21 May 2006

giant drag::kevin is gay::hearts and unicorns::kickball
lee ranaldo::bean vine blues::va:tribute to john fahey::vanguard
primal scream::country girl::riot city blues::columbia
primal scream::hell's comin' down::riot city blues::columbia
centro-matic::patience for the ride::fort-recovery::misra
magnolia electric co.::the dark don't hide it::trials&errors::secretly canadian
mi and l'au::how::mi and l'au::young god
cat power::hate::the greatest::matador
radiohead::where i end and you begin::hail to the thief::capitol
radiohead::arpeggi::live
say hi to your mom::dimensions and verticals::ferocious mopes::euphobia/ryko
casiotone for the painfully alone::new year's kiss::etiquette::tomlab
calexico::cruel::garden ruin::quarterstick/touch&go
hotel alexis::soft soft war::goliath i'm on your side::unreleased
band of horses::i go to the barn because i like the::everything all the time::sub pop
the czars::i fall to pieces::sorry i made you cry::bella union
jeffrey lewis::the last time i did acid i went insane::live
drive-by truckers::little bonnie::a blessing and a curse::new west
album>>the walkmen::a hundred miles off::record collection

addicted to top 10's

best of first half of 2006

1.calexico::garden ruin(quarterstick/touch&go)
2.howe gelb::'sno angel like you (thrill jockey)
3.band of horses::everything all the time(sub pop)
4.centro-matic::fort recovery (misra)
5.mooger fooger::mooger fooger2 (pmg)
5.neko case::fox confessor brings the flood (anti)
6.drive-by truckers::a blessing and a curse (new west)
7.cat power::the greatest(matador)
8.isobelle campbell::ballad of the broken seas (v2, ada)
10.the czars::sorry i made you cry(bella union)

(I had to give myself some time before putting numbers, I'll probably change my mind, so I'll involve that in the next top 10)

Lofidelica Recommends

Band of Horses-Everything All The Time (Sub Pop)

Lambchop/Hands Off Cuba-coLAB (Merge)

2 April 2006

Profile: Neko Case, 3 songs from each album, from The Virginian up to Fox Confessor Brings the Flood, including various collaborations: Band of Blacky Ranchette, The Corn Sisters etc.

19 March 2006

arizona amp and alternator::velvet and pearl::AAAA::thrill jockey
arizona amp and alternator::the wind turns the skin to leather::AAAA::thrill jockey
howe gelb::get to leave::sno' angel like you::thrill jockey
howe gelb::but i did not::sno' angel like you::thrill jockey
howe gelb::that's how things get done::sno' angel like you::thrill jockey
howe gelb::chore of enchantment::sno' angel like you::thrill jockey
drive-by-truckers::little bonnie::a blessing and a curse::new west
drive-by-truckers::easy on yourself::a blessing and a curse::new west
drive-by-truckers::a world of hurt::a blessing and a curse::new west
casiotone for the painfully alone::etiquette I.D::etiquette::tomlab
casiotone for the painfully alone::i love creedence::etiquette::tomlab
casiotone for the painfully alone::cold white christmas::etiquette::tomlab
band of horses::the great salt lake::everything all the time::sub pop
band of horses::the funeral::everything all the time::sub pop
band of horses::monsters::everything all the time::sub pop
jason anderson::if i'm waiting::the wreath::K
giant drag::kevin is gay::hearts and unicorns::kickball
giant drag::cordial invitation::hearts and unicorns::kickball
yeah yeah yeahs::the sweets::show your bones::polydor
yeah yeah yeahs::fancy::show your bones::polydor
yeah yeah yeahs::deja vu::show your bones::polydor
jenny lewis and the watson twins::handle with care::rabit furcoat::team love
jenny lewis and the watson twins::rise up::rabit furcoat::team love
jenny lewis and the watson twins::melt your heart::rabit furcoat::team love
cat power::hate::the greatest::matador
sibylle baier::colour green::colour green::orange twin
animal collective::bees::feels::fat cat
calexico::cruel::garden ruin::touch&go/quarterstick
emilliana torrini::nothing brings me down::fisherman's woman::rough trade
azure ray::the drinks we drank last night::hold on love::saddle creek
the gourds::pill bug blues::heavy ornamentals::eleven thirty
howe gelb::ogle::ogle some piano::thrill jockey

