Carl Sandburg Visits Me In A Dream

Well, there’s been a whole lot of buzz about Kanye West’s upcoming album Stronger. Afew tracks have leaked into the blogosphere and I wanted to keep ye faithful readers updated. Now many of you may know that I hardly cover hip-hop or the like on this blog, but Kanye seems to be able to transcend genres and tastes like very few before him. Perhaps it’s the great samples that grants him that cross-demographic appeal (I don’t think it’s his above average vocals), but either way, enjoy.
Kanye West – “Champion” (4.6/5) Courtesy of The Leather Canary.
Kanye West – “Good Night” (4.6/5)

That’s right, everybody. Soon the leaves will resemble the machinations of a children’s coloring book, and then fade to the ground. But don’t despair! We’ve got football, and I’ve got my Chicago Bears.

What’s that? You want to hear my predictions? Well, let’s say the Bears ought to get to the Super Bowl and win 72-3. Case closed.

But I would be remiss if I didn’t include some tracks to commemorate the beginning of the season:

The Who–Eminence Front
It’s not about style, it’s about winning the game folks. As Dustin Hoffman says in Confidence, “Style gets you killed.”

K-Os–Sunday Morning
Every day is like Saturday night, but I can’t wait ’till Sunday morning.

Jens Lekman–Sipping on the Sweet Nectar
…of victory, that is. Go Bears.

Canadian collective Stars has released their awaited sophomore effort In Our Bedroom After The War on label Arts and Crafts to a good deal of anticipation. Having already been released on iTunes, and coming to stores on CD on September 25th, fans are already getting a taste of the band’s electro-rock fusion sound. In Our Bedroom After the War certainly has an electronic feel to it, but Stars manage to make this record feel more human and tangible. Computers don’t make mistakes, don’t contradict–but from the very title of the album, you can see that the Stars are looking to make contrasts. The duality of the bedroom and war works on several levels, perhaps most prevalent as electronic beats are juxtaposed to rock rhythms and vocals that make these songs all the more delectable.

“The Beginning After The End” sounds like a Massive Attack track that never made it to an album (this is good), while the chorus-heavy “Take Me to the Riot” is a sure anthem that everybody can sing along with. Tracks like “The Night Starts Here” and “My Favourite Book” have a funky playfulness to them, which culminates in the insatiable and tasty “The Ghost of Genova Heights”. Coherence in the record seems to have been a primary concern as well, as they conclude the album with the reflective, sensitive “Today Will Be Better, I Swear!” Indeed, ‘Today, today is going to be a better one’. Looks like the bedroom wins out in the end.

Believe me, you won’t regret it: In Our Bedroom After the War
Listen to “The Ghost of Genova Heights” (4.9/5)
Listen to “Today Will Be Better, I Swear!” (4.9/5)

I find the whole aura around Nick Drake to be simply fascinating on multiple levels. For one, how is it that such a miserable human being could craft equally beautiful arrangements? Moreover, how could these magnificent works be cast aside by several record companies during his lifetime? And perhaps the greatest irony of all is the sudden popularity and prevalence of Nick Drake tribute artists/bands over the past several years. Now the record companies are willing to sponsor anything with his name on it!

I would like to draw your attention, though, to the most recent of the Nick Drake tribute artists–esteemed classical pianist and now cover artist Christopher O’Riley. After having released a successful tribute album for Radiohead, O’Riley takes on the melodic piano-heavy music of Nick Drake and again achieves success. Second Grace: The Music of Nick Drake is a collection of modest grand piano arrangements that convey the grace and beauty of Drake’s music with each stroke. Perhaps it’s just hearing the music played on a finer instrument that enhances its effect, but I would like to think that O’Riley’s skill has a great deal to do with it as well. “Three Hours” perfectly captures that addictive dissonance of the real version, while “Northern Sky” and “One of These Things First” have a particular fragility to them that make up for the lack of vocals. O’Riley is truly at his best on “Introduction-Bryter Layer”, which finds him not only mimicking but somehow taking the Drake’s work to the next level.

Go and and get a copy of Second Grace: The Music of Nick Drake
Listen to “Introduction – Bryter Layer” (4.7/5)
Listen to “One Of These Things First” (4.6/5)

The aesthetic seems to be right, but I just can’t really buy into her act. Kelly Sweet, on her debut We Are One, definitely shows promise for a talented songstress-songwriter, but it seems as though there is still work to be done. Her voice is incredible, it’s just a shame she hasn’t quite decided how to best use it. There’s not really a fanbase for the next indie-Celine Dion (maybe not the best description, but it will do), and it is for this reason I find most of We Are One to be a tad humdrum. Songs like “Dream On” (yes, an Aerosmith cover) are conceptually great ideas, but even this track limps to the finish. Nevertheless, Sweet seems most comfortable with arrangements like “Raincoat”, where she floats between Norah Jones and Mariah Carey (trust me, not a terrible combo). The album is worth a look–not a long one at that–but I’d be more interested to hear what’s going to be next for the burgeoning vocalist.

I could be wrong–go and get a copy of We Are One and see for yourself.
Listen to “Raincoat” (4.5/5)
Listen to “How ‘Bout You” (4.5/5)

Just when you thought Feist was at the height of classy cool, she manages to write a formal letter to her fans after a porn site took over her website for a day. Oh Feist, how we adore thee!

Listen to “1 2 3 4 (ft. Grizzly Bear, The National, Mates of State, The New Pornographers, Broken Social Scene and Nicole Atkins)”
Listen to “Mushaboom (Red Demos)“
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Now playing: June Christy – Shoo Fly Pie