alt-J — Warm Foothills
Album: This Is All YoursAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 1161
Length: 3:39
Plays (last 30 days): 1
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Dry dunes cater for jumping boys
From the nape of her neck he made his descent
They watched men hurl from rock to sea
Like sternum to button, lined lip pinches in between
Your foothills
Your warmth
Iris swims quietly beside me
Oh the leaves and larger weeds sway and stretch themselves beneath
Blue dragonflies dart to and fro
I tie my life to your balloon and let it go
Your foothills
Your warmth
Ooooh
From the nape of her neck he made his descent
They watched men hurl from rock to sea
Like sternum to button, lined lip pinches in between
Your foothills
Your warmth
Iris swims quietly beside me
Oh the leaves and larger weeds sway and stretch themselves beneath
Blue dragonflies dart to and fro
I tie my life to your balloon and let it go
Your foothills
Your warmth
Ooooh
Comments (55)add comment
I may not like everything they do, but I gotta give credit to alt-J for their boundless creativity.
xcranky_yankee wrote:
Good ears, xcranky_yankee!
Could be a xylophone, but the vibrato of the musical note makes me think it's a vibraphone. Not much difference between the two, except the vibraphone has metal disks in the resonator tube that give it the vibra-sound; a rattle-y sound like a string's vibrato. Vibes are used often in 1930-1950 jazz recordings.
A true xylophone makes a steady tone (like a bell) when struck by the musician's mallet.
is that a xylophone in the background?
Good ears, xcranky_yankee!
Could be a xylophone, but the vibrato of the musical note makes me think it's a vibraphone. Not much difference between the two, except the vibraphone has metal disks in the resonator tube that give it the vibra-sound; a rattle-y sound like a string's vibrato. Vibes are used often in 1930-1950 jazz recordings.
A true xylophone makes a steady tone (like a bell) when struck by the musician's mallet.
had to re-rate this song. i cannot stand whistling.
Perfectly unobjectionable, almost sweet music, and yet it incites me to violence. Nauseating. And I am usually such a peaceable, go-along-get-along sort of guy.
this song alway makes me cry.... i love it
I'm telling' ya' ! Ya' gotta' stop with this shiite !
I like it! Thans RP!
xcranky_yankee wrote:
Probably electronic. It sounds like a glockenspiel.(electronic?) IDK
is that a xylophone in the background?
Probably electronic. It sounds like a glockenspiel.(electronic?) IDK
My wife's name is... Iris. How can I not love this song?
A classic case of a band I didn't like at all on first hearing but have come to really love.
is that a xylophone in the background?
An 8 for trying something I've never heard before. Effective for me (not a music expert).
"The Salinas Valley is in Northern California. It is a long narrow swale between two ranges of mountains, and the Salinas River winds and twists up the center until it falls at last into Monterey Bay.
I remember my childhood names for grasses and secret flowers. I remember where a toad may live and what time the birds awaken in the summer---and what trees and seasons smelled like---how people looked and walked and smelled even. The memory of odors is very rich.
I remember that the Gabilan Mountains to the east of the valley were light gay mountains full of sun and loveliness and a kind of invitation, so that you wanted to climb into their warm foothills almost as you want to climb into the lap of a beloved mother" (East of Eden, John Steinbeck, page 1).
I remember my childhood names for grasses and secret flowers. I remember where a toad may live and what time the birds awaken in the summer---and what trees and seasons smelled like---how people looked and walked and smelled even. The memory of odors is very rich.
I remember that the Gabilan Mountains to the east of the valley were light gay mountains full of sun and loveliness and a kind of invitation, so that you wanted to climb into their warm foothills almost as you want to climb into the lap of a beloved mother" (East of Eden, John Steinbeck, page 1).
