September 09, 2004

• Am I the only one who has never heard of any of these bands? Oh gwad, I am so old, so very, very old...
• Jem is decent, just got that, as is the latest by Air.
• Good stuff, that. You might also like: Tipsy The Polyphonic Spree Jimi Tenor Schneider TM Kelley Stoltz Bishop Allen Of Montreal Mouse On Mars Macha Summer Hymns Young People Xiu Xiu and don't EVER forget Tom Jones!
• Babbletron! Babbletron! Everyone must listen to Babbletron.
• The only thing I've picked up recently is by Velvet Revolver, which I like.
• Hmmm... good selection you've already got there. I was going to recommend about half of them. To go with the Ferdinand and the Rapture, the new Libertines album is extremely fine, and Razorlight aren't half bad either. Most of the artists on this years Mercury Prize list are really good in their various ways (with the obvious, poisonous, death-by-bland-pseudo-soul twin evils of Amy Winehouse and Joss Stone). I second the Polyphonic Spree plug, and would add yet another of my periodic shout-outs for The Hidden Cameras (first album from a few years ago is just amazing). I find it hard to believe from that list that you don't already know The Shins, and indeed have the T-shirt and are able to say that you liked them from way back before that guy from Scrubs put them all over the soundtrack of that movie and you could still go to their shows without bumping into Seth and Summer from The OC aggressively asserting their heterosexuality all over the place*. So I won't bother recommending them. Instead I'll tell you that the Secret Machines album is utterly amazing, because it is. Oh, and Ratatat. Although I believe they be more interesting live than on record. But I can't confirm that, cuz I missed their shows. Bowie. You should own more Bowie. On the urban front, I've recieved instructions to tell you that "Grime is blowin' up east side. E2 and E8, where it's at." I have no idea what that means, other than that Dizzee Rascal's new album is out now and apparently is damn good. Also check out Wiley, more for the production than the rhymes, and obviously look up Roots Manuva for some great, idiosyncratic Bit-hip-hop. Anyway, I'm out. I suggest we put the Tofu signal up, and wait for a hero to save us. *So I hear.
• You need the new(-ish) PJ Harvey, "Uh Huh Her". I was listening to it and thinking it sounds like a synthesis of her first three albums. Good stuff.
• And TV On The Radio, which is like a capella soul with some sparse but catchy drums & geeee-tar.
• You said classical, so I'll recommend Beethoven's late piano sonatas (29-32) and Mozart's piaon concertos (17,20,23,24)
• Mozart's mastery of the mysterious piaon is amazing.
• Afghan Whigs (which are no more) is worth checking out.
• I'm digging Diana Krall's live album. Her studio stuff can be a little too formal for me, but live she really swings. The newish Magnetic Fields is nice. So is the Lambchop double album, though it borders on schmaltz. Andrew Bird's Weather Systems (released last year, I think) is also nice. Disclaimer: I'm mostly into melodic pretty-sounding music
• My recommendations would be: Pan Sonic - Aaltopiiri Sonic Youth - Sister Plastikman - Consumed Autechre- ep7 Nurse With Wound - Who can I turn to stereo? Most of these would probably go under the whatever-label.
• I'm going to assume that you're looking for recommendations of artists, not where to find new music. Here's some artists and the albums I'd recommend. I haven't heard it so I can't vouch for the new Bjork (Medulla), but it's bound to be interesting. I imagine you'd like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs (Fever to Tell) and Pedro the Lion (Achilles Heel) and Arcade Fire (grab anything). If you'd like something quieter and more intimate, Sufjan Stevens(Seven Swans) and Iron and Wine (Creek Drank the Cradle) are great, as is the aforementioned Air (Talkie Walkie). In the vein of Fischerspooner, there's Ladytron, Squarepusher and RJD2; I don't know their catalog well enough to specify albums (beyond the few I own), but just grab anything. That's how _I_ got into these three. Dizzee Rascal's first album (Boy in da Corner) is pretty easy to find in America now and is well worth your time. As far as rap, I love the new Devin the Dude (2 Tha Xtreme) and if you like that Southern style: Lil Flip (U Gotta Feel Me) and David Banner (Mississippi). The new Prince (Musicology) is okay but not revelatory. Mirah is nice; don't confuse with mArah, which I haven't heard yet. Also: Basement Jaxx? You should if you don't! Any album is great. That'll do for a start. Keith? You wanna?
