I've been dangerously obsessed with this song and video over the past week or so:
I think I've watched it on average 4-5 times a day.
The Aliens are a Scottish trio who formed after the Beta Band split in 2005. I was devastated when the Betas called it quits and it took years of therapy and a helluva lotta drugs before I was able to crack a smile again. Ok I'm exaggerating (slightly) but it really bothered me that a band whose music I found so creative and inspiring became another casualty of the soulless music industry. The story is the same – band gets signed to a major label and is automatically in debt. Because their albums were never hugely successful (despite consistent critical acclaim), they had no choice but to buckle. Fuck you world!
When news of the Aliens' formation came, I was cautiously optimistic but I didn't think they could ever match the magic without Steve Mason's wistful, comforting lead vocals. (Mason's latest band Black Affair seems promising – the songs I've heard sound heavily and hilariously influenced by the Flashdance soundtrack.) The missing Aliens puzzle piece is vocalist Gordon Anderson AKA Lone Pigeon. He co-wrote the Beta Band's most famous song Dry the Rain which you may remember from the movie High Fidelity. That song is a masterpiece and an excellent example of how the Beta Band managed to sound simultaneously retro and futuristic. Anderson released 2 albums under the Lone Pigeon moniker and both are virtually unlistenable (but I would happily buy a third one). The Aliens' debut album Astronomy For Dogs is certainly worthy of attention but in my opinion just missed the mark in establishing their new identity. It did include the slice of brilliance known as Robot Man though, a song that surely everyone here can relate to.
Anyway Magic Man is the first song that's made me want to do cartwheels in quite some time so I wanted to share my enthusiasm. The new album Luna isn't available in the US yet which, of course, makes me want it that much more. Word on the street is that it's an enormous leap forward. The import should be in my mailbox today and if it's not then I will have an old fashioned temper tantrum before composing a whiny email to the Amazon guy.
16 comments:
Why aren't my damn links working? Damn YouTube!
Yeah I really dig this song ever since you sent it to me the other day. I look forward to hearing your review of the rest of the album. I'm currently listening to the new Guns N' Roses album and really liking it.
Your links work just fine. I also loved the Beta band and sadly never saw them live. I was so excited they were opening for Radiohead at Suffolk Downs but we ran late because of Liz (I really need to stop going to concerts with her) and then got stuck in major traffic in Boston so we missed them and arrived just as Radiohead was taking the stage.
song, shmong (though the vid is awfully catchy and creative, "john sweatpants"). i'm all about albums these days. fortunately "head first" is available on rhapsody so i am cranking it to give me some much-needed energy this morning. it's working.
I like it Johnny. It has a driving beat that hints at disco a bit with the open hi-hat on the offbeat of the 4th quarter note but still has a mix of grungy guitar and vocals that make for a good tune. Omg it even has an ELOesque chorus in the middle :o
Nowandzen – your use of the phrase “4th quarter note” leads me to believe you’re a musician. What do you play? (I can’t play a damn thing my damn self.)
Catfreeek – Don’t feel bad about the Beta Band’s set when they opened for Radiohead. The sound quality was terrible, they only played for a half hour and they had very little stage to work with. I was PO’d because I was more fired up to see them than Radiohead (though Radiohead were superb.) A couple months later Handsome Stan and I caught the Beta’s played the Paradise and they were mind-blowing.
KISS always does that with their opening acts. They force them into 10 square feet of stage so that the musicians are all bumping into each other, making KISS look that much larger than life when they hit the stage. But it’s cute when KISS does it, offensive with Radiohead.
I’m in the mood to talk music today…
"the offbeat of the 4th quarter note"
Nowandzen, I don't understand your fancy words.
I’m lovin’ Chinese Democracy too. It’s the first metal album I’ve been excited about in many years and it’s just great to hear Axl’s voice again (which sounds as good as ever.)
AC – I downloaded The Raveonette’s Lust Lust Lust album last night and am digging it. According to Pitchfork (fuck Pitchfork) they recently released 2 solid EP’s including an X-Mas one. What’s the date of the Boston gig?
JSP, did I ever share with you guys David Cross' parody of a Pitchfork review (of a Yo La Tengo album)? I know I showed nowandzen, a big David Cross fan.
I read it on eTunes when I used to be a member. I'll see if it's available elsewhere.
Anyway, great vid for Magic Man.
Yeah Chinese Democracy is great! I've been listening to that and the new Cure album (also awesome) non-stop in my car.
raveonettes play the paradise thursday january 15th. nickel eye (nikolai from the strokes, get it?) is opening.
Landshark - I'd love to see that David Cross bit! I bet it's hilarious. As much as I can't stand Pitchfork I go there every day because it's the only reliable source of news for obscure bands I like (such as the Aliens).
I bought a Deerhunter album after reading an obscenely glowing review of their first album. From the way they talked it up I was expecting Sgt. Peppers but it turned out to be a 3rd rate My Bloody Valentine joke of a knockoff. I just noticed that their new album has been declared Best New Music. I'm convinced the band consists solely of pretentious Pitchfork writers.
AC - sounds great! I'm looking into flights.
Well I feel a little better about it but I'm still banning concert going with Liz. I can't even begin to tell you how she f'd up the last Radiohead show we went to and she talked the entire time Tool was playing last summer. I thought Tony was going to pile drive her into the lawn.
Here's a draft of my letter:
Dear Amazon Guy,
Where’s my Aliens CD? I ordered it last Sunday and I want to listen to it. If I wanted to not have the cd then I would have not ordered it. The way I see it there are 3 parts to a transaction – the agreement, the payment and the delivery of the item (in this case, the Aliens CD). The first two steps were completed with relative ease but the third (and most important from my POV) is still pending. Please stop being a jerk and give me my CD already.
Sincerely,
Johnny Sweatpants
yay johnny sweatpants! let us know your plans. some sort of horrorthon celebration(s) need to occur while you are on this coast, and a raveonettes field trip might be just the thing.
Sorry all I miss a lot of replies in threads if I forget to press the "email follow-up comments" option when I leave a comment. I know google blogger only lets you put up to 10 people in the email follow ups option when you set it up so I miss these sometimes.
Johnny: "Nowandzen – your use of the phrase “4th quarter note” leads me to believe you’re a musician. What do you play? (I can’t play a damn thing my damn self.)"
I am I am. I grew up playing drums in jazz band and doing jazz/fusion things with friends in HS and College. I played the acoustic guitar that entire time too and more of that since I have 3 little boys. Maybe I'll post some of my stuff on the site sometime and you can give me your thoughts.
Your thoughts on KISS made me laugh. I remember finally seeing a Kiss concert years ago, they were my favorite band when I was about 11 or so and I never got to see them, and Alice in Chains was opening for them. Alice in Chains lead singer was spouting explatives about Kiss how they !@#$# sucked and Kiss is )&)(*## etc. and I never understood why an opening band would do that. Now maybe I understand. :p
JPX: ""the offbeat of the 4th quarter note"
Nowandzen, I don't understand your fancy words." "
lol
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