Exhibit B: Pink Mountaintops Outside Love
(photo: Jody Rogac)
Up until just yesterday, I thought Grizzly Bear’s “Two Weeks” was going to be my favourite song of 2009, but just when you least expect it, cupid shoots his arrow straight into your ass and makes everything woozy and fuzzy. Such is the feeling you get when you finally get to “Closer To Heaven”, the last of the 10 songs on Outside Love, the latest album from Pink Mountaintops. On it’s own, it’s a stunning track, but as the closer of this fantastic collection of songs, it gives notice that Stephen “Black Mountain” McBean is a big softie inside that gruff, bearded exterior of his.
Those who are familiar with the Black variety of McBean’s Mountain songs may appreciate the softer, sentimental side on display here. “While We Were Dreaming” features vocals by McBean’s Black Mountain band mate Ashley Webber, set against a hauntingly beautiful tune reminiscent of Mazzy Star singer Hope Sandoval’s work with The Jesus & Marychain. “And if I could find your heart/I would pull it from your chest/and smash you with my fist til it was beating…” she croons, making your knees buckle, and your heart melt. McBean’s co-writer Sophie Trudeau (a member of A Silver Mt. Zion and Godspeed You! Black Emperor) adds an epic lushness and delicate feminine touch to these sentimental love songs. The two met when the were maid of honour and best man at a wedding in Montreal for mutual friends. At the bride and groom’s insistence, they worked together to write and perform a song for the wedding, and from there the partnership expanded to working on this new album. While influenced by the wedding ceremony, Outside Love isn’t all about mushy romantic love; there’s still enough grit, dark edges, and “Vampires” to satisfy Black Mountain and Pink Mountaintop fans alike.
Outside Love is by far McBean’s best albums, Pink, Black or otherwise. Polaris shortlist? I’d bet my arrow-shot ass on it.
MP3: Pink Mountaintops “While We Were Dreaming”
Myspace: Pink Mountaintops
Buy: Pink Mountaintops Outside Love
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I heard these guys on CBC Radio 3 last week… I’ve been wanting to get their album ever since!
Comment by Marilyn 06.03.09 @ 6:12 pmIt’s definitely one I’d recommend to anyone. High on my list of current favourites–seems like as soon as I update the Heavy Rotation section in the sidebar I have a new album to add to it.
Comment by Jim 06.03.09 @ 9:41 pm[...] (28 May 2009) “Those who are familiar with the Black variety of McBean’s Mountain songs may appreciate the softer, sentimental side on display here. “While We Were Dreaming” features vocals by McBean’s Black Mountain band mate Ashley Webber, set against a hauntingly beautiful tune reminiscent of Mazzy Star singer Hope Sandoval’s work with The Jesus & Marychain. “And if I could find your heart/I would pull it from your chest/and smash you with my fist til it was beating…” she croons, making your knees buckle, and your heart melt.” [...]
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