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Each week ZIO asks a different musician the same 11 questions via email. Visit Zoom In Music every Wednesday for a new installment or subscribe to the RSS feed.

This week, Jordan Alexander, Seth Pitman, and Timothy Kyle of New England's Wild Light answer the 11, whether they approve of the question or not. When talking about Wild Light, Arcade Fire's name keeps coming up. This is partly due to their soaring songs that build and build to a climax and partly because they have supported Arcade Fire on tour. However, the connection goes a little deeper: Timothy Kyle was actually an original member of Arcade Fire (he left the band four years before Funeral was released), and Jordan Alexander was Win Butler's roommate at prep school. However, I'm not sure how useful these comparisons are because Wild Light have a distinct epic pop sound all their own. 

Wild Light have been gaining a lot of attention for their unbelievably catchy song, "California on My Mind." It can be found on their debut album, Adult Nights, which was released yesterday. Currently they're on tour with Tapes 'N Tapes. 

1.  What music was played in your home while you were growing up?

Jordan: None.  Until I discovered Guns N Roses and I'd listen to their tapes under my covers at night.

Seth: Also none.  Some classical maybe, and my sister played the flute.  My mom's cousin brought me to a record store when I was in 2nd grade and I bought "Nevermind."  Then there was lots of music.

Timothy: Also, not too much.  I always remember that my Mom liked early Beatles and Motown, so that was about all I was exposed too.   I think we all come from pretty staggeringly unmusical families though.

2.  Who is the best artist we have probably never heard of?

Jordan: Pud.  I think they're from St. Louis, but I'll never know. Perfect mix of Misfits, Billy Idol, and Rock N Roll.

Seth: There was this ska-core band from Boston called Thumper we used to listen to in high school.  They were really cool.  They helped us sneak into the Middle East to see their last show ever.

Timothy:  There was this band Jawbox in the mid nineties that I used to really like, and I don't know if anybody knows them anymore.  I just had one of their records, kind of weird, 'sophisticated punk' I guess you could call it, in the way that a band like Fugazi is descended from punk.  Weird time signatures, by turns both melodic and dissonant, generally getting a lot of mileage out of a 4 piece.  I bet they were great live.     

3.  What record did you used to love, but now can't stand?

Jordan: Beastie Boys – "License To Ill".  One of their more recent albums has the lyric: "Dear New York, I know a lot has changed / Two towers down but you're still in the game."  ???

Seth: Man, too many to count...let's say "Core" by Stone Temple Pilots.

Timothy:  I guess this is the part where we embarrass ourselves.  It's true, I listened to a lot of 311 when I was sixteen.

4.  What song do you want played at your funeral?

Jordan: "Body of an American" by the Pogues.

Seth: "What a Wonderful World."  We played this at my grandfather's funeral and set off a bunch of fireworks.

Timothy: Make everyone sit and listen to "Blonde On Blonde" in its entirety.

5.  What is your favorite b-side?

Jordan: "Even In His Youth" – Nirvana, b-side of "Teen Spirit".  It shoulda been on an album.

Seth: Jordan should have picked "Hit 'Em Up" by Tupac, so I'm gonna choose it for him.

Timothy: Do EP tracks count?  "I'm Gonna Love The Hell Out Of You"  by the Silver Jews.

6.  Which medium do you prefer: vinyl, cd, or download?

Jordan: Cassette tape.  You can record on them over and over.

Seth: Vinyl

Timothy:  These days, download.  I only listen to my ipod.  And it's so sweet having the music you want in 2 minutes without leaving your room.  But someday when I'm not homeless and broke I'll start investing in a good vinyl collection, for the important stuff, you know, keep a record player in the kitchen, listen to records while I cook.  The great irony of they download era: vinyl will be the only hard medium that endures.

7.  Which artist would your fans be surprised to find out you like?

Jordan: 2Pac.

Seth: Neil Diamond

Timothy: Hall & Oates.  But I don't think people are really surprised by that kind of thing anymore, or anything when it comes to tastes and influences.

8.  What musician would you choose to cover one of your songs?

Jordan: Rod Stewart.  I prefer his version of "Downtown Train" over Tom Waits'.

Seth: Neil Diamond

Timothy: Otis Redding.  Somebody who'd bring out the soul (or else import it themselves.)

9.  Who is the most overrated artist?

Jordan: Smashmouth.  Actually, they're probably not OVERrated. This question's mean.

Seth: Yeah, seriously, what do we have to gain from answering a question like that?

Timothy:  Maybe Pink Floyd? The Who?  Seth reminded me of this, The Who is so fucking boring, and I can't stand Roger Daltrey. 

10. What musician or band do you wish you'd seen play live in their prime?

Jordan: The Clash and Guns N Roses.  I've heard several times the Clash's Bond's shows were the best shows ever seen.

Seth: The Clash at Bond's is a no-brainer.  And Bob Dylan & the Rolling Thunder Revue.

Timothy:  I think we have concensus here.  Undeniably, the Clash, and I agree with Seth too about the Rolling Thunder Revue.  Also would have been cool to see Dylan in the UK right around "Eat The Document" era, just before the motorcycle crash.  I think that is the high water mark of pop culture.  I'm also pissed I didn't get off my ass and go see the Silver Jews before they were done.  I thought they'd always abide, like The Dude.  Also, The Smiths. 

11. What non-musical influences do you have?

Jordan: Jerzy Kosinski, the writer.  Read "Steps".  And my brothers.

Seth: I'm going to give you the most college answer ever: poetry.  All kinds.

Timothy:  Lots of books, authors, thinkers, philosophers, poets, but I'm gonna sound like a douche if I start listing em.  I'll just leave it at "the Bible."  Old Testament narrative.  The Sermon on the Mount.

Check out Wild Light, including "California on My Mind," on MySpace and last.fm.

Get your copy of their brand new debut album Adult Nights.

Watch a video about Wild Light on tour via The Trip Wire.

Here's a fan's video of them playing live at Randall's Island in 2007 on the same bill as LCD Soundsystem, Blonde Redhead, Les Savy Fav, and Arcade Fire.

Discover Jawbox. [If anyone has info on Pud or Thumper, please let me know]

Listen to The Clash perform "Complete Control" at Bond's Casino in 1981. 

Check out more installments of THESE QUESTIONS GO TO ELEVEN:

Adam Green
Art Brut
Chin Chin
The Cribs
Darlings
Dead River Company
Fool's Gold
Fujiya & Miyagi
Golem
Jukebox the Ghost
Talib Kweli
Ben Kweller
Jeffrey Lewis
Lights
The Low Miffs
M83
Man Like Me
Marina & The Diamonds
Meg & Dia
A.C. Newman
Cale Parks
Silvery
Tapes 'n Tapes
Tiny Animals
The Von Bondies
White Rabbits
Yo Majesty!

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