• Do what I do. Listen to WOXY online. They play nearly all those bands plus lots more. Best radio station EVAR!!!
• Björk's new album is quite good, but if you never liked her before, you won't start now. Miss Kitten has a new album out that I am hearing good things about. It would go well with you Peaches/Fischerspooner/Scissor Sisters tendencies. If you like/can stand "folk" at all, Devendra Banhart and Joanna Newsom are both highly recommended. In addition, I would second these recommendations: Air (b/c they're just so French), Mouse on Mars (b/c they're just so German...or are they?!) The Hidden Cameras (b/c I like songs about ManLove), and PJ Harvey (b/c, you know, she's PJ).
• All of the stuff looks great. A lot of it I've been to buy for a while. Thanks!
• On the Hip Hop front check out Ms Dynamite from Great Britain.
• Thee Michelle Gun Elephant put out an album called Gear Blues. Check out their song "Smokin' Billy". Garage rock, funky stuff. For a classical moment, try Schubert's Impromptus. These may not sound like much at first, but they grow on you. But only if ye like piano. Also Bach's Well Tempered Clavier - played by Glenn Gould. Accept no substitutes. The dude makes the piano sound a bit harpsichordy at times. Great stuf, but you have to get used to the humming. For wacky, funny, the Avalanches song "Frontier Psychiatrist". Follow with "five guys named moe" the song by Louis Jordan. Hmmm, more songs: For young anger, "Baba O'Riley" by the Who. For growing young while growing older: "Lifetime Piling Up" by the Talking Heads. For meditative reflection: "Yellow Ledbetter" by Pearl Jam. For sheer beauty - Beethoven Piano Sonata #23 "Appassionata" For that f**ked up relationship - "Idiot Wind" by Bob Dylan. For wistful memories of beautiful women, "Hejira" the album by Joni Mitchell. .... Thanks for *your* list Dr. Robotnik, i'm going to check some of those out.
• Velvet Revolver. The Knife. Belle and Sebastian. Cocteau Twins. Stereolab. Or, if you really want a surprise, there's always the MoFi CD Exchange!
• In the Modest Mouse, Franz Ferdinand family...Killers. Hot Fuss is the album. I can not stop listening to it...especially the song "All These Things That I've Done." GET IT!! NOW!!!!
• I have to recommend: Iris The Decemberists The Flaming Lips Or just to go download some random, obscure stuff online. (all legal) The Internet Archive is also a pretty amazing source of legal, free music, especially if you're into jam bands or amateur electronica.
• Velvet Revolver. The Knife. Belle and Sebastian. Cocteau Twins. Stereolab. Or, if you really want a surprise, there's always the MoFi CD Exchange!
• it's a few years old, but Black Box Recorder, it's an English group, hard to describe, but pick up "England Made Me" or "the facts of life" and you will not be sorry. Everyone I introduce it to loves it. You may have to visit a store with a sizable import section or order off the net, but trust me, well worth it.
• um, yeah. that was a time-lapsed double post. no clue how that happened.
• Rediscover the Buzzcocks
• Cassandra Wilson is something. I'd start with New Moon Daughter. And you can't miss with certain Miles Davis - everyone can love Sketches of Spain, and the other Gil Evans arrangements. There's Bartok if you need something to keep you awake at work. There's Janacek (the link is where I first heard him - really pretty, melodic and evocative, like a more fleshed-out Satie, who's also on a Kaufman soundtrack). Okay, I like soundtracks. Here's anonther, from Mambo Kings. Bach's cello suites. New York Dolls, if you're pissed off and drunk. Dinah Washington, if you want to cut someone (her jazz, not pop, recordings). Sigur Ros if you can play it really loud. Rickie Lee Jones's first two albums if you're lovelorn and aching and want someone sitting with you when you're alone. Prince.
