Music Monday: Quarter Century

Today on this sunny 26th day of May in the year of our Lord Two Thousand and Eight, I turn 25 years old. What an occasion. I've never been one for much external emotion on my Birthday, I've only ever really written anything down a couple of times, but I've always felt the need to reflect on this day. I never reflect at the New Year. It doesn't make sense. Why would I reflect on an odd day in my personal history? It only seems right to reflect on the most personally historic day of your life. And what is more personally historic to you than the day you were born. It keeps things even and symmetrical, and Lord knows I love me a bit of symmetry. So here today as I sit and think about the past 25 years, I thought I'd treat myself and you to something special. A little aural treat that is comprised of exactly the type of stimulus my ears love on such a personally special day. There are a lot of bits here that make me happy, so hopefully they'll make you happy as well. And remember to wish John Wayne, Miles Davis, Levon Helm and Luca Toni a happy one as well.

Music Monday: Quarter Century

1. Jean Constantin - Prologue and The Police Van -- from the film The 400 Blows. One of my favorite film scores of all time for one of my favorite film director's most personal film. You may have heard this playing right before the emotional climax in last year's The Diving Bell and The Butterfly, but what you may not have known is that it was first from François Truffaut's masterpiece. One of my favorite birthdays thus far was when I spent my 23rd in Monaco, enjoying the ocean, the beach, the food, the people, the culture (and forming an exclusive Oceanographic Society). It was a joyfully relaxing day and this track perfectly encapsulates every emotion I felt on that very emotional day. Constantin captured the tender playfulness and heavy emotion of what it is like to age physically yet remain young at heart, a trait that I hope to carry on with me throughout the rest of my time.

2. Mellow - Instant Love -- from the 2001 release Another Mellow Spring. I first heard Mellow when they soundtracked what is one of my favorite films of all time, CQ (which I'll be posting about in the near future). Since that day, they have managed to become one of those bands that remains in the back of my mind for whenever I head into a record shop, so that I may remember their names in my quest to acquire every bit of audio recording they put their name to. This album is just as its and their name implies, just nice and mellow. It is one of the sweetest songs I've ever heard and continues to imbue in my life nothing but happiness.

3. Seu Jorge - Tive Razao -- from the 2004 album Cru. You probably better know Seu Jorge as Pelé dos Santos, the red-beanied, Bowie-covering, weapons expert, Brazilian aboard Steve Zissou's ship. Or you may know him as Knockout Ned from the disturbingly brilliant City of God. Either way, you should also know him as an unbelievably talented solo musician. He is one of the pioneers in the renewal of samba as a commercially and critically acclaimed movement in Brazil. This album is great, though I hear his first (titled Samba Esporte Fino or Carolina) is supposed to be great. I think you can find that on iTunes.

4. The Mountaineers - UK Theatre -- from the 2003 album Messy Century. I mentioned in one of my last Music Mondays that this song was one of my all time favorites and that I would soon include it. Well why not on my birthday list? I don't know why I find this song to be one of my favorites. I randomly found it about two or three months before I first visited the UK, and while I was there it became my theme for walking around London, to and from my classes, out and about. I must've listened to this song on repeat a hundred times, and it has yet to get old. That's how I know it'll stay a favorite.

5. Jean Constantin - Trinity and Finale -- again, from The 400 Blows. I can't say enough about this score, so I figured I'd round it out with a perfect ending. Truffaut and Constantin just hit it completely right with their collaboration and it's something that I'll never forget no matter how many birthdays go by.

Music Monday: Cloudless

Figure it's about time for another Music Monday... and why not actually have it come out on a Monday? It's all the more fun that way.

Big things have been afoot (and will be in the next month) here in Austin. Last week's debate was a pretty big talking point amongst nearly everyone here in town. My roommate's little brother actually had a front row seat after winning a ticket in the student lottery (1/100 chances, not bad), and another friend spent about 20 minutes waxing poetic with Chelsea Clinton at Guero's later that night (about hair no less - they've got the same type apparently). But that's neither here nor there in relation to this edition of Music Monday. I just thought you might like a little update from your friendly blue dot in Texas.

There was a post a couple weeks ago that was nothing but an exclamation about how absolutely beautiful it has been here lately, so this week's playlist is just a good summation of the vibrations felt as the the sun roof rolls back and you're able to smell the fresh water emanating throughout my fair city. This is why we put up with 100+ heat in the summer...

Music Monday: Cloudless

1. The Mountaineers - I Gotta Sing -- From the album Messy Century. The Mountaineers are a Welsh group that has just not had any luck commercially despite releasing critically solid records. I myself picked this album up out of the "trash bin" at my college radio station. After hearing one track I decided to keep it and a month later when I made my first trek to the UK, this album accompanied me and now represents the Scottish Highlands and sunny days. This is their only full length, they've got a few EP's that have received on par reviews, but after being dropped by their label in 03/04 due to restructuring they've been on a permanent hiatus. There is rumor of new material, but I think it's just fanboys like myself hoping that they'll release something more to bide our appetites. This is a great album on the whole, and it contains one of my favorite songs of all time - UK Theatre - to be utilized in a Music Monday playlist in the near future to be sure.

2. The Smiths - The Boy With The Thorn In His Side -- from The Queen Is Dead. Oh Moz, oh Marr, you'll never reunite despite however much we hope. Enough has surely been said about The Smiths. I have only become a fan within the past year or so, but that's not to say I haven't just taken ahold with a clenched jaw. Morrissey definitely has a penchant for slightly morbid, somber lyrics, but coupled with Marr's uplifting arrangements these songs sound eerily uplifting. This is an eyes-closed-face-up-basking-in-the-sun track for this Spring.

3. The Thrills - Restaurant -- from Teenager. I said I'd make use of this album months ago, yet I never did, until now. The Thrills, despite however much they may or may not try, will never cease to be a band that makes music for the summer. They didn't help matters from the beginning by coming out with a sound that was nothing but The Beach Boys. Their second release, Let's Bottle Bohemia, was a little darker and harder, but still... think of the Beach Boys with a slight attitude. Now on Teenager they've seemed to have accepted who they are, they are comfortable with that and have opened up the sound they so instinctively (and near perfectly) arrange. Utter Happiness.

4. Coconut Records - Summer Day -- from Nighttiming. Jason Schwartzman and Zooey Deschanel. Coconut Records is his solo moniker and she's helping on a few tracks. It's sweet and it's simple. She's got an amazingly soft voice that works perfectly. He sounds like he's still in Phantom Planet, but hey when he was in Phantom Planet, they weren't too bad. Pop, but not bad, perfect for a.... Summer Day.

5. Albert Hammond, Jr. - Well... All Right -- this is from an odd little B-side record I picked up somewhere, I have no idea where though. It's easy and melodic, and very apparent where a lot of that early Strokes sound came from (they've evolved a bit). I love The Strokes, therefore I love Hammond's work. His, Yours To Keep, was another great Spring/Summer album and I hear he's got another one on the way, since The Strokes seem to be on a permanent hiatus themselves (goddamn hip people).

Thus concludes Cloudless. Have a great time with this one, that what it's purpose is. Roll down your windows and breathe in that fresh air... if you've got it. I apologize if you don't have amazing weather right now... just imagine if you did though. Don't worry, Global Warming will hit soon enough and we'll all have a permanent summer to enjoy. YAY!