Said the Gramophone

Dealt With With Poise

Neko Case - "Favorite"

Doesn't this sound like she's stopping the clock? Right from the beginning, it's as if she's singing to a room full of people who just stopped doing whatever they were doing (my guess is drinking and socializing just a little too much after a funeral) to listen to her. With a swipe of her arms, she's silenced the crowd, a banjo has started from the top of the stairs, and the tambourine's just shakin' in its boots. But she just wants you to know her pain, she sings from behind a long black veil, and paces up and down the bar, putting people's drinks down with her foot as they try to take a sip. We're not done yet.

This is the first track off the new otherwise-not-worth-it compilation from Mint Records of some CBC Radio 3 sessions. Largely, the sound is so good, that this sounds more like a collection of album versions rather than live, which is in part an unfortunate contradiction, and part just coincidence that these bands didn't have live "versions" of these songs (for instance, Radiohead's live album was composed, I think, entirely of slightly different version of songs, ones that played well live). [I can't find a place to buy this]

Katie Moore - "Getting Older"

Jordan, when posting Katie Moore before, spoke of how her voice sounded. I will instead speak of her delivery: this sounds like a lie to me. Such sad words, about walls closing in, strangers instead of friends, changes all around. But I don't believe a word of it. The drums are grinning with their eyes shut, the guitar is soloing across the floor like someone who feels they should dance a little bit while crossing the dancefloor. And her, she's leaning up against the wall, her hair falling in her face, singing this song. But her hair's not there to hide the tears, it's there to hide the smile, she loves that she can sing this song, she loves how much it sucks. You're not fooling anyone, Katie Moore. Let's dance. [site]

Hot Springs - "Gotta D.J."

Woah, Giselle Numba One has been singing a rock band this whole time, and I never knew. She's my new Doseone. Selfish girls do get everything done. Her magnet voice, the way it quivers when it gets close, repels from your ear, slides down your cheek (you catch it with your lip) fits so well with the guitars like big canvasses, rigid flags, big planks that fall, flap, and wave by. [site]