what is your favorite song by casiotone for the painfully alone?

?

either "baby it's you" off the first record or "number ten" and "destroy the evidence" off of pocket symphonies for lonesome subway cars which came out last year but it's going up as my #1 for 2002.
-- gygax! (gygax0r@[...), December 11th, 2002.

i rattle off my three favorite songs of his (for the MP3 bounty hunter half-orc goblins) and then declare his latest record as my favorite of the past year (for the ethical consumer nice hobbits)? what more would YOU ask for?

or do you think that the question begs for more of an academic multi-paragraph B+ english-major approach:

"the pragmatic low-fidelity keyboard enthusiast in me considers the second side of his OOP seven inch on CassingleUSA records to be vastly superior to his later, more transgressive period which invokes a pinot noir-like splash of aural complexity..."

c'mon Ned, you know i'm right!!! :D

cftpaforever

could you edit this atrocious amg bio:

Casiotone for the Painfully Alone is the lo-fi solo project of Portland, OR, [he started in SF, then Foster City, then Portland, then Seattle, now back in Oakland] indie-boy Owen Ashworth. His songwriting is part Bright Eyes [nononononono!!! EDIT EDIT EDIT!!!] sensitive singer/songwriter heartache balladry and Atom & His Package battery-operated antics. His weapons of choice are Casio SK-1 and his hot-rod ["hot-rodded"?] Casiotones. His lyrics are a coy-edged blend of Stephin Merritt sarcasm and the Mountain Goats earnestness.
His first recording, Answering Machine Music: A Brief Album in Twelve Parts, was released in 1999 on his own label Cassingle USA and loosely a concept album of clever musical voice mails. Some of the tracks, including "Theme From David Hanna," were first recorded into his machine. [a horribly worded and arguably worthless sentence... maybe clarify "his answering machine"] Pocket Symphonies for Lonesome Subway Cars followed in 2001 on Tomlab and included several "real" instruments including cello and drums. [how about a "real" bio, Daphne?]
— Daphne GA Carr

I like the 'white castle' song.

i'm not counting anymore.

San Diego May 17th w/ THE LOCUST (!!!!), the blood brothers, the rapture and others... wowowowow.

I wish I was going to Sonar :(

"tales of urban heartbreak over casio synth pop."

i say do it and then email him!

"Jeane, If You're Ever In Portland"
could be a cover of Belle and Sebastian's "Sleep The Clock Around"

"Toby, Take A Bow"
"there is a boy that never goes out..." is possibly the best line on the record. gauzy tones and the melody line on the off-beat.

"Half Ghost"
his songs pay-off most when he ups the ante in the noise department (cf: "number ten" on the last record), but he really teases you with it here. the first verse is a killer.

"Calloused Fingers Won't Make You Strong, Edith Wong"
this is the single (or should be). VERY different from early live versions with the upbeat percussion, instead of just the lone drone. the pause then switch to double time for the last 2 verses is a very nice touch, is that a dr. rhythm (i sense some mild programming what with the snare lead-in just prior)?

"Casiotone For The Painfully Alone In A Yellow T-Shirt"
The trilogy continues... The rhythm here is that controlled-chaos (overdriven canned beats with tiny squeals of squelch-back) that he does so well.

"Roberta C."
Are your friends are smarter than you? Too smart for themselves? "is it all gonna change? maybe tonight..."

"The Attic Room"
his neatest chord progression since "baby it's you"

"Twinkle Echo"
there are tones that only exist in lo-fi heaven (cf the instrumentals on the recent sentridoh "wasted pieces" reissue)

the next san francisco casiotone for the painfully alone show is halloween night at the hemlock tavern. also playing is nate denver's neck. this show is the kick-off for a month long nate/owen national tour.

the casiotone for the painfully alone set will be a one-time only karaoke performance, where all of the songs will be sung by people who aren't normally in the band. the instrumental accompaniment will be provided by the normal band members.

if you would like to sing a casiotone for the painfully alone song or this show, please email [cftpa email] and let me know which one you are interested in singing. it's ok if you don't know all of the words. i can email them to you. song choices are first come, first serve, so email soon, if you're interested.

already requested:
casiotone for the painfully alone in a green cotton sweater

in addition to the tracks mentioned above, "hey eleanor" needs major props.

