I started my job as a Pizza Hut delivery driver on Sunday. (I cooked and delivered pizzas through college, so there was no learning curve. It’s okay, while I look for a real job.) The hours are horrible if you enjoy a happy marriage, but I have had some joy in driving around and listening to music. I just don’t think enough people really listen to music in their cars these days. Everyone’s distracted by their cell phones, or they just listen to the crappy radio with commercials screaming at you, breaking up what few songs are played. Anyway, my rotation this week, in no particular order…
- Joy Electric – Ministry of Archers (2005)
- Starflyer 59 – Dial M (2008)
- St. Vincent – Actor (2009)
- Joy Electric – Curiosities and Such (2009)
- Marty Wilson-Piper – Nightjar (2008)
- Pet Shop Boys – Alternative, disc 2 (1995)
- TV On the Radio – Dear Science (2008)
- Pacifico – Thin Skin and an Open Heart (2009)
- Martin L. Gore – Counterfeit EP (1989)
- R.E.M. – Murmur (1983)
I really dig the new Pacifico album. Matthew Schwartz sounds like he’s singing for girls but also not singing for girls. Sure, most of his songs could appeal to the self-enlightened teenage girl who thinks that the Juno soundtrack rivals Abbey Road, but there are many more points of reference in his music than trendy, chick-friendly schmaltz. He’s a really good singer, channeling a lot of Brian Wilson at times, with a cavalcade of background vocals. I also hear touches of The Posies, Starflyer 59, and maybe the Go-Betweens(?).
On a complely unrelated note, my brother-in-law was on a Queen kick yesterday. Now I can’t get “Save Me” out of my head.
Radio Free Raytown 
you had me at “cavalcade of background vocals”. will check out.
“Cavalcade” may be a slight exaggeration. “Several layers doing different things” might have been more accurate. But “cavalcade” is more succinct and colorful. The dude’s obviously listened to his share of the brothers Wilson.
I like it ok from what I heard on myspace…none of the songs really jumped out at me, but they sound nice.
I would say that, of the songs on the new record he’s posted on MySpace, the song “Caroline Oh” is the best indication of how most of the record sounds.