What is Speed Dating?  Well on the Great Pumpkin that is where a bunch of singles get together, and hang out, but this time it’s mp3s, 7″s, and EPs rather than people.  Speed Dating is where I highlight some tracks that I have been listening to lately.  Whether I like them, hate them, am intrigued by them… no matter what I think they are note worthy for one reason or another. Each post will feature one to five songs by different bands, and aim to get my thoughts out on music that I have been trying to write about, but might not have formed a strong enough opinion to write a full post on. Hence I think that Speed Dating is an appropriate heading for these posts….brief thoughts on singles from my record player and the web.

CO. is from Charleston South Carolina, and first caught my attention earlier this year when I heard “Waiting for Saints to Arrive” on Somebody Come and Play.  That song again showed up on the Charleston 2009 Compilation Zine (which if you are wondering what is going on artistically in Charleston, SC right now email Kim (at) maltedmilk.org for availability of the zine…lots of good stuff on there…and some more of it will be showing up here on the Great Pumpkin).  “Waiting for Saints to Arrive” is a fuzzy stoner jam that brings me back to college in a very good way.  As bored college kids in the south this song feels very true to life, but then again I feel that it is an anthem for bored youth everywhere.  It really captures something important about life, and the first time I heard it remember rewinding the Somebody Come podcast to listen to it five times in a row.  Starting off with just an electric guitar and vocals for almost the first thirty seconds I almost didn’t expect the rest of the band to kick in, but when it does it goes from a minimalist to full blown 90’s influenced indie guitar rock.  It’s a song I find myself returning to now, even months after I initially heard it.

[mp3] CO.- “Waiting for Saints to Arrive”

CO. seems to be moving away from the fuzzy guitar pop in favor of more complex, almost classic rock driven, jams.  They have posted five tracks from their upcoming full length, The Shepherd’s Ocean, on their myspace (and a lot more) for your listening pleasure.

Sole is one of those artists that I can credit with turning me on to hip hop, but I unfortunately haven’t been following him that closely in recent years.  Bottles of Humans, Sole’s debut, is possibly my favorite hip hop album ever, but in recent years he picked up a backing band…the Skyrider Band.  As expected this new track has what I remember best about Sole…his lyrics.  This particular track was remixed by Tobacco of Black Moth Super Rainbow, and adds a touch that I didn’t expect to hear in a hip hop track, even with a live band…Tobacco successfully gives Sole a synthy psychedelic touch…not overwhelming, but enough to make the track unique and still let Sole shine.  Either way it was enough to make me seek out the EP, and check out the new full length.

[mp3] Sole & The Skyrider Band- “Battlefields (remixed by Tobacco)”

[full album download] Sole- Battlefields EP

buy releases by Sole here.

track via No Conclusion.

Big Troubles? The initial information about this group only pointed to good things…from Ridgewood, NJ…associated with Underwater Peoples…and now I read that they have a 7″ and an LP coming out on Olde English Spelling Bee, another 7″ on Blackburn, a split with Fluffy Lumbers scheduled for Transparent, and will also be on the Underwater Peeps Winter compilation.  Musically Big Troubles has a bit of the fuzzy beachy surfiness you would expect hailing from this New Jersey crew, but unlike the rest portrays an almost authentic 80’s vibe on the track “Freudian Slips.”  This track got me hooked, and so far Underwater Peeps and OESB can do no wrong…can’t wait to hear the LP…only good things can come from these guys.  Keep an eye on the record labels listed above for ordering info (and from the looks of it…I’ll be writing about some of these releases in the future).

[mp3] Big Troubles- “Freudian Slips”

Video: Big Troubles- “Freudian Slips” by Ray Concepcioñ

This is it for Speed Dating Vol. One, but I hope to have another edition up next week.  I’m really looking forward to this new segment on the Great Pumpkin, and I feel like I will be able to cover some bands that I have been meaning to talk about for a long time.  Cheers, Tom.

This is going to be a new feature (again irregular feature) here on the Great Pumpkin, and I think this edition is going to be one of the most unique from the series, and it is only the first.  When I find a unique cover song I will be posting it along with the original (if possible), and in this case both versions are unique, and wonderful.

The original version of “This Blackest Purse” was written and recorded by Why?, and was released on the album Eskimo Snow this year (actually recorded during the Alopecia sessions).  Why? is one of those artist that I know from the early days of Anticon (see below), and have occasionally caught part of his sets over the years (when playing with Islands or Mount Eerie) but haven’t followed his career that closely… no reason really either. “This Blackest Purse” is an experimental piano pop song, a little Ben Folds-esque, but definitely with the bizarre twists, and lyrics, that Why? is known for.

[mp3] Why?- “This Blackest Purse” (buy Eskimo Snow here)

Recently P4k posted a cover of this track that Karl Blau did, and while it is no surprise to see Blau doing cover songs… I was really intrigued by him covering Why?.  Blau’s contrasts Why?’s piano pop with mostly minimalist electronics, almost atmospheric,  rendition of the track (not unexpected):

[mp3] Karl Blau- “This Blackest Purse (Why? cover)”

I agree with p4k’s observation that what makes the cover unique is the difference in the delivery of the lyrics.  Why? is known for his out there lyrics, but Blau’s minimalistic rendition of the track really brings them down to a more human level, and rather than bizarre they come off slightly awkward with Blau’s soft spoken abnormal cadence.  Musically when hearing the tracks separately they seem very different, but if you play each section by section the notes of electronics almost match perfectly with Why?’s piano.  Blau’s  Overall I’m pretty impressed with both versions, and in the end Karl Blau probably just made me listen to Eskimo Snow.

While I’m talking about Blau and Why? I thought I would add some bonuses on to the post too (afterall it is Friday!).

Lots of people have been finding my blog searching for Karl Blau’s Baby Nettles, and I haven’t had a chance to post any of it here, and thought this is as good a time as any.  I present to you “Song For Kevin” a fuzzy distorted electronic slow grooving dance number that bridges into a heavy psych jam…something only Blau can do.

[mp3] Karl Blau- “Song for Kevin”

When ever I hear Why? I always think of one particular song, and that comes from Sole’s album titled Bottle Of Humans that came out on Anticon in 2000.  This happens to be one of my favorite hip hop albums of all time, and Why? collaborates with Sole on the track “Center City.”  For me this has always been a quintessential subway song.  When I first moved to the city I have fond memories of listening to this on the subway, and even memories of thinking about listening to this song on the subway far before I moved here.

[mp3] Sole ft. Why?- “Center City” (buy Bottle Of Humans here).

If you have a chance download it and listen to it on the subway this weekend…I would love to hear your feedback.

Links:

• more on Karl Blau here.
• buy albums by Karl Blau here.
• buy albums by Why?  here.
• buy albums by Sole  here.