So Go Do What You Like

song of the day

Twenty years since they released Dookie and I can still air guitar to Basketcase like I'm 15

the end

We'll All Arrive In Heaven Alive

song of the day

the new National is exquisite

this is not opinion

could be their best yet, which is saying quite a bit

you should click them all

We Were Rich Once, Before Your Head Exploded

Out on April 23rd (2 days before me bday) is the reissue of one of the best albums of the 90's, mostly only known for the humming/bass riff intro of it's one commercially successful single. Those who were curious enough to delve deeper found a treasure trove of art grunge wonderment, perplexing instrumentals, fine fine pop mess, and still the slowest song ever to be recorded, and realized that "Cannonball" was probably the lowest common denominator among them.

The vinyl box set includes:

- a 12-inch vinyl pressing of Last Splash

- four 10-inch EPs - Safari, Cannonball, Divine Hammer, and Head to Toe

- a 12-inch vinyl live concert album, Stockholm Syndrome, recorded in Sweden in 1994, during the band's last European tour.  Seven tracks from this recording originally appeared on a fan-club-only CD; nine additional unreleased tracks from the concert are included here.

- a 12-inch vinyl record comprised of a BBC radio session recorded July 24, 1993 and available here for the first time, and the original Last Splash demo recordings, made in November, 1992

- a 24-page booklet featuring previously unpublished photographs taken during the recording of Last Splash, personal photos taken during two years of touring, and reminiscences written by band members and others, including Kim Gordon and J Mascis.

So... yes please.

And you know this was Kim Deal too right?

hope so...

I'll Hear Ya

big day for new release news...

First is the new Sigur Rós album Kveikur, which is surprising considering their last album came out last May. They usually take awhile to brew, so who knows what's going on here. Uncontrollable artistry or toss-offs from the last album. This doesn't seem like a toss-off.

First new Travis in a long while. No title or release date yet but they did put out the schmancy VHS video single.

Then The National and Deerhunter almost back to back in May. No videos, just cover art, but sometimes that's just as good.

sometimes.

What You On About

new Vampire Weekend

not bad

You Know You Know You Know

new David Bowie album out in March, first in ten years...

Never Mess Around Anymore

Is ambient sound experimentation and Christmas a good mix? I don't think so. But it hasn't stopped Banjo Or Freakout from releasing Christmas albums three years in a row. Maybe four. I haven't looked for 2012. As an avid music appreciator I can really get into the drastic reworking of holiday classics like "White Christmas", "Blue Christmas" and a completely unrecognizable (in a good way) "Jingle Bells". Taking song structure as a foundation to expand and explore with is the foundation of being an artist that considers themselves 'experimental'. Actually I think it's the textbook definition. So on that merit BoF deserves great credit and kudos and maybe even a juicy tangerine in his stocking.

But we are talking Christmas music here and there is a certain expectation of specific emotion to be derived from listening to it and not just being challenged aurally to a guessing game or the world's most challenging round of Name That Tune. So for that and that alone, I couldn't really dump all these tunes into my A-list, for the sole reason that I was sure it would cause an unmitigated dive for the NEXT button on the iPod and that, frankly, is the exact thing I'm trying to avoid by creating an A-list to begin with. That button should never even be breathed upon. 

So I'm afraid that I'm gonna give Xmas 2009 a big fat D. Maybe 2010 and 2011 will have better luck, but we'll probably have to wait another year or so to find out.

yay, christmas

You Can Almost Hear Love

Do I need to say anything?

Yay Christmas!

Bley And Swallow Carols

Recorded partially in Berlin, the other half in the South of France, this is not background Christmas music, unless it's solely for the purpose of sitting fireside and sipping a fine hot toddie and gourmet cream cheese cookies, of which I just so happen to have a connection. Carla Bey and Steve Swallow got this just right. Not too jazzy to alienate, but not corny enough to not take seriously.


Expert composition takes the forefront as this mostly horn and piano journey through traditional Christmas carols takes on all the heavy hitters like 'Jingle Bells', 'O' Tannenbaum', a lengthy 'Oh' Holy Night' And 'God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen' in two parts will almost certainly dazzle even those mightily familiar with their melodies. Other rare treasures like 'Hell's Bells', 'Jesus Maria' and an almost unrecognizably scatterrific 'It Came Upon A Midnight Clear' (a la Bad Plus) hold the whole thing together for one of the baddest laid back Christmas jazz albums out there. Lots of soloing and noodling and it's all a little too dead on to be called free style. One of favorite parts is the trumpet/piano handoffs over bass diddling the upper register like he was powering Santa's sleigh, only to settle in on the halftime and then bring it home big band style. Fun, and I don't even know this song.


This is probably my favorite new Christmas album this year (so far). I must be on some kind of streak. Either that or I get some good advice. I had never heard of this album, and maybe neither have you, but I tell you it's a keeper, so go keep it. A+ with extra credit.

Yay Christmas!

Santa Gets Some Soul

Back to work on padding the Christmas playlist, what with only two short weeks til the big day I have to get serious. This is Soul Christmas. It is a must have for anyone who has even the slightest interest in hearing good Christmas music. I'm thinking this is the record Santa himself listens to on occasion to prepare for a long night or just to kick back and check the naughty/nice list. It's the soundtrack that plays at the afterparty in the Northpole on December 26th when the eggnog flows heavy and every elf has his eye on that special elflette.

That's right. While this album has a classic feel to it. it also has a certain sense of sensuality that is lacking in most holiday tunes. 'Baby It's Cold Outside' is the nastiest we've ever gotten but Soul Christmas has 'I'll Make Everyday Christmas (For My Woman)' by Joe Tex, Carla Thomas's original 'All I Want For Christmas Is You' and the quintessential Clarence carter cut, 'Back Door Santa'. And there's no fluff found on here. Two great tracks by King Curtis, Otis Redding's 'Merry Christmas Baby', Solomon Burke sings 'Presents For Christmas' and Ray Charles even gets in on the act with 'Christmas Time'. And count them, three Booker T & The MG's takes on holiday cheer.

All in all this is a fantastic Christmas album that I hope to be in heavy rotation for years to come. I may even seek this puppy out on actual vinyl. Yeah, it's that good. I give it an A+. Right up there with Mantovani, Sinatra and Nat King Cole.

They Drift Like Worried Fire

song of the day

today's song of the day is the new Godspeed You! Black Emperor album in its entirety, the only way to hear it really. So lite a candle, grab a vary hard drink, sit at an open the window and try not to jump out.

No One Else's Shoulder

song of the day

Ahh the wonderful dissonant riff, bright and suggestive lyrics, the disgusting guitar solo, Mac Demarco has a put out a pretty great album, as I expected, a little Connan Mockasin with sparkle and shine

They Fed The Sparrows Leftovers And Offered Grass To Scherfig's Turtle

I think I'm coming down from something... I missed a bunch there.

Centipede Hz

the fall just got further away

trippy

A Trailer From Heaven

June 5th fools

#1 in 2008

#2 in 2010

? in 2012

in case you don't know

Hop On The Steamroller

song of the day

new album May 29th

Return To The Violence Of The Ocean Floor

does anyone ever click on these?