Emily's Albums A to Z

Listened: Friday July 2

As I mentioned before, Matthew Jay’s life was cut short too soon and he released little during his living years. In the course of this project I’ve discovered that there have been some posthumous releases besides Draw and Four Minute Rebellion; I’ll have to check those out.

I really love the cover photograph for its simplicity of texture interrupted only by the stone. It also vaguely resembles some sort of video game.

The song Four Minute Rebellion is really lovely, a great observation of the joys and pain of being a teenager. I love “Why are you staring at me? You’re breaking my nose from twenty-five feet.”

Louie is particularly haunting, considering how Matthew might have ended his life intentionally “Louie, are you looking for a meaning, I see how you struggle for some time, you’re never in a state that I can talk any sense to, oh Louie, don’t do it, don’t break your mother’s heart.” Incredibly moving to hear it put so bluntly; you wish he had listened to his own lyrics!

Listened: Friday July 2

I think Bon Iver and Jim James got their voices from the same place.  I can hear shades of Fleet Foxes too. Clearly beard rock is in full force.

Bon Iver picked a good pseudonym too – his music sounds like a lovely winter. Crisp, spare, and sharp. I love that you can hear the fingers sliding over the guitar strings. Another album I need to add to more frequent rotation.

Listened: Thursday July 1

Amongst hardcore Belle and Sebastian fans Fold Your Hands is considered to be inferior to prior releases, but I don’t get that at all.

I think some of Stuart Murdoch’s most beautiful singing can be found on this album. I Fought In A War, The Model, Don’t Leave the Light on Baby… they’re all fabulous.

And the lyrics… who doesn’t love singing “It’s been a bloody stupid day”? The Chalet Lines never ceases to move me with its tale “full of woe”. There’s Too Much Love is one of my favorite B&S songs – the rocking strings never fail to get me wiggling.

Beyond the Sunrise really bugs me though, I have to admit. It’s weird, and not in a good way. Stevie doesn’t need to be singing that low.

Listened: Thursday July 1

I love me some Beirut. The strings/horns/accordions give some nice gypsy flair to rock music and is quite a unique sound. The Flying Club Cup is very much influenced by French chansons, though. Which is great in my book, since I also love Edith Piaf.

This album is kind of a mashup of several different styles I never thought anyone would put together. Romantic, lovely, and booty-shaking all at once.