She brought with her two uncompromising hard black boxes, with her initials on the lids in hard brass nails. When she paid the coachman she took her money out of a hard steel purse, and she kept the purse in a very jail of a bag which hung upon her arm by a heavy chain, and shut up like a bite. I had never, at that time, seen such a metallic lady altogether as Miss Murdstone was.
Christopher Milk, Last Day Dream
Mike showed this to me a few days ago as a counterpoint to the far less compelling “The Last Three Minutes,” which clearly bites this.
The Fiery Furnaces – “I Lost My Dog”
Blueberry Boat
Although the majority of this 2004 album is still far too weird for me, the density of musical ideas on this and other tracks is simply too incredible to ignore. Clearly unable or unwilling to edit themselves, The Fiery Furnaces have certainly created a unique sound — but one that is nearly impenetrable to newcomers. “I Lost My Dog” is probably the most accessible song, and even at a relatively short three and a half minutes, the sound is changed up more times than on many full-length albums. If it strikes you, you might consider embarking on the full album, but consider yourself warned. (insound)
geognostic: having to do with the constituent parts of the earth (air, crust, etc)
cantatrice: a professional female singer (clearly, but an uncommon word)
dysgenic: having a negative effect on the offspring – opposite of eugenic
historiographer: an official historian of an institution, order, or society
crenated: having a notched or rounded saw-tooth pattern at the edge
plangent: resounding loudly, especially with a sad or plaintive noise
epos: an epic poem, or events which would be appropriate for one
faience: glazed earthenware; also, a strong greenish-blue color
monody: limited to or dominated by a single voice or melody
hygrometry: the branch of physics concerned with humidity
aseity: the property of being self-created or self-originating
ataraxy: the state of being emotionally undisturbed, calm
bibelot: a decorative object, trinket, or curiosity
commorient: dying simultaneously or together
conspectus: a general survey or summary
