When I first heard about Charles Spearin's record The Happiness Project I just sort of ignored it. I assumed it would be in the same vein as the two recent 'Broken Social Scene Presents' records. While Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning's records in the BSS Presents series were good, I think they lost the power of the sprawling collective by not utilizing the diverse songwriting amongst them. I was concerned that a Charles Spearin record would continue the trend of Broken Social Scene acting as a backing band, signaling a slow move away from what made records like You Forgot It In People so good. I was pleasantly surprised to find The Happiness Project to be something completely new.
Rather than acting as another solo record from a member of Broken Social Scene, The Happiness Project rejects the concept of conventional songwriting, instead using the intonation of conversation to map out melodies. In essence the songs on the record are written by the cadence of individual conversations about happiness. The result is a complex and beautiful record that successfully draws attention to the artistic value of daily life and conversation. Perhaps a little trying at times, the record on the whole is dense while being surprisingly listenable. The track Mr. Gowrie seems to fully realize the power of this strange songwriting mode. The record employs the musical talents of quite a few Broken Social Scene members and is being released on Kevin Drew's Arts and Crafts Records, but don't be mislead...this is not a Broken Social Scene release. This is weird. In a good way.
The record comes on on Tuesday, February 10th. You stream some tracks and find more info here.
See you in two weeks.
Playlist:
Artist - Album - Song
Japanther - Dump the Body in Rikki Lake - Dump the Body in Rikki Lake
The Sticks - Split w/ Hands on Heads - The Floor, The Ground
The Sticks - Split w/ Hands on Heads - On the Sea
Blank Dogs - On Two Sides - Twenty Two
Vivian Girls - s/t - Never See Me Again
Fennesz - Black Sea - The Colour of Three
Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion - Guys Eyes
Charles Spearin - The Happiness Project - Anna
Lucky Dragons - Dream Island Laughing Language - Givers
High Places - s/t - The Storm
Growing - The Soul of the Rainbow and the Harmony of Light - Onement
Growing - The Soul of the Rainbow and the Harmony of Light - Anaheim II
Growing - The Soul of the Rainbow and the Harmony of Light - Epochal Reminiscence
Liars - Drum's Not Dead - Be Quiet Mt Heart Attack!
Liars - Drum's Not Dead - Let's Not Wrestle Mt Heart Attack
Jerkward - All Your Ears Can Hear Compilation - Millions of Dead BMXers
Jerkward - All Your Ears Can Hear Compilation - Flesh and Bones
Jerkward - All Your Ears Can Hear Compilation - UFO
Deerhunter - Weird Era Cont. - Backspace Century
Railcars - Cities vs Submarines - There is Ice; It is Blue
Hank - The Land of the Singers - Never Have Another Boy in my Life
Bach Cottage - The Homestead - Been a Long Damned Time
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Sunday, February 1, 2009
New Blocks releases.
Defektors 7" is pretty good.
Wavves are pretty noisy.
Future Islands are from Baltimore.
Playlist:
Artist - Album - Song
The Blankket - Pegatively Nositive - Independence Is No Solution
$100 - Forest of Tears - 14th Floor
Hank - The Luck of Singers - Distraction
A.C. Newman - Get Guilty - The Heartbreak Rides
Defektors - 7" - Torn to Pieces
Hey Everyone - Broken Horse - Rotten Little Buggers
Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion - In the Flowers
Fennesz - The Black Sea - Perfume For Winter
BARR - Beyond Reinforced Jewel Case - Is All For Updated
Wavves - s/t - California Goth
Wavves - s/t - Space Raider
Future Islands - Wave Like Home - Old Friend
Lake Country - Tape - Memory Lane
Think About Life - Demo - Track 7
Xiu Xiu - Fabulous Muscles - I Luv the Valley OH
Gowns - Red State - White Like Heaven
The Metic - s/t - Happens That I'm Tired
Pavement - Brighten the Corners - Shady Lane / J vs. S
Belle & Sebastian - Live in Belfast 2001 - Dirty Dream # 2
Belle & Sebastian - Live in Belfast 2001 - Boy With the Arab Strap
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Quite a few new releases into the station this week, including the new A.C. Newman record. I really liked the first song of his that I played. Andrea described it as "orchestral." I do too. I haven't listened to the whole record yet though, so I can't comment on the whole thing. I have a question for you though...his myspace page says 'Brooklyn, New York' as his location. Did Carl abandon his Vancouver roots for the mecca of hip?
The new Animal Collective really is good, but of course you already know that. I take issue with the last song, but apart from that, it is a pretty easy record to like. They are playing in Vancouver on May 24 at the Commodore. No word on who with yet, but I imagine that show will sell out very quick, if it hasn't already. Lets see how long this one stays on the CFUV charts.
Also, the Victoria Film Festival starts on Friday! Let's go to films!
Playlist:
Artist - Album - Song
AC Newman - Get Guilty - There Are Maybe Ten or Twelve
Lake Country - Tape - I Dreamt You Were a Bug
Lake Country - Tape - Slave Kids
Telepathe - Dance Mother - Michael
Pens - Single - Networking
Matt & Kim - Grand - Cutdown
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - s/t - Everything With You
My Bloody Valentine - Loveless - To Here Knows When
Growing - All the Way - Lens Around
Benoit Pioulard - Temper - Golden Grin
Blackout Beach - Skin of Evil - Astoria, Menthol Lite, Hilltop, Wave of Evil 1982
Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion - Daily Routine
La Dusseldorf - Indivuellos - Menshen 1
Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures - Disorder
Wavves - s/t - Wavves
Lovvers - Single - Human Hair
Videohippos - Unbeast the Leash - Bear Fight