Voxtrot - Start of Something

Voxtrot was a band from Austin, TX who only played for a few short years. But during those times they released some pretty rad stuff. They've got a great pop/low-fi feel to them and wrote some solid, upbeat songs but alas they just recently broke up.

"Start of Something" is from their early ep Raised by Wolves. This song is probably one of their funnest songs. It sounds a lot like it could have been a Smiths song because of the bupbupbah guitar work and the vocals that channel Morrissey himself. The subtle orchestra adds a unique touch and the lyrics are hopeful yet melancholy making for a great combo. The lead singer, Ramesh Srivastava's got some wicked prose.

This time of night I could call you up
I'd get angry with athletic ease, break common laws in twos and threes
If I die clutching your photograph
Don't call me boring, It's just 'cause I like you
Take me on back... take me back
To the place where I could feel your heart
Is this the end or just the start of
Something really, really beautiful
Wrapped up and disguised as something really, really ugly, 

Won't you...

Come by and see me, I'm a love letter away
I'd break your name before I'd say, "I really love you, love you,"
I don't care if you saw, I watched every inch of film 
Flash across your Roman features, 
And I loved it, loved it; I don't care if

You think I'm eager to shut your eyes, well 
I'm sorry-everybody knows you can't break me with your gutter prose
Would you believe it, she sent me a letter, 
The ring, it nearly weighs her down, she's got another boy, oh boy
Steady your ears... read my lips
Poetry is not a luxury, it's how I'll break this home
And when I'm really ill, won't you cradle me?
Man is not a noble animal, but maybe woman is, remember, 

I heard you...

Inside your room, you said, "You never really live 
Until your back's against the wall," oh did you really mean it?
I never break my gaze, if just to see this scar remain reflected in your eyes
I think it's time to go home

[GUITAR SOLO]

Oh, tell me your thoughts, tell me your thoughts on liberty, 
See there's a place where I sink to sleeping
Oh, my vote is as red as my blood
Will you join me for another round? I haven't had the chance to speak yet

God speed...

I break the law once every week to feel your touch, 
What's a book to you in bed, Do you feel better, older?
This just makes me ill, your name is dripping from my pen
Still you're not around to curse, 
I'll drop the gun now, I'm still under you...

Marianne, let the ghosts sleep tonight.
Marianne, let the ghosts sleep, just shut your eyes and burn the past away

Beach Boys - Heroes and Villains

I used to HATE the Beach Boys and for good reasons too. You see the only material I heard from them at first was their terrible surf crap. "Little Deuce Coupe"? Shut up Brian Wilson. But then I discovered everything after the brilliant masterpiece Pet Sounds when a friend pleaded with me to give them a chance. I am so glad I did, because they are now one of my most inspirational bands.

This song was also on the Fantastic Mr. Fox soundtrack, so it gets bonus points. Its an exciting, fun-filled blast of harmony, and instruments. Its set up in a way that makes it feel like a play, or a classical piece. There are so many different parts in it and each "scene" has its own unique feel but they tie it all together with a recurring melody. Since Brian Wilson was such a picky little rascal there are a ton of versions of this song, including one with a ragtime section in the middle which is my favorite but I couldn't find it.

I've been in this town so long that back in the city
I've been taken for lost and gone
And unknown for a long long time

Fell in love years ago
With an innocent girl
From the Spanish and Indian home
Home of the heroes and villains

Once at night Catillian squared the fight
And she was right in the rain of the bullets that eventually brought her down
But she's still dancing in the night
Unafraid of what a dude'll do in a town full of heroes and villains

Heroes and villains
Just see what you've done

Heroes and villains
Just see what you've done

Stand or fall I know there
Shall be peace in the valley
And it's all an affair
Of my life with the heroes and villains

My children were raised
You know they suddenly rise
They started slow long ago
Head to toe healthy weathy and wise

I've been in this town so long
So long to the city
I'm fit with the stuff
To ride in the rough
And sunny down snuff I'm alright
By the heroes and

Heroes and villains
Just see what you've done

Heroes and villains
Just see what you've done

Dr. Dog - Say Something

Creepy video, yeah? But awesome song. This was one of the first songs I heard by Dr. Dog and it got me hooked. This one's from the early album Easy Beat, which I highly recommend.

