Brooklyn-based Clare and the Reasons, fronted by collaborators Clare and Olivier Manchon, has been very busy making music, touring through Europe many times, Japan and the US. The band has a steady list of contributors (the ‘Reasons), with a lot of instruments — cellos, violas, things to hit, kazoos, baby kotos, saws, recorders. In 2007, the band released their debut LP, The Movie, which got significant praise. The band have just released their sophomore album Arrow on Frog Stand Records.
The Everly Brothers / So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad)
The Everly Brothers are my favorite harmonizers, something about DNA that just kicks everything else to the curb. I love this sad, sad song, how they wallow in all the ‘used to have love’ pity and wear it all on their sleeves. This is just an example of a perfect song recorded perfectly, not overdone. A simple beauty.
Lotte Lenya / Surabaya-Johnny
There is so much desperation in Lotte Lenya’s voice in this song. In all her expression and imperfection, she is perfect. The melody is also weighs so heavy on your heart, but dances and moves and swells the way a great melody should. The band breaths the same breaths as Lotte.
Harry Nilsson / Life Line
The song makes every part of me melt: melodically, the orchestration, the lush harmony, even the humor. The balance between the flutes and the harmony vocals create almost a new instrument altogether, with an organic delay. The melody makes so much sense and climbs and climaxes so perfectly with the lyrics, a tale of loneliness, ultimate being alone, at the bottom of the ocean. Oh, I could go on and on about Harry. Sigh.
Sam Cooke / Change Gonna Come
Sam wrote this not long before he was shot and killed at the age of 33. It was his answer to Blowing in the Wind and was meant to help in the civil rights movement. I also hear it as a prelude to his own death, though: ‘It’s been too hard living, but I’m afraid to die, and I don’t know what’s up there, beyond the sky’. All I can say is, Sam is pretty much my favorite singer and this song makes me cry. I’m sure that string arrangement has something to do with it, too.
The Beach Boys / Disney Girls
Ok, the drum sounds on this recording are a bit, well, dated sounding, but this song freaks us out! Listen to it really loud (preferably while driving in the south of France in July). It’s mind blowing. The melody is just about as catchy as they come. The harmonies are so complex and the arrangement is epic. Check out the lyrics, they are so out there, but in the context of the song, they are perfect, and make sense. Oh, boys of the beach. Crazily enough, Brian Wilson did not write this, but it’s one of his favorite songs.
Josh Mease / White Diamonds
Ok, now for something current day, rare for us. But Josh Mease is incredible. I love his whole record, really. This song will drill itself into your head and never leave. The production is very sophisticated, as well: complex, layered, but understated. It’s just a perfect pop song and Josh is a beautiful singer, unique through and through.
Musee Mecanique / The Propellors
This is my favorite West Coast band. This song is a rich historical aviation story. What could be better! Their “sounds” are a wash of glorious colors and brave harmonic moves. Every part of the band is playing a true part in the song and I love all the different sections and soaring melodies. If you listen multiples times, you’ll hear new things each time.
Loney Dear / Carrying a Stone
Here we have it, the most underappreciated fella on the scene. The Swedish master, Loney Dear. Loney Noir is my favorite album to come out in recent years. Honestly, each song on the record is ‘my favorite’ and I throw up my hands proclaiming so each time I have a spin through it: ‘Oh, this one, I love this one. Oh, no, no, wait, this one, this is my favorite!’ Everyone in our band loves this record. I’ll say Carrying a Stone is my favorite because it makes me act like a third grader with ADHD, especially the way the song builds to the melodic explosion, which is repeated over and over, but brings you to new places each time it’s repeated. I also dig the groove, and the looseness of it. Its so human. This song makes you feel.
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