To download this track, submit your email address. If you already subscribe to The 'Gum Drop, you'll get a link to the file, and if you don't already subscribe, we'll sign you up and send you a link.
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: Beach House - Teen Dream
When we meditated on Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally's gorgeous sophomore album Devotion we had the following to say: [Y]ou can't fall back on Mazzy Star or Galaxie 500 references because they've pushed themselves into their own, unique solar system.... (more)
New Jonathan Boulet Video - "A Community Service Announcement"
This dude's the latest signing to Australia's Modular label, landing with a tidy package of promotional offerings: a catchy, moistly breezy indie-pop debut single that couldn't be better titled for a meet-the-artist track; a subtly arresting/marginally tricked-out video; and a... (more)
New El Guincho - "Antillas (XXXchange Remix)"
When we first heard onetime BTW Pablo Díaz-Reixa, aka El Guincho, we were drawn in by "Antillas," a song we described as "a five-minute bundle of clattering loops and sunny harmonies." It was from the self-released Alegranza!, before he'd signed... (more)
Muse To Headline Coachella 2010?
According to Consequence Of Sound, a previously reliable source pins Muse to the coming year's desert fest headlining slot. Glenn Beck just bought a ticket. The dates are April 16-18. Oh and these Coachella headliner rumors? Needs more Pavement.... (more)
Parents Just Don't Understand Horrorcore
From hardcore to heavy metal to gangsta rap, local TV news teams have long warned parents about the terrifying new sounds rotting teenage brains. This week it's San Fran's KPIX on the horrorcore scene. Not all juggalos are murderers, dad!... (more)