12 March 2006

howe gelb::torque(tango de la tongue)::the listener::thrill jockey
thomas fersen::dougenou
calexico::ballad of cable hogue::hot rail::quarterstick
calexico::nom de plume::garden ruin::touch and go/quarterstick
calexico::roka (danza de la muerte)::garden ruin::touch and go/quarterstick
juanes::camisa negra
shakira::la tortura (feat. alejandro sanz)::fijacion oral::sony
the corn sisters::matineed::other woman::mint
neko case::things that scare me::blacklisted::mint
neko case::favourite::the tigers have spoken::mint
neko case::fox conffessor brings the flood::fox conffessor brings the flood::mint
neko case::the needle has landed::fox conffessor brings the flood::mint
neko case::that teenage feeling::fox conffessor brings the flood::mint
the gourds::roll&tumble::cow, fish, fowl or pig::munich
the gourds::the prayer that fell upon the mirror::cow, fish, fowl or pig::munich
ryan adams::somehow someday::gold::lost highway
bonnie 'prince' billy::gulf shores::greatest palace music::drag city
bonnie 'prince' billy::sweeter then anything::more revery::temporary residence
thanksgiving::thanksgiving::thanksgiving::pw elverum&sun
thanksgiving::fuck the world::thanksgiving::pw elverum&sun
the rakes::everything down::automatic volume::juno beach
album>>calexico::garden ruin::touch&go/quarterstick

Lofidelica Ingredients

Indie rock is like pornography in a way: most people can't tell you exactly what it is, but they know it when they see it. Er, hear it. It's loud and obnoxious (or quiet and polite), careless and sloppy (or meticulously composed), complex and pretentious (or simple and unassuming), and, to its fans, cooler and more relevant than any other style of music.(Epitonic)
Lo-fi from "Low Fidelity" describes a sound recording which contains accidental artifacts, like distortion, or environmental noise, or a recording which has a limited frequency response. This stands in contrast to high fidelity or "hi-fi". Lo-fi music is a musical genre which uses lo-fi recording practices. The aim is to sound authentic, rather than over-produced. Many lo-fi artists use inexpensive cassette tape recorders for their music.
During the late '80s and early '90s, lo fidelity became not only a description of the recording quality of a particular album, but it also became a genre onto itself. The term came to refer to a breed of underground indie rockers that recorded their material at home on four-track machines. Initially, lo-fi recordings were traded on homemade tapes, but several indie labels — most notably K Records, which was run by Calvin Johnson, who led the lo-fi band Beat Happening — released albums on vinyl. Several groups in the late '80s, like Pussy Galore, Beat Happening, and Royal Trux earned small cult followings within the American underground. By 1992, groups like Sebadoh, Eric's Trip, Guided by Voices and Pavement had become popular cult acts in America and Britain with their willfully noisy, chaotic recordings. A few years later, artists like Liz Phair and Beck helped break the lo-fi aesthetic into the mainstream, albeit in a more streamlined fashion(Lo Fi music @last.fm).
Anti-folk, on the other hand, is a DIY folk movement, that originated in the mid-1980s in New York City, lo-fi aesthetics combined with lucid lyrics is what characterizes this movement...Some of the more important artists in anti-folk are Major Matt Manson, Moldy Peaches: Adam Green and Kimya Dawson, Toby Goodshank and Jeffrey Lewis, most anti-folk is under the wing of olive juice recordings...
Alt country, is basically country, only it doesn't involve a wife beating redneck (which is the general impression), but cute guys like Conor Oberst(Bright Eyes), and beutiful poetry like Jeff Tweedy's (Wilco)...It often includes experimenting with the traditional idea of what country should be about, best example for this is Howe Gelb(Giant Sand)...
And finally, Shakira is spanish...I think...

my pc slept through February...

Not being able to retrieve the playlists, I'll just name a few important artists (albums) that went on air this month: Loose Fur (Born Again in the USA), Centro-Matic (Fort Recovery), Robert Pollard (From a Compound Eye)...

This weekend will be Macedonian Weekend Pt.2 on Kanal 103, all weekend...

