In Part 3, Chris comes around to Days and admits Sarah might have made a good point or two although not without attempts to distract readers by name-dropping fancy French filmakers first (you’ve been warned). And despite finding some common ground, Chris still manages to sign off with a not-so-veiled threat to “clockwork orange” Sarah. We’re glad hundreds of miles separate the two of them.

Yourstru.ly & Pitchfork.tv Present REAL ESTATE: “Reservoir #3”

Full album stream available at NPR.

From: Chris Mollica
To: Sarah Braunstein 

Sarah,

To think that my music consumption doesn’t involve some rather intense earbuds (and some sweet Philips/O’neil headphones), why I…scoff. Then again, you did provide a link to a story on NPR…

Way to strike a balance.

With the week it usually takes to tackle a conversation, each album I “converse” on is pushed through a rigorous series of listens. Whilst I’m doing something meaningless, while I walk, in the car, out of the car, on top of the car, standing on my head, drunk…you get the idea. As I said, and you seem to agree, Days is a slow-opener, deceptive in it’s autumnal vibe, sliding lovely, perfect pop gems right in your ear without any, and I mean ANY, bombast. Pierre Rissient, a film critic apparently responsible for many movements in cinema, has said about films, “it is not enough to like a film. One must like it for the right reasons.” Roger Ebert simplifies that even more:  you should know why you like a thing, not just like it. Particularly, in a case like this, when we want people to read our feelings on an album, I’m disciplined to the point of self-flagellation to answer the why. I know the album has grown on me. I’m freakin’ humming songs that aren’t even my favorites as I ride my bike! But why?

WHY!!!!

Then I realized, you got it. Real Estate’s Days is a gaseous piece of joy, and by “joy” in this instance, I mean melancholy. It fills the void, whatever it may be. It kept me company late last night with the twisting lyrics of “All the Same” as I sipped some whiskey.  Currently, it’s a pleasant compliment to waning daylight and rising pizza dough as lines of self scrutiny and earnest declarations pop out ( “Sometimes I feel like I don’t know the deal/ When I tell you how I feel /Believe me when I say it’s real”). And heck, anytime I play it, I can’t ignore how tight those hooks and melodies are. What I love most though is that Days isn’t trying to entice me. The first album did that. It was light and airy enough to say “everyone want in?” Who cares about everyone! This is a better album for it’s elusive nature. Personally, I like your prescription, Doc Braunstein. Take one part Days, two earbuds, no random distractions and enjoy. It will reward you.  Every song on here is worth the attention.

So I love it, Sarah. And you were right. Good for you. What does your victory lap look like? Will you be going back to the fields of Real Estate by Real Estate to see if you may like the beach after all? And wait, does this mean you don’t like The Beach Boys? Do I have to Clockwork Orange you?

“That isn’t anything like my reality”
Chris

Get the new Real Estate album Days here:
Domino |  Insound Vinyl | Amazon