Noe Venable "The Summer Storm Journals"
Noe's voice is ethereal and gorgeous as she weaves delicate melodies over spare instrumentation. It kind of feels like the music you might hear while lost in an enchanted forest, or something.
Black Horse "The Black Arts of the Black Horse"
Fuzzed-out old-school rock and roll with a sneer and a swagger. The lead singer recalls an early Courtney Love. The effort is competent, but nothing special.
Born Ruffians "Red, Yellow & Blue"
Jaunty little ditties that experiment with changing time signatures enough to keep you off balance, but not so much that they throw you off entirely. Energetic and fun with enough complexity to keep you actively listening.
They kind of remind me of Vampire Weekend a little.
Danava "Unonou"
If someone played this for me and said it was some cock-rock band from the mid-'70s, I would have no reason to doubt them. Complete with indulgent guitar solos and tracks that extend past the 10-minute mark, this album sounds like the '80s and on never happened. Why doesn't anyone make new music that sounds new anymore?
More CDs that I should have already spun, found in a recent purge of my collection.
Broken Social Scene Presents Kevin Drew "Spirit If ..."
(Broken Social Scene Presents Kevin Drew "Backed Out On The..." And, yes, that is J. Mascis.)
Drew, the ringleader of Canadian super group BSS, decided he too wanted a piece of the side project action enjoyed by so many of his mates (Metric, Stars, Apostle of Hustle, Raising the Fawn, Feist and many others are BSS satellites). The album employs many of the same people that the main hub does — and the touring band was made up of BSS players — so it's difficult to tell where Broken Social Scene ends and Kevin Drew begins, but maybe we don't really need to worry about that. It's a good album. Chill, downtempo rock stripped of that bombast that makes me sometimes hate Broken Social Scene proper.
"Pure Fire: A Gilles Peterson Impulse! Collection"
Sweet jazz-cakes! An impressive mix of jazz big guns — John Coltrane, Art Blakey, Milt Jackson, etc — put together by the respected BBC Radio 1 DJ. Cool and understated, this collection captures the spirit of the era without showing off. It also includes Yusef Lateef's flute-driven take on Erik Satie's First Gymnopedie, a piece of music that I've been obsessed with recently.
iLIKETRAINS "Elegies to Lessons Learnt"
I saw these guys at CMJ and I really enjoyedtheir show. Their music is dark and paranoid (a little Joy Division-y, actually) and gleefully depressing. Although, to tell the truth, it works a little better live than on CD. Hmmm .... I don't love it.
Bill Callahan "Woke on a Whaleheart"
This is a leftover from last week, when I did CDs that I should have listened to a long time ago. Callahan used to record under the name Smog, but underwent a metamorphosis that made him feel it was time to use his own name. Pitchfork had a really good interview with him about it.
His voice is still as deep as the deepest sorrow. But his outlook is slightly sunnier than it has been on prior records. Which is not to say that this is an upbeat record, just less sad.
Animal Collective "Strawberry Jam"
Another selection from last week.
AC is another one of those bands whose music just makes me a little nutty. (BJork and Yanni are others — NOT that I think their music is comparable in anyway besides the fact that something fundamental in their compositions disrupts my brainwaves.) I remember in, like, 2004, these guys were THE musicians musicians. Every band we would interview would name these guys as "what we're listening to" (at the time, we were encouraged to ask bands a stock set of questions). But try as I might, I just couldn't get into "Sung Tongs."
Leavened with electronic noodling (and a bit more of a traditional pop structure), their twee-tribal experiment is a little more tolerable. Maybe that says more about me than it does about them. But it's aight.
Our selections this week come from the back of my CD closet, and are all by groups I shelved (with the intent to listen later) for different reasons. In the meantime, they got buried in my pile and famous (relatively) in the real world.
The Grey Race "Give it Love"
OK, this album just came out Sept. 17, so I'm not too behind the times. I wrote about these guys before, and coincidentally received their CD in the mail a week later. Actually, it probably wasn't a coincidence, as their publicist emailed me back in October to thank me for the mention. Whatever.
I like it. I like it a lot. It's dark and acoustic and paranoid and melodic. The lead singer kind of reminds me of XTC in a minor key. The band is from Brooklyn, so although they're not on tour currently, with any luck we'll see them haunting the local clubs soon.
