Oh.. things are getting really weird here in this nest. *whimpers*
I've been enjoying an awesome cover of Hall & Oates Maneater on my satellite radio by Jana Hunter of Lower Dens that is so fucking awesome, I can't stand it.
The back up vocals mixed with Houston's Jana's breathy voice send shivers down into my nether regions. *bites everything and everyone*
Another holiday season. It's not something I enjoy, and in fact, find it pretty gruesome. Fairly certain there are numerous cantankerous and whiny blog posts about this on thee ole Crank The Shiny Tune but after a little cry session with my friend tonight, I figured out a way to deal.
I'm ok.. As long as we don't talk about the actual fucking day or anything to do with it. Not a word. Nothing about Norman Rockwell, decorations, traditions, white elephants, baking or whatever. I'm serious, not a fucking word. Ugh, so dramatic.
At any rate...bind yourself; and noooo festive talk. There's only one thing to do when you realize you're walking through a desert. Time to ration water, folks.
The Mary Onettes // Explosions // The Mary Onettes //
2007
Images: Kock Magazine I will miss trees, ornaments, caroling and dirty hot chocolate though.. Just saying.
I turned in my notice today at my job. It took several months, hours
and just as many edits to send an elongated and thoughtful message to
the powers that be today. Of course they overlooked the heart-felt sentiment I submitted and accused me of planning my departure for ages, wanting to know how long I've been contemplating my subterfuge.
Why am I still surprised and why do I
even care?? Guess what? The future starts now.
Alan Parsons Project // Eye In The Sky // Eye In The Sky // 1982
I am the eye in the sky
Looking at you
I can read your mind
I am the maker of rules
Dealing with fools I can cheat you blind
And I don't need to see any more
To know that I can read your mind, I can read your mind Don't leave false illusions behind
Don't cry 'cause I ain't changing my mind
So find another fool like before
'Cause I ain't gonna live anymore believing
Some of the lies while all of the signs are deceiving
I thought I would feel happy about today but I hate making anyone upset... so I'm stuck feeling both elated and gross. Cursed.
Too much deep sea diving can really fuck with the mind... the bends and all that. Time for a little frothy airy heaven.
This album is my new favorite. Intelligent, unassuming, peaceful, dreamy gaze... lovely sounds wash over everything. The perfect companion for a pretty stellar day.
It's been on my mind lately, the relay. One heartbreak becomes another which gives birth to yet another. Do you know what I mean? That which we once experienced becomes that which someone else in our future experiences. Terrible laughable irony... I'm sure the French or the Russians have a phrase for this. At any rate, in my own bumbling language... that which was becomes that which is and likely will become that which will be tomorrow Unbearable unfinished business.
Laughing wryly.... the state we live in; this existence we call home.
Just give me a second darling, to clear my head
Just put down those scissors baby
On this single bed
The sand in the hour glass is running low
I came through thunder, the cold, wind, the rain and the snow
To find you awake by your window sill
A sight for sore eyes, and a view to kill
I broke down in horror at you standing there
The glow from the moon shone through cracks in your hair
I shouted with passion "I love you so much"
But feeling my skin, it was cold to the touch
You whispered "where are you?"
I questioned your doubt
But soon realized you were talking to God now
You've got blood on your hands
And I know it's mine
I just need more time
So get off your low, let's dance like we used to!
But there's a light in the distance, waiting for me
I will wait for you
So get off your low, let's kiss like we used to
I looked in the mirror, but something was wrong
I saw you behind, but my reflection was gone
There was smoke in the fireplace as white as the snow
A voice beckoned gently "now it's time to go"
A requiem played, as you begged for forgiveness
"Don't touch me!" I screamed
I've got unfinished business
White Lies // Unfinished Business // To Lose My Life // 2009
Diving deep into the depths. Swimming in the currents amongst the ocean's voluptuous secrets; the varying waves whisper against our skins. Sometimes warm, sometimes arctic; an exploration like no other. One forgotten. No, not forgotten; one placed in the memories of the oceanographer. Old and frail, he spends his time categorizing the depths he once felt in a sunshine youth.