I have always enjoyed this song. I love the interplay of the voices. To me, it does not sound like a guy singing in falsetto. It's quite a beautiful effect.
lizardking wrote:
It is a gimmick, although that's actually 4 different voices! From the Daily Trojan review (full article here) -
The most memorable female voice, however, occurs on the track “Warm Foothills,” perhaps the album’s crowning achievement. The track features English female folk singers Lianne La Havas and Marika Hackman, as well as Bright Eyes’ Conor Oberst. Rather than giving each their own verse or chorus, the guests trade off every other word with Newman and Unger-Hamilton, creating a mesmerizing hocketing effect that recalls fellow indie rockers Dirty Projectors. It will be very interesting to see how they attempt to recreate this effect in a live setting.
And I've found that I'm liking Alt-J, and upvoted from my initial 1 to an 'it's not bad 6 rating - Long Live RP!!
I appreciate the research! Me, I'm starting with a 7 for openers... FWIW I *like* the gimmick!
It is a gimmick, although that's actually 4 different voices! From the Daily Trojan review (full article here) -
The most memorable female voice, however, occurs on the track “Warm Foothills,” perhaps the album’s crowning achievement. The track features English female folk singers Lianne La Havas and Marika Hackman, as well as Bright Eyes’ Conor Oberst. Rather than giving each their own verse or chorus, the guests trade off every other word with Newman and Unger-Hamilton, creating a mesmerizing hocketing effect that recalls fellow indie rockers Dirty Projectors. It will be very interesting to see how they attempt to recreate this effect in a live setting.
And I've found that I'm liking Alt-J, and upvoted from my initial 1 to an 'it's not bad 6 rating - Long Live RP!!
I appreciate the research! Me, I'm starting with a 7 for openers... FWIW I *like* the gimmick!
Nice line: I tie my life to your balloon and let it go
deckfisher wrote:
It seems that the tension was the effect they were striving for.
The interplay of voices is quite disturbing.
It seems that the tension was the effect they were striving for.
Dave_Mack wrote:
Sounds to me like the same guy singing in falsetto. Seems gimmicky to me. Not a fan of this one.
It is a gimmick, although that's actually 4 different voices! From the Daily Trojan review (full article here) -
The most memorable female voice, however, occurs on the track “Warm Foothills,” perhaps the album’s crowning achievement. The track features English female folk singers Lianne La Havas and Marika Hackman, as well as Bright Eyes’ Conor Oberst. Rather than giving each their own verse or chorus, the guests trade off every other word with Newman and Unger-Hamilton, creating a mesmerizing hocketing effect that recalls fellow indie rockers Dirty Projectors. It will be very interesting to see how they attempt to recreate this effect in a live setting.
And I've found that I'm liking Alt-J, and upvoted from my initial 1 to an 'it's not bad 6 rating - Long Live RP!!
Sounds to me like the same guy singing in falsetto. Seems gimmicky to me. Not a fan of this one.
It is a gimmick, although that's actually 4 different voices! From the Daily Trojan review (full article here) -
The most memorable female voice, however, occurs on the track “Warm Foothills,” perhaps the album’s crowning achievement. The track features English female folk singers Lianne La Havas and Marika Hackman, as well as Bright Eyes’ Conor Oberst. Rather than giving each their own verse or chorus, the guests trade off every other word with Newman and Unger-Hamilton, creating a mesmerizing hocketing effect that recalls fellow indie rockers Dirty Projectors. It will be very interesting to see how they attempt to recreate this effect in a live setting.
And I've found that I'm liking Alt-J, and upvoted from my initial 1 to an 'it's not bad 6 rating - Long Live RP!!
One of the most interesting, creative, and enjoyable bands of the last 10 years.
Hey RP friends...I'm studying for a nursing midterm and scrolling through the comments section has given me some much needed comic-relief. Y'all rule!
AvoidingWork wrote:
Sounds to me like the same guy singing in falsetto. Seems gimmicky to me. Not a fan of this one.
dragon1952 wrote:
You've got to be kidding me 
Is the guy going through puberty or is he actually doing that on purpose?
Due to the harmony parts, I think it's a woman singing with him. Is the guy going through puberty or is he actually doing that on purpose?Sounds to me like the same guy singing in falsetto. Seems gimmicky to me. Not a fan of this one.
