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Centro-matic - "Christmas 83 (Make Fun Of My Sweaters)"
This week's Drop comes from Texas indie rockers Centro-matic. The previously unreleased wintry tune was produced by the band and Matt Pence during sessions for double-LP Dual Hawks, which is composed of half Centro-matic songs and half South San Gabriel songs. Both bands are led by songwriter Will Johnson, who answered our questions about wrapping gifts and donning gay apparel.
This is a bleak look at the holidays. What inspired it? Something about that Christmas was just a little, uh, drab. I remember a particularly attitude-stocked high school kid working at the wrapping table in the local mall. He was almost like a movie character or something. I had to put him in a song.
In general, was '83 a particularly chilly emotional holiday season? Yeah, somewhat. It was the first Christmas my Ma and I spent away from our hometown and family in Missouri. We moved to Texas earlier that year. I was young, and I guess a little homesick.
What's the significant of the sweaters? I had a real thick wool, very constricting, cabled grey sweater I was wearing around that time. I'm not sure why I chose to wear it so much. It looked just as uncomfortable as it felt. Maybe I thought I could somehow break it in to a comfort zone. Or maybe I'm just addicted to strife. Anyway, the memorable discomfort of that sweater is part of what inspired the song.
Bright Eyes/Neva Dinova Reissue Gets Four New Tracks
The original collaboration record One Jug of Wine, Two Vessels came out back in 2004, but the groups reunited last fall to write and record new songs at Mike Mogis's Omaha studio. The ten-track album will be out March 23.... (more)
Evan Voytas - "I Run With You, Spirit Animal" Video
Los Angeles-via-Pennsylvania multi-instrumental singer and home recordist Evan Voytas -- sort of a more clean-cut Ariel Pink -- creates strange synth-pop/space-disco outings that feel danceable but private and insular. The idea's explored in the video for his most recent single... (more)
Dr. Dog - "Shadow People" (Stereogum Premiere)
Dr. Dog have been a band for over a decade now, Philadelphia-based throughout. Their hometown hasn't factored much into their sound, which throws back to the Beatles-era of the classic rock school, or their themes and lyrical schemes. That's changed... (more)
Joanna Newsom - "Kingfisher"
We've heard the stylistically diverse "81" pastoral and jazzy "Good Intentions Paving Company" outing. Now, after adding the gorgeous 9-minute madrigal/short story "Kingfisher" to the Have One On Me tracklist, the only thing to be sure of is that the... (more)
