Album closers can really go one of two ways. You've got your big and fast (I'm thinking specifically of The Moon & Antarctica and Daydream Nation) or your slow and sad, like this. The Mats also operate in those two modes. After the debauchery of the rest of the album a moment of true heartbreak. "Everybody wants to be someone here" mama mia, Paul! It just don't get better. (I was also thinking of picking I Am the Resurrection by the Stone Roses but someone else did it, or Murder Most Foul by Bob but I was like ugh I don't wanna get into that song rn).
May 6, 2024
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(the suburbs (continued) is a great closer, especially after Regine’s Sprawl II, and if you play the album in a loop (how albums should be played, imo) the piano of the title track crashes into you, just as intended. Beautiful and mundane and dramatic and filled with longing and nostalgia for “wasted“ time and familiar spaces)
Mar 16, 2024
My friend Matthew Caws went about his music career completely backward.
His band, Nada Surf, had an MTV hit very early in their career, "Popular," and were then dropped (let go, get it?) by the major label that signed them and proceeded to make the best album of their careers on an indie label, without pressure or deadline.
As he told me once: "It's as if we got to start over again, a new band."
Matthew was living a musical life; working in a Brooklyn record store called Earwax, going to shows, writing music. In a way, "Let Go" is a record that asks "what if you had a second chance to do it all over again, the way YOU wanted to do it all along?" And then diving from head to toe into that opportunity.
I've had "Let Go" kicking around in one format or another for more than twenty years and always find something new to love about it; isn't that the very definition of "Favoritte album?"
"Blizzard of '77:" A mellow little piece of recoverred (drug) memory with a decidedly Elliott Smith vibe to it. Produced by then-Death Cab for Cutie member Chris Walla for $100, which the band paid to him in $1 and $5 bills from their merch sales at shows.
"Treading Water:" Linked here, the sound of what adulting in Manhattan looked like then (and still does). "Always rushing, always late."
"Neither Heaven Nor Space:" just high. "And if you sit long enough, you can hear ghost trains/As if the city speed is just in our brains/And coke's as close as we get to sugar cane."
"Blonde on Blonde:" Living that below-14th Street life, soundtracked by Dylan.
"Paper Boats:" a floaty, dreamy ode to depression. "Been thinking and drinking, all over the town/Must be gearing up for some kind of meltdown."
Years later, Matthew and I met up while they were recording their album "Lucky" at a live-in studio in Seattle called Robert Lang (it's the same place where Dave Grohl recorded the first Foo Fighters album). He had just discovered he was a dad and was in the middle of a custody fight over the child -- the mother hadn't told him it was his, there were lots of complications -- and we were comparing notes on fatherhood and just generally in the same headspace about having plenty of problems but being fortunate to have them. He's one of my favorite humans and "Let Go" is his masterpiece.
Oct 2, 2024
The standout hits are Slugs (my song of the summer) and Yard (truly a song worth sitting and crying to).
I wouldn’t say they’re sad rock, but their songs are very reflective of past love / mistakes / recognizing your limits as a person / a long to change who you are; you can relate to the album regardless of where you’re at. They also have a little midwestern hint to their sound, and they sneak a harmonica & some banjo into Broadview, which is a nice little change of pace.
I like albums that make you feel things and this one brings a sense of understanding & acceptance whenever I listen to it. Like yes, I can relate to the feelings & the pain & regret in the songs, but they’re almost written (and meant to be listened to) from the other side, once you’ve made it through those life moments and can look back at them understanding how they’ve brought you to this very moment. That’s this album for me.
Apr 19, 2024
Top Recs from @jonathan_sessa
I only watch old ass stuff at this point. If there's a Show Of The Moment I just can't be bothered, I'll get to it years from now and I'm ok with that. Lately I've been burning through Taxi, which is wildly great. The cast is all powerhouses and includes but is not limited to Judd Hirsch, Danny DeVito, Andy Kaufman, Christopher Lloyd (as the proto Kramer), Tony Danza, Carol Kane and more. Truly STARS and they're all just popping off. It was funny then, it's still funny now and has the heart that so many contemporary comedies try overly hard and fail to achieve. Good stuff baby!!
May 6, 2024
of all the goofy ass dogs on the internet I think the two pups on (at)borotan on instagram just stand above and beyond the rest. every day i'm like wow how are you real??? a constant source of joy just great stuff shout out to chewchan and benben 🫡
Jul 2, 2024
I know you said you're already listening to stuff from South America so this might be old news, but if it's from Brazil in the 70's it's tbh worth listening to!! Caetano Veloso, Gal Costa, Jorge Ben, the list is super super long and it's all GREAT! A record store by me had a big sale recently and I bought an OG copy of this only knowing and loving a couple of his other albums (Clube Da Esquina is an all timer) but man this thing blew my dang mind. Can't recommend it enough, big time Beatles/Beach Boys/Floyd worship and it's just so so incredible. Also Turkish psych rips!! And Krautrock obviously!! And French stuff from the late 60s/70s!! Africa has soooo much amazing stuff too!!!
May 6, 2024