Mew?

Recently I came across Mew. First off, this has nothing to do with Pokemon. I was browsing for music and one artist name surprised me. The song title seemed randomly lame - Zookeeper's Boy. At first play I didn't pay much attention, but the next day, I decided to give it another play, still intrigued by the name Mew. Then I fell down the well. And I wasn't disappointed after loading a number of Mew songs on Grooveshark radio. Many artists only seem to be likable for their singles, but one way to look at Mew is that the band's biggest single lies in all the songs combined.

I researched, and Mew turned out to be a Danish quartet. Surprise there. If my life has anything to do with Denmark, it's only because I have key chain from my mom's visit there long ago. I guess now the only other thing is this band. If you're Danish, no offense.

I'm gonna cut to the chase.

Mew is an ambient band. Pop vocals join the guitars and drums in layers of distortion and reverb with other electronic effects here and there. All that doesn't really make it pop anymore. On their four studio albums from 1997 to 2005, a few of the songs stand out, while the rest provide background resonance, calming and hardly memorable. When hearing some of the tracks for the second or third time I would say “wait... I don't even remember this one.” The way they blend together, it's hard to pay attention but still satisfying. I've dared myself to see how long it takes for me to get tired of their music. After a few hours of listening in a single day, I needed a break. But coming back in a day or two, I could easily listen again. The songs on the whole are very shapeless and weightless – they just don't get old. Mew present that ambient sound going from dull to mellow to intense in a way most bands of the category don't.

Who makes it Mew? Jonas – vocals and guitar, Bo – guitar, Johan – bass (he had a newborn and left the group in 2005), Silas – drums. As the legend goes, their work began when the four childhood friends reunited in their late teens in the year 1994. “Mew” was taken from an English dictionary defined as the cry of a cat or a seagull.

Most Mew songs are in English, but you can tell the vocal difference from American bands; the accent may sound closer to U.K. Artists – no surprise. But this distant vocal quality is what makes Mew unique. The songs very much feel like a fantasy world, and as mysterious as its creatures are, we still relate. They're just innocent outsiders trying to reach out. Note, in a few songs Mew feature random female singers; you know it when you hear a voice that's ridiculously high to be male, even in Jonas's case.

If you listen to them and label them as a chick band – sure – they sound like one, Jonas's falsetto does that. Their videos and lyrics clearly target the female audience. Doesn't mean the music is not for guys. Mew is not some girl hype on the same turf with the Jonas Brothers. Like the Zohan's Paul Mitchell magazine in a drawer – Mew may be a secret channel for that sensitive side we all have. Or dudes, if not that, it could still get you a nice pick-up: “oh really? I love Mew too.”

As for their influences, sources mention My Bloody Valentine, the Pixies, Dinosaur Jr., Genesis, Prince... Guitarist Bo has mentioned the Red House Painters as his favorite band. After listening to a number of tracks by the Red House, I realized that, if you strip away all the decorations Mew puts up, the two often sound very much alike. And RHP is by no means a feminine band.

Mew has achieved recognition in the U.S. with their last album out, And the Glass Handed Kites. But they are coming out with a new album this June. And time will tell, it may be their biggest one yet.

This Is Steve’s Top 5 albums: (in no particular order)

It seems like other people were doing this one at a time, I’m doing them all together.

Desaparecidos - read music/speak Spanish (2002)

I only discovered this post hardcore album recently but it quickly blew my mind. It was released in 2002 after Conor Oberst returned to his home town of Omaha, Nebraska. He had already achieved success with bright eyes and created Desaparecidos as a side project. This.is.nothing.like.bright.eyes. Wow, driven by political and economical angst, the lyrics describe the twisted American dream, the commercialization of small town atmosphere, and the step on your neighbor to advance yourself mentality that had gripped Omaha. This album is loud and gets better with volume and time. I have listened to Read Music/Speak Spanish more than 20 times and it hasn’t gotten old, and I pray that it never does. Great songs are Mañana… and you know what… all of them. This is one of my favorite albums of all time, and all the songs are incredible. ... (but Mañana is omg need new pants good…)

