Tag Archive for 'Foggy Ruins Of Time'

Isaac Arms: Old Artificer (2007)


January 9, 2008
foggy ruins of time

Album Review

So this will be the first in a series of 001Collective family reviews that I’ll be reposting from my blog Foggy Ruins Of Time. I realized now how many artists on here I have already written about, so in addition to the new content I’m writing for this blog I’ll post one old review a week. For the first week I’m posting a review of Isaac Arms’ solo album. Although this isn’t technically a family release yet, I know when Isaac has the time he’ll post this and all the other great Pop Monster releases here for all of us to enjoy.

Original Post Date: Saturday, August 4, 2007.

Blanketarms was a twosome band from Illinois featuring the lovely couple Isaac Gadient and Leila Grey. They sang with such purity it broke your heart and put it back together at the same time. I wish so much every time I listen that I could be in love as much as they are together. However this review isn’t about Blanketarms, it is about Isaac’s solo EP Old Artificer. Released earlier this year, it is by far my favorite of 2007. Containing eight songs, they go by quickly, but it makes it easy to listen to them multiple times; and you will. Scribbled on a note with the album, Isaac tells me that these songs were written while living in his old apartment in East Champaign. This solo record is a snapshot of feelings, memories, musings, and revelations written during a time of uncertainty about the future. Emotion is the keyword here, but it is coupled with a fragility so delicate you are almost afraid to listen for fear of your own emotional stability. In the album’s best song, “Us Vs. Stuff” Isaac recalls the war of living in the “real world” and being so determined to survive because the one he loves will give each other the strength to transcend anything. “And I may never be enough/ but I will swear that I will pull out all my hair/ ‘till its plain to everyone/ you got every gallon of my love.” He sings this with a touch of self-deprecation, but it never gets melodramatic. That can be said for the entire album. This music is so affecting because I know the things Isaac has gone through are real, never embellished. His voice is the sound of hope from experience. I am sad as I write this review because I know only twenty-five copies of this EP were made. So I ask you all to go to his Myspace as well as his record label Pop Monster Collective (And get all the other great lo-fi music!) and beg for him to make more copies. These songs deserve to be heard by everyone; just be careful, you will fall to pieces.

Isaac Arms-”Us Vs. Stuff”

Links:
Myspace: Hear three other songs!
Pop Monster Collective
PMC site: So many great bands

Tinyfolk: Little Mice And Other Things That Go Skitter Skitter (2007)


January 2, 2008
foggy ruins of time

Album Review Collective Family

Released in early 2007, Tinyfolk’s Little Mice And Other Things That Go Skitter Skitter is an album caught in transition. Containing qualities of his earlier twee pop glee with the grander production and themes of his more recent releases, Little Mice And Other Things That Go Skitter Skitter has a striking intimacy brought to fore so beautifully due to it’s presentation.

Let me just tell you now, the first four songs are flawless. Starting off things familiar and joyful, “Love Is A Thing,” lulls you in with its adorable chorus and delicate verses (When its played live they are usually improvised!).

A cover of The Field Mice’s “Emma’s House” really shatters me and if you had only heard early-Tinyfolk up to this point, this song will change everything. Its melancholy (the accordion extenuates this mood well) and when I listen to it I remember everything I’ve ever lost in my life.

“To Answer Your Question, Yes,” is probably Russ’s most personal song ever written (or at least self-aware/self-referential). I think everyone at 001Collective can relate to this song if not every artist out there.

“Trees” is amazing in every way conceivable. About a man named Harold, “Who’s lonely and he doesn’t know why,” This song is the precursor for many Tinyfolk songs about melancholy characters trying to escape from their socially constructed surroundings. And In some ways I feel like this song is the prequel to Paul Simon’s “You Can Call Me Al (Which Tinyfolk covered funnily enough).” The song is broken up into several parts including a haunting whistle-sounding breakdown and then a slow shower of piano keys with the baritone ukulele remaining as a constant. Its more than just sad, but we so desperately want things to get better for Harold that we would do anything for him (in some ways we all are Harold).

Little Mice And Other Things That Go Skitter Skitter is a rewarding album in many ways and although the second half lacks some cohesion, not many artists could pull of the “transition stage album” as gracefully as Tinyfolk does.

