I think you're the older brother

I found this song today and am quietly obsessed with it. The song is called "Older Brother" by California band Pepper Rabbit. The band releases their new (and first) album Beauregard on October 26th-and after hearing the first song off of the album via HypeMachine I think its going to be really excellent.

The song starts with this little eukelele solo mixed in with drums and a glockenspiel possibly. Overall the instrumentals in the song are very minimalist but it just makes it all the more clean in its composition. Then comes the vocals which are just amazing-its faded a little in the background in to an echo effect (much like the effects used by The Shins). I have not yet had a chance to really read an process the lyrics-the liner notes are still nowhere to be found. The song has this real sway to it that really demands your attention. The song lyrics from what I can hear are pretty sad. What really gets me is the refrain "And I think you're the older brother that I never had, I wish I could reach out and touch you, don't worry I'm not sad, I know you're just where you want to be" That line is just so beautiful-hopefully all of their songs will carry this lyrical weight-my anticipation for the album to come out is palpable right now.

"Older Brother" by Pepper Rabbit from Beauregard (2010)

-S

Sunday Soundtrack

This may or may not be my last Sunday Soundtrack before late August…

“Caring Is Creepy” by The Shins

“Zoloft” by Ween

“In The Kitchen” by Umphrey’s McGee

“I’m Looking Through You” covered by The Wallflowers

“Defeat” by Afu-Ra

“Orange Sky” by Alexi Murdoch

“Zebra” by John Butler Trio

-S

Who are you New Jersey?

I've always been a little bit weary of the Garden State (that includes the movie too...we all know that was an excuse for a Shins album). My hard exterior of an opinion of the state loosened up a little after a trip with some friends that led us through Sparta, NJ went well. I further softened when I learned that the band Fountains of Wayne hails from the state (they gained some noteriety for novelty song "Stacy's Mom" but are actually a pretty good band besides that song, try "Hackensack" on for size).

I was talking to my English Teacher, a New Jerseyite himself, about upcoming concerts; he mentioned a band he was seeing in his hometown of Glenrock NJ. I hadn't heard of them so I went home and downloaded a couple of songs. They were both six plus minute anthems and they were really great. The bands name is of the same name as a Shakepeare play; Titus Andronicus, most likely one of Shakespeare's earliest tradgedys, this band is anything but a tradgedy though (apart from the fact that they are from New Jersey, sorry old habits die hard). The lyrics are great, full of awesome references, much like a band I blogged about earlier; The Dimes. I don't really have much more to say about them because I really don't know them all that well, but so far so great.


The first song I listened to was called "Four Score and Seven," an obvious reference to the Gettysburg Address. The song is pretty raw in its vocals, Eric Helm's first lines in the song are as follows: "This is a war we can't win After 10,000 years, it's still us against them and my heroes have always died at the end So who's going to account for these sins?" MAN! THESE GUYS ARE AWESOME. The song also manages to give off a little punk rock sound which is great and according to their page are a take on the "shoegaze" bands of the 80's (think The Verve and My Bloody Valentine). Hope you enjoy!

"Four Score and Seven" by Titus Andronicus from The Monitor (2010)
"A More Perfect Union" by Titus Andronicus from The Monitor (2010)

-S

P.S. Best line from "A More Perfect Union" (another historical allusion) Helms drops this gem: "And if I come in on a donkey, let me go out on a gurney I want to realize too late I never should have left New Jersey" and that is only one of the best lines in that song...

Update: Try and find the Titus Andronicus song "The Theme From Cheers" it is really awesome, a total ballad like most of their songs at 6+ minutes here's the best link I could find from HypeMachine.

Sunday Soundtrack

Here ya' go ("Have a fucking awesome week"-Abe Lincoln)

"The Book Of Right-On" by Joanna Newsom

"Drops of Jupiter" by Train

"Falling Slowly" by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová

"Left & Right In The Dark" by Julian Casablancas

"Drug Dealer Girl" by Mike Posner and The Brain Trust

"Kissing The Lipless" by The Shins

"Cowgirl In The Sand" by Neil Young

-S

A good song, even if you haven't read the Arthur Pendragon books

I'd like to say thanks really quickly to Spencer for letting me blog.

At college, I swap music libraries like some people swap bodily fluids at college; frequently and indiscriminately. I get some good music from my friends, but more often than not I get music I don't mind, but I don't love. So when I heard "Flume" by Bon Iver my mind was blown. I had been shuffling through my ipod and this song grabbed my attention with the first few seconds.

The song sounded like the illegitimate love-child of Iron and Wine, The Shins playing in slow motion, and a homeless guy with a guitar crooning on the street. The melody is really haunting and eerie and gives you this sense that your surrounded in this strange mist. It reminded me of Samuel Beam of Iron and Wine fame, singing so softly you can barely hear and yet it consumes all of your attention.

The lyrics are really simple, but powerful. Strong enough to make you feel what the singer is feeling, yet vague enough that you can't describe what it is your both actually feeling. Musically, the song is pretty basic and a bit repetitive, but it's ok because that's how it was intended to be. Like showing up in jeans and a stained t-shirt to a friend's house, it's not bad because it's what's appropriate and what you intended. Definitely give it a listen.

"Flume" by Bon Iver from For Emma, Forever Ago (2008)

-E