Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Before Today

Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Before Today

April 8, 2010 | Author Kenny Bloggins

Ariel Pink is visionary. Because it has been a tumultuous journey for this fact to be recognized, I’ve gotta call shenanigans on 75% of the music writers out there. Hipster Runoff‘s Carles recently posed the question of whether Ariel Pink was the next Animal Collective or whatever, dubbing him “the great lo-fi hope.” And since it’s Carles, the observer effect kicks in, the gears of the PR machine will start turning, and Ariel Pink will fulfill the prophecy of becoming the next blue chip act. I truly detest labeling something as the “next” anything – just let dudes make their music. That’s not my beef, though. When Ariel Pink was opening for Animal Collective back in 2005, people were way bummed on it. I heard a couple of boos from the show I saw. Pitchfork consistently kept him in the lukewarm 5 – 6 metric range during their mid-decade obsession with dance punk. And now that Ariel Pink is en vogue, bloggers and music writers are going to praise this as the second coming. Five bucks says Pitchfork will put Before Today somewhere between an 8 and Radiohead. And the subject of booing during his opening set for Animal Collective is now poised to be “the next Animal Collective.” You dumb fickle motherfuckers. Hate all ya’ll. But I digress. Positive vibes from here on out.

Before Today is awesome. We’ve been long time fervent fans of Ariel Rosenberg, and we expected nothing less. Everything he touches turns to demented gold. Let’s discuss a couple of things you need to know about Before Today right away. First, yes the production is greatly cleaned up for his 4AD debut. I feared this would destroy the mystique and oddness of the Pink. I was wrong – the songs are just as solid, just as trippy, just as twisted. It just now sounds like a mediocre digital rip instead of a cassette tape that was baked in the sun then dipped in a sodium bath. Second, fans who have picked up some of Ariel’s various compilations will recognize a few of these ditties (“L’estat” and “Can’t Hear My Eyes” – the song “Before Today” from Oddities Sodomies Vol. 1 is missing despite the namesake). However, these are all reworked versions of the songs for the new full band lineup, so no shortcuts or turd in the punchbowl here.

As for the jams, it’s a mix of classic Ariel Pink and new territory. “Can’t Hear My Eyes” and “Round and Round” fully embrace yacht rock. The sonic bullshit we’ve all come to know and love returns in full force on “Reminiscences.” “Butt House Blondies” features some serious Gerry Rafferty and Miami Vice guitar riffin’. The polyphonic “Little Wig” shows the Graffiti at their most Queen. “Revolution’s a Lie” is the closest Ariel has come to the present in our universe (remember, he lives in an alternate timeline LOST-style), channeling Public Image Ltd with ferocity and peyote. I don’t even know what the fuck is happening on “Menopause Man.” For me though, the highlight is undoubtedly “Fright Night,” the most legitimately focused and melodic song Ariel has ever penned. It’s a jam and a half, and the best representation of Ariel’s growth between Haunted House and Before Today. The song fully showcases Ariel’s ability to mesh the twisted and the beautiful. Throughout Before Today, the band’s amalgamation of some forty years of American pop music prismed through a sort of postmodern and/or psychotic lens has fashioned the most bizarre, unsettling, and satisfying freak folk psych pastiche pop ever laid to tape. I feel like a panda bear shat on my brain.

Despite my apprehensions about the move to 4AD and the new, more “listenable” direction Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti hinted at heading when “Round and Round” dropped, Before Today delivers in a big way. Unlike Animal Collective when they dove head-first into pop music and gumballs, Ariel Pink has craftily maintained his latent strangeness to satisfy old fans while creating a body of (absurdly accessible) songs that will find a wider audience. Is the new shiny sound an actual artistic direction, or is it another joke from Mr. Rosenberg? Ariel says in an interview with the Santa Barbara Independent: “Our records are lo-fi because there’s not a lot of money behind them,” he explained. “Lo-fi actually isn’t an artistic decision for me. Every recording we’ve made uses a lot of attention to detail, and I do the best I can with what I have. I’m better now at producing,” Pink continued. “But I’m trying to get the lo-fi tag off of me. I think the reason I’ve never been offered a major record deal is because [A&R reps] can’t hear the songs; they don’t take it seriously.” Yeah, Worn Copy sounds like that because he doesn’t have the right equipment. And he’s trying to score a deal with the majors? I kinda feel like he’s perpetually full of shit. One of many reasons I love Ariel Pink agape-style.

Before Today hits shelves stateside June 8th courtesy of 4AD. It’ll be a scorcher.

