There's always a reason to come back. In this case it's avoiding writing a paper.
Anyway, Snowglobe. Insanely, overwhelmingly overlooked band. One of the most obscure bands that isn't a "local act" or tiny homegrown one-off affair of one kind or another.
This is fully-orchestrated, fully-realized and fully terrific pure pop music. Think Apples in Stereo if they were really, really good, and had a not-as-annoying singer. Also less precious (despite the name), and a bit more serious/sincere.
Maybe it's the everydude voice that turned the hipster community off these guys, I'm not really sure. Maybe it's how clearly unashamed they are of being accessible and pleasurable. But the melodic sensibility and songwriting on all three of the albums I've been able to get hold of is really exceptional. The aesthetic may be familiar, but the emotional impact of some of these songs is guaranteed to leave an impression. Check them out.
Ok so you might not have heard them to reply with anything to say about the band, but DO make sure to listen to them. Beyond worth it, even if they weren't monstrously overlooked. Which they are.
Originally posted by BlackGravel: Ok so you might not have heard them to reply with anything to say about the band, but DO make sure to listen to them. Beyond worth it, even if they weren't monstrously overlooked. Which they are.
Could you MegaUpload or Mediafire any of their albums (with the exception of Oxytocin, which I was able to find)?
Originally posted by BlackGravel: I don't know if I can officially post about that. Oxytocin is actually the one I like least - still good though.
I agree with this. Snowglobe is an awesome band. Doing the Distance is definitely their best. It's obvious that Neutral Milk Hotel is a major influence of these guys, but they do lean more towards the pop end of the spectrum than NMH.
Another note: Brad Postlethwaite, one of the 2 main songwriters in the band, released an excellent solo album called Welcome to the Occupation. The songs are all about the kind of suffering caused US foreign policy; definitely be sure to check out the lyrics and notes on them on his website...ah, shit, it's down for some reason right now. You can find a few reviews of that solo album right here though: http://www.squidoo.com/bradpostlethwaite
-------------------------------------------------- I have no race prejudices, and I think I have no color prejudices nor caste prejudices nor creed prejudices. All that I care to know is that a man is a human being—that is enough for me; he can't be any worse.
Posts: 4605 | Location: NE Indiana | Registered: 14 April 2005
released an excellent solo album called Welcome to the Occupation. The songs are all about the kind of suffering caused US foreign policy;
Really. Makes me a bit queasy. They've both written a lot of good songs, but I don't recall any that were making a grab for "relevance." Ugh. I might check it out just for the tunesmithing.
What you said about Doing the Distance - totally agree. Master of Forgotten Works, that chain lightning guitar outro to Medium, the breakdown of Aimless Sailor...it's like, these guys are obscure? One more reason to hate the world. If there's any conceivable reason for it, it'd be that the songs are often so backloaded. They seem to more often than not save the best parts of their songs for the end.
Just bought Doing the Distance off Amazon based on this thread and what I heard from their myspace, which sounded amazing. Thanks for the recommendation.
Apparently my MOM insists that she just heard Snowglobe on 105.5 Triple M. Is that not insane? As luck would have it there's a new album out and my mother insists that the lady DJ called it "one of the hottest new albums out" like it's super-popular.
I was always bewildered by their obscurity what with the extreme accessibility and listener-accommodation found on their records. Maybe this is their time to break through. Fingers crossed.
Whoa, that's great news, BG. Thanks for letting us know. I just ordered Brad Postlethwaite's solo album, Welcome to the Occupation, yesterday. Do you know anything else about the new Snowglobe album? Is it gonna be pretty much a Postlethwaite solo album like the last one or are the other guys chipping in this time? Either way I'm excited.
-------------------------------------------------- I have no race prejudices, and I think I have no color prejudices nor caste prejudices nor creed prejudices. All that I care to know is that a man is a human being—that is enough for me; he can't be any worse.
Posts: 4605 | Location: NE Indiana | Registered: 14 April 2005
It would seem that there may not be a new album after all.
I was incredulous and very doubtful when my mother insisted that there was a new album. She was very smug about it, so between having to disappoint you and say I haven't found any real evidence of a new album and being able to tell her she was wrong I come out about even. AAAAARGH mom I TOLD YOU there wasn't a new one GOD!
Originally posted by BlackGravel: It would seem that there may not be a new album after all.
I was incredulous and very doubtful when my mother insisted that there was a new album. She was very smug about it, so between having to disappoint you and say I haven't found any real evidence of a new album and being able to tell her she was wrong I come out about even. AAAAARGH mom I TOLD YOU there wasn't a new one GOD!
Your mother may have meant Snow Patrol. Whatever you think about A Hundred Million Suns, it's easier to understand them getting radio airplay and being referred to as "super popular" than Snowglobe.
But, if nothing else, her mistake got me to check out their myspace page. Very promising. To eMusic I go for this one.
________________ The record buying public shouldn't be voting.
Posts: 1107 | Location: Los Angeles | Registered: 18 December 2006
Yeah, Doing the Distance has "Indie Classic" all over it if you ask me. "Mrs. June," "Regime," and "Changes" are about as good as it gets. I really hope these guys keep making music. Brad Postlethwaite seems like one of the coolest guys around.
-------------------------------------------------- I have no race prejudices, and I think I have no color prejudices nor caste prejudices nor creed prejudices. All that I care to know is that a man is a human being—that is enough for me; he can't be any worse.
Posts: 4605 | Location: NE Indiana | Registered: 14 April 2005
Hello, ran across this while following up on some of our artists online and wanted to let you guys know that "Snowglobe" just put out a new EP which is available from our website.
Also, they (along w/ a number of other Makeshift artists) are currently being featured on MTV, VH1, and MTV2 in the "$5 cover" series and have a new record coming out this fall/winter (2009).
So if you like Snowglobe, check out these new releases, and be sure to check out the other Makeshift artists and bands (many of whom share members w/ "the globe"
Yeah, same here. Would normally delete such a post, but I'm so pleased to hear news of new Snowglobe tunes.
-------------------------------------------------- I have no race prejudices, and I think I have no color prejudices nor caste prejudices nor creed prejudices. All that I care to know is that a man is a human being—that is enough for me; he can't be any worse.
Posts: 4605 | Location: NE Indiana | Registered: 14 April 2005