Remembering the careful and quiet coral curves, the delicately violent flip of a shark's fin, the watery effervescence of solitude, of togetherness. While marking the geographic undulations of hills, valleys, currents and oceanic life; there is a closing of the circle. A love that no one can understand; that no one can map. Not even the divers.
Salty, savory, sweet, coma-inducing. It's the day of thanks here in my neck of the woods and most people will douse their taste buds with these flavors. In lieu of caloric intake, a gluttony of aural treats will see me through. Hope you all enjoy.
The geniuses of Drape are at it again. Latest release is a delightful gem of 60's pop meets Kraftwerk-esque melodies with guitars. Can you hear it? Yum.
Drape // Round & Round // Relax/Relapse // October 2015
This track has everything I love. Dream pop and psychedelic drums all peppered with gazey guitars. I'll be gorging on their debut album later today.
Talk In Tongues // Still Don't Seem to Care // Alone With a Friend // April 2015
DIIV // How Long Have You Known? // Oshin // 2012
DIIV floated into town a few weeks ago (with No Joy and Sunflower Bean) and with any instrumentally heavy sounds, I lost myself in the music and lusty greed took over. The set seemed very short so like a true jerk, I alone clamored for more. Encore, encore. Always amazed at the blah-dom of show goers in this city. Zero passion or excitement; everyone is so dopey.. "Oh? It's over now? Oh... like ok... let's like go do stuff" and then they just anticlimactically shuffle out of the building. A collective wet noodle. Sooo booooring.
Their loss - I was in a lovely haze. Openers Sunflower Bean were a pleasant surprise. No frills. Guitar, bass and drum with a very compact organized sound. It'll be interesting to see how their latest release is received in February. Also, they played some tracks that bordered on divine cerebral gaze, which I hope will be on the new album. The track below is a teaser from the new album and not a personal favorite. It's a bit too accessible in comparison to the other tracks that grabbed me that night.
Sunflower Bean // Wall Watcher // Human Ceremony // February 2016
This ep really does it for me, in particular Somebody Call a Doctor,2013, Ok Mr. Man and Bread.
Sunflower Bean // Show Me Your Seven Secrets EP // January 2015
*Can anyone catch their influences? Some might scoff at direct flattery but I'm pretty excited about all the neo gaze happening at the moment; all the bright shiny whippersnappers discovering sounds and creating something from them. There are only so many times you can listen to Loveless, Souvlaki and others of the ilk. Think about the Russian czars...inbreeding begets hemophiliacs.
It's an elusive and attractive thing, the train metaphor. I bend to you and to you and to you. My inner self acquiesces.
Suede // Modern Boys // Sci-Fi Lullabies// 1997
Come unto me my sickly thing
We could lie on the rails
But to really win
We'll just drive away, drive away
All bad work days aside, this month marks two years since my lovely grandmother passed and seventeen years since my mother left. There are plenty of posts written here about grief, love and loss on this blog, feel free to rifle through them... Crank The Shiny Tune is no stranger to drama and emotion and she's said more than enough.
Tonight let's raise our glasses to the glory of Always. Whatever that means to you.
Everyone wants to be cool; it's a pointless exercise if you ask me. So many of the music snobs are content to box themselves into very specific genres. Let loose kids... you can't take cool with you when you die.
The Stranglers // Always The Sun // Dreamtime // 1986
Alvvays // Party Police // Alvvays // 2014 Don't have to leave You can just stay here with me
Erasure // Always // I Say, I Say, I Say // 1994
This wasn't chosen for comedy or irony; adore the lyrics and the video is pretty hilarious but also sad when you think about it. This is one of my favorite bands and I fiercely stand by my choice.
I'm still alive, clawing for the sky and emoting in typical dramatic Crank The Shiny Tune fashion.
Simple Minds // Alive & Kicking // Sons of Fascination/Sister Feelings Call // 1981
What you gonna do when things go wrong?
What you gonna do when it all cracks up?
