I call you Sister Carrie, but I never say it.
Ok, funny story: last entry, I promised that Monday would bring a revelation regarding on of my summer music project. However, when I said that, I forgot to take into account the fact that all of that project's necessary materials are still on my school computer in Peoria. Since just moved out today, that update is officially pushed back until next Monday. However, that doesn't mean that I can't take advantage of the night at hand to throw up some thoughts and a couple of songs.
Communication majors get paid to notice when things don't seem quite right, so when ads for iDon't started popping up during my daily visits to Pitchfork, my rhetoric sense started tingling. The site has all the hallmarks of a bonafide counter-culture revolution: the snappy, condescending propaganda, high-mindedly wild prose (in this case, written by "Eric aka Da Sheep Herder") , and a distinct distaste for anything even hinting at conformity to "da man". However, in this case, iDon't's message is severely weakened when their true purpose is revealed: rather than changing the world, they just want a piece of the pie. In a revelation that comes as a surprise to exactly no one, the site that promises to help you "rise up against the iTatorship" (a phrase that just makes me think of tyrannical french fries) actually ends up being a cleverly disguised advertisement for the Sansa e200, a rival mp3 player. In essence, what they mean to say is "Think for yourself: buy our stuff". Sadly, the product seems ok: user-removable batteries, durability, and a low starting price point make it an attractive alternative to the love-hate relationship that many have with their iPods. Too bad the ad campaign is a complete insult to people with even the remotest sense of culture and its counters.
Assessment: two points for iTatorship, but not much else. Do better next time. Now, music.
Jon Auer - Wicked World. The secret known to Posies fans around the world is finally out: Jon Auer may be more fey than Ken Stringfellow. The man responsible for the Posies' famously drowsy ballads made his long-awaited solo debut earlier this month, releasing Songs From The Year Of Our Demise on Seattle's Pattern 25 Records. Returning to form after last year's Posies rocker, Auer once again draws from dark, familiar corners. The record itself feels damp and autumnal, and finds Auer striking like a thunderstorm; half of the tracks are gentle showers, while the others crackle with a mixture of electricity and angst that is both arresting and harrowing. This track, falling in the latter half, is a fine example of Auer's abilities. Though Stringfellow may be more prolific, songs like this prove that his partner is comfortable with his own dedication to subtle impact over quantity.
BONUS: Jon Auer - You Used To Drive Me Around. When Auer decides to unfold over an extended canvas, such as the one found here or on Posies tracks like Amazing Disgrace's "Song #1", things just seem to blossom.
DOUBLE BONUS: Jon Auer - Gold Star For Robot Boy (Guided By Voices cover). This track is, for lack of a better term, totally boss; recorded for a hard-to-find EP released by Houston Party in 2000, it combines my favorite GBV track with the voice of one of my favorite songwriters/performers. In other words, I have nothing bad to say.
Out of sheer curiousity, have you ever heard of the Black Angels?? You should give them a listen.
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