 |
|
|
|
|
| |||
Sometimes Music and Sometimes Thought
James Rabbit @ Arlene's Grocery 3/28/2008
Lions Of Love --> "The Fucking Universe" and "Light Green Light" / George Gershwin / Red, Blue, Violet / Monsoon / Did You Tie Me Up Or Down? / Welcome Back / In Love With The Idea / Count On Me / Lions Of Love --> Options
James Rabbit "George Gershwin" (Live in session for Fair Game, 3/25/08) -
1. I wouldn't have ever guessed this from listening to his albums with James Rabbit, but in live performance, Tyler Martin is actually quite a lot like Stephen Malkmus back when he was in Pavement. He's constantly playing around -- switching up his phrasing, altering his lyrics, and purposefully throwing musical curveballs at his band mates. He sounds totally alive in his music, and he seems far more interested in expression and inspiration than perfection. Just like Pavement, he and his band are capable of hitting upon a fantastic balance of craft and chaos.
2. Here's another comparison that works: Tyler is a lot like Stuart Murdoch of Belle & Sebastian, at least in the sense that even though his band is largely a showcase for his talents, he insists upon prominently featuring the voices and musical contributions of his friends. (Spencer Owen's tune "Did You Tie Me Up Or Down?" isn't even a James Rabbit song, Tyler just wanted to include one of his friend's compositions in the set.) Though Tyler's voice is the most compelling, the interaction of the voices is key to the band's appeal, particularly on the Coloratura songs that highlight the individual's place in community, and the value of comradery. To continue this analogy, if Tyler is clearly the Murdoch of the band, Max Bennett-Parker is the Stevie Jackson, and Libby Hendon is the Sarah Martin.
3. Most obviously, Tyler Martin is like Bob Pollard circa the early 90s. He's been writing and releasing songs into the void for years, and he's more interested in creating his own reality than entering into an indie culture that must seem awfully dull and monochromatic compared to the lovely little bohemian subculture that they are a part of in Santa Cruz. I want them to tour, I want them to be well known, I want very badly for them to get the passionate cult audience they deserve, but at the same time, I kinda don't blame them if they'd rather not step out of their own little world. It seems so nice where they are, you know?
(Click here to buy Coloratura, one of the best albums you are most likely sleeping on, via the James Rabbit site.)
Please Note That
MP3s Are
Only Offered For a Limited Time
And Are Changed Frequently
Songs Mean A Lot
When Songs Are Bought
So Please Buy The Records
If You Like Them
Fluxblog Endorses These
High Quality Web Products
I Also Write For:
Fluxtumblr
Pop Songs 07
Fair Game (RIP)
Spin
NY Mag Vulture
The Movie Binge
ASAP (RIP)
Urge (RIP)
Artistdirect
POP
The Cold Inclusive
Marathon Packs*
Clap
Clap
Said The Gramophone*
For Your Pleasure
Alex Balk
Hipster Runoff
Idolator*
What A Fool Believes
Pterodactyls
Status Ain't Hood*
Player Piano Party
Star Maker Machine*
Pretty Goes With Pretty
Offnotes
Moistworks*
Soft Communication
Paper Thin Walls
Jezebel
Stereogum*
Golden Fiddle*
Fairytale In The Supermarket
Shake Your Fist*
Cokane's Bloggery
Ned Raggett
SF/J @ The New Yorker
Architectural Dance Society
The Cure For Bedbugs
WFMU's Beware of the Blog*
Discodust*
Antidisingenuousmentarianism
Taylor Long
Into The Groove*
Pop Justice
Zoilus
fansofsoft
Move Still
Wayne and Wax
Loose Strife*
Feministe
Discobelle*
Fluokids*
Chemistry Class
Destination: OUT*
No Rock N'
Roll Fun
Green Pea-ness*
Yer Mam!*
Homo Eclectic*
Le Fou
Troubled
Diva
Failed Pilot
Malcolm Gladwell
S/FJ
Lacunae
Who Needs Radio?*
Law of Sympathy
One Louder
Her Jazz*
Videogum
Lindsayism
Too Many Teeth
20 Jazz Funk Greats*
Recidivism*
Jane Espenson
Wrestling Entropy
Merry Swankster
Coolfer
Fractionals
Seaworthy Southeast Thesaurus
Byron Crawford
Ruined Music
Orbis-Quintus*
Hip Hop Music
The Suburbs Are Killing Us*
So Many Shrimp*
Government Names*
Soulsides*
The Prettiest Pony*
J Edward Keyes
Music For Robots*
Gorilla Vs. Bear*
You Ain't No Picasso*
Brooklyn Vegan
Arjan Writes*
Cocaine Blunts & Hip Hop Tapes*
Blackmail Is My Life*
Anthony Is Right
Tikun Olam*
Philip Sherburne
Antipopper
The Tofu Hut*
The Mix Hut
Daughters of Invention*
Benn Loxo Du Taccu*
Headphone Sex*
Chromewaves
Attentiondeficitdisorderly Too Flat
Tuwa's Shanty*
Jack
Fear
* = hosts mp3s
Radio/Audio
WFMU
The Best Show On WFMU
Friends Of Tom
Ed Shepp
Aircheck
Downtown
Soulville
Cherry Blossom Clinic
Liz Berg
Irwin Chusid
Ken Freedman
Brian Turner
WPRB
East Village Radio
This
American Life
Comics
Living Between Wednesdays
Pretty Fizzy Paradise
Absorbascon
Warlock Magazine
The X Axis
Crisis/Boring Change
Comics Should Be Good
Film
THE FACE KNIFE
South Dakota Dark
The House Next Door
Milk
Plus
Onion AV
Club
NYC
Gawker
Young Manhattanite
Forgotten NY
Edibles
The Knowledge For Thirst
The Blognut
A Hamburger Today
Slice
Serious Eats
Email Fluxblog
perpetua @ gmail.com
If you want to send music to Fluxblog, please inquire via email. If you want to send me mp3s, please send them to fluxblog @ gmail.com Please note that while I am always glad to be sent new music, there is no guarantee that what you send will be mentioned here.
If you are an artist (or represent an artist) being featured on this blog and want me to take down a song, let me know, and it will be removed from the server immediately.
Site design and illustration by
Deric Holloway
troninmorocco @ gmail.com
Fluxblog on MySpace
Fluxblog on Livejournal
