The Microphones - "Don't Smoke". I admit I mostly like this song because I like the idea of Phil Elverum throwing up the devil's horns in support of a public health statement. Also: lookit that, he's back to calling himself The Microphones. Mt Eerie, we hardly knew ya. So, yes: a racket about not-smoking. "Improve yourseEeeEellFf!" as guitars scream, drums smash, the earth roaring out because it likes you, dude, and doesn't want to see you perish of lung cancer. The bombast is turned up so high that you know that it's half-joke; the sound of throwing yourself against a concrete wall, over and over, happily. BECAUSE THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT SMOKING IS. BUTT OUT, TOBACCONISTAS.
[buy the 7". side two is: "Get Off the Internet". seriously.]
Y'All Is Fantasy Island - "A Sight In Sailsbury Falls". Continuing the long tradition of sad Scottish bands, Y'All Is Fantasy Island reject their name's frivolity and seem always drenched in rain. It's the same old story: a girl "did me wrong / so I drowned myself in verse and song". Shaker and guitar, a voice that's past caring, a sound that smells of wet soil. "Lay with me," he sings. If he wants us to join him in the grave I'll refuse. If he wants us to join him in his sorrow, in his house painted red... that, I'll consider. At least for tonight.
[Buy]
Posted by Sean at January 22, 2007 12:30 AMI saw him perform this song in Chicago along with the b-side, but when he played "don't smoke" a bunch of kids put out their cigarettes. Great song, and of course, glad to see it under The Microphones.
Posted by Matt at January 22, 2007 12:44 AMHaha, I was one of those kids! It was quite uncomfortable to be under the judgemental gaze of so many. But I still enjoy the song.
Posted by Miranda at January 22, 2007 5:29 PMI always wondered why more musicians weren't demmanding more smoke-free workplaces...
Posted by Kyle at January 22, 2007 8:23 PMwhat makes one of his songs a microphones song versus a mount eerie song? the dude is so damn confusing. the nearest i can figure is that microphones songs are about 10x better.
Posted by Joe L. at January 22, 2007 10:02 PMTen times better? That's not fair, no flashight IS good.
Posted by Matt at January 22, 2007 10:15 PMMount Errie Songs, I believe, is pretty much better than any of their songs.. but then again "don't smoke" is one of their best compositions.. :-)
Please check my music site,i'll be adding songs from "the microphones" sooner..
www.mylyricscentral.com
Posted by Chris Nelson at January 23, 2007 2:43 AMSeriously, though, I think there's a formula for the use of the mount eerie monicker vs. the microphones. It seems that it gets the microphones label when there's all that crazy lo-fi production and the obvious presence of electric guitar, and it's a mount eerie project when it's all organic sounding. But I'm still not sure.
If there's any phil elverum specialists out there, maybe you can inform me...
Posted by Joe L. at January 23, 2007 2:33 PM
and it will begin playing. All songs are also available to download: just right-click the link and choose 'Save as...'