...and next Sunday, the 12th, get ready for (unofficially lofidelica's) best album for the first half of 2006!

29 January 2006

the devastations::he wasn't like that when i knew him::coal::in fidelity
hungry ghosts::i don't think about you anymore, but i don't think about you anyless::alone, alone::smells like
dirty three::rain on::cinder::touch & go
richmond fontaine::incident at conklin creek::the fitzgerald::union
iron+wine::the rooster moans::lion's mane::sub pop
iron+wine/calexico::prison on route 41::in the reins::quarterstick
the go-betweens::love goes on::16 lovers lane::capitol
the go-betweens::i'm alright::16 loves lane::capitol
the elected::would you come with me::sun sun sun::sub pop
the elected::fireflies in a steel mill::sun sun sun::sub pop
the corn sisters::matineed::other woman::mint
the corn sisters::high on cruel::other woman::mint
john fahey:orinda-moraga::the transfiguration of blind joe death::takoma
john fahey::beautiful linda getchel::the transfiguration of blind joe death::takoma
sunflower river blues::pelt::i am the ressurection, a tribute to john fahey::vanguard
joe kirby blues::immergluck, kaphan, krummernacher&hannes::i am the ressurection, a tribute to john fahey::vanguard
m. ward::one life away::transistor radio::matador
rhe band of blacky ranchette::my hoo ha::still lookin' good to me::thrill jockey
the band of blacky ranchette::rusty tracks::still lookin' good to me::thrill jockey
aaaa::aaaa(1)::aaaa::thrill jockey
broken familly band::happy days are here again::welcome home loser::track&field
castanets::good friend, yr hunger::first light's freeze::asthmatic kitty
castanets::all that i know to have changed in you::first light's freeze::asthmatic kitty
black heart procession and solbakken::voiture en rouge::in the fishtank vol 11::konkurrent/touch&go
black heart procession and solbakken::things go on with mistakes::in the fishtank vol.11::konkurrent/touch&go
bonnie 'prince' billy::death to everyone::summer in the southeast::drag city
david pajo::icicles::pajo::drag city
the panics::minor a::sleeps like a curse::littleBIGman
the panics::the general calling::sleeps like a curse::littleBIGman
cat power::hate::the greatest::matador

22 January 2006

deerhoof::wrong time capsule::the runners four::advanced
clap your hands say yeah::is this love::clap your hands say yeah::s/r
the pink mountaintops::i mountains::s/t::jagjaguar
the corn sisters::matineed::another woman::mint
The corn sisters::long black veil::another woman::mint
neko case::things that scare me::blacklisted::mint
grey deLisle::blue heart::iron flowers::sugar hill
amerie::1 thing::1 thing::sony
M.I.A::bucky done gone::arular::XL
safety scissors::fly in my soup::tainted lunch::proptronix
broken social scene::handjobs for the holidays::broken social scene::arts&crafts
ilikeTRAINS::A rook house for bobby::7"::KiDS
ilikeTRAINS::the beeching report::7"::KiDS
ilikeTRAINS::the accident::demo
ilikeTRAINS::before the curtains close::7"::dance_to_the_radio
mount eerie::i hold nothing::no flashlight::pwelverum&sun
mount eerie::in the bat's mouth::no flashlight::pwelverum&sun
iron and wine&calexico::history of lovers::in the reins::quarterstick
the malarkies::perversity::v.a isn't it romantic::verse
nina nastasia::all for you::v.a isn't it romantic::verse
howe gelb::espresso spills specifically on the italian truck and for a moment, aids in its re-design::ogle some piano::thrill jockey
howe gelb::ogle::ogle some piano::thrill jockey
howe gelb::plentiful the wife and beautiful the aforementioned too::ogle some piano::thrill jockey
the evens::sara lee::the evens::dischord
the evens::if it's water::the evens::dischord
the new pornographers::twin cinema::twin cinema::matador
okkervil river::black::black sheep boy::jagjaguar
the mountain goats::danu lipatti's bones::the sunset tree::4AD

Kanal 103 new site+new logo

Kanal 103, the radio station that broadcasts lofidelica, is celebrating its 15th birthday...

