October 1, 2009

It’s a dead man’s party (who could ask for more?)

dead-mans-bones

Today is somehow already October, and I’m suddenly in a fairly spooky mood, or at least the kind of mood that lets me appreciate songs about zombies and being alone in the dark at night. I’d heard of but not listened to California’s Dead Man’s Bones until today, but when I read that it is a project between actor Ryan Gosling, Zach Shields, and the Silverlake Conservatory of Music Children’s Choir, I clicked the play arrow immediately.

There are a few things I am a sucker for, and any sort of choir in a song (preferably gospel or children’s, but gay men’s choirs and the elderly are also accepted) will get me almost every time. In addition to this, I will admit to a deeply heartfelt affinity for Gosling and his Notebook glory (he made her a studio!). In fact, if I can finish packing soon for my for California jaunt (college roommate getting married this weekend!), I just might plunk myself on the couch to celebrate what Gosling has added to my Hallow-month.

The idea sounds ridiculous, but there is a vivacity and quirky doo-wop joy on these tracks that can perk up your ears any time, not just in the weeks around Halloween. It’s got a little Murder By Death gothic current, mixed with the chaos of your favorite large Canadian collective, and some playground claps and yells just to get your blood flowing. As Chad wrote to first grab my ear, “I’m not going to stop talking about how much I love this song until all of you start paying it some serious attention … it’s Ryan Gosling and a kids’ choir singing pop songs all together about monsters and whatnot and it still doesn’t suck. In fact, it’s brilliant.”

…and I’m already singing along.

My Body’s A Zombie For You – Dead Man’s Bones



The full Dead Man’s Bones album is streaming now on MySpace, and is out Tuesday on Anti- Records.

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Bio Pic Name: Heather Browne
Location: Colorado, originally by way of California
Giving context to the torrent since 2005.

"I love the relationship that anyone has with music: because there's something in us that is beyond the reach of words, something that eludes and defies our best attempts to spit it out. It's the best part of us, probably, the richest and strangest part..."
—Nick Hornby, Songbook
"Music has always been a matter of energy to me, a question of Fuel. Sentimental people call it Inspiration, but what they really mean is Fuel."
—Hunter S. Thompson

Mp3s are for sampling purposes, kinda like when they give you the cheese cube at Costco, knowing that you'll often go home with having bought the whole 7 lb. spiced Brie log. They are left up for a limited time. If you LIKE the music, go and support these artists, buy their schwag, go to their concerts, purchase their CDs/records and tell all your friends. Rock on.

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