The Postal Service is not just merely for logistics

If you’ve been a faithful follower of my musings, you’re bound to notice that I idolize Ben Gibbard. No, it’s not because I’m a queer who happens to fancy geeky boys in big dorky-rimmed glasses and stupid hair but it’s because I stumbled upon his side project, The Postal Service and it was so powerful i felt like i was riding in a rocket ship bound for the moon.

I sometimes wonder, what is it with musicians who always try to venture off into side projects? From Chris Cornell with Temple of the Dog to Gary Lightbody with The Reindeer Section. It’s like one succesful band isn’t enough. They need to know for sure that it wasn’t a fluke so they go out and form another band just to be sure. Kinda the same reason why Stephen King chose to write as Richard Bachman but well, that’s a different story altogether.

Since we’re still in the hype of Death Cab playing in Singapore, it is only fair that I talk about my fascination for The Postal Service. Ben goes electronica with the help of emo-electronica guru, Dntel and the result?

Fucking Fabulouso.

Ben is a lyrical genius and melodical prodigy. Now I’ve listened to Dntel’s personal work and it’s mmmm not bad but it’s nothing really memorable (IMHO-la,) but when he combines himself with Ben, The Postal Service becomes a thunderous musical train and at times, may I be as bold as to say, surpassing even Death Cab themselves.

On the rhythm side, Dntel does a remarkable job keeping us amused with some eccentric quirky beats. On some tracks he is idyllic like on their smashing single, Such Great Heights. On others he can go all shattered heart on you or even uplifting depending on which side of the bed you got up from. Dntel, is in his own quirky way, interesting as a solo electronic musician but when you combine him with the magic that is Ben Gibbard, the Postal Service is unstoppable.

Their only album, Give Up makes it to my top 10 records of all time sharing honors with such legends like Jeff Buckley’s Grace and Damien Rice’s O

Listen to Brand New Colony, track 9 from Give Up.

Download the song HERE.

Gotta spend some time with Death Cab in Singapore

Okay so there’s this constant bitching going on about Death Cab choosing to go to Singapore instead of KL. Well, as much as I hate traveling down south, how can I ever say no to the genius known as Ben Gibbard?

Yes yes i know the KL music scene blows balls. While our ever loving neighbor gets Damien, Slayer, Coldplay, AX7, KT Tunstall, Travis, Mraz, Dream Theater, i can go on and on (really!), we get Celine Dion. Enough said.

Fine, fine. EITS did pay us a visit early March and although I am thankful for that, I still say that it could have been at a way better venue. Ruums is just too damn dodgy to host such a fine act.

Back to topic anyway. Death Cab’s playing in Singapore and in spite of rumors about them outbidding us to get them to go to Singapore instead of KL, I’m still gonna be there. I ain’t gonna miss Death Cab even if the frigging moon falls on my backyard and destroys my entire life as I know it.

Tickets are on sale tomorrow and judging from my last Singapore concert experience, it’s gonna go fast.  I know there’s gonna be a troupe of Malaysians hiking down south on the 12th so how about we form a human chain and together raid the fort?

If you’re alone and find yourself without anyone to go with, leave your contacts in the comment box and we can find a way to travel together or something. If you already have friends and would like to feel all stupid and swoon like a 16 year old, leave your contacts in the comment box and we can form a Malaysian groupie. Don’t worry I ain’t a serial rapist or killer. I’m just a Death Cab addict.

Sing it with me now “I’m gonna spend some time love, I’m gonna spend some time with Death Cab….“

Listen to the one of the most grandiose songs ever written, the majestic Transatlanticism from the album of the same name.

Buy your Death Cab concert tickets HERE.

Download the song HERE.

Death Cab for Cutie – Live in Singapore

So petrol kiosks are not gonna take Credit Card no more? Well FUCK THEM I say! Death Cab is coming to Singapore and you better believe it. Be there or forever hold your bladder. August 12th 2008, The Esplanade.

And yes Death Cab takes precedence over Singfest even if Travis is playing.

Details are HERE.

Coldplay’s Viva la Vida: A Review

I was a bespectacled kid of 15, face tainted by alien invasion of zits and a cock that goes hard every other minute thanks to the hormonal imbalance of puberty when I first heard Yellow. I liked it instantly – the jarring guitar lines, the infectious melody, the soft sensitive vocals. I liked it yes – but I was not blown away. Until of course I heard Trouble. My love affair with Coldplay was sealed there and then.

