All My Life Spent Alone

Okay, so it's over a week. Congratulations to those of you who bet against me. You've won. Anyway, I had considerable trouble when trying to come up with the subject for this post. Then Autumn happened. I stepped outside Sunday morning and was immediately taken with how crisp and clean the air was. I love this time of year. It makes me want to huddle close to someone on a park bench and watch the sun go down as a brisk breeze blows over us by the lake. It makes me want to fall in love.


And so last night, I did what I always do when I feel all dovey and nostalgic for a past that's not yet behind me. I put James Iha's "Let it Come Down" on the turntable.


James Iha - Be Strong Now

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For anybody who somehow doesn't know, Iha was a guitarist in The Smashing Pumpkins before they broke up and subsequently "reformed" without him. He went on to work with an eclectic variety of musicians including A Perfect Circle and members of Hanson and Cheap Trick (yes, THAT Hanson). But in 1998, before the Pumpkins' released "Adore" he quietly released this solo album. Critical reaction was mixed and it didn't sell very well. To be honest, I was a HUGE Pumpkins fan and I didn't bother to buy the album until after the band broke up, but it eventually found its way into my collection.


James Iha - Sound of Love

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I remember going to some awful record store on the south side of OKC that was run by a local promoter when I was first getting into vinyl. The shop is long-since gone and the former owner has done less than his fair share of jail time, but that's another story for another day. Anyway, I was thumbing through everything they had when I happened upon a used copy of this record. I'd never listened to it, but I knew right then and there that I had to have it. I put it on as soon as I got home and immediately fell in love with it.


James Iha - Silver String

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There are few things that hit the spot like this album does for me. Sure, it's kinda cornball, James' voice isn't the strongest thing in the world and the word "love" makes more appearances than "sun" on a Polyphonic Spree record, but (and this is important) it feels sincere. So often, I listen to a record that's this heavy on "love" songs and it sounds forced or contrived. Not so here. It has that same honest, heart-on-the-sleeve quality that I love so much about all of The Avett Brothers' records. James genuinely sounds like a young dude head-over-heels for some sweet little thing from a small town in the midwest who has a good relationship with her father and loves "Pet Sounds" and Fleet Foxes in equal measure. But enough about me. All in all, this record is a fantastic little slab of alt country that would stand up well next to most of Ryan Adams' and Wilco's early respective outputs. Sappy, sweet and saccharine love songs that would make any feeling person with good taste melt a little on the inside.


James Iha - No One's Gonna Hurt You

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The bad news is that It's out of print and it's not on iTunes, but with rumors circulating that he's working on a second solo album (over ten years later mind you), it might be a good time for him to consider a deluxe reissue with bonus tracks and such. Otherwise, it's readily available used on ebay and amazon or, if you feel so inclined, illegally. And since you won't be taking any money out of his pocket by downloading an album that's been out of print for some time now, I see no harm in linking you to this. Yeah, I know that I'm asking for trouble, but whatever. Just don't expect me to make a habit out of this sort of thing. Bear in mind that the songs are probably out of order and I can't vouch for the bitrate. I may up a higher quality version with some bonus tracks eventually if I can track down my CD copy. Just keep checking back and you'll probably see it here at some point.


For a preview of coming attractions: More Nostalgia!!!


**EDIT**


Changed the last link since the video got taken down due to a "terms of use violation." Looks like Square is really living up to their name/reputation.

Music from Vacation: Volume 2

Well, ladies and gentlemen, it seems that once again it has taken me longer to post than originally planned. Combinations of family illness and the lack of a consistent internet connection have gotten in the way (mostly the internet thing) but no more! The time is nigh for a long-promised post about Owl & Penny label-mates, Boys & Frogs.


Boys & Frogs - Every Daughter's Dance

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Now, I know what you're thinking. "What are the chances that two bands from the same greater metro area, on the same label with similar naming conventions would both be very good, much less worth writing home about?" Well wonder no more. These kids are legit. As with Owl & Penny, I picked up their EP "In Desperate Need of a Car Crash" while on a "working" vacation in Phoenix, AZ (and by "working," I mean being a drunken mess of a groomsman at my best friend's wedding for the better part of a week [Danial, I love you man]). This was actually the first disc out of three to which I listened and I was immediately impressed.


Boys & Frogs - Good Sons

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If you're into artists like Owen Pallett/Final Fantasy, Arcade Fire or even Morrissey (a touchstone I don't often cite as a positive influence, but it's actually applicable in a good way here), you're going to dig this collection of tunes. The instrumentation throughout is eclectic enough to remain interesting, but not eccentric enough to be off-putting or pretentious. These are all well-crafted indie-pop songs that get under your skin which you will find yourself whistling in public restrooms on a regular basis. Admit it. The reverb is awesome and whistling in the restroom is the easiest way to keep people from trying to engage in conversation with you while you bleed out those 44oz of soda you drank after lunch. The only gripe I have about it is some of the mixing choices, but that's just the ugly, elitist audiophile in me talking. At it's core "In Desperate Need of a Car Crash" is an excellent first effort. Should the EP not sate your appetite, there is also an iTunes-exclusive single called "In Dreams" which I can recommend without hesitation.


Next post is coming in under a week. You can bet on it.