One of Puffy's Andy Sturmer productions, this track brings to mind things such as ABBA's "Fernando" with it's faux-Andalusian flavor...but those loopy sound effects and the theater organ solo just scream out Tokyo!
from Jet CD (Sony Japan) available on CD - The Best of Puffy: Amiyumi Jet Fever (Sony Japan)
Lewis Parker may not be well-known, either in the US or in his native England, but he has done more to elevate the quality of British hip-hop than anybody else. His philosophical lyrics combine with an impeccable sense of rhythm to give him a place as one of the freshest voices on either side of the Atlantic.
from Masquerades & Silhouettes. The Ancients Series One., available on CD (Melankolic/Astralwerks)
'Bright Eyes' O'Connor Oberst is a gifted lyricist and probably the best for his age (19 at record release). With his literary references and unconventional recording, listening to Bright Eyes is quite an experience. In this instance we meet the protagonists of the novel, 'The Unberable Lightness of Being,' and find in their weightlessness the desire to escape. Slow acoustic struming by O'Conner steady his intense vocals and between the chimes and reverberating forte piano we experience a disjointing storm used to great effect. The song has us drifting at sea with a delicate melody until we are at last erased like a skeleton in chalk. Bright Eyes sings - 'Let's sail away disappearing in a mist. Let's sail away with a whisper and a kiss. Or vanish from a road somewhere, like Tereza and Tomas, suspended in this bliss.' We feel his expressive words and sound pass through us, and late in the day we find it echoing softly in our heads. Quite an accomplishment for someone who couldn't drink yet, I look forward to following his career.
A different version than the one that appears on "Ladies and Gentlemen We are Floating in Space", this one features a slightly slower tempo, a full gospel choir and some lushly arranged strings and horns. Absolutely beautiful...a longer instrumental version also appears on the EP.
11 May 01 ·delicado: this was on my list to recommend too...but I've only heard the album version...what an astounding track! Will have to check out the EP...
The song is one of the best songs I've heard from the genre of emo. For people that don't know emo is a rather new style of alternative, mixing both soft melodies with hard riffs, and compromising of both soft singing and ferocious screams. Thursday is a small group from N.J. Their sound is pretty original, well original in the sense that just about all emo bands are too small to be recognized. Both of Thursday's albums are excellent but if you want to get a taste of them check out This Side of Brightness.