Comments on: Parker Street Cinema “Music, In The Blood” (Abandoned Love 2007) http://retrolowfi.com/2007/11/16/parker-street-cinema-music-in-the-blood-abandoned-love-2007/ Musings on pop and not-so-pop culture. Reviews of indie, lo-fi, twee, books cult cinema, and so much more. Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:26:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Ryan http://retrolowfi.com/2007/11/16/parker-street-cinema-music-in-the-blood-abandoned-love-2007/#comment-29922 Ryan Fri, 16 Nov 2007 18:02:28 +0000 http://retrolowfi.com/2007/11/16/parker-street-cinema-music-in-the-blood-abandoned-love-2007/#comment-29922 I'm Ryan, a friend of PSC. They made a great record, and I appreciate several aspects of their sound that you identify in your review. The idea that music can be sounds intruding on other sounds really resonates with my idea of what PSC is trying to accomplish. Their live set is just as effective at this process as the album- if not more so- since the samples seem to desend upon the band and the audience via the house PA system, the band seems to have no choice but to play with them, through them, and take the audience along, showing the audience a way to cope with the intrusive elements and accept them as part of the music. I agree that "Parking Ticket Patriot" is the crux- if that is latin for "my favorite song." Again, from a live perspective, I remember seeing this song performed where their buddies jumped out of nowhere with trumpet and trombone and busted out the fanfare with, well, great show-stealing fanfare. I saw Broken Social Scene incorporate brass on stage- but it was done smoothly and without the characteristic intrusive, "high-jacking" quality that PSC maintains. Kevin's ability to stretch the melodic boundaries of "lead bass," Brian's riding of the lyrical syncopated piano that cascades down a staircase with welcome discordance like a Tex Avery cartoon provide melodic features that distinguish this band from other instrumental post-rock bands. Oh, and Ken- well, he is the staircase. I’m Ryan, a friend of PSC. They made a great record, and I appreciate several aspects of their sound that you identify in your review. The idea that music can be sounds intruding on other sounds really resonates with my idea of what PSC is trying to accomplish. Their live set is just as effective at this process as the album- if not more so- since the samples seem to desend upon the band and the audience via the house PA system, the band seems to have no choice but to play with them, through them, and take the audience along, showing the audience a way to cope with the intrusive elements and accept them as part of the music.

I agree that “Parking Ticket Patriot” is the crux- if that is latin for “my favorite song.” Again, from a live perspective, I remember seeing this song performed where their buddies jumped out of nowhere with trumpet and trombone and busted out the fanfare with, well, great show-stealing fanfare. I saw Broken Social Scene incorporate brass on stage- but it was done smoothly and without the characteristic intrusive, “high-jacking” quality that PSC maintains.

Kevin’s ability to stretch the melodic boundaries of “lead bass,” Brian’s riding of the lyrical syncopated piano that cascades down a staircase with welcome discordance like a Tex Avery cartoon provide melodic features that distinguish this band from other instrumental post-rock bands. Oh, and Ken- well, he is the staircase.

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