Camp How To Start A Fire

Today I had my first ‘feeling pregnant’ day. I’m talking gross, fat, swollen ankles, nausea, strange men staring at my nethers kinda day.  You know the ones. I’m completely keen to throw in the towel.  Anyone else wanna carry this human for me?  PLEASE?

Okay, the title – Camp How To Start A Fire.  Let me explain:

Among my friends and I there is an age old debate – what camp do you belong to?  Camp “How to Start a Fire”?  Camp “The Moon is Down”?  Could it be Camp “Hide Nothing”??? 

We all have our opinions, we all have a favourite place to toast our marshmallows.  For example, Raymond and Hannah are telling ghost stories by torchlight at “The Moon is Down” whereas Gabrielle, Aaron and Tiffany are sparking a flint upstream at “How to Start a Fire”.  Last and definitely far from least, Benjamin and a few others are unrolling their sleeping bags in the next forest over, Camp “Hide Nothing”.

These are all the titles of albums from the devastatingly awesome rock band, Further Seems Forever.

How to Start a Fire

I, personally, am a “Moon is Down” girl, but I have a tent in every camp.  “How to Start a Fire” is the second album of FSF, and just as amazing as any that have come before or after, despite vocalist.  See, FSF have a habit of changing lead vocalists more often than underwear, I assume (being boys…in a band.).  Album number 1, “Moon is Down” was recorded with Chris Carrabba working the pipes before he left to pursue what is now legendary emotional rock band – Dashboard Confessional (WIN).  Foxy Chris was later replaced by Jason Gleason (former Affinity member).  Gleason donated his voice to “How to Start a Fire” but was soon brutally murdered and eaten by “Hide Nothing” vocalist Jon Bunch.  He didn’t really murder and eat Jason, this part was just boring me.

FSF and I have quite a romantic past.  All tracks to all albums have somehow been included in the soundtrack of my life.  My first love, although too shy to talk to me upon our first meeting, proceeded to play “Hide Nothing” over the PA system and sing to me.  The lyrics of “Pictures of Shorelines” were scrawled onto a mintie wrapper and secretly handed to me at a youth camp.  “Snowbirds and Townies” was our driving song.  “How to Start a Fire” is the song that everyone will abuse you for skipping.  They even prompted us all let out a painful groan with the release of their  N*SYNC cover, “Bye Bye Bye”.  Sigh. So many memories. 

I was really happy to finally introduce my ever expanding mini me to Further Seems Forever.  I had a very peaceful night sleep, little one caused me no problems.  Exactly the reaction I anticipated.

Nacho Pop is on TV at the moment and now I want Nacho’s.

Daydreamer

So, I suppose that it’s been apparent that I have been neglecting this project…and I have been.  With good reason.  I have a Dell (hard financial times + impatience = quick and easy Dell bandaid) and this Dell died.  After, like, 5 months.  I was anything but lovely due to this.  Forgiven?

I’m writing this with the television slurring in the background.  Coyote Ugly is on, reminding me of all the music I WONT be including on here.

Contrary to my lack of writing is my complete dedication to equipping my belly with Sennheiser’s and blasting little petunia’s senses with what I hope to be a half decent selection of beats.  (Changed channel – Abbey Road: Gnarls Barkley, The Subways etc.  Much better).  I suppose this is where I should start the purpose of this post.

Close To Paradise

Montreal gorgeous-guy, Patrick Watson, descended from the wild and rugged hills of Canada to bring the rest of the world “Close to Paradise”.  This is a beautiful composition (although hard to replay in my head with “Strawberry Blonde"” blaring in the background) full of piano, whimsical feelings and vocals that could soothe the Hulk.  Other than achieving the unthinkable feat of calming  THE most feared green creature since the first ever feared green creature, Patrick Watson and his “closeness to paradise” also won the Polaris Music Prize, beating other high calibre albums such as “Neon Bible” (The Arcade Fire) and “The Reminder” (Feist).

This album spoke to me from the very first song I chose at random back in 2006.  That song was Daydreamer.  Daydreamer has such an eerie, fairytale feel to it.  I love to imagine my own little ‘Wonderland’ with Daydreamer as the theme song.  This album is a true work of art, and for those who don’t believe me, check out The Cinematic Orchestra.  Just see how gorgeous and smooth ol’ Patrick is.  Contributing vocals to the ‘Orchestra’ just made me love them, and him, even more, win-win.  Patrick Watson is a lullaby, a  hug and a reassurance that everything is going to be ok.

So there you have it, jellybean, your single mum is going to be just fine, which can only mean good things for you.  My daydream is to raise you the very best I can.  I love you.  Night.

I don’t mind if You don’t mind…

A wise man-boy once said “Good boys don’t listen to rock and roll”.  I suppose my baby is bad-ass before even exiting the womb. SCORE.

