1) We're back in business.
2) This is thanks in very large part to the hard work of Dan Beirne. Praise him.
3) It turns out that Sean already posted "Dear Sons And Daughters Of Hungry Ghosts." We are like Two Bad Dudes, he and I. Well, here's another perspective.

***

The Decemberists - "Here I Dreamt I Was An Architect"

I heard the Decemberists' album a few weeks ago and was unimpressed. It sounded to me a bit like Neutral Milk Hotel without the good songs or interesting production. Not pleasing.

Then I heard this song. And everything changed. Everything. Most notably, the mercury I'd been stirring for weeks, finally became gold.

A swaying, zigzagging electric guitar walks in and out of the path of forward looking drums and acoustic guitar. The expressive vocals and Romantic lyrics recall Destroyer and a Great War era Rousseau (had such a thing ever been [!(?)]). The organ falls note by note onto the intricate instrumental dialogue. Gusts of Mellifluous backing "ah"s pass through undisruptively.

After hearing "Here I Dreamt I Was An Architect" I decided to give the album another listen. It still stunk.

Maybe they lucked out and stumbled onto a good one, or maybe this is an indication of their potential. Either way, the status of this song as a winner remains unchanged.

Epicurus says: Listen to it because it makes you feel good.

***

Wolf Parade - "Dear Sons And Daughters Of Hungry Ghosts"

Here is raw, vital pop gospel. Scratchy keyboards bubbling up. Distorted electric guitar biting tentatively. Full throttle glam-soul vocals calling to arms.

53 seconds into the song, when the band's energetic anger turns to a manic focus on a detailed and substantial plan, we are given the gift (so thoughtful (what have we done for Wolf Parade lately?)) of a most gloriously propulsive keyboard line. "The Sons and Daughters of Hungry Ghosts" hits you in your chest.

"But God doesn't always have the best goddamned plans. Does he?"

The band is a preacher, and the song, delivered on bended knee, is a desperate but most righteous sermon.

Though this music is new sounding and clever, it's the body (the power, energy and sweat) and not the mind, that draws me in and makes me want it. I know, I'm shallow.

***

p.s. in celebration of the new server, Neale has purchased saidthegramophone.com. Thank you, Neale.