The Scent of a Song

Above pic via loops3n

I’ve spent the last few weeks listening to a lot of music that I’m pretty familiar with. I haven’t been too inclined to listen to anything new, more or less focusing on albums that are comfortable and memorable. I’ve consciously made the decision to listen to some of the records or songs and others more or less just floated into my head.

That gets me to the point of this post, because most of the music I’ve been listening to recently literally drifted past me in the guise of various scents. I’ve always noticed this, but it’s never been so blatantly obvious as it’s been in the last couple of weeks. For example, you know those air fresheners shaped like little pine trees that you hang in your car to make it smell better? Well, the “new car” version of that freshener always reminds me of Fountain of Wayne’s 1996 self-titled debut, a record my girlfriend (at the time) introduced me to while said aroma lofted about.

[MP3]: Fountains of Wayne  ”Sink To The Bottom”
Fountains of Wayne; Atlantic, 1996

Fast forward eleven years later to present day and I’m walking down the street, the aroma of eggs frying on the street vendors’ griddle mixes with the faint smell of sewage, exhaust, brake dust, and humid stagnant air. It smells like New York in the summer (but I’m in Philly and it’s October, but still feels like summer), reminding me of my first days of work in early June and bringing to mind an album I was semi-obsessed with at the time, Eyedazzler 1992-1996 by Alison’s Halo.

[MP3]: Alison’s Halo  ”Slowbleed”
Eyedazzler 1992-1996; The Orchard, 1996

Even weirder, I took a trip to visit my parents in middle of nowhere Pennsylvania this weekend and went for a walk in the forest. The smell of freshly fallen leaves drifted up from the ground with every step and on the drive back to the city I have a strong desire to listen to Broadcast’s Tender Buttons. It’s a record that was on repeat two autumns ago and during trips to the country, songs from Tender Buttons were usually playing.

[MP3]: Broadcast  ”Corporeal”
Tender Buttons; Warp, 2005

Two of my best friends used to constantly smoke clove cigarettes. I caught the scent of a clove two weeks ago, instantly reminding me of my friends and Arcade Fire’s Funeral. I actually mentioned this to them and they agreed that cloves brought back memories of the same time period, the fall of 2004.

[MP3]: Arcade Fire  ”Neighborhood #2 (Laika)”
Funeral; Merge, 2004

While the associations I mentioned above were positive, I thought about what could spark a negative connection. If there’s “ruined music” (ie. music that brings back memories of pain and heartache), is it possible to have a ruined smell associated with that music? Possibly the perfume of a lost lover or smell of a lost loved one? Maybe I’m crazy and feeling nostalgic or something, but I don’t think so, there’s definitely something in the air.

The War | Ken Burns

Photo: Storming the beach at Normandy

For the past two weeks, from 8-10PM, I’ve been glued to my TV to experience the captivating series on The War from the documentary master, Ken Burns. Of course when I say The War, I mean WWII, since it was the last world war where many veterans are still alive. Most of us have family members that were veterans of the war and there are many stories to tell. 16 million Americans have gone through this war and today, the veterans are dying.

These are the reasons Burns took on this 15 hour series that took 4 years to make. The War is told through letters and present-day interviews, highlighting several small towns throughout the series to give us a personal perspective from the home front to the frontline. Add in numerous hours of live footage and thousands of pictures and you gain a real understanding of the war.

Check the PBS website for TV schedules in your area. I think our local PBS will be broadcasting 1 of the 7 episodes each week on Wednesday night.

On a lighter note, these modified military hand signal diagrams are pretty hilarious. Subtle, but brilliant.

Love Tears Me Apart | T-shirt and Podcast

I love this shirt from threadless that plays on Joy Division’s famous album, Unknown Pleasures. It made me think of someone I know right away. I think we can all relate to that message sometimes.

