Far

Getting Chummy: TDoL Summer Mix 2010

Monday, July 26th, 2010 | musiX, pdX | 3 Comments

Summer is finally here in Portland … at least for a few days—’tis the season for barbecues, tubing down the river, bottomless ice chests and summer jams (Jams? JAMZ!).

TDoL spent countless hours in a dark room assembling your summer soundtrack for 2010, a mixtape filled with singalongs, un poquito de español, noise (Noise? NOIZE!), a few breezy numbers, a handful of Portland cuts, and loads of hand claps … we’re talking more clap than a state school fraternity house. Most of the music on this compilation has been lovingly featured on The Days of Lore. You should totally buy the records.

Grab the full mix in a convenient zip folder by clicking the link below. Pairs well with road trips, good barbecue and cheap beer, as well as bad trips, good times and cheap friends.

TRACKLIST:
1. “Guadalajara” - Pepe Guízar
2. “Girlfriend” - Ty Segall
3. “Too Young to Burn” - Sonny & the Sunsets
4. “Free Association” - These Hills of Gold
5. “Better Surrender” - Far
6. “Beverly Kills” - Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti
7. “Flashes” - International Waters
8. “Miss Metro” - The Knuckles
9. “Starting Over” - Typhoon
10. “The Ghost Inside” - Broken Bells
11. “Bad Buzz” - The Mint Chicks
12. “Get Around Town” - Revolver
13. “Juniper” - Y La Bamba
14. “Evening Star” - Blitzen Trapper
15. “TAOS” - Menomena
16. “La Barra” - Montañas
17. “Cars and Explosions” - Kevin Dunn
18. “Doesn’t Shake Me” - The Goodnight Loving
19. “Floating Vibes” - Surfer Blood
20. “Atom Bomb” - The Apples in stereo
21. “Sidepain” - Sea of Bees
22. “A More Perfect Union” - Titus Andronicus

DOWNLOAD: Getting Chummy: TDoL Summer Mix 2010 (117 MB ZIP)

Like The Days of Lore on Facebook. Follow TDoL on Twitter.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Far: Here and now

Thursday, May 27th, 2010 | musiX | 3 Comments

Far came into my life at just the right time. I was pretty much over the overdone meatheadedness of metal (especially the metal clientele), but I still liked to … you know, rock the fuck out.

I first saw Far in 1996 opening for Helmet at the El Dorado Saloon in Sacramento. Something struck me about the crowd … I didn’t fear for my life, for one. Plus I could tell the audience truly loved this band Far. The entire experience was this bizarre hippie hardcore love-fest led by vocalist Jonah Matranga, and it was an exhilarating feeling to let loose and know that everyone there had your back. I became somewhat of a groupie (non-sexual) of the band from 1996 until Far called it quits two years later after the release of their masterstroke Water & Solutions. The Zocalo Room, Brickworks, as well as pilgrimages to Bojangles and Old Ironsides immediately come to mind as the haunts at which I saw Far play during that compressed period of time. Those were great times.

The interesting thing about Far is that they became more popular after they’d called it quits, influencing schools of whiny, pretty-boy emo bands that were more about cool hair than cool music … which is strange because while Far may be unfairly associated with some truly horrible bands, there is only one Far.

I’ve come to realize that Far works because of the dynamic between Matranga and guitarist Shaun Lopez—they’re completely different people. In those early days Lopez was a punk rock/hardcore guy. Matranga more of a folky hippie. The differences became even more apparent after Far broke up. Lopez formed The Revolution Smile, which toured with bands like Marilyn Manson and Korn. Matranga recorded quirky EPs in his bedroom under the moniker Onelinedrawing, and played house shows to polite indie rock kids. Even today, geographically, it sort of makes sense: Matranga lives in San Francisco, Lopez calls L.A. home.

That tug of war between Lopez’s menacing riffs and Matranga’s happy pop hooks make Far’s new record At Night We Live—if anything—an interesting listen. It’s more varied and textured than Water & Solutions. Songs like “If You Cared Enough” and the title track sound ready-made for radio (and dangerously close to some of the bands that would later name-drop Far). “The Ghost That Kept On Haunting” and “When I Could See” are dark and spooky. And “Better Surrender” and “Are You Sure?” are power pop gems. Matranga’s voice sounds better than it ever has, and his lyrics still float between poetic and plainspoken. My only gripe is that At Night We Live is too slick—the guitars are still loud, but the drums and bass just don’t bang and clang like they did on Water & Solutions, which is part of what made that record so great.

So. Do I like it? Yes, yes I do. Then again I’m one of those people who dropped $24.47 (worth every penny) for At Night We Live on a four-record, blue-and-white vinyl set. Go ask a more credible source.

“Better Surrender” - Far

“At Night We Live” - Far

Like The Days of Lore on Facebook. Follow TDoL on Twitter.

Tags: , , , , , ,

Get close to Far from far away

Thursday, June 25th, 2009 | musiX | No Comments

We’re just a little more than halfway through 2009, and things are already surpassing 2008 … no, albums still aren’t selling (unless you’re Green Day), but I am excited about some of this year’s current/upcoming releases.