Tinyfolk-”Trees”

Links:
tinyfolk.com
Tinyfolk on myspace
Pop Monster Collective
Little Mice And Other Things That Go Skitter Skitter on 001Collective
My Pizza Under The Sea EP review
My Bill review

Love & Kindness Mean A Lot More Because Of Fragile Fawn!


January 2, 2008
foggy ruins of time

Artist Review

I’m sure we have all thought to ourselves when hearing a new band/artist, “I can’t believe I haven’t heard of them ‘til now!” And although Oak Park’s Fragile Fawn hasn’t been around that long, I’m still beating myself up for not discovering them sooner. Comprised of a boy/girl duo, Dani and Clarke, they create intricate, but joyous pop songs that’ll make you want to hug strangers and love those around you a whole lot more. As far as I know they have one EP that isn’t really available (Dani and Clarke disband during the year due to college), but the songs I’ve gotten off their myspace (a few from the Kindness EP and a few from the shows Josh put up over at 5…4…3…2…fun!!) are simply inspiring.

My favorite so far is “Love To Love To Love,” a bouncy little number peppered with piano, tambourine, and handclaps. A spry guitar weaves in and out of Dani’s affectionate and assured vocals that give a poignant backbone to why our dreams must be our reality. “Kindness” takes on sort of a jazzy pop quality where Dani’s voice becomes more delicate, but very confident in singing Fragile Fawn’s Mantra, “Our kindness will always create art.” Labeled as a demo under their myspace, “Indian Giver” is simply epic and I can’t imagine how it could any more finished. Cool breakdowns, surprise synths, double-tracked Dani, Clarke jumping in often, bongos & tambourines, even a Hawaiian slide style part; this song has it all and more!

I really hope Fragile Fawn create more music, because they are starting a revolution and kindness is their weapon.

Mp3: “Love To Love To Love”

Fragile Fawn on myspace
Create Recordings
Modern Love: Dani’s blog

The Darlings: Photo EP (2007)


December 23, 2007
foggy ruins of time

Album Review

Hey everyone it’s Steven from the Foggy Ruins Of Time blog and after being moved by what’s going on here at 001Collective I’ve decided that I want to contribute what I can here. For my first post I’m reposting a recent review of one of my favorite releases of 2007 by The Darlings put out on Wee Pop! Records. I hope you enjoy and I look forward to featuring more great music soon. =)

I’m in love with The Darlings. I’ll get that out now. When I first heard the songs off their myspace, the mail couldn’t come fast enough. They are a five-piece band from London lead by Elizabeth Darling and their first release, Photo EP is out now on the ever so amazing Wee Pop! Records. With every CD there is a different picture, so each package is unique! These photos were taken during Elizabeth’s travels and I got picture of women attempting to use a purple tent as a blanket. What will you get? The first song , “Anything You Want” describes someone who gives so much love to another due to the beauty surrounding them. She sings confidently, “And In my head I hear music/And its glorious music/All my love is with me/And we disappear into the sea,” and we float around in that environment blissfully. “Emily” is pure, addictive and hilarious. I haven’t laughed as much listening to song in awhile. Sort-of a revenge at the girl next in line, it’s too funny to be offended by yet wittingly perfect. The ukulele strums along sharply and the strutting bass line carries us through, but its Elizabeth’s lyrics that penetrate the most as she ends on, “He won’t love you baby/he’s got no more love to spend/He tells me you are fine/But I’m better than him at lying.” The last song on the EP is a cover of AC/DC’s “You Shook Me All Night Long,” but I didn’t even realize until the chorus kicked in. It totally takes a new dimension in the hands of The Darlings. Consisting of Elizabeth’s voice (With some aid on back up vocals) and an insistent and pretty ukulele, this song becomes more intimate, barer and more poignant. The idea of being “shook” hasn’t been this physical since Elvis used it. Probably my favorite release from Wee Pop! Records so far, The Darlings Photo EP will soothe you, make you laugh, smile and shake you until you’re thoroughly hooked.

Mp3:

The Darlings-“Emily”

Links:
The Darlings on myspace
Wee Pop! Records