"Say Something" is a psychedelic-ish rock that kind of feels like a jam band if jam bands didn't suck. The guitars in the chorus scream Beatles and the harmonies are so solid. Harmonies are one of my favorite things about music and these guys have got it down with their "ahhhhs" and "lalalas." Great stuff.

long distance, no need to shout 
close quarters, ain't talkin out loud 
and I gotta know 
all over your open mouth 
words hang like they're just hanging out 
but I gotta know 

where are you going crazy 
in your mind or in everybody's mind? 

cold shoulders have run out of luck 
who knows what they're runnin from 
I gotta know 
you're holding up an endless line 
putting pressure on my precious time 
but I gotta know 

where are you going crazy 
in your mind or in every inch of your body? 
say something 

Fleet Foxes - Mykonos

Get your folk fix today. Fleet Foxes are Seattle based psych-folk outfit who are known for their mood setting jams filled with harmonies that rival the Beach Boys or America. They've got a new album coming up called Helplessness Blues so I figure I might as well get prepared for it.

"Mykonos" is from the Sun Giant EP and doesn't disappoint in the harmony department. With all six members taking up the vocals at several parts it gives you this great mysterious curiosity. During one of the breakdowns, the guitars, drums, bass and keys stop and the Foxes go all a cappella all over the place. I imagine myself wondering through some enchanted forest and hearing some baroque choir off in the distance.

The door slammed loud and rose up a cloud of dust on us 
Footsteps follow, down through the hollow sound, torn up. 

And you will go to Mykonos 
With a vision of a gentle coast 
And a sun to maybe dissipate 
Shadows of the mess you made 

How did animals in the snow tipped pines, I find 
Hatching from the seed of your thin mind, all night? 

And you will go to Mykonos 
With a vision of a gentle coast 
And a sun to maybe dissipate 
Shadows of the mess you made 

Brother you don't need to turn me away 
I was waiting down at the ancient gate 

You go 
Wherever you go today 
You go today 

I remember how they took you down 
As the winter turned the meadow brown 

You go 
Wherever you go today 
You go today 

When a-walking brother don't you forget 
It ain't often that you'll ever find a friend 

You go 
Wherever you go today 
You go today

Smashing Pumpkins - Cupid De Locke

Smashing Pumpkins double disk Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness is widely regarded as one of their best albums and I tend to agree. But don't listen to me because I really don't know too much about them otherwise, I only have a few albums by them and have never really delved too much into their music.

That being said, "Cupid De Locke" is a fantastically beautiful song. Its the song that really made me appreciate them as a band. The harp and guitars fit together in a cloud-like melody and the bass carries it along while Shakespearean lyrics discuss the troubles and tribulations of love. Overall its a very relaxing song from a band that you wouldn't really expect to create relaxing songs.

Cupid hath pulled back his sweetheart's bow
To cast divine arrows into her soul
To grab her attention swift and quick
Or morrow the marrow of her bones be thick
With turpentine kisses and mistaken blows

See the devil may do as the devil may care
He loves none sweeter as sweeter the dare
Her mouth the mischief he doth seek
Her heart the captive of which he speaks
So note all ye lovers in love with the sound
Your world be shattered with nary a note
Of one cupids arrow under your coat

And in the land of star crossed lovers
And barren hearted wanderers
Forever lost in forsaken missives and satan's pull
We seek the unseekable and we speak the unspeakable
Our hopes dead gathering dust to dust
In faith, in compassion, and in love

Radiohead - Supercollider

I was pretty bummed I missed Record Store Day this year because I really wanted to pick the EP Supercollider/ The Butcher up on vinyl, but much to my surprise I checked my inbox yesterday and Radiohead themselves sent an Mp3 version of the EP to all those who had bought King of Limbs from their website. "Cool beans", said I.

"Supercollider" has been popping up at live shows since 2008, but this is the first appearance of the studio version. Played live, its just Thom and a piano, which is good, but this version's got some kick to it. The added drum machine beat and synths make it feel a bit more complete. Thom's voice has more room to wail in this version too, so he can really belt out those lyrics. The song as a whole reminds me a LOT of Amnesiac era Radiohead, and is especially reminiscent of the B-side "Cuttooth." Good job, blokes.

