How I discovered Modest Mouse!

I've always found it fascinating the bands/artists that some people reject, and the ones that stick for a long time. In my case, Modest Mouse was a band I rejected at first. Looking back on it, it seems insane now that I could reject a band I like so much now. The first few songs I heard by them, I felt like I didn't "get" really, like I wasn't part of the club that understood Modest Mouse. I separated the people who did, and the people who didn't. At the time, I didn't feel like I was missing out on much. I heard "Out Of Gas" and thought, "Eh, that guy's voice is kind of weird. They're OK." The only song I ever liked was "Baby Blue Sedan", but it kind of came and went.

Then back when I was living in Santa Rosa, circa late 2003/early 2004, someone sent me The Moon & Antartica. From the first chord of "3rd Planet", I was hooked. I couldn't understand why Modest Mouse was clicking now as opposed to earlier when I hadn't been interested. I listened to that album a lot while I was living in Sonoma County. Then Good News For People Who Love Bad News came out. I passed up on the chance to go to the release party at my favorite record store, and in hindsight regret not attending. Little did I know what a great and wonderful record it was. I remember buying the new CD at Target for $9.99 and feeling kind of silly. This band I had previously rejected was slowly but surely becoming a favorite! To this day, I think my copy of their last album is one of the most abused albums I've ever bought. I can't believe it has held up this long. Of course, like with all other bands I love, I had to seek out more material. I got Lonesome Crowded West and loved it even more than the other two I had.

I can't explain exactly what clicked with Modest Mouse in late 2003, but since then, I've been a big fan. I think Isaac Brock is a fantastic songwriter and the band has a real chemistry I haven't heard with many other bands. I eventually bought the first record, This Is A Long Drive... and found that I loved that too. Now I listen to "Out Of Gas" and enjoy it. It's further proof that as with many other things, timing is everything. I wasn't ready for Modest Mouse before 2003, and then one album got me hooked. What can I say? I love the Mouse!

So captain please consider me, let the boats deliver me...or thoughts on recording covers!

I knew the first time I heard "This Place Is A Prison" by The Postal Service, that I would cover it. Even if it never got recorded, I wanted to transpose it to piano and make it a haunting ballad. It would be something similiar to Iron & Wine's cover of "Such Great Heights", though not nearly as good. I won't put myself in the same category with Samuel Beam!

Sometimes I seriously consider recording the cover songs I've done, if only to hear what they sound like on a tape or CD. I've gotten in the habit of writing down the correct chords to the original songs instead of keeping them in my head--because the ones in my head don't last long! I'm not able to practice nearly as much as I'd like to, since being alone in my house is a rarity. However, if I were to ever record an album of covers, the list would look like this:

• "This Place Is A Prison"- The Postal Service
• "Two Headed Boy"- Neutral Milk Hotel
• "Sweet Avenue"- Jets To Brazil
• "A Case Of You"- Joni Mitchell
• "Remember The Mountain Bed"- Billy Bragg & Wilco
• "Engine"- Jeff Mangum
• "Oh My Sweet Carolina"- Ryan Adams
• "Wish List"- Jets To Brazil
• "Merman"- Tori Amos
• "Frog On My Toe"- Tori Amos
• "Leave The City"- Magnolia Electric Co.
• "Coxcomb Red"- Songs:Ohia

I might've left some songs out, but those are the ones I'm most confident with right now. I know there are some repeating artists on there, but that doesn't really matter to me. If I can continue to practice those songs diligently, I may consider recording them, provided I can find a cheap way to do it. So if anyone has any suggestions or would like to share their experiences recording, please share! Feedback is encouraged.

Now Playing: Jets To Brazil-"Cat Heaven"

Would I could afford to buy my love a fine robe...

The Decemberists make me inexplicably joyful. Just the sound of Colin Meloy's voice, the stories he sings, and the strings...they just do something to me. I can't really put my finger on it. I just know that it's an amazing feeling. Every time I hear the loud part of "Bagman's Gambit" I get a chill down by spine. "Red Right Ankle" makes me swoon and grin uncontrollably. The idea that I get to see them in person next month is beyond my comprehension. Colin Meloy is one of the most gifted songwriters I've ever heard. I remember picking up Castaways & Cutouts at Borders about two years ago, and it felt similiar to when I heard the Yankee Hotel Foxtrot record by Wilco for the first time. I knew that for some reason, these albums would change my life. I fell in love with Her Majesty The Decemberists and Picaresque. I have a feeling I will love and admire The Decemberists for a long time to come.


