 – San Diego, CA @ Bar Pink Elephant#
04/15 – Los Angeles, CA @ SilverLake Lounge#
04/16 – Sacramento, CA @ Luigi’s Fun Garden#
04/17 – Davis, CA @ Delta Of Venus#
04/21 – San Francisco, CA @ Amoeba In Store
04/25 – San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall$
05/08 – Portland, OR @ Backspace^
05/09 – Seattle, WA @ Crocodile Cafe%
# w/ Sholi
$ w/ Autolux
^ w/ La Bamba
% w/ Moondoggies
Related Stories |
|
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post, reply to, or rate a comment.
Oh wow this video is beautiful. The Blue Depths is easily one of the best records I’ve heard in a long time. Nice to see Stereogum continuing to give it the love it deserves.
the video takes this song to a whole new level. and man, those horses get me every time.
it also has the most enthralling album cover i’ve seen. I spent a week in the desert in palm tree groves trying to get some shots like it.
This video shows human existence as a complicated series of connected actions and experiences. It also teaches us that masturbating indian style, while sad and uncomfortable, not impossible.
“Zooropa” was the closest U2 ever got to being as existentialy badass as say “Lodger”…(I bring that up because of “The Wander” vibe…)the Zooropa title track can still raise the fur…it’s middle is flawed but the beginning and end make up for it…Brian Eno may have been involved a little…
This video is unexpected, poetic and insightful. It captures a feeling that is hard to describe with words.
Amazing song… Could’ve gone fine without some of the imagery found in the video.
Definitely one of my favorite albums this year. Such a huge leap forward from them. Deserves so much love!