[fingertipsmusic] This Week's Finds: July 29-Aug. 4

From: "Jeremy Schlosberg" <fingertipsmusic@xxxxxxxxx>
To: fingertipsmusic@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Mon, 30 Jul 2007 20:27:23 -0400
 THIS WEEK'S FINDS <http://www.fingertipsmusic.com/this_weeks_finds.htm>
July 29-Aug. 4


"Remission" - Ryan
Ferguson<http://www.laguerrapublishing.com/ryan/01%20Remission.mp3>
Comfortably incisive from beginning to end, "Remission" is one of those
blessed songs with a perfectly balanced feeling between the verse and the
chorus. You know how a song can have a great chorus, but the verse is like
treading water to get there; or conversely, some songs have a really
interesting verse but then the chorus is flavorless. Here the verse is
interesting and commanding, and yet leads to--rather than overpowers--the
chorus, the brilliance of which is just subtle enough, in turn, not to
overshadow the verse. The hidden trick behind all of this here, I think, is
the strong working relationship between the words and the music. After that
emphatic opening chord sequence--nicely textured with an added
xylophone--listen carefully to the lyrics and note not merely the dramatic
story line (this does not appear to be another tale of relationship woes,
although it might work that way metaphorically) but how uncannily well the
words scan with the music--that is, how the rhythm of the music allows the
words to be sung exactly how they're spoken, without putting any stress on
odd syllables. All too many pop songwriters write without much sensitivity
to how the words will scan; whether accidentally or purposefully,
Ferguson--previously in the locally popular San Diego quartet No
Knife--emerges in this song as a master. "Remission" is from his first
full-length solo CD, *Only Trying to Help*, set for release next month
on Better
Looking Records <http://www.fingertipsmusic.com/smaller_labels.htm#BL>. The
MP3 is via the Better Looking <http://www.betterlookingrecords.com/> site.
Thanks to the guys at 3hive <http://www.3hive.com/> for the lead.

"Act of War" - Owen
Duff<http://www.owenduff.co.uk/audio/OWEN_DUFF-Act_of_war.mp3>
Electric instruments are not required for a musician to create a sense of
drive and urgency, as proven ably by this unsigned Briton, who prefers in
fact whenever possible to play an actual piano rather than a keyboard.
Although basically an unadorned piano and guitar piece (enhanced with
thoughtful sound-touches along the way, however), "Act of War" shimmers with
both rhythmic and melodic exuberance, underscored by a refreshing dollop of
finesse. It's common for solo performers on the acoustic guitar to go
explosive rhythmically, pounding more than strumming in an effort to prove
their--I don't know: sincerity, musical prowess, emotional depth, who knows.
Duff gives us rhythmic depth without pounding, and greatly enhances his
offering here with a fetching, pliable melody line, using his delicate,
Sufjan-like tenor with unexpected dexterity and gusto. "Act of War" is the
opening track from Duff's seven-song debut EP, called *A Tunnel, Closing In*,
which he released last year. The MP3 is available via his web
site<http://www.owenduff.co.uk/>
.

"Run-Away" - Super Furry
Animals<http://www.beggarsgroupusa.com/mp3/superfurryanimals_run-away.mp3>
The nutty Welshmen are
back<http://www.fingertipsmusic.com/TWFnov-dec04.htm#SFA>,
singing in English this time, and kinda sorta just in time to provide hungry
American pop fans with what is surely one of the summer of '07's
spiffiest--albeit nuttiest--summer songs. The fuzzy background sound and
Beach Boys-esque melody rockets us straight back to 1965 or so, with a side
trip through the Twilight Zone, and our job is to hang on and enjoy the
ride. Two keys to this song, to my ears: the two distinct drum patterns
(modified Phil Spector beat in the verse; smoother, cymbally pulse in the
chorus); and that swoony chorus melody with its wild dips and rises (I love
the two notes you hear from about 0:41 to 0:43 in particular--a startling
but perfect, Brill Building-y interval). I can't make out the lyrics too
well but the moral of the story is crystal clear: "Those who cry and run
away/Live to cry another day." The Super Furries have been making their
loopy, psychedelic-ish pop since 1993. "Run-Away" is a song from *Hey Venus!
*, their eighth CD, which is due out digitally and on vinyl near the end of
August on Rough Trade Records. (The album will not be released in the U.S.
on CD until 2008, apparently to coincide with the band's U.S. tour. So much
for a summer song!) Thanks to Gorilla vs.
Bear<http://gorillavsbear.blogspot.com/>for the head's up. The MP3 is
via Beggars
Group <http://www.beggarsgroupusa.com/>, which just last week acquired Rough
Trade.
*



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[fingertipsmusic] This Week's Finds: July 29-Aug. 4

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