Speaking of heartbreaks, my favorite podcast had a great show a couple weeks back. Check out Ira Glass’ This American Life episode on breakups here, including the perfect breakup song and whether really sad music can actually make you feel better.

pic of the week — endless summer

With Labor Day just around the corner, it’s hard to believe that summer is already coming to an end. It went by with a blink of an eye – almost too fast. People will soon begin to say goodbye to their summer beach and lake-houses and return home; the last of the outdoor music shows will take place; beaches will close; and barbeques will be put away until warmer weather arrives. Before you know it most of us here on the East Coast will be bundled in sweaters, jackets, hats, and scarves and another summer will become nothing but a memory.

[MP3]: Fennesz  ”A Year In A Minute”
Endless Summer, Mego; 2001

Above pic via Travisatwork

Katrina Remembered

Tomorrow will mark 2 years since Katrina made landfall in New Orleans and devastated the city costing the lives of over 1,500 people. The tragedy has left an indelible mark in our minds of death, crime, heartache, and poor government response for what is now known as the Lost City of New Orleans. But many of us at home came to together and through non-profit organizations raised over $4 billion to date. In fact, that’s how FRICTION got started. The sole purpose of our very first show was to raise money for the victims of Katrina. All of the proceeds were donated to Oxfam America, which focuses on rural and urban poor victims.

So as we celebrate our two years of FRICTION we’ll be putting on not one but two shows for the momentous occasion. In remembering Katrina, we all have our own ways to reflect. I personally will be heading out to Socrates Sculpture Park to view Japanese sculptor Takashi Horisaki’s latex replicas of a NOLA shotgun house. I may also get one of these artful T-shirts like the one shown above from Dirty Coast, local NOLA designers. Pick one up and wear it to FRICTION to show your support!

[MP3]: Lil Wayne  ”Georgia Bush”

I’m A Minor Player In My Own Life Story

Power Suits, Corruption and Lies – NME article 25 July 1992; Tony Wilson photographed by Kevin Cummins

Soon after writing my post on Friday, I headed to upstate New York for a relaxing summer weekend. I left my worries behind along with most of my means of contact with the outside world: no internet access, no TV, and limited cell phone service. Just myself, some music, good friends, and nature. It was relieving and peaceful – a perfect weekend.

Being a slave to technology, one of the first things I did when I arrived home was checked my voicemail. The first two or three messages were your pretty standard “call me” type of voicemails and then I got to a message from one of my friends that said; “Yo, calling to see if you heard about Tony Wilson” I just shrugged it off and moved onto the next message; “Hey dude, sucks to hear about Tony Wilson.” I thought to myself “What the fuck is going on?” I immediately called said friend back and he told me the devastating news that Tony Wilson died from a heart attack due to complications of kidney cancer on Friday at age 57. I was completely shocked and saddened.

Tony Wilson was a personal inspiration to me as I’m sure he was to many others. From So It Goes to Factory Records to The Haçienda to In The City; countless labels, bands, DJs, managers, promoters, and clubs owe the man a great debt of gratitude. Not necessarily like the guy, but respect him.

I was recently questioning why I write for this site, promote bands, and put on shows. I didn’t really have an answer for myself or those who asked me, until this news rattled some things loose in my head. Like Wilson, I’m a true believer in independent music. He did it for the love of music, committed and passionate about his artists – always looking for a better way of doing things.

Innovator and inspiration, Tony Wilson, you will be missed. Rest in peace.

[MP3]: Joy Division  ”Atmosphere”
1988, FAC 213
[MP3]: New Order  ”Ceremony”
1981, FAC 33
[MP3]: Stockholm Monsters  ”National Pastime”
1984, FAC 107
[MP3]: Durutti Column  ”Sketch For Summer”
1979, FAC 14
[MP3]: Cabaret Voltaire  ”Yashar”
1983, FAC 82
[MP3]: A Certain Ratio  ”All Night Party”
1979, FAC 5

Poor Little Rich Kids

So Nashville has their own version of Misshapes called Fabric (apparently named after the club in London) and a photo site called Poor Little Rich Kids. It’s pretty much a direct copy of the Misshapes’ wall portraits. Nashville is a great town, but something’s a little off here. Not that I’m a fan of NYC or LA party pics, but it seems they’re the only ones that can pull it off because they’re young, dumb, and drugged up!