If you came back as the deep sea, I would come back as the salt

I came home today to find this as a post from fellow music enthusiast on Facebook, it read; "cutest since Home," followed by a YouTube link. The reference, of course, was to the song "Home" by Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros which seemed to take the concert scene by storm late in 2009.


The video started off quietly, I wasn't really sure what to expect, maybe some folk type music and a great duet. As it turns out that is exactly what the Sheffield, England band Slow Club had to offer with their song "It Doesn't Have To Be Beautiful" off of their freshman album Yeah So. It was a black and white shot video, with kind of a Dan Deacon vibe (you'll see what I mean towards the end). The song takes on a less harsh tone than "Home" if that is even possible. It is slightly more mellowed out-the exchange however for that mellowness is a stage presense it seems far less than that of Edward Sharpe frontman Alex Ebert. Another stark difference is personnel, where Alex Ebert has almost 7 other members of the band, Slow Club boasts the duo of Charles Watson and Rebecca Taylor. One of the best parts of this song is the towering vocals that just kill it on this track (in a good way). And with the bass drum keeping rhythm-the song gets a chance to take itself to some interesting places with the complexity of the guitar part. All in all this is a close second in my mind to the Edward Sharpe ballad of "Home." Mind you though-it is a very close second place.

"It Doesn't Have To Be Beautiful" by Slow Club from Yeah So (2009)

-S

Throw it all at me, I can shrug it off

Today was a really long day. It had a lot of ups and a lot of downs. All in all I am extremely tired and I don't feel like writing a whole lot. However that doesn't mean I won't leave you without a straight jam to get you through a day like today.

So what would be a good couple songs to leave you with. The first one is a classic, The Rolling Stones doing "Beast Of Burden." It's an amazing song, and it always puts a smile on my face. The lyrics are great, on a day like today, I am really feeling this song.

The second tune is a little newer. I found this band a couple years ago on the soundtrack for something. I wasn't really sure how I felt about it. The more I thought about it though, it is one of the most uplifting songs I can think of. Not sure how many people know of the Polyphonic Spree, they are a little "different." This is in the sense that they feel like a cult, and have the precense of a band like Edward Sharpe And The Magnetic Zeros, just really really crazy. The song is "Hold Me Now," and it's really helping me get through today. Don't forget to enjoy!

"Beast Of Burden" by The Rolling Stones from Some Girls (1978)

"Hold Me Now" by The Polyphonic Spree from Together We're Heavy (2004)

-S

Just called to say hello, and that I love you so

Kind of a quirky song for ya'. This is the band Ima Robot, I just recently heard about them. The song I heard was "Hello I Love You." I instantly had visions of The Doors classic of the same name. However I soon learned the similarities end at the title. The lyrics are kind of cute in the same way I love the cuteness of songs like "I'm Sticking With You" by The Velvet Underground.


The premise of the song is that frontman Alex Ebert (also of Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros, Ima Robot was one of his first bands along with The Lucky 13's) is calling a girl and leaving a rather lengthly proffession of love on her answering machine. Ebert drops line after line to the girl, one of my favorites is this gem: "So get back to whatever it is your doin' that's so cool. I'll get back to kicking rocks down by the highschool." I'm not really sure what it is but this song just gets me.

I don't really have too much of an insight on it, so I won't keep ya'll hanging around. Enjoy!

"Hello I Love You" by Ima Robot from Search and Destroy (2006)

-S

Hot and heavy pumpkin pie

I probably should have blogged this song earlier. It came up on my shuffle this evening and I double checked to see what I had written about it, but as it turns out, this stone remained unturned. The band is Edward Shapre and the Magnetic Zeros the band being in the same boat as the idea of David Bowie's "Ziggy Stardust" persona.

The band is led by Alex Ebert who after being kicked out by his girlfriend and joining a twelve step program for a drug-addiction he formed a "messianic" figure in Edward Sharpe.

Much like Ziggy Stardust, Edward was sent down from space, however in this case he is here to save the world, not to warn us of impending doom as Stardust did. However as their homepage tells, Edward is continually distracted by girls and romantic flings.

Alex Ebert

The song in question is "Home," and it is truly beautiful. Starting out with a whistling hook, that is nothing but catchy and breaking off in to a pretty feel-good guitar riff. It then flows in to Jade Castrinos (who believe it or not is the happiest person I have ever seen) intro and becomes a duet with Ebert and is just pure unadulterated joyousness. By far one of the best duets I have heard in my life.

I had the opportunity to see these guys last November, and it was a total party. It was at the Pearl Street Theater in Northampton and it was so majestic! The energy that Ebert and Castrinos give off on stage is as infectious as it is palpable, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros is definitely a live act that you just have to go see to believe.

"Home" by Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros from Up From Below (2009)

-S

P.S. If you're interested in Eberts infectious stage prescense, here's a decent quality live version-I couldn't stop smiling just watching this