Jonathan Something introduced his new album Cannibal House Rules a little while back with a video that was, uh, different. Not only was “It’s Hip Not to Try” a sonic leap for the freak-folk songwriter, but the macabre, warped take on ’80s pop and movie soundtracks was unlike anything else out there right now. “I’ve been inspired by original soundtracks for a long time,” Something claims. “It started off with Ennio Morricone [RIP] and his endless supply of beautiful memories and eventually led me to people like Vangelis and Tangerine Dream and the retro futuristic wonder they weave into their songs. I’ve always tried to make music to fill in the gaps of what I want to hear, so that’s what I’m doing with this album.”
His new track “I Tried to Lose You But I Don’t Know How” fills one such gap while also dipping into the well of hypnagogic pop and earnest ’80s pop balladry. Its video in particular recalls John Maus wilding out at his keyboard, with J. Something’s movements landing somewhere between Ian Curtis and Sam T. Herring on Letterman. Watch the community-access-TV inspired clip below.
Cannibal House Rules is out August 7 via Solitaire Recordings.
