Whatever it is, I've chased it for the better part of 3 decades and looked for it in very different musical places as my outer ego changed its mind. But I've always taken pride in recognizing it quickly. If I felt "that way" about an album it would invariably spider into the lives of friends, linger for months, become part of a time, and forever invoke a feeling.
These are what I go digging for in new releases. They're the reason I still buy albums. "Right now" always needs a soundtrack.
Huh. How about that. Kick ass. Right? Wait until you hear it.
Brimming with a dose of vintage color that seeped from the CD jacket into my speakers, AM's latest album has become my latest measure of cool. Loping across an eleven track shimmering landscape each song echoes a very specific moment in time that we all recognize and you'd know even if the music had arrived naked of its work-of-art-in-of-itself album cover.
What's always made music beautiful to me is its almost unfathomable ability to tell my story, speak my mind, cry my tears, and bob my head. Lately it's felt like my mid 30's has become the first rewarding deep breath that hints at settling in for a long run. If my teenage years brought blind optimism and my 20's & early 30's decided who I would be, the last year sees me stretching my legs with purpose before cautiously attacking and eventually yawning at the latest late night.
It's not that life is over, or even somewhere dangling hopelessly in the middle. There's just a delicate balance brought on by years of running in circles and the comfort in being able to stand still, say nothing, recognize what works, and quietly own the moment. Even though you're more prepared to say everything than you've ever been.
And in all that are moments of fear, comfort, uncertainty, loss, peace, hope, and a (way more often than when you're young) sense of cool. And you know just how to wear it. In a fuck yeah sort of way.
Somewhere in the midst of this complex pause you look around and realize IT is all a lot of things, but gratefully "Not too damn bad. Not too damn bad, at all." is one of them.
You may be wondering where I'm going with all this. But you didn't really need to know that I also picked up AM's debut album and can't believe how much he's grown as an artist to produce this just a few years later. Or that I think the first two tracks try on the moment somewhat uncertainly but the last nine wear it like a velvet suit that won't quit. You just need to know that if the album art caught your eye and evoked that feeling - well, then owning and listening to it will be exactly what you're expecting. In an extremely comfortable, cool way.
Buy AM - Future Sons & Daughters from Amazon
If you're the type that loves the impracticality of vinyl for what it is, AM has put together a pledge project to raise funds for a limited pressing of this album. If interested, I'd recommend you read up on the project. My motivation is simple - you pledge - and you, I and some lucky others eventually pay to own an album worthy of vinyl. AM: Vinyl Dreams
If you liked this review, read my first (a tribute to Frightened Rabbit's instant classic "The Midnight Organ Fight).
1 comments:
Beside the fact you have so eloquently described and evoked the proper emotion and sense of what it means to be "cool", in its many forms, there's another element here that jumped out at me. The music of AM created a moment so potent in that you posted to your blog for the first time in months (October 2009). It only serves to underscore the entire blog post.
Side note: I was also glad to see I hadn't missed anything here since October. I was ready to feel like I neglected one of the more insightful blogs I've read. Whew.
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