» …that makes me hate myself

I Will Put a Baby in Chan Marshall

admin — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 06:56:36 +0000

Perhaps this is a completely inappropriate header, considering the subject of this song, but this Cat Power performance of Nude As the News is so powerful I don’t even have time to cry. It’s like she’s tearing out my jugular and eating it, and somehow making me ENJOY it.

She hits that first “Jackson, Jesse.” at 1:53. It is…perfect. I’ve watched the same eight seconds of this video twenty times already. I see shit like this and I’m ready to retire from music forever. She sets that emotional bar so impossibly fucking high I almost hate her for it but instead I love her for it.

Lock me in a closet with Annie Clark and Chan Marshall. Please. There will be babies flying everywhere. Huge ones. Huge babies come flying out of the closet from our epic lovemaking. No pregnancy. Just instant baby.

Younger, Better-Looking People With Better Ideas and More Talent

admin — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 21:57:06 +0000

I’d tell you I’m losing my edge, but I never had one to lose.

I am only the picture of fear and insecurity as I continue my ceaseless journey into the wilderness that is the music industry.

My latest anti-hero? The Tallest Man on Earth (aka Kristian Matsson). He is younger, better-looking, sings as well or better, and plays the guitar a thousand times better than I. He already toured with Bon Iver. He’s only been on the scene a few years and people are already dropping Dylan Quarters around him. Look at this gushing post on him on The Tripwire. How will I ever compete with this guy? (Although, ironically, I’m probably taller than him.)

I don’t know what I’m doing and nobody has ever heard of me. I’m not sure my music’s any good. And I’m not crazy enough to walk around with a gigantic ego like many of these people. This is nothing but self-mutilation.

Maybe I should stop listening to music altogether.

Songs that make me hate myself – Stornoway edition

admin — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 01:21:09 +0000

This band out of Scotland*, Stornoway, has a single out called “Zorbing”.

Listen.

As a newly-minted solo artist, I’d say 30% of my energy is expended creatively, 30% on the business/marketing side, and the rest is spent propping up my fragile ego; telling myself to keep working, to do what I have to do to be a successful artist and not get too down on myself. But now and then, a song comes along that, from the first note, knocks me flat on my ass. Such is the case with “Zorbing”. Forget the enchanting melody. Forget the thoughtful lyrics. Forget the tight backing vocals and the fact that this is a BAND, not just one lonely dude with a guitar.

Brian Briggs (the lead vocalist) starts the song out with a single syncopated note. Then his voice comes in as if from the stars themselves “CON-quers…!” It makes me think of how I open “Colorful Kid” except a berzillion times better. It hurts.

The only thing to do is learn the song and hope you absorb some of its energy.

*[CORRECTION: Stornoway the band is in Oxford. Stornoway the place is in Scotland. Thanks to astute reader Bee.]