Now playing: The Decemberists- "Eli, The Barrow Boy"

Bah!

I didn't realize how difficult it would be to keep up with my own music blog, but it seems to be now. I still have copious amounts of music that have not been listened to yet, but right now the Graham Coxon record Happiness In Magazines sounds wonderful. "Bittersweet Bundle Of Misery" has the same chords as "Coffee And TV", I'm not just hearing things! Though my ears have been plugged up since I woke up, so who knows if I'm hearing clearly. As usual, I need more blank cd's. Such is my life. Fear not, for I will come back to my Ben Gibbard entry as soon as possible!

Now Playing: Graham Coxon- "Bittersweet Bundle Of Misery"

We left our love and our summer skin...

I was all ready to write a long entry on why Ben Gibbard is my second favorite Ben (behind Ben Folds), and with Death Cab For Cutie's new album, is poised to become my very favorite Ben--but now, I really don't feel up to it. Today was way too long to yank out a long, typically obsessive music entry. I've just spent almost an hour uploading all of the random Death Cab tracks I had onto my iTunes, only to find out that I can't seem to type in the names of the albums these songs come from. Ugh. I'll shoot for tomorrow to do a Ben Gibbard entry.

Now Playing: Death Cab For Cutie- Summer Skin

The major label debate continues!

I was thinking recently about the controversy over "indie" bands moving to major labels. The reason this came up was with the news that Death Cab For Cutie signed with Atlantic for their major label debut, Plans. (Although Rilo Kiley left long-time label Saddle Creek to record More Adventurous) I used to be the kind of person who loathed such a change, citing money as the only motive.

It seems that there are as many "good" examples of major label changes meaning better music, as there are the opposite. The best two examples of this would be Modest Mouse and Elliott Smith. The former signed with a major label to release The Moon & Antartica, which arguably turned out to be one of their best records. They went on to record Good News For People Who Love Bad News, which prompted an appearance on the O.C. and a Grammy nomination. People can gripe all they'd like about the band's decision to sign with Sony, but did it compromise their talent? It's unlikely. Then there's Elliott Smith; he signed with Dreamworks and had a very strong major label debut with X.O. but found that his label was dissapointed with Figure 8. But getting back to Death Cab For Cutie, since I just finished listening to their latest record. Is it better than Transatlanticism? I don't believe so, but it's still a strong, solid effort. If the bands are happy with their decision, then I say "bring it on"! Listening to Rilo Kiley's The Execution Of All Things, I can hear that it's a lot better than their most recent effort, but More Adventurous is by no means "bad". These are all just projections and opininons, of course. I don't know where or why I changed my mind on this topic, but I did. I'm slightly biased with Death Cab For Cutie, since I think that everything Ben Gibbard does turns to gold, but as far as I can tell, it's worked out just fine for him. (Correct me if I'm wrong, but this would be his third record label change, having started with Barsuk and releasing The Postal Service record on Sub Pop.)

I know that some day all of my useless knowledge will be good for something. Any other "good" examples of bands switching to major labels?


NP: Rilo Kiley- Paint's Peeling

Thank you for coming here, thank you for being you!

Here are some quick little tidbits I picked up recently:

• Son Volt's latest record is pretty good. I'm liking it more than I thought I would. And I did not know that Son Volt supported Billy Bragg on the Mermaid Avenue tour.
• I've been really into Morrissey and The Smiths as of late. I entirely blame my boyfriend.
• I'm hoping I get to see Mike Doughty next month in San Francisco. Adding that to The Decemberists show the same month would be really sweet!
• I can't get enough of The Mountain Goat's latest record! It's so, so very good. Wonderful stuff. I highly reccomend it.
• Who decided to have Earlimart open for Son Volt this fall?! I really don't understand that.
• Recently, I've gotten copies of Anything Else But The Truth by The Honorary Title, In Your Honor by Foo Fighters, and Madonnna by ...Trail Of Dead. I'm convinced that the latter is one of my new "it" bands. WOW.

Finally, can anyone reccomend any good songs/artists/records? I've gotten a lot more new music than what was listed, I just haven't had time to listen to it. Which would be why I want more...yeah, that's it.

Now Playing: Morrissey- "November Spawned A Monster" (live)