We Have Mice is my favourite OMD cover ever. Oh, wait...

irony defined:
when casiotone for the painfully alone starts dating your ex-girlfriend.

And for what it's worth...

*Shock*

i mean how painfully alone can you be touring the world with the rapture and going out with my xgf? </stand-up routine worthy of jess harvell dismissal>

ps- perhaps "casiotone for the painfully alone dating your ex-girlfriend" is gonna be on the next record?

Friday, Jan 28 Calgary, AB
Casiotone for the Painfully Alone
w/ Chad VanGaalen
@ Broken City

Saturday, Jan 29 Edmonton, AB
Casiotone for the Painfully Alone
w/ Field & Stream, DJs Mittens & Bob Crane
@ The Victory Lounge

so i'm early for a meeting this morning and i'm sitting in the conference room looking at magazines and i see the new issue of TOKION... they have a little feature on James Murphy/LCD Soundsystem and lo and behold what t-shirt is he wearing... ha.

were the papercuts good? i love the cd owen gave me.

here's my take:

Back in town
With blown-out lungs, and shot eardrums
And misplaced kisses
And someone who misses
Who misses me in Kansas

The second I got out of the van
I saw you giving your cash to the doorman
I saw the X on your hand
And I knew you were the one
I knew you'd understand, but oh...

I wish we could have talked all night
We had to be in Illinois by daylight
And what I wouldn't give to be your man
But I can't break up the band

And Jeane, there must be more than letters and phone calls
So say "I'll come see Maine when the snow falls"
...
Just say "I'll come see Maine when the snow falls"

There's kissing in Kansas, but that's not home
And we sigh when we're on the phone
But the voice in my ear
Says "It wouldn't be the same if you moved here"

But it's just miles
It's only miles
It's just miles
And miles and miles and miles and miles and miles...

http://www.cftpa.org/

1/19/06

Young Shields CDEP & 7 out now on Tomlab! Young Shields is the first single from Etiquette, which will be released in March 2006.

ETIQUETTE
Tomlab #65 CD/LP released 2006

01 Etiquette I.D.
02 New Year's Kiss
03 Young Shields
04 I Love Creedence
05 Nashville Parthenon
06 Scattered Pearls
07 Happy Mother's Day
08 Holly Hobby (version)
09 Cold White Christmas
10 Bobby Malone Moves Home
11 Don't They Have Payphones Wherever You Were Last Night
12 Love Connection

February 10th

@ The University of Chicago
1212 E. 59th Street Chicago, IL 60637
Ida Noyes Third Floor Theater
w/ Saturday Looks Good To Me & The Passerines
9pm all ages

Casiotone for the Painfully Alone & The Donkeys
March 2006 US Tour

3/3 Los Angeles, CA @ The Smell
3/4 Pomona, CA TBA
3/5 San Diego, CA @ Che Cafe
3/6 Phoenix, AZ @ Trunk Space
3/7 Santa Fe, NM @ College of Santa Fe
3/8 Oklahoma City, OK @ The Conservatory
3/9 Dallas, TX @ Good Records (6pm instore)
3/9 Denton, TX @ Rubber Gloves (9pm show)
3/10 Austin, TX @ Beerland (free show!)
3/11 Houston, TX @ The Proletariat
3/14 Memphis, TN TBA
3/15 Knoxville, TN @ Pilot Light
3/16 Chapel Hill, NC @ Nightlight
3/17 Fredericksburg, VA TBA
3/18 Arlington, VA @ Galaxy Hut
3/19 Philadelphia, PA @ Kensington South Forum
3/21 Manhattan, NY @ Cakeshop
3/22 Brooklyn, NY @ Glasshouse
3/23 Northampton, MA @ Gallery TK
3/24 Somerville, MA @ PA's Lounge
3/25 Albany, NY @ Valentine's Downstairs
3/26 Rochester, NY TBA
3/27 Columbus, OH @ Skully's Music Diner
3/28 Grand Rapids, MI @ DAAC
3/29 Bloomington, IN TBA
3/30 St Louis, MO @ Lemp Arts
3/31 Iowa City, IA TBA
4/1 Chicago, IL @ Beat Kitchen