For this occasion, we are changing the look of the website

this is how the new website looks!



and we need you for the new logo :)

this is the old logo:



if you are into good music and graphic design, send your idea for a new logo to
info[at]kanal103.com.mk it will be seen supporting the best alternative events in Macedonia!

the deadline for submission is 15th February 2006

16 January 2006

Macedonian weekend on Kanal 103!

This was the best weekend this winter, lots of interviews with many tres cool Macedonian musicians throughout the weekend, and some very amazing live acts!

So, between 6:00 pm-8:00 pm [lofidelica] this Sunday, there was a spontaneous freestyling on air, by RabotamNaSlucajot (Antonio Arangelovic) and his friends (Dzaka, Bruice, and another guy whose alias I can't remember).

some lo-fi hip-hop li-ve :)

I loved it.

08 January 2006

richmond fontaine::black road::the fitzgerald::union
m ward::sad sad song::transfigurations of vincent::merge
cat power::the greatest::the greatest::matador
wilco::cars can't escape::yankee hotel foxtrot demos::nonesuch
grey delisle::sharecroppin' man::graceful ghost::sugarhill
neko case::pretty girls::blacklisted::mint
calexico::missing::black light::quarterstick
castanets::good friend yr hunger::first light's freeze::asthmatic kitty
castanets::first light's freeze::first light's freeze::asthmatic kitty
AAAA::can do girl::AAAA::thrill jockey
iron&wine/calexico::dead man's will::in the reins::overcoat
pernice brothers::there goes the sun::discover a lovelier you::ashmont
belle&sebastian::another sunny day::the life pursuit::matador
stephen malkmus::it kills::face the truth::matador
the panics::my best mistake::sleeps like a curse::littleBIGman
wolf parade::same ghost every night::apologies to queen merry::sub pop
bright eyes::poison oak::i'm wide awake it's morning::saddle creek
the arcade fire::neighbourhood#2(lanka)::funeral::merge
sufjan stevens::come on feel the illinoise::illinois::asthmatic kitty
chad vangaalen::after the afterlife::infiniheart::sub pop
silver jews::sleeping is the only love::tanglewood numbers::matador
brmc::love burns::brmc::echo
the hotel alexis::the quiet life::the shining example is lying on the floor::broken sparrow
thanksgiving::the river::the river::marriage
rouge wave::publish my love::descend like vultures::sub pop
the new pornographers::sing me spanish techno::twin cinema::matador
deerhoof::wrong time capsule::the runners four::kill rock stars
jeffrey lewis::williamsburg will oldham horror::city&eastern songs::rough trade
bonnie'prince'billy::a sucker's evening::summer in the southeast::drag city
my morning jacket::it beats for you::z::ato
mercury rev::across yer ocean::the secret migration::v2
david pajo::let me bleed::pajo::drag city
smog::i feel like the mother of the world::a river ain't too much to love::drag city
arab strap::speed date::the last romance::chemikal underground

Lofidelica@Jukebox 4th Jan 2006

Started off while it was quite empty with Smog, Cat Power, M Ward, My Morning Jacket, Chad Vangaalen, then lots and lots of Pavement, Belle&Sebastian, Deerhoof, The Panics, Field Mice, The New Pornographers, The Shins, Sufjan Stevens, Wolf Parade, Silver Jews...And actually played the 8min, Neutral Milk Hotel-Oh Comely...Fantastic.

01 January 2006

Happy New Year! I wish everyone lots of good music in 2006 :)

25 December 2005 + present

Sufjan Stevens::Hark! Songs for Christmas::vol 1
Sufjan Stevens::Hark! Songs for Christmas::vol 2
Sufjan Stevens::Hark! Songs for Christmas::vol 3

Lofidelica interview:Sidney Alexis Lindner (Hotel Alexis)

"...I used to sit in the big empty meeting room and play the saddest little symphonies using only the black keys because I knew they would work together. And sometimes a girl would come and sit on one of the many benches and weep. And I was so sad that year and it just felt like this was somehow connecting with that sad part in people..."

The following interview will also be presented on air in Kanal 103 FM, in Macedonian, when doing the countdown of the lofidelica top 10 albums of 2005.

