Rachel Lee

Cars & Trains: Intimidated By Silence

Last night, I believe Cars & Trains ended his set at Backspace with this song from his new album “The Roots, The Leaves”. It certainly stood out from the rest of his set in the best way. The songs on “The Roots, The Leaves” are more like landscapes than simple melody and accompaniment. I’ve found that, with the aid of technology, there are more and more people making music in this painterly way. In the end, it’s a tiny symphony.

“Out the window I heard the sounds of a song and I lost myself too. All we try to be, to recede into the sea and open our eyes on the coast. And to not feel lost any more, to stand firm like the roots of a tree sleeping through everything and these instruments go on long after I’m gone trying to make what we hold and it comes out in song. I promised myself I wouldn’t be, I promised myself. In the summer I heard the leaves in the air, wait to all the all the things we tried to be before we fell in to the sea and forgot all of our names that echo and these words go on long after we’re gone trying to be what we see but it comes out all wrong. I promised my self, I wouldn’t be. I promised myself. The meter of the song that I sing looses time with the air that I breathe through my lungs as the dust settles.”

Nana Grizol: Cynicism

So, my timing’s pretty off with these guys since you know, if you didn’t see them in the northwest last month there’s no telling when they’ll be by next. I can’t even remember what ridiculous reason I had for not attending their show. Anyway, Nana Grizol is mostly known for their live show and their associations with Neutral Milk Hotel. These things aside, their debut album “Ruth” is an earnest effort and deserves it’s own acclaim.

“I once saw a sunset so vidid and warm that I swore it was perfect. I once had a lover, I’m not sure if I’ll recover, but I know it was worth it. Then last night in the car the falling raindrops looked like stars at some incalculable speed and later my friends said “good to see you again” this is a home to me. So I wrote a song and called it the love of my life said don’t be gone long now sings me to sleep every night and I never learned a lesson looking at my own reflection but sometimes it seems useful so I loosed my heart strings, high hopes are starting to find something truthful. Cynicism isn’t wisdom it’s a lazy way to say that you’ve been burned. I’d think if anything you’d be less certain after everything you ever learned.”