Exclusive Meridene Download

oooooooh please tell me that isn't Ian Jacoby giving lectures on how to properly use quotes...

And I'm still barefoot...

Whoa, first happy ending to a comment board ever! Maybe the world IS changing for the better.

Joe the Plumber

Excellent idea, I do need to further investigate the other music of Meredine. And a live show is the best place to truly get an honest feel for a band. Thank you for the suggestion, I'll do it. Maybe I can invite the Bearded Lady to join me. And yes the horns do add nicely to the song.

Ian thanks for the comments this has been very enlightening, did I mention that I admire our sense of compassion. I'll check out your mp3 blog, maybe I can learn something.

Well this has been fun, but now I must actually face reality and move on. Best to you all, look forward to seeing you at the Meredine show.

Mike, did you enjoy this? This is what online commenting is all about. Just need to throw a big chunk of wood on the fire once in a while and you get a nicely heated exchange. I mean there have got to be more idiot ignorant jerk haters like me out there -right? And look at the wealth of new information we generate in one day. Prior to this there were five comments that basically said "I'm so excited." Now you have a link to Ian's mp3 blog, political intrigue (is it really John McCain?), lessons on punctuation, a redirect encouraging people to investigate the local music scene, and a couple of brief critiques on Meredine's new song.

Meredine - congratulations on your devoted fan base! I hope you truly rock the house down with your new album!

Sarcasm

Hey there Bearded Lady, great comments and no I'm not John McCain. Also another no, I don't hate Fine. What is Fine anyways, need to check into that one.

And I wasn't really bashing a local band since I didn't know they were local. Nothing in the V1 post that says Meredine is local. Of course your comment about there never having been a good band within a 100 miles could be considered bashing a local band. By the way I disagree with your comment, because there are incredible bands within a 100 miles of Eau Claire, in fact several in Eau Claire.

My, my we certainly are venomous towards those that disagree with our opinions - first I was an ignorant jerk and now a hater. Calling me a hater is a bit extreme since none of my comments used the term hate.

I did listen to the lyrics - "hit that town, its finally yours...buy that drink, return that wink..." I guess that could be consider unique and strong writing. (Hows my punctuation this time Ian?)

In closing, I also never used the term stupid in commenting about the band. No hate, no stupid, no idiot in my comments but you certainly seem comfortable throwing those words around. Are you John McCain?

Although I'm sure Ian has some own reasons why this track is "strong as hell," here are some reasons that I like it:

(1) The guitars are BIG. This song is a huge step away from old Meridene in terms of sound.
(2) The t-bones. I'm a sucker for horns though.
(3) The crazy part towards the end. The tension and release where the main riff comes back in is well-executed.

Your comparison to The National would be good, except you used it as a contrast. If you'd like me to write down the notes that Trevor Ives is singing, I'd be glad to; they're there. Also, it's clear to me that this is the only Meridene song you have ever heard, if you go to a show or listen to more of the album when it comes out, I think you'll find that this song is not particularly representative of the band as a whole. The lead singer has a naturally higher tenor voice, one that isn't quite as on display here.

Finally, if you want some personal observations on the musicians in the group, I think if you explore everything they've done around Eau Claire in the past few years (The Gentle Guest, Fine, the EC jazz scene, etc), you'll find that their catalog speaks for their musicianship.

Shoost -

I'm not usually a grammar nazi, in fact I'm probably the worst at correcting it (ask mike, or anyone who has to read it on a daily basis.) The point is simply that you can't insert YOUR OWN COMMENTS into a quote about someone else. It's misleading.

Oh, and please don't assume that I'm not listening to music that you deem hip enough. In addition to V1, I help run an mp3 blog that is routinely blasted for being too "out there." Check it out if you want, http://peervalidated.com I think we covered the national like 2 years ago. You know, when they had a new album out.

As for Meridene, I'm not sure where you get the monotonous voice thing, but I guess to each his own. I think this new album (at least from the tracks I've heard) is going to bring down the house once it comes out, and not in the crappy queen latifah way either.

"some dialogue instead of the broad stroke of cheerleading that seems to prevail in most V1 comments"

As the guy who has monitored every comment on VolumeOne.org for over three years, I have to agree. People around here are WAY too nice. Where's the local ranters?

Shoost, are you John McCain? You make these remarks but have nothing to base them on. The drums? The Singing? The Lyrics? Here is why you are an idiot:

1. The drums: Dave Power is arguably one of the best drummers in the Chippewa Valley. I suppose you didn't like 'Fine' either? Credentials aside, I thought the drums sounded great on the track.

2. Trevor Ives is a lot of things, but monotone is not one of them. Sure, this track isn't the typical crazy-range-great-pitch that we hear from Meridene, but I guess it is what you could call...variation?

3. Did you even listen to the words? Read the reviews on this band, and most will tell you that the song writing is unique and strong, and that's why people like them. It's what they're most highly credited for.

I have to thank you for your "look at me I'm going to bash a local band on the V1 website" attitude. It's cute. And I guess you're right. What does the Chippewa Valley know about music anyway? There has never been a single good band within 100 miles of this place. I think you and I would get along. We should hang out sometime. We'll got to a Museum and talk about how stupid everything is. Hater.

huh...

Ian, great grammar slam on a punctuation mistake writer boy! Sorry I didn't realize that V1 comments were reserved for only positive reinforcement of V1s personal new favorites. My mistake - is everyone that disagrees with you a ignorant jerk? Oh my, was that more bad punctuation.
Seriously though, if you really think the song is strong as hell please tell me why. Was it the lyrics? How do feel about the drum mix in relationship to the rhythm? In singing, even in rap, the vocalist usually tries to vary the pitch of their voice to create tonality throughout the song, do you prefer the monotone unvaried tone of his voice in the song?
Might I suggest listening to The National, where Matt Berninger's singing follows through on creating tone throughout a song although it sounds as if he is simply talking. Or how about the original monotone guy Leonard Cohen's music can you compare him to Meridene's lead singer?
Perhaps I was a little to abrupt with my comments, but c'mon your response was pretty lame too. Give us some personal observations on the musicianship of this group or go ahead and throw another jab my way. Either way at least we started some dialogue instead of the broad stroke of cheerleading that seems to prevail in most V1 comments.

well shoost, I'm sure the guys from The Hold Steady get that all the time.

Wow Shoost, way to win the "ignorant jerk comment of the day" award. Nice quotations, but maybe you should learn that when the quotation is over, you end it with another parenthesis, not after you've inserted some (rather lame) editorializing.

That being said, I think this track is strong as hell. I can't wait for that "high horse" song or whatever it's called.

Really c'mon! You actually like this song?! The guy isn't even singing, he's talking. There's no vocal to this tune, and the repetitive guitar is almost as bad as the lyrics. No wonder this is a "so close to completely new band - keep trying guys." Maybe an actual lead singer would help.

sounds great fellas! cant wait til the album comes out.

I've been waiting for so long, and it is finally here!

this is one of the most exciting moments of this year so far.

:) i'm so excited

This song rocked my socks off. Literally. I'm barefoot.

This is a great track! Looking forward to the whole album and future gigs. Nice job guys.