"Lie In The Gutter" by Peel Dream Magazine
Like a cross between Stereolab and Unrest, Peel Dream Magazine’s “Lie In The Gutter” is the kind of song I’d put on the headphones to trick myself into getting something done, finally. You know, like a dumb slide deck for work shmerk. Delightful and sophisticated, urgent yet cool.
I asked the band about a particular detail of this song given their forthcoming album Rose Main Reading Room has been noted to be an “inviting headphones record”. Read on to find out what it is. Let me know if you hear and appreciate it too.
//wendy
Despite lyrics that suggest an existential daydream that goes between doubt and wonder, "Lie In The Gutter" has a joyful bounce - what is the story behind this song?
This song is just about finding joy and wonder in your life despite whatever’s dragging you down at the moment. It references the Oscar Wilde quote “We’re all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”
A rhythmic swallowing of air lends some depth of physicality to this song - can you say something about this detail? Is it the drummer? I find this a fascinating detail and is a great example of a "lush, inviting headphones record".
Haha I’m not entirely sure what that means! I’m assuming maybe you’re just talking about how the drums sound in the mix? It is kind of a strange mix - that might have more to do with the fact that I have no idea what I’m doing when it comes to music production than it does with any particular choice I set out to make. I layered some drum samples over the actual recording of the drums.
The sound reminds me of something that would have been put out by Mark Robinson on TeenBeat in the 90s, like Unrest or Air Miami or Flin Flon.
The video for “Lie In The Gutter”... has no gutters.
That’s true. The music video for this song is cut up from a bunch of tour diary footage. It’s from a few different tours we did from fall of 2023 through spring of 2024 and has lots of fun moments that make me smile. When I watch it, I feel surrounded by all of the amazing people I’ve played music with, both in Peel Dream Magazine and other bands we’ve toured with, and all of the adventures we’ve had. It encapsulates a kind of optimism that feels commensurate with the song itself, so I think it’s a good video.
It's been noted that the songs of Rose Main Reading Room take inspiration from New York City. Is there something about the actual Rose Main Reading Room at the New York Public Library that the songs or album have in common?
The album does take inspiration from New York City, although I do think it’s worth noting that the album isn’t a concept album so much as really just a collection of songs. There are continual references to the Museum of Natural History, and I actually would have named the record Roosevelt Rotunda (my original title) for the entrance room there, but it just didn’t have the right ring to it. I landed on Rose Main Reading Room because it’s another great space that encapsulates the wondrous grandiosity of the city. I think that this particular feeling of ancient grandiosity is a common thread between the album and the New York Public Library.
You both have wonderful voices and "Central Park West" is a pleasure to listen to in headphones. Why contrast John Lennon's death with the Museum of Natural History and Audubon Society?
Thank you. I wouldn’t really say I’m contrasting John Lennon’s death with anything - I actually just mention him because he has become, in some way, the patron saint of Central Park. He lived on Central Park West and was shot there. Almost all of the street vendors and artists sell portraits of him to tourists there. I’m jokingly calling him a native son of New York, because it’s almost as if he is.
Do you have plans to tour Europe or the UK soon?
I would love to. We have a European agent now, and I think we are cooking up some plans for 2025. We’ll have to wait and see what happens.
Rose Main Reading Room is out September 4th and everyone should go listen to it… in fact, there’s a Bandcamp Listening Party to do so and you can RSVP here.