Tom Lynch

When the John Carney film "Once" was first released, the hype was so extraordinary you’d think it was a long lost Woody Allen movie, one he made between "Annie Hall" and "Manhattan." The cool beauty of Carney’s graceful love story is undeniable, as is the film’s soundtrack—the music itself, in the film, is the protagonist. Written and performed by The Frames leader Glen Hansard and Czech pianist and vocalist Marketa Irglova—who are the two leads in the film and tour as The Swell Season—the music is more complex than typical singer-songwriter fare, and when the two make the most of their vocal harmonies and last-chorus crescendos, it’s as meaningful and resplendent as anything you’ll hear all season. ("Falling Slowly," which has appeared on a Frames record, is sweet and heartbreaking and hopeful, the best of the bunch here.) It’s worthy of note that the film surely makes these songs more affecting and enveloping, but when The Frames played this year’s Hideout Block Party, Hansard took a brief detour to play "Falling Slowly," and it was one of my favorite concert moments of the year.

The Swell Season perform November 24-25 at the Vic Theatre, 3145 North Sheffield, (773)618-8439, at 7:30pm.

(2007-11-19)

Also by Tom Lynch

Math Man
Snaith, who now calls London home, began recording under the name Manitoba right about the turn of the century, releasing a handful of simple, minimalist IDM-pop records, mostly instrumental, including the marvelous "Start Breaking My Heart."
(2007-11-06)

Seeing Red
This week sees the New Press release of "Unmarketable: Brandalism, Copyfighting, Mocketing, and the Erosion of Integrity," a terrific, jarring and informed account of underground culture’s infiltration by the corporate world
(2007-10-30)

Tip of the Week
If "Set Yourself on Fire" was a command from Canada’s genius Stars to basically call it a day because everything’s so fucked up, then "In Our Bedroom After the War" is the afterglow if you didn’t take the band’s advice. The new record, again on Arts & Crafts, is not the masterpiece that was 2004’s "Fire," but the lovelorn and ruthless crew are still a forceful unit
(2007-10-30)

Tip of the Week
A performance artist, an actress, a musician, a singer, an author—Lydia Lunch is like no other. An originator of the No Wave movement, Lunch is a predator, in sight and in mind, on the page, on the screen and on tape
(2007-10-30)

Tip of the Week
(2007-10-23)

Tip of the Week
(2007-10-23)

Disturbia on Broadway
(2007-10-23)

Over "In Rainbows"
(2007-10-19)

Spread the Word
(2007-10-16)

Adult Music
(2007-10-16)

Tip of the Week
(2007-10-16)

Kind Hearted
(2007-10-09)

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