One of the more interesting collaborations in 2007 (resulting in one of the better songs) was undoubtedly the pairing of X frontman John Doe with Canadian singer-songwriter Kathleen Edwards. She lent her vocal talents to lovelorn standout "The Golden State" on Doe's A Year In the Wilderness, and the results rivaled some of the best produced by Doe and his longtime female foil in X, Exene Cervenka. The "plutonic love at first sight" (as Edwards herself put it) between the two has now blossomed into a co-headlining tour together that will find them guest starring in one another's sets, performing songs live together for the first time. No doubt a few Knitters or even old X tunes will make it onto the setlist. Doe and Edwards play Monday night at John Henry's in Eugene before ting the Aladdin Theater in Portland on Wednesday.
Stream: "The Golden State" (Newly-covered by another interesting pair)
Stream: Kathleen Edwards' opbmusic in-studio session
Elsewhere this week, when it comes to Kevin Barnes and Of Montreal, the question is not if he's coming to us from some distant solar system, the question is which one. Even more complex, densely-packed, and innuendo-filled than last year's Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?, the new Skeletal Lamping finds Barnes and co. aping Prince (as opposed to Bowie), flamboyant and provocative over the course of fifteen songs that, shall we say, push the sonic and lyrical limits-- there's a reason a fully FCC-edited version arrived in our mail recently. The results have been polarizing to say the least. Of Montreal brings their dancetastic, borderline NSFW circus to the Roseland Theater on Thursday night.
MP3: Of Montreal, from Skeletal Lamping-
"Nonpareil of Favor"
MP3: Jon Brion's new remix of the bawdy
"Gallery Pieces" (via Stereogum)
Meanwhile, back (mostly) on this planet, Shara Worden's My Brightest Diamond plays two dates in the area behind both her second full length, A Thousand Shark's Teeth, and a new digital EP that includes two french language tunes made famous once upon a time by The Little Sparrow herself, Edith Piaf. Neither Worden's classical training, nor her background as part of Sufjan Stevens' Illinoisemakers come as a surprise when hearing the intricate, string-laden numbers that fill her latest effort, reportedly six years in the making. A less pop-oriented affair than her impressive debut, A Thousand Shark's Teeth nevertheless seeps into the skin, rewarding upon repeated listens. My Brightest Diamond plays Thursday at the Doug Fir before moving on to Eugene's WOW Hall on Friday, both dates with opener Clare & the Reasons.
MP3: My Brightest Diamond, from the From the Top of the World EP- "Adieu Mon Coeur"
Much more to come this week, including the CD release show for Point Juncture, WA's new Heart to Elk Thursday at Holocene, and Friday sees the return to Portland of Yeasayer with a show at the Aladdin Theater, as well as a homecoming show at the Someday Lounge from Star-f-er, just returned from a tour supporting their recent full-length debut.
The thread's all yours, what's on your minds?
Comments are now closed.