I had the distinct pleasure of recording a song with Jim Becker of Califone on Sunday. He recorded a small version of the Roommate band (Erica Dicker on violin, Mercedes Landazuri on banjo, Anton Hatwich on upright bass, Evelyn Weston on saw, me on keytar and vocals) at his apartment to a cassette four-track recorder. I had heard and totally dug some music he recorded this way for my friend Jim Finn's film Interkosmos, but I was still amazed at the depth and fullness of the sound he got out of a $200-300 recorder. I'm not sure if the song will end up on the next Roommate album or an intermediary EP or what, but I plan to work with Jim again soon.
Jim was generous enough to let me leave with a beautiful hand-screened vinyl copy of Califone's new album Roots & Crowns. I put it on as soon as I got home, and it's a gorgeous record. I've been a big fan of Tim Rutili's songs since the Red Red Meat days and have kept up with every single Califone release since then. Every album of theirs has a few songs that stop me in my tracks, but quite often I find myself skipping past somewhat amorphous experimental "jam" tracks to get to gems like "Vampiring Again" or "Bottles & Bones (Shade & Sympathy)". I can't imagine myself skipping anything on Roots and Crowns--it's a gem from start to finish.
Hmmm. I don't know that I want to venture into writing album reviews here or anywhere, so I'll leave the descriptive analysis and rhetorical arguments to the professionals (hi Jenny). I will say this: if you're a fan of Califone, I think you'll be very pleased with the record (that is, unless you've always preferred their 7-minute rusty chain-jangling stoner jams to their proper "songs"), and if not, take a listen to this track via Stereogum and see what you think. I believe the record will be officially released October 10 on Thrill Jockey.
Booyahkah.
My Trusted MOGs
Califone have been doing this years before everybody else started to do it. I rarely feel compelled to listen, but they give me a good feeling every time I hear them. Textbook definition of creative arrangements (at least within the quasi-amorphous style they play in).
My Trusted MOGs
I saw Califone play at Bottom of the Hill a couple years ago and it was good but it was packed and I was bummed because they were opening for Neil Hagerty who I had come to see and I expected the place to get fuller and fuller but then, strangely, everyone left after Califone and the Neil Hagerty band played an amazing set (I always love to see someone sing lead vocals and play guitar solos simultaneously) and I didn't have to worry about negotiating my way thru the crowd to go take a pee during the set and stuff.
My Trusted MOGs
Hey, The Rhombus, I like your music. I have one of your albums. Good times.
My Trusted MOGs
Hi Spencer...
When you say "Califone have been doing this years before everybody else started to do it" what do you mean by "this"?
I think I probably agree with you but I'm hoping you might elaborate on what it is that they do that is now so commonplace.
Hi Cody...
I remember trying to get you to listen to Califone's Roomsound when I visited you in SF in 2002, and you said something about how you didn't think you would be able to get into the dude's singing voice. Now you leave a comment to my Califone post which could be summed up as "Califone = good, but too many people listening; Neal Michael Hagerty = amazing, but not enough people listening". Or "Califone = too crowded to take a pee; Neal Michael Hagerty = pee". Either way, it seems that you have not been persuaded to join me in totally digging Califone, and that you prefer peeing to Califone. That said, I just drank too much coffee and I think right now I prefer peeing to everything. Bye bye.
My Trusted MOGs
Hi, Kent...you're so right about that Califone record, amazing stuff, their best so far, I think.
Also, got your CDs today. (You will see Roommate in my recently added column -- I've only ripped one onto iTunes so far.) I'm going to see if I can do the new one for PM, but it might take a while.
yrs,
Jenny