The Rock Blogger

“O man, take care!
What does the deep midnight declare?
“I was asleep—
From a deep dream I woke and swear:—
The world is deep,
Deeper than day had been aware.
Deep is its woe—
Joy—deeper yet than agony:
Woe implores: Go!
But all joy wants eternity—
Wants deep, wants deep eternity.”

-Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra

Dead Souls. Joy Division.

Fleet Foxes . Ragged Wood . 2008. Sub Pop. 5 stars .

Seattle’s Fleet Foxes offer a beautiful slice of Americana with their debut album, playing warm psychedelic folk songs full of glorious harmonies and earnest songwriting. While there may be some immediate comparisons to contemporaries My Morning Jacket and Band of Horses, Fleet Foxes expands on the rural sound with a more open and optimistic approach, crafting something that truly has an air of timelessness.

These songs are full, lush and exquisitely executed, centered on gracefully finger-picked guitars and Robin Pecknold’s stunning falsetto which is often supported by soothing harmonization from his band mates. The incorporation of banjos, pianos, flutes and even the mellotron also add to the sweeping drive of this record. Its not grand, epic or pretentious, but rather inviting and melodic, as these progressive elements help illuminate the sunny imagery conjured up by the serene vocals.

While I could go into detail describing each of these 11 excellent songs, I wouldn’t want to spoil any of the pleasant surprises within. I can tell you that this is as comforting as indie rock gets, and its natural-sounding rhythms are sincere and vigorous. This will easily be remembered as one of this summer’s most engaging albums, rivalling Panda Bear’s Person Pitch (2007) as one of the sunniest psychedelic works to grace this decade. Listen, Absorb, Explore.

The late, great Arthur C. Clarke hosts this surprisingly beautiful documentary that explores the discovery of fractal geometry and how a simple equation has allowed mathematicians to practically visualize infinity. Fractals challenge our conception of the universe and allows us to map out repeating patterns consistent in nature - from ferns and trees to the human nervous system and even the shape of galaxies.

The implications of fractal geometry are intense, touching on everything from Jungian psychology to Eastern spirituality. While the mathematical concepts discussed here are complex, they are shown through incredible psychedelic sequences accompanied by the celestial guitar work of Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour. This a trip well worth your time.

Part 1

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Another documentary from the BBC’s Human All Too Human series, The Road to Freedom follows the origins of Existentialism following WWII, the cult of personality that surrounded Jean Paul Sartre, and how his ideas have transformed modern conceptions of freedom and worldly responsibility. A revealing and challenging film to say the least. It will at the very least give you food for thought.

There will perpetual revolt. There are no excuses.

Part 1

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Sun Kil Moon. Tiny Cities . 2005. 4 stars .

After being floored by Sun Kil Moon’s latest album April , I was compelled to uncover more gems from Mark Kozelek’s career, finding this impressive collection of Modest Mouse covers. That’s right, Tiny Cities is entirely a covers album dedicated to the Midwest’s indie heroes, and Kozelek successfully takes their soul-searching songs and makes them his own.

At first, I approached this album with caution, questioning the wisdom of doing a covers album, despite already being a fan of Modest Mouse. To my pleasant surprise, Kozelek’s reinterpretations are both radically different from their source material without betraying the intelligence and insight of Isaac Brock’s lyrics. Kozelek turns away from Brock’s wild and often maniacal performance and instead plays his narratives through resigned acoustic passages. When filtered through the warm gauze of Kozelek’s voice, the gentle spirit of Modest Mouse is revealed with greater clarity, calling greater attention to the folksy demeanor and dusty memories that had once been hidden within.

With this approach, the more raw Mouse tunes, like "Tiny Cities Made of Ashes" and "Convenient Parking" are streamlined into short, beautiful displays of melancholy. Kolezek’s use of symphonic production also highlights the epic tones contained within "Space Travel is Boring", using Brock’s material to find darker pools of longing.

Tiny Cities , in short, is a fitting tribute to one of indie rock’s greatest acts, extending the lyrical majesty that has made them so significant. Even for those who have no knowledge of Modest Mouse’s material, this is a stunning example of Kozelek’s unique singing style and soothing instrumental work.

This Will Destroy You . This Will Destroy You. 2008. 3.5 stars

I finally got a hold of this after some early hype had surrounded its release in January. There was certainly a lot of internet chatter deriding TWDY as just another clone of Explosions in the Sky and other established post-rock groups, simply emulating their heartbreaking and minimalist guitar-driven epics.

But the more interesting criticisms, in my opinion, came from those expressing that this effort was made not to be revolutionary or individualist, but self-less and atmospheric, succumbing to seemingly natural musical rhythms and ambient structures. Mogwai and Mono didn’t invent picking styles and soft/loud dynamics did they? When you play something so emotionally revealing and lyrical, you almost forget about the band’s identity and scene, they’re just perfectly nameless.

Sometimes music doesn’t need to be technically advanced or unconventional to be remarkable, it just needs to move you. Also, I don’t think This Will Destroy You is a carbon-copy of EITS or Caspian, etc, I think they’re paying close attention to the more ambient guitar work from experimental bands like Labradford. Just listen to their Mi Media Naranja album as an example of how electronic drumming and effects can subtly used along with sparse, haunting guitar riffs.

There is great attention payed to the sounds of the drums, both live and digital, which is welcomed and interesting, but the melodies are never crafted with the same complexity. Give them time I say, and they will take a few needed detours in their sound, taking serpentine riffs and crescendos to some place new.

Even still, taken out of its historical context, the music itself is graceful, trippy and emotionally engaging. These qualities are amplified further by the ambient, celestial atmosphere that carries over this LP’s entirety. So post-rock fans, of everything from Slint, to Caspian, to EITS, you’ll find something to like in these guys.

Check out this beautiful video that was made to “A 3 Legged Workhorse”

Krohm . The Haunting Presence . 2007. 3 stars .

Seattle’s Krohm is another addition to the American black metal scene taking shape in the Pacific Northwest. Utilizing tremolo-fueled shoegaze riffs, this one man act creates dissonant and depressive tones to occupy the bleakest corners the genre. While much of The Haunting Presence is hardly groundbreaking, the compositions are given ample time to unfurl, drawing you into atmospheric and often melodic structures.

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