On Bullshite

Can you tell..? Hehe. I don't feel like I could ever be a real reviewer. You must have a endless supply of adjectives and knowledge about everything older. Well, that's what blogs are for, practice and subpar-ity.

I applied online to volunteer at ACL yesterday. Everything looks pretty good, except that they started taking applicants at the beginning of July. Oh well, I'll probably have a good chance next year, seeing as how one of the positions is working with the kids and boy should I have experience in that.

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"Take Your Carriage Clock And Shove It" - Belle And Sebastian
"Push Barman To Open Old Wounds" [2005]
http://www.belleandsebastian.co.uk/

Scottish band B&S's latest is a compilation of all their hard to find EP's released under their old label Jeepster. For those listeners who aren't familiar with this twee pop band, they've been making sweetly orchestrated pop coupled with clever lyrics since the early 90's. As for their influences, think Nick Drake and the Smiths plus a bit of the Charlie Brown theme song. This particular song harks back to their older material and lacks the synthy spark characterizing the direction in which they are currently moving. I marvel at how boyish lead singer Stuart Murdoch manages to croon curse words and still make his songs flow like honey through our ears. "Take Your Carriage Clock And Shove It " just pushes the clouds away, a perfect soundtrack to a delicate and soft summer day spent outside in the sunshine.

You can download this track at Insound.

And if that doesn't work, it is also offered at Amazon to registered users.

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Official Feist review:

"Mushaboom" - Feist
"Let It Die" [2005]
www.listentofeist.com

I don't know much about blues, jazz, or folk music, but it seems as if Leslie Feist has really got her roots down. In the past, the singer has lent her sultry vocals to the Kings of Convenience, labelmates Broken Social Scene, and who'd have guessed, shock rocker Peaches. Then she decided to become her own band and this album was the result. If we must define by hopping genres, she could probably be labeled as the "indie" Norah Jones. The first single, "Mushaboom" sounds so vintage that it might make you want to buy LPs again. In it she paints the dreary scene of city life ("second floor living without a yard") but its gentle lilt puts the bounce back into your step. A fan describes her music as "stripped down, sensual pop music, with a touch of jazz and trip-hop around the edges." Recommended if you (secretly) like the aforementioned Norah Jones, French pop, or exploring hype.