The Go! Team "Proof of Youth"
Another September release, I have no idea how this got shoved to the bottom of the pile so quickly. I already loved these guys when I received this CD.
Anyway, like always, every song's a party.
Don't you want to be friends with these kids?
Pop Levi "The Return to Form Black Magic Party" (Feb. 2007)
I think this name is only so familiar because he played a string of dates in New York recently. Anyway, it's solid British psych-rock with an obvious Beatles influence (Levi is also from Liverpool, according to Wikipedia). It's been done before, obvs, but he does a good job with it. I wonder what it would sound like if you played it backwards. This album makes me miss LPs.
Our favorite semi-regular feature is back on this week. My desk is over flowing with unlistened-to CDs, and I'd like to spin as many as possible before the great New Year's purge next week.
Heloise & The Savoir Faire "Trash, Rats and Microphones"
Heloise takes Peaches' tough-girl brashness and sets it all to a indie dance rock beat. Both tropes I enjoy, but as a combination I'm finding it incredibly annoying.
Glorytellers s/t
This album explodes immediately into the vocals with no preamble, and it has me hooked from the get go. Acoustic strumming accompanies the singer's frank delivery of sad truths with lyrics that are bluntly poetic. It's simple and sad, and I love it so much that it kind of hurts my heart. Check 'em out here.
A bit of cursory research shows that these guys are no newbies to the scene. Every member has been in at least one other band, and frontman Geoff Farina was the main force behind Karate and Secret Stars.
A Place to Bury Strangers s/t
I just can't get into this one. It sounds well done for what it is — post-apocalyptic shoegaze — but its not keeping my attention.
City and Colour "Bring Me Your Love"
Not readable by my computer. But they're from Canada.
VA "Souvenirs"
The cover promises "Modern covers of the classics: Frank Sinatra, Bill Withers, Jane's Addiction..." The who in the what now?! Too bizarre-sounding to pass up.
The verdict: Bands I never heard of covering songs I know as well as my own name? I don't know if this is something I'd ever need to listen to again, but it was interesting to hear. The cover versions tended toward ultraslick Euro-pop or wildly inappropriate smooth jazz, but they might (I said might) make an interesting addition to a party mix — particularly Chris Glover's beat-heavy version of the oft-covered "The Way You Look Tonight." Really, in all, the whole thing is kind of crap. Listen here!
Happy Birthday am/fm!: 10 Best CDs from '10 CDs' 2007
10 CD Thursday is the blog's occasionally regular feature. I've been pretty bad at it of late, just because my Thursdays are so hectic (I'm considering moving it to Sunday ... we'll see). Anyway, the gist is, I listen to 10 CDs from my ever growing slush pile (unsolicited advances sent to me by publicists, or sometimes the band itself) during the course of the day and comment snarkily on them. I generally like 2 out of the 10, and truthfully not many of them make it into regular rotation. But here's a bunch that, against all odds, permanently wowed me.
1. The Harlem Experiment s/t
"Jazz from above 125th Street, this album meanders funkily on an actual musical journey."
2. Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings "100 Days 100 Nights"
"I am absolutely loving this album. Funky old Motown with an energetic freshness."
3. Liars s/t
"I like this, very much. Deconstructed rock with palpable menace."
4. Alaska! "Rescue Through Tomahawk" [Release date: March 8, 2005]
"It's slow burning awesomeness."
5. Jens Lekman "Night Falls Over Kortedala"
"A very stylized production, with a big band disco throwback feel. It's like a modern day musical, with some very dark undertones."
6. Common "Finding Forever"
"I love Common, and I am so glad that he is finally getting national, widespread attention. He is so talented and totally deserves it. Maybe it was that Gap commercial that did it."
7. The Budos Band "The Budos Band II"
"An instrumental funkgasm from the fine folks at Daptone Records."
8. John Vanderslice "Emerald City"
"A gifted singer/songwriter with an ear for despair, Vanderslice a master of 'wallow music.' But it's not so depressing that it will drag you down out of a good mood. I just love it." (That's two)
9. Why? "Sanddollars" (EP)
"Pleasant downer rock with barbed lyrics. It's kind of what I imagine living in the center of the country sounds like."
10. Thee More Shallows "Book of Bad Breaks"
"There's a lot of complexity to this album, and mixing of elements that you might not think would go together: some electronica noise over top of a straightforward rock score in a way that doesn't mesh, but totally works."