What you gonna do when the Love burns down?
What you gonna do when the flames go up?
Who is gonna come and turn the tide?
What's it gonna take to make a dream survive?
Who's got the touch to calm the storm inside?
Who's gonna save you?
Incidentally, another misheard lyrics with this one. Instead of alive and kicking, I always thought it was I love to kick it. You know, because the lyrics aren't in the song title or anything. So, happy Wednesday - hope you're all kicking it real nice.
(Best said in a really thick southern drawl. Just search it online, there are lots of cringe-worthy examples to choose from). Image: Unknown, open sourced
Yesterday was shit. Today was even bigger shit. I liken it to a rainstorm of shit, an actual bacterial infested brown schmutz on my face, across all the hard work that I do. Everywhere is covered in this decomposing, slimy shit. I'm in a hail storm of this shit. This is my life right now and I'm a piss poor example of positivity.
Annie Lennox // Saddest Song // Bare // 2003
When I feel, I feel deep. Super deep. Feel free to ignore this post; I wish I could. Also, I think it's funny to say shit as many times as possible. Leave me alone, it's my one happy place right now.
Worst day. I will crawl into my bed, muzzle the monster voices and try to let the salty wetness on my cheeks lull me into a state of denial. Today did not happen.
If I said, I've lost my way Would you sympathize? I'm jumbled up Things are wrong, things are going wrong Don't know what I want anymore... Is this the blues I'm singing?
Echo and the Bunnymen // Rescue // Crocodiles // 1980
My Bloody Valentine // When You Sleep // Loveless // 1991
We've all been there, that moment we realize we've reached it. The Dreaded Crossroads. A place of unknowing, one made worse when it means you're responsible for others. Which way? What if you fuck it up? The slice between tendon and fascia... it's a bitch. Well, yeah, surgeons have nerves of steel for a reason.
If yoga has taught me anything (and it's taught me a lot), it's that at any moment one is uncertain, pissed off, confused, unbalanced, sad, raging or whatever; then that's a good time to go inward. But what does that fucking mean?! To the uninitiated, it means a lot. Certain poses create introverted emotions, certain breathing techniques do the same. When we go inside, we find protected spaces, boundaries, kindness, freedom.
Now is that time. Things are about to get real weird here in Crank The Shiny Tune's pants and mind; as if they haven't already. Internal for this loony means some deliciously beautiful, celestial and thoughtful tunes. No lyrics posted this time, just listen to the melodies and fucking breathe. Because for heaven's sake, we can all use a break.
But do please listen in order since there is a method to my madness, after all.
The Magnetic Fields // The Dreaming Moon // Get Lost // 1995
The Sundays // Joy // Reading, Writing, Arithmetic // 1990
Catch this uploaded video before it's gone. It's commercial free for those that can view it.
Cocteau Twins // Heaven or Las Vegas // Heaven or Las Vegas // 1990
This week and Monty Python's Black Knight have a lot in common. "Come back, I'll bite your legs off!"
So after two sleepless nights in a row, I'm gorging on my forbidden love and kryptonite for the second time in nine months. Iced coffee, that is. Look out Friday, trouble's coming and by trouble I mean me. Taking bets on when the crash occurs.
Until then... good feels for all.
ELO // Shine a Little Love // Discovery // 1979
I'm going crazy
Majical Cloudz // Downtown // Are You Alone? // October 2015
A rare photo of my actual life. Feast your eyes on some weird awkward poetry I made on my friend's fridge and that she actually kept. These phrases crack me up and I forgot about them until I saw them the other day. Today is a day dedicated to basic retro vagina music. Woman flowers, easy sausages and walking in fire. Listen in order.
