Lost Coastlines: discovering Okkervil River

Recently, I have (after quite a prolonged period of time), dived (head-first) into the music of Okkervil River. As the number of listens increase, so does my affection for the band. Much like the Decemberists, Okkervil River is a band not afraid of using multi-syllable words in run-on sentences. Much like the Hold Steady (and the Decemberists), Okkervil River tells the story of specific characters in their songs (for example, "Starry Stairs," my favorite of the Stand Ins, is a sequel to "Savannah Smiles" off The Stage Names, both of which eulogize actress Shannon "Savannah" Wilsey).

Musically, Okkervil River never ceases to impress. The theme that seems to run through most of their songs is a wonderful use of horns. On "A Girl in Port," off Stage Names, OR does a terrific job of blending horns with the slow croon of pedal steel alongside Will Sheff's vocals. On "Savannah Smiles," OR slows the pace as Will Sheff expresses a slow ballad, revealing his fatherly tenderness. "On Lost Coastlines" (the first full song off Stand Ins), the band picks it up, wonderfully blending banjo and guitar as they tell of their tumultuous times as a band. In fact, you can get Lost Coastlines for free here. So to all you out there, I recommend (as the summer dawns upon us) you pick up Stage Names first and, then, (if not at the same time) obtain a copy of the Stand Ins. Stage Names, while criticizing pop glory and the limelight, gives way to its sequel, Stand Ins, which highlights those working behind the scene to make pop stars what they are. My favorite songs (if you're one of those "song" people) are "Lost Coastlines," "Starry Stairs," "A Girl in Port," and "You Can't Hold the Hand of a Rock and Roll Man." Finally, for you fans of the Arcade Fire out there, please, please, please check out this band. While the Arcade Fire tries to be "epic" and fails, Okkervil River succeeds in almost every area the Arcade Fire fails.

Flying with Amanda Palmer in an Aeroplane over the Sea

It's always refreshing when a musical artist is actually working for art. In other words, instead of singing about the next boyfriend or girlfriend to be dumped or the fact that love just isn't working out, an artist puts his or her soul into a lasting work of genius. A work that makes you shiver in the spine or just simply start to cry. A work that leaves you with a lot to think about. A work that leaves you disturbed. But, most importantly, a work that is ultimately redemptive.

Amanda Palmer is (simply put) one of these artists. After embarking on an incredible solo project with the help of Ben Folds (Who Killed Amanda Palmer) as well as touring the record, Amanda returned to her former high school (Lexington High School) to work with the play/musical director there, Steve Bogart, on a musical adaptation of Neutral Milk Hotel's CD In an Aeroplane Over the Sea. An album I often ignored, In an Aeroplane deals heavily with Jeff Magnum's (the lead singer's) pondering on the Diary of Anne Frank. The musical (entitled With the Needle that Sings in Her Heart--a line from the song, Two Headed Boy) is basically the story of Anne Frank and deals with many of the harsh realities of the Holocaust, but ultimately holds out hope and redemptive themes. Although I have not seen it, I look forward to purchasing the DVD version as it is simply one of the most interesting, thought-provoking musicals I have ever heard of.

To read more:
a highlight of the story from npr
a sweet article on the musical/play

Heart-carved tree trunk, Yankee bayonet

A sweetheart left behind
Far from the hills of the sea-swelled Carolinas
That's where my true love lies.

None write stories the was Colin Meloy and his buddies do it. Whether it be the messed up family dynamics of a man in love with the daughter of a mob boss (O Valencia), a shipwrecked sailor finding the heartless man who murdered his mother (The Mariner's Revenge Song), or the love song between a woman and her lover, taken down as a casualty of war (Yankee Bayonet--whic is partially quote above), the Decemberists write some of the most imaginative stories and, consequently, lyrics.

So what happens when Colin cannot fit a full story in one song (even a nearly 10 minute song)? He writes a 17-track album (Hazards of Love) that covers one fleshed-out story. As Paste Magazine says, "Hazards, the Decemberists Capitol follow-up [to Crane Wife] is both the most daring and logical leap of the band's career." The saga includes guest voices, such as Shara Worden of my Brightest Diamond, to cover the four main characters (William, Margaret, the Rake, and the Queen). As the album builds, pivotal songs include The Wanting Comes in Waves/Repaid (where Shona, as the Queen, enters to debate with William, sung by Colin), Annan Water (where William begs for the water to calm so he can pursue his lover, Margaret), and The Hazards of Love 4 (The Drowned). I encourage everyone to procure a copy as Hazards of Love, next to Neko Case's Middle Cyclone is arguably the best album of 2009 thus far. In addition, to follow along with the story, the Decemberists have made the cd jacket available for free digitally on their website.

A word from my good friend (if only) Tullian Tchividjian

In his (quite good) book "Unfashionable," Tullian Tchividjian talks about the unity that Christians should be developing among each other, basing his arguments heavily on Ephesians 4:1-7. He talks about having traditional versus contemporary worship services and he makes this really interesting point I never thought about:

"I understand the good intentions behind these seemingly harmless efforts, but they evidence a fundamental failure to comprehend the heart of the gospel. We're not only feeding toxic tribalism; we're also saying the gospel can't successfully bring these two different groups together. It's a declaration of doubt about the unifying power of God's gospel. Generational appeal in worship is an unintentional admission that the gospel is powerless to join together what man has separated.