Laura Reed & Deep Pocket "Soul:Music"
I like an album that doesn't beat around the bush. It announces itself as soul, and that's what it is. With a little bit of funk thrown in for good measure. They sound like a good party band. People could get down to this music, but it's not so strong that it takes over the entire party. Laura is a good vocalist, but she has exactly the same kind of voice that, say, that nondescript kid with the amazing set of pipes has when she finally gets the chance to open her mouth at the end of the movie. That doesn't make it any less good, I'm just saying she fits a type.
Cass McCombs "Dropping The Writ"
I've listened to this album almost twice, and it has made no impression on me.
Gliss "Love The Virgins"
This trio's music is tortured and other worldly with a solid beat. The singer actually sounds a little like Robyn Hitchcock. I'm hard to please today, but I like it.
Ryan Adams & The Cardinals "Follow The Lights"
Holy crap! This man never sleeps. I haven't honestly been a fan of Mr. Adams', but that's more for lack of exposure (how did I miss him? I don't know) than anything else. Anyway, this time out, this famously prolific musician brings us a selection of downtempo ballads.
Ten CDs: I bet you thought I forgot about this feature
After about a month's hiatus, 10 CDs is back. I toyed with the idea of doing penance for shirking my duties by listening to 40 CDs (or at least 40 first cuts) in one day, but that's just madness.
New Rivals s/t
This sounds like every band from the turn of the century. You remember the sound: glossed up mall punk with a little bit of ska rhythm: Blink, Goldfinger (which, full disclosure, I could not stop listening to in the summer of 1999), those guys with the "Little Black Backpack" song, Eve 6, etc.
They're from Sayville. That kind of explains everything.
AM Syndicate "Liberation"
An indie band that seems a little confused about their sound. Are they mellow pop with electronica undertones? Sensitive singer/guitar music? Something's not quite gelling for me.
Putamayo Presents "Tango Around the World"
A step (or several) above those compilations you could buy at Old Navy (are they still doing that?), Putamayo is still scoffed at by serious music collectors. But for the casual world music listener, these collections are perfect. This CD makes me wish it was still 80 degrees outside and I was chillin' by the pool, sipping on a piña colada.
The tracks are very cinematic sounding, if that makes sense. Like, any one of these could be from a film score. For real life listening, I'm not entirely sure where they fit in. It's not dinner party music, but it's not party party music either. It is good seduction music, if you're not worried about coming off as too pretentious...
KT Tunstall "Holiday Collection"
There's so much to say about this album before I even press play. First off: ugh, Christmas music. I can't stand it (I'm sure you'll be hearing much more about this in the next two months).
Also, according to a promotional sticker, this album is available for $6.99 at Target; I don't know why, but that's the funniest, oddest thing I've seen all day. Like, why even have that sticker? If you're already at Target, you just need a price sticker. If you're somewhere else, well, the establishment you're patronizing doesn't need you to know the price of their competitor — unless they're offering it for cheaper, I guess. If you've received this album as a promo, well, price is irrelevant.
And, The KT Tunstall Holiday Collection is brought to you by NBC's "Sounds of the Season." This CD just weirds me out, and we haven't even gotten to the actual music, which, well, let me just reproduce the track listing for you:
1. 2000 Miles
2. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
3. Mele Kalikimaka (Christmas in Hawaii) [Seriously, Bing Crosby was an institution in our home growing up. My sisters and I can sing the whole album, including every throwaway aside Bing utters, from memory.]
4. Sleigh Ride
5. Fairytale of New York
6. Lonely This Christmas
Yes, you read that right. KT goes from "Sleigh Ride" to "Fairytale of New York" — one of the most depressing (if totally awesome) holiday songs ever written, even when it's not sung by a man with no teeth. I say, stick with the Stars version (or, of course, the original).
If you're curious, the lyrics are mildly censored on the "Holiday Collection," but that's really not surprising.
Overall, the record is mostly harmless and minimally annoying. It could be much worse, but if that's all you achieve, why do it at all? Did NBC really think we needed covers of modern standards in an inoffensive country-tinged style?
Some of these CDs are gonna be new, and some of them are gonna be old...
The Young Knives "Voices of Animals and Men"
My immediate impression is their explosive sound is derivative but good. As the disc plays, however, I am less impressed. The lead singer's yelping just isn't doing it for me, and the whole thing sounds done-before.
