Blast from the Past: Arab Strap's Philophobia

Love is not always a glorious thing. It can hurt, it can torture, it can torment. We all know this, we've all been through the type relationships that can absolutely destroy you and yet for some reason or another we continue to get back on the proverbial horse and try it again. Humans are stupid, but I guess sometimes people really do find happiness with another person (hi, Rachael!). Still, it's not a bad idea for us happy types to remember what it was like to have our hearts ripped from our chests and thankfully we have bands like Arab Strap to remind us exactly what it felt like when it all came tumbling down.

For their second album Aidan Moffat and Malcolm Middleton obsess over their varied romantic details and drunken stupidity in great and gory detail. Accompanying the lyrical chaos is the simple sound of guitars, organs, and strings gently being played along the varied delivery of Moffat. It's such a simple form of music, but it conveys absolute heartbreak and despair to perfection. The songs are naked and spare and Moffat gently speaks most of the lyrics to you creating a sad and haunting listening environment.

Listening to Philophobia your own personal experiences and feelings may come rushing back to you, no matter what state you happen to currently be in. The album has a way of bringing you down to its level, sawing you off at the knees and forcing you to face the loves that have slipped past. It's tough to listen to at times, but then it is also so heart wrenching and beautiful that you can't help but be drawn into it.

I won't put on Arab Strap albums all that often, I'd rather listen to funner music in an effort to keep a positive light on what's going on in my life, but ever so often I find myself drinking alone and listening to Arab Strap just to remind myself of feelings I have felt in quite a while. Sometimes heartbreak can be a very good thing.
Arab Strap - "Packs Of Three"
Arab Strap - "Here We Go"
Arab Strap - "Night Before the Funeral"
Arab Strap - "I Would've Liked Me A Lot Last Night"

Matador's 20th Anniversary Blasts from the Past:
Various Artists Everything Is Nice
Spoon's Telephono
Yo La Tengo's Painful
Cat Power's Moon Pix