Fast forward 10 years later, and Coldplay introduces to us Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends.

I popped in the CD, turned up the volume, sat back and listened. After 45 minutes of continuous music, the CD stopped and the first thing that raced into my thoughts was, “Shit, if i heard this playing randomly in a music store, I might not be able to tell it’s Coldplay.”

In a way this is a good thing because Chris Martin has made it clear that the band wants to reinvent itself. To the point of saying that the last 3 albums was a trilogy of sorts. So serious were they at this reinvention that they even brought in Brian Eno to produce the project. So committed were they that Martin even boldly exclaimed, “ I don’t care if I sell a few million records less“.

A worthy effort I will say but alas, Coldplay needs to understand that reinventing your music is more than bringing in Brian Eno and giving your songs enigmatic names. You actually need to change your music. Maybe they should look to Radiohead for some inspiration on how it’s supposed to be done.

Yes, I did say that I woudn’t be able to recognise their sound if I heard it at a random place but that’t not because their sound has evolved. It’s just Chris Martin forgoing his trademark falsetto choosing instead to sing in a much lower register. For the past 10 years I’ve been so used to hearing Martin wailing and crying his way through falsetto-laden tunes that when he chooses to go low, things seem less familiar.

Granted, the album does sound darker and much more…bleak. But then again Parachutes had the very excellent Spies which was dark, oh so dark. I realize that I’m beginning to sound like I hate the album as much as I hate doing chores on a lovely Saturday morning so I better make myself clear. Viva la Vida is a brilliant album – the best album I’ve heard from them surpassing even Parachutes. I’m just being hard on them simply because of all the hype that surrounded it and all the promises that was made about it being a reinvention.

With that case aside, Coldplay’s 4th studio record is a majestic album. First single Violet Hill features Martin’s best lyrics to date and a solo passage that’s addictive as hell to my ears. 2nd single, Viva la Vida showcases strings that suck you in and a melody line that captures your attention especially when Martin sounding so different with his newly found vocal style. Lovers in Japan starts off with an anthemic keyboard riff that is excatly the whole reason why Coldplay inspired me to be a musician in the first place.

I love Coldplay in spite of their immersed popularity. I love Coldplay even if they say their music has gone through a revolution when it clearly has not. I love Coldplay even if flying saucers from the sky abducted me and brainwashed me to dislike them. I love them simply because they make beautiful music that just seeps into your soul. Viva la Vida might not be as inventive as Amnesiac or Kid A, but it is still one hell of a fine album.

Yes I am aware that things are depressing lately, what with the latest political scandal that has rocked our shores. Go make yourself feel better by listening to this record. Don’t you dare download it. Run to a record store and purchase it now.

Download Lover’s In Japan HERE

Politically Inspired

I have to say, the political scene in Malaysia is getting bloody interesting by day. It has this addictive housewife style plotline , dethroning even The Bold and the Beautiful. With the announcement of SAPP’s motion of no confidence against the country’s No 1 office, I was inspired to talk about a song. Oh yes, I have tons of opinion in regards to this turn of events but I’ll leave that to the real political bloggers to disect.

May I humble myself to introduce you to one of the great singer/songwriter of our generation?  Ladies and Gentleman, *drum rolls*, Ryan Adams.

Ryan is an honest song writer. He’s not afraid to write what he feels, baring it down to the bones. His work talks about love and lost and love and lost again in so many aching ways not giving a damn if the world is sick of his whiny lil’ self-absorbed mind or not. Gifted with a whispy, delicate voice – he channels his honesty into his songs. Smoke a joint and put on a Ryan Adam’s record and I swear to you it feels like he’s right there, whispering his words right into your ears.

It is that intimate.

Life wasn’t always easy for Ryan. Parents divorced when he was a kid, he dropped out of school at 16 – started playing in bars and worked in a shoe shop just to get by before making it big as a musician. Listening to his entire discography, you’d find his work rather dynamic. At one album, he’d go into alternative country mood and if you switch records, you find him most reflective and he’s turned on the intimate indie element style. It’s hard to keep up with him but if you stay close, if you listen hard and if you give him a chance, you’ll no doubt find Ryan Adams to be one gem of a singer/songwriter.

From the album Love Is Hell, an intense heartbreak driven record, this is Political Scientist – a song inspired by the local political turn of events.

Download the song HERE.

I said I wasn’t going to rant. I Lied.

