adequate dawn february fourteenth lover.

Have I praised Music Saves at all? I can't recall. I was finally able to delve into some of last Sunday's pickins, and I have a current favorite. I'm not sure when the news that was bestowed on me will drop, but local (Akron-based) band Goodmorning Valentine has signed with the (again) continually growing (in roster quality and quantity) Suicide Squeeze Records. The label will reissue GMV's 2005 album, "Steady Your Hands," this year as well as their follow-up. More (and official) news will be coming soon, I'm sure. This will mark the second area-band to sign to the Squeeze after Six Parts Seven (who I know I will be into as soon as I get my hands on their material, I just always forget, and if someone wants to nudge me, that'd be great). I've been having a hard time identifying the correct adjectives to describe "Steady Your Hands." I just keep stumbling upon RyanAdamsian and - while that is monumental enough - I don't feel it's the best I can do. GMV list influences including Elvis Costello, Belle and Sebastian, Tom Waits and Wilco, but that doesn't get quite everything across either. Maybe it's that there's another singer or sound that this is similar too, or maybe it's just that universal. You can be the judge and definitely leave me a comment on who it may (or may not) be that I'm thinking.
One of the songs I've chosen for you from the Collectible Escalators release of "Steady Your Hands" was the first sound I heard of the band convincing me (along with a highly respected recommendation) to pick up the album. Then I've got a self-realization jam (if you will) that brings to mind the strange feeling of realizing I'm* old enough to "know what these 'kids' are going through" but not so old as to feel detached from it or any better than guilty. And finally, there's the finale which recaps just about every reason I found for being so engrossed with these songs, and wanting nothing more than to repeat them.
Here comes the weekend. It's about gee dee time. I have ridiculously high hopes that Saturday will bring with it the new Mates of State LP and CD, as well as Bishop Allen's February EP.



Goodmorning Valentine's "Last Year"
"Girl"
&
"Why Do You Bother"


*I changed this from "you're" to "I'm" for grammatical purposes, but the feeling of confession I felt in doing so was notable. So I did so. With this note.