The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit

They do in fact still make these quaint little artifacts called “videos”, and this is a good one.  It’s the latest from Field Music, “Let’s Write a Book”.  It just so happens to be one of my favorite cuts from Measure, as well as one of the best displays of stop-motion animation and clip art in a video since Talking Heads released “And She Was” back in ’85.

For fans of Sunderland’s indie pop masters Field Music, the two-plus years since their announced hiatus felt like anything but.  Scarcely a year after the January 2007 release of Tones of Town, co-founder David Brewis released an album under the School of Language banner.   That was followed up in August ’08 by the self-titled debut of brother Peter’s project, The Week That Was.  To confuse matters even further both albums were only nominally solo efforts, as each brother contributed to the other one’s disc.

So while I greeted the news of Field Music’s official resurrection as a musical concern with enthusiasm, it was hardly a shock.  I’ll just chalk the whole hiatus thing up to artists needing to be artists, and leave it at that.

All of which brings us to the first proper Field Music record since the aforementioned Tones of Town – a self-titled affair that’s been unofficially subtitled Measure by the brothers themselves.  To me, a self-titled record that’s not a debut usually signals one thing above all else: “Forget everything else we’ve released, we’re going to record whatever pleases us and if you don’t like it then go pound salt.”  Depending on the act involved this can either be a blessing or a curse.

…keep digging Album review: Field Music – Field Music (Measure)

Dear reader, in my travels to bring you reports of local performances by various musical acts, I have encountered some strange people.  But over the weekend I encountered one of the strangest yet – the Brooklyn Hipster.  For those not from the New York area, it’s important to note that Brooklyn is to Hipsters as Mecca is to Muslims or Wal-Mart is to rednecks.  It’s the source of their strength and identity, which in this case means lots of bad haircuts, wool caps, and faux vintage clothing.  They’re harmless for the most part, but damn are they annoying in large groups.

…keep digging In Concert: Field Music w/The Spinto Band and The Mugs

Yeah, so I pimp Field Music a lot on this site…what of it?  If your band made music as great as this, I’d hype it to death too.

Here’s the video for “Them That Do Nothing”, from the band’s upcoming album.  I simply cannot wait, but I will not download a leaked copy.

I’m pretty jazzed to see Field Music in Brooklyn tomorrow night, so to get the party started early here’s the opening cut from their self-titled debut – “If Only the Moon Were Up”.  Dig that early ’80s MTV cinematography!

Following up on their earlier report regarding the forthcoming Field Music album, Stereogum provides us with the title track from that album, “Measure”.  It sounds to be a close relation to the music on their excellent Tones of Town album, and of course I’ve already downloaded it.  February 16 can’t get here soon enough…

Via Stereogum comes word that Field Music is back in action and plans a new album for 2010!!!