mp3: Beirut - A Sunday Smile

it was hard for me to pick a single song from the album to represent beirut. i am not sure even if this does. nonetheless, it is a grand statement of epic trembling voices and swelling folk instrumentation. it is rare when i hear such unapologetic grandeur done uniquely in indie music.

it is an other worldly sound, and with my limited reference points, i am reminded of the brass sections of neutral milk hotel, the folk music collage of jeff mangum's (of nmh) orange twin field works, and the accordions and strings of the amelie soundtrack. looking at allmusic and wikipedia, i am not too far off.