Topic: Goodbye Casiotone for the Painfully Alone (Read 7620 times)

gospel · « **on:** 28 Oct 2010, 20:43 »

Inlander · « **Reply #1 on:** 28 Oct 2010, 20:49 »

Boo! Wait, but he's still making music? Oh, okay.

I don't think this is too bad a thing. Judging by what he says in that article, at worst it'll mean that he won't play Casiotone songs live any more. But it's a one man band, and that one man has vowed to keep making music, so if he's just retiring the name and the catalogue I can think of many worse ways for a band to end. I mean, Will Oldham stopped being Palace yonks ago but he hasn't stopped making fantastic music.

At least Casiotone as we know it went out on a high note: Vs. Children was an absolutely fantastic album.

David_Dovey · « **Reply #2 on:** 28 Oct 2010, 23:12 »

So basically the actual meat of this story is "Man with worst performance pseudonym in history sheds worst performance pseudonym in history, hopefully comes up with something less bad"

Also: Bearded Magazine? For fuck's sake what is going on here

TheFuriousWombat · « **Reply #3 on:** 28 Oct 2010, 23:31 »

It's not even clear that he won't play his old songs live anymore. It would be a shame since I've always liked his shows but man, it's the one band I never tell people about solely because of the name. Maybe if he keeps making good stuff with a not-so-atrocious name I can start telling people to check him out! Not too sad about this since I'm assuming the new stuff won't be some radical departure anyway.

Inlander · « **Reply #4 on:** 28 Oct 2010, 23:46 »

I feel like the name is so obviously ridiculous as to be clearly intentionally over-the-top. I don't think it's anywhere near as wince-inducing as, say, the Pains of Being Pure At Heart or whatever the fuck they're called.

Anyway, Casiotone songs were basically about being awkward and single and twenty-something and realising that life could be a lot more disappointingly mundane than you'd hoped it would be. Owen Ashworth's in his thirties now and he's married so it's not surprising that he might want to re-focus creatively. You could see that starting to happen on Vs. Children, which was more concerned with getting older and negotiating relationships.

scarred · « **Reply #5 on:** 28 Oct 2010, 23:54 »

Quote from: David_Dovey on 28 Oct 2010, 23:12

"Man with worst performance pseudonym in history"

Waka Flocka Flame?

Christophe · « **Reply #6 on:** 28 Oct 2010, 23:57 »

Dude is actually stopping by my podunk town as part of his farewell tour! Not that I've listened to a lick of his music but hey it should be a fun show.

Inlander · « **Reply #7 on:** 29 Oct 2010, 00:00 »

I dunno, he's one of those songwriters whose fans have a very personal relationship to his songs. I kinda feel like if you're not familiar with his disocgraphy you're probably not going to get a lot out of it.

Plus, not knowing anything about where you live, is the show likely to be sold out? Bear in mind that there are people out there for whom it will seemingly vitally important to attend this show, it being a farewell and all. If the show's going to sell out and people are going to be desperately disappointed at having missed it, maybe you shouldn't go!

Christophe · « **Reply #8 on:** 29 Oct 2010, 00:03 »

People will probably be coming in from the surrounding area, yeah. But considering that I do sound sorta regularly for the venue in question (until my car ate shit) I'll probably be behind the soundboard anyway.

Inlander · « **Reply #9 on:** 29 Oct 2010, 00:32 »

But what if a fan wants to do sound at the show, hmm? Did you even think of that?!

KharBevNor · « **Reply #10 on:** 29 Oct 2010, 00:40 »

I want to do sound at the show!

gospel · « **Reply #11 on:** 29 Oct 2010, 05:39 »

I was being a bit facetious about this being the worst news ever, but I am hoping his reinvention isn't well... shitty. I concur that he should continue to play his old songs (even if re-invented... not in a Dylan way).

Quote from: David_Dovey on 28 Oct 2010, 23:12

So basically the actual meat of this story is "Man with worst performance pseudonym in history sheds worst performance pseudonym in history, hopefully comes up with something less bad"

Also: Bearded Magazine? For fuck's sake what is going on here

I wondered that myself. It was just the first google hit. Perhaps whoever manages their SEO Is a "social media guru"?

valley_parade · « **Reply #12 on:** 29 Oct 2010, 05:41 »

So I'll never get to hear Young Shields live?

Fuck. *crosses off to-do list*

jimbunny · « **Reply #13 on:** 29 Oct 2010, 09:29 »

Beards?

leftandleaving · « **Reply #14 on:** 29 Oct 2010, 09:32 »

I don't know how I feel about this. Etiquette got me through Junior Year of high school when it came out. But I didn't really like Vs. Children that much save for a few songs (fucking Optimist Vs. The Silent Alarm is still one of the best songs I've ever heard). I haven't really listened to CFTPA since then. Well, hopefully whatever he comes up with next will be awesome.

TheFuriousWombat · « **Reply #15 on:** 29 Oct 2010, 12:09 »

I do wish I had found out about this earlier. I woulda made the extra effort to catch one of his final NYC shows for sure.

