July 2003

My Record Collection is Still Better Than Yours
Three Album Reviews

Postal Service - Give Up

This is a very fresh sounding album. As in the sound is fresh. As in something new.

Postal Service is a fusion of indie rock and electro sounds that results in an extremely pleasurable album. Of course, the most obvious comment is that it sounds somewhat like new wave music from the early 80's. But, of course, this is not true. This is how we remember the 80's after living through the last 10 years. Music from the 80's would only sound like this if played through some sort of a time machine.

Basically, the sound goes like this- it's very popish indie rock laced full of electro sounds. It's an extremely well done fusion of an old, solid genre and a newer sound that is only just starting to hit it big.

I could go on and explain who these dudes are, but I'll leave that to some other geek.

I will, however, say that most of this album is extremely upbeat and is a complete joy to listen to. I also have to say that "Nothing Better" is one of the more interesting duets I've heard in quite a while. It's about a guy and a girl breaking up. The girl wants the guy to grow up and get lost, and the guy just doesn't get it. It's also, once again, poppy and upbeat and you could do a little 80's dance while listening to it and laughing at the dumb jerk in the song.

I also fail to see how "Clark Gable" isn't all over the radio. What a killer song! It's exactly what I want pop to sound like.

I must say, though, that the best thing about Give Up is that you listen to it and it is instantly and obviously terribly hip without being heavy. Most of the "ultra-hip" hip music rolling out these days must sound deep and heavy. Now, I love Interpol and Sigur Ros like hell, but Postal Service lets you bop around and have fun.

Oh, and "Natural Anthem", drum and bass filtered through an electro/indie rock filter sure is interesting.

Iron and Wine - The Creek Drank the Cradle

I know nothing about this dude except that he's from Miami and he's awesome. And that's odd considering the nature of his music. This music is straight-up folksy americana. It's a guy and his guitars. It's also full of depth and melancholy, while being entirely bittersweet at the same time. There is something very beautiful in the sad pensivity of this mans voice. To me it sounds like some wonderful combination of, maybe, Nick Drake, John Fahey, and some brilliantly inspired mountain poet from West Virginia or Tennessee that, tragically, nobody outside of his home county has ever heard of.

Radiohead - Hail to the Thief

OK, every other asshole with a website, magazine, newspaper, television network, or even just a CD player, has probably reviewed this by now- including Justy on this very page back in May. I'll just say that it looks like Radiohead has finally figured out how to mix straight-up rockin' with electronic experimentation with a high degree of success. Kudos to you, Radiohead, and thanks for the great album.

Also, I should mention that I stood all day in the rain to see them at that Field Day fiasco eventually held in Giant's Stadium. What a shitty place that is. Still, I shall be collecting my Cool Points on that whole hullabaloo.