by Max Vernon
In my mind, the greatest benefit of family is having a feeling of security, the sense of understanding, and a way to release your emotions. I think that the best music can provide you with all of those things in times when for whatever reason your real family ain’t cutting it. So, the following five selections are from artists that have not only inspired me, but in the deep connection I had with their music, felt like extended family members.
If Nadia were to take any position in this makeshift musical family of mine, she’d probably be my sister. Since I met Nadia several years ago, I can’t think of another friend’s music I’ve listened to more. I don’t say this about many people (especially my peers) but Nadia is a poet. Forget the connotation of pretentiousness associated with poetry these days and read some lyrics from the song I’m streaming, “Handicapable”:
The world keeps busy, in lieu of knowing you
It’s tossing and turning and there’s scattered thunderstorms
And excessive laughter for everything sentiment,
crying has become a joke to this establishment.
And now you roll your eyes, so I will do it for you.
You are a part of me- it is the best we can do.
You were so catching- an influenza master
A seedless wine grape; A hurricane of innocent disaster.
I always knew that Nadia had a totally unique way of seeing the world around her, but recently she’s moved into slightly more experimental territory- playing with pitter-patter rhythms and the textures of various words. She’s also a mean guitarist. The attached song available for streaming is one of the most recent songs Nadia has written and recorded on her computer.
You can also hear more songs at Nadia’s myspace:
Joni Mitchell:
I can’t imagine anyone reading this is unfamiliar with Joni. That said, I think Joni Mitchell is the best therapist you can find. I cant count how many days of high school I spent in my room, lying on the carpet with my head next to the record player listening to Ladies of the Canyon, Blue, and Hejira. I associate Joni Mitchell in some ways with my mom — I recall dancing in the kitchen to Chelsea Morning with my mom when I was around twelve years old, and then years later driving in the car with her listening to Case of You, and actually comprehending the emotions behind the song and being completely blown away. To me, Joni Mitchell is the musical mother I turn to whenever I need advice on how to keep writing, or need the reassurance to keep going out and playing more shows. The clip I’m linking is a video of her singing My Old Man from the album, Blue. The chord changes in this song are so unexpected and genius.
I don’t even know what else to say…just watch the video and be blown away.
Link: http://youtube.com/watch?v=h1_PIuEmj8s
It has come to my attention that the mp3 of Caleb’s I tried to stream last issue failed cause it was one of those weird mp4 files that iTunes loves so much. Well, I’m going to repost my analysis of Caleb (read original review here) with a correct stream of his music so all of you can hear it the way it was intended because Caleb is a force of nature. His music is hugely inspirational to me and makes me want to go home and kick my ass practicing. He’s like that cousin in your family that is a little bit older and you’re constantly jealous of them cause somehow they’re better than you at everything and cooler too.
Go to his website for more music: www.calebhawley.com
Some members of my Extended Anti-Folk Family:
To round out my dream musical family, let’s say the following three are second cousins.
Dan Fishback : Queer-90’s anthem-poet/antifolk-riot-grll rocker, Dan Fishback creates some of the wittiest, emotionally cathartic, yet danceable songs in the antifolk scene.
In addition to being a prolific solo musician, as well as the front man for the band Cheese on Bread (I profiled last issue), Dan has also written numerous plays and one man shows. In a way, his songs almost sound like monologues set to punky antifolk music. A new favorite of mine is his “I’m Going to Make Out with Everyone Who Philosophically Disgusts Me”. Although he has not recorded that brilliant number, he does have lots of other amazing songs on his myspace: www.myspace.com/danfishback
Casey Holford : When I first heard Casey perform, the first thought that came to my head was that if Alanis Morrisette got her hands on any of Casey’s songs, it would revive her career. Fortunately, Casey isn’t ready to convert to the dark side just yet- and besides he’s such a damn good guitarist and singer that you wouldn’t want someone else to sing his songs. Casey’s songs are so damn hooky, you won’t be able to get them out of your head for many weeks after a few listens. Go check them out: www.caseyholford.com
Art Sorority 4 Girls : I feel the name Art Sorority, is so fitting for the music of Daoud Tyler-Ameen because whenever I listen to it I get this image of a strapping young lad in a brown corduroy jacket walking around somewhere in Boston reading Virginia Woolf or James Joyce. It has that kind of melancholic sentimentality to it- one of my personal favorite emotions. As a lyricist, Daoud is also superb:
So sell yourself a self-effacing alibi
It’s a practical alternative to living in the present tense
Consult the experts on assisted suicide
They will bludgeon you with circumstantial, anecdotal evidence
Sixteen, sixteen, sixteen
Now we strain to hear the echoes of the pre-Madonna radio
Stay mean, stay mean, stay mean
Cause if the girls decide to talk to us, then what will there be left to talk about?
Go to listen to the more of Daoud’s music here: www.myspace.com/artsororityforgirls