Measured in Measures

I’ll just throw it out there, “fun” is a pretty awful band name. You may disagree, but I guess its not important. The only reason I bring this up is because I have stayed away this band mostly based on the reasoning “Ugh, terrible band name.” Not a good reason, especially considering that I really enjoyed The Format (lead singer of fun’s previous band) at a certain time in my life. In fact, there are some times I still do. All this to say, if you have ignored this band because of a questionable band name, shame on you (and me)!

Now, on to the the tune/record. I chose this tune because I think it gives you a good taste of the album as a whole. This is a top 40 radio ready record, and I don’t mean that in a derogatory way. The sounds are big, and not guitar big! The drums are pulled way up front in the mix, which gives the record this hip hopish feel. Its an interesting counter balance to songs that seem very influenced by 60s and 70s pop music. This is the first band I’ve heard that has taken production cues from Kanye and Jay-Z and made a pop record.

Enjoy, and support if you like the tune:

http://www.amazon.com/Some-Nights/dp/B007B6VOG0/ref=sr_shvl_album_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1330447339&sr=301-1

If anything means anything,
There must be something meant for us to be;
a song that we were made to sing.
There must be so much more than we can see.

Back in 2008, I was telling a friend how much I enjoyed the Fleet Foxes new record (I had just purchased a copy of their S/T) and he exclaimed, “Yeah! Can you believe that J. Tillman is their drummer?” And, to be honest, I could. His name was in the liner notes, but I had no idea why this was significant. I rarely know the names of people in bands anymore, except of course for the E Street Band, but they are the best band ever right?

Anyways, I went an bought “Year in the Kingdom”. It was nothing like the Fleet Foxes. Instead of sweeping harmonies and galloping drums, I found a man sitting on a porch of some cabin in some woods, singing very understated songs. Sure, the title track has a nice sweetness to it, but the album then descends into murky sadness, regret, and revulsion. It was easy to write J. Tillman off as another bearded dude singing sad songs, but for some reason I couldn’t.

The very quiet nature of these songs gives you two options. Either you lean in, you engage, or you leave it all together. To be honest, after my first listen, I did the latter, but months later, I returned to the album, drawn back by the gentle title track. What I discovered was a collection of songs that bloom a little bit with each listen until they are in their full glory.

The song I’m sharing is one that just caught me today. I’ve been really thinking about the concept of total depravity. Why you ask? Well, sometimes I realize what an asshole I am. Sometimes I am appalled at the way I respond to beauty and goodness. I think Tillman hits it on the head when he ends the first verse with the line “I have watched the father spare the ram/And throw his son upon the flames”, just to end the next verse with “I have rendered families from their home/That I may lay claim to their young”. I hope you enjoy, as much as you can when considering depravity.

I remember the first time I heard this song. I was living in a house in Orlando, FL. Most days I would exercise for about a half an hour or so, which was either running in a park or jumping rope in the drive way of the house.

At the time I was really beginning to consider adulthood in that I had reached a point in my life where I could go where I want, be what I wanted to be, and be with who I wanted to be. Furthermore, I was beginning to consider that these choices I was making had consequences. I guess the old saying is true, when you walk through one door, other doors shut.

I bring this up because I was dating a girl (who is now my lovely wife) and I was trying to figure out if we should get married. I think my experience in this time is pretty common in that I wasn’t hesitant about the woman but more the concept of marriage, more specifically love. What happens in five years? Fifty years? Will I end up like my parents? Will we hate each other? Will we want to kill each other?

Anyways, one day I was jumping rope in the driveway and this song came on. I immediately stopped to listen. The quietness shocked me because it was nestled in the midst of two heavy rockers on “The River”. The song is ridiculously simple; simple chords, simple melody, simple lyrics etc… This gives room for Springsteen’s lyrics to make the point that love is not automatic, its not simple, its not easy. It takes work. The narrator is talking about how he thought love be a flame that always would burn but needed no fanning or stoking, but finding out much too late that fires die without care.

This wasn’t really a comfort to me at the time but more of a call to arms. I needed to take great care in marriage and treat it with honor. Ultimately, I did marry that girl, which is awesome, and found out that marriage can be hard, but is always awesome and full of joy.

I stumbled upon the Marksmen record “Sister of Mine” on Noisetrade last week. What usually draws me to a band is when I hear a singer who’s voice is honest. Some of my favorite singers (Springsteen, Tom Waits, Otis Redding) don’t have these smooth, traditional voices, but when you listen to them sing it feels like every ounce of meaning and intent is placed on each note. I feel that way about the lead singer of Marksmen. He means it, and he wants you to know it. So give “No Sound for You” a listen and if you like it, why not head over to itunes and buy it.

So I never realized that this was more a less a blue’s standard that Muddy recorded. This particular recording is from Hard Again, a record hailed as a come back for Mr. Muddy Waters. I encourage you to listen to this recording with your eyes closed, imagining you are sitting in a room with the players. I dare you not to stomp your foot. I dare you not to yell nonsense with the rest of them.

One more thing, I wonder if the origins of the “hype man” (you know the guy who comes on stage with a rapper who repeats phrases and yells nonsense) has its origins here.