Banshee Beat

All artists fight against making shitty music, but none fight against making it in the same way. Animal Collective, for example, has never floundered for lack of inspiration. In my opinion, they haven't floundered very often, but when they have, its not because the music becomes trite or boring, but because the music does not offer them a place in which they can get comfortable. Despite its ever presence, chaos does not necessarily have a hand in indicating the quality of an AnCo song. At this point, I consider "Banshee Beat" to be their best song, not because its atypical of their sound, but because its the opposite. Its extremely typical of them in spite of itself. There is a point where the experimental must eventually become the conventional and this song is it for the band. They have restrained themselves to a point where they only need a single indicator of their sonic character to appear at a time, lending further purpose to all indicators. They are not unfamiliar with atonal and arhythmic ambiance, but here it finally seems to have a proper setting and goes on for as long as is necessary, not that the chord and beat that eventually arise are any less perfect. All this time, both band and listener sink deeper and deeper into the cushions, until, with one of the most subtle and heart dropping chord changes I think I have ever heard (2:25), the song jolts to a start. I could go on but I think you get it. This understanding of the song is not just important for the purposes of claiming the song's quality. It also shows that a quantity or alienness of sound is not necessary to create a chaotic, unique, and unconventional song. All that is needed is a level of comfort and an understanding of form. And a little spirit.

Podcast

Episode 1

So here it is. My pal Gabe and I have decided that we're good enough to start an as of yet untitled chatty podcast. You might want to turn it up a bit, its a little soft. Also, it skips about three times, that's just a mistake, not your computer breaking. Just click on the link above and then click on the big blue download button. Or click on the Quicktime player below.

Aaliyah

Pitchfork's aforementioned 90's list has reignited a 10 year old passion I didn't know I had. Timbaland = greatest artist of the past two decades? Fuck Radiohead. JK.

Only Shallow

I don't know how I feel about this cover, but it sure offers an interesting analysis of a very enigmatic sound. You might want to turn your volume down:

	Nadja - Only Shallow (My Bloody Valentine)
	Found at skreemr.org

Here's the original:

	My Bloody Valentine - Only Shallow
	Found at skreemr.org

School

Well school is starting again. I most likely won't be able to post daily like I do now. I will, however, continue to blog. Do not despair.

Jamie Fox

Here's a weird little song. It's by a blind, black pianist making game changing forays into the country world on an album called Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music. But its really R&B at heart, going from soul to swing and back again. Oh yeah, and its a cover of "You are my Sunshine".

I Got Five On It

Just rediscovered this via Pitchfork's ongoing best of the 90's list. Its a fun way to revisit/discover good tunes, even if you disagree with the numbers.