Meat Puppets "Rise to Your Knees"
I really like the cover art.
And, whoa! This takes me back. "The Brothers Meat" have still got it. After an 11-year estrangement, Curt and Cris Kirkwood are back together, making beautiful, slacker music.
Dr. Dog "We All Belong"
I think I've heard this album before, which is a little bit cheating. But, whatever, I like it. These guys sound like they'd be fun to party with, OR they'd be fun to have play at your party. Either one.
Rilo Kiley "Under The Black Light"
Jenny Lewis kinda sounds like Annie Lenox on the first track. And pretty much sounds like everyone else but herself on the rest of the album. You know, it's alright, but it's missing the heartbreaking quality that made the group's earlier stuff so special.
Two Gallants s/t
I was in love with these guys for about two minutes in 2005. The angst-filled, hardscrabble, Dylan-esque sound really resonated strongly with me. Again, for about two minutes. Now I think these guys are talented kids with potential, but they're just too damn whiny.
Bell Hollow "Foxgloves"
The 15-billionth coming of The Smiths.
So, I got waylaid on Thursday, and didn't get to bring you my 10 snap judgments on 10 new CDs. No matter, we can do it on a Sunday. And keeping with the theme of belated assignments, I dug up 10 old as dirt albums that I have been sitting on, for quite literally years.
Paris Combo "Attraction" [Release date: April 16, 2002; How do I have this? amNewYork didn't even exist back then.]
French lounge music. Coooooooooool. I'm wearing a beret and smoking a Gauloise as I listen.
Stars of Track and Field "Centuries Before Love and War" [Release date: June 6, 2006]
The name is a Belle and Sebastian reference, but the sound has little in common with the Scottish twee pop outfit. It's kind of your basic Europop by way of Oregon.
Smoking Popes "At Metro" [Release date: February 28, 2006]
I gotta be honest, I've only ever heard of these guys because of their inclusion on the "Clueless" soundtrack. (I love that movie.) And that song, "I Need You Around," is here on this concert disc. And the rest of the album: Two very enthusiastic thumbs up! Fine mid-'90s rock fun!
Nelly Furtado "Promiscuous feat. Timbaland" single [Release date: June 29, 2006]
Here's a song that says a lot about the contemporary human experience.
Alamo Race Track "Black Cat John Brown"
What is with this British Invasion revivalism? Aren't we done with this yet? Not that this isn't a capable group with an enjoyable product, but come on. This album could have been made 40 years ago and it would have sounded exactly the same. I, too, like the music of that era, but we already have The Kinks, The Who and the like. Can we try something new? No? Ok. At least they do a nice job of it.
Fun fact: These guys are from Amsterdam.
Charlemagne "We Can Build an Island"
This album is making no impression on me.
Buffalo Tom "Three Easy Pieces"
Americana bordering on country.
Will Hawkins "Ghost Town"
Hmm ... I think the kids are currently digging this guy, but it's really not moving me.
I have no intro for you here. Let's just launch right into the mess.
Powersolo "It's Raceday ... and your pussy is GUT!!!"
Kind of hardrock psychobilly, that I'm liking OK despite the presence of countryfied song titles like "Truckin'" (not a cover), "Hillbilly Girl" and "NASCAR."
Illuminea "Out of Our Mouths"
Full disclosure: One of the band members is friends with one of my good friends, and I have been to see this band in a "support the friends of your friends" kind of way. They did not, however, use that channel to get this CD to me; it came in the usual way, through their publicist.
This Philly-based band recently changed their name from Illumina. The name change hasn't made it any easier to pin the band down genre-wise. A 6-8-or-more piece, Illuminea can go from chamber rock to glossy Euro-pop in one song flat. And these guys give an engaging live show. Unfortunately, you, and I, just missed a bunch of New York shows. Here's hoping they come back soon.
The album is good, tighter and more focused than their Illumina debut, and captures effectively the exuberance of their live shows. And they seem to have shaken some of that post-collegiate angst, which is a good thing. Still, there are a couple of ballads on there that make me thing that lead singer (well, one of them, anyway; the structure of the band seems to be that the members, multi-instrumentalists all, switch off roles) Jen Appel is spending far too much time up in her room crying over boys, which is a shame, because, from what I can tell, she's a lovely girl.