Sidney Lindner is the man behind Hotel Alexis, annoyed that most people find his surname difficult to pronounce, he uses Alexis instead. The "Hotel" comes from "The Golden Hotel" where his brother Cayce Lindner also plays. However, it was the title of this album which I found most intriguing...

What inspired you for the peculiar title of this record "The shining example is lying on the floor"?
I took the title from a biography of Keith Richards. I liked a lot of the images it seemed to convey. I’ve second guessed that title a lot as I’d want to do but I guess I thought it had this sense of wasted potential that I wanted to get across.

What sort of things inspire you the most, in general?
That’s really difficult to answer. I tend to think of inspiration as an unconscious activity or rather the tapping into an existing well-spring of unconscious build-up. There needs to be a “trigger event” that begins this movement upwards of compressed ideas – but the ideas have been formulating all along. And often your conscious mind wants to, and does, reject these ideas. They, like dreams, often seem ridiculous/dangerous to the conscious mind.
...That sounds kind of pretentious, but I think it’s true. Lately, I’m really trying to record even the things which seem really stupid or don’t make any sense.

Beside the fact that Sidney recorded his first albums on a friend's tape recorder, this album has been recorded in a high-priced studio (Zippah), so that he would finish it fast instead of focusing on silly details for days like he usually does, since he's an experienced sound engineer. However the album includes very old recordings, such is "Blue in the Blackout", or a hidden track among the long lasting final silence "Danny's in the rye".
Some of the people who have helped in realisation of this album are Gregg Porter, Kimberlee Torres (who sings in his other band Torrez) and Nate Groth, but also it is interesting to notice how his familly is involved too. Besides, his brother Cayce, their mother Barbara does the cover art...

What did your mother think of the music? How has she encouraged this affinity in both you and your brother towards music?
I think my mother is very proud of me and likes the fact that I’m creating something. She’s a really great visual artist. You know, my brother and I were never encouraged about music in any way. I think we probably came upon it on our own. What my brother and I have always had was a strong feeling of ‘it’s us against them’ and we have shared in the creation of a lot of secret worlds – one of which is musical.

Most people would count The Quiet Life among their favourite songs off this album. There is a part of the lyric which goes "Something so permanent lately, has died in you, and I know you weren't made for this, working the devil's work for free"

What is the devil's work?
The idea that there is good work to be done is something I’ve always given belief to. The idea that, given the right compensation, one might deviate from the righteous path and do the work of evil is a common one. A deal with the devil and all that. I think a lot of us get led off the path without any compensation at all – we just think that’s what we have to do to survive.

Concerning the lyrics, in another interview, Sidney quotes William Burroughs when saying that "Words are a disease", and indeed he uses strong words that create altering mental images, which adds to his powerfull music in general.
There seems to be some symbolic mentioning of a piano in a few songs (most notable is the one in Dapper Dan "Buy a piano, if you get sad, play just the black keys...")

Do you own a piano?
No. But I used to play the piano a lot when I was a kid, long before I played the guitar. When I was attending a Quaker boarding school in upstate New York I used to sit in the big empty meeting room and play the saddest little symphonies using only the black keys because I knew they would work together. And sometimes a girl would come and sit on one of the many benches and weep. And I was so sad that year and it just felt like this was somehow connecting with that sad part in people.

When I'd lent "The shining example is lying on the floor" to a friend, he claimed it put him straight to sleep and couldn't focus on the songs. On the other hand, there are parts in lyrics which go "And die in your sleep" that tend to freak me out, and I don't fall asleep that easily with it...

How do you usually fall asleep?
I usually read just before bed. Then, when I’m actually falling asleep, I generally picture myself in some sort of underground fortress. It’s very well protected and hidden and I can see out but no one can see in. It used be a sort of tank or rolling fortress but now it’s usually just a really secure underground office.

Sidney actually lives in Sadness (Dolores, Colorado)...

What is it like where you live? Would you prefer living somewhere else?
Well, I’ve been living in Colorado since July. Before that I lived on the East Coast in Portsmouth, New Hampshire for seven years. I always feel like I should be moving on. I struggle with that. This part of Colorado, the “four corners region” they call it because nearby you can lie in four states – Arizona, Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico – all at once, is really cool. Huge sky and mountains and big desert vistas.

