The Microphones

The Glow, Pt. 2 (2001) C

Phil Elvrum's deceptively dense arrangements make his songs seem bigger on the inside than on the outside. But unlike TARDISes, they don't go anywhere. Lyrics like "We found a precious place in the sand, right out in the wind/We lied under a blanket and heard the sound of roaring waves" would get you laughed out of Lilith Fair. "I face death/I went in with my arms swinging/But I heard my own breath/And had to face that I'm still living" would make Nick Drake hand you his pills, saying "You need these more than I do, just remember to take all of them at once." This isn't music that will change the world; I doubt it can even change its socks. Pitchfork's album of the year in 2001, which is one reason the bloggerati spent the next couple of years bitching about Pitchfork. If you ever thought Radiohead would be better if they weren't good musicians, hey, give this a try.