Music Review: Glen Phillips - Secrets of the New Explorers
Published May 12, 2008
The North Pole has been the subject of many a song, but the South Pole has been largely left out in the cold (I couldn't resist), until now. Okay, "The Spirit of Shackleton" isn't about the South Pole, per se, but Ernest Shackleton did lead expeditions of the South Pole and his spirit has lent his name to the song. I've heard bad pop songs dressed up with some of these sounds before, and this is what it sounds like when a good song gets to try them on. There is no classic singalong chorus or obvious pop hook, but the loneliness and disconnection in the lyrics and vocal are a great contrast for the shiny synth sounds and off-kilter, electronic percussion. All of these disparate elements — historical figures, far away places, shiny coatings and sad vocals — are blended wonderfully.
This might be my new subversive way to turn people on to the cause because I'd bet all the money in my pocket that almost no one I know would know this is a Glen Phillips song. I also bet some dickless radio consultant goobs out there could find a place for this song on radio if they sat down and listened to it. It joins "Consolers of the Lonely" (Raconteurs) and "So He Won't Break" (Black Keys) in my contest for Song of The Year.
It's funny I should mention "The Spirit of Shackleton" and contests. Phillips is making the studio tracks he used to create the songs available to would-be re-mixers. Re-create and re-imagine "The Spirit of Shackleton" and you could win an autographed guitar and international fame and fortune. Okay, he's only promising a guitar to the winner and he will be posting the winning entry on his site. Fortune is up to you (Details here.
Secrets Of The New Explorers can be purchased through Phillips' web site, GlenPhillips.com. The EP is available as a CD or electronically (FLAC and MP3).
This article is part of BC Magazine's feature on Glen Phillips. Check out the whole series. Phillips was interviewed on The B-Sides Concept Album program on BlogTalkRadio. You can also hear the interview in its entirety by following this link to the BSCA.
Josh Hathaway is a Senior Editor for BC Magazine. He is formerly an award-winning journalist and broadcaster and publishes the BC Network site Confessions of a Fanboy.
- Music Review: Glen Phillips - Secrets of the New Explorers
- Published: May 12, 2008
- Type: Review
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Music: Adult Alternative, Music: Alternative Rock, Music: Ambient, Review
- Part of a feature: BC Magazine Feature: Glen Phillips
- Writer: Josh Hathaway
- Josh Hathaway's BC Writer page
- Josh Hathaway's personal site
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Thanks, Brian. I am in complete agreement with you about Glen's voice. I was thinking about that when listening to "The Spirit of Shackleton" on this EP and a few of the older songs I've listened to lately. He was very good in the Toad days, but he seems to me to have grown a great deal as a singer. I think some of that might be attributed to the fact he now tours almost exclusively solo acoustic. When all you have is a single guitar and your voice to communicate with, you have to really bring it. That has, in turn, shown up on the records. He's very, very good.
You're right, too, that "space" records and "space" rock do seem to go hand in hand. I didn't put that together, but it's a fun point. I doubt he'll make this kind of record often, but I hope this isn't the last time he dabbles around with it. It's a good EP and is highly recommended.
I still have yet to hear this, but I got it for my wife a couple months back. I'm going to need to grab this from her and give it a listen. He's been on a roll lately so I can't imagine it'll be anything but another great piece.
Another great "space" album is Aimee Mann's Lost In Space. Not really about space but uses the metaphors of space and astronauts occasionally to illustrate the disillusionment and pain people go through. In other words, typically Mann subject matter. :-)
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Great Review...
The problem here(U.S.)is that too many people think that the celebrities that run the Top 40 machine including Hip-Hop are "Musicians". For me, those "Musicians" have never produced anything that has been worthy.
It's unfortunate that Toad doesn't record together anymore but I think for Mr. Phillips it is proving positive that you don't have to be in the limelight to be a great musician. Personally, I think that's what killed Toad in the first place,i.e.,Contractual Agreements,etc..
So far, I've been diggin the songs I have heard on his Myspace page(probably because Mr. Phillip's voice has always been awesome) but I do find it funny that when people write tunes about space they tend to show their Pink Floyd & David Bowie influences...Which is not a bad thing at all. Great Stuff, I would love to see him produce some heavier material. Maybe some "Prog".