lullatone

The year 2009 was, for me (as I’m sure it was for many people) a mixed bag. I’ve always found New Years Eve a fine time for reflection—or getting wasted, if you’re so inclined—and this year is no different. I don’t want to fixate on the fact that a new decade is arriving, and I’d rather just look at it through a lighthearted lens. In seriousness, though, the position that I’m finding myself in now is infinitely better than the position I left 2008 in.

As always, music plays pretty heavily into my life and my memories—and while I discovered some old classics this year (Boards of Canada and The Dreaming, thank fucking god), there were several albums released this year that really wowed me. Don’t take this as a “best of” list—it isn’t meant to be universal by any means. These are the new albums that affected me personally in 2009—though they would make fine traveling companions for just about anyone in this new decade. Happy New Year.

NOTE: I might be missing a few albums. If that’s the case I’ll update the list later. And, hey, there's INTERACTIVE TOOLTIPS on the images. Definitely advanced stuff for 2010.

Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest

Yeah, it’s hipster bullshit. But that’s okay. On the third album by the Brooklyn plaid-aficionados, the gleefully ambient melodies from Yellow House have been surrendered to a cleaner, more accessible aesthetic. A good thing? Perhaps not entirely, but it’s difficult to argue with the choicer results, such as “Foreground”. Points for Grizzly Bear’s impeccable timing, however—the chilled, plaintive atmosphere of Veckatimest arrived at an advantageous moment, providing a perfect segue into summer. [Mp3] [CD]

Laura A and the Bad Grades - Lightnin' Bolt

It's a mighty shame, but it seems that a truly compelling release from a largely unknown artist has been ignored. Not that this sort of thing doesn't happen often in the music world--Christ, a look at Amie Street and one can't help the feeling that it seems a graveyard for great unknowns--but the offense against Laura A and her delinquent pals is clearly criminal here. With command reminiscent of Neko Case, Laura A achieves much the same mien as her more popular counterpart--only with less instruments, less fury, and a general feeling of coziness. Unfortunately, this EP is only five songs--another mighty shame given the command demonstrated on songs such as the title track. Not to be a douche, but--where's the full album? [Mp3]

HEALTH – Get Color

Depressing noise rock—with structure. Compared to the relatively helter-skelter feeling of their debut, HEALTH returned in the autumn with an album of uniform chaos. Nestled inside blistering melodies were disjointed vocals and ballistic experimentalism—a gloriously messy show. [Mp3] [CD]

Arthur and Martha – Navigation

The lasting power of this record I find a bit suspect—to be honest, I don’t think I’ve touched it since August. Even if I’m not entirely sold on the lifespan of this English debut, I remember quite well what forged the initial attraction: fuzzy and nostalgic electropop with heavy British flavour. Tear-jerking? Not quite, but it certainly has the capacity to rend emotion when the time is right. [Mp3] [CD]

Converge – Axe to Fall

Whereas Arthur and Martha can make the heart supple wax, Axe to Fall can melt
your entire fucking body into gelatin. Having seen several of the songs played live, I can confirm that Converge remains on the top of the metalcore/chaotic hardcore/whatever-the-fuck-it-is scrap heap—not that we would expect anything less from Jacob Bannon and friends. [Mp3] [CD]

Midaircondo – Curtain Call

Though I think I’ve explained enough the magnificence of this record, it has to be stated again: the ambient, jazzy duo have consistently proven their worth in the crowded arena of knob twiddlers and sample mashers. What’s next? [Mp3] [CD]

Lullatone – Songs that Spin in Circles

As blessedly cool as Midaircondo are, their album does not quite match Lullatone’s 2009 achievement. The latest album from the husband and wife pair—an album designed to be looped so as to put children to sleep—swaps some of the bittersweet electronics that guided their early releases for a more organic atmosphere. Make no mistake, the twinkly electric wonder of Lullatone’s music is ever-present; it’s just in a smaller amount. No need to get anxious about it—Songs that Spin in Circles is an effusively natural and reassuring piece of music. Some of the circuit-board wizardry may be lost, but the innocence and tranquility are intact—and they contribute to what is one of Lullatone’s best efforts yet. [Mp3] [CD]

Neko Case – Middle Cyclone

Hands down, hands up, hands fucking sideways—I don’t care where your hands are, or if you’re handless or, whatever. This is the best album of 2009. I was introduced to Case via—believe it or not—Spinner’s daily Mp3. The promo photo—one of Case wearing skimpy-looking dress wear while pulling at licorice with her teeth—had at first convinced me that Case was nothing more than another throwaway female vocalist. How fucking shamed I was upon hearing the entire record.