Super collider
Dust in a moment
Particles scatter
Parting from the soup

Swimming upstream
Before the heavens crack open
Thin pixelations
Coming out from the dust

In a blue light
In a green light
In a half light
In a work light

In a B-spin
Flip flopping
In a pulse wave
Outstepping

To walk the shadows back into
The boxes

I am open
I am welcome
For a fraction
Of a second

I have jettisoned my illusions
I have dislodged my depressions

I put the shadows back into
The boxes


I put the shadows back into
The boxes

:Space Week: Eric Idle - Galaxy Song

Space week has come to a conclusion. And I still see no spaceships in my driveway, chumps. Still we listened to some good space related tunes. Here's a few Honorable Mentions:
"Space Dementia" Muse
"Space Rock" Weezer
Space Truckin'" Deep Purple
"Night of the Star Child's Funk" Kay Kay and his Weathered Underground

As a finale, I leave you with simply this video. Enjoy! Remember, keep watching the skies! And pray that there's intelligent life somewhere out in space cause there's bugger all down here on Earth.

:Space Week: Modest Mouse - Stars Are Projectors

Alright guys, two more days left of Space Week. How's that spaceship your supposed to be building me coming along? Its not like it takes rocket appliances to figure this out, come on.




I haven't listened to Modest Mouse in a while, which is a shame. Thank you, Space Week. This song is from their grand masterpiece The Moon and Antarctica. The name for this album is so fitting in that it is definitely their darkest, coldest album. Dark? Cold? Sounds like Space Week material to me.
"The Stars Are Projectors" is an 8 and a half minute freak out that conjures up some spectacular stellar imagery. The topic of existence is tackled and the point is pondered about while distorted guitars and a barrage of vocals swirl around and suddenly switch to mellow acoustic parts and back again. It really has a feeling of putting things in a different perspective. Right wing left wing chicken wing.

In the last second of life they're going to show you how
How they run this show, sure, run it into the ground

The stars are projectors, yeah
Projecting our life down to this planet earth
The stars are projectors, yeah
Projecting our minds down to this planet earth

Everyone wants a double feature
They want to be their own damn teacher, and how
The stars are projectors, yeah
Projecting our lives down to this planet earth

It's all about the moderate climates
You got to be cold and be hot for sure
It's all about the moderate climates
You want to be blessed and be cursed for sure

All the stars are projectors, yeah
Projecting our lives down to this planet earth
All the stars are projectors, yeah
Projecting our lives down to this planet earth

Everyone wants a double feature
They want to be their own damn teacher, and how
All the stars are projectors, yeah
Projecting our lives down to this planet earth

You've got the harder part
You've got the kinder heart and it's true
I've got the easy part
I've got the harder heart, ain't this true
Right wing, left wing, chicken wing
It's built on finding the easier ways through

God is a woman and the woman is an animal 
That animal's man and that's you
Was there a need for creation? 
That was hiding in a math equation and that's this:
Where do circles begin?

:Space Week: Paul Mccartney - Venus and Mars (Reprise)

P. Mccart. Whimsical Paul. Although he was a bit of a douchebag, he does have some good solo stuff too. His catalog of songs is nowhere as good as George's or John's, but its got quite a few good ones too. Its not as bad as Ringo's at least. Poor Ringo. Venus and Mars is a mediocre at best example of these albums, but its got its jems.
"Venus and Mars (Reprise)" is an acoustic guitar based dreamlike song about the future, spaceships, and strange new worlds. P. Mccart's vocals are all spacey and echo-y and computer noises and sci-fi sound effects fill the background. Perfect for this week! Oh, its supposed to fade into the next song so if it cuts off at a weird time, thats why.

Standing In The Hall
Of The Great Cathedral
Waiting For The Transport To Come
Starship 21zna9
A Good Friend Of Mine
Studies The Stars
Venus And Mars
Are Alright Tonight.