Uncle Jonny (the man-boy) loves The Killers, so I guess my next choice has a lot to do with that fact.  Don’t get me wrong, I have loved them since they were friends with Jenny, but a rock star uncle’s opinion is always important when it comes to influencing a little heart to beat to the rhythm of rock.

Sam’s Town

Las Vegas Rock and/or Roll has never been richer.  Wikipedia claims it to be a mix of U2, Bruce Springsteen, The Beatles and Tom Petty, but as we all know, Wikipedia is collaborated on by a bunch of self-centered, pseudo-intellectuals that spend too much time overcompensating for something.  Please keep in mind that this opinion in no way compromises my love for Springsteen, The Beatles or Tom Petty (suck it, Bono).

I wont venture into what hybrid of pop-cultural bands I think Sam’s Town is, because to be honest, I don’t want to appear a fool in regard to something I think is the purest rock/roll I have heard in a long time.  “…that’s a bloody good album” says Uncle Jonny (about five seconds ago). 

While I passionately hope to ‘have a healthy baby with ten fingers and ten toes’ like any parent, I definitely would not mind it one bit if monkey face emerges leather clad and ready to stun the world with meaningful rhyme on par with that of Brandon Flowers (incidentally, my FAVOURITE name ever, also lead vocalist of The Killers).  

Flowers has been quoted saying that he hoped Sam’s Town would be the album that,”keeps rock and roll afloat”.  Success, Flowers. Success.  He follows this by claiming “Read my mind” to be the band’s best written and favorite song. Ever.  Uncle Jonny agrees.

I would like to emphasize that, although I have rambled on about this album like it were an overachieving, gifted child, this does not take away from my love and appreciation of their other brilliant releases – Hot Fuss, Sawdust and Day & Age.  Listen to them, enrich your life, hear?

In conclusion:    

“I never really gave up on
Breakin' out of this two-star town
I got the green light
I got a little fight
I'm gonna turn this thing around”

Oh Lord, give my little one this rockin’ motivation. Amen.

Uncle Jonny

Give Up

I nearly did.  These last couple of days I have been stupidly tired and inundated with headaches that eventuate into migraines that make me slightly less than the happiest person on earth.  In fact, I simply want to behead anyone who crosses me. Nothing too serious.  I have been completely unmotivated and asleep half the time.  Even then, I left it about half an hour before I started the next sentence.

And now, for a new paragraph.  Jeez, this is like running a marathon.  I apologise for being narky, I am just feeling SO odd today.  Ill, sore, tired, craving Indian food.  You know.  But anyway, this blog isn’t about me, it’s about noodle baby and noodle baby’s pending taste in music, so onward and upward!

Give Up – The Postal Service

I picked this album because it’s pretty.  Full stop.  Well, I mean, I AM hoping to be incubating some sort of miniature Ben Gibbard (lead vocalist of Death Cab for Cutie, also vocalises in The Postal Service), so I suppose this was also a contributor. 

The Postal Service is an electro-pop collaboration between a dude with the last name “Tamborello” (amusing, right?) Ben Gibbard and various DCFC members.  The result is great.  Don’t take my word for it, take lil bow wow’s (baby’s nickname of the day).  I’m pretty sure he/she loved it.  If you find yourself intrigued by Owl City’s romantic, electric sound, don’t shoot yourself.  Just trade up and get into some Postal…well worth it. 

I hope I happen to be in a better mood for the next entry, I’m sure that I’ll give a bit more than a flying hoot(!) then.  I’m feeling better, so I’ll vouch for the entries following to be of higher quality.  Niiiiiiight

A sneaker without laces, a geek without braces, a sentence without spaces…

Which brings me to MewithoutYou (the ‘Y’ being a capital as it is referring to God, the big daddy of all big daddy’s, and our fallibility without him).

So many things to like about this band – poetry, challenging lyrics, beautiful music that progresses over time, the lead singer being named after an ice cream bar (Aaron Weiss), the fact that they are environmentally conscious (They tour in a 42 foot 1976 MC8 Charter bus that runs on vegetable oil) and their journey from a side project afterthought (the members were primarily involved in a band called “The Operation”)(I like brackets) to an internationally successful musical art exhibition.  These could be some of the reasons for my undying, swim fan love.

Maybe it’s simply the fact that Aaron writes life.  The things that are usually sugar coated in everyday life, the things that we are afraid to admit, even to ourselves, Aaron owns up to, exposes and discusses freely in his poetry.  There’s divulging 29 years of virginity, struggling with lust and the never ending pursuit of closeness with his heavenly father, despite numerous shortcomings. 