The days immediately preceding Middle Cyclone’s release were spent in Pennsylvania, at the home of my Dad’s best friend. My Dad had been hospitalized while on vacation, and I spent a few nights in a medium-sized Monaca, PA, apartment. Without going into further detail, let me say that it was not a cheery time in my life (aside from the stunning hospitality and generosity of my Dad’s friends).

I don’t want to imply that Case was some otherworldly, hunky-dorifying ray of light that dropped into my life—she wasn’t. But Middle Cyclone was released in what was arguably one of the most harrowing months of my life, and yet it continued to stay with me—through walks on the bike path in spring, summer afternoons, and, ultimately, at a refreshing concert given by Ms. Case in November.

One of my Christmas gifts? Why, Middle Cyclone. I had already paid for an Mp3 version, but I needed this album on disc. Why? This isn’t an album to just have sitting around on your computer. This in album to take with you—on car rides, to friend’s homes, wherever you find yourself. Middle Cyclone is an album that reaffirmed something I had been unwilling to admit to myself—when miserable, we tend to use any control we have to make ourselves even more miserable. Middle Cyclone reminds us that we each have the power, the control, to whip misery into something far more malleable, far more insightful—unrestrained, fulfilling hope. [Mp3] [CD]

Honorable Mentions (in no order)

Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band – Self-titled
True hipsters would probably make fun of me for liking this. Eh. The Seattle-based outfit caught my attention with their unusually fun departures from ‘indie rock’ tropes—a promising band.

Regina Spektor – Far
Fond memories of searching for the Salvation Army thrift store, in comfortably undemanding summer heat, to this album.

Matt & Kim – Grand
Drums, strange manboy vocals, and summery fun--an album far from the damp sack of shit I've likely just described it as.

J Dilla – Jay Stay Paid
The final chapter in Jay Dee saga? Maybe—a fitting tribute to the late Detroit producer regardless.

Lady GaGa – The Fame Monster
Yeah. I know. It’s terribly, awfully, horrendously disposable in the end but for the five days that you do enjoy it: you, too, will succumb to GaGa’s derivative, sloppy, unoriginal bullshit. Or maybe you won’t. I bet this paragraph isn't even here tomorrow.

Holly Williams – Here With Me
I wrote a review of this one back in July—my opinion hasn’t changed; this is still an album of rough-and-tough grace.

Andrea Bocelli – My Christmas
Nothing intense here. Rather, Bocelli’s grand take on the Christmas tradition is surprisingly laid-back and fun.

Annie Lennox – "Shining Light" [Single]
Just found this song the other day. Released on Lennox’s greatest hits collection. An elegantly soulful remake of Ash’s Britpoppy original.

Go to bed.

Download"Swinging in the Park at Night" by Lullatone (Wikisend) (Link expired)

Music for Apartments by Lullatone
2003, Observatory, 3 tracks at 16 min.
Download (Free from Archive.org)

RATING: 4.5 out of 5

Okay, this is a free download, so it’s not as if there’s much reason preventing you from getting this. But where does it fit in the powerful repertoire of Lullatone? This collection of three songs—hardly an album, or even an EP—was released prior to Lullatone’s first full length, Computer Recital. Available only as a digital release, this album is likely to be overlooked by anyone curious about Lullatone since 1) it’s not available for sale, and 2) it’s not advertised on Lullatone’s website.

Is this record so bad that it needs to be shunned from the rest of Lullatone’s discography? Absolutely not. The third song here, “Resound”, reappeared on Computer Recital and managed to outshine most of the other cuts included. The first track here—a short untitled piece—is breezy, poppy, and, admittedly, not all that ‘deep.’ Yet Lullatone is a band that evades pretension, and instead aims for a child-like atmosphere—and, as many great records have proven, childlike music can often be the deepest and purest music of all.

