S/D: Jon Brion Productions

Any word on those Robyn Hitchcock records?

I have the same problem with Tom Rothrock and Rob Schnapf, who work with him a lot. i may tend to lump them together. They've yet to do anything I've really liked and, I would argue, totally wrecked Richard Thompson's 'Mock Tudor'.

huh?

I've heard the elder Hilburn -- allegedly -- tried to scam a record deal for an offspring of his some years back, so maybe this is him.

I have a copy of the soundtrack he did for... for... er, Punch-Drunk Love I think? It's also very pleasant, but it doesn't inspire me to check out his solo stuff.

(xpost: your heart shows up in my browser).

I'm going to listen to 'Extraordinary Machine' again now. I'd also like to know if anything else has leaked. But much as I love Fiona Apple, right now I just want the Huckabees soundtrack.

But I Heart Huckabees is better.

http://www.furious.com/perfect/jonbrion.html

Anybody been there?

From them, my favourites are:

From Punch Drunk Love
'Overture'
'He Needs Me' (vocal: Shirley Duvall)
'Punch Drunk Melody'
'Le Petit Chateau'

From Eternal Sunshine Of A Spotless Mind

'Phone Call'

Probably others - that's the one I downloaded especially.

From I Heart Huckabees

'Monday' (the recurring theme)
'Knock Yourself Out' (Brion singing, but great for a change)
'Strange Bath'
'Omni' (God I love it when this comes on in the film. As with 'Knock Yourself Out', it's very Elliot Smith indeed).

I haven't got anything from Magnolia. I'm trying to remember the music, beyond the Aimee Mann tracks.

It's also very funny.

Duh! After a while, 'Omni' is a return to the melody of 'Knock Yourself out', so this isn't surprising.

I was already familiar with "Fast As You Can" (plus I had Tidal already) and had almost bought the album on any number of occasions. On the first listen the album is very good, almost claustrophobically dense and intentionally consistent stylistically like Fiona is worried that you'll miss the point if she tries to make it in more ways than one (I mean this as a compliment I think).

It reminds me of Veda Hille's Spine and Maria McKee's Life Is Sweet (both of which match my description above), in terms of overall mood if not always style. Veda for the claustrophobia and production tricks and occasional hints of non-specific archaism. Maria for the melodrama and flashes of sweetness through bitterness.

Specific comparisons for "Fast As You Can" are harder, I think.

This is very well put, I think.

For a taster of the I Heart Huckabees soundtrack, have a look over at my post on The thread for gmail offers and requests

I love that song too, but it's entirely a Harry Nilsson song (arranged by Van Dyke Parks) from the Popeye movie.

Although it would be an interesting addition to my lame joke when a band releases a greatest hits and I remark, "what? a blank CD?"

(I should note that both Brion's music as well as the Waterfront suite sound quite good standing alone, but irritate me to no end when I witness them fighting tooth and nail to avoid being integrated into the fabric of the films they are supposed to be complimenting.)

And yes, Brion is clearly attempting to bum-rush the screen. Thanks for putting better than I could've myself.

It's worth noting that Russell's (and two others') Solders Pay has no music at all.

i've had that main i heart huckabees song in my head all week.

does anyone have any/all of the huckabees songs, anyone who would be so generious as to either YSI them or email them to me or send a zip of the soundtrack!?!?!?

i'd really appreciate this, thanks.

has the drummer worked for anyone else?

Jon Brion's "Phone Call" is sampled on the Most Serene Republic's "Photo Call":
http://www.myspace.com/themostserenerepublic

:)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGr7XTB5Ddc

Ooh nice!

Best Coast lady gets to get produced by him. brb killing self.

why, I like jon brion

I haven't listened to any of his recorded material really, but every time I've seen him live he's done something p crazy

the live thing i saw him do (eek over a decade ago) at the largo veered between totally awesome and insufferably self indulgent. which is basically the idea.

Jon Brion, Producer:

http://open.spotify.com/user/124420673/playlist/6cFHrZuBiwghSgyqotjFIV

What has the guy been up to lately? He seems a bit in the wilderness, like Mitchell Froom when he stamp went out of vogue.

One of the best Brion solo shows I saw had him doing side two of Eno's "Here Come the Warm Jets" from memory. Also this: http://rob.by/2008/jon-brion-does-bruce-springsteen/

Would love to hear that.

My Spotify playlist has a bunch of things he's done in the last few years.

Also, there's this:

Pages in category "Albums produced by Jon Brion"

B

Baby I'm Bored
Bachelor No. 2 or, the Last Remains of the Dodo
Beautiful Freak
E

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (soundtrack)
Everyone Is Here
Extraordinary Machine
F

False Priest
G

Ghost (Sky Ferreira EP)
Graduation (album)
H

Highway Rider
H cont.

House of Rufus
I

I Heart Huckabees (soundtrack)
I'm with Stupid (album)
The Instigator
L

Late Registration
Listennn... the Album
M

Magnolia (soundtrack)
Man on the Moon: The End of Day
Meaningless (album)
P

Pleasantville (soundtrack)
P cont.

Punch-Drunk Love (soundtrack)
R

Rufus Wainwright (album)
S

Safe Trip Home
T

Teenage Dream (Katy Perry album)
Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection
U

Ultimate Collection (Aimee Mann album)
W

Whatever (Aimee Mann album)
When the Pawn...

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Albums_produced_by_Jon_Brion

Seems like he's been working pretty steadily.

A lot of those productions, like Katy Perry, were just sort of one-track deals or remixes. One track with Ferreira, one track with Spoon, one track with Keane, etc. He did most of that Dido, that Of Montreal, the Best Coast, but the rest of his behind the boards work mostly seems to be pals like Mehldau and Thile. Been a while since he worked on stuff in his wheelhouse: Aimee Mann, Fiona Apple, Robyn Hitchcock, songwriters with guitars. Maybe that's been by design?

Didn't know he did the scores to "ParaNorman" or "This is Forty."

You're right -- a lot of it is just one track (including This Is Forty). Part of me wonders if its a combination of him doing more soundtrack work and maybe his style falling out of favor a bit.

It's been, well, five years, and once again I've been wondering what Brion is up to. Seems like steady film score work, but I was surprised to see he did some work on the most recent Beyonce, Janelle Monae and Mac Miller albums. Also, according to wiki, he opened one of John Mulvaney's recent tours, often playing in-house pipe organ.

Does he still do his regular Largo gig? I believe the club moved but wasn’t sure if he’s still a main attraction.

still does it monthly i believe

meaningless got reissued recently and finally made it to streaming. sounds as great as ever.

Does Jon Brion count as an artist who walked away? I mean, he's busy, but this is his only solo record, and he doesn't even seem to be sneaking out new songs on his soundtracks anymore.