''Accordion Solo!'' is a 2005 album by
Ten in the Swear Jar
James Cyrus Stewart (born March 2, 1978) is an American musician and writer best known for his role in experimental rock band Xiu Xiu. He has appeared in other bands, including XXL, Former Ghosts, and Sal Mineo.
Early life and career
St ...
. It is the band's third release under that name, a complete discography derived from all their previous releases. It is released by
Asian Man Records
Asian may refer to:
* Items from or related to the continent of Asia:
** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia
** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia
** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...
who described it as "A collection of live recordings, "field recordings" and studio tracks with complex lyrics, beautiful melodies, and diverse instrumentation." The
live
Live may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Films
* ''Live!'' (2007 film), 2007 American film
* ''Live'' (2014 film), a 2014 Japanese film
*'' ''Live'' (Apocalyptica DVD)
Music
* Live (band), American alternative rock band
* List of album ...
tracks are acknowledged to be of imperfect quality.
Jamie Stewart has re-used many lyrics from songs on ''Accordion Solo!'' in various
Xiu Xiu
Xiu Xiu ( ) is an American experimental band, formed in 2002 by singer-songwriter Jamie Stewart in San Jose, California. Currently, the line-up consists of Stewart (the only constant member since formation) and Angela Seo. The band's name ...
songs.
AJJ covered "San Jose Fight Song" on their 2014 compilation ''Rompilation 2.0: The Digitizing.''
Track listing
#"Malafuquana Espana" – 1:47
#"Hot Karl" – 3:04
#"San Jose Fight Song" – 4:20
#"I Don't Play the Drumz" – 4:13
#"Gauntlet of Thor the Destroyer" – 5:33
#"Fort Awesome Drunk Tank" – 0:52
#"Helsabot" – 3:21
#"Famine" – 4:32
#"I Love the Valley" – 3:39
#"Leg Show" – 4:14
#"King Earth" – 4:09
#"Melon" – 0:48
#"When You Write" – 3:58
#"Worry Boy" – 3:54
#"Sita Deth" – 3:31
#"House Quake II" – 3:56
#"Sad Girl" – 3:21
#"In The Blue Trunks J.H." – 3:28
#"Accordion Solo!" – 0:04
#"Gauntlet of Thor the Destroyer (live)" – 5:41
#"I Love the Valley (live)" – 3:21
#"House Quake II (live)" – 4:23
Explanation of tracks
*1, 6, 12, 19 are
field recording
Field recording is the term used for an audio recording produced outside a recording studio, and the term applies to recordings of both natural and human-produced sounds. It also applies to sound recordings like electromagnetic fields or vibrat ...
s
*13 is a cover of the
IBOPA (Indestructible Beat of Palo Alto) song of the same name (Stewart's previous band)
*20-22 are
live
Live may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Films
* ''Live!'' (2007 film), 2007 American film
* ''Live'' (2014 film), a 2014 Japanese film
*'' ''Live'' (Apocalyptica DVD)
Music
* Live (band), American alternative rock band
* List of album ...
recordings from The Usual in
San Jose, California
San Jose, officially San José (; ; ), is a major city in the U.S. state of California that is the cultural, financial, and political center of Silicon Valley and largest city in Northern California by both population and area. With a 2020 popul ...
Re-usage of lyrics in
Xiu Xiu
Xiu Xiu ( ) is an American experimental band, formed in 2002 by singer-songwriter Jamie Stewart in San Jose, California. Currently, the line-up consists of Stewart (the only constant member since formation) and Angela Seo. The band's name ...
songs
* Lyrics in "Hot Karl" and "House Quake II" are reused in "Pink City" from ''
A Promise''
* Lyrics in "Helsabot" were later sung by
Caralee McElroy in "
Helsabot of Caraleebot", a b-side to "Fleshettes", and "Helsabot", from ''
Fag Patrol
''Fag Patrol'' is a collection of acoustic Xiu Xiu
Xiu Xiu ( ) is an American experimental band, formed in 2002 by singer-songwriter Jamie Stewart in San Jose, California. Currently, the line-up consists of Stewart (the only constant m ...
''
* Lyrics in "I Love The Valley" were later reused in "I Luv The Valley OH!" from ''
Fabulous Muscles
''Fabulous Muscles'' is the third album by American experimental band Xiu Xiu, released on February 17, 2004 on 5 Rue Christine. The album marked a change in the band's sound, described as a depressive mix between experimental rock and synth-pop ...
''
* Lyrics in "King Earth" were later reused in "King Earth, King Earth" from ''
Chapel of the Chimes'' and ''Fag Patrol''
* Lyrics in "Sad Girl" were later reused in "Sad Pony Guerrilla Girl" from ''A Promise''
Reception
''
Tiny Mix Tapes
''Tiny Mix Tapes'' (also ''TMT'' or ''tinymixtapes'') is an online music and film webzine that focuses primarily on new music and related news. In addition to its reviews, it is noted for its subversive, political, and sometimes surreal news, ...
'' wrote, "Save the chirp 'n' croak of the unnecessary field recordings, ''Accordion Solo!'' presents a compelling alter ego to counteract the clucking of one of indie-rock's favorite chickens . . .
calculated, cocksure, and soiled like a bona fide dumpster mattress with all sorts of beautiful yellow, orange, and brown taint/mung stains."
''
Pitchfork Media
''Pitchfork'' (formerly ''Pitchfork Media'') is an American online music publication (currently owned by Condé Nast) that was launched in 1995 by writer Ryan Schreiber as an independent music blog.
Schreiber started Pitchfork while working ...
'' wrote, "''Accordion Solo!'' is the rare early-career document that works as a stand-alone record. One gets the sense that Stewart had yet to develop the confidence to be as melodramatic as he'd like, and Xiu Xiu detractors might find this preferable to the more realized recent work, while for neophytes, it will provide a valuable foothold on Stewart's daunting, alien terrain."
References
{{Authority control
Accordion Solo!
Asian Man Records albums