Ariel Pink's Haunted Grafitti- The Doldrums (2004)

Check out Glowing Raw's awesome feature on Ariel Pink's Haunted Grafitti's The Doldrums. Ariel Pink is finally getting some more mainstream exposure with the release of "Round and Round" from the band's upcoming album on 4AD. The Doldrums is one of Pink's first releases so it features the distinct lo-fi feel that his work is known for. Pink boasts a cult following because of his strange approach to songwriting; on The Doldrums, Pink recorded most of the drums sounds using his mouth and he is also known for his extensive list of unreleased material available on CD-Rs and tapes passed out at shows.

But behind all the weirdness, The Doldrums stands as a testament of Pink's brilliantly unique take on music. The music sounds like some kind of alternate reality Beach Boys. It's poppy and sappy, but there is a distinct creepy vibe to it. The lo-fi recording accentuates the out of tune guitars, crackling violins and swirling vocals. It's like the music of some lost weird psychedelic decade.

Anyway I could go on, but I'll just refer you to Glowing Raw's sweet coverage (and upload) of The Doldrums. I will probably be posting some of more of Pink's stuff soon. Read up on the guy in the mean time, his Wikipedia is a good place to start, he is really an amazingly interesting musician.

Ariel Pink's Haunted Grafitti- The Doldrums (2004) on Glowing Raw
Ariel Pink on Wikipedia