It's not math that's all wrong, it's just a lack of heat

Have you had those days when when the day just wins? You know, you get up all ready to face challenges and slay dragons but then things start to go wrong. At some point you just pack it in and realize that all you can hope for is to get home where you can quietly curl up with your cat. Sure, you'll be back to fight the next day, but this one is a write off. That was my day today.

So it's probably not the best day for me to listen to Cathedrals by Bel Auburn. I saw Bel Auburn play during last year's MidPoint Music Festival. I liked their show and they were selling CDs cheap. When I finally got around to listening to the album, I found it sterile and uninspired. I think it's a concept album, too, which is a little pompous for a band with one release under its belt. The pomposity was later confirmed by a visit to their website. This is how they describe themselves:

Hailing from Ashland, Ohio, Bel Auburn combines elements of Coldplay, Death Cab for Cutie, and Jimmy Eat World, along with a sense of melody and texture we've rarely found in fellow indie rock outfits. Our music fully embraces the thoughtfulness of our lyrics and the exhilaration of our live show to form songs that leave the listener at once moved and refreshed. Our vision of things is pretty unique, but at the same time, those listening to the music are left with a sense of familiarity, like that first smell of cut grass in early spring, as if we've all known the songs by heart all along and only needed to be reminded how simply good music can feel.

Seriously? They really remind me of Dishwalla more than anyone. There's a very mid '90s feel to their sound. It's not bad, but to go around proclaiming that your songs leave listeners "moved and refreshed" is a bit much. Is this an album or an enema?

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In better news, I got Milk-Eyed Mender by Joanna Newsome from lala.com last week. It's about the strangest pieces of music I own but I find it completely enchanting. Once you get past the shock of her voice (she sings like Carol Kane talks) the songs sound lovely. Her lyrics are great, too. On one song she sings, "I killed my dinner with karate." That's awesome!