7-Inch Vinyl Releases
Om
"Gebel Barkal" b/w "(Version)"
Sub Pop Singles Club
originally published October 1, 2008
Here's a third go-round of the "legendary" Sub Pop Singles Club - just in time for the most recent extortionate spasm of the seven-inch collectors market. I guess Jonathan Poneman needs to reshingle his roof, or something. The first record this time out comes from the sluggish Om, the bass-and-drum duo whose extreme torpor became an immediate stereotype. Om's sorta permanently pot-high, from the sound of it. The two songs on this record (and, indeed, almost every Om song before or since) sound like the Melvins making some sort of attempt at dub. The b-side, "(Version)," gradually builds up into a nice end-of-the-world scenario, but that's with like only 30 seconds to go, which isn't nearly a hell of enough time to either spook or overwhelm. What kind of an end-of-the-world scenario is that? I guess Sub Pop wasn't too concerned about putting its best foot forward.
In a band? Run a label? Hate money so much you've made yourself a seven-inch? Lemme hear it. Send an email to music@flagpole.com and mention Singularity in the subject line.
Sí, Claro
A Series of Serious Songs (Vol. 2)
Phonograph
originally published October 1, 2008
Brian "Brah" Girgus, a peach of a guy, has embarked on a one-man singles club of his own. He hopes to get several records out in the next year, and this one here is apparently the second. No idea what happened to the first, but this is just fine for now. Its two classic straight-forward pop songs, recorded cheaply but not poorly, resemble early Portastatic but with Girgus' fragile, sensitive vocals replacing McCaughn's chipper whine. Some notable dudes help out, too; a-side "Static on the Station" features tambourine from former Athenian and Master of the Hemisphere Bren Mead, whereas Love Is All's Markus Gorsch (playing the Caledonia on Oct. 7th, coincidentally) drums on the flip, "Keep on Tryin'." Good times!
In a band? Run a label? Hate money so much you've made yourself a seven-inch? Lemme hear it. Send an email to music@flagpole.com and mention Singularity in the subject line.
Dead Luke
Record Two
Sacred Bones
originally published October 1, 2008
Dead Luke is a Wisconsin-based one-man operation pumping out vinyl for Sacred Bones. "Jumping Jack Flash Drive" is a horribly renamed bedside synth-rock cover of the Rolling Stones' classic; it sounds like early Soft Cell or a less catchy Blank Dogs. It's a pleasurable listen, but fundamentally goofy. "Not Tonight" is murkier and more obtuse, and not just because it's not one of the most recognizable rock songs ever. It feels a little too subdued at first, before gradually building up to a siren-wail solo that overpowers both the rest of the song and all negative impressions that preceded it. It's kind of an odd release, but worth looking into. Both this and the previous Record One seven-inch will be included in an extras-packed box-set somewhere down the road.
In a band? Run a label? Hate money so much you've made yourself a seven-inch? Lemme hear it. Send an email to music@flagpole.com and mention Singularity in the subject line.
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