I live in Macedonia, miles, miles away...

What is your reaction to the fact that people in Macedonia listen to your music and fall asleep with your words?
I love it. I’m grateful for it and pleasantly surprised by it. I actually consciously made this record to be one that you could listen to while going to sleep. I used to do that all the time, every night, and it bothered me when a record would have some quiet songs and then have a really loud song. I wanted to make a record that you could really drift off too. I didn’t think that people so far away would be listening.

Beside the common comparison between his music, and the quiet moments of Sparklehorse, great musical influences for Sidney are Richard Buckner, Vic Chessnut, Leonard Cohen, Fleetwood Mac, Red House Painters…

What have you been listening to mostly in 2005?
It’s been a weird year for me in a lot of ways and certainly in the way I’ve listened to music. I haven’t had the usual thing I get where I find something and listen to it over and over as much lately. I usually get really into stuff and then I burn myself out on it. I do the same thing with food. And people.

And finally a question that every average Macedonian, sadly, is occupied with since the beginning of December...

How will you spend the New Year's Eve?
I’ll be doing my usual feeble attempt to join in celebration I’m sure.

Thank you for being so kind to do this interview!

If nothing better comes up, and if a friend agrees to make me company, you will be able to hear "The shining example is lying on the floor", on Kanal 103, in the NYE.

Lofidelica Top 10 Albums of 2005

10.Jeffrey&Jack Lewis-City&Eastern songs (Rough Trade)

I just felt I had to put Jeffrey in the list, even if it means to nudge out Sufjan Stevens, or Chad Vangaalen...His wit, charm and everything conquered my heart, unfortunately a bit too late to get any higher...
9.Stephen Malkmus-Face the truth (Matador)

This album was my number one in the very beginning of the summer. It is very playful, but also mature, kind of perfectly fits in the lofidelica Sundays...
8.Pernice Brothers-Discover a lovelier you (Ashmont)

"Snow" is probably a song I always play when Dj-ing. Other than that, the album works as a whole, there is some atmosphere-altering magic about it which I really like.
7.Hood-Outside Closer (Domino)

February/March/April somewhere around that period, I was really into Hood, electro-acoustic, whiny, and cold...The lyrics are brilliant. I was thinking between this, David Pajo's "Pajo" and Castanets' "First Light's Freeze"...
6.The Panics-Sleeps like a curse (LittleBIGman)

Makes me feel really good listening to it. Brilliant altogether.
5.Thanksgiving-The River (Hive Fidelity/Marriage)

Adrian definetly marked my 2005. At least in all of those (unsuccessful) attempts to get him to play here. His music is pure beauty. I quote: "He sounds like The Microphones (minus the drumming) vs. Will Oldham." Very young (19), talented and productive, I think he has released at least 3 albums this year, from which I chose "The river" as the best one.
4.Arizona Amp And Alternator-A.A.A.A (Thrill jockey)

This probably compensates for not being able to place M Ward's "Transistor Radio" in the top 10. Also a very important part of AAAA is Howe Gelb, whose amazing voice totally wooes me. The cowboy charm, different musical styles blend, and generally the whole fooling around among very very cool people, gets AAAA to number 4.
3.Bonnie 'Prince' Billy-Summer in the Southeast (Drag city)

The best Will Oldham songs in one place, and live! It reminds me of seeing him live in Italy, which was one increadible highlight of this year.
2.Smog-A river ain't too much to love (Drag city)

Each song here tells a story, listening to this album is like reading a book, or being alone with Bill Callahan, it's a very intimate experience, which I tend to set "on repeat".

1.Hotel Alexis-The shining example is lying on the floor (Broken sparrow)

Finally, Hotel Alexis. A background for most of the moments which made my year. To convert sounds into feelings is what I consider the biggest power of music. "The shining example is lying on the floor" makes me feel love.


*listen to
the quiet life
dapper dan
it's obvious now

note:this list will influence the final Kanal 103 list, of albums of the year, which I will eventually post.