The National – Boxer (2007)

I said that there was no order to this list. But I lied. This is my favorite of all time. Good lord. What I get excited about with music are songs that are never the same. You listen to them and they give you shivers, but in a different way than they did before. This is that album. I will say I didn’t go crazy over the national at first. But I came back to them after about a month and I guess something had stuck in my brain about all the songs. Boxer has the most intense, subtle lyrics that I have ever come across. It has the most intricate, simple melodies that I swear change and grow with ever listen. Backing up the melodies are the most brilliantly unique and catchy drum rhythms I have ever heard. The deep melancholy voice of Matt Berninger seems to mumble the words in a bored sort of way, but actually convey a sick desperation, and an apathetic depression. Lines like “another uninnocent elegant fall into the unmagnificent lives of adults” are just… wow… I have no words, just the shivers down my spine.

Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not (2006)

What can I say? I love the arctic monkeys. And this album is brilliant. Bloody brilliant. It is just so much fun. It has been one of my favourite (that’s right: favourite) albums for about 3 years. This is the first album from the indie rock band outta Sheffield England. I’m not even sure if you can call them indie rock anymore but I don’t really care. Their third album is due out this year and I cannot wait. The arctic monkeys aren’t afraid to take the simple catchy melodies and play them on the lead guitar in the upper octaves, very reminiscent of the strokes. This album offers incredible listenability, you can sing along with all the instruments in your head. Great stuff. Get it.

Why? – Alopecia (2008)

I am convinced that the best music in the world is just “meh” on the first listen. Like Boxer I only sorta like Alopecia at first. It is hip hop, kind of, but in a way that you have never ever heard before. This is another “lyrically brilliant album” with just awesome songs that again give me shivers. Sometimes you have to read the lyrics to really get what is being said (at least for me, I am terrible at understanding lyrics in any kind of song). But I really encourage doing this, it makes the album so much more enjoyable. Why? Has certainly learned and grown with each album better than the last. (elephant eyelash is also sweet). But ya, why? You have to just accept the “white rap” and not be too weirded out by lines like ___________. Ok I realized I better not say them, this blog is affiliated with OSU after all. We don’t want our funding cut. (XD what funding?) so. Crazy cool lyrics that you understand differently with every listen. And yes sometimes sad and disturbing. But these guys know what’s up.

The Airborne Toxic Event - The Airborne Toxic Event

Alright this last choice was tough it coulda gone to like 5 different albums. But I went with this one, for good reasons. The airborne toxic event released this album last summer and wow. I listened to it ALL THE TIME. This is a break up album, but I’m not sure how to say that and not turn you guys off to it. It is amazingly different than any other song/album/music about that subject. THIS IS REAL. Like holy crap. You listen to this and you just feel his pain. It is crazy intense. I seriously can’t listen to this anymore because of how much it hurts. (but that is probably from other reasons :/). You might ask “why put it in your top five if you can’t listen to it?”. BECAUSE IT IS JUST THAT AMAZING! THAT’S WHY! I’ve had the chance to see them twice. They opened for the fratellis in September (they played their entire album AS AN OPENER. good god I needed new pants), and they played at the basement on march 1^st. At the first show we actually talked to them for like 10 minutes beforehand, it was awesome. Apparently the chick went to OSU. But fun fact (read as “stealth brag”) I had the privilege to design the poster for their show this year, through a sweet design internship with promowest. I might do a future blog post about that.

Bill Callahan at Used Kids

Used Kids is a wonderful place to be on Mondays, especially when they have free in-store performances.

Bill Callahan (aka SMOG) stopped by Used Kids records on April 13 in order to promote his new album 'Sometimes I Wish I Were An Eagle.' Given the man's propensity for writing introspective folk music about birds and trees and the like, the intimate setting of Used Kids was a perfect location. The show itself started at 7:30, and Used Kids was packed with a fairly diverse crowd. The place was almost filled to the brim. A man from the Columbus Fire Department was there, ostensibly to shut down the concert. However, he brought a stack of LPs and an amp; everything was in place for Callahan to perform.