I’ve done this backwards, so here, take it:

It’s all Crazy! It’s all False! It’s all a Dream! It’s Alright

Undoubtedly the most folky, acoustic album of their releases.  I love each of the albums in their own way, but this one was in my heart immediately.  Taking on a softer, more melodious approach but still maintaining the impact we’ve come to expect from their lyrical content, I assume that my buggerlugs would have loved listening.  Not only did my belly move, but i fell asleep quite peacefully and didn’t feel as sick as usual.  BONUS: baby also got some education from the parable based subject matter, e.g. Track 2 – The Fox, The Crow and The Cookie. 

I think my favourite thing about this listening experience was the fact that I stirred in the middle of track 10 – The King Beetle on a Coconut Estate – just in time to hear words I’ll never forget.  As if to assure my child that a Father is not something to long for because one already exists, knitting this little angel together in my womb, loving and looking out for his little one that he has entrusted to me.

“And the father explained, "You've been somewhat deceived
You've all called me your dad, but your true Dad's not me
I lay next to your mom and your forms were conceived
Your Father's the light within all that you see
He fills up the ponds as He empties the clouds
Holds without hands and He speaks without sounds”

What more can I say. I love my little jelly bean, and I love jelly bean’s heavenly father.

 

 

Ps.  Upon entering my room tonight, I turned off my fan which triggered my lamp to turn on.  I can’t exactly comprehend how this happened, but I’m very happy with how things turned out.

Wolves at Night

Last night was full of HTML, CSS and House, so I was far too tired to write anything. Luckily I don’t really have to apologise to my mass of followers (mass = none).

I still treated my little poppet to some tune-age. The flavour of the evening came in the form of Manchester Orchestra’s debut full length album:

I’m Like a Virgin Losing a Child

If Bright Eyes and Death Cab for Cutie had a really loud baby, that baby’s name would be Manchester Orchestra.  This ‘baby’ has been raised by singer/songwriter/guitarist (the full package) Andy Hull, who started writing in high school and after receiving a huge positive response, spent his final school years in home education so he could focus more on his music.  Turns out this was a good call, as he went on to obtain stellar band members, record an EP (You Brainstorm, I Brainstorm, But Brilliance Needs a Good Editor) and score shows all over.  Not long after this success came ‘I’m Like a Virgin Losing a Child’. 

I love this album for its dynamics. The first track, Wolves at Night, isn’t what I expected at all (which was a mellow, acoustic sound. That’ll teach me to be presumptuous).  It’s punchy, catchy and upbeat, followed by a second track (Now that you’re home) which starts off with a strong, two-chord riff that then melts down into the softer side of this band’s style.  Then of course, there’s my favourite track.  Track number ten – Don’t Let Them See You Cry.  I find this particular song very soothing and beautiful, featuring a single guitar and Andy’s gorgeous voice and lyrical honesty.  However, it doesn’t really matter what I think of the tracks, I can only hope that my offspring (and hopefully my non-existent readers) will love this album as much as I do.

I chose this album to play to unborn baby no name because it really took me back to a time when I thought the world was ending.  It became an overplayed, pity party soundtrack that comforted me through what I though was the end of me and relationships forever.  Morbid? Heck yes, but despite this, I acknowledge that I am now entering a relationship that can and will never end.  A relationship where the love is unconditional and everlasting.  It is this relationship with my soon to be son/daughter that caused me to realize the beauty and joy encased in this 43 minutes and 45 seconds. I love this album now because it makes me smile, not because it assures me that I will never love a single soul again.

I felt you move quite a bit while listening to this one, my little Muggle, cant wait to see what your reaction to the next choice!   

Along the Run

Half asleep, bleary eyed and thirsty at 2.30am on a Sunday, I decided to start a project.

I’m 20, a musician and expecting my first child.  Like all parents, I want only the best for the spawn that is currently residing in my belly and having a good, solid and eclectic taste in music is much apart of that.  This beautiful being that has mistaken my bladder for a trampoline is going to be inundated for the next 6 (or so) months with everything from indie to pop to soul to rock (all other genres inclusive).  I have asked friends for input, but will also be relying on my own library of lyrical loveliness to bring this plan into action.

Second Storey – Art of Fighting

This was the first album I chose.  It was mainly selfish impulse (I hadn’t heard this album in years and was well overdue for a fix), but don’t let my self-involvement (though momentary) get in the way of the fact that this album – put simply – is absolutely beautiful.

Now, I’m no Meldrum and I wont claim to know everything about every band, but the general gist of what I know about this one is that they are a delightful quartet, hailing from Melbourne.  Rumour has it ‘Second Story’ was written and released shortly after the divorce of two of the members.  While this is a fairly sad narrative to have embedded in an album, I tend to get a sense of melancholy triumph just from the first track (Along the Run). Hmm, maybe not so much triumph as acceptance and love. 

Regardless of the underlying story or family feuds, I love this album to the bones. It’s peaceful, pretty, lyrically sound and the first album my baby ever heard.  I hope you liked it my little sea monkey.