The Magnetic **yawn** Fields

For a long time, if you were to ask me who my favorite band was, I probably would have just said The Magnetic Fields. I love how they write quirky lyrics, experiment with a lot of styles, and have the talent to make the entire product sound flawless. Some of my favorite songs have been written by The Magnetic Fields, so it seemed easy enough to scoot them up to the status of Best Band Ever in my personal hall of fame.



Well, the band took a serious dive in the hall of fame after I saw them on concert this last Tuesday. Granted, I’m not sure exactly what I expected, and Rob and my friend who joined us both worried that the mellow band would be a total snooze on stage. I maintained faith however. I thought about how some mellow bands still find ways to be inventive on stage and engage their audience through their charisma and talent. Since this group has such a devoted fan base, I figured something would happen to make it fun.

Not so much.

They came out, stared down at their instruments, and played the songs identical to how they sound on CD. Sometimes the lead male singer and one of the female singers would banter a bit on stage, but I thought the deadpan reminisces were just dead. The band members seemed disconnected from the show, and I got the feeling they were bored and didn’t want to be there. At one point, someone from the crowd shouted out a song title during the encore, and in his baritone voice the lead male singer says, “We don’t interact with the audience.”



Funny, I thought a concert was for the audience to enjoy, not just a practice session for you or a big chore to cross off your to do list. Interaction between the band and the audience is half the fun! Otherwise, just stay at home at listen to the cd. Three of the five band members never spoke during the whole show: not to introduce themselves, not to say a few funny words, they were just blank. Hardly anyone laughed or even cracked a smile on stage. This is an indie-pop-rock concert, not a sermon! What a gaggle of curmudgeons!

I did read in an interview somewhere that they don't mind that their mellow concerts are sometimes more like book readings. What an insult to book readings! Just because it's a book reading doesn't mean it has to be dull; an author can still project personality and finesse.

On the plus side, they are incredibly talented at what they do. The fact that they can recreate the CD quality of many of their songs is really neat. It’s just unfortunate they couldn’t be a little more playful on stage. Do they take themselves that seriously?


Well, it would seem that The Decemberists just got a promotion. I am in adoration of their Hazards of Love album!

The Poetics of Music

Maybe it’s the liberal arts major in me, but I always feel a certain sense of exhilaration when either experiencing the artistic expression of others, or participating in my own expression. All this time re-researching the British Romantics (for grad school application essays) has really started my mind revolving around the redemptive imagination and the sublime!

I enjoy wandering around museums, galleries, and visiting fringe theaters, poetry readings, and music venues. My own expression is mainly in the form of writing, although I sometimes dabble in visual arts. However, I rarely share my creations publically. It always seems like I must gain some sort of “perfection” before I can display myself. However, this reluctance is something I am working to repair. Blogging is my first step, and I hope to continue along the path to becoming published and finding other ways to actively participate in the artistic expressions I find so interesting.

I get the most enthused when listening to music. Music can be a fusion of all artistic mediums not only blending harmonies and lyrics, but also incorporating video, animation, and other images. It is difficult for me to combine art forms, and especially difficult for me to create melodies. So music and mixed media displays are even more impressive for me, because their creation seems so mysterious. Sometimes limiting the artist to one medium for expression can be limiting, but when there is a fusion, so many different experiences can be created.

Art that is surprising and intriguing is what many artists strive for, I should think. I particularly enjoy when artists can unleash a sense of unexpectedness in their music: the lyrics don’t quite go with the narrative voice or the melody, or the subject matter is just unusual. The Decemberists have in particular caught my attention. The lead singer has a unique voice, and he blends unique subjects with unexpected diction and forms. For example, the ballad, The Mariner’s Revenge, is rich with interesting words, rhymes and images, and the rolling accordion lulls the listener into the madness of the mariner. Where do these unusual ideas spring from?

I also enjoy Don Mclearn’s music, and other traditional singer-song-writer tunes. When I find a song that I can relate to, particularly when I can personally identify with the lyrics, I am moved and deeply satisfied by the listening experience. Connecting with the lyrics of Crossroads helped me come to terms with some of the changes I was experiencing at the time I heard it. Sometimes it seems that the perfect song can find you at the perfect time, and it is a wonderful sensation. For me, finding a song to identify with helps me come to peace with whatever emotions I am struggling to understand.

It is imperative for most humans to strive to understand their world and themselves. Artistic expression can lend itself wonderfully, both creating, sharing, and experiencing creativity. It can help us connect to the world in a meaningful way, and can make it seem like a less lonely and hostile place.

The Decemberists

I've never written much about music, but I thought I'd give it a try with this blog. I normally have a penchant for something with intriguing lyrics and something a little unexpected. Whether it's the poignant lyrics, the pleasant melody, or the fusing of the two, songs with a few twists will grab me right away.

Lately, I've encountered The Decemberists, who have a pleasant blend of interesting lyrics and unexpected subjects. Leave it to me to be completely behind the times; they've apparently been popular for some time. In my defense, I heard about The Decemberists a few years ago, but dismissed them as a run of the mill emo-hipster band without even lending them an ear. Ghastly prejudice!

Anyways, the first song that caught my attention was The Mariner's Revenge. It was a modern epic with an unreliable narrator to boot! Oh, my potential graduate studies must find a way to incorporate this! I loved the sound, rhymes, and everything about it! Check out a ridiculous lego stop-motion video here.




Later, I was intrigued, but slightly horrified by The Rake's Song.



And finally, my deep love for them was cemented with the civil war love song, Yankee Bayonet. I love the tongue twisting lines, unexpected word order, peppy guitar melody, and bitter subject matter. The first few times I had the song on, I didn't pay attention to the lyrics at all; it just sounded like a regular indie guitar ballad. The lyrics are more tragic than the background music led me to initially believe.



Oh Valencia was one of their more popular songs. I love how he says he will burn the whole city down. Judging from the rest of the songs, I really think he means it!



Thank goodness for The Decemberists! They don't wimp out and give us the same half digested love ballads and winy songs about being winy. They explore unusual subject matters, blend the stories with un-ubiquitous melodies, and spin the stories in their songs with interesting twists of diction. I just downloaded a bunch of songs thanks to my trusty Zune pass and I'm on to Decemberist bliss!