Hurry Up, M83's Bandwagon is Growing

With special thanks to Spotify for helping introduce me to the following group, Stars and Slights proudly offers you the musical renditions of M83 today.

They have been around since 2001 and have, for the most part, stayed under the radar in countries not named France, their home country.

It is difficult to compare M83 to other artists due to their unique sound. One common description of their genre is 'shoegazing', which is signified by an amalgam of guitar effects and vocal melodies.

Regardless of M83's style of music, they are no doubt gaining notoriety worldwide. Of their first four albums, none of them gained attention from charts outside of France. Their fifth album, Saturdays = Youth, placed on the billboard charts in both France and the US.

Growing in popularity, they began opening for other headlining bands such as Kings of Leon, the Killers and Depeche Mode.

Hurry Up, We're Dreaming, their sixth full length album, is a double album that was released a full three years after Saturdays = Youth. In an interview with Exclaim Magazine, frontman Anthony Gonzalez revealed the inspiration behind releasing a double album.

I would hold the CD in my hand and read all of the lyrics while listening to that album over and over. For me it was a discovery and I want younger generations to experience what I got from the Smashing Pumpkins double album.

Gonzalez and M83 produced a mesmerizing sound while telling an intriguing lyrical story about twins and their efforts have not gone unnoticed. They are gaining momentum and are on billboard charts across the globe. Play the first few notes of their hit single Midnight City and even the casual listener will be drawn in.

Hurry up, their bandwagon is quickly filling up.

Widow Wake My Mind

Remember how I told you about the Smashing Pumpkins' new album and how it would be pieced together?

Well, here's the second piece to the album. "Widow Wake My Mind" is the second song on the album "Teargarden by Kaliedyscope." Enjoy.

A Song For A Son

In perhaps one of the most daring business models ever revealed by any musician, Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan announced he would release all 44 songs of the Pumpkins' new concept album Teargarden by Kaleidyscope for free, available for download one song at a time on their website.

Here is what Corgan had to say about his radical concept:

[I] don't think I'm going to make albums in the old-fashioned way, meaning 12-15 songs, etc. in one small package. My desire at this point would be to release one song at a time, over a period of 2-3 years, with it all adding up to a box set/album of sorts that would also include an art movie of the album... My thinking is that if I focus on one song at a time I would approach them as beautiful, distinct paintings that would each require the attention they deserve. This would also mean I would choose what I am recording quite carefully as there would be tremendous internal pressure to get it just right, and that is the kind of pressure I like, which is to make the most beautiful thing possible. I've gotten lost many times during the long haul of making a record and have overlooked some great songs because of that. The new standard for an SP song would that it be excellent and fantastic and most importantly essential or it's not coming out. I will do my best to meet that intention fully.

Based on those comments it his clear that this album is being made for the sheer enjoyment of writing music, not for the immediate monetary benefit so many artists seek and often 'sell-out' for.

Best of luck to Corgan and the Smashing Pumpkins on this truly unique endeavor.

Song Of The Day - July 7, 2008

Today's song comes from Chicago, IL rockers Smashing Pumpkins. Although not all fans of the band are pleased with the Pumpkins' latest efforts after a nearly 7 year hiatus we here at Stars and Slights continue to indulge ourselves in the musical genius presented by Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlain. After the release of their seventh studio album, Zeitgeist, the duo (minus original members James Iha and D'arcy Wretzky) has continued to write new music. Although the Pumpkins are touring with a bassist (Ginger Reyes) and guitarist (Jeff Schroeder) the entire Zeitgeist album was record by Chamberlain and Corgan. Today's song entitled "Superchrist" was written during the Zeitgeist sessions but was not included on the album. I especially like how the worked the violin part into the video. Enjoy.

"We didn't feel we understood the song and thought playing it on tour would help us sort it out" - Billy Corgan

*Edit - Today marks the 10th anniversary of Smashing Pumpkins Day.