I allow myself one record per month. Yesterday I realized that it was already the 24th and I hadn't yet gotten one for February. I had been to record stores two or three times but nothing seemed perfect.
I combed through every single album my record store had, and at the end I was torn between the
Grand Archives. I hadn't heard of them, but they were signed to SubPop, which I have a fairly good level of trust in. And they were from Seattle, which is a place I like to hear music from. So I thought what the hell and bought it.
It's a beautiful album. It came with a digital code for my iPod, and a free white 45 of two other songs. I don't really know how to describe them other than melodic layers that I want to drown in. Here is what Sound Fix has to say:
While each track displays a different combination of influences, what they all have in common are rich, gorgeous vocal harmonies and carefully layered instrumental tracks that work together to create a deep, expansive pool of sound you’ll feel as if you could dive into.I guess I wasn't alone in thinking of water when I heard this. It's very pretty.
I was inspired to write about this just now when I saw that FREEwilliamsburg wrote about it two days ago. Apparently there's an ex Band of Horses guy in it. That would explain a bit.
Visit Grand Archives on MySpace, take a listen.
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7 comments:
So you realize you have to say why you think it's the most beautiful cover art. Oh and check out Straylight Run - especially what's off "The Needles the Space."
Good point! Well, I love sparsely adorned things (my bedroom – and most spaces I surround myself in – is very minimalist). Also, I have been playing the piano since I was a wee, so anything piano-related is beautiful to me. Also, those black keys look blueish. I have never seen that before. I like how the band's name was very small, right where the piano's brand tends to be painted.
Have you ever heard The Parson Red Heads? They are friends of mine. A really good band and really great people.
http://www.myspace.com/redheads
I might be doing their next album cover! Hopefully you'll have a moment similar to the one when you saw the Grand Archives cover...
Pedant's corner: MBV's first album was released 20 years ago, not 10. It's really really good, and should be your March album.
Thanks for the Grand Archives tip. Lovely stuff.
Their name is one of two significant strands in band-nomenclature of the past few years - bands with 'Grand' in the name, the other being bands with 'Kids' in the name.
Introducing 'Grandkids'. It's only a matter of time.
DT
Aly, I haven't! I will definitely check them out tomorrow, I have gotten the "need new music" itch lately.
Dylan, I have no clue why I said 10 years ago... the album I was thinking about WAS their first FULL length, but even that one was 15 years ago. My head is up in the trees or something. Thanks for correcting me!
Their first full length (Isn't Anything) was released in 1988. Their second, Loveless, in 1991.
They both sound like they were recorded yesterday.
I'll stop now because I'm feeling both pedantic and old.
Gotcha. The album was Isn't Anything, got the year information from Amazon the second time around since the date on the back of the vinyl said 1998. evs. I guess there was re-release confusion.
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