PJ Harvey – White Chalk

Ive been a fan of Polly Jean since ‘rid of me’ was on high rotation in my room during third year of university  in 1993. We have both changed quite a bit since then. ‘Stories if the City’ was the sound track of a summer in 2000. That album was PJ’s ‘falling in love’ album, and was followed by her ‘breaking up’ album ‘uh huh her’ in 2004.

‘White Chalk’ is a departure from the expected riot grrl punk of the early nineties. PJ decided to learn the piano recently, so it’s ambitious to say the least to release a piano and voice album. Some might find her playing and melodies naïve because of this. I think that the naked, confessional  compositions of White Chalk are best hung on simple innocent piano melodies.

PJ lays an underbelly open over 11 disarmingly honest tracks. Whether or not it is her underbelly exposed of not is unknown, but the sense of vulnerability is palpable nonetheless. PJ’s vocal style has also changed for this album. Gone is the snarling defiance to be replaced by a delicate high range instrument of clarity.

Much like Beck’s Sea Change, White Chalk is a back-to-basics of songwriting  exploroation, and much like Sea Change, you’ll either take the time to absorb the work or not. And it isn’t the easiest thing to do. First impressions might have you believe that the pace and tone don’t change. But further explanation will reveal a level of light and shade that captivates.

Have a look at the video below – it sums up the album beautifully. The first 4 bars are so unexpected, it suprises you. The next 4 allow you to recognise what is happening, where the song is going. And from then on you are simply unable to look away. Not since Antony & The Johnsons has such delicate and moving collection of tracks been released.

THINK: Tori Amos meets Antony & The Johnsons
READ: PJ’s home and myspace pages
WATCH: ‘When Under Ether’ live in Copenhagen
BUY: White Chalk on Amazon

Britney – come back or come down?
Fiddy Vs Kanye – Who cares?

There is a lot of flurry in the music press that has mileage. I toyed with the idea of trying to keep abreast of the noteworthy, and injecting some triplejaysus satire…
Thankfully, you’ll be glad to hear I resisted the temptation. Triplejaysus is about great music. As an American friend of mine once said, “Period”. So the badly mutilated Kayne photo is more to tell you that I won’t be featuring him. Well, sort of.

In actual news, it looks like Led Zepplin will be playing one last time, complete with John Bonham’s son. Proceeds of the charity event go to the Ahmet Ertegun Education Fund, an organization that awards scholarships.If that wasn’t enough to convince me I’m on the wrong continent, Tom Waits, Neil Young and Metallica all play the bridge school benefit. I am determined to see Waits once before I he dies.

And to top it off, The Arcade Fire are touring with LCD this year. But not here. Two concerts in the USA or idyllic life in Sydney’s eastern suburbs? I take that back, they’re on the wrong continent.

G

Edit - one more thing, you might enjoy this - (thanks for the tip Royce)

Bad Religion - New Maps of Hell

Punk. Not Skate Punk, not Sportz Metal but Punk. Do you remember what punk stood for?  Punk used to be about activists calling us to action. Anarchy, uprising, question authority, throw your hands in the air. It’s the ‘wave them like you just don’t care’ bit that is the problem. Bad Religion haven’t forgotten what punk is, but their latest album, New Maps of Hell, gives me the impression that they have realised that everyone else has.

On this, the band’s 14th album, their sense of hope seems to have dwindled. This time around Bad Religion’s cries for rebellion are mostly about the failure to rebel. “Requiem for Dissent” is probably the strongest call for action, to not let dissent die, but it also feels like a eulogy. Their biggest fear is that Apathy will prevail – and you can’t help but think they feel it has.

Their parting shot is the same but different. Same wordy call to arms (“Lacerate eviscerate and perforate and mutilate / We all fall down, all fall down / Deprecate repudiate ameliorate adjudicate / The wisdom found, wisdom found.”), same close harmonies and catchy choruses are still there. The guitar hooks are a little meatier this time, and the production is a little less polished. If you like short fast loud then New Maps of Hells will no doubt tick your boxes. It features intelligent lyrics over incredibly short yet dense tracks. That’s either your bag or not. And that’s definitely MY bag, baby.

THINK: “Man, we’re facked!” to music
READ: Bad religion’s homepage
WATCH: Heroes & Martyrs on KROQ
BUY: New maps of Hell on Amazon

Radiohead - yesterday*

But don’t get too under excited just yet! Jonny Greenwood spoke to Paste.com revealing his secret shame that radiohead have indeed finished recording and mastering their new opus.

“We just had a meeting…today,” Greenwood told Paste.com on September 7. “We’re very relieved to have finished recording. Now we have to decide what we should do with it.”

Radiohead fulfilled their contract with EMI upon releasing Hail to the Theif, and are presently label-less. While we at Triplejaysus would love to distribute the new album on our own Divinity Discs imprint, we’re not waiting by the phone for that call.

It has also been reported on Pitchfork that the release date won’t be til 2008, and that the release may very well feature children. They aren’t Icelandic children though, but you can’t have everything I guess.

*or maybe the day before