Sounds a lot like Laurie Anderson
Came to downvote this piece of tripe but I already had.
planet_lizard wrote:
Agreed
Love it - unusual and beguiling.
Agreed
deckfisher wrote:
Then, success!
The interplay of voices is quite disturbing.
Then, success!
The interplay of voices is quite disturbing.
Love it - unusual and beguiling.
paradiseregained wrote:
Perhaps you'd be happier elsewhere.
STOP !!!!!! YOU'RE KILLING ME !!!! UTTERLY ATROCIOUS !!!!!!
Perhaps you'd be happier elsewhere.
STOP !!!!!! YOU'RE KILLING ME !!!! UTTERLY ATROCIOUS !!!!!!
dragon1952 wrote:
You've got to be kidding me Is the guy going through puberty or is he actually doing that on purpose?
Due to the harmony parts, I think it's a woman singing with him. Is the guy going through puberty or is he actually doing that on purpose? bill-1956 wrote:
The two traits are not mutually exclusive; historically they've usually coincided.
Creative?
or
Self-indulgent?
or
Self-indulgent?
The two traits are not mutually exclusive; historically they've usually coincided.
The more I hear Alt-J the more I find to like. Not everyone's cup of tea but I find his creative playfulness refreshing.
OI'll give it foive.
Creative?
or
Self-indulgent?
or
Self-indulgent?
You've got to be kidding me Is the guy going through puberty or is he actually doing that on purpose?
Is the guy going through puberty or is he actually doing that on purpose?it does grow on you.
A little too dreamy for my tastes. Maybe it will grow on me, but giving a lowly 3 until then.
jimys wrote:
Me too.
I love how they play with the male/female voices. Something I've never heard before.
Me too.
RCinSoCal wrote:
Damn straight—at least one segment of the rest of the Northern Hemisphere is jealous: sub-zero temperatures, snow, ice, and not a crocus in sight. And our foothills, the Virginia Piedmont, are blanketed with snow.
"Warm Foothills" pretty much explains here; the past couple weeks, now, and the foreseeable future (they say)... I'm sure much of the rest of the Northern Hemisphere is pretty jealous. It's all about swimming laps and getting some rays at the outdoor pool where I swim laps mid-day, wearing shorts & flip-flops, and needing the car AC. This song conveys it all well.
Damn straight—at least one segment of the rest of the Northern Hemisphere is jealous: sub-zero temperatures, snow, ice, and not a crocus in sight. And our foothills, the Virginia Piedmont, are blanketed with snow.
"Warm Foothills" pretty much explains here; the past couple weeks, now, and the foreseeable future (they say)... I'm sure much of the rest of the Northern Hemisphere is pretty jealous. It's all about swimming laps and getting some rays at the outdoor pool where I swim laps mid-day, wearing shorts & flip-flops, and needing the car AC. This song conveys it all well.
Nice song!
unclehud wrote:
Yes, they are indeed. I love it.
Damn; these guys are good, aren't they?
Yes, they are indeed. I love it.
unclehud wrote:
I'm thinking yes
Damn; these guys are good, aren't they?
I'm thinking yes
Damn; these guys are good, aren't they?
KaraokeVox wrote:
Andrew Bird begs to differ. ...only he'd whistle it to you.
not many whistlers out there...nice.
Andrew Bird begs to differ. ...only he'd whistle it to you.
Such a well crafted song and recording.
Hoosfoos wrote:
Gee, Hoosfoos, did you ever think that maybe you're listening to the wrong station?
<snip>
Gee, Hoosfoos, did you ever think that maybe you're listening to the wrong station?
I did not think I'd like this when it first started, but nice build. Well done.
Their debut album is very creative; like em alot.
This is a great song and I feel there is something exceptional about this band. Yet, I heard them live and thought they were awful, particularly vocally.
Nice song, very good new band!
Wow. How many takes in the studio to get this one just right. And it is just right !!!
I love how they play with the male/female voices. Something I've never heard before.
subtle, serene and refreshingly different.....play it again Bill
not many whistlers out there...nice.