Test Part II

Yesterday's test didn't work so here's another test song:

Belle & Sebastian -- This Is Just A Modern Rock Song
From the This Is Just A Modern Rock Song EP.

Presidential Review: Loch Lomond -- "Paper the Walls"

Band: Loch Lomond
Album: Paper the Walls
Rank: John F. Kennedy

As I was typing away this morning on my YASR musings and thinking about where to take this review, my Grandma asked me “what on earth was I doing.” I said “I’m working on a review of an album by a group called Loch Lomond…you know, like Loch Ness but different.”

“Loch Lomond? They must be from Scotland” she said.

“No, they are actually from Portland” I said. Granny didn’t think that was a very good thing…only bands from Scotland should be able to be named Loch Lomond.” At the end she added “I’ve been to Loch Lomond you know.”

As she is from England it is not that surprising…and yet there seems to be some kind of connection here that I don’t normally find in reviewing new bands.

The real Loch Lomond is located about 15 miles north of Glasgow, Scotland and is the second largest loch in Scotland [after the famous Loch Ness]. The band hales from Oregon and creates a melancholy baroque pop that should not be ignored. Besides the fairly obvious comparisons to Sufjan Stevens, Belle & Sebastian, and The Decemberists, I hear the sort of intensity in their songs that made bands like Joy Division, Interpol, and The Smiths famous.

Loch Lomond -- Field Report

Loch Lomond -- Stripe II
Both tracks are from Paper the Walls.

P.S. Loch Lomond have a local show here in Seattle on April Fools Day at Chop Suey. You can buy tickets here.

8-1

I've been having a pretty stressful week at school but every once in a while I will remember that the Packers are 8-1 and all is well in the world.

Babyshambles -- 8 Dead Boys

From the Down in Albion album.

Belle & Sebastian -- The Eighth Station of the Cross Kehab House

From the Help: A Day in the Life charity compilation.

R.E.M. -- Driver 8

From And I Feel Fine...The Best of the I.R.S. Years 1982-1987 compliation.

Sunny Day Real Estate -- 8

From the self-titled "Pink album"

Alanis Morissette -- 8 Easy Steps

Fromo the So-Called Chaos album.

Relevant Interview: Aaron Schroeder

This is the first in what will hopefully become a fairly regular thing here at YASR, the Relevant Interview. First up, Kenniwick, WA's favorite indie adopted son, Aaron Schroeder.

Aaron is a self described "avid reader" who also makes great music ranging from indie Americana to 60's pop...His 2nd album Black & Gold was finished recently and I have been lucky enough to have been enjoying it for the past couple of weeks. Aaron took the time to answer a few questions last week:

Q: My favorite song on the album is "Fake Crimes" can you talk a little bit about the writing of that song and its origins?

A: Musically, Fake Crimes is my attempt at stealing from Dan Bejar's "Thief" record - particularly the"Canadian lover/ don't demean yourself" track. I was hoping to create a song with a lot of momentum right from the beginning that kept building upon itself without the whole soft/loud-Kurt Cobain dynamic.Lyrically, the track is about a pair of lovers who stage a kidnapping. Near the end of the song, thenarrator offers to take a bullet in order to save the police from shooting his lover ("Since your body isworth more than mine/ They can aim their guns straight toward me"). To me, the lyrics are actually very tender and sweet.

Aaron Schroeder -- Fake Crimes

Q: Your bio has you living in Kennewick, WA...what is the musical scene like there?

A: There really isn't too much of a scene here - what you have is yours only because you've made it. I moved her two years ago and I didn't really step into anything resembling a scene, but now I have the most amazing friends who all happen to play music. It's definitely laid back, which allows us all to create and focus on good work, rather than losing track.

Q: How long was the recording process for Black & Gold? Did you have all the songs ready to roll or did you write in the studio?

A: We didn't actually do any of the recording in a "studio". It was all done in living rooms andbasements. What I do is create the demos which the band then sort of siphons through. Once we have a good batch of songs we're all excited about, various people will just play whatever they think sounds appropriate on each song. Cramer (the drummer/ main producer) then edits everything together and we all go back and forth fucking with levels until we're all satisfied.

Q: What are the most important albums of your summer?

A: I have started out the last few summers making a Belle & Sebastian mix CD which is always a wonderful thing to walk around town listening to. I do the same thing with my Jay-Z albums as well. I listen to the Byrds a lot in the summer. The first Phoenix album, particularly the track "Funky Squaredance" is a great summer song. There's also a buddy of mine who writes amazing songs named David Bello, I'd recommend him for some interesting summer music.

Q: I write about politics as well as music...what is your favorite politician/leader and why?

A: I've enjoyed both of Barack's books on both personal and political terms. I'm also very interested in thisnew Colbert running for President thing - I think it will be interesting to see how that pans out.

Black & Gold is out now and you can pick it up from Amazon here or directly from the artist here.

Almost

The Huskies almost beat #1 USC tonight 27-24...we are making progress I guess...but please, please, please can we ditch the purple and keep the throw back jerseys?



Belle & Sebastian -- I Don't Want To Play Football

If you are interested in singing with Belle & Sebastian get more information here.