Ariel Pink's House Arrest.
One fine day in 2003, I was riding in a car down Sunset Blvd., being driven home by Jeff Eliassen after a lovely breakfast. During breakfast, Jeff had told me about Ariel Pink. He put on a copy of House Arrest on his car stereo, and it was this copy that I purchased from Jeff upon leaving the car. I am unable to express exactly what his music means to me; suffice it to say, it's one of the few times that I can vividly recall the circumstances of hearing a record for the first time. I was blown away from the first 10 seconds of the first song, and House Arrest quickly became one of my all-time favorite albums.
If you'll allow a familiar-sounding litany detailing my love for this music: House Arrest contains everything that is beautiful about the Left Banke and the Zombies, everything that is punk about Yoko Ono and Ween, more than everything that has ever been exciting about lo-fi recording. It's a prime early "aughts" document, a filtered version of 40 years of rock albums, the result of a peer with agile (if clumsy) hands and an honest-as-hell (if a bit dirty) mouth hammering out one of the most enticing series of disgusting pop hooks I've ever heard. The radio-transmitter quality is necessary, even if the songs would be just as good without it-- and it's more than likely a deilberate aesthetic, as nobody else makes music on their Yamaha MT8X cassette recorder that sounds like this. And yes. Yes. Almost every drum sound is made by his mouth. This is undeniably amazing, and while it should not overshadow the quality of the songs, one should marvel at it nonetheless.
Today, this album was released by the Animal Collective's label, Paw Tracks. I did my civic duty and purchased it at Amoeba. I am hoping that the release of this album brings a bit of attention to my homebase, ballbearings pinatas, because everyone making music affiliated with this label deserves to be heard, separately, together. House Arrest is likely to take my number one spot at the year's end, and I hope it finally receives the audience it deserves.
LISTENING TO: House Arrest, Ariel Pink
If you'll allow a familiar-sounding litany detailing my love for this music: House Arrest contains everything that is beautiful about the Left Banke and the Zombies, everything that is punk about Yoko Ono and Ween, more than everything that has ever been exciting about lo-fi recording. It's a prime early "aughts" document, a filtered version of 40 years of rock albums, the result of a peer with agile (if clumsy) hands and an honest-as-hell (if a bit dirty) mouth hammering out one of the most enticing series of disgusting pop hooks I've ever heard. The radio-transmitter quality is necessary, even if the songs would be just as good without it-- and it's more than likely a deilberate aesthetic, as nobody else makes music on their Yamaha MT8X cassette recorder that sounds like this. And yes. Yes. Almost every drum sound is made by his mouth. This is undeniably amazing, and while it should not overshadow the quality of the songs, one should marvel at it nonetheless.
Today, this album was released by the Animal Collective's label, Paw Tracks. I did my civic duty and purchased it at Amoeba. I am hoping that the release of this album brings a bit of attention to my homebase, ballbearings pinatas, because everyone making music affiliated with this label deserves to be heard, separately, together. House Arrest is likely to take my number one spot at the year's end, and I hope it finally receives the audience it deserves.
LISTENING TO: House Arrest, Ariel Pink
posted by Spencer Owen at 4:51 PM
2 Comments:
Yes. I read the review of it on The Onion today. I think I might have to pick it up. "The Doldrums" really grew on me.
Do it! Do your civic duty!!
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