So Now You Know!

There's so much big news, guys, that I decided to consolidate it for purposes of faster consumption. Check it.

Devendra Banhart is dating... Natalie Portman?

Seriously. I didn't make this up. This makes sense, actually. I mean they're both well-respected artists who kind of annoy everyone. So I guess they're removing their annoying asses from the dating pool by hanging out with each other. Still, I blame this on Devendra's little featurette in Vanity Fair. He'll be on TRL in approximately four weeks (actually, he probably will because he shot a video with Natalie in it. WTF???).

There might actually be a good music festival in Vancouver

Now I'm not the biggest fan of The New Pornographers, but when they decided to announce an effing MUSIC FESTIVAL in Stanley Park, I decided to stop hating them. The lineup's not out yet, but I'm definitely going.

Goal: to attend as many music festivals as possible this summer, thus degrading into a total douchebag (Sasquatch, I'll see you soon).



Weezer continues to suck

Come on, seriously?



That is all.

-Jocelyn

Lyrics of the Day: Lover by Devendra Banhart

Instead of a real update, I thought I'd entertain you with the lyrics to "Lover" by Devendra Banhart, because they're just so funny.

Well I, I wanna be your lover
I wanna be your man
I want you to understand

And I, I wanna open your door
And love you 'til you're sore
That works for - wait a minute, wait a minute
Yeah

I wanna be your thing, your anything, your everything, oh yeah

And I, I wanna fill your cup
Fill it up, fill it up to the brim with love
That works for - wait a minute, wait a minute

You'll never have to ask
I'll fill you my sweet glass
I'm gonna mesmerize your ass
Just give me my first chance, it's gonna be the last
I'm gonna make you wanna stay

I, I wanna be your cow
Give you all the milk around town
Let me see, let me see you drink it down
I, I wanna be the pear tree
I want you to climb all over me
Try my fruit and taste my seed

Climb right on me, lay it on me
C-c-climb right on me, l-l-lay it on me

Just let me do my thing
Until you start to sing
I'm going down you all night long
I'm gonna build a bond
I'm pulling out my wand
It feels so right it can't be wrong

Yeah

Well I, I wanna be your lover
I wanna be your man
I want you to understand

And I, I wanna be your lover baby
I wanna be your girl
Blow a kiss and change the world

We're gonna make it through
You got me and I got you
Your bleeding heart's at my command
If you don't love me too
Then being friends will do
Long as you let me in your bed



Oh, Devendra.

-Jocelyn

A Christmas Present for You

In celebration of the birth of our Lord (AKA the Christian Church declaring the birth of Jesus on a day that coincided with the pagan festival of midwinter in order to take it over), I am gifting you, my precious readers, a "mixtape" filled with songs that make me very happy and thus will make you happy as well.

The list is as follows:
1. Comfy in Nautica by Panda Bear (my favourite song at the moment).
2. Lover by Devendra Banhart (listen to the lyrics. They're HILARIOUS).
3. Idle Songs by Frog Eyes (possibly the only song by Frog Eyes that's particularly good. Whatever).
4. The Ice Storm by The Go! Team (I can't describe to you how much I love this song).
5. Grounds for Divorce by Wolf Parade (a favourite of mine for some years now).
6. Unsolved Mysteries by Animal Collective (off their amazing new album that I've already talked up lots).
7. Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger by Daft Punk (duh. Best song ever).
8. Up on Your Leopard, Upon the End of Your Feral Days by Sunset Rubdown (Spencer Krug + Me = babies).
9. Galang by M.I.A. (hahahahaha).
10. Plasticities by Andrew Bird (there's no bad mood this song can't fix).

So, there you are, my loves. I suppose this is not really a real update, but you can expect a few in the coming week and a bit as I will be on vacation from my real job and thus will have lots of time for my fake job.

Happy Christmas!

(I mean that in the most secular way possible)

-Jocelyn

The Best and Worst of 2007

As 2007 grinds to a close, it's time to look back and reflect on the wonderful things/crimes against music that were committed this year. So, without further delay, the rundown is as follows:

Best Myspace Find:
Obviously, this award goes to The Last Dinosaur, who friended me on Myspace and quickly became my new favourite unsigned band from Cambridge. These lovely boys have amazing chemistry and impressive songwriting skills. I expect wonderful things from them in the future. Download there song "Home" here.

Worst Myspace Find:
The title of Worst Myspace Find goes to the most annoying band of all time, Science Ninja Team. I actually didn't make it through all four of their songs on Myspace, because they were so bad I was considering flushing my computer down the toilet. I can't even imagine why these guys think what they are doing is a good idea. It's not. Science Ninja Team, for the sake of the world, please stop.

Most Exciting Albums:
5. Kala - M.I.A.

I was surfing the two for $10 bin at HMV when this album came on and I ended up staying in the store just to hear the whole thing. I have been a mild fan of M.I.A. since "Galang" but her new album is really something to talk about. It's refreshing to see someone who is both commercially successful and really good. Keep it up, M.I.A.

