Re: Pacific States - WV56 - Pick Me A Dude! NF - Mikal Cronin V.S. Ariel Pink (Page 5)
Pacific States WV56 - Ariel Pink - Put Your Number In My Phone
You picked Ariel Pink's psych-pop gem "Put Your Number In My Phone" as my Pacific debut, and i'm very happy you've done so. After I was awarded with a PQ for the voting error that cost Yoko & Antony a place in the final, I just knew I wanted Ariel as my automatic qualifier. Mikal Cronin I at least felt had a fighting chance of reaching the final under normal circumstances, whereas Mr Pink's eccentricity could be a wall for many.
This was the year I went crazy for Ariel Pink. I did own a couple of his ep's prior to my little obsession but it was hearing his late 2014 release "Pom Pom" that really got me hooked, and wanting to delve into his rich back catalogue of weird and wonderful stuff.
Ariel was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. Throughout the 90's and early 00's Ariel had amassed hundreds of lo-fi bedroom recordings. In 2003 he passed on a CD-R of his music to the experimental pop band Animal Collective. He became the first non-Animal Collective musician to sign to the label Paw Tracks. They released fan favourite "The Doldrums", an album Ariel had originally recorded back in 1999, as well as the albums "Worn Copy" and "House Arrest". Pink at first would perform his songs at concerts with a karaoke style backing track, before eventually attracting musicians to form a band with him that would be known as Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti. In 2009 the band signed to the iconic label 4AD and this is when things started to really explode. The band released the albums "Before Today" and "Mature Themes" which were huge departures from Ariel's previous super lo-fi, DIY recordings, but still were very much uniquely his. No longer did the songs sound like they were recorded underwater with a tin can. This was perhaps an unwelcome departure in sound for his cult following who were charmed by the cruddy aesthetic of his previous works. There was still enough lo-fi spirit and general weirdness to go round though.
Then came "Pom Pom", Ariel's epic late 2014 release. A totally bizarre sweet shop of different sounds. A few of the tracks were penned by colourful record producer and musician Kim Fowley, whilst on his deathbed. Ariel would visit him and he'd come out with all these lyrics that Pink would put to music.
"Put Your Number In My Phone" was the albums lead single and also the song I of course shall be sharing with WV this edition. This is my go to track for when I just want to feel good. Even after hundreds of plays I still just can't get enough of it's magic. So whimsical and charming, and the music video has got to be one of my favourites ever. Ariel in his wonderful teal fluffy jacket and cowboy hat, cruising the mall with his gas masked friend in a wheelchair, looking for girls to make conversation with. It's beyond awkward and
hypnagogic (word of the day), yet somehow comforting.
There's magic in the air
The night sky drapes your face
Like a mystery left uncovered
Talk to me, it's now or never, babe
Make believe, the night last forever, babe
Come for tea, I'll be your neighbor
If you want all this and more
Put your number in my phone
Put your number in my phone
I hope to get sometime alone
I wanna get to know you more, baby
Put your number in my phone
If I could get sometime alone
'cause what would tame this gypsy heart
But fruits from fresh on vine
Your luscious lips entice me to discover
Talk to me, I'll be your butterfly
Hard to me, I'm not the zion
Save me, spare us both the denial
Most of this true love
Put your number in my phone
Put your number in my phone
I hope to get sometime alone
I wanna get to know you more, baby
Put your number in my phone
If I could get some time alone
Hey Ariel, it's Jessica
We met at the taco truck in Silverlake
And I don't know if you're like really busy or something
But I haven't heard back from you
And I was just wondering like, if you could
Talk to me, it's now or never, babe
Make believe, under the zion
Come for tea, I'll be your neighbor
If you want all this and more
Put your number in my phone
Put your number in my phone
I hope to get sometime alone
I wanna get to know you more, baby (baby)
Put your number in my phone
If I could get sometime alone
My Ariel picks
Mature Themes - I find this to be Ariel's sweetest song and also his most exposed. A delightfully charming little ditty. "I wish I was taller than 5'4". 35 years of my life spent computing it all, oh hell, I want it to be good" he laments over the Mike Oldfield-esque jam. So endearing.