De_El · « **Reply #16 on:** 29 Oct 2010, 14:37 »

Quote from: scarred on 28 Oct 2010, 23:54

Waka Flocka Flame?

Does any part of "Waka Flocka Flame" mean something that makes it particularly stupid, or does it just sound dumb? I recognize that it's kind of a dumb name but enough people have been mentioning it lately that I feel like I'm missing something.

scarred · « **Reply #17 on:** 29 Oct 2010, 15:33 »

I have no idea, but it's the most retarded pseudonym I've ever heard. Apparently he's making big strides in gangsta rap circles.

David_Dovey · « **Reply #18 on:** 29 Oct 2010, 16:00 »

Yeah see Waka Flocka Flame is a "would-see" name for me, because it's just purposely silly and it's hard to believe that it could possibly be serious whereas Casiotone For The Painfully Alone and The Pains of Being Pure At Heart both have this kind of smug winking attempt at sounding "clever" that just shits me off about as much as a sentence can shit me off. It's basically trying as hard as it can to draw attention to itself for it's cleverness.

Although, why I was typing this I misspelled "alone" as "alons", which makes me think that I would definitely see a band called Casiotone for the Painfully Alonso.

TheFuriousWombat · « **Reply #19 on:** 29 Oct 2010, 17:11 »

Apparently there's a story behind the CftPA name. Before he named his band he gave a friend of his going through a bad breakup a mixtape of his songs and wrote that on the label and it stuck. Or something. The point: I don't think it's some attempt to be clever. He was also probably 19 or so at the time which is something of an excuse. Doesn't make it suck any less, though.

michaelicious · « **Reply #20 on:** 29 Oct 2010, 17:20 »

I think it is a good name. It describes the music. More songwriters should be that considerate.

Spluff · « **Reply #21 on:** 29 Oct 2010, 17:32 »

I add 'for the painfully alone' to the names of all the bands in my music library

David_Dovey · « **Reply #22 on:** 29 Oct 2010, 18:14 »

Quote from: michaelicious on 29 Oct 2010, 17:20

I think it is a good name. It describes the music. More songwriters should be that considerate.

Exactly and then I could easily identify bands that I should avoid at all costs

(I actually know nothing of CftPA's music and it could be really good for all I know, but srsly)

leftandleaving · « **Reply #23 on:** 29 Oct 2010, 23:55 »

Quote from: Spluff on 29 Oct 2010, 17:32

I add 'for the painfully alone' to the names of all the bands in my music library

Empire! Empire! (I was a lonely estate for the painfully alone)

At least it's slightly more specific. No harmlessly alone here!

Johnny C · « **Reply #24 on:** 30 Oct 2010, 01:12 »

cftpa, esp. etiquette and vs. children, is fantastic, so shut up and listen to those records dovey you enormous cockslap

Inlander · « **Reply #25 on:** 30 Oct 2010, 01:33 »

Don't forget the Bobby Malone EP, Johnny.

KharBevNor · « **Reply #26 on:** 30 Oct 2010, 03:06 »

Quote from: Spluff on 29 Oct 2010, 17:32

I add 'for the painfully alone' to the names of all the bands in my music library

Casiotone for the Painfully Alone for the Painfully Alone
The Clouds That Fondle Jagged Crags And Raging Storms Conspire And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead For the Painfully Alone
Anal Cunt for the Painfully Alone

McTaggart · « **Reply #27 on:** 30 Oct 2010, 03:24 »

I am still kinda bummed out that I got a huge scratch in my copy of Etiquette. This happened maybe three months ago.

David_Dovey · « **Reply #28 on:** 30 Oct 2010, 11:03 »

I Youtubed some CftPA songs just now and, Jesus fucking Christ guys. Really? Isn't this the stuff we usually make fun of? Fuck. Jesus. It's like Wesley Willis if Wesley Willis was just a fat beardo shut-in who cries every time he beats off (and he beats off a lot).

I really respect a lot of you guys and it's because of recommendations from some of you that I listen to, like 75% of the bands I listen to these days so I really need someone to explain the appeal of this guy, because, fuck, it just seems crazy to me that you can all have this collective blindspot on yr taste. Then again a lot of you shit yr pants over Beat Happening too so I guess there are just things we will never come together on.

That was a serious request, by the way. Someone give me a few paragraphs on what separates this galoot from any other sad piece of shit spoken-wording his Livejournal over canned beats that rightfully inspires the ire of any motherfucker with ears.

Inlander · « **Reply #29 on:** 30 Oct 2010, 15:37 »

God dammit Dovey the lyrics. The lyrics. Dude's one of the best fucking songwriters in the "indie" world at the moment.

Here, if you're having trouble with the music try this live version of one of his songs:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rK2nQJZo7L0

Or try listening to some of his more recent, less lo-fi stuff:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXzKQpMlmlc

http://www.myspace.com/music/3727464/songs/45047954

http://www.myspace.com/music/casiotone-for-the-painfully-alone-3727464/songs/optimist-vs-the-silent-alarm-40490231

gospel · « **Reply #30 on:** 30 Oct 2010, 17:49 »

I mean, couldn't you argue Stephin Merritt is just an enormous introverted cynic that likes making ironic mixtapes? I don't know; I'm not going to say he's the most amazing band ever, but as mentioned his writing is fairly solid. I can understand the disdain to the subject matter if you're not a 20-something introvert whom beats of a lot.

