ALBUM: Grrr...

An open letter to Bishop Allen:

Dear Bishop Allen,

I didn't think you could do it.
After listening to 2007's Broken String over and over (and over) again and reveling in the pop-perfection you had created, it seemed like a pretty tall (if not impossible) order to top it with any subsequent album.
That being said Grrr... is pretty stinkin' great. You have crafted something equal to, if not greater at times, than Broken String.
Just as fun as you've always been with songs that are about the catchiest little numbers I've ever heard.
There are some pretty fun standout moments for me: The Andrew Bird-esque violin in 'Dimmer', the plunky xylophone in 'The Lion and the Teacup', and just the overall cheery feeling of the record.

I'm glad to see you're celebrating, because you've created something worth a party.

Bishop Allen - Dimmer
from the album Grrr... (Amazon/iTunes)

CONCERT: If you feel like dancing...

Friday night we got to see the cheery indie-poppers Bishop Allen at Kilby Court, and man, was it a great show. The place was packed, and we had a good time despite the fact that we were victims to several broken "concert commandments" (like Thou Shalt Respect the Personal Space of Others and Thou Shalt Not Sing Along). The band played a whole slew of new stuff, but the highlights were definitely songs from last year's Bishop Allen & The Broken String, providing endless bouncing, hand-clapping bliss for all present. Some particular favorites were of course, Rain and Click click click click (which prompted a bit of that aforementioned hand-clapping), as well as the more subtle and very pretty Castanets and Butterfly Nets.

The second to last song of the night was Flight 180, an anthemic little number about dancing with pilots and flight attendants, and how life seems from an airplane seat in the sky. It made me think of how much I've been flying lately while I've been interviewing at potential dental schools - and how I've decided that flying isn't my favorite thing. Not that I don't like flying itself (I actually love single-serving peanuts and that weightless feeling right at take-off), it's just that I don't like how impersonal flying can be. For example, I don't like the fact that I've been to Houston and Detroit, but I've never really been to Houston or Detroit. I mean, unless you count seeing the city lights as I flew in and out, and the fact that I ate some great local Burger King in the terminal during my layover, I don't feel like I've gotten the whole Texas or Michigan experience, you know? That said, I have sat next to some pretty great people during my trips - so my thinking that flying is impersonal shouldn't reflect on friendly seat-mates (Thank you to Mr. ____ who helped me finish that name-drop puzzle on my last flight to Minneapolis - now that's a good travel buddy).

Anyway, here's the song:

Bishop Allen - Flight 180
from the album Bishop Allen & The Broken String (iTunes)


Also here's a great video having to do with flight.

ALBUM: Take another picture with your click, click, click, click...

Bishop Allen's album, Bishop Allen & The Broken String, has been on heavy rotation for me lately.

Made up originally of just two friends, Justin Rice and Christian Rudder, the band draws its name from Bishop Allen Drive in Cambridge, Mass. - where the two lived together after college.

And their music seems to reflect just that kind of friendly familiarity - the kind that makes you feel comfortable, like you just want to sit back and stay awhile. The album is so upbeat and catchy, but at the same time has enough depth to it that it makes it more than just a casual listen. There are points on the album that remind me of so many other groups that I enjoy, but not in the copycat sort of way - more like I'm sitting around with some new friends and discovering that we have the same taste in music, and being pretty stoked about it. That's about the best way I can describe my experience with this album. Like a bunch of friends sitting around, connecting and having a good time.

So here's a taste. If you happen to like it too, you might be interested to know that in addition to this and their first album, Bishop Allen released a four song EP for every month in 2006. That's 12 EPs and two albums to explore. Pretty cool, huh? Yep. It sure is.

Bishop Allen - Click, click, click, click

from the album Bishop Allen & the Broken String (Amazon/iTunes)

check out some more free mp3's on their website... here!