This is probably the last album I would have expected to listen to in South America- a dark black album in a continent of colors; a cold gust of twisted vocal distortions and synthetic, pagan beats; the polar opposite of the silly, sun-loving Colombian Akon/T Pain imitators playing on every radio - but as my 10 hour, Medellin-bound bus hurdled itself into the abyss late last night, it was absolutely perfect...

Fever Ray by Fever Ray

It is said that there are two kinds of people - those who do, and those who talk about doing. When it comes to making and playing music, I think it might actually be true. As much as I have always wanted to learn an instrument, mostly I have just talked about it. I tried to teach myself the bass. I wish I could rock the drums. Well, I played the sax when I was a kid. The reality is, I'm just a dude with a couple dusty cases.

My homeboy MA, on the other hand, has been quietly going about the business of making himself a musician. So quietly in fact, that I didn't really even know what he was up to until he surfaced with a couple full-on home recordings at a reunion a couple years ago. He played the drums growing up, but I thought that ship had sailed. But when I paid a visit recently, I find out he's become a pretty nifty little guitar player, just plucking away in his living room, and he's the lead singer of a band. Well, then.

So, I show up for his band practice, expecting a few dudes hanging out in the garage, hacking away at some half-baked ideas and doing more talking than actual playing - y'know, like you see in the movies. And honestly, I would have thought that was awesome. But I walk into this little one bedroom apartment, and it's covered wall to wall in equipment. It's fuckin hot in there, but these guys look like they just want to get on with it! Sure enough, I'm the one doing all the talking.

Finally, I settle into the couch, they tune up, and BAM! My first thought was, wow, they are a band. The second was that they're actually a pretty legit band; not unlike others I've seen on the LA nightclub circuit, having a go. And finally, I thought, wow, he just up and did it.

Seeing a good friend casually go about his music felt like everyone that talks about it is just making excuses.

Granted, he's always been an artist, and everyone in his band is seriously talented. And maybe that's what separates the men from the boys (so to speak). Probably.

But it was just as enjoyable to sit around his living room, with him throwing out various familiar chords, and me trying in vain to sing along, no ambition other than to have a little musical connection. And that's a place I think anyone can get to with just a little elbow grease. A few guitar chords, some bass, a serviceable bongo. Just enough to entertain ourselves, to tap into that shared sixth sense. Sounds so much better than an hour of sitcoms or debating local politics every night, right!?

I think MA would agree. It's just a matter of doing.

Check out Canyon Sets here, and if you´re ever in SD, treat yourselves. They´re so good, the kind of music you can get lost in.

PS at this moment, I´m listening to one guy with an acoustic gee-tar and about 5 Brazilians with bad voices singing Os Mutantes. That's what I´m talkin bout!

On a whim, I threw Versus in the car for my recent drive to San Diego... and I got surprised.

Song 1: 'Go,' A fast, fearsome, post-punk rant that immediately made me rethink the lethargic, crunchy connotations of the grunge era. Eddie Vedder at his head-bangingest and the rest of the band egging him on.

And the last song: 'Indifference,' a soulful, semi-political ballad that practically bleeds. I definitely got my soundproofed EV impersonation going on full blast. What a jam.

Consider me a fan, all over again. Time to dig through the catalog!





(And for good measure, their first SNL appearance, a triumphant showcase for everyone in the band... and a shocking window into early '90s Seattle style.)

On repeat through my entire DC trip...

Deerhunter: "He Would Have Laughed" by Speaker Snacks

More thoughts on Deerhunter and Bradley Cox here.