• Cassandra Wilson is something. I'd start with New Moon Daughter. And you can't miss with certain Miles Davis - everyone can love Sketches of Spain, and the other Gil Evans arrangements. There's Bartok if you need something to keep you awake at work. There's Janacek (the link is where I first heard him - really pretty, melodic and evocative, like a more fleshed-out Satie, who's also on a Kaufman soundtrack). Okay, I like soundtracks. Here's anonther, from Mambo Kings. Bach's cello suites. New York Dolls, if you're pissed off and drunk. Dinah Washington, if you want to cut someone (her jazz, not pop, recordings). Sigur Ros if you can play it really loud. Rickie Lee Jones's first two albums if you're lovelorn and aching and want someone sitting with you when you're alone. Prince.
• Sorry, I didn't intend to double-post.
• Being from the 604, I have to recommend The New Pornographers and Destroyer: rock goodness, singer-songwriter madness. Galaxie 500 for a history lesson. If you like the Streets/Dizzee thing try MC Wiley. I always hear new stuff, or bands I'd completely fogotten about streaming at Global Pop Conspiracy, give 'em a listen!
• I second the Shins, The Flaming Lips and WOXY, and I third (?) The Polyphonic Spree. (I mean, really... the Spree is amazing, and not just because they're from my hometown.) If you like the Spree, check out the lead singer's first band, Tripping Daisy. It's a very different sound, but a similar vibe. Right now I'm also listening to the Stills and Badly Drawn Boy.
• Flogging Molly (Crazy Irish punk) Lords of Acid (Mmm techno) Manic Street Preachers (Old UK band) Man or Astro-Man (Instrumentals, recommend 'Let's Surf the River of Blood') Me First & The Gimmee-Gimmees (Cover band, but in a really happy way) Shonen Knife (Hurray for Brown Bison!) Aqua (Barbie Girl, always a classic, Cartoon Heroes, isn't bad either) Aquabats (Ska, Captain Hampton and the Midget Pirates of the Sandwich Isles a personal fav) Minibosses (Ever play Nintendo? These guys do the songs from all the old games. Fun.) Anarchy Steering Committee (Spoken Word, Let's Enslave the Elderly particularly good) Three Dead Trolls in a Baggie, (More spoken word comedy, Drug Weather Report aint' bad and the Lost Scrolls of Frosty are really good) Weird Al (Parody. Delightful parody. That and Albuquerque)
• some of my favourite albums released in the last year and three quarters: the unicorns - who will cut our hair when we're gone *experimental but easily digestible pop the shins - chutes too narrow *indie rock with slight country overtones joanna newsom - milk-eyed mender *one voice, one harp... occasional accompaniment. southern folky. stephen malkmus - pig lib *"indie rock" that sounds a lot like 60 blues rock band the groundhogs, but more pavement-y, with some great guitar playing
• Yesterday I picked up records from Shellac (angry, angry rock from God himself), Themselves (funny, experimental hip-hop), Buck 65 (witty, world-weary hip-hop), and samplers from Troubleman Unlimited (funk-punk, noise-rock, noise, hardcore, other) and Constellation Records (Canadian music that tends to be as beautiful as it is pretentious). All come highly recommended. I will also back up recommendations for Ratatat and TV on the Radio, mostly because every hipster worth his/her salt already has the covers from both CDs tattooed onto their chests. Also, Lightning Bolt, for when you want to rock the fuck out with enormous fucking bass riffs. You should be able to find mp3s on the above links.
• Mozart's mastery of the mysterious piaon is amazing. That one's a keeper.
• *weary sigh* I'm having to teach high school at the moment. Please disregard my obvious ill humour as a result of this. I don't mind most of the kids, it's the teachers who give me the screaming shits.
• Sounds like they're being real a piaon in the arse.
• Oh for fuck's sake :(
• Since we're on the topic (kinda), would anyone be interested in starting/joining a MoFi Audioscrobbler group? I think it would be a good way to learn about new music and see what other monkeys are listening to. Plus, it would save us from having to join The Blue Meanies.
• a piaon in the arse Shut your arse, pe
• !!! - !!!
• (To the quid) In so far as that is healthy, of course.