Thus, the title track here, clocking in at a full nine-and-a-half minutes, is doubtlessly as strong as any other piece Lullatone has since crafted. The atmosphere that makes most Lullatone songs so incredibly appealing is present: a mien that, while immediately playful, is weighted so carefully that the wise will see it not as a simple bedtime ditty; but rather as something immensely delicate. As assholeish as I may sound right now, take a listen—to any of Lullatone’s material, really—and tell me I’m wrong. Boards Of Canada are known for making you think of your childhood, but they also manage to summon up all the debris between you and those memories. Lullatone, meanwhile, is pure innocence. They’re not twee, the emotion isn’t forced, and the music isn’t cheesy. “Music for Apartments” is a song that’s fearless about tomorrow, which is probably why it’s good for putting kids to sleep, and good for making us jaded adults a little uneasy.

If you’re looking for a place to start with Lullatone, then Music for Apartments is a good choice. Aside from the obvious fact that it’s free, everything you need is here—which is no small feat for three tiny songs.

Shawn---the male element of one of Squid's favorite bands, Lullatone---has replied to fan's request for a reissue for My Petit Melodies by offering a limited-time free download of the whole album. How cool is that? You can find the original post and download link at Lullatone's official website. As of now (August 7th, if for some reason you can't read the post date), the link is still active. It was posted August 2nd, and I think Sendspace usually keeps files active for seven days by default. So you have at least two days to download yet another amazing piece from Lullatone's repetoire!

Not to brag, folks, but wow—what a great day I’m having! Well, up until losing the draft of this post that I had been working back on forth on for two hours, but whatever. Things are simply too Grizz to get me down. I imagine this is what Jorge Luis Borges woke up feeling like everyday. “Aargh, where will I be cool and postmodern today?” Last night was actually sort of a family ‘crisis’, hence I ended up babysitting my cousin. Around bedtime, he wanted to play catch, so I put some Autechre on before I said to myself, “Wut?” I promptly rectified the problem by playing the latest Lullatone. That ending up helping, as he fell asleep to the half-Japanese duo’s raindrop-like beats. When my aunt came home, she was like, ‘lol Yanni’, but hey, dat Lullatone—they can lull dem kids to sleep. When I wasn’t subjecting my young cousin to Ambient 101, I watched some TV. I managed to catch the abysmal Spy Kids 3, which, as it happens, stars Elijah Wood in a minor role. I looked up his biography again, and apparently, he likes Aphex Twin? He even has a favorite song? You can browse his celebrity playlist at ElijahNet (not joking; that’s the actual website name). I also managed to catch Destroy Build Destroy, its host being none other than ANDREW W.K. So all you partay ppl go watch that right now.

Yet today was seven times better than playing around to EP7. Things got off to a good start at the local Girl Scouts-sponsored thrift sale at the local soup kitchen, where I snagged legal, older versions—I’m talking fresh codes and all—of PhotoShop, Illustrator, and InDesign for under a buck. Three years ago, I would have blown my top over something like this, but now I’m just content with the fact that I probably saved over $2,000. I haven’t been much into making art as of late, but now that I have Illustrator, who knows? Maybe I can draw some Egon Schiele/Robert Mapplethorpe hybrid-nudes or something. What really put a smile on my face was the pair of vintage children’s keyboards I got for a buck a piece. Pics coming soon. I know you wanna see ‘em.

Afterwards, I went to the consignment shop (I had to walk across the parking lot, in my new Grizzly Bear tee; but don’t worry, guyz, even though it’s a black shirt I wasn’t hot cuz da design is printed on an American Apparel track shirt, fyi), where a nice man chatted with me about vinyl. “Ya collect vinyl?” he asked. “No, I need a record player first,” I said. “Looking for an old one?” he asked. “ Old or new. Whatever works,” I said. “Yeah, I like vinyl,” he said. I like little conversations like that (a woman at the bus stop the other day started discussing the Pixies with me).

Then, returning to the Girl Scout sale again, I bought some books (like I need more), and, even better, EVEN BETTER—a Troll piggy bank with pink hair (1991, thus semi-vintage). And by ‘Troll’ I mean ‘troll doll’—the oft-unclothed creatures with hair in RADICAL, NON-CONFORMIST COLORS! Not web trolls or Harry Potter trolls or IRL-trolls (see: beastly-people), but fun trolls—the kind that Mimi used to have on Drew Carey’s show (thanks, WikiPedia). So I washed my Troll, shampooed his hair, et cetera, and then I combed his hair on the outside porch, hoping some cute girls would come by. “HaHoHa,” one would laugh, before saying, “Mayhaps that be your troll?” To which I would respond, “Verily, my troll this be.” She would eye the troll one more time before approving of him. “A good trollkeeper you are,” she would say, and then move on. But that didn’t happen.