Luke Temple "Snow Beast" [Release date: Aug. 21]
I first heard of this guy a couple of months ago when Said the Gramophone posted a track (it's not still up, don't bother looking). And he's playing a bunch of local shows next week to prep for his new release. Which is awesome, the new release is. It takes all the best quirks of the "Brooklyn sound" and grounds it in a solid understanding of American traditionalism. In other words, he plays some mighty old-school country rhythms, but dresses it up nicely with playful and modern production. It's mournful and melodic and upbeat and fun (all at the same time, sometimes). Go to his shows and buy this album.
Kathryn Williams "Leave to Remain"
She's a capable singer-songwriter.
Ten CDs: Robert Altman Ensemble Flick-Sandwich edition
Guacamole, Bacon, Cheddar, Tomato and Onion. That was what was on the sandwich I had for lunch today. Notice anything? There's no "star" of the sandwich; no turkey or pimento loaf to carry the show. This is a complete ensemble cast, and let me tell you, all these voices talking over each other, both supporting and opposing each other ... well, it worked. Let's hope our CDs today do as much.
Sgt. Disco "Circus Devils" [Release date: Aug. 28]
Initially, given the cover, I was wary. This looks like an album capable of sucking, a lot. Then I noticed the Ipecac Recordings label, and I breathed a sigh of relief. Not that label fealty means anything these days, but Mike Patton's label is pretty small, and pretty choosy. Also, this sounds a hell of a lot like Bob Pollard ... because it IS Bob Pollard. This being a product of the ultra-prolific ex-Guided By Voices frontman explains the fact that this disc clocks in at a sprawling 32 tracks. And it sounds like a slightly harder-edged version of what he's been doing for the past decade and change. All I'm going to say is maybe, just maybe, Pollard could benefit from some editing.
Roky Erickson "You're Gonna Miss Me"
A soundtrack to the documentary about the musician that was released earlier this year. Essentially a "greatest hits" compilation for an artist who's heretofore flown too far below the radar to have made that a profitable enterprise. 'sgood.
Amy Speace "Songs for Bright Street"
She sounds like she does what she does well, but what she does is a little too shiny, happy, country for me. Especially after the hard rock we've started with. Although, in her favor, she does have collab with Gary Louris of the Jayhawks.
Mike Rocket and The Stars "Attn: Mr. Davis"
Um ... no. Meatloaf-y lame rock with a dash of imitation Boss. From track 3: "I'm just a procrastinator/when it comes to loving you." What does that even mean? It sounds like a song by that band from "Sesame Street." (Hey, when I was looking for that video, I found this one, which was one of my favorites when I was a kid!)
We're back and better than ever for our Thursday afternoon audio marathon. Let the games begin.
The Budos Band "The Budos Band II"
An instrumental funkgasm from the fine folks at Daptone Records.
Via Audio "Say Something" [Release date: Sept. 25.]
While listening to this CD, which features the vibraslap, I did some mind wandering, and came upon this. Weird Al's Cake impression is spot on, but what's most notable about the song is that it features the line: "She got me choked up like Mama Cass." Indeed.
Anyway, Via Audio ... um ... kinda boring, but I'm also kinda distracted.
Sound the Alarm "Stay Inside"
Not immediately as bad as I was expecting, given the cover art.
Yes, it's still mall-punk emo bs, but not terrible.
This week, we're drawing from my most recently received pile, which, for a change, features some groups I have heard of.
They Shoot Horses, Don't They? "Pick Up Sticks"
They should shoot this CD. If that makes any sense. I think they're aiming for artless lo-fi, but they've achieved annoying and untalented.
We Are The Fury "Venus"
These guys are biting on the Scissor Sister's style, just a little bit — and the glam-punk Elizabethan-style photos in the CD booklet don't do anything to dispell that notion.
It's alright, if a little over-stylized. They've also got a bit of Meatloaf going on. I don't think I'll be listening to this one again either. But at least it's less offensive to the ears than Horses...
Ben Lee "Ripe" [Release date: Sept. 14]
Awww. This little Aussie is so precious. At times it seems his previous relationship with Claire Danes overshadows his career achievements, but Mr. Lee is all about the music. He goes kind of country pop on this one. Not quite my taste, but well executed. There is an amusing little ditty called "What Would Jay-Z Do."
