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Solange, "Losing You"

I’ve been listening to this song and watching the video over and over again to try to figure out what I like about it. Because what I don’t like about it is easy to figure out, one listen in. There’s no chorus to this song. I mean,

I’ve been listening to this song and watching the video over and over again to try to figure out what I like about it. Because what I don’t like about it is easy to figure out, one listen in. There’s no chorus to this song. I mean, there is a “chorus,” but really there’s more the anticipation of a real chorus, and it’s frustrating when you get halfway through and realize that it will never get to the big burst you’ve been waiting for.

But I still like it. The little cry and drum pattern open this song up so well (and set you up for disappointment, too, I guess). Solange Knowles has this sweetness other singers don’t have. Lots of them play coy, pretend they want you to like them. But for whatever reason (probably a lifetime of validation, I’m guessing), they assume you like them. But this video makes me think Solange is making a genuine play to get your approval, that she wants to charm you.

I think that’s where my like actually comes from. I’ve seen other people describe this song’s great “vibe.” The thing is, this song is all “vibe” — all charm and fun and hanging out and awkward dancing and awkward phrasing (“I’m not the one that you should be making your enemy” begs for a red pen) and Instagram washes. All of this is begging, sweetly begging, for one moment of melody and confidence, but it just doesn’t get there. So it relies entirely on moods, feelings, vibes, adjectives. I’ll give it another one: promising.

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A few recent work related things: ABC, Sound Of The City, Stereogum, Spin

I’ve gotten really bad (for whom, for what?) at posting recent work and clips and stuff, so I’m going to try to do this on a weekly basis. So, this week. I subbed for ABC’s Dan Harris over at his weekly online indie rock interview show, Amplified.

I’ve gotten really bad (for whom, for what?) at posting recent work and clips and stuff, so I’m going to try to do this on a weekly basis. So, this week.

I subbed for ABC’s Dan Harris over at his weekly online indie rock interview show, Amplified. I got to watch a great, rooftop performance by the Noisettes, and talked to them a little bit about how their lives have changed since “Don’t Upset The Rhythm” went to #2 in the UK:

I wrote a new Progress Report on the Go! Team for Stereogum. My favorite quote was right at the end:

Even though it’s album three and the tradition is to mature and all that bullshit I have no desire to clean up the sound.

Spin just ran my review of Sian Alice Group’s Troubled, Shaken, Etc. Such a good record. I called Sian Ahern “a singer with Nico’s presence and complexion.” Just look at her (photo from Ahmed Klink):

And this was last week, but I’m still very proud and thankful to have a chance to talk to These Are Powers about touring China. Before they left they had to record a “performance” for the cultural officials in Shanghai:

We actually had to record it in our practice space, and we pretended like it was a show, so we all clapped and said, “Thank you!” at the end of it. It was really silly. It was by far the most awkward I’ve ever felt playing a set of any music that I’ve been a part of. We’re like, “Hey, Chinese government! Here we are performing for you on video!” I guess it worked.