Herculodge

We Choose to Live in a Watch Prison

 

Music Wish List, May 2014

I need to get The War on Drugs' Lost in the Dream.

Then there's the Villagers' Becoming a Jackal.

Last but not least there's Lylee Li's I Never Learn.

 

Fossil Collective Does a Sublime Cover of Flaming Lips' "Do You Realize?"

 

When Gilber O'Sullivan Wrote "Alone Again Naturally," He Turned Self-Pity Into a Religion

It was 1972 or so when I remember the song took the world by storm. I was ten years old and the song was ubiquitous. People with plaintiff expressions would open their windows and the song would be blaring from their radios. Everyone was crying. It was as if O'Sullivan had sprayed the world with a drug that induced a torrent of tears.

He became rich off that song. Everyone I know loves the song, but feels guilty for liking it.  To turn cathartic self-pity into an all-consuming religion that no one wants to fess up to. What a genius. 

GQ Chooses Dark Night of the Soul as Album of the Year

 

 GQ chooses Dark Night of the Soul for Album of the Year. This is a David Lynch project. 

Mayer Hawthorne Captures Retro Soul Sounds

Mayer Hawthorne grew up in Detroit. According to his MySpace bio, he loved the soul sounds of his youth. He captures them niceon his album A Strange Arrangement. I'm not just hearing the Detroit sound; I'm hearing the famous Philadelphia sound. I'm hearing Smokey Robinson, Curtis Mayfield, and other greats. Nice job, Mr. Hawthorne. 

As I post this, his album is ranked number 394 on Amazon, not bad at all. As some reviewers have correctly stated, Hawthorne isn't trying to be funny or ironic with his treatment of retro soul. He loves soul and treats the music with passion and earnestness with good effect. 

I first heard one of the album's tracks on KJAZZ 88.1 a few nights ago and scribbled the song title in the margins of my New Yorker. Thank you, KJAZZ

The Clientele Release Their New Album Today: Bonfires on the Heath

Reliably, The Clientele have updated 1960s dream pop for the new century, providing nostalgic pangs in their mellifluous melodies. Their new album Bonfires on the Heath is one of their strongest. I'm even hearing some slow PInk Floyd-like songs on this one. 

The Personification of the Words Sultry and Languid: Hope Sandoval

Since leaving Mazzy Star many years ago, singer Hope Sandoval continues, including her new album Through the Devil Softly, to sing in her lilting, aching voice, which makes you succumb helplessly to her smoky indolence. Yes, I highly recommend the new album. 

Spiritual Cousins to Radiohead: Vib Gyor and Their Song "Ghosts"

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For Fans of Trashcan Sinatras: Try "Soviets" by Boxer Rebellion

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