American Interior

I am not particularly a fan of Super Furry Animals, and though I write about indie rock all the time, this isn't intended as an indie rock post, though maybe it is.

I caught an interview with Gruff Rhys on NPR this week that had a real cool story I had never heard before.

The basis of his story informs his new album, video, book and mobile app called American Interior

Because it's online, I will share it here

Essentially, it is the story of 18th century explorer John Evans

Evans was interested in the Welsh legend of Madog, and believed Madog predated Columbus's visit to America and there's a popular myth that he incorporated into the Native Americans, and created a race of Welsh Indians.  The most likely of tribes Evans thought to be "Welsh" was the Mandan tribe.

Evans was hired by the Spanish (after many adventures such as being accused of being a British spy) and was sent to find out about the Mandans, as well as being tasked to find a group of unicorn and find the Pacific Ocean.

It's a fascinating story which i am not telling as well as Rhys does.  Evans finds his big lifelong quest to find Welsh in America is a bust, which is sad.

If you aren't in a spot where you can listen to the interview, The Guardian has a pretty good write up as well here

On the Shelf 135- Julian Casablancas & the Voidz

Poor Julian Casablancas.

His position in rock history will always be secure based on Is This It. That album firmly secured the band as part of a long lineage of great NYC bands.

That said, every year, Julian's reputation seems less and less. His place in history seems tied to a perfect album, but he has never gotten the acclaim or reputation that one finds with a Tom Verlaine or a Johnny Thunders or a Chris Stein or a Jim Carroll. Julian is simply someone with a good ear for a tune and is sort of unchangeable. For proof, what is perhaps Julian's finest moment is a SNL-style joke.

I don't mean to be insulting. If anything, I am more of a Strokes fan than most. I even like those unloved albums like Angles and First Impressions of Earth. It's just the hype around that debut has never been fully met.

It is probably this spirit that Julian has formed a band called The Voidz (likely a Richard hell tribute) and released Tyranny.

Casablancas has been very adamant that this album is not for the masses. It's his Metal Machine Music, and if you still aren't convinced that this shouldn't be for you, Julian is selling for it a rock bottom price, and he is bundling the physical copy of the album with a lighter.

I guess the first thing about Tyranny isn't MMM. It does seem discordant, and if you don't spend more than 30 seconds with it, that is likely your take.

There's certainly a nod to 80s new wave, 80s industrial and 80s video games. If you sit down and listen to it, you realize there is a lot there.

You have to credit Julian with stretching his artistic muscle and going a bit outside of the normal borders.

It also generally works.....

...for what it is. It's still a bit of a mess for me. I would prefer some of the stuff on this album incorporated into what exists in the Strokes.

It does lie the possibility of becoming a cult album, and I have seen it already listed in some of the year end Best ofs in the UK Press.

To me, it's more interesting than good, but I appreciate what he is doing, and he never really advertised it as anything else as what it was, so you can't fault the guy either.

Anyway, this is one of the songs that seems to work, and if you like it, you can seek out more.

Fun fact: When I blogged about Julian's solo album, I got more comments than I ever have before or sinceon my blog. They were just about all 'suspicious' and were advertising Ugg boots and Coach purses. But, the comments were through the roof. My finest blogging moment.

"Julian Casablancas+The Voidz - Where No Eagles Fly (Official Video)" (Watch on YouTube)