MEW

Chris the Swiss over at Music of the Moment has been all adrool over Mew's And the Glass Handed Kites for quite some time now, so I finally had to get around to giving it a listen.

I can't say that I'm quite as smitten by these Danish alterna-rockers as Chris, though I can certainly see/hear the appeal. At his highest range, the lead singer's voice is not altogether unreminiscent of the Sigur Ros guy's - albeit less whale-like and far more comprehensible (he sings in English, for one thing). As soundscapes, I find the songs quite effective, though I wish there was a bit more effort at traditional verse-chorus-verse catchiness here and there.

It might also be noted that the songs dissolve one to the next - concept-album-style - which makes for a nice, sinuous flow. In that regard, this effort reminds me somewhat of Mansun's Attack of the Grey Lantern, though - again - I think the songs on Lantern are stronger/tighter/catchier/etc. At the very least, the Mew effort makes for ideal background music to any number of activities, and I agree with Chris that the "Apocalypso"-"Special"-"The Zookeeper's Boy" is the record's best stretch. I also like "Chinaberry Tree," so I'm offering that up here as well.

And the Glass Handed Kites finally hit the U.S. marketplace on October 18th.

[MP3] [left-click] "Apocalypso"

[MP3] [left-click] "The Zookeeper's Boy"

[MP3] [left-click] "Chinaberry Tree"

MORE SONGS FOR FALL

MATT POND PA

Matt Pond PA, I have to imagine, is a relatively under-the-radar outfit. Appropriately enough, they are led by singer/songwriter Matt Pond and were once based in the state of Pennsylvania (now: Brooklyn). The band has existed in various incarnations for about seven years now, and has been rather prolific over that period.

The sound might be described as folk-inflected chamber pop. It's quite gentle. Autumnal. In other words, perfect for posting at this moment (at least, in theory).

[MP3] [left-click] "Brooklyn Stars" [from the LP Several Arrows Later, 2005]

[MP3] [left-click] "Fairlee" [from the LP The Nature of Maps, 2002]

[MP3] [left-click] "Closer" [from the LP The Nature of Maps, 2002]

[MP3] [left-click] "Measure 3" [from the LP The Green Fury, 2002]

[MP3] [left-click] "The Hollows" [from the LP Measure, 2000]

SINGLE-ARTIST SATURDAY

THE ALL-AMERICAN REJECTS

I tend to be leery of bands that straddle the line between emo and pop-punk. Too often, that line all-but-guarantees a generic sameness in sound - a sound utterly white-washed, glossy, and embalmed.

I can't really say that the All-American Rejects succeed in transcending the genre, but they have to stand fairly high in the field. Certainly they know their way around a hook. And perhaps because they're so young (early-20's), they seem entirely unafraid of utilizing potentially cheesy, career-ending accoutrements - be they strings, synthesizers, or children's choirs.

To say the least, I'm not sure I'd want a steady diet of these guys. But if "lo-fi" = "no carbs," then I'm all for stuffing myself with bread, pasta, and potatoes every once in a while.

[MP3] [left-click] "Move Along" [from the LP Move Along, 2005]

[MP3] [left-click] "Top of the World" [from the LP Move Along, 2005]

[MP3] [left-click] "Swing Swing" [from their self-titled LP, 2003]

[MP3] [left-click] "Time Stands Still" [from their self-titled LP, 2003]

THE *REAL* ALL-AMERICAN REJECTS

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