Album's almost finished - stylistically it's totally all over the map. The most recent batch of songs ranges from 80s dance-pop (think Scritti Politti meets Duran Duran meets ABC meets, um, Modest Mouse?) to Who/Guided By Voices/Hold Steady/Knack garage pop. Oh, all these references - I'm giving away my secrets. Or not - oftentimes these are the touchstones we use in the studio for describing the world we're aiming to enter, and usually the end results sound nothing like what we're talking about. It's why i can never truly describe the music I'm making. Think of it this way: it's pop music. Like always. More uptempo than I'd imagined this record would end up being, and for the better that way. Lyrically, just as sardonic as always. As in, "I'm dancing to a song about WHAT??"
I do a lot of driving back and forth between Toronto and Syracuse, and I try to spend some of that time listening to the radio. When CBC and NPR die out, I listen to evangelical Christian radio until I get so angry, I have to start flipping. Then I get depressed at the state of "modern rock" or whatever it is these days, bored by the repetition of Classic Rock stations, and find myself realizing that pure pop rules the airwaves once again. Sure, there's lots of crap out there, but when i stumble upon a something truly pleasurable on Top 40, I find it makes me stay there longer.
The Shazam app for the iPhone has turned out to be a great help. I downloaded it ages ago, and never used it until recently. I wish there was a way to select a playlist inside of it and instantly buy the whole lot through iTunes though, rather than having to go track-by-track. Perhaps soon I'll put up a "best of my commutes" playlist.
Once I hit the Syracuse area, I'm dismayed to find that many of the stations simulcast on multiple frequencies, diminishing choice even more. And these days, there seem to be an uncomfortable amount of Christmas music stations. And Delilah.
The only thing I can truly stomach on the xmas stations is the Jackson 5 version of Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, which might be one of the 10 best pieces of singing ever committed to tape.
Ok. Off to finish wrapping Hanukkah presents. Happy Holidays, folks.