New Music Fucking Bores Me at the Moment
There’s so much perfectly decent music in my inbox at the moment, that I find it hard to write about any of it. Yeah, you know, ho hum, it’s all pretty decent but none is blowing me away.
Islands’ Arm’s Way is pretty decent, Bon Iver’s album For Emma, Forever Ago isn’t bad either, but I honestly don’t find it quite as brilliant as almost everyone else seems to. The new albums by Half Man Half Biscuit and even The Wave Pictures are both pretty good but just not awakening much passion I’m afraid. Ditto Fleet Foxes, Bowerbirds, Tindersticks and a few others.
I guess this happens, and this is why people have old favourites in the first place: occasionally you just need to go back to the cup of tea and a biscuit part of your collection – for Americans that might be the chicken soup with rice part – and just listen to the stuff so good and comforting and familiar that it always does the trick. No thinking, no evaluating, no trying to pull comparisons out of your arse, just give the brain a rest for a bit and stop thinking. How conscious a process is music enjoyment supposed to be anyway.
I never participated in No Music day, but I thought it was a good idea, albeit not for the reasons suggested. Not every moment of every day needs to be soundtracked. We are not movies, and it is good for all of us to take the headphones off, turn off the stereo and just enjoy being peaceful from time to time. Right now is that time for me. I just need to go for a walk and listen to fuck all for a bit, and when I do listen to something it needs to be some Dylan stuff, or Tom Waits. Or Calexico, or the Willard Grant Conspiracy, or Billy Bragg, or Belle & Sebastian or an old REM album or something like that.
Sometimes you have to stop processing music, and just enjoy it. And sometimes I get to the stage where I need to be reminded of that. Like today.
Calexico – Sunken Waltz
Bruce Springsteen – Growin’ Up
The Smiths – William, It was Really Nothing
Eels – Susan’s House
The Wedding Present – Gazebo
I understand what you mean. I find myself ignoring PR emails more now and turning to old favorites (like Holly Cole), but not as often as I should. I wish there were an easier way to sort through new releases, but it seems you have to listen to a few piles of crap before finding something truly great. And yet it is that slim possibility of overlooking a major talent that keeps me wading through the rubbish. :/
In other news, I got a text message from Mr. Muruch scolding me for not telling him before that “Toad has a podcast and it’s really good”.
Tell me abowdih.
I have two folders on my desktop – ‘New’ & ‘Music’.
Sometimes I feel like changing ‘New’ to ‘Turds’.
I go through the same stuff but, may I make a recommendation?
Jukebox the Ghost’s Let Live and Let Ghost is getting extremely heavy airplay in our house.
And we like the new Hold Steady single very much.
Check out the AA Bondy tracks over on DayTrotter. I think they are right up your alley Toad.
So, so bored with all the stuff that’s been sent. Glad you said it out loud, Toad. I’ve got albums dating back to January that I’ve been neglecting.
Maybe you’re finally tired of folky pop. Give the new Subtle album a try? They’re not like many.
or maybe you should stop whining and be thankful people “send” you music in the first place??!!you can always go back and listen to your old favourites but don’t go bashing new music just cause you’re a grumpy sod!!!! wave pictures album is fantastic and this is comig from somebody who didn’t expect to like them. I don’t suppose you want the Glissando album I picked you up then???!!
I dream of getting sent free and new music…would willingly take some off your hands ;-]
Know what you mean though – having to dig deep to find anything that really inspires me and sometimes instead of trying (operative word) to be a ‘oh-so-clever’ music blogger I give up and dig out old classics or an range of guilty pleasures to wallow in
Wendy, AA Bondy is already a firm favourite around these parts – thank C&B for that.
I’m not whining about what gets sent – half of this stuff is stuff I’ve sought out for myself – I just find myself not terribly excited by half of it at the moment. But then again, if they were all that easy to come by then the really good groups wouldn’t be so loved, I guess, would they.
Toad, last night’s show re-established a bit of faith in ‘new music’. Some crackers on there.
still – you get free music sent to you. stop whining!
I listened to Swagger by The Blue Aeroplanes on the bus home last night. Then this morning I decided to listen to it again.
I’m in a similar nostalgic mood, and Swagger has long been one of the albums I turn to.
It’s an album I’ve grown to love more and more over the last ten, maybe fifteen, years I’ve had it. Like any long-term relationship, it reveals more secrets as time goes on..
C&B – good fucking point.
About AA Bondy? Yes indeedy.
AA Bondy actually made his national television debut in the States a short while ago, playing on the Conan O’Brien show. It was a thrill to see.
When I get frustrated with the state of new music I always find solace in “Script of the Bridge” by The Chameleons. It has never never failed me. I just bought a vinyl copy because my CD is beginning to sound sketchy.
Do you see him as a personal project now, C&B?
All he needs is a little wise counsel and guidance. And someone to supply him with hookers and meth. I’ll be his Colonel Tom Parker.