Bones bones brittle little bones

This is a pretty feel-good/end-of-the-summer track from Canadian band Islands. I think I've mentioned Islands before (at least in passing or in a playlist). I first caught wind of Islands through a CD swap and frankly, wasn't all that impressed. They were a little generic and, overall, did not do it for me.

However "Don't Call Me Whitney, Bobby" is a pretty polished and up-beat pop track (credit to fellow editor A for digging it up). Fresh doesn't even begin to describe how the track feels. It kind of has the Brett Dennen happy thing going, and it kind of gives me a toothache in the same way Dennen does (because its way too sweet in its composition). The song also has that same "Electro-Socket Blues" (a Rogue Wave song) thing going in terms of the content of the song. "Don't Call Me Whitney, Bobby," as far as I can discern, is about eating disorders. The lyrics actually lean towards brilliance: "total void tells me stories/sometimes they make me sorry," sings Nick Diamonds, Islands frontman.

The song is great-enjoy the last bit of summer.

"Don't Call Me Whitney, Bobby" by Islands from Return To The Sea (2006)

-S

Tell us what we did wrong, then you can blame us for it

I just stumbled on to "Heretics" by Andrew Bird, and I think I'm in love. The song starts off with a pretty awesome intro, layered guitars and then breaks off in to a driving drum and then Bird breaks in with his violin and absolutely haunting vocals (the kind of thing you might expect from Elliot Smith a la "Needle In The Hay" and " How To Take A Fall").

Bird however, sings with the upbeat-ish sound that you hear in Rogue Wave's "Electro-Socket Blues" *albeit a little turned down on the peppiness scale but with dark lyrics that I loved so much). Bird chimes in with this line: "You make your mountains of handkerchiefs where the mascara always runs," (LOVE IT!).

The violin comes off perfectly, somehow fitting with the percussion and driving the songs melody through the guitar. Furthermore, no instrument truly dominates the song in a way that's obtrusive to the others. As I said before Birds vocals are haunting and really stick with you. You simply cannot get this song out of your head after a listen. Enjoy! (Chag Sameach Pesach-if your a member of the tribe that is)

"Heretics" by Andrew Bird from Armchair Apocrypha (2007)

-S

P.S.-The album cover is great, not sure why is reminds me of the cover of Hawken's "The Ecology Of Commerce" not sure why...
P.P.S. This song is not Passover related, but it is Kosher for Passover at least.

Always assigned to me

I realize I'm hardly as diligent as Spencer when it comes to posting — thus, I have gathered my things and sat myself in front of my computer minutes before I am to leave (to attend a concert with my entire family, believe it or not) to get this done.

The way I grow unhealthily obsessed with music is through scavenging and iTunes' repeat button. What's sickening is that I'm usually more inclined to get into a band if I'm positive no one else that I know has talked about them before.

That being said, I know that Rogue Wave is a terribly popular band among indie folks (and the pseudo ones we tend to see more frequently). After getting Spencer into the groove of "Electro-Socket Blues" and finding every circumstance under which I could listen to the album Asleep At Heaven's Gate "appropriately", decided to keep checking in on them.



Here's "Good Morning (The Future)" off of their still-warm album Permalight. Less lilting, but otherwise bumpin'. Angels & Airwaves done right, almost.

— ɱ

P.S. HA! Beat the Sunday Playlist.

P.P.S. Good Morning (The Future) [Live] — not as groovy, but definitely more charming.