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.

If you got the inclination, I got the dancing shoes

I was treated to a very nice surprise last night at The Conservatory (starting to see a pattern here yet?). I went out to see my friends, Radio Deception, who were outstanding. I've mentioned them once before, but didn't really elaborate. Basically, if you're a fan of stuff in the vein of Explosions in the Sky and Godspeed You! Black Emperor, but like the idea of them playing shorter songs, you'll dig these cats. I'll try to keep you posted on their future activities.


But alas, this post is not about them. This is about These United States. Being that RD was playing with The Gentle Art of Floating (also very impressive), I expected some more instrumental greatness. What I got instead was a delightful mix of extremely well written alternative country and indie rock. They remind of Ryan Adams' more upbeat stuff mixed with early Counting Crows (am I showing my age with that one?) and the tiniest possible hint of Modest Mouse. But that's just one man's opinion. You're free to make up your own mind...

These United States - Good Bones

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The two tracks here are off of their most recent effort, "Everything Touches Everything." I'm sure Jim and Dustin over at Size Records have secured some copies, and if not, there's always the easy way out...


These United States - I'm Gonna Assemble a City

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This is another record that falls into the category of "Really Awesome Stuff that Came Out Last Year that I Didn't Hear Until This Year." I'll probably have to make some sort of mega-post with a nice long list of all of those... eventually. Either way, if you enjoyed the tracks embedded here, you're really going to enjoy this record.