Beach Sloth

Various Artists

                It is the most wonderful time of the month. That’s right time for the only thing I manage to do consistently besides all those other things. With each additional installment I get a little closer to owning the Google search term. One day I dream of my Search Keyword being ‘Various Artists’ instead of ‘Pauly Shore’. Honestly I had no idea people liked Pauly Shore that much. Does Pauly Shore even do things anymore or does he just try to get free hotdogs by saying ‘Making copies’ at the local food truck. Can anybody understand or explain his aura? Anyway let us get onto the wonderful sweet tunes. 

                A new section is in order for the merging fields of alt lit and music. I love music. I also love alt lit. When the two combine I am happy. First there is a beautiful, life-changing rendition by two of Chicago’s alt lit heavy weights (in terms of influence, not in terms of their svelte little bodies). Mason Johnson and Stephen Tully Dierks sing their hearts out for some reason. There is a mix tape of alt lit too, a lit on lit crime for humanity. Somebody managed to capture these lovely speaking voices and transform it into music. Fall in love with everybody accent, except mine because I’m not there. I’m a sloth I do not speak English. I speak German (little known fact). 

                Singles are wonderful. Drowning Out makes this clear. Here is an easy-going little track to start your day. Throw out the coffee. Coffee is so stupid. Begin your day with a little music. 

                Super National: here is a new one. This one appears to harken back to simpler, more emotional times. It reminds me strongly of the Postal Service. Here the vocals are sweet. Everything is so simple on here. People seem to really enjoy this single, lone song. I think it is danged good, a nice, calming, low-key pop song. Generally I’m a fan of low-energy music anyway due to my sloth-like nature (I’m a sloth).

                Altar Eagle: this is an oldie. I haven’t heard from them for quite some time. Here they take a different approach than what they’ve done in the past. For one the songs are a little tighter. Before they roamed out a bit, letting songs go on much longer. The second song ‘Parallel Lives’ is simply fantastic and shows the benefits of dream pop. 

                Lazyeyes feel that way. Here is some good, old-fashioned surf rock. It appears to be on the verge of falling asleep every couple of seconds. Vocals are indecipherable. Melodies are hazy. In other words this is exactly what I want out of a Brooklyn-based band. Stay mellow. 

                Normally I avoid doing this, but I have to represent my homeland, Greenland. There’s a little Myspace joke in there. You’d get it if I still had my Myspace profile, but I don’t because Myspace is stupid. This album is dedicated to the giant slab of ice known as Greenland. It is glossy, cold, and distant. Why it was released in summer, for such a well-known winter habitat is beyond me but it gradually sucks you into its little world. 

                Like all good Various Artists posts, there’s a compilation. Here Cascine shows off their two years of existence. I’m proud of them. They’ve been around as long as I have, following their muse, figuring out exactly who and want to release. While I’ve heard many of these tracks before the mix is a good introduction to what they are about in general. 

                Summer is always a prolific part of the year. Happy that is hasn’t decreased with Fall.