Every Song Is Empty Without Yr Friendly Tone

Iron & Wine “Pagan Angel and a Borrowed Car” – Previous Iron & Wine records were lost on me, but The Shephard’s Dog is a pleasant surprise. The songs are more relaxed than melancholy, and benefit greatly active arrangements that imply a sense of movement without distracting the listener from taking in the details of the sound and the virtual scenery. Whereas older Iron & Wine records simulated intimacy, the new songs, “Pagan Angel and a Borrowed Car” in particular, stretch out the scale without losing the sense of space, like an overwhelming panoramic view of a tiny stretch of land. (Click here to buy it from Sub Pop.)

Thurston Moore and Christina Carter “Honest James” – Left to his own devices, it’s easy to see just how many of Sonic Youth’s signature moves are actually the habits, ticks, and natural rhythms of Thurston Moore. It also becomes clear what the other members bring to the sound — Moore’s new solo record is long on melody, but it is light on rhythmic tension and textural richness, and so the material often sounds like a nearly weightless version of what the band has been doing since Murray Street in 2002. “Honest James” is the most gorgeous and surprising cut on Trees Outside The Academy, and one of the few that sounds like something other than an unfinished Sonic Youth song. Its pretty, unembellished acoustic rhythms would never make much sense on a Sonic Youth record, and the duet with Christina Carter is lovely and earnest in a way that would have been impossible if it had been performed with either Kim Gordon or Lee Ranaldo. (Click here to buy it from Amazon.)

Elsewhere: I think Lou Reed has a little crush on Amanda Petrusich. I wonder if Lou Reed would like my name. I almost want to send him a letter: “Dear Lou Reed, do you like my name? Please let me know, I’ve included a SASE…”

Also: Xenomania are auditioning female singers in NYC! And they are going to work with Franz Ferdinand!

And: A new Daniel Clowes comic strip debuted in yesterday’s issue of the New York Times Magazine. It’s kinda minor and formulaic for him, but hey, it’s been three years since the last issue of Eightball and I’ll take what I can get.