SOUNDTRACK: CYMBALS EAT GUITARS-Live on KEXP June 18, 2009 (2009).
Cymbals Eat Guitars are from Staten Island (with members from New Jersey). They have released two albums, although this recording is from after the release of their first album. They play four songs: “And the Hazy Sea,” “Cold Spring,” “Tunguska,” and “Wind Phoenix.” They are noisy songs (mostly) with squalls of guitars (squalls is a good word since two of the guys are from Manahawkin, New Jersey.
The band has true progenitors in the indie rock scene–there’s sounds of Pavement, The Replacements, even more melodic Sonic Youth . They play noisy guitars and the vocals veer from softly sung to loudly screamed (often within the same line). “Cold Spring” starts like a kind of shoegazery song and then after almost three minutes it turns into a blast of pummeling rock with a noisy guitar section, before moving into a third more melodic section.
There’s a lengthy interview with the band, where they give a shout out to New Jersey and seem genuinely surprised by the success they’ve had. It’s a good show, and you can hear it here
[READ: September 25, 2012] God Bless You, Dr. Kevorkian
Again, against my better judgment I brought this Vonnegut book home too because it was on the shelf (and it was very short). I still haven’t finished Bluebeard yet, but I have been curious about this book for some time. It references Vonnegut’s early novel God Bless You, Mr Rosewater, but it also name checks Dr Jack Kevorkian. So just what is it?
Well, it is collection of radio spots that Vonnegut did for WNYC radio in New York back in 1998. Vonnegut claimed that he went to Kevorkian’s facility, was strapped in and almost killed multiple times, but Kevorkian brought him back each time creating a near-death experience. And each time Vonnegut travelled through that “blue tunnel,” he would interview a dead person.
The people he interviews vary quite a lot in fame and stature: (more…)
I Just Read About That... 