Wednesday, August 19, 2009

MP3: The Swell Season, "In These Arms"

Posted by Nick Spacek on Wed, Aug 19, 2009 at 1:56 PM

Here's my breakdown of the last five minutes:

click to enlarge swell_season_promo_thumb_300x210.jpg

Blog blog blog.

Search the web.

Read RSS feed.

"New Swell Season song?"

Squeal like a 12 year-old girl.

Download song, waiting impatiently.

Press play.

"Glen Hansard's voice is so good. It's like a warm blanket."

More listening.

"Oh, Lord. This is so pretty."

Lower lip quivers.

"I may cry."

Markéta Irglová's voice joins in.

"That's it...dammit, I'm gonna cry."

Tears, sniffles.

Mix tape song of the year. Right here. Seriously. "Maybe I was born to hold you in these arms" is the sort of sentiment that seems ridiculous when written down, but when you hear these two sing it together -- oh, I pity the poor bastard who doesn't get moved by this. The Once soundtrack had its moments, but I've loved the Frames for ages. Seeing them play "Star, Star" at the Granada is one of only two times I've ever openly wept at a concert. The other was hearing John McCutcheon do "Christmas in the Trenches" with the Winfield City Orchestra.

This song, though, makes me think Strict Joy could be a serious contender when it comes out on ANTI- this fall. It's very much what the Swell Season's done thus far, just guitars and piano at first, with swelling instrumentation in the song's middle, but there's so much damned emotion here that its power is undeniable.

MP3: The Swell Season, "In These Arms"

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This could be their Shoot Out the Lights: a breakup album made in the midst of a real breakup.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S...

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Posted by Jason Harper on August 19, 2009 at 4:19 PM

Marketa and Glen broke up in the past year or so, too. How do you think that'll affect things? Or, rather, the fantasy of Once/Swell Season?

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Posted by Annie Zaleski on August 19, 2009 at 2:52 PM

This is indeed a beautiful song -- nothing gets me like a ginger-bearded pretty-Britpop singer (see also Elbow's Guy Garvey). I wonder if the Swell Season will have a life after Once. I'm sure the Swell Season wonders that too.

Twice?

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Posted by Jason Harper on August 19, 2009 at 2:46 PM
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