A name such as the Lovely Feathers may carry connotations of soft and downy pop, but the Montreal band trades in surprisingly agile post-punk guitar chime on Fantasy Of The Lot, due out next month. Singer/guitarist Mark Kupfert offers a glimpse into his musical psyche and sharp stylistic turns with his MAGNET mix, throwing in everyone from Biggie to Bowie to Blur.
“Lowiza” (download):
Frank Sinatra “My Way”
When I was about nine, my parents came back from some out-of-town wedding with a tape of my dad singing “My Way” and “Blueberry Hill.” The party had a karaoke booth, where you’d sing and take home a recorded version of your performance. I had to listen to my father serenade himself for a full year.
Notorious B.I.G. Featuring Bone Thugs-N-Harmony “Notorious Thugs”
It was the summer of 1997. I was 15 and discovering pot’s beauty in curbing the utter boredom of life within a Canadian suburb. Most nights would usually end at my buddy’s basement, where we’d satisfy our munchies listening to Biggie chant, “Armed and dangerous/Ain’t too many can bang with us/Straight-up weed no angel dust.” Wonderful, wonderful stuff.
Chad VanGaalen “City Of Electric Light”
I was driving to New York City in a rented U-Haul. It was snowing heavily, and the truck didn’t seem to have much traction. This tune came on, and I felt like I was in some apocalypse/oblivion world. Love his vocal texture over the edgy-yet-warm arrangement.
My Bloody Valentine “Loomer”
I had a lover for one summer. I didn’t know her well. She didn’t know me. Every time we made love, we’d listen to My Bloody Valentine. I still can’t listen to this stuff without getting aroused.
Metronomy “My Heart Rate Rapid”
Some songs instantly cure my mid-range depression.
Blur “Girls And Boys”
I went to see Blur in 2003. In the middle of playing this song, Damon Albarn stopped the band, saying the song sounded like shit. A weird hush fell over the crowd. Blur moved on to other tunes, as if nothing happened. Then in the encore, Albarn said, “Let’s try that fuckin’ song again.” The baseline of “Girls And Boys” kicked in, and the crowd went apeshit.
David Bowie “Suffragette City”
I remember the first time I heard the full album of The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust. I was in college, probably about. My buddy told me, “Listen to this—you’re going to love every song.” I listened to the whole album every day for two weeks straight. I can still easily listen to the album front to back. The record is ageless.
Grizzly Bear “Foreground”
Just a beautiful song. A little more bear than the other tunes. Awfully elegant.
Man Man “Engwish Bwudd”
We did a mini-tour with Man Man in the summer of 2006. I still remember the look on vocalist Ryan’s face when a crazy fan came up to him showing his tattooed arm. The tattoo was a calligraphy version of the lyrics to “Engwish Bwudd.”
Malajube “Montréal -40°C”
In this ode to my hometown, I always get the willies when I hear the lyric “une ourse polaire dans l’autobus.” I actually don’t know why, because the band is basically saying, “Montreal, you’re like a polar bear in a street bus.” Somehow, it totally does it for me. It’s fuckin’ freezing here.
