Nick’s Song of the Week

For the week of 05 November 2006:

Paulson - Voids

Picking one song off All At Once was difficult. Even now, I’m not sure I shouldn’t have given you “Under Crowns” or “Not By a Long Shot” or “What Are You?” instead. But I’m going to go with the first track.

The best part about Paulson is the harmonies, which they have down pat. These aren’t Simon & Garfunkel or CSN harmonies, they sound eerie and unsettling and wonderful. I have been unable to stop listening to this album for the last week.

Paulson - "Voids" (mp3)

  • (Posted 12:27 17 Nov 2006.)

For the week of 29 October 2006:

+/- - Leap Year

+/-’s previous album, You Are Here, contained a track called “Megalomaniac” which, to this day, is one of my favorite picks for this song list. That song was in 5/4; this one is in 7/4. The unusual rhythm is an endearing part of both tracks, but I also just adore the vocals and the double guitars. Speaking specifically of “Leap Year,” I can’t say I’ve ever heard an “arrow striking its target” sound used anywhere before.

This track is beautiful and puts me in a very contented place.

Oh, and they’re playing at Bottom of the Hill tonight (17 November 2006). You should see if you can make it!

+/- - "Leap Year" (mp3)

  • (Posted 12:10 .)

For the week of 22 October 2006:

Rogue Wave - Love’s Lost Guarantee

Their version of this at the Pat Spurgeon benefit was triumphant. Ever since that concert, I’ve been meaning to post this track, but I just kept putting it off. Well, you need wait no longer for this gem! Graphing this track by time vs. intensity would yield a pretty consistent increasing sawtooth, which is one of the things that makes it so satisfying. When they bust into the crescendo after a one beat pause, the fact that the lyrics are literally “Yeah, yeah, yeahyeah” doesn’t matter a whit.

Rogue Wave - "Love's Lost Guarantee" (mp3)

  • (Posted 11:51 .)

For the week of 15 October 2006:

Meric Long - Notes

I heard this song earlier this year, forgot about it, and just rediscovered it. I love it! It’s like a more upbeat Iron & Wine. This kid’s got talent. Thank you IPR!!!

Meric Long - "Notes" (link)

  • (Posted 02:13 16 Oct 2006.)

For the week of 17 September 2006:

The Velvet Teen - The Prize Fighter

I learned about this song from my friends Orb, Carl and Kyle a couple of years ago. Somehow it never made it on to the song of the week, which is a major oversight. This is one of my favorite Velvet Teen songs, with its incredibly catchy piano riff. This is their “Boxing,” but I actually like this one better than Ben’s.

The Velvet Teen - "The Prize Fighter" (mp3)

  • (Posted 11:32 20 Sep 2006.)

For the week of 20 August 2006:

The Frames - Finally

This guy has a normal voice, but this song calls for some operatics. And somehow, that makes the end result even better.

The Frames - "Finally" (mp3)

  • (Posted 00:12 22 Aug 2006.)

For the week of 20 August 2006:

Birdy Nam Nam - Abbesses

This French group consists solely of four DJs. They do their DJ thing and yet somehow manage to make really catchy stuff. Sadly, this is far and away the best song on their album. But it’s worth it.

If you dig this track, you should go check out the video of them performing it. All sorts of fun.

I found out about these guys thanks to Nico, my former roommate. He was French too.

And in case you’re wondering about their name, the Wikipedia page has you covered.

Birdy Nam Nam - "Abbesses" (mp3)

  • (Posted 00:02 .)

For the week of 20 August 2006:

From Monuments to Masses - Deafening

I went to see these guys with Denison Witmer and Saxon Shore. They were outstanding. Such a powerful set! I think this was my favorite song of the ones they played. Definitely go see these guys if they come through your town.

This band owes a lot to the likes of Explosions in the Sky, who I also happen to adore. (Especially The Earth is Not a Cold Dead Place. Go get that album right now. The whole thing.)

From Monuments to Masses - "Deafening" (mp3)

  • (Posted 23:51 21 Aug 2006.)

For the week of 20 August 2006:

Elbow - Switching Off

The last time I linked to Elbow was 2003. They’ve come a very long way since then, with two excellent albums and a US tour under their belt. This track is from their second album, Cast of Thousands and is a gorgeous meditation on euthanasia. Every time I hear it, it reminds me of The Sea Inside.

If you’re looking for tracks to sample off their latest album, Leaders of the Free World, I recommend “Great Expectations” and “An Imagined Affair.”

Elbow - "Switching Off" (mp3)

  • (Posted 23:33 .)

For the week of 20 August 2006:

Minus the Bear - Drilling

Can’t get enough of this song! I saw these guys at Coachella and they were great. The whole album is worth your time. They tend to sing about partying and drinking and women; this song is about an East coast vacation. All very upper-middle class.

Minus the Bear - "Drilling" (mp3)

  • (Posted 23:22 .)