18 december 2005

jeffrey&jack lewis::williamsburg will oldham horror::city&eastern songs::rough trade
karl blau::ode to ocean::sea saw::kelp!
brakes::heard about your band::give blood::rough trade
wolf parade::dear sons an daughters of hungry ghosts::apologies to queen mary::sub pop
chad vangaalen::somewhere i know there's nothing::infiniheart::sub pop
two gallants::some slender rest::what the toll tells::saddle creek
the decembrists::sixteen military wives::picaresque::5rc
phosphorescent::not a heel::aw come aw wry::misra
phosphorescent::dead heart::aw come aw wry::misra
bonnie'prince'billy::death to everyone::summer in the southeast::drag city
bonnie'prince'billy::a sucker's evening::summer in the southeast::drag city
beck::together we found misery::banjo story::unreleased
beck::you can be so careless::banjo story::unreleased
jeffrey&jack lewis::posters::city&eastern songs::rough trade
jeffrey&jack lewis::don't be upset::city&eastern songs::rough trade
cat power::hate::the greatest::matador
the panics::crack in the wall::crack in the wall ep::littleBIGman
jeffrey&jack lewis::anxiety attack::city&eastern songs::rough trade
sufjan stevens::chicago::illinois::asthmatic kitty
jeffrey&jack lewis::they always knew::city&eastern songs::rough trade
jeffrey&jack lewis::new old friends::city&eastern songs::rough trade
hood::winter 72::outside closer::domino
david pajo::let me bleed::pajo::drag city
jeffrey&jack lewis::moving::city&eastern songs::rough trade
jeffrey&jack lewis::art land::city&eastern songs::rough trade
jeffrey&jack lewis::williamsburg will oldham horror::city&eastern songs::rough trade

Jeffrey&Jack Lewis-City and Eastern songs (Rough Trade)

The cool lyrics are nothing new to be said about Jeffrey, so I'll just type out the lyrics of a song on this album I've been listening to on repeat..."Williamsburg Will Oldham Horror", you know, I've met WIll Oldham too, at a show in Italy...he asked me "So Sandra, what do you do in life?"...and that is where I went mute...:)...he was quite nice really, unlike with Jeff here...

