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Malcolm Middleton - "Carry Me"
Ex-Arab Strap wordsmith Malcolm Middleton's back with his fifth solo album, Waxing Gibbous. As he puts it, "This is a very self-aware record, which is hard if you're aware that what you're doing may not be any good." Thing is, it is good, especially the standout "Carry Me." We asked him about it.
"Carry Me" has a hopelessness to it, but the character's situation is complicated via your use of humor. What's the story behind it? I suppose "Carry Me" is really an adult's reaction to the failed promises of youth, where we turn a point and realize we've lost our imagination and innocence. It's an autobiographical expressive rant. Watching Roxy Music and Duran Duran videos, Cadbury's Milk Tray adverts on TV ... this is the way I thought life would be when I was seven years old! Musically it's quite circular and descending and I think this creates the nostalgic and familiar mood. Recurring mistakes, leading to positive realizations. It does reek of death and remorse a little bit; our declining society and over-saturated culture. The chorus is the consoling hug thrown in to help things a little.
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)
