Weekly Release Spotlight: John Maus
Posted on 6/26/2011
John Maus
We Must Become the Pitiless Censors of Ourselves
[Ribbon Music]
John Maus has repeatedly expressed his goal to be regarded as a true Minnesota musician. There's confusion in his backstory: having grown up in Austin two hours south of the Twin Cities, moved to California for college, and then another trek to Hawaii as a political philosophy professor, many have dismissed him a la Craig Finn and his move to New York City post-Lifter Puller as not a true Minnesota success. However, Mr. Maus has been back in this state for two years now, and the recordings on We Must Become the Pitiless Censors of Ourselves were crafted over many a secluded days in his small abode literally in the middle of nowhere. The songs are representative of Minnesota in many ways, such as "Head For the Country," the music video of which was filmed over our record-breaking winter this past year.
We Must Become the Pitiless Censors of Ourselves
[Ribbon Music]
It would be blind to not acknowledge that John Maus is probably our largest musical export in years. Signed to Ribbon Music as their inaugural artist, the label is an imprint of Domino Records, the home of Animal Collective, Four Tet, Anna Calvi and a slew of other highly regarded acts. Furthermore, Maus has been scooped up for shows in many of the largest venues in the United States and Europe through the rest of summer, bolstered by fawning press from Pitchfork to Stereogum to Gorilla vs. Bear - all corners of the underground music scene are taking notice. However, while this effort may be his third official release, the man has already liberated dozens of hard-to-find recordings in the past decade. His story sounds like that of Ariel Pink, whose newest album was the result of his first major label signing. This makes sense: Pink and Maus both spent time playing together in California.
Their work is totally different though. John Maus revels in obscurist 80s riffs, electronically tinged, almost space-odyssey-like production, and vocals so doused in reverb that it comes at no shock he holds a mic about two feet from his face when performing. This release is a triumph, an emotional journey indicative of his live performances where a lone Maus beats himself to a pulp and screams to a point of exhaustion. He is afraid of opening himself up, but once he does, the room is united with him. Listening to "Believer," without a doubt his magnum opus, the lyrics are simple: "They call me a believer." But the repetition of this phrase accommodated by swirling chimes and synth is enough to inspire a troubled youth or a 40 year old in a mid-life crisis. This is without a doubt an iconic album. A lofty assertion, but one I will defend til my grave.
Stream: John Maus - "Believer"