David_Dovey · « **Reply #31 on:** 30 Oct 2010, 21:55 »

I don't dig on Magnetic Fields either, for that matter. I am so not a lyrics guy at all, definitely not to the extent that it can make up for fuck-awful singing and music. Example; The Mountain Goats might just my favourite band in the world (they did just become the most played artist on my last.fm, for what it's worth), and I worship Darnielle's lyrics and pore over them in an appropriately geeky manner, but the fact of the matter is that he can also sing and play guitar like a motherfucker. I appreciate and agree that the lyrics are foremost in the Mtn Gts tunes, but if there was nothing else of merit in said tunes I wouldn't give them the time of day.

I suppose I'm just gonna have to take y'alls word for it re: CftPA.

Inlander · « **Reply #32 on:** 31 Oct 2010, 01:36 »

All my favourite singers couldn't sing.

gospel · « **Reply #33 on:** 31 Oct 2010, 12:09 »

It's okay. I digg Okkervil River a lot, and I'm fairly certain Will Sheff has very little singing prowess. Though, I suppose his band can rock out like motherfuckers, and Meiburg can arguably sing well in a classical sense.

I dunno. I guess I just have to file CFTPA under my unjustifiable guilty pleasures section next to GBV and Magnetic Fields. But hey, Stephin is getting a documentary and John Darnielle isn't... so yeah! Who am I kidding? I'd watch one about Darnielle too.

De_El · « **Reply #34 on:** 31 Oct 2010, 13:24 »

I feel like this is the same argument that happened when I said I didn't get why Silver Jews were so great. Harry said it was the lyrics, and I realized that when I'd tried listening to Silver Jews before I'd barely listened to the words, because, uh, I barely listen to the words in music a lot of the time.

Or so I think, until I get soused and realize I know every word of every song on Entertainment!.

But yeah, I'm not much of a lyrics guy unless it's somehow unavoidable, like a singer's voice is so high in the mix you can't ignore them AND this effect is somehow not utterly dreadful. Or just hearing something over and over again.

scarred · « **Reply #35 on:** 31 Oct 2010, 14:28 »

I'm the same way. Unless the chorus is really catchy I usually white noise the words until I've heard the song a few times.

Except in some cases, like Sufjan's creepy John Wayne Gacy song.

Durin · « **Reply #36 on:** 31 Oct 2010, 23:57 »

Quote from: scarred on 31 Oct 2010, 14:28

I'm the same way. Unless the chorus is really catchy I usually white noise the words until I've heard the song a few times.

Except in some cases, like Sufjan's creepy John Wayne Gacy song.

I listened to this song like 10 times before I realized how downright creepy it was. It kind of didn't help I didn't learn of the serial killings until after hearing this song.

David_Dovey · « **Reply #37 on:** 01 Nov 2010, 01:23 »

Quote from: Inlander on 31 Oct 2010, 01:36

All my favourite singers couldn't sing.

I remember back when there was that QC Music Blog you wrote a really fantastic post on how Darnielle is actually the nest singer going around today, based on his performance on The Sunset Tree. I agree.

Lummer · « **Reply #38 on:** 01 Nov 2010, 02:28 »

Quote from: KharBevNor on 30 Oct 2010, 03:06

Quote from: Spluff on 29 Oct 2010, 17:32
I add 'for the painfully alone' to the names of all the bands in my music library

Casiotone for the Painfully Alone for the Painfully Alone
The Clouds That Fondle Jagged Crags And Raging Storms Conspire And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead For the Painfully Alone
Anal Cunt for the Painfully Alone

Brutal Truth For The Painfully Alone
Suffocation For The Painfully Alone
Martyrdöd For The Painfully Alone
Napalm Death For The Painfully Alone
Cock And Ball Torture For The Painfully Alone

I could do this shit for hours!

KvP · « **Reply #39 on:** 01 Nov 2010, 02:42 »

1000 Homo DJs for the Painfully Alone
A Made Up Sound for the Painfully Alone

Spluff · « **Reply #40 on:** 01 Nov 2010, 05:23 »

Death for the Painfully Alone

Spluff · « **Reply #41 on:** 01 Nov 2010, 05:26 »

coincidentally that is also what the signs read when the WBC picketed Otakon

gospel · « **Reply #42 on:** 01 Nov 2010, 05:31 »

Quote from: David_Dovey on 01 Nov 2010, 01:23

Quote from: Inlander on 31 Oct 2010, 01:36
All my favourite singers couldn't sing.

I remember back when there was that QC Music Blog you wrote a really fantastic post on how Darnielle is actually the nest singer going around today, based on his performance on The Sunset Tree. I agree.

I'm also going to add it is probably the best album centered around child abuse ever.

THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)

Author Topic: Goodbye Casiotone for the Painfully Alone (Read 7620 times)