I’ve said that I will not allow myself to rant on this blog but it seems like with all my other resolutions, I’m gonna break them. Cinemas are showing a new local movie called Apa Kata Hati. It’s a story
about this girl who is going through the normal ups and downs, ifs and nots of a relationship when one day, she suddenly discovered that she could listen to guys’ thoughts. WOW~! Awesome plot. Hey, wait a
second. Why does this sound awfully familiar?

Of course it does. Nancy Meyers directed Mel Gibson to play the female mind-reader in the excellent What Women Want. I mean seriously. What the fuck? What the fuck is wrong with the local film scene? Doesn’t anyone here have the passion or even the drive to create something extraordinare? Why does local movie makers take the easy way out by copying the brainchild of someone else’s work? How can we ever hope to see a majestic motion picture made by Malaysians if every local movie maker blatantly copies an existing idea out there and try to make it theirs?

This is not the first time. There was Impak Maksima. WTF is that? A copy and hype out of the even more ridiculous Fast and Furious. Then there was Cicak Man. My god. Have you actually seen that film? I had more fun letting a dentist probe my rotten tooth than watching that piece of junk. The worst thing about it is that Yusry who acted in the film received some award for some film making recognition. And then I hear they’re making  a sequel out of it. WTF?

Last but not least is of course Sepet. Alright that was a decent movie. It was good and something we all can be proud off. Until of course Gubra came out and every other subsequent movies by Yasmin Ahmad, contains the same plot and story line that Sepet had. Fine if you’re gonna say Gubra is a sequel or prequel or whatever not but what about Mukhsin? I mean come on. Reinvent yourself. Get out of the comfort zone. No one ever became great sleeping in their beds.

Motion Pictures mean a great deal to me and it saddens me to see the state of local film productions. Anyway my rant ends now so I’ll move on to what I should be talking about.

Celeste, a dear friend of mine and an ardent music fan herself (who also was kind enough to design my blog banner, thank you very much) introduced this interesting song to me by The Hoosiers. Hailing from the Uk and calling their sound, Odd Pop, you’d expect something unique from them. I was entranced straight away upon listening to the voice of Irwin Sparkes. He reminds me of the legendary and famed Jeff Buckley. If you don’t know who he is, shame on you. I’ll do a piece on him one day in the future when the gods above think I am worthy enough to talk about him.

I present to you Run Rabbit Run from The Hoosiers’ debut studio album, The Trick to Life. Pay attention to the stunning Indian music influence in the beginning and the staggering pitching prowess of Irwin Sparkes as he hollers and wails his heart out in the explosive chorus. Might not be your everyday song but it’s a track that every music fan should listen to at least once.

Download the song HERE.

The Mona Lisa of Sound

I was at Loft one fateful Friday night. Feeling out of place. Feeling out of character. Thinking to myself, am I too old for this kinda shit when suddenly, as if answering my thoughts, the 40 decibel speakers above my head began to vibrate a certain anthemic sound. Muted bass lines filled the air followed by light touches of effect driven guitars before a falsetto-laced voice took over the melody overture.

I cocked my head, trying to fill my ears with this wondrous sound. Who could this be? I wondered. Who could be making such amazing music in a language that I could not understand? I approached the deejay and I asked. That was the day I was introduced to the behemoth of a band known as Sigur Ros.

Sigur Ros is not your average musician. You don’t expect to listen to them while you’re caught in traffic after a day at the office. You don’t try to listen to them while you’re at a coffeehouse with a bunch of friends who are there to bitch about the cost of living.

No you don’t. They’re just much too brilliant for that.

They’re sound is best described as a form of art. Their brilliance should not be understood while you’re trying to fulfill life’s daily routine. It would be blasphemy. Acclaimed motion picture directors recognize this and both Cameron Crowe and Greg Araki have used their music in the film Vanilla Sky and Mysterious Skin respectively. (I highly recommend Mysterious Skin to serious movie buffs who wishes for the purest form of story telling in motion pictures as opposed to the usual Hollywood melodrama crap)

The music of Sigur Ros is best described as anthemic and atmospheric. It invokes and stirs heavy emotions to the listener via their flawless blend of slow but steady build up to crescendos. Their sound is so unique partly due to the fact that front man Jonsi sings in a perfectly executed falsetto and plays electric guitar with a cello bow. The fact that it’s in Icelandic doesn’t make it easy for the casual listener as well.

