Lace Curtains (Dan)
One of the things I love about the Spotify integration with Facebook is seeing my All-Time top artists, albums, and songs. It even breaks it down by month. It’s cool to look back and see which albums I was jamming to throughout the year. Of course, the results are a little skewed by the fact my 4 year old insists we listen to her music while in the car. It’s only because I love her dearly that I suffer the shame of having Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen as my all-time most listened to song.
One thing Spotify doesn’t track though, is songs you have on your computer that aren’t on Spotify. This month OBN IIIs, Harlem, and LCD Soundsystem are my top played artists. However, if Spotify tallied local tracks too then Lace Curtains would be the clear leader. I have listened to The Garden Of Joy And The Well Of Loneliness more times than I can even count at this point. The year isn’t over yet, but it will take something pretty spectacular to supplant it as my top album of 2012. It’s that good.
Lace Curtains is the project of Michael Coomer, who is best known for his work in Harlem. It seems Harlem is on a break since the other driving force in the group (Curtis James) is currently promoting his other band, Grape St. Coomer took full advantage of the down time by recording this new record in Brooklyn with Matt Tong (of Bloc Party). When I heard about Lace Curtains I expected more happy-go-lucky garage rock, but this record is in stark contrast to the Harlem releases. Whereas Harlem played punky garage rock that was a bit goofy (like the sophomoric garage rock perfected by early Mudhoney), this is a personal album filled with songs about regrets, break-ups, confessions, apologies, and sex.
It’s safe to say that The Garden of Joy And The Well Of Loneliness is more heartfelt than anything Coomer has done in the past. He displays a vulnerability in his poetic lyrics. But that vulnerability doesn’t mean the record is stiff or overwrought. Rather it has a laid back, relaxed, and very honest vibe. The songs seem as they were written with ease, as if he was just getting a few things off his chest or having a conversation with significant other. While there are a few hints of garage rock, the songs are more of stripped down experimental-pop like you’d hear from the Velvet Underground.
While I thoroughly enjoy each track on the record, let me makes this perfectly clear: Cleopatra is my JAM. I fucking love this song. It’s a breezy, mid-tempo strummer but there’s just something about it that makes you want to listen to it on repeat all day, all night. I dare you to take a listen and tell me I’m wrong.
:Lace Curtains – Cleopatra:
:Lace Curtains – Bedroom Honesty:
:Lace Curtains – High Fantasy:
