I'm pretty sure anyone who is actually reading this (if anyone reads it at all, which is somewhat doubtful) will already know who Sxip Shirey is. But just in case someone is reading, and doesn't know, let me tell you. He is a musician and a performer. He has hair like Einstein (it even has its own Twitter account, @sxipshireyshair) and makes music by somewhat unorthodox methods such as rolling marbles round bowls. He can also make some wicked WHOOSH sounds.
Sxip worked his way into my life gradually. First he was That Guy With The Large Hair In Amanda Palmer's Photos And Webcasts. Then I started following him on Twitter, mainly because he seemed to have a lot to do with Amanda Palmer and, well, Amanda Palmer Is Life. I thought he looked like a good sort, you know, all alternative and shit. But I hadn't heard any of his music until he posted a link to his "I Live In New York City" video on Twitter. I don't really know how to put videos on this thing yet as I am not much of a computer genius, but I will try anyway.
IT WAS LOVE. I was mesmerised. I played the video over and over, for about 3 hours. No exaggeration. Wow. My favourite part is at the start when he is dancing on the stage. I'm not usually all that into watching videos, but I made an exception for this. Then I went and watched some other videos of him too, and continued to be more and more amazed. I don't know why I didn't look him up EARLIER. I should have known that anyone who plays with Evelyn Evelyn would be strunge and cruzy and all kinds of awesome and basically just PHUCKIN' BANG! I posted it to Facebook. People "liked" it. I showed friends. They all thought it was great. I continued to play the video over and over and over....
The moment Sonic New York was released on Bandcamp, I purchased the shit out of it. No seriously, ACTUALLY the moment it was up. Like, the first version I got was missing some tracks - I must have downloaded it while it was still in the process of being put up or something. So I had to do the whole thing again. And, WOW. It did NOT disappoint. Just like I'm not normally one to watch videos, I'm also not normally one to listen to an entire album from start to finish. I usually like to mix things up on shuffle and whatnot. But THIS album not only needs to be played as a whole to achieve its maximum concept album potential, but it DESERVES it. Once you hear one song, you feel like you HAVE to hear the next one. Skip Sxip? I think not! Not even for AFP.
I'm a bit sad I didn't get a hard copy of the album. Maybe one day. But I'm pretty sure I'm not going to be able to go out and buy it from The Warehouse, and everything takes SO DAMN LONG to ship to NZ! Not to mention costs a fortune. I recently purchased one of the Evelyn Evelyn pre-order packages, and it wasn't cheap, but bloody hell the shipping cost just about as much as the actual product. I'm not here to complain about the price of postage though. Word on the street is that the album art is bloody beautiful. Maybe one day I'll own it.
I don't have any of Sxip's other albums. He promised me he was going to put them up on Bandcamp, but they're not there yet, so maybe I'll have to pursue alternative methods of purchasing. Yes, I am an avid supporter of Bandcamp. I think it's just great. I mean, look, I can do THIS:
(This is my favourite song on the album. After I Live in NYC of course. NOTHING can beat that.)
I can't explain WHY I love Sxip so much. I mean, honestly. Some of the influences he incorporates into his music are things that I can only describe as "not really my scene eh." Hip-hop? Soul? Rap? Beatboxing? But add Sxip's magical touch, and it's one massive eargasm! His tunes are SO dangerously catchy.
Oh, and did I mention what a GOOD CUNT he is?! If I tweet at him, he almost ALWAYS replies, even if it's just to say thanks. We're even friends on Facebook. He is absolutely lovely to everyone. Yes, I have a MOUNTAINOUS crush on him.
Conclusion: Sxip Shirey Fucking Dominates My Mother Fucking Nation. Writing this blog has brought to my attention how I actually know very little about him and have not heard much of his music other than Sonic New York. There is so much potential for me to love him EVEN MORE. A dangerous thought. Be afraid, Sxip. I may develop an out-of-control obsession. PHUCKIN' BANG!!!!
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