Finally, when I got home, my BoC tee was waiting in the mail. It’s extra skinny fit for a pseudo-Biafran such as myself. So, as of now, life under the sea is pretty decent. What’s that song about life in the sea? Well, it’s not this song.

Download "Bats Over the Pacific Ocean" by Jaguar Love (via Matador)

A few weeks ago, my Dish was upgraded from like the 1997 version to the 'New and Improved' model, which has made it much easier for me to waste time with extra channels like Nicktoons, Boomerang, and the N. You see, whereas on my old Dish, the N and Noggin were one channel, on this Dish package they're two separate channels. Do you know what that means? I can watch Little Bear and Degrassi at the same time. THE SAME TIME.

Since the weather has blown lately (Oooo, what a pun), I've been inside, tapping away my keyboard, writing reviews and so on. When I'm not listening to Bjork remixes, the TV is on, and I've digested quite a bit of Degrassi lately. See those crappy screencaps at the right? They doing anything for ya? They should be, as those screencaps recount the crucial moment when Paige came to Alex's door, professing her Etheridigian love in the most wholesome way possible on pre-primetime teenager's TV.

I also had the opportunity today to watch the Disney made-for-TV movie Up, Up, and Away, starring George Jefferson Sherman Hemsley as the Steel Condor. But the real focus of the movie is on his character's grandson who, despite not having superpowers like the rest of his family, still manages to save the day! There's this cool earthy girl who tries to brainwash children with hardcore eco-propaganda, this girl who looks like Carly Simon, and the lovable 'sidekick' who jokes and is sooo white. But all in all, it was an enjoyable film. I was critical for about five minutes before I started to enjoy it.

One more thing:

"HEY I'M ELI-JAH, I'M GONNA SHOW YOU HOW TO DO MY DANCEY-DANCE!" begins the most postmodern preschooler's TV segment in recent memory:

I don't know anything about Elijah Wood (maybe I've seen a movie starring him?), except that he has cool facial hair/clothing in this video, and that's he super-short. But: do I need to know anything beyond that to know that this video is awesome? I think not. I mean, look at those monsters. Happy monstaz.

And, also, Yo Gabba Gabba reminds me of Lullatone, albeit more electrotrash than ambient lullabies. You see, Lullatone thinks they are too good for Yo Gabba Gabba. Frigging Lullatone. They better get their act together.

Oh, btw, JT dies.

Oops, gtg guys, my fave degrassi ep is on. Da one wid the paedophile blog drama (but not that original one; dis is the one specifically about a blog) <3 <3 <3 <3 See ya!!!

Listen to the new Lullatone album, Songs That Spin in Circles at Last.fm

This Music Tuesday? Phenomenal. Really. There's the highly-anticipated Bitte Orca by Dirty Projectors, and if you were one of those nasty pirates who downloaded the leak, then kindly go pick up the album at Amie Street. Then we have new music from Japanese lullabists Lullatone, and noise-rock deities Sonic Youth. Next, peruse some folksy selections from Gypsy Tailwind and Kathryn Williams, as well a new album from Nanci Griffith. We have some boring indie rock from Other Girls, and some equally boring electro-rock from Datarock. Also a fine choice: old-school-sounding hip-hop from the lovely Speech Debelle. Finally, why not pick up the new Black Eyed Peas album? It's on sale. I hope you don't think I'm serious, by the way.

Now for some non-music news. If you like Kathy Griffin---and all horrible, miserable, hateful people do---then you shouldn't miss the season premiere. It aired last night on Bravo, so I guess you already missed it, but you can watch the ep on YouTube. This is the Interwebs age, after all. Key lulz: Toni Basil telling Griffin to lie face-down on the ground, Griffin calling Stevie Nicks, and a truly bewildered woman posing in front of the camera as Griffin and Bette Midler sing 'Happy Birthday' to a cavalcade of drunks. Watch this fine D-Listery here.

Finally, if you've been paying attention to the Night at the Museum 2, you might have noticed one of Jeff Koons' Balloon Dogs romping around the Smithsonian (the link I included actually doesn't have that part, so, tough). Normally I hate Ben Stiller films, yet this sort of pastichey bricolage--Koons, Earheart, and Einstein? Together? Forever?---might just be enough to get this PoMo running to the theater.

Also highly exciting for us PoMo jackasses? Lullatone. Here's a cut from the new album.

Download "A Merry-Go-Round in the Park" (via Fileden)