4. Alive - Daft Punk

Oh man oh man oh man. I have not heard this entire album yet (come on, Mum! Christmas Present!!!), but what I have heard is enough to make me vomit happiness all over the place. It's pretty messy.

3. Person Pitch - Panda Bear

For those of you who do not know (that includes you, Panda Bear), Panda Bear and I are in love. I'm sure his wife and child will be upset to learn this, but hey, you can't stand in the way of soul mates. It's just not done. Anyway, Person Pitch is amazing. "Comfy in Nautica" is actually possibly the best song I've ever heard, outseating "We Tigers" by Animal Collective. Clearly I only like one kind of music.

2. Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon - Devendra Banhart

I bought Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon on a whim, and three songs in I was (no kidding) jumping up and down and screaming to my roommate that this album was "sooooooo good." It got panned by Pitchfork and was completely missing from their "Top 50 Albums of 2007" list, but they suck and I rule. This album is great. Seriously.

1. Strawberry Jam - Animal Collective

Strawberry Jam is by far Animal Collective's best album yet, which is saying a lot. It's super short, but makes up for it by not having one second of filler. Also, it features my boyfriend, Panda Bear, which is a major plus. I have yet to get tired of listening to this album over and over again. If I didn't have to listen to other music for research purposes, I'm not sure I would. It's just that awesome. Excellent Work, Animal Collective. I can't wait to see what you come up with in 2008.

Most Disappointing Albums:
(It speaks highly of 2007 that I could only come up with four.)
4. Night Falls Over Kortedala - Jens Lekman

Night Falls Over Kortedala is one of those albums that EVERYBODY talks about. Naturally, I assumed that they were talking about it for a reason, like maybe it was good. Not so. Sure, Jens Lekman is original, and his lyrics really are phenomenal. But I really do think he sounds like a bad lounge singer. I guess some people consider that a good thing. Those people are wrong.

3. New Magnetic Wonder - The Apples in Stereo

The Apples in Stereo had FIVE YEARS to come up with some good music and they blew it. Enough said.

2. Places Like This - Architecture in Helsinki

"Heart It Races" spent a whopping three weeks as my favourite song. Those three weeks ended when I went out and bought Places Like This only to discover the rest of the album was crap. Now I'm super pissed at Architecture in Helsinki and can't even listen to "Heart It Races" without hearing "Money You Wasted."

1. Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer? - Of Montreal

Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?... Of Montreal was my favourite band until I heard this album and now I barely think about them. From what I've read, this ultra-poppy meaningless garbage with dark, miserable lyrics is the new direction they're going in now, so I doubt I'll be thinking about them much in the future. I don't think there could have been a worse follow-up to The Sunlandic Twins. Seriously, there is one good song ("Suffer for Fashion"). Pitchfork put this album at number five on their "Top Albums of 2007" list, right above Strawberry Jam. I'm not sure how anyone can rank Of Montreal's worst album above Animal Collective's best, but whatever. As I said before, Pitchfork sucks. So does Hissing Fauna.

Best Music Video:
"Heart It Races" by Architecture in Helsinki (misleading! Don't buy the album!)


Worst Music Video:
"Peacebone" by Animal Collective (misleading! Do buy the album!)


Best News:
Ike Turner dies. What an asshole. Have fun in Hell (I picture some Dante-style poetic justice with him getting the shit beaten out of him by Tina Turner. You go girl!).

Worst News:
The Blood Brothers break up. I talk about this in like every other update, that's how upset I am. It's only because I could have seen them this summer and I DIDN'T GO! I never dreamed I would NEVER have another chance. Tragic. Totally.

So that's it for now, I think. Here's to 2008!

-Jocelyn

album review: smokey rolls down thunder canyon by devendra banhart

it may seem to you, gentle readers, that devendra banhart is all i talk about. you're pretty much correct, but there is reason beyond his attractiveness.

you see, devendra banhart is truly a unique voice in modern music. unlike so many of his contemporaries, he doesn't seem to be trying to be anyone else. he is simply himself (himself being a hippie child on acid, more or less). in this goal, he succeeds admirably, particularly in smokey rolls down thunder canyon which is, for lack of a better word, pretty fucking great (ok, that's three words. whatever).



there are those who have criticized this album for being too all over the place (you know who you are, pitchfork). these are the same people who criticized cripple crow for being too long. i understand that, as an actual music journalist, one may be trying to get through an album in order to review it. but i also know, as a lover of music, that 22 songs is not so much too long as getting your damn money's worth. raise your hand if you're tired of paying $16.99 for 12 songs. that's what i thought.

anyway, back to smokey. all over the place? maybe. but then, that's devendra. if you've ever seen/heard/read him interviewed, you'd realize that hippie children on acid don't really have the attention span to stay on one subject for too long. this could be seen as a character flaw, but in devendra banhart's case, it's actually quite refreshing. he's branched out from his much-loathed "freak folk" niche to create a truly international album. from what i can tell, there are at least three languages used in his songs. not to mention a gospel choir (or part of one, anyway).

to talk about the songs individually would only detract from the work of art this album is (particularly the special edition, featuring a book of drawings, photographs, and lyrics). despite the variety, there is a certain flow to the album. the connection is there, for those willing to listen well enough to hear it. this is not an album of background music.

for your listening pleasure, here is smokey rolls down thunder canyon in its entirety. deezer, i cannot thank you enough.

enjoy, my friends. you won't be disappointed.

