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Thursday, June 26 My Own Private Death Cab
Everyone's favorite band named after a Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band song plays Edgefield tonight, in case you missed it, just the latest evidence that Death Cab for Cutie, they of the major label deal and #1 Billboard chart slot earlier this year with Narrow Stairs, is a somewhat large-ish band (in stature, anyway, recent appearances have revealed a svelte new look). It's not a difficult thing to find the band described these days as "on top of the rock world" or even "the last big rock band," phrases that, album sales and venue sizes aside, I have a tough time getting my head around. The thing is, I'm not sure what it means to be on top of the rock world in 2008, or if there's even a rock world on which to sit. I don't mean this as a negative, long for the good old days kind of point by any means, the landscape is simply different than, say, when Nirvana sat on the same perch. Speaking of which, the Foo Fighters are playing the Rose Garden this summer-- doesn't a band have to play cavernous venues to be on top of the rock world?
Video: From Narrow Stairs- "I Will Possess Your Heart"
It's nothing against Death Cab-- if anything Narrow Stairs is the most exciting they've sounded in a while, and wouldn't we all rather a band like them be #1 (whatever that means)? I mean, egads, it could be worse, it could be Staind the world is all looking up at. I can at least keep faith in a society that makes a band like Death Cab big. But-- "big"-- that's the thing. This music is a personal thing, isn't it? Not to get all Wonder Years on you here (here comes the voiceover), but I suppose I'm just having a hard time reconciling this humongousness with the band I first saw at the Meow Meow in the spring of '01.
MP3: From plans- "Soul Meets Body"
MP3: From the photo album- "A Movie Script Ending"
A year prior I was literally floored as I spent an evening lying on my back on the floor of my apartment listening to we have the facts & we're voting yes for the first time, over and over. It wasn't long before those songs were woven into my personal mythology, and I was baffled at my luck when my first trip to Portland coincided with that Death Cab tour date. Later that year they began their Photo Album tour in Pocatello, ID, of all places (has it really been so long, then to now?), and the facts will show that they played Kilby Court in Salt Lake City the next night (which caused me to miss the play Derek Jeter made in the 2001 divisional playoffs against Oakland to stave off elimination in a series the Yankees would eventually pull out, but that's neither here nor there), and the venue was so absolutely packed that I knew that tiny venues would soon be a thing of the past for them. And they were, and you likely know the rest of the story up to now. Death Cab for Cutie belong to a lot more people than just me now, as I know they always really did. My girlfriend that went with me to see them at the Meow Meow is now my wife, I live in Portland, and Death Cab is on top of the rock world. Funny how things work out.
For the record, and I know I'm probably in the minority here, I still regard we have the facts... as the band's apex. Maybe I'm just showing my age.
MP3: From we have the facts & we're voting yes- "For What Reason"
MP3s: From the forbidden love e.p.- "Song For Kelly Huckaby" and "405 (acoustic)"
Comments:
On Friday, June 27 at 10:59am, DF said:
I could not agree more about early DCFC -- I might be willing to put their pinnacle at The Photo Album, but it's still the same vintage. In fact, I dearly love their first three albums.
Transatlanticism was very disappointing and Plans is almost unlistenable. I haven't even bothered with the latest. Personally, I'm going to savor my memories of seeing them playing at Lola's room and pretend this current DCFC isn't the real thing, but a sad parody of the real DCFC.
On Friday, June 27 at 11:15am, jpetersen said:
Wow, maybe I just didn't want to put it as harshly, but you may have just said what I was really thinking. And I didn't, but I also should have mentioned the first album, something about airplanes, as it was a promising beginning that hinted at better things to come. One might ask, "Is Death Cab still drinking their champagne from paper cups?" You would seem to come down resoundingly on the side of NO.
That's Early DCFC: 2, Later DCFC: 0
On Saturday, June 28 at 9:26pm, inmemoryofjohnpeel said:
Interesting, I was having a conversation with someone this week who felt the reason they've now hit the bigtime (in sales) was because they built up a following and didn't drop standards (that would make the score 2-1. I can't compare, I like the late stuff but missed the early ones, I wouldn't be surprised if the early ones were better, often bands peak at release 2-3.
On the other hand fans follow bands with what we might call 'irrational exhuberence' to borrow a phrase, The Decemberists were described to me by a discerning 16 year old critic as music for preppies that want to think it's risky, but it's really safe, pop.
I like some Decemberists, but the advance of Perhapst I found a bit thin, several pop styles, none done well enough, vocal like karaoke. However, looking forward to the session, maybe he'll shine through there.
On Saturday, June 28 at 9:36pm, jpetersen said:
One person's Beatles are another's Eve 6, I suppose (whatever that means).
I think the Perhapst session sounds great-- the live versions of the songs really have a lot of energy. Keep in mind that Moen played nearly all of the instruments on the album, so it's interesting that the band version has been able to gel so well on their versions. Secret bonus (don't tell): the session includes a Merle Haggard cover!
On Saturday, June 28 at 9:50pm, inmemoryofjohnpeel said:
I'm going to be listening with open ears.
Now Weinland, there's a phenomenon, I had been put off by the apparent Neil Young imitating, but as I said in an article I wrote on similar sounding bands, Weinland is actually making the music I WISH Neil Young could still make. Brilliant stuff, there are more than half-a-dozen stand out tracks on that album La Lamentor.
By the way, when you play great classics by NY, XTC and the like it would be too easy for me to give 5 rankings, I give 4's or 3's if I can to encourage high rankings for new stuff to stand out.
On Saturday, June 28 at 9:53pm, nopo popo said:
Digging the sounds. Nice hot weather jams. Thanks, yo. If ya'll take requests, Brightblack Morning Light always sounds right on time during a summer scorcher.
On Saturday, June 28 at 10:06pm, jpetersen said:
Always love requests, nopo-- wish I could comply but we're fresh out of that. Take a raincheck? Try again?
On Saturday, June 28 at 11:15pm, inmemoryofjohnpeel said:
The question is, nice people, good in various bands... but should they be encouraged on these solo projects? An example of something that probably shouldn't be encouraged was the Hockey song; alternatively an example of how the The Decemberists' local fame was established was on the pretty enjoyable (Al Stewart like... yes really) The Perfect Crime #2.
That Queen Mary song, for example, imaging that in the hands of Loch Lomond... then you'd really have something.
Great transitions tonight.
On Sunday, June 29 at 0:08am, jpetersen said:
We are, as is often the case, in disagreement on Hockey and Perhapst (but I agree with the Decemberists and Loch Lomond points you made). You must be hearing a few things that keep you coming back, though-- thanks for the continued listening and conversation.
On Sunday, June 29 at 9:40pm, inmemoryofjohnpeel said:
Dead right, I keep coming back. I credit your show with introducing me to many great songs and have recommended online listeners in other states and in the UK to listen (and some have). Disagreement is fine, I'm always trying to understand different tastes though, especially of good DJs like yourself.
The Waterfront Blues looks to have some outstanding stuff amid the usual mediocre festival faire. I will recommend Colin Lake though, my interview with him has just been posted at nonstarvingartists,com and live he's is phenomenal.