Gianmaria Testa - "Per Accompagnarti". For those of you who are dying for more new Wilco (sorry), here's something that resembles A Ghost Is Born, in its own humble way. Sure, there aren't any blazing electric guitar solos; nor is it a stupid eleven-minute avant-dance piece of shit (Wilco's "Spiders (Kidsmoke)" is rather awful). But "Per Accompagnarti" has the earnest, coffee-house feel: piano, upright bass, acoustic guitar, dusted drums, a muted trumpet. Testa even sounds like Tweedy, only more Italian. I first heard Gianmaria Testa on the stereo at a Second Cup, (no joke,) and liked it so much that I got up and asked what was playing. "Per Accompagnarti" is taken from 1996's Extra Muros, but La valse d'un jour is also excellent.
The Streets - "You're Fit But You Know It". Subpar (one-channel) radio rip of the new Streets single. It's Mike Skinner in his bouncy, silly mode (and I've always preferred his meditative, bittersweet side), but still, there's much to like. What's good is the trenchant guitar riff that underlies the whole thing, the understated chorus hook, Mike's I-know-it's-awkward-but-fuck-off lyrics: the cardboard "so/when/i/looked/at/you/standing/there," and "chips and drinks"; the off-key "don't/you/just/know/it" the wry "yes yes, oh yay"; the wonderful "i'm all right / don't touch me," and the return to bounce which follows. Of course, The Streets isn't exactly Dizzy Rascal, and this isn't a brazenly brave track; what it is is damn entertaining, clever, good-natured and generous with its laughs. I would like to hear this song in commercials.
(re my wilco source. it's private - sorry. i'm sure that the leak will disseminate quickly, though. if, in a couple days, there's still no sign of ghost on soulseek, i'll post another track - but i don't intend for said the gramophone to become the www equivalent of a 0-day irc room.)
Posted by Sean at March 18, 2004 12:02 AMI had no idea that wilco fans were this hardcore.
who knew?
I heard Testa at an Italian restauraunt, and thought he sounded like an Italian Tom Waits, so I bought it (la valse d'un jour). I was wrong, but it turned out to be a really excellent record. Good pick.
Posted by Scott at March 18, 2004 1:54 AMYou don't know the half of it, forks. Check out the boards at www.viachicago.org. People are laying eggs over this leak. Also, I've been a victim of music fandom my whole life, and I can honestly say that Wilco fans are second only to Dylan fans as far as groupieism is concerned. Most fans have already heard around 4/5 of "A Ghost is Born" live.
Posted by Paul at March 18, 2004 2:03 AMStill digging the hell out of this site, by the way! I already own roughly half the tracks that are currently being shared, and I'm loving those that I've downloaded tonight.
Posted by Paul at March 18, 2004 2:04 AMAh, new Streets! I love the Streets. I wish I had sound in both sides on this one, but i'll take what i can get. Original Pirate Material was one of those albums that was just amazing when I finally found it, and me and my brother put on repeat for weeks on end. I find now that I can only listen to 5-6 of the songs, and some of it is downright irritating, but I will still buy the new one.
Posted by caley at March 18, 2004 2:05 AMOh I do love the Streets. The new album is so good--a tad slower that the first, more syncopated rhythms, more choruses. A couple real standout tracks--the single, and "Blinded By The Light", and the amazing closer. There's also a track that sounds vaguely Diz-inspired ("Not Addicted").
"Good-natured" is a really good way to describe the Streets, and it's one of the thing I love about 'em: the "around we say 'birds' not 'bitches'" line from the first record gets me everytime. "It's a tall order but we're taller" ooh, it's such a perfect line. I can't wait to buy the new one when it comes out (on my birthday!).
Posted by 1a1itree at March 18, 2004 9:01 AMThat Gianmaria Testa song is awesome...anyone know where I can buy a copy of the album it came from? Amazon doesn't sell it, and I thought they had everything.
Posted by Eric at March 18, 2004 9:46 PMi definitely got a kick out of that streets song - it may be even better than the stuff from the first album... any idea when it comes out in the US?
Posted by mr. blair at March 19, 2004 10:36 AMGlad that people like the Testa song - Scott, I'm (pleasantly) astonished that I'm not his only north american fan. Cheers!
Eric - a quick search showed that his stuff is available on amazon.ca (which probably ships to the USA), as well as overstock.com, which has them pretty cheap. Good luck - glad you liked it!
Posted by Sean at March 19, 2004 1:41 PMKidsmoke is the best song on the album!
Posted by Matthew at April 2, 2004 1:43 PMYou gotta be kidding me, Matthew: I skip it every time. Monotonous folk-Neu bullshit that doesn't work in the least.
Posted by Sean at April 2, 2004 3:09 PMoh.my.god. im only 14 but i so LOVE the streets new song, i mean my GOSH (!) dnt u jus love it!
its sooooooo cool.
and it will begin playing. All songs are also available to download: just right-click the link and choose 'Save as...'
