UnbunnySnow Tires ( Hidden Agenda ) 2004 "and in this life I have been blessed, with the star-crossed maps that kept me moving" Where I grew up, Snow Tires opener 'Casserole' could easily become the "national anthem". A tale of single-wides and everything that glorifies trailer-park living (while sometimes necessary) is a welcome, yet reality-checking, ode to the Miller 'High Life'. "I know your mom's got a half pack of cigarettes" states leader Jarid del Deo over a gentle mix of drums, feathery guitars and a blue piano. Unbunny rock - in the most compassionate, half-meaning of the term. 'Nightwalking', and the lone strummed acoustic that trails behind, is runner-up for the saddest poem put to song since Grandaddy's 'Aisle Seat 37-D'. It's songs such as 'Nightwalking' that remind you life is, and mostly will be, moments of isolation lumped in years - and when retold in such a gorgeous tone as Jarid del Deo possesses, there is beauty to the lonesomeness. Following the opening dreamlike chorus of a children's choir (thanks to the H.R. Donaghue School), we are treated to a true treasure by the name of 'FM'. A peaceful swirl of serene sounds, accompanied by one of the slowest guitar solos you may ever be graced with, lay the foundation for one of the most intense Unbunny tracks to date. "So put the needle on the number, tuned to the crash of tiny thunder. That's my station coming in through the night" whispers del Deo, leaving one to wishful thoughts that such a station could exist as the song trails off the radar as soon as it appeared. 'Pink Lemonade', and every second of it's laid back wonder, could easily pass for a lost track from Neil Young's Harvest-era. If listening means taking my kind word, consider yourself put to the challenge. Unbunny have quickly become one of the better "unknown" bands, all beginning (for me) with the masterpiece that is Black Strawberries (2002, Two-Ton Santa) [see below]. This band is so good, I feel pressured to collect you all in a small auditorium and expose you to the wonder that - thankfully - is Unbunny. Life is bettered by albums like 'Snow Tires' - and it's from the rare instance albums get this good that life remains "as is". Easily one of the best album's 2004 will see. kaleb.
08.06.04 |
UnbunnyBlack Strawberries (two-ton santa) 2002 Do you feel as though life treats you as if you were a waiting room magazine? Maybe you feel personal security is just a joke. My dearest of friends - Unbunny feel your pain. I write these thoughts far in the thickets of Virginia by latern-light in an attempt to escape the horrid state of "modern" music. My only possessions being a #2 pencil (mechanical) & notebook, matches, this lantern and a cassette walkman equipped with a tape of Unbunny's Black Strawberries & the Sparklehorse classic Good Morning Spider (both cleverly converted from the modern evil that is the compact disc). I am relaying messages to my loved ones via Mordecai, my faithful Standard-winged Nightjar. Should this particular message make it home - please make it's contents known to the public via my website. Black Strawberries begins with "in a way", a track that in itself is an early summer roadtrip anthem. The sound of a day beginning on all the right footings - and soaring to heights unthinkable by any other song who wishes to face it. Singer Jarid del Deo's wonderful voice staggers a thin line between Doug Martsch (circa - Keep it Like a Secret) and most certainly a Harvest-era Neil Young. This band has had a plan intact since 1996 - I certainly wish I had been informed much (heavy emphasis on much) earlier in this bands career. Most of the songs on Black Strawberries are accompanied by a minimal acoustic guitar, but there are those moments that break into full band play. "Let it all burn" is one of these numbers, with electronics and percussion - another winner here in the forest, it gets the deer all riled up as the swans faint. A brilliant horn even comes into play on "Freezing scene", that brings to mind the classic of the past many refer to as 'In the Aeroplane Over the Sea'. Not that every song being created nowadays with a trumpet or horn in general can match the allure of NMH, "Freezing scene" captures many of that albums magical elements. Chris Walla plays the piano on "glacier", and I believe he helped capture some of this albums mystique. While I'm here, either Chris has the "midas touch" or he only chooses to work with incredible talent - for everything I have heard that has his name on / in it is truly golden. I must return to my slumber - the lantern fuel can only last so long. One final thing: as the cracks that allow "modern" music to survive only grow wider and increase by multiples weekly, it is truly an enormous blessing to have a band as inspiring as Unbunny to keep me company. The insects say thanks. kaleb. 04.11.04 |
UnbunnyThe Willis Files ( -esque ) 1998-ish "When you reach for the stars you're gonna come down empty handed" Given the incredible amount of playtime Unbunny's Snow Tires and 2002's Black Strawberries have been getting around my place, I now begin to moonwalk backwards into what was the 20th century Unbunny. The Willis Files are - I believe - from 1998, though there are evil rumors (and what rumors aren't) that claim most of the Willis was written and recorded back in 1995 and released in cassette form - but mind you this music has been waiting and you should be damn ready to find it. For the most part these Files are Jarid del Deo and his acoustic, pre-band Unbunny at it's most loving, the heart replacing the brain as the thought-evoking organ of songwriting (yeah, you figure that last line out. .. ). At a few select points [see: 'Easy to be Me', 'Leather & Lace'] you may expect a cover of 'Gimme The Car'-era Violent Femmes to pop up somewhere - but del Deo can pen his own impressionable tales mind you. Within the span of just 2 songs [see: 'Transformer' & 'Invisible Boy'] you will be introduced to the Hulk, Superman, Captain America and Evil Knievel (the latter of whom del Deo is not "stronger than") - Daniel Johnston would be proud and possibly like to live inside these 2 songs alone. Fans of the current Unbunny menu (Black Strawberries, Snow Tires) will find the delicate strum of 'New Year's Eve' immediately recognizable, as any fan of Sparklehorse would appreciate it's beauty as well. Then there is the lighthearted caveman delivery of 'Dog Blood on Man' (sample lyric: "dog sees the bird / bird tries to run / bird starts to fly / man pulls out gun") complete with [I am not kidding you] a solid series of kazoo solos. Remember, anything you can do, Unbunny have already done - years ago. Don't give "it" up, just don't expect anyone to salute you for "it". Seek this one out (good luck finding it) after you have become comfortable with the current wonder of Unbunny - you deserve it. Now get on with yrself, the world is getting warm and we still need a honest leader. kaleb.
