For those of you who didn’t know, this website is named after an unreleased Bishop Allen song called ‘You Aint No Picasso.’ Not only that, but the band was my first post on YANP as well. So it’s with great pleasure that I’m able to bring you an advance song off Bishop Allen’s first official release in almost three years. ‘Corazon’ will be appearing on an EP in five days, which you can purchase from BishopAllen.com This EP is the first in a series that will be available on the thirty-first of each month, continuing on until the release of their second album, Clementines.
EDIT: Fixed the link. Darn blogger.
MP3: Bishop Allen – Corazon
Sometimes songs are a collection of notes, strung together to form a nice melody. Unfortunately for us, many songwriters are content to stop there. But with ‘Corazon,’ Bishop Allen not only form a musically interesting song, but use it as a launching point to tell a beautiful story.
If we take the lyrics at face value – which I believe we should – ‘Corazon’ is about our protagonist going through great steps to rescue an abandoned piano. Symbolic or no, his feelings on the task are inspiring and touching. In fact, I would go so far as to say that this is lyrically Bishop Allen’s best work to date. Even the verse about an expert’s inability to tune the piano are heartfelt and emotional.
To cap off this excellent song, lead singer, Justin Rice, gives a spectacular vocal performance; one rittled with pregnant pauses and just the occasional strained flourish. But most interesting to note, is that this song about a piano is the first time in which the ivory keys have played a major role in a Bishop Allen song. I think you’ll agree that this new venture out of their Talking Heads/Modern Lovers umbrella is well suited to their abilities. It signals the beginning of a broader musical era for Bishop Allen – one that I’m particularly excited about.
To close, I’d like to go back on my word: let’s not take this song at face value. Maybe the reason this song speaks to me so much is because they’re not rescuing a piano – they’re rescuing us. On one hand, it’s a very beautiful song about having a relationship with an instrument in the way that only serious musicians can. But at the same time, it’s a love song to anyone who has ever needed saving. To anyone who has ever ‘accepted defeat.’
Bishop Allen on Myspace
Hear more Bishop Allen MP3s at their website.
On the related note of bands I adore: Page France updated their touring schedule. If you’ll notice, it includes a date in Lexington, Kentucky that was booked by none other than yours truly. It’s 18+ and might even have an extra-special opening act. Also, there are tracklists for Page France’s new EPs, Pear and Sister Pinecone. Preorder them here.
Fabulist has some ‘heartbreakingly beautiful’ Iron and Wine songs from their NPR performance
Voxtrot is the latest interviewee at Indie Interviews.
21 responses so far
1 marc // Jan 26, 2006 at 4:43 am
Ramesh is a pre-school teacher? hah, what a surprise. that interview was a good listen.
2 Bobby // Jan 26, 2006 at 6:38 am
Bishop Allen linky no worky!
Thanks..do you know when we’ll be able to order the first EP from their site?
3 Anonymous // Jan 26, 2006 at 10:33 am
i wish i could hear the song . . .
4 Nathaniel // Jan 26, 2006 at 10:35 am
http://www.youaintnopicasso.net/Bishop%20Allen%20-%20Corazon.mp3
is the proper URL.
5 jeremy // Jan 26, 2006 at 11:16 am
thanks, like the new song.
6 Matt // Jan 26, 2006 at 12:21 pm
Darn blogger. Sorry about that guys. I hit ‘compose’ by accident and it did something funky to the url. Anyways, Nathaniel’s right and I fixed it in the post.
Sorry again! Hope you enjoy the song!
7 Goose // Jan 26, 2006 at 12:48 pm
sweeeeeeeeeeeeeet
8 Anonymous // Jan 26, 2006 at 12:49 pm
The song is pretty amazing… thank you!
9 alice // Jan 26, 2006 at 1:54 pm
I was at a Bishop Allen show in NYC last week (they opened for We Are Scientists) and he told us that this song was written about a piano that they found lying on the side of the road one day when the band was on their way to practice (or to record. I forget) and they picked it up and rescued it.
10 Anonymous // Jan 26, 2006 at 2:43 pm
i think im really going to like their new stuff.,.
11 Matt // Jan 26, 2006 at 3:46 pm
Alice, thanks for that bit of info. Nice to know that it’s literal (I usually don’t like songs that are all figurative and such). So I take it they played the song? Did they have a piano?
And to answer Bobby’s question, you should be able to order the first EP from their site on January 31st.
12 metamorphose // Jan 26, 2006 at 4:16 pm
YAY! Thanks Matt…me lovey some Bishop Allen.
13 sweet bibi // Jan 26, 2006 at 8:49 pm
Hey! I’m currently going crazy of Page France too! I’ve been streaming their stuff at purevolume like a madwoman! @___@ Just a question though, how did you end up booking their gig in KY? Did you volunteer your services, or were they looking for a venue in the first place?
14 L.A. Bound // Jan 26, 2006 at 9:09 pm
Thanks for more B.A. – you’re the one that hooked me on him in the first place!
15 diana // Jan 26, 2006 at 11:44 pm
this song is great, thanks!
16 Matt Blalock // Jan 27, 2006 at 12:23 am
I love it. Had never heard of them before, but I love them. I can’t wait to hear more about them, and especially to hear more of their lyrical genious…ness.
17 Anonymous // Jan 27, 2006 at 7:01 pm
Bishop Allen has set a high mark for others to aim for. Outstanding, Fresh, Moving, Hypnotic.
18 alice // Jan 31, 2006 at 10:33 am
They didn’t have a piano. They joked about it though. Said it was way too heavy to bring all the way to the show though they thought about it. If you’re new to Bishop Allen, you have to hear “Things Are What you Make of Them.” In my opinion, it’s their most fun song. Funnest isn’t a word, right?
19 Ryan // Jan 31, 2006 at 10:45 am
Why the title Corazon?
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=define%3Acorazon&btnG=Google+Search
20 bethanne // Jan 31, 2006 at 5:53 pm
well isn’t that funny! i’ll be at the temple club date and i’ll be seeing page france!
(my friends are opening for them. that’s why i’m there.)
21 Bob // Feb 20, 2006 at 11:01 am
I swear that first phrase sounds like something else, up until the chord it resolves to. The song I’m hearing in my head resolves to a major chord and this seems minor to me. It’s a bit of “Like a Virgin” but there’s another song that I swear has the exact same melody.
Still nice, what’s pop music without plagiarism?
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