It is not a well-known fact, but after history’s most famous psychologist/analyst/research findings-fabricator Sigmund Freud said his famous last words (“My dear Schur, you remember our first talk. You promised to help me when I could no longer carry on. It is only torture now, and it has no longer any sense.”) and before he went on to the great beyond, he actually turned to his companion and angel of mercy Schur (who was preparing the fatal opium dose at the time), smirked and said, “Women. What do they want?” That is a bit of a loaded question, isn’t it Siggy? Well, I just assumed they wanted pretty much the same things men wanted: a bottomless keg in the garage, steakums on Saturday night, and ten uninterrupted minutes a day in the can with the Victoria Secret’s catalogue. Am I right or am I right?
We’re not sure what women want. And we don’t know what most men want. We don’t know much. We are not sure what The Mendoza Line’s Shannon McArdle wants, but we know it won’t involve her former partner and paramour. We don’t know what Tim Bracy wants either, but we do know he will carry on The Mendoza Line name without his spouse and sidekick. To celebrate (what?), um, commemorate (closer...), er, close the chapter (that’s it!) on the dissolution of their marriage and the reworking of the Mendoza Line line-up, the band will release a two-disc package before both Bracy and McArdle start the next phase of their respective lives.
We would never cheer for a break-up, but if it has to happen, we hope some great music comes from it at least. 30 Year Low is the couple’s last album together as part of The Mendoza Line, and it will be available August 21 through Glurp. The eight-song (mini) album comes packaged with a second CD of covers (Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Richard Thompson, Cole Porter, Arab Strap), live takes, demos, and unreleased songs called Final Remarks of the Legendary Malcontent. Coping with heartbreak and loss has never been this easy.
30 Year Low:
1. Since I Came
2. Aspect of an Old Maid
3. 31 Candles
4. I Lost My Taste
5. Love on Parole
6. Stepping on My Heels
7. Thirty Year Low
8. Tell It to the Raven
Final Remarks of the Legendary Malcontent:
1. Anything Goes
2. It Helps To Leave the House
3. Fleur de Lie (live)
4. Withered and Dies
5. Tougher Than the Rest
6. Go Shopping
7. Now Or Never Or Later (original demo)
8. Packs of Three
9. Tax Me
10. It Takes a Lot To Laugh, It Takes a Train To Cry
11. I Am Small
12. Golden Boy (live)
13. The Likely Nominee
14. Mysterious in Black
15. Mike T. Interlude
16. Over the Hill
17. Angry Crafts
18. Metro Pictures