-jocelyn

a new update

sometimes i wonder if music hasn't died.

of course that's overly dramatic and probably not the case, but if you think about it we're kind of in a rut. i mean certainly there is phenomenal music out there (devendra banhart, animal collective, joanna newsom...) but none of it seems to have the spark that the older music did.



take yes, for example. the first time i heard "close to the edge" it did nothing short of MOVE me. perhaps it's cliche but that's how i felt. and LED ZEPPELIN for chrissake. gods of rock. the greatest rock band of all time. even if there are bands with more talent, with better songs, whatever... they were the GREATEST. they haven't made music in years (apart from the recent reunion tour) but people still talk about them as though they're relevant. do you know why? it's because they were great. it's because every single fucking song that they put out into the world was a singular work of art, to say nothing of the albums. i can think of four albums right now that i would call their best. THAT, my friends, is saying something.



granted, i feel similarly about devendra banhart's "smokey rolls down thunder canyon," which came out in september. but that is a rarity. albums these days (to say nothing of songs) just seem to lack the intensity and the art that went in to the music of the sixties and seventies. they're either too all over the place (the one fault of smokey) or too themey (of montreal's "the sunlandic twins", everything by beck...). or worse, they're chock-full of filler ("tears of the valedictorian" by frog eyes, "feels" by animal collective...). three good songs does not an album make!



it seems, my friends, that albums as an art form may well be lost. there's no journey anymore (like the journey one takes while listening to sgt. pepper). a couple of illegal downloads (we're all guilty. not legally though, just figuratively) and suddenly nobody gives a shit about the record as a goddamn concept. raise your hand if FILLER SONGS are a good part of the reason you STARTED downloading in the first place? that's what i thought.

a true fan of music will buy a record, regardless of its availability online, not because they want the songs, but because they want the record as a whole. if anything, we've become more discerning about what we'll pay for, and i'm not sure we should be punished by being peddled a bunch of mediocre albums by mediocre bands. you want to make money, record companies? make some damn records! give us something worth listening to and i guarantee we'll buy it (or your money back).

and another thing, i'm sure i'm not the only person left who misses the 15 minute song (no, i'm not talking about let's not shit ourselves (to love and to be loved) by bright eyes, because while that song IS proof that conor oberst is the only man who understands me, it is proof of little else). i'm talking about the recording of dazed and confused from led zeppelin's incredible three disc live album "how the west was won." i'm talking about and you and i by yes, which is one of the greatest songs ever written. these songs are works of art. they're not pretentious, they're not overwhelming. they just are. beautifully and inexplicably. and they absolutely touch at the core of every single person who really listens to them.



that, my friends, is music.

-jocelyn

album review: cripple crow by devendra banhart

first of all, thanks to luke, i now know about deezer.com, which is like project playlist only better and more legal. so check out the ENTIRE album i'm going to tell you about:

second of all, i apologize for the fact that this album was actually released in 2005 and is therefore not new or exciting. it's not like i'm pitchfork, dudes. i just bought this album and it was FUCKING GREAT so i decided to share it with you.

so yes, here's the dizz-eal, some friends and i were talking over coffee and samosas (weird? maybe) yesterday discussing the nature of art. we decided that there's a certain amount of effortlessness that needs to be involved in order to make art great. the effortlessness can be actual or imagined by the audience, but it really ought to be there. nobody likes it when you try too hard.

i believe devendra banhart embodies this concept. songwriting and performance seem to come so naturally to him that it's almost impossible to imagine him doing anything else (though he does). cripple crow flows from beginning to end. it's one of those albums you could listen to again and again without getting bored. it's also one of those albums you could talk over without feeling guilty. and with 22 tracks, it's one of those albums where you definitely got your money's worth (i bought it new at a local record store for $12.95).

the album opens with "now that i know." this song immediately transports you into devendra banhart's child-like universe where things are simultaneously innocent and confusing. it's a good world. by the time the album gets to "long haired child," you're hooked. eighteen more tracks, including "chinese children," and "i feel just like a child," (which, in my opinion, are two of his best), and you're still sad when the album ends.

in short, this album rocks. devendra banhart rocks. if it weren't for him, i'd still hate folk music like any other self-respecting crazy dance-rock fan.

in other news, the museum of modern art in san francisco is currently holding a show featuring devendra banhart's music paired with paul klee's art.



may i say that the person who thought this up is just brilliant. banhart's music sounds almost like fucked-up children's songs and paul klee's art looks almost like fucked-up children's book illustrations. needless to say, i am going to this show.



that's all for today, folks! hope you found it informative!

-jocelyn