Callahan's reserved demeanor definitely fit the guerrilla gig well; there was not much banter between songs, other than a curt introduction, or a discussion of guitar tuning. He did manage to work in a dirty easter joke, though.

"What did the egg say to the pot of boiling water? It's gonna take me a while to get hard, I just got laid by this chick."

Used Kids:

A Positive Rage by The Hold Steady

The Hold Steady almost killed me two weeks ago when they released A Positive Rage, a live album recorded in 2007. The Hold Steady has a reputation for being a great live band, and this album is proof. Band Members Craig Finn, Tad Kubler, Galen Polivka, Franz Nicolay, and Bobby Drake put energy into their straightforward rock and roll. Despite being middle-age men who seemed to have jumped on the rock n’ roll train a little late in their life, these musicians know how to put on a show for their fans and newcomers to the band. Pulling from classic rock, a little bit of punk and a lot of bit from The Replacement’s style of alternative/punk/rock, the band is led by the ever literary Craig Finn, the bands vocalist and lyricist. Finn’s rambling lyrics often times are more spoken more than sung, but he “speaks” with such honesty and affirmation you can only believe the stories he is telling are true (not to mention he has great dance moves that would make any middle-age white male proud).

However, if you are looking for tracks from the band’s Stay Positive album, they’re not to be found as this was recorded before the album was released (though you do get to hear an early version of both “Ask Her For Adderall” and “Lord, I’m Discouraged”). The CD version of the album comes with a bonus DVD that has a behind the scenes look at the middle-age band. It is mostly mixed with performances and short interviews, nothing too exciting, but it brings you closer to the band that focuses on the inclusion of their fans. Also as an added bonus you get 5 bonus tracks left over from Stay Positive the band’s 2008 album. The five tracks are all classic Hold Steady. I would recommend to check out this release, or at least do yourself a favor and check out The Hold Steady.

Top Tracks:

Stuck Between Stations

The Swish

Chips Ahoy

You Can Make Him Like You

Killer Parties

Below is a live video of "Stuck Between Stations"

Events Info

MEISA Meetings are held every Tuesday at 7:30 in room 201 of the Aviation Building.

Looking for an internship and curious about the local music scene? Check out the expanding SoHud Music Collective here: http://sohudmusic.org/3.html

If you're interested in actual classes about the music industry, investigate the Music, Media, and Enterprise minor. New classes are being developed and offered each quarter; the program is constantly growing larger thanks to these cool guys.

Before the end of the quarter, make sure to check your attendance with Chissy, and to complete your street team requirement.  Invite all of your OSU Facebook friends to become fans of our Facebook page, save the screen shot, and e-mail it as a word document to Savannah at rezabek.5@buckeyemail.osu.edu.  Make sure to do this by this fall's last meeting on December 1st. 

Watch out for updates on projects and other opportunities!

Favorite Albums: Loveless

I figure a good way to start writing on this blog is to review some of our favorite albums...

Here's one...

My Bloody Valentine- Loveless

By pitting the two extremes of raw, towering noise, and sugar sweet melodies against each other, My Bloody Valentine manipulated the constraints of pop songwriting. They transformed fierce guitar squalls and churning hurricanes of distortion into cascading, ethereal melodies that cradle the listener in their arms before gently lulling them into bliss. MBV reinvented how noise and feedback could be used in a pop context. Layers of distorted guitars submerge the vocals on Loveless in a murky ocean of noise. They swim to the surface frequently, not as distinguishable lyrics, but as beautiful reverberating oohs. MBV used noise not only to add complexity to their pop melodies, but to elevate them, allowing the sound waves to sweep through speakers and surround the listener like a comforter of feedback. They had a following of contemporaries who based themselves on their sound, and their influence is still felt today throughout independent music. After Loveless, My Bloody Valentine never released another album, which almost feels right. Loveless is a perfect album. It's something timeless. Something groundbreaking in its experimentation, but something beautiful within the conventions of melody. It's something that will remain untarnished in its perfection, as long as kids still use pedals for their guitars.