Come Away On A Strange Vacation
Holiday Hardly Begun
Run Into A Good Friend Of Mine

Sold Me Her Sign
Reach For The Stars
Venus And Mars
Are all right tonight

:Space Week: Radiohead - Subterranean Homesick Alien

Ah, Radiohead. I dont really like picking favorites but if someone were to come up to me and ask me what my favorite band was and I had to say the first thing that popped into my mind, it would be them. Or if I were held at gunpoint and told to name my favorite album, it would probably be OK Computer. The album is just perfect. Its got insane rockouts, lulling piano pieces and very intricate messages about technology and human beings.
"Subterranean Homesick Alien," whose title is a play on Bob Dylan's "Subterranean Homesick Blues" is a song contemplating alien abduction and getting the chance to see the universe for what it really is as opposed to what we see on Earth. Something I find awesome. If I had a chance to get abducted and not get probed I'd do it just to get off of the dump of a planet. Synths and Jonny Greenwood's beautiful guitar work mesh perfectly in this song creating a dizzying airy mood. Thom Yorke sings in his longing falsetto to add to the  mood.

The breath of the morning I keep forgetting
The smell of the warm summer air
I live in a town where you can't smell a thing
You watch your feet for cracks in the pavement

Up above aliens hover
Making home movies for the folks back home
Of all these weird creatures who lock up their spirits
Drill holes in themselves and live for their secrets

They're all uptight, uptight
Uptight, uptight
Uptight, uptight

I wish that they'd swoop down in a country lane
Late at night when I'm driving
Take me on board their beautiful ship
Show me the world as I'd love to see it

I'd tell all my friends but they'd never believe me
They'd think that I'd finally lost it completely
I'd show them the stars and the meaning of life
They'd shut me away but I'd be alright, alright
I'm alright, alright

I'm just uptight, uptight
Uptight, uptight
Uptight, uptight
Uptight, uptight
Uptight

:Space Week: David Bowie - Starman

Again, this was a hard choice. So many songs about space by the Bowie. Just for the record "Moonage Daydream" was the runner up here. The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars is dripping with songs about space.
"Starman" though is one of the first songs by Bowie that I really got into, so I decided to go with it. It makes me remember myself as a kid with my walkie talkie toy standing outside at night trying to pick up alien signals, or in Bowiespeak, "crazy cosmic jive." Its a great example of acoustic songwriting with a ballroom-style finale complete with "Lalalalas" and electric guitar melodies.

Didn't know what time it was and the lights were low
I leaned back on my radio
Some cat was layin' down some rock 'n' roll 'lotta soul,
he said

Then the loud sound did seem to fade
Came back like a slow voice on a wave of phase
That weren't no D.J. that was hazy cosmic jive

[CHORUS]
There's a starman waiting in the sky
He'd like to come and meet us
But he thinks he'd blow our minds
There's a starman waiting in the sky
He's told us not to blow it
Cause he knows it's all worthwhile
He told me:
Let the children lose it
Let the children use it
Let all the children boogie

I had to phone someone so I picked on you
Hey, that's far out so you heard him too!
Switch on the TV
we may pick him up on channel two
Look out your window I can see his light

If we can sparkle he may land tonight
Don't tell your poppa or he'll get us locked up in fright

[CHORUS (x2)]

La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la 

:Space Week: Flaming Lips - Vein of Stars

Coincidence: Today is the 50th anniversary of the first human space-flight. I mean, I planned it that way. I swear.



I would say about 50% of the Lips songs deal with some kind of cosmic ordeal, so I had a lot to choo, choo choose from here. At War With the Mystics I think is the most "spacey" of the albums though. Psychedelic, cosmic, funk-o-matic are all terms that fit this album to a tee. To a tea? To a T? I dont care.
"Vein of Stars" is a slower ponderous song about the cosmos, religion, the future and nothing. The concept of nothing anyway. "Who knows, maybe there isn't/ a vein of stars calling out my name." It kind of gives you a John Lennon "Imagine" vibe. With its orchestra swells, soft piano tinkling and acoustic backdrop, this is easily on of my favs.
Who knows?
Maybe there isn't a vein of stars calling out my name
No glow from above our heads
Nothing there to see you down on your knees

Twenty-five, twenty-six, twenty-seven
Off in the future, maybe there ain't no heaven
It's just you and me, and maybe it's just as well
And if there ain't no heaven, maybe there ain't no hell

Who knows?
Maybe there isn't a vein of stars calling out my name
Who knows?
Maybe there isn't a vein of stars calling out my name

Who knows?
(Calling out my name)
Who knows?
(Calling out my name)
Who knows?
(Calling out my name)
Who knows?
(Calling out my name)

Calling out my name
(Calling out my name)

Who knows?
(Calling out my name)
Who knows?
(Calling out my name)

Calling out my name