33 1/3 Birthday celebration weekend Day 2
30 June 2023
Mount Eerie, Julie Doiron and Frederick Squire – Lost Wisdom.
One of the rules I had set myself for this weekend was everything at 33 1/3. Nothing at 45. I broke it almost immediately with Lost Wisdom by Mount Eerie, which I had forgotten was 45 until the record started.
I had to listen to Mount Eerie this weekend though. Mostly because the idea to celebrate my 33 1/3 birthday came from his newsletter, but also because I just bought tickets to see him at Meow in September.
At one stage of my life Mount Eerie/The Microphones was my favourite artist. I would frequently lay in bed and listen to the albums ‘It was hot I stayed in the water, The Glow pt 2 & Mount Eerie back to back on my ipod in the early hours of the morning at my flat in Christchurch. I saw him perform back in 2014 and it was magic. I don’t listen as much anymore, but whenever I do it’s a good time.
The record cover for Lost Wisdom folds out to a big poster of a foggy mountain and that was up on the lounge wall in my Newtown flat for years. It’s one of his most simple and beautiful records. Julie Doiron’s voice brings
there was a sequel released last year Lost Wisdom Part 2, but I haven’t listened to it enough to have a strong opinion.
I have one other Mount Eerie record that may come out this weekend. I’m sure I’ll buy at least one more at his show later in the year.
Every Record I Own: Neil Young – Trans
Neil Young has been one of those artists who I have trouble knowing where to start. I have listened to Harvest a bit, and a live album that was in Mum’s car for a long time quite a lot. Other than that I’ve only heard what has been put on by others. I’ve always liked what I’ve heard and understood that he was important.
So naturally I bought one of least Neil Young Neil young albums, Trans. I found it in Creeps record parlour’s bargain bin. I had heard of it before because it’s a bit notorious due to it being such a departure from his sound.
It has it’s fan base but not generally considered one of his best. It is listed on number 34 of 42 in Ultimateclassicrock.com’s Neil Young albums ranked. The extensive use of vocoder, more mechanical/electronic rhythms and lyrics about computers and robots turned off some fans.
Luckily I don’t know his best albums very well. So I can enjoy Trans for what it is. I love the idea of a canonised rock star making such a bizarre album. Some of it comes across as a bit cheesy, but it is generally incredibly listenable. It is deeply silly and I love it.
What I listened to on June 30
- Frankie Cosmos – Next Thing
- Mount Eerie, Frederick Squire and Julie Doiron – Lost Wisdom
- Alec Bathgate – Gold Lamé
- Casiotone for the Painfully Alone – Etiquette
- Broadcast – Work and Non Work
- Purple Mountains – Purple Mountains
- The Renderers – A Dream of the Sea
- Sinkane – Gettin’ Weird
- Neil Young – Trans
- Penelope Isles – Until the Tide Creeps In
EAMONN MARRA 