The 'Gum Drop

Wednesday :: September 12, 2007

'Gum Drop Giveaway #3
Two lucky winners each win an Official Crown Of Laurel limited-edition Junior Senior cap along with a bundle of rare Junior Senior goods, including a Hey Hey My My yo-yo! Enter now »

Marissa Nadler (featuring Black Hole Infinity) - "The Whole Is Wide"

This week's Drop brings the dusky folk beauty of Marissa Nadler's "The Whole Is Wide," a gorgeous, melancholic ballad she wrote and recorded at Black Hole Studios in Providence. Here's Marissa on "The Whole Is Wide":

This is a new song dealing with three different stories coinciding into one main theme. Memory and dream play a large part in the subject matter. Sonically, it is far more layered than my previous work ... an indication of the area I am developing towards, with heavy distorted electric guitars and dreamy background vocals.

What are the three stories?

I think leaving the mystery is good...

///

Okay, we agree to a point, but in the spirit of completism, take this mini cheat sheet: As far as we can tell, on top of flowers and wax, the song includes three characters -- Sylvia, who sits in her room in an eyelet dress "painting golden moons," Layla, who loves a man that dies in a "fiery crash," and a "more than blue" (i.e., violet) protagonist -- each dealing with chilly lonesomeness.

Also, we think it's one of Marissa's best songs yet.

Premature Evaluation - Band Of Horses Cease To Begin »
We called Band Of Horses' follow-up to Everything All The Time "very pretty, but very slight." Our readers are divided: Some think it's "shitty," "boring and sappy," while others call it "a really great record" and a sign of the band's maturity. Our favorite suggestion? "Needs more reverb." At least everyone agreed that naming a song "Detlef Schrempf" is pretty cool.

Norah Jones Covers Arcade Fire »
Following recent Arcade Fire covers by Foo Fighters and Calexico, Grammy's favorite jazzy chanteuse brings Win & Co. one step closer to total NPR domination, putting a sultry spin on "Ocean Of Noise." Here's hoping Mandy Moore tackles "(Antichrist Television Blues)" next.

Liveblogging The 2007 VMAs »
We persevered through Britney's belly flop, Pete Wentz's mic issues, and Dr. Dre's chronically inflamed pecs to bring you a VMA play-by-play, but Fergie couldn't even show us the courtesy of attending to accept her Best She-Male Artist award.

Internet Song Of The Year »
As written about in the LA Times, InternetSongOfTheYear.com is looking for America's next great music artist! Judged by 3 industry songwriters, awards of $100,000. Enter to win!

Have you got the internet song of the year?

Unsubscribe, About Us, Privacy, etc
Unsubscribe here- we'll remove you immediately and you won't hear from us again unless you re-subscribe. We will never, ever share your email with anyone, although you can choose to share it when you enter a contest, but it's not required, and will not influence your chances of winning either way. Read our privacy policy for more. Our Terms & Conditions could probably use a good read, too, especially since it covers contests, and we've got a contest in this email. Read more about Stereogum here.