All posts tagged with: Chris Brady
Pond
June 21, 2007 | Filed Under Music | No Comments
This month’s “blue plate” special.
Do you have a favorite record that hits you on all levels? That seems to be wired to your wavelength? And yet every time you try to explain the music or have someone listen to it or actually give them the CD – you just get these odd looks like “What are you smoking”? This is one of mine (and – yes – there are others).
“Rock Collection” wasn’t the only album Pond put out – but it was their last. A power trio from Oregon on Sub-Pop records comprised of Chris Brady, Charlie Campbell and David Triebwasser. The album came out in 1997 on the SONY label Work – which means “if it sells, we may work with you”. It didn’t.
Every song on this record strung itself into my bloodstream for reasons I can never explain and it is still like igniting something every time I listen to it. Guitar, bass and drums. The harmonies didn’t blend so much as collide. The production was raw and chaotic. Occasionally, the guitar and bass were played with violin bows creating yet another odd sound for a rock record. And the songs? Dark – often in minor keys that exploded with redemption or catharsis at the end. Songs about divorce (“Forget”) or child abuse (“Spokes”) or disease (“Scoliosis”). Even a song about Laika, the dog they sent into space (“But My Dog Is An Astronaut”). My favorite is one of the most moving short stories I’ve ever heard in a three minute song - “Filterless”. As a writer, I can only dream of writing something so honest, clear and compact. My favorite image – “She used to make gum wrapper necklaces/She always seemed to smell of wintergreen”. Doesn’t mean anything out of context, but in the amazingly short world of this song it says everything.
If you can find it – listen. But I can’t guarantee anything. As I said – I’ve tried this before…