Sigur Ros is not for the faint hearted. They’re not a 5 minute quickie in the elevator. They’re not an arithmetic equation you can solve in 20 seconds. Like a lover you hope to grow old with, you take your time with them.

I introduce to you, Glosoli (Glowing Sun in English) from the album Takk - not my favorite song from them but it was this that I heard in Loft that forever changed my perception on Icelandic music. Turn up the volume and let not only your ears but your mind as well, be amazed.

Download the song HERE.

A Song for the Broken Soul

There’s just something magical about a song that screams of self-pity and self-love at the same time. It’s as if the song itself was written for you, echoing your bathroom mirror’s sentiments on how insecure we all can be on days where tomorrow doesn’t seem like a hope.

British singer/songwriter Ed Harcourt’s masterful song, Rain On The Pretty Ones from the album The Beautiful Lie is a powerful piece. Haunting piano keys begin the song and as violins join in the rhythm with a rich vibrato tone, he sings, “I’m the actor who’s scared to perform, I’m the cartoon that makes you feel sad, I’m the problem you don’t want to solve , I’m the Christian that cannot forgive“

If I could choose one song to be played at my funeral, this would be it. Call me a sad fuck but there is honestly something very comforting to know that I’m not the only one with a broken soul.

The Youtube version of the song is in shambles because of it’s quality so do download it. Trust me when I tell you that you’d probably never hear another song so achingly depressing and yet so familiarly comforting at the same time.

Download the song HERE

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Dashboard Confessions of a once emo teenage kid

There are 2 songwriters in the english speaking world that I completely take my hats off to. If I were to ever meet them on the streets, I’d kowtow to them and tell them that I’m in love with their words. And I say this even when I’m no where close to being a fan of poetry.

1 is Ben Gibbard of Death Cab fame. The 2nd (in no particular order) is Chris Carrabba of Dashboard Confessional.

Now, I know Dashboard is world fuckin famous. Who doesn’t know his electrifying song, Vindicated from the Spiderman soundtrack that took the radio airwaves by storm? The thing is, he came from humble beginnings and not many people actually know the birth of Dashboard unless you’re American or you’re an emo teenage girl looking for sweet words to sweep you off your feet.

Legend has it that Chris grew up as a skateboarding kid and on one rainy day, he stayed indoors only to find an old guitar belonging to his grandfather. He started fiddling with it and soon enough, Hands Down was borned. Hands Down went on to become the anthem of every high school teen and that, propelled him to be the dream of every blue eyed girl. Guys envied him and girls fell in love with him.

He goes, ” Hands down this is the best day I can ever remember, I’ll always remember the sound of the stereo, the dim of the soft lights, the scent of your hair that you twirled in your fingers and the time on the clock when we realized it’s so late and this walk that we shared together“

Malaysian radio did not completely ignore Dashboard but I am inclined to talk about them all the same because I am a huge, huge fan of his songwriting mastery. In this post, I’m going to feature Dusk and Summer – the title track from the album of the same name.

Featuring just an acoustic guitar and Chris’s deep mellow voice, it is perhaps my fav track from their 4th studio album, Dusk and Summer. I highly recommend this album first to any new fans that would like to eventually own their entire discovery, spanning 5 studio albums.

Download the song HERE

Telling stories through the art of sound

A good song, is a song that tells a story. It doesn’t matter if it tells a tale of despair or a tale of glee. A good song simply must have a point and it’s purpose is conveyed through the composer’s words.

Too many times on radio you hear songs that are no doubt catchy, annoyingly catchy even, but serves no purpose. I’m sick of listening to songs that repeat the words baby, love or umbrella for a million times. I’m tired of watching music videos where some black guy swimming in golden accessories holds his crotch while dancing to a swarm of bikini-clad girls that seem to worship a false prophet. I’ve had enough of seeing 5 white boys dancing so gracefully in the rain with unbuttoned shirts while miraculously keeping their neatly combed hair perfectly placed.

I say fuck that shallow shit. With that, I introduce you to Sea Wolf. The brainchild of Alex Brown Church, Sea Wolf is a one man band. There’s not much for me to go on about him seeing that he really is not that well known. A pure indie voice still trying to find his audience.

The song starts of with Alex plucking the bass lines of his acoustic guitar. After 2 bars of iteration, his low growly voice comes in and thats when he begins to enchant you with a story. Listen to his words and let yourself know that there is hope left in this world.

Sea Wolf’s brand of music is most certainly humble and yet grandiose at the same time.

Download the song HERE.