In the past couple of weeks, as the reality of our impending cohabitation meets the reality of my enormous amount of stuff (specifically books and CDs), I’ve started culling. This first round, which has been pretty easy, has seen me getting rid of (via trade-ins and donations):
- books from college that I’m never going to read again (mostly by ancient Greeks and Romans)
- books from the Greenwich dump’s book swap that I grabbed and don’t need to read right now
- CDs by bands I used to love (Nine Inch Nails, for example) whose last few albums have been nothing but disappointing (Nine Inch Nails, for example)
- CDs by artists that meant something to me, in terms of sentimental or associative value, back in college that I haven’t listened to in years (Handsome Boy Modeling School, Dr. Octagon)
As I said, it’s been pretty easy so far, because I’m operating under one rule: I’m only taking with me things I won’t be mad at myself for packing. Since I’m not even planning on renting a truck for my part of the move, let alone hiring movers, I’m going to be cursing and sweating every box I bring myself.
So how do I figure out which music I want to bring? Well, I’m a grown-up now. I want to listen to grown-up music that rewards repeat listening. I need something with a high emotion to novelty ratio, something that unfolds, something I can think about while I listen. I need good lyrics when there are vocals, excellent musicianship when there are instrumentals, and a sense of arc to the whole album.
Bands like Radiohead, Wilco, the Decemberists, and Talking Heads fit the bill. I know I’m turning into one of those musical canon guys, but I’m not about to part with Astral Weeks, Music from Big Pink, Dusty in Memphis, or Otis Blue. Most of my jazz collection will remain intact, as will most of my weirdo Jewish music stash (unless you know anyone who wants a lot of Tzadik Records stuff).
I understand there’s been a lot of throat-clearing here, but I needed to give you a little intro to my state of mind before I launch into my review of Wring’s brand-new EP, The Spire. The CD, which is available as a free download from wringband.com, is fifteen minutes of exactly what I’ve been looking for–grown-up music, written by grown-ups for the consumption of grown-ups. The band, led by Rhinosplode’s music guy, Nick Parker (ex-Disband and Cobra Kai Dojo), sounds different on each track. The disparate parts, however, build up to a cohesive and ultimately highly satisfying whole.
I listened to The Spire for the first time while driving at night. The opener, “Colum,” with its piano and nonlinear vocal melody, gave me the distinct impression that this was going to be some sort of moody pseudo-Radiohead disc, which I was perfectly okay with. But when “Autobarn” kicked in, the distorted bass and poppy pre-chorus (with its off-kilter drums) let me know that, in the tradition of Parker’s previous efforts with the Disband, this was going to be one of those CDs that create their own specific sound worlds.
The Spire doesn’t disappoint, except for its brevity. I’d love to hear more past the beautiful closing track, “Coming Past Song.” I have no idea if Wring will be able to perform live (there’s a lot of studio stuff going on in these songs), but I definitely want to hear more from them.
One more thing–I know that’s its totally suspect to write a review for a project by a guy you used to play with and still are friends with, but any regular reader of this site knows that I have a pretty strong BS/sycophant filter, and this CD more than makes it through. I’d pay money for a copy of The Spire and anything else Wring sees fit to put out in the future.
Filed under: Matters Musical & Artistic