Today I went to Major Matt's to remaster my old album
And on the L train in the morning, I was pretty sure I saw Will Oldham,
He was wearin' the same sunglasses he had on stage at the Bowery Ballroom
Had he come to walk among the Williamsburgers of his kingdom
And like the burghers of Calais will a sacrifice be demanded?
To offer up our dreams and beg for mercy empty-handed?
And hapless in our hipness crowed 5 to an appartment
Relegate our dreams to hobbies and deny our disappointment
Cause The Stones in '65 want total satisfaction, kid
But The Stones in '69 see grace in just getting what you need
But if that's a victory then I'd hate to see what I'd look like defeated
Cause I know there are those among us who seem to get their dreams unimpeded
Today I went to Major Matt's to remaster my old album
And on the L train in the morning, i was really sure i saw Will Oldham,
He was wearin' the same sunglasses he had on stage at the Bowery Ballroom
Had he come to walk among the Williamsburgers of his kingdom
And you might say now there's a guy who seems to have their world laid out before him
Or you might say, he's just a rich kid or a fascist or a charlatan
But either way you say it if you look at indie-rock culture you really can't ignore him
And even if at first dismissive, after some listens you'll enjoy him
I was thinking this on the L train, intend on buesting my own bubble
How long should an artist struggle before it isn't worth the hassle
And admit we aren't fit to be the one inside the castle
This quest for greatness or, at least hipness, just a scam
And too much trouble but then what makes on human being worthy of an easy ride
Born to be a natural artist you love or hate but can't deny
While us minions in our millions tumble into history's chasm
We might have a couple of laughs but we're still wastes of protoplasm
Today I was gonna waste some time and money to remaster some dumb old album
And on the L train in the morning, i was really sure I saw Will Oldham,
He was wearin' the same big sunglasses he had on stage at the Bowery Ballroom
Had he come to see the strife here in the gutters of his kingdom?
Where us noble starving artists are striving to feed our ego
Our mothers like our music our our friends come to our shows
And if our friends become successful, we'll consider them our foes
Go home to our 4 roomates after payin' big bucks for rockstars shows
What a nightmare! what a horror! i don't want no part of this
Get me off this crazy ride,
I'm gonna puke, I'm gonna piss! I'd rather kill myself,
I'd rather just relax or not exist
But you say you wanna do an e-mail interview? Oh what the heck, I can't resist!
"Hey, 'ma, guess what today, I did another magazine interview!
Honey, that's great, you're really famous!!" Yeah and I'm 27 too!
I kinda thought I was gonna grow up to do stuff that I'd benefit humanity
But it's getting harder to tell if this artist's life is even benefitting me
Cause I was gonna waste some time and money today to remaster some dumb old album
And on the L train in the morning, I was totally sure I saw Will Oldham,
He was wearin' the same big sunglasses he had on stage at the bowery ballroom
And since I was feeling in need of answers I just went right up and asked him, I said,
Will Bonnie Prince, Palace or whatever "What do you think about it?
Is it worth being an artist or an indie-rock star, or are you better off without it?"
Cause I mean maybe the world would be better if we were all just uncreative drones,
No dead child, hood dreams to haunt us, a decent job, a decent home,
And if we have some extra time we could do real things to promote peace,
Become scientists or history teachers or un-corrupt police at least,
"Come on Will, you gotta tell me!!" I grabbed and shook him by the arm,
The L train was leaning Bedford with 10,000 white 20 somethings crowed on
He opened his mouth to speak but it was lost in the rumbling of the weels
We were thrown together in a corner and I yelled "Tell me, man, for real!"
You're living comfortably, I assume, even if you're not quite a household name
You've reached a pretty high level of success & critical acclaim
The L train got to first avenue and a bunch of people piled out
I was starring into his sunglasses and I was really freakin' out i was like,
Steamboat Willie Bonnie Prince of all this shit, you're like the king of a certain genre
But even you must want to quit like if you hear a record by Bob Dylan or Neil Young or whatever
You must start thinkin' "People like me, but i won't be that good ever"
And I'm sure the thing is probably Dylan himself too stayed up some nights
Wishing he was as good as Ginsberg or Camus
And he was like "Dude, I'm such a faker, I'm just a clown who entertains
and these fools who pay for my crap, they just have pathetic punny brains
and Camus probably wished he was Milton too or whatever, you know what i'm sayin'?!"
So Will, will you be straight with me now that it's just us 2 on this train?
Cause I was gonna spend some time and money today to remaster some dumb old album
And I saw you here on the L train
And I was like "Hey, is that Will Oldham?" he must at least , have some perspective
Cause it's like, living in this town I get so confused & wound up & up tight
And I just don't know up from down
And then we'd reached the last stop and the subway was deserted
There was a long moment of silence and I let go of his shirt
I started to think that maybe I'd made some kind of big mistake
I tried to walk out onto the platform but by then it was too late
His sunglasses seemed to grow darker and still he hadn't even spoke
He just came right up behind me and put his hand around my throat
And threw me down onto the concrete and kicked my face in with his boot
And dragged me down onto the train tracks and tied my hands back with his coat
And I was slipping out of conciousness as he was slipping down my jeans
And he was punching me and humping me and I slipped off into a dream
So it might have just been a delusion
But I thought I heard him say something like "Artists are pussies"
Then he climbed back up and ran away
So I lay there in the darkness on the train tracks cold and broken
The hours passed and I thought,
Well... maybe I won't remaster that old album
And then I started thinking maybe it really hadn't been Will Oldham
Even though he did hold my arms and fucked me just like Will sings in "A sucker's evening"
But whether it was him or not I couldn't forget the words he'd spoken
"Artists are pussies", like we're wusses or we end up getting fucked
And other kinds of folks are dicks, tall, smart and strong
And born to fuck us up I know,
It sounds really sexist and stupid,
It's a terrible analogy but at that moment on the train tracks,
It made a lot of sense to me maybe it's just some kind of natural balance,
Like 2 types of mental gender that's gone on in all societies,
In one form or another like some dicks were born to conquer,
I probably would if I could but if i'm jut a pussy, that's okay
Cause in a few months maybe, I'll put out something good.

(thx ema)

this is punk for indie kids, that has some fiddle too, and sometimes even goes folky. Jack Lewis is Jeff's brother...Most of the reviews I try to write about any Jeff Lewis album are crap, since I'm a very passionate fan, so I'd rather not say anything really...Buy it!