The short list: The Strange Boys, Beastie Boys, All Smiles, Viva Voce, Screaming Females, Jay Reatard, Dirty Projectors, The Rural Alberta Advantage, Slayer, Wilco, Reigning Sound …. And there’s one that myself and a handful of other weirdos are eagerly anticipating—the new album from proto-emo band Far. Wait a second … maybe you’re the weirdo, weirdo! Are you the weirdo? OK, so I’m the weirdo.

Of course, much of this stems from good ol’ nostalgia. Upon its release in 1998 Far’s Water & Solutions didn’t leave my side for an entire year. I recently dusted it off, and it still holds up—the songs, and the production/guidance of D. Sardy that pushed the members to try different things while giving the record its big, booming sound.

After a decade apart, the members of Far made amends in late 2008, which led to some dates (I saw them here in Portland it was great) and ultimately to the band recording a new record, due out sometime this summer on Vagrant Records. The band is currently in the studio putting on the finishing touches, including vocals—by you, the kindly weirdo.

Vocalist Jonah Matranga recently posted a video on the band’s Web site where he screams the vocals to one of the new songs, “This Is What We Do.” The band is looking for people from all over to scream along to Matranga’s vocals, record themselves, and send the members a link to the audio/video via YouTube etc. The idea is to get hundreds or thousands of people on one track. As the ever-charming Matranga put’s it: “When the album comes out, the most far-reaching, diverse, punk-rock DIY choir EVER will be on it.” Cool idea.

The band is hoping to complete the track in the next couple of weeks. Get more details at Far’s Web site. And view the video for the scream-a-long here.

The band even encourages people to get friends and family in on the fun—so, you can tell grandma and grandpa that before church on Sunday they’re going to be screaming the lines “We! Will! Fight! Through!” into a digital recording device. On a side note, Sunny Day Real Estate is reforming for some dates. Suddenly I’m overcome with emotion.

Tags: , , ,

Getting closer to Far

Wednesday, January 28th, 2009 | musiX | No Comments

Back in October I wrote that Sacramento’s Far was planning to play a handful of UK dates after 10 years apart. I was excited. The band came back under the moniker Hot Little Pony, knocked out a cover of Ginuwine’s “Pony” and played a homecoming show in Sacto Jan. 15.

Sounds like things are going well. The boys in Far have grown up. They’re getting along. Rocking out. Bassist John Gutenberger looks like a bearded Jim Carrey. And they’re steadily adding more dates, including one in San Francisco at Slim’s on Feb. 22. The members of Far have chosen to keep things relaxed. That said, there are no current plans to go into the studio, except to possibly record another cover or two.

Vocalist/guitarist Jonah Matranga had this to say: “I don’t want to do an original song just to have a new song, and have it not be as good as the old shit. Because all of our favorite old bands do that and it blows.”

Good point. Get the full story in my interview with Matranga and guitarist Shaun Lopez here.

The members of Far surely would have their work cut out for them following up 1998’s excellent Water & Solutions—the production, the songs, lyrics. But I guess if you’re going to ease back into things, a Ginuwine cover is a good way to go.

“Man Overboard” - Far (Water & Solutions)

“Pony” - Far (Ginuwine cover)

Tags: , , , , ,

I like it

Tuesday, October 7th, 2008 | musiX | No Comments

I was a full-on groupie of the band Far about 10 years ago. The Sacto four-piece is often cited, along with bands like Sunny Day Real Estate, as an influence on more than a decade’s worth of horrible music, summed up in three little letters: E-M-O. I know … kinda makes you want to get some pals together, knock down a few sixers of PBR and grab the torches and pitchforks from the closet (right next to the umbrellas and scarves) and search for their house. Ya with me?!

But the members of Far should not be held accountable, for they really are much more than a thin, and I mean thin, group of kids with funny hair who sing about their girlfriends. I first saw Far perform when they opened for Helmet at Sacramento’s El Dorado Saloon in 1996. It was right around the release of the band’s first major-label release Tin Cans With Strings to You. It blew me away. I loved the idea of being able to get aggression out, without the fear of some yolked-out speed freak breaking your collar bone just for poops and chortles. Two years later the band released Water & Solutions, which is one of those records that includes not a single dud. I saw them three or four more times that year.

Far has been inactive since 1999, while the members have gone on to various projects. Vocalist Jonah Matranga continued on in his project onelinedrawing, while guitarist Shaun Lopez fronted The Revolution Smile and bassist John Gutenberger started pop bands like Milwaukee and Two Sheds. Why in Gawd’s name, you ask, am I prattling on about a band that is long gone … and responsible for starting emo? Well, after years of teasing, the members of Far are setting off to play some UK dates starting in November, and it looks like the band will also play a couple of shows right here in the good ol’ U.S. of A. in La La Land under the moniker Hot Little Pony (listen to the band’s cover of Ginuwine’s “Pony” … yes, that Ginuwine). Look for more soon as the band will relaunch its Web site Oct. 14.

Needless to say I am as excited as one of those kids with the funny hair who sings about their girlfriends. And I don’t think I’m alone. Listen and love this. “I Like It” from Water & Solutions.

Tags: , , , ,

Search

Topics of Destruction