1 Million Days of

Frank Sinatra - In the Wee Small Hours (1955)

First up, Frank Sinatra’s In the Wee Small Hours, released in 1955.

This album is documented as one of the first concept albums: a concept of a broken heart. Frank recorded this after his breakup with Ava Gardner. Hey, Frank- I’d be quite bummed, myself. Just look at her.

Anyway…

Right, the task.

I can’t remember a time in my life I didn’t know who Frank Sinatra was, or wasn’t able to pick out his voice. It’s kinda like The Beatles/The Featles. You’re out of the womb singing Beatles songs. Frank Sinatra also happens to be my grandmother’s favorite person to have ever lived, and that’s including Ted Kennedy (I love you, Grandma). Point is, I’m familiar with the guy. However, I have never ventured outside of the many brilliant and overplayed/overused standards he recorded. I have one other Sinatra album, and that’s The Best of the Capitol Years. So, I’m very intrigued to listen to this concept album of his.

…

Halfway through the album, it certainly is somber. A bit one-note, I’d say. Though, it IS a concept album! Not a very subliminal one, mind, but conceptual nonetheless. It’s no doubt he has an exquisite voice. The music is beautifully arranged. Frank Sinatra is someone whose legacy and talents I can appreciate, despite not being my cup of tea, per se. I’m glad I arsed myself into listening to this album.

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die

I’ve decided to take on an incredible and impractical feat. I am going to take on Cassell Illustrated’s celebrated list of albums “you must hear before you die”, starting from the very first of 1955 (Frank Sinatra’s In the Wee Small Hours) to the very last of 2005 (The White Stripes’ Get Behind Me Satan).

Judging by the activity of this here blog already, I don’t foresee this a successful endeavour. But it’s certainly something to keep me occupied during those wee small hours of morning.

Deep breath. Annnnnnnnnnd…… GO!

Wild Beasts

I’ve started following a music blog called Song, by Toad. It was there that I discovered Wild Beasts.

Over the past few years I’ve basically given up on new music. It all sounds the same to me, and like a friend said today, it’s no good if it produces zero passion. Even if you absolutely hated the thing, it still stimulated a passionate response. My feelings of today’s new music is that of rice pudding. It’s not unbearable, yet is certainly not my first choice. I could take it or leave it. Part of what frustrates me most is my inability to connect with such a large amount of music. I consider myself first and foremost a music lover. I’m not really talented in creating it, or analyzing it, but I absolutely love listening to it (and pretending to understand the schematics and technical skill).

So! Onto my point!

Wild Beasts’ 2009 album, Two Dancers, grabbed me right away. The music itself is atmospheric, yet here’s the thing: they give the music space and room to breathe. Let me reiterate; a good pop song is like a good walking shoe. There are holes in which your foot can breathe and absorb air. That’s about as far as I’m gonna go with that. One will either completely understand, or think me an eccentric twit.

The percussive elements are interesting and familiar (in a retro sort of way), and in such a way that seems new and exciting because of the ginormous lack of it in modern pop music.

The singer I would describe as a cross between Kate Bush, Klaus Nomi, and Antony Hegarty. A sort of crooner and vocal gymnast at once.

I’ve read comparisons to Interpol and possibly Vampire Weekend, however I don’t necessarily agree. Frighteningly, Wild Beasts sounds like nothing else before it. And yet they conjure up feelings of what I love about 80s (and some early 90s) pop music most. So I’ve created an oxymoronic comparison with nonsensical metaphors to confuse even myself. All I can say now is, please give Wild Beasts a listen. It might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I still think they’re worth some time.

Wild Beasts - The Fun Powder Plot

Wild Beasts - All the King’s Men

Wild Beasts - Two Dancers

-J