MAKING MIRRORS (and the man in the mirror)

Gotye...Jean Paul Gotye.

He always mentions how his name is pronounced correctly, because there's always a couple of dumb shits like me who don't know how to do it. Well, I've know how to do it for an year now and I feel better for it.

So, the drummer - huh! - has a new album out, it's called "Making Mirrors" and I had to steal it because iTunes won't sell it here. Sorry, dude. You're not the first and you won't be the last. Just so you know, yesterday I pre-ordered the new Fantômas DVD, I actually paid for it, so rest assured I do do that from time to time. However, this is not that time: I liked your first two albums more. Maybe this one will grow on me, as it has tremendous potential to do just that.

The first two had songs that simply dazzled me, they were bursting with joyous little sounds coming from seemingly everywhere and twirling into a glorious, melodious bouquet. This one is glorious and melodious enough, sure, but, at a third listen I still miss the little sounds, you know.

In my mind, for easier reference, I have bunched up Gotye with Sufjan Stevens and Get Well Soon, all in the same drawer, the "Glorious Bald Bombastic Poppies" drawer. GWS is a bit different, but a guy can only have so many drawers. Anyway, I like this pop. It's what pop should sound like. Some of Gotye's melodies give me such a Motown feeling, you know? I mean, that's gotta be good stuff. It's that particular brand of joy only black people can muster and only white people could be so naive as to try and copy it. Lungs full of gospel and funk and blues and huge-breasted mammas shattering the stained glass with their voices. But, you know, thank God we have Coldplay to keep those rabid dogs at bay, pheew. Give'em hell, Chris!

I have listened to Making Mirrors four times now and I do like it and it does make me feel better. This kind of album / band is the reason why I think bands like Tool should get a night job at a petrol station, while away the hours in a coffin the rest of the day and leave us the fuck alone with that one-note gloomines. I'm so sick of deep frowny guys like me. I'm keeping my eye on Steven Wilson as well, that fucking nerd has it coming, I swear.

Anyway - SMILEY FACE - I don't know why, but this album reminded me of one beautiful little album by Michael Jackson before the crotch-grabbing, heee-heee era. The album's called Farewell My Summer Love  and it's beautiful and perfect and I've listened to it 2036 times.

So, of all the happy-go-fuck it tunes on this album, I'm gonna pick a sorry-ass sad one because that's the way I was raised.

And just for good measure, send your friends home, pretend you're just dying for a Morrisey fix and try this little album for size: Farewell My Summer Love. It could be just me, I don't know, I'm just sayin'...

Michael Jackson - Here I am (come and take me)