Fiona Apple // Criminal // Tidal // 1996
Heaven help me
For the way I am
Save me from
These evil deeds
Before I get them done
I know tomorrow brings
The consequence at hand
But I keep living this day like
The next will never come
K's Choice // Not an Addict // Paradise in Me // 1996
The deeper you stick it in your vein
The deeper the thoughts, there's no more pain
I'm in heaven, I'm a god
I'm everywhere, I feel so hot
It's not a habit, it's cool, I feel alive
If you don't have it you're on the other side
I'm not an addict (maybe that's a lie)
It's over now, I'm cold, alone
I'm just a person on my own
Nothing means a thing to me
This version melts me because of the very subtle difference in lyrics (below). They morph the song in a very powerful and serpentine way. Patti Smith's version is soul shattering, because she's just a phenomenal human being and because she brings a tender, strong yet controlled passion to the Wild Call. You listen to it enough and you're undone. Natalie Merchant's version, with her characteristic warble, shifts the tone to one of uncertainty and beckons you further into something darker, more sinister. The whole dynamic changes. Listen to them both and see if you agree.
10,000 Maniacs // Because the Night // Bruce Springsteen & Patti Smith // 1978 by way of MTV Unplugged 1993
Take me now baby here as I am Pull me close, try and understand Desire is hunger is the fire I breathe Love is a banquet on which we feed Come on now try and understand The way I feel under your command (Patti's version "when I'm in your hands") Take my hand come undercover They can't hurt you now With love we sleep, with doubt the vicious circle turns, and burns Without you, I cannot live, forgive the yearning burning I believe it's hard, too real to feel, take me now (original version "touch me now")
I'm in utter awe I've never openly posted about M83 and The
Jesus and Mary Chain. Totally idiotic since I've loved them
ridiculously close for far too long. Closer than any lover. What I'm
discovering is that with this blog, with life; I hold things/songs/bands/ close to me, afraid to share.
Holding things close, like secrets, is bullshit. That ends now.
And I am flying
M83 // Run Into Flowers // Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts // 2003
Over there, and I want true love to grow
My Bloody Valentine // Sometimes // Loveless // 1991
I would shed my skin for you
The Jesus and Mary Chain // Happy When it Rains // Darklands // 1987
Misanthropy is real and with that in mind, I'm not winning any friends this week. But before all that, take a listen to the most beautiful track below. Everything Martin and Victoria of Gliss (bandcamp) create is perfection. Here, here and here
as well as their website plus many other instances on various soundtrack platforms on the interwebs as well as all those glorious analog fossils I've created that are floating around. Did I mention how much I LOVE LOVE LOVE them?? Get used to it. Your life is better with them.
This latest
solo track from the lovely Victoria is no exception and her video for her single Thieves of Love for her solo project GLCL WLLS is BREATHTAKING. I've been playing it everyday... like a petulant child hungry for more.
Ignore my rants but definitely run and support this; they're way more important, elegant and
lovely than what I have to say. If you must read on do so in full knowledge that it's completely separate from their amazingness.
GLCL WLLS// Thieves of Love // 2015
My mantra at the moment is FUCK IT ALL. Bad baby is back and she's got no time for any of you stupid idiots (present audience excluded, of course). Words expelled and overheard in the last seven days.
In response to someone I'm interacting with when they refused to tell me the name of a restaurant they were eating at besides, "a good one".
Me: It's a good thing you didn't tell me which one since I have a dismembered rabbit with your name on it.
Him: Did you bite the head off your vibrator in frustration?
Me: Yeah and shoved it up the anus of your rabbit for emphasis.
To
a staff member: "Listen here, little girl. You and your 24 years are
too young to tell me why you think my decisions are shit so take your illustrated life
chart and suck it."
Interrupting my boss when she said
there was a little bit of her in everyone: "But this isn't about you.
I'm not you. I'm me." at which her response was, "Calm down Crazy."
Overheard
in a grocery store, "Is he in therapy? He should be, he's soooo
sensitive. Like totally really sensitive. How do you EVEN deal?!". I may or may not have accidentally pushed back when she drunk fell against me.
In response to these new futuristic and bodacious headphones: As
futuristic as they may be, I prefer my ear shields and black curtains.
Sunglasses and headphones are my misanthropic way of saying, "Leave me [the fuck]
alone, World. This is my time and you're not [ever] welcome".
