Radio Free Chicago

The 74-Play Challenge: The Good Life's "Inmates"

I remember the first time I heard The Good Life's Album of the Year, and each time I return to it after an absence the blurry memories return. Kenneth* and I were on a drive, and he told me he had a new album that he was sure I would love. Our time together was often filled with him presenting a new piece of music (whether by someone else or of his own creation) that would cause me to become more impassioned and further idealize him. From the moment “Album of the Year” came on, I was no less than under the spell of Tim Kasher. Cursive’s music was violent and powerful, but I had never heard his voice gently crooning against an acoustic backdrop before. We stopped talking altogether when “Inmates” came on. I was so moved by it I wept, and he kept his hand on my thigh the whole nine minutes.

Writer’s note: *name changed, because dude probably wouldn’t appreciate that.

 

 

 

Play One: The Good Life does an excellent job of letting not just the lyrics but also the music take the listener on their emotional rollercoaster in this song. It starts softly and naked, gaining volumes as the deceptions are unraveled. The lyrics become more wry and resistant, and the echoing accompaniment helps to build tension underneath the main melodic line (can you tell I’m currently taking Music Appreciation?). By the time Kasher’s voice enters around four minutes, you’re just waiting for things to blow up, and that tension is answered with loud, throbbing guitar and suggestions of how to get the hell out of town around five minutes in. From there, the next four minutes are alternating states of elevated passion and quiet contemplation. Bring on the mixed feelings of self-loathing and self-empowerment. I’m ready.

The Good Life - Inmates

The 74-Play Challenge: Shearwater's "Rooks"

I make no secret of the fact that Okkervil River  is my favorite band. In fact, I make no secret of the fact that I harbor what borders on an "unhealthy obsession" with Will Sheff and his Austin multi-instrumentalists. Given this information, it's only natural that  Shearwater holds a special place in my heart. Shearwater, formed alongside Okkervil River by Sheff and Jonathan Meiburg, eventually parted ways with Okkervil River (Although Meiburg is very much still a part of both bands, as evidenced on Okkervil River's latest release, Mermaid) to concentrate mainly on Shearwater. The bands are very much siblings and given the fact that there's not a single ounce of bad blood between Sheff and Meiburg, it makes it almost blasphemy to adore one of the bands and not the other.

Okkervil River has always, since my discovery of them five plus years ago, held the top spot in my heart. In recent months, however, I've delved into Shearwater's discography with a fervor that has lead to my love of Meiburg growing exponentially - Something that I didn't think was possible given the extreme, uh, lady-boner for Meiburg that I've harbored since I first saw pictures of him alongside Sheff in press photos for the masterpiece that was Okkervil River's Black Sheep Boy.

It was a Wednesday in February when how much I loved Shearwater finally hit me - My favorite part of the new Okkervil River b-side, "Walked Out On A Line"? Meiburg's inclusion. The records I'd been listening to most while lounging about or working in the kitchen? Shearwater's. In fact, the desire to hear Meiburg's powerful, otherworldly vocals had been growing inside of me for some time and so it was that I decided to embark upon another 74-Play Challenge, with my favorite Shearwater song, "Rooks".

Shearwater - Rooks

Listen One: I've probably listened to "Rooks" upwards of a thousand times since it's 2008 release. I remember the first time I heard it, being relatively unfamiliar with Shearwater as a band outside of it's Okkervil River connection. I had purchased Rook off Matador's website and gotten the record in the mail. I was in no rush to listen to it but I couldn't sleep that night so I decided to lay on my living room floor and listen to the band's latest offering. What I knew of their past work gave me the impression that the disc would lull me to sleep. With opening track "On The Death Of The Waters", that notion was dispelled but it was "Rooks" that made it certain I would get no sleep that night. "Rooks" opens with a guitar subtle and intricate, so haunting that it's impossible to ignore. Meiburg's voice, an instrument in and of itself, is at it's best here, perfectly conveying the mortality so deftly described in his lyrics. By the time Scott Brackett's crystalline trumpet comes in for the songs coup de gras, "Rooks" has woven a dark and lovely web around you. I listened to "Rooks" a number of times that night and nearly three years later, still often play it for people I've just met, as they have to hear that song, they just have to. I can't imagine a song I could stomach better 74 times in a row than this.

The 74-Play Challenge: Ben Collins - "Black Stairs"

Ben Collins’ three-song Ghost Stories EP is one of the best new things I’ve heard in recent memory. That is, the dashing young guitarist for RFC darlings Lightning Love and contributing impetus for Gun Lake (who is most regularly seen with The Hounds Below, fronted by former Von Bondie Jason Stollsteimer). In other words, dude is a bona fide champ.

In one of the more riskier moves of my lifetime, I’d decided to put “Black Stairs,” my favorite song from the album, to the Archie Powell-inspired 74-Play Challenge. It’s risky because, well, it stands to turn my affection for the tune into abject loathing. I hate to think it’s possible, but just the idea it could be makes me apprehensive about even doing this.

But I will, because I have faith that, even through ups and downs, greatness will prevail; the greatness that is Collins’ songwriting. If I didn’t have faith, I wouldn’t even put it to the test, because the last thing I want to do is hate this amazing piece of audible artwork. This isn’t really so much a test or a challenge so much as it is an exercise in proof that this song lives up to my hype.

Ben Collins - Black Stairs

Listen One: I chose this song because, as I told Collins himself, it’s one of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever heard. His voice is gorgeous, and it cracks a little here and there which just goes along beautifully with the acoustic guitar. It’s the melody, really, that gets me. He sings a pattern of notes that is unique and complementary. “So run run, run run, you’re a moving target, you’re easy and you’re fun. Hey hey, these days you’re a wreck.” Apparently it’s a ghost story, but it speaks to me in a different way that I can’t put my finger on. Maybe what it’s saying is, “Hey, that Collins is one hot piece, and feel free to objectify him as long as you also recognize his immense talent. But swoon away. Swoon swoon swoon like you’ve never swooned before.” Don’t mind if I do, ghost story. Don’t mind if I do.

(Editor's Note: Amber Valentine fully endorses the above swooning.)

The 74-Play Challenge: The Rural Alberta Advantage "Drain The Blood"

It started with a joke. It seems that RFC darling and all around gnarly dude, Archie Powell, he of "& The Exports", listened to "Teenage Dream" by Katy Perry a ridiculous 74 times in a row whilst he and his Exports were on the way to a show in Missouri. Inspired by this, I stated to Powell via "the facebook" that I was so inspired by his listening of "Teenage Dream" that next time I went on the road, I was going to "pull a Powell" and listen to Wheatus's "Teenage Dirtbag" 74 times in a row.

That's when Abby stepped in, saying this actually was a legitimately good idea and would make for some interesting articles.

Thus, the 74-Play Challenge was born.

I was tempted to stick with my original idea, playing "Teenage Dirtbag" en route to a show one day, documenting people's reactions, quips, and desperate pleas to "change the song, for the love of god, can we please just change the song" but to be honest, I didn't want to wait. And on the evening on Festivus, December 23rd, I decided to embark on my first 74-Play Challenge, with The Rural Alberta Advantage's "Drain The Blood".

This is what happened that day.

The Rural Alberta Advantage - Drain The Blood