Fictionist - Manic

I'm thinking of you thinking of me
Thinking of you thinking of me
Always thinking...
Somewhere across town
I know you're having a day
While the shoulders of powerful men
In a casual way
Maybe you don't know
You make me nervous

Well, this act just blew a hole in any hubris I was gaining from my year of deep diving into indie and alt (and pop) rock. How had I never heard of Fictionist before? They're from a place I lived for years, they have toured with bands I like, their references and influences are top notch, they came in fourth in a Rolling Stone poll... WTH? Anyway, thankfully Spotify knew I'd like 'em and added their lead single ("Manic") from their newly released album (Sleep Machine) to my Radar. So fun! I've been able to listen to the whole album a few times through now (it's short!) and it's filled with gems and interesting sounds. I almost chose the dancier "Lazarus" or the title-I-adore "We Can Sleep When We Die" but this track hits those moments and swirls in a bit of chaos and is still pop-radio-ready (which is not a pejorative to me). Seems Fictionist is a band that likes to evolve and change with every album, and it's been fun to go backwards to listen to their 2014 and 2011 LPs, all good.

RIYL: Mutemath, MGMT, Paper Route, Phoenix

Upcoming Shows

The National - Graceless

Graceless
Is there a powder to erase this?
Is it dissolvable and tasteless?
You can't imagine how I hate this
Graceless
I'm trying, but I'm graceless
Don't have the sunny side to face this
I am invisible and weightless
You can't imagine how I hate this
Graceless
I'm trying, but I've gone
Through the glass again
Just come and find me
God loves everybody, don't remind me
I took the medicine when I went missing
Just let me hear your voice, just let me listen

It's been ten years since their 5th and breakout album Boxer, and four since their last (Trouble Will Find Me). Earlier this month, The National finally released a new single and announced when their next album, Sleep Well Beast, is coming: September 8th with supporting tour (across western Europe and northern North America). I decided just to include the new song as a bonus - to wait for the fall to add a new National track to our list. Still, with many of their older songs in my heavy rotation it was time to represent on here. 

RIYL: Interpol, Editors, Arcade Fire, Spoon

Nirvana - The Man Who Sold The World

We passed upon the stair
We spoke of was and when
Although I wasn't there
He said I was his friend
Which came as some surprise
I spoke into his eyes, "I thought you died alone
A long long time ago"

Oh no, not me
I never lost control
You're face to face
With the man who sold the world

I laughed and shook his hand
And made my way back home
I searched for form and land
For years and years I roamed
I gazed a gazeless stare, at all the millions here
We must have died alone
A long long time ago

Who knows? not me
We never lost control
You're face to face
With the man who sold the world

There were a fair number of folks who didn't know this was a Bowie song, when the MTV Unplugged special came out in 1993. It fit Cobain's persona so well and immediately became part of the Nirvana lexicon. But yes, this was written by dear departed David, pre-Ziggy Stardust, in 1970. Fun facts: Bowie told an interviewer in 1995, "it hadn't ever occurred to me that I was truly a part of the American musical landscape" until this cover came out. Bowie also said (in a 2000 interview) that he was sick of kids coming up to him after a show and telling him it was so cool that he covered Nirvana... Ahhhh, poor tortured Kurt taught us much in his short time (like especially: don't do heroin, or date Courtney Love) but where would we be without Bowie?
Bonus vid of him performing this song on SNL in '75.

Nada Surf - Enjoy the Silence

Words like violence
Break the silence
Come crashing in
Into my little world
Painful to me
Pierce right through me
Can't you understand
Oh my little girl

All I ever wanted
All I ever needed
Is here in my arms
Words are very unnecessary
They can only do harm

Vows are spoken
To be broken
Feelings are intense
Words are trivial
Pleasures remain
So does the pain
Words are meaningless
And forgettable

Written by one of my all-time favorite songwriters, for one of my all-time favorite albums, listening to "Enjoy the Silence" brings back layers of awesome memories for me. I generally can't stand Depeche Mode covers - they are either too faithful to the original but lack the soul, or else they are too re-imagined and therefore nothing that I love remains. So it is really saying something that this "nerd rock" band could cover DM in a way that I truly appreciate. They made this song their own without killing it's soul. I think it has something to do with what Keith said last time he posted a Nada Surf song: they make pleasant interesting. Which sounds like a backhanded compliment of some sort, but it's honest praise.

RIYL : Weezer, The Lemonheads, The Shins, Silversun Pickups

Upcoming Shows

The Medicine Hat - St. Cecilia

I remember my hometown
And this new one's a let down
When I think of how I used to be
I used to be kind
I used to be kind
Oh St. Cecelia I know you're singing the best song
But these melodies, ecstasies, can only keep it going for so long

Another great Canadian band to close out the week. This time it's experimental pop quartet The Medicine Hat, out of Ontario. Looks like they play all kinds of fun local gigs but aren't quite on the Bands In Town radar yet. Their two debut singles are right up my alley. Hat tip (pun intended) to Spotify for bringing them to my attention. Here's hoping they'll release more music soon. 

RIYL: Flor, Grouplove, Islands, Hannah Georgas

Upcoming Shows