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Styrofoam
nothing's lost

Apparently Death Cab for Cutie's Ben Gibbard can't get enough of working with electronic artists. After doing The Postal Service he co-wrote three songs for Styrofoam's (Belgian DJ Arne van Petegem) fourth album nothing's lost. Because The Postal Service was so good I decided I better check out Styrofoam. I am very happy that I did.

Nothing's Lost is 42 minutes of dreaming and floating. The real strength of the album is the seemlessness of the arrangements. Though there are different vocalists on almost each track, they are all similar enough that you don't even notice. More importantly, none of them try to steal the show. The vocals blend in so well that they became just another instrument in the mosaic of sound.

About half way through the record, Van Petegem reaches soaring altitude and never comes back down. He dips from the disco-love of Andrew Kenny's vocals on "Front to Back," down to the hypnotic "Safe + Broken" and back up again to the poppy "Anything."

This album is perfect for those times when you just want to check out of reality for a little while.

Iron & Wine
Woman King EP

Beautiful. Start to finish. This six song EP feels like a full album because every song is so incredibly good. Iron & Wine everything-man Sam Beane starts off with the haunting title track, a vision of a sword-wielding woman king and continues through the EP with the urgency of vigilante justice.

Things soften up for the pretty "Jezebel" and rainy-day "Gray Stables before the foot stomping, saloon rockin' "Freedom Hangs Like Heaven." It feels like the intro the old western, dusty dual about to take place outside the front door.

"My Lady's House" is the type of love song that makes your heart feel heavy and utterly worn out by the time it's over. No rest for the weary or for the lovelorn as Beane's last track is a battle hymn of dualing distorted guitars and angry violins.

Who needs an LP when you can say it all in six songs?

Sutherland Manifesto
Hover Low EP

The first official review of the new EP. Not very objective since it's by my good friend Pat Barnum, but hey, I'll take it!

Spencer! Your debut release!! Congratulations on getting it wrapped up. Sorry I've been so slow in responding on it. More than any comments I might have on the songs, I want to tell you I'm inspired by your focus/passion in making it all happen. You are a genuine artist!

My basic reaction was that while you showcase an impressive variety of musical genres, your sound is original. That's why I say you're a genuine artist: good art unconsciously gathers the best of what's preceded it, only to assert its own voice. I hope I don't sound too cheezy in saying that, but I really mean it. I sense that it is so easy, as far as the music scene goes, to imitate a prevalant sound, to latch onto what's working. But it requires discipline and some bravery to ignore it all, and sing your song. So there's my soapbox.

My favorite is "Record Store." Playful, bouncy, slick, all the while with the sendimental catchiness underneath. I love the Ace of Base ref. And the 20 dollar bill. The windows down, aimless drives, and the CD's that never let down--a sendiment that strikes a chord with me!

And "Airport Song!" Maybe it is my favorite. Two things: it has the most personal, meaning-filled touch of all the tunes, and it captures your unique ability to combine elements of techno and punk. Spencer, that is what makes you you! How many people can melt punk and techno into an appealing sound of their own? I don't know of many. They are rather opposing
genres, and that you can pull it off is impressive.

Yeah, techno is an interesting thing for me...Traditionally I am slightly antagonistic toward it yet on the other hand I've recently found myself quite intrigued with it, at least as a component of a wider sound. It's grown on me more since Radiohead incorporated it in a significant way (via Kid A and Amnesiac).

That said, I enjoyed "fly high, hover low (or is it just the unnamed title track?)" and "mad mad city." For me, techno does something to your mind as opposed to being conventional listening material. And I would describe the effect of "hover low" as being warm. And massaging. Techno is very interesting. I'm curious as to what inspired "mad city," or which particular city it may be. But it has nice, sleek sound to it.

Well, I think that about does it for me. What can I say, su-tang 3-thou, but great job? Seriously Spencer, I am happy you've able to finish everything up, and I'm sure it feels good to have the big job done. It was "the bomb-diggitty" indeed!!