Butt-House Blondies - This one rocks hard and has a wonderful structure. Sludgy 90's grunge refrain and vintage charm on those verses. Oh and we get random naughty lady sounds sprinkled over the song. Scandalous.
Gray Sunset - The sexy hot wreck of a music video of this is what helped to attract me to the song. A very weird one that's difficult to digest and has more than a hint of Bowie to it.
Dayzed Inn Daydreams (Pom Pom version) - A glorious psyche-pop rerecording of an earlier track. If I was held at water pistol point to pick Ariel's "masterpiece" *shivers* then it would be this. An incredibly poignant piece lyrically. Gotta bask in wonderment at that incredible music video as well.
Are You Going To Look After My Boys? - This song is ridiculous in the best possible way. Everything about it has me in stitches. From the moment it starts i'm dead. That pacing, that super hot lo-fi production. One of Ariel's finest videos as well. This seems to be a fan favourite for a reason.
See The Girl - The first Ariel song I heard and still one of my favourites. Jangly, melancholic little number.
Only In My Dreams - One of Ariel's most accessible songs. In another world this would have been a radio hit.
Life In L.A. - Who doesn't want to see Ariel Pink strutting through the sun soaked, palm treed streets of L.A. wearing only a towel and a pair of black boots, blowing into his newspaper trumpet? One of his very best. Surreal, steeped in melancholy. It's like a dream. "Life In L.A., come on out if you're gay".
Black Ballerina - This near 6 minute epic from "Pom Pom" is one of my very top favourites. Those chunky 80's synths have me hooked from the start. We even get a saucy spoken word exchange in the middle of the song where the character Billy is rather reluctantly introduced to a topless dancer, and things get a little... out of hand. "Oh.. err.. I like your areolas, baby"
*SLAP* "HANDS OFF BUSTER, what the fuck is that!? What the fuck are you doing man!?"
Bright Lit Blue Skies - A cover of a song originally recorded by Rockin' Ramrods. This is a heavy dose of sunshine. Wonderful surf-pop goodness.
I'm quite happy with how this voting experiment turned out. I'd for sure do it again this way. As you can see, we actually have an artist tie. Ariel Pink and Mikal Cronin both received 60 points when combining the scores of each of their two songs. "Put Your Number In My Phone" was the clear winner though, thanks to Kris and Connor's outrageous use of my voting system, awarding the song 9 points. The two Mikal songs tying on 30 points each isn't going to help me with making a difficult future choice for the contest.
Scandalous Ariel facts
Did you know?
- Ariel recorded percussion for an entire album using just sounds from his mouth and armpits.
- Miley Cyrus of all people recently enlisted the help of Mr Pink for a track on her album "Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz" that she gave away for free on Soundcloud.
- Ariel Pink was dubbed "Indie Rock's most hated man". This came after a number of controversial (trollish) interviews leading up to the release of his 2014 record "Pom Pom". Soon after he could be seen having twitter spats with fellow 4AD label mate Grimes and also Madonna's manager.
- Porcelain Black has a cameo in the music video for "Put Your Number In My Phone".
- Kurt Vile and Azealia Banks are both huge fans of Ariel's work. Banks even released her own version of Ariel's "Nude Beach A Go-Go".
- For $10,000 you can buy an Ariel Pink print of one of his sketches. Just head to his website with your credit card.
Live performances of "Put Your Number In My Phone"
Thank you for allowing me to waste your time
Two hours of my life I will never get back that I spent creating this post for two people to read
I hope you enjoyed the song. If not then perhaps the news that it's going to be a 100% internal selection for WV57 that will see the return of my sad ballads will be more pleasing?