Posts about Final Fantasy
As I was watching Grizzly Bear play with the Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra, I couldn’t help noticing how much of their music is really defined by restrain–their passages aren’t passages of growth, and there isn’t an overflow of any sort, which I guess is comparable to the economy of poems: all of the little bits are born fresh and sacrificed young, before anything is allowed to grow old, ever, by the time the song is over. The band mentioned that having an orchestra allowed them to play songs that they normally wouldn’t play, and while the orchestra sounded pristine, I don’t think there was a whole lot it could add to Grizzly Bear’s music anyway; it was more of a unique experience created for the sake of indulgence and pampering the senses, which allowed some people rare opportunities, such as to my neighbor who found himself annoyed when the audience greeted the beginnings of familiar songs with wild applause–it seemed that he felt you just don’t do that when there’s an orchestra involved, or if you’re at a venue like BAM.
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You know what happens when you have tickets to Beirut and Final Fantasy on the same day (Feb 6), and These United States announces they’re also going to play Union Hall on that very day, because everyone obviously loves Feb 6? You cancel all other plans and go see These United States. That’s right. I already got rid of my Beirut tickets (that was easy!) and I’ve decided to give away the Final Fantasy ones here. They’re for the 8PM show this Friday. All you have to do is write to me at hoovesontheturf [at] gmail [dot] com and tell me something you found on this site that you liked, and something that maybe you didn’t like as much. Just be sincere and frank, and you’ll probably win. No need to be witty or overly entertaining. I’ll do a draw from all qualifying entries. These are hard tickets, and you’d need to come pick them up in the West Village area. Deadline is Thursday, Feb 5, noon.
[Update: Contest is now closed! Thanks so much for writing in, I loved hearing what you had to say, and I'll contact the winner shortly the winner has been contacted]
Where I indulge in the overrated phenomenon of a year-end list and discover my bias for sullen songs over happy ones; 20 most-loved songs of the year, with a self-imposed rule of one song per artist so as to not make it entirely pointless.
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In the midst of Beirut-induced buzz I might’ve under-emphasized the merit of Final Fantasy sets. Here’s some evidence from the May 8th show. He played this after wondering out loud if he should play a downer, and before Beirut joined him for the last song, “That’s When the Audience Died.”
“Took You Two Years To Win My Heart”
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Previously
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Night one of three NYC shows with Beirut at Bowery Ballroom, and Owen Pallett / Final Fantasy did not disappoint. He spins a colorful world by weaving layer after layer on his violin and then some on keys. His voice is crisp, sounding exactly like in recording (woo-hoo), though he did not hesitate to drop a line he’d started to try it again. In the meantime, he shared his admiration of Zach Condon’s projection, calling himself a “pussy behind the microphone.” On stage, Owen is easily humble, charming and funny. In addition to old favorites like “Adventure.exe” and “It Took You Two Years to Win My Heart,” he played some new tunes, one of them being “Flare Gun.”
(Photos and review continue after the jump)
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Download “Flare Gun” from You Ain’t Picasso or Good Hodgkins (from the compilation Esopus 8)
or listen first:
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Photo: Georg Schroll
Final Fantasy leads the pack in another compilation- Esopus Magazine’s eighth installment, Esopus 8, of which the theme is spam. As in junk mail. In “For Me to Say,” Frida Hyvönen sings:
Someone cared to send me
A letter to recommend me
To enlarge my penis
Surgery and exercise,
Would I walk that extra mile to
Enlarge my penis?
Owen Pallett / Final Fantasy’s “Flare Gun” is less direct, involving fortresses, birds and beasts. Trademark strings and piano are in full swing. Entire album can be previewed.
Previously:
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Release: May 22, 2007 / Arts & Crafts
I prefer Final Fantasy’s intricate string arrangement and casual production of “Peach Plum Pear” to the original by Joanna Newsom. However, Owen Pallett (aka Final Fantasy) has been outdone by fellow re-mixers on Do You Trust Your Friends, the remix album of 2004’s Set Yourself On Fire by Stars. For “Your Ex-Lover Is Dead,” Owen’s remix is blatantly sad, which, to be fair, is problematic only when compared to the assortment of moods the original pulls off. The string arrangement here is more traditional than what we’ve heard before, and Owen’s put work into a fornlorn composition for the piano instead. For the most part, however, I’m of the opinion that trustworthy friends have outdone Stars themselves.
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hooves on the turf is a mostly-music blog based out of brooklyn. i can be reached at hoovesontheturf [at] gmail [dot] com - please send me your lovely music as an attached mp3 or an mp3 link. if i like what you send, i'll be sure to ask for more.