09.06.04 |
UNCUTThe Nonesuch Collection (Free with UNCUT March 2004 Issue) David Byrne - Glass, Concrete & Stone - David Byrne is Jesus, no matter what Mel Gibson says. How about a superduo of Stephin Merritt & David Byrne, Nonesuch? His new album has a track entitled "The Man Who Loved Beer". Sam Phillips - All Night - This almost makes me cry and I do not know why? Spooky & trance-like, well-worth a closer inspection of the artiste. Bill Frisell - Del Close - Dave Grisman? Nope, but smooth nonetheless. Randy Newman - Political Science - I doubt yr gonna see any Monsters, Toys or Bugs working to this tune, unless they're getting fried in a mushroom cloud of smoke. WAR - what is it good for? BOMBS!! This dude makes any situation sound acceptable. Even "Boom Paris". Gary Kerpel - Carnabailito - This belongs on an M2 commercial circa 2001. The one from India where the boy is peddling juice. You remember. Magnetic Fields - All I Want To Know - Stephin Merritt is Jesus, no matter what Mel Gibson says. How about a superduo of David Byrne & Stephin Merritt, Nonesuch? These tracks aren't all that "exclusive", this one is from the released Pieces Of April soundtrack. Ry Cooder & Manuel Galban - Drume Negrita - Mom, thanks for not naming me Ry or Manuel. This is an INCREDIBLE track. Dream a little dream of me.. . .... Youssou N'dour - Allah - The name alone says it all, I think my boy Zamfir is in the back toying with his flute. Another M2 commercial. Wilco - Handshake Drugs - UNRELEASED & ROUGH DEMO TRACK FROM THE AS-YET-TITLED FORTHCOMING ALBUM (I hear it's gonna be titled A Ghost is Born). If you are like 98% of the folks that own / heard / love Yankee Hotel Foxtrot - you understand the importance of this next album Wilco is going to push on the streets. This track sounds ridiculously like it was recorded during the YHF sessions .... . .. ... was it? So good. Laurie Anderson - Rhumba Club - Whether she is on Broadway talking of whales or calling "O' Superman", Laurie Anderson is the most underappreciated woman to ever belong in everyone's musical collection. Laurie Anderson owns. How about a supertrio of Stephin Merritt, Laurie Anderson & David Byrne, Nonesuch? Kronos Quartet - Lux Aeterna - Way too quiet for this listener - I think see the Titanic sinking. This actually appears in the film Requiem For A Dream. See: Heroin. Michael Gordon - Tinge - I think if FourTet got ahold of this track, it would be THE feel-good hit of the winter. I'm almost confused. This is wicked, 7 tracks of violins greatness piled on top of busted loops. I think I see James Bond smoking hard street-crack. Well-worth a closer inspection of this critter. Emmylou Harris - Strong Hand - Emmylou's soul is coated with gold & hand-selected diamonds, and this song confirms this statement. Dave Matthews does NOT appear on this cut, surprise. Viktor Krauss - Far From Enough - If my mother HAD named me Victor, I hope she would have made it with a K and not a C. Another track as smooth as an ice cold Woodchuck Granny Apple Cider. Joni Mitchell - Amelia - Very Blue. This is a telling of Amelia Earhart, who died almost 70 years ago. She flew a plane named "The Canary". On April 27, 1926 her life was to change forever...a phone call from Captain H.H. Railey asked.."how would you like to be the first woman to fly across the Atlantic?" DID YOU KNOW? - In 1961 it was thought that the bones of Amelia and Noonan had been found on Saipan but they turned out to be those of Saipan natives.
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