The Weekend Stretches Out Infinitely

I’m Chareth, and John Cei Douglas is the Maximalist.

James Rabbit “United States Cooldown” –

Just another West Coast maximalist: this James Rabbit song is so manic
Just another West Coast maximalist: it sounds like kids who have ADD taking speed
Chareth, The Flirt: what kind of images are you getting?
Just another West Coast maximalist: jelly and ice cream
Just another West Coast maximalist: balloons and streamers
Chareth, The Flirt: James Rabbit is a strange band. There’s always something just a little off about their music, like it would seem sort of normal if other people played the same thing.
Just another West Coast maximalist: yeah, i get that!
Just another West Coast maximalist: it sounds sort of skewed
Chareth, The Flirt: He always sounds like he can’t wait to get to the next lyric, he has this impatient excitement in his voice.
Just another West Coast maximalist: like they were given the wrong drugs
Chareth, The Flirt: actually I think it sounds like music by people who never ever take drugs
Just another West Coast maximalist: i meant medicine
Chareth, The Flirt: same thing!
Just another West Coast maximalist: sort of
Chareth, The Flirt: it sounds like their main motivation is interminable boredom
Just another West Coast maximalist: it definitely has a sort of manic childish enthusiasm, that almost doesnt make sense with what he’s singing about
Just another West Coast maximalist: and like he wants to play everything at once
Chareth, The Flirt: I really like the keyboard solo
Just another West Coast maximalist: i can’t for the… and then the – oh and then we – BUT THEN – KEYBOARD SOLO – OH GOD
Just another West Coast maximalist: that’s James Rabbit’s mind, right there

(Click here for Tyler from James Rabbit’s blog. He’ll send you a free copy of the album if you email him!)

Seth Kauffman “Get Your Love Stole” –

Just another West Coast maximalist: this Seth Kauffman song sounds really odd to me
Chareth, The Flirt: really?
Just another West Coast maximalist: i keep expecting it to sound like something else
Chareth, The Flirt: how would you draw this song?
Just another West Coast maximalist: on an open road, in a bar
Chareth, The Flirt: would Earl be in it?
Just another West Coast maximalist: no, hes not swinging enough
Just another West Coast maximalist: it would romanticise drinking alone
Chareth, The Flirt: and how would Earl be bad for that?
Just another West Coast maximalist: he’s not romantic enough
Just another West Coast maximalist: he’s too cheeky
Chareth, The Flirt: it’s weird, this song feels so right and yet it’s really difficult to write about
Just another West Coast maximalist: it sounds really old
Chareth, The Flirt: it’s not old, it’s brand new! that’s the magic of lo-fi, son
Chareth, The Flirt: I was just walking around Astoria, and it’s really cold and there’s bits of ice and snow all over, and the song sounded perfect for that moment, but I really couldn’t form any coherant thoughts about it
Just another West Coast maximalist: ha! it makes me think of hot, summer nights
Just another West Coast maximalist: really stifling
Chareth, The Flirt: I guess it could work that way too
Just another West Coast maximalist: it reminds me of the Stones
Just another West Coast maximalist: end of the night songs
Just another West Coast maximalist: like 3am
Chareth, The Flirt: this sort of lo-fi always says “winter” to me, especially the high end of the percussion and the low end of the bass
Just another West Coast maximalist: i think this is possibly because one summer i listened to “let it bleed” all the time
Chareth, The Flirt: that would do it

(Click here for Kauffman’s empty website.)