Update: As this post was being created, I received a call from my boss wherein we discussed for awhile today the situations that precipitated the above behavior. Turns out acting crazy actually gets you somewhere. Who fucking knew?
With that in mind, a lover I once knew and still adore epitomized a fabulous quote by Groucho Marx. I don’t care to belong to any club that will have me as a member"
My shadow, forever.. we live or die. Faris. This is something no one will understand and something I will never share. I would rather suppress everything, pretend it all and swallow my reality.
Jay Reatard // My Shadow // Blood Visions // 2006
Siouxsie & The Banshees // Slowdive // A Kiss in the Dreamhouse // 1982
O.M.D. // (Forever) Live or Die // The Pacific Age // 1986
I'm such a whiny asshole. Filming was fine and joy of joys, it's happening every week now. Maybe I'll develop Stockholm Syndrome and fall in love with my kidnapper.
Here's a tasty treat to make up for my shitty attitude. Enjoy with an actual treat. Booze, brownie or boner... kidnappee's choice.
Early tomorrow I have to be "camera ready" (as my boss demanded) to give a filmed biography of what I think about my job's subject to be used in marketing efforts and other american psycho endeavors. I'd rather not shower for days, roll around in manure or fecund bio-matter and scream at any onlookers in some sort of madwomen mystical tongued language than pander for the camera.
The whole time I just know I'll be inwardly screaming
Delta 5 while my eyes smile and lie. The lies not being the subject (which I actually have a profound love for) but
what the camera's filthy fingers are digging deeper into... that which is fucking mine and moreover, what transpires between me and my fellow humans.
Delta 5 // Mind Your Own Business // Now That You're Gone // 1979
And what does the camera see anyway? A disfigured soul searching for something
greater? Someone who connects with individuals every day on their journey to something whole and guides them along the way? No, cameras lie. It'll see exactly what they want it to see.
Not the truth.
Images: Unaccredited and open-sourced Unknown Contortionist 1940-1950s, Two Faced Composition Doll 1920s
Screeching halt; the mind is a fickle place. I'm consuming stories of women on solo journeys, across oceans, deserts, formidable landscapes that hurt the body and liberate the mind.
Tycho // Coastal Brake // Dive // 2011
The wanderlust is itching again except this time when I go, I want to be gone for good. Time to play chess with the Universe.
Tame Impala // Let it Happen // Currents // 2015 All this running around Trying to cover my shadow An ocean growing inside All the others seem shallow All this running around Bearing down on my shoulders I can't fight it much longer Something's trying to get out And it's never been closer
I've figured out this week that secrets are something worth keeping. Something to hold close. These experiences that we have.... we have to let them happen.
Baio // Sister of Pearl // 2015
This song perpetually breaks/haunts/ loves me. I tell no one, but
you. It's amazing. All you lovers of The Vampire Weekend, breathe
deeply because something has just hit your face and it's way better.
I've great love for Nick Cave and many other twisted and creepy thoughts. I'm told I've been too dark and need to be more sunshiny. This post is my attempt. How did I do?
We're beautiful outsiders. I'm over the moon that my most favorite lovely heart-stopping, throw myself on any stage or before any vehicle or sit in a room quietly absorbing the dull words of any historical muppet about the works of Butler and Anderson and how they came to be in the world and through the speakers of my most mundane life by being played on the actual... brace yourselves... the fucking R A D I O.
Suede // Outsiders // 2015
It's not real, right? I'm fucking swooning; never have actually heard a band I like, let alone LOVE on the fucking radio. (obviously an exaggeration, but you understand) This is a goddamn joke. I bow down to their guitar and vocals; like serpents around my throat, Bernard and Brett wrap themselves around those delectable melodies.
My adoration is ridiculous: here, here, here, here, here , here, here
the rest is buried in my analog collection, Suede and Catherine Wheel are everything.
My dearest friend told me about her dream of The Sea last month. She's the type that brings home finches the day I dream of them. We are intertwined. I've never shared this song with anyone but her until today; it's a dream I've had for the last twenty years.