• Shut your arse, pe
• Re: Ladytron - first album 604 is a bit more fun, follow up Light and Magic is more spooky-woosy atmospheric. I'd say Light and Magic's the better of the two, but horses for course. It's all great. In a vaguely similar vein, Broadcast (The Noise Made By People and HaHa Sound, both great) and Add N To (X) are both superb. Audioscrobbler: hmmm, that's quite a nice idea, Mr. Sorting Hat. I've just got into da 'scrobbler, finally, after some time aggressively ignoring it (on the grounds it seemed like one of those services that carefully tracks the music you listen to, processes it with a variety of arcane algorithms, before finally telling you... wait for it... what sort of music you like!). As such, I'd quite like something to actually do with it.
• I'm buying antiques lately, but on CD. Two of my all-time favorites (that until now I've only had on vinyl and cassette dubs thereof): The Slits - "Cut" - twenty-five years old and fresh as a daisy! Lizzy Mercier-Descloux - "Mambo Nassau" - twenty-two years old and for the most part still ahead of its time. and some other fun stuff: Kid Creole and the Coconuts - "Fresh Fruit in Foreign Places" - and Bow-Wow-Wow - "See Jungle, See Jungle" - for those goofiest of monkey moments. Even further out there, two of the great voices of the 20th century - Om Khalsoum (anything by her -- you could road test her via online (legal) downloads, but I lost the link when I bought the CD's), and the Guinean griot Kouyate Sory Kandia, who possessed one of the most amazing voices I've heard. And then there's the brilliant Romanian folk singer Maria Tanase (mp3's at cristian.francu.com/Maria/) whose recordings from the forties and fifties can be quite astonishing, though some of the later stuff is a bit lame. I've been on a bit of a Nina Hagen rip lately, too, and just bought "Nunsexmonkrock" and "Unbehagen". She has (or had, it's been down for about a week while she's supposedly "changing providers") a big website full of audio and video streams, featuring her odd new opus, a collection of standards sung with a big band, as well as some older stuff and some of her Hindu bhajans in spaced-out videos. I hope the site goes up again soon, cause I'm feenin' to hear "Kriminal-tango" and "Schon ist die welt" again, both of which only seem to be available on CD as thirty-five dollar singles. If you like house (deepish house), anything by Miguel Migs or Matthew Herbert, especially the latter's "Bodily Functions" or "Secondhand Sounds". And, oh yeah, I second the votes for Cassandra Wilson and David Bowie, and would add a shout-out to the Velvets. Thanks to all for the suggestions already posted, which will help to drag me by my simian ears back into the twenty-first century. (Hey! Ouch!)
• Dr. Robotnik - Le Tigre? As in "We like the cars, the cars that go boom"? Please do consider joining the next Mofi cd swap.
• Cooper Temple Clause
• My favorite album currently is called Magnolia Electric Co. and is by Songs:Ohia. It's the kind of music Flannery O'Connor would have made had she been a musician -- southern gothic. Lots of yearning and brooding and shadows and such in the feeling of the music. I'd also check out the Orlando "Cachaito" Lopez album. He's the bassist from Buena Vista Social Club. It's traditional Cuban music melded with a bit of dub and occasional hip-hop-ish beats. A reeeaallly tasty instrumental record. Finally, based on the artists you name, I'd check out old Krautrock stuff, such as the second Neu! album, early- to mid-period Talking Heads, such as More Songs About Buildings and Food or Remain in Light, and definitely Entertainment! by Gang of Four. (The live album The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads is a great, energetic set of the Talking Heads era I'm talking about, and is newly out on CD in the U.S.)
• If you're wanting to go back in time, check out the Vapors. Tense, spiky power pop. Too bad they split up before more people realized how good they were. And if you don't already own a copy of Marquee Moon, get thee to a cd store now. Classical: anything with Jacqueline Du Pré. One of my favorites is the Beethoven Piano Trios recording from 1970 performed by Du Pré, Daniel Barenboim and Pinchas Zukerman. Lovely stuff. And I wholeheartedly second the Tom Jones recommendation. Nobody belts 'em out and schmaltzes 'em up like he does. If you like good soundtrack music, crank up iTunes radio and tune in to A Fistful of Soundtracks (under "eclectic"). We're not talking dreadful Titanic-type crap. One of my favorite shows featured music from Italian gangster and soft core films from the 60s and 70s.
• genitallica