Fagen-Becker Quality Rating
steelydan1 Ariel Pinks Haunted Graffiti Before Today

MP3 :::
Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti – Fright Night (Nevermore)

Posted in Praise and Malaise

http://scottishfriction.com/ Scottish Friction

great review man! totally agree about the p4k bad ratings – bullshit
Josh

At least in Chicago, back in 2005, Ariel Pink wasn't booed because people didn't like his music—the Empty Bottle was in fact packed with people ready to pay attention to the dude—but because his live set fucking sucked. He bitched at the sound guys, used shitty equipment, fought with his keyboardist, protested throughout the first two songs by not singing and banging on cymbals, and then the crowd got sick of his shock/schtick bullshit and we booed him off stage. Then Animal Collective played an amazing set that sounded awesome. So, to be fair, people weren't hating on AP because his music wasn't good enough, or because they were dismissive, but because he brought it on himself with his live show. People were way into his records back then and there was considerable hype for him building, the music blogs just weren't as popular as they are now. Anyway, those dumb fickle motherfuckers probably were just pissed that any of their hard earn cashed went to support such a shitty live show, and to a dude who obviously could give a shit about his audience. To be fair, after that tour I am told he subsequently started putting on better shows. Whatever that means.
kenny_bloggins

Yeah, my understanding is that Ariel is a little manic in that sense. Both shows I've seen him at he was great, chatty, funny, and pretty eager to hang with people who came out to the show. Conversely, I've heard stories like what you just told as well. Basically, I was using that point to illustrate how the same people hyping him right now are a lot of the some folks who rejected him back when Bloc Party was the shit or whatever, and how annoying that is. You are not a dumb fickle motherfucker, Josh. You seem like a chill bro. Empty Bottle rules.
http://joshhonn.com/ Josh

Thanks, Kenny. I'm glad Mr. Pink is putting on quality shows these days and being a little less manic. We all go through some shit. And, yes, the Empty Bottle does rule. My favorite venue for sure. Excellent blogging, Bloggins. I'm really diggin' the site, but please don't ever remind me of Bloc Party's existence again. I'd forgotten about that. Thanks.
sendmeonmywayagain

NO. STOP IT. NO MORE COMPARING ANIMAL COLLECTIVE TO ARIEL PINK. BAD DOG.
kenny_bloggins

I hear ya, man. Ariel is closer to Fleetwood Mac than AnCo.
http://nuptse.tumblr.com Evan

Nothing makes me more unhappy than how much I like this song.
http://www.myspace.com/idiotglee James

I booked Ariel Pink and his band in lexington last year. Gotta say…fucking rocked. Two things though – first off, when I walked into the bathroom, where there is no stall, I made eye contact with him while he was hunched over taking a shit. AWKWARD.
Secondly, I drove him to Gumbo Ya Ya that night to get everyone's food orders…just the two of us (ooOOOo). We talked about California and KY, music, just whatever…and actually, I think he is serious about wanting a major record deal. Because what he said to me was “I just wanna figure out how to get in commercials…licensing and stuff. Be on TV. That's where the money is.” Etc…the dude also was charging $10 for a 7″ with no label (on the vinyl) and a printer paper sleeve. What?!
He wants to cash in.
I hope to hear Round and Round on the next Toyota commercial.
James
willdisposed

i don't want to listen to my new copy of “Hero's are hard to find” fleetwood mac record cause my only turntable right now sounds like old a. pink x more noise.

“before today” I thought it was beautiful. respect for wanting more recognition, or bling, or whatev. I am plugging it at our little 10watt radio station in plattsburgh NY 93.9 and then I'm going to a hell house prom. Livin the dream like pre “nevermind”
Hector Pello

I downloaded the leak last night, and while most of the songs are great (or at least intriguing), “Butt-House Blondies” and “Little Wig” are AWFUL. AWFUL! I sincerely hope their inclusion on the album is some kind of pre-release prank.
kenny_bloggins

The idea of Ariel trying to option, like, “Every Night I Die At Miyagis” to Outback Steakhouse just endears me to him even more.

What did he grub on at Ya Ya's by the way? Seems like an etouffee dude to me.
James

He kept asking for some blackened chicken, even when i told him they did not have it…haha. I can't remember what he actually got.
kenny_bloggins

Yeah, they're not my favorites. The rest of the yacht rock venture makes up for it, though. Also, I think the cleaned up production really reveals a new side of Ariel Pink – not just the quality of the songs and musicianship, but also that he may be dead serious about this whole thing.
AlHev

Having seen them perform Butthouse Blondies AND Little Wig live, I love them. I think they showcases just how tight APHG are as a band—metal guitars into Steely Dan style jazz chord progression changes—these songs feel irrefutably on-brand both lyrically and stylistically, why you would hope that they are some sort of a “prank”?

Have you listened to any of the older material, do you have the frame of reference to where the band comes from?

This has been my most-anticipated release of 2010 and so far after running thru the leak numerous times the last few days, it has become my favorite release, not sure what could top it this year. Can't wait for May 4th at Mercury Lounge!
lola haze

WHAT?
BUTT-HOUSE BLONDIES IS AWESOME
kelz bananas

Menopause Man is the best track on the album!
willdisposed

“Butt-House Blondies” is hilarious and rockin and actually segues really nicely into “Little wig” which is an epic rocker and reminds me of The Who or Cream. I too would have wanted to remaster that one from the earlier version off “Papergutz”, which is super low fund production, taped from a walkman or something. not my favs on the album but i like.
willdisposed

“Butt-House Blondies” is hilarious and rockin and actually segues really nicely into “Little wig” which is an epic rocker and reminds me of The Who or Cream. I too would have wanted to remaster that one from the earlier version off “Papergutz”, which is super low fund production, taped from a walkman or something. not my favs on the album but i like.
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[...] prophesied these shenanigans in our Before Today review a few weeks back. So yeah, fuck you, Pitchfork. I will collect my five spot now. Fickle [...]