Hear The Donkeys: www.myspace.com/thedonkeys

Later:
April/May Europe & U.K. tour w/ The Dead Science
(www.thedeadscience.com)

Watch http://cftpaforever.livejournal.com for tour updates!

I think 'Etiquette' is my favourite record this year so far.

has a really rather lovely version of 'Streets of Philadephia' on his myspace at the moment.

and he's playing an extra London show at the Luminaire at the end of his current UK tour. good stuff.

Following up the just previous post -- both that and a cover of "Born in the USA" are on the new comp track/singles collection and both I like more than the originals, big surprise. But of Casiotone's own songs on the collection my new favorites are "Holly Hobby" and "The Best Way to Cry."

RIP

was thinking the other day how of all the SF-based bands that we played with when we started out, Owen was like the only other one still going

p sure he is not dead, unless a dead man slept on my couch last night

Really?

I saw him once and he seemed like a really nice/shy guy.

my answer to this question would be "Jeane if you're ever in Portland" at least I think that's what it's called. I listened the hell out of that song in like 2003.

He's totally nice!

he's not dead, my RIP was for the "band"!

I love Owen and know him from way back (we did our first shows together) he is a solid dude

For once Shakey Mo is sad somebody died! Or something.

More than a solid dude he delivers his lyrics in a way that is both convincing and devastating

ok i was waiting for someone else to say something first but i guess i will: advance base album came out last week, i'm on some of the songs

it's good!

It's very good! And I should have said something earlier, true.

new video up on pitchfork
http://www.pitchfork.com/tv/musicvideos/2021-summer-music/
it's pretty twee

owen's songwriting is vastly underrated. haven't heard this new thing yet.

apparently the guy who did the video is from the jim henson studios

wow uh not kidding about the tweeness

album is up on spotify if you want to listen to it
http://open.spotify.com/album/5479sSiKx80I05WLfA1Wo6

i like it a lot but not as much as the old stuff...

re: thread qn i guess either 'scattered pearls' or 'calloused fingers wont make you strong, edith wong'

this is also p much my favorite music rn with the possible exception of 'ladies of the canyon' and i listen to his songs everday when i ride my bike home from work in the heat, thinking about midwestern winters

The lyrics on this record are nowhere near as strong as thse on Vs. Children.

Sounds pretty though.

I assumed he was done making music when he retired CftPA; glad to see otherwise. He's so good at saying so much with so few lyrics. One of my favorite songwriters.

daytrotter session is up: http://www.daytrotter.com/?_escaped_fragment_=%2Fconcert%2Fadvance-base%2F20056095-37383301, you can listen with a free trial registration. really happy with how it turned out, probably a better reflection of the full-band live sound than the album. i play bass on three songs and autoharp on two.

plastic owen band!
https://advancebase.bandcamp.com/album/plastic-owen-band

This is my favorite song on the new album: http://consequenceofsound.net/2015/07/advance-base-shares-new-song-pamela-listen/

I really think he's a super under-appreciated, low-key, songwriting genius, thought so for years and years. His gift for both melody and economy of words = everything I look for in an artist.

Glad there is a thread for this guy.

Toby, Take a Bow is a great. Bitter irony. Wry and self-deprecating allusions.

And in excellent timing, new covers album:

https://advancebase.bandcamp.com/album/wall-of-tears-other-songs-i-didnt-write

Saw him do his first SF show in a while the other day. Had some thoughts.

I only recently learned that this guy is local. Like, practically down the street local? His wife plays mahjong with my wife every week.

That rules!

they are good people