August 6th, 2008
This Hand Has Three Fingers: Bat For Lashes, Interstates, The Mood
Bat For Lashes - A Forest
I got to know The Cure back when I started dating my girlfriend. She had always been a big fan of the band. I mean a big fan; during the earliest stages of our courtship, I’d sometimes put on some black lipstick to, you know, impress her. Guess it worked. Anyhow, she got me all learned up about Robert Smith and his crew, schooling me on all I need to know about one of rock’s most influential bands. And as we inch ever so closer to the release of Manimal Vinyl’s Perfect As Cats: a tribute to The Cure compilation, we are treated to Bat For Lashes‘ version of one of my favourite Cure songs, A Forest. Moody and disorientating-ly spooky, Natasha Khan’s intricate musicianship captures the song’s hallmark gloomy solitude, but not without injecting her own disquieting taunts, as if the isolation was playing with your mind.
Interstates - Uniforms Forever
At this time of year, interstates are baffling ordeals, considering that there’s only about a five-month window to perform repairs and maintenance around here. So hitting the highway means dealing with detours, reduced lanes, and other types of asphalt-rising obstacles which riddle our summertime comings and goings. But, thankfully, the Louisville-native Interstates aren’t as treacherous or obstructive. If anything, their hypnotic, spacey, synth-loving grooves will help soothe the aggravations which accompany long-range car travel these days.
The Mood - Masquerade
Are you in a bad mood? If so, listening to The Mood will change your mood, if you are indeed in a bad mood. However, listening to The Mood while you’re in a good mood won’t change your mood. It may elevate your mood, because The Mood make highly catchy power punk-ish pop tunes, spirited, lively, and airy with just enough zing to help exfoliate you of any scummy, crummy feelings which may be responsible for ruining your day.