Building the church on stylistic preferences or age appeal (whether old or young) is just as contrary to the reconciling effect of the gospel as building it on class, race, or gender distinctions. In a recent interview, J.I. Packer said, 'If worship styles are so fixed that what's being offered fits the expectations, the hopes, even the prejudices or any of these groups as opposed to the others, I don't believe the worship style glorifies God.'"

wow. quite interesting, though (I think) profoundly true.

It's Blitz! and Full Moons

Every full moon, an artist changes their style completely and releases an album that catches you by complete surprise. Goldfrapp did this when they went from the tense electronic music of Supernature to the melodic, yet magnificent Seventh Tree. Dido also did this with incredible success when she ditched electronic sounds for pure instruments and more minor key music on Safe Trip Home. For more information on Safe Trip Home, see my earlier blogs (and, yes, just as Amanda Palmer of the Dresden Dolls sings of referencing your own songs within songs, I am referencing my own blog within my blog posts). Although I am not sure to what full moon the Yeah Yeah Yeahs responded, their newest album, It's Blitz! is a drastic change of style.

At first, I was shocked that Karen O. would so recklessly abandon her emotional, and at times semi-screaming rock music and encourage (legendary) guitarist Nick Zinner to lay down his guitar and pick up the synthesizers (which did have their glory days, such as on the album Born in the USA by Bruce Springsteen). What results, however, is an album just as raw with emotion and diverse in songs as both Fever to Tell and Show Your Bones. Much akin to Ray LaMontagne's newest album, It's Blitz! starts with songs (in this case two--Zero and Heads will Roll) that are quite upbeat and prepare you to dance your way through the album. However, the album quickly settles down with Soft Shock and pretty much remains on a mellow, chill-out mood. Karen O's desires to just bellow reveal themselves on the fifth track, the Dull Life. My personal favorite on the album is Runaway, an emotional saga about the inability to make love stay (a popular theme of the book Still Life with Woodpecker--again, see a previous blog entry). The song also maintains a steady build until it just explodes with goodness.

Overall, everyone should check out It's Blitz! It won't give you the same feel as playing Maps on guitar hero or listening to Show Your Bones will give you, but it is still a most excellent place to start (or resume) listening to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Lincoln, Nebraska

For all those of you who have the same upcoming spring break that I do (or a later one), I thought I'd grant you all a suggestion of three cd's you should listen to on you're time off. Consider it a spring break gift!!!!
First off, if you're just relaxing and what some soothing, but incredible Jazz, listen to Bare Bones by Madeleine Peyroux. This CD just came out a couple weeks ago and is her first full-length album free of any covers.
Second, if you want some folk rock, check out Neko Case's newest Middle Cyclone. While you're at her website, watch the music video for Maybe Sparrow. It's beautiful.
Finally, if you want the best rock 'n' roll you have ever heard (I know it's a bold, unprovable statement, but I'll make it anyways), listen to Magic by Bruce Springsteen.

Speaking of Bruce Springsteen, thanks to his "Hangin' out on E Street" promotion, an artist will put up a video every week of him or her covering a Bruce Song and then talking about how Bruce has inspired him or her. This week, it's my boy Josh Ritter with a fabulous cover of "The River." Bruce has so many songs with overly powerful lyrics, singing about the dark parts of life, but always leaving shreds of hope. The River and Nebraska are two of the most powerful (in my opinion. But, watch the videos here and please, please, please read the lyrics to "The River" here.

Princess Leigh-Cheri & the Outlaw, Bernard Wrangler

Frustrated with itunes as I merely opened it to listen to a sermon I missed by Jeff Manion and instead have to wait for it to download endless updates, I find myself here, reflecting. Taking up a recommendation by a friend of mine to read "Still Life with the Woodpecker" by Tom Robbins, I wasn't sure what to think at first. An overly cynical, but fantastic writer Robbins took a little while to get used to. The story is most literally "a sort of love story that takes place inside a pack of Camel cigarettes." I'm not going to explain the story to you--read it if you want--but that is the best description I can give. There's a quote in the end that I particularly liked, about the two main characters (and lovers) Princess Leigh-Cheri and the outlaw, Bernard Wrangler. It reads:

"But having acquired a taste for solitude, each of them spent days separate and alone, Leigh-Cheri in the attic, Bernard in the pantry. Funny how we think of romance as always involving two, when the romance of solitude can be ever so much more delicious and intense. Alone, the world offers itself freely to us. To be unmasked, it has no choice."

It's a powerful quote, especially with the surrounding context. Just to think how busy we try to make our lives when sometimes solitude is a great way to understand the world and even more so God. On an unrelated note, the book also deals wonderfully with the idea of objects and how animate objects (people) can form such intricate relationships with them. It's quite interesting. And, the book will have you wondering, "what did ever happen to the golden ball?"