Read all about it over at his blog.
Editors "An End Has A Start"
I love this critique by Idolator: "The band sounds like Interpol. Not the groups that spawned Interpol--Chameleons, Joy Division, etc. Instead, Editors sounds as if it formed right after hearing "Slow Hands" on Radio 1."
But, whatever, they're kind of catchy. Album opener "Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors" sucks you in with its minor chord progression in the chorus. And yeah, lead singer Tom Smith sounds exactly like Paul Banks, but I don't care. I like it.
Ford & Fitzroy EP
This two-track, ten-minute snippet of indie fun is short and anxiously sweet. These guys know how to do "purposefully off." And! The group plays a Thursday night residency at Pianos all month.
Page France "... and the Family Telephone"
Jangly cutie-pie pop that ... well, I just can't get excited about it. The Boy Least Likely To did it first, better and with less Dylan.
The Lonely H "Hair" [Release date: July 24]
This has nothing to do with the musical where they get all naked (and which I had a dream about last night, despite the fact that my only experience with that show is the episode of "Head of the Class" where the kids want to do the nudity, but the Man says that they can't). This quintet is still in high school, but they're capable enough. Name-checking Led Zeppelin (seriously? These kids are still in high school. Can we get a new shorthand for loud guitars and driving rhythm?), this album is chock full o' power chords and glitz, with complete licks and riffs lifted straight from the 1970s. So, nothing that new here, but the album has a certain charm. I'd be curious to see what they do in a year or five, if they're still together.
Blackie and the Rodeo Kings "Let's Frolic"
Where were these guys two weeks ago? Canadians! Of the country & western variety. Thpfff.
John Vanderslice "Emerald City" [Release date: July 24] Vandy is one of my guys who I really like, and then forget that I like him. So he's always a pleasant re-discovery. A gifted singer/songwriter with an ear for despair, Vanderslice a master of "wallow music." But it's not so depressing that it will drag you down out of a good mood. I just love it.
Shapes "The Sound of Shapes"
Embracing the New York sound from the very first thrum of the bass, these young punks project an air of insouciance that just screams, "We don't care that we're not The Strokes." It's a style I like, but they don't really do anything to differentiate themselves from the pack. They do make a reference to "Safety Dance" in "Ecstacy," though, which is fun. Though "Ode to Joy" sounds like a blatant rip off of "It's a Hit."
But I bet I'd like these guys if I saw them live.
Final score: 2 or 3ish out of 10.
Bonus: There's no following the logic train that led me to name this entry as I did. But here's some Nick Drake and origami:
All of our music today comes from the Borough of Kings.
Tall Firs "Tall Firs"
Downtempo dirge rock that's right at home on Ecstatic Peace — Sonic Youther Thurston Moore's label, if you didn't know. Quality, but a little too slow for my tastes. I really need a nap right about now, and this is not helping.
Life in a Blender "The Heart is a Small Balloon"
These guys send me a lot of email, and they seem really nice and funny.
The Beasts of Eden "End Times" EP
Not too bad. I don't know that I'll spin this album again, but if I were out and they happened to be playing where I was, I wouldn't leave.
Mudville "Iris Nova"
Vocalist Marilyn Carino does her best Beth Gibbons here, but it's not quite enough.
Action Painters "Chubby Dancer"
It's growing on me.
Locksley "Don't Make Me Wait"
I was beginning to despair. The only decent thing I've listened to so far was a mixtape. Does anyone actually in Brooklyn make good music? Looking at the remaining no-names in my pile, my hopes were low. These guys were a pleasant surprise. Derivative retro pop complete with handclaps, yeah, but they do it well and you can tell they're having fun. Title track is definitely best, but I think we can expect good things in Locksley's future.
And from the video you can see, they have a sense of humor about their derivative-ness. Or their entire act is an homage.
Ta-Shma "Come Listen"
"Ta shma" is a Hebrew (?) phrase meaning "come and listen," and is used to invite discussion and promote understanding. Ta-shma is a Brooklyn group that raps about Torah-related issues, kind of following in the footsteps of Matisyahu (who appears on their track "Rachamana"). Umm...not really my cuppa.
Final score: 2 out of 10.
To be fair, I really had to dig to come up with these 10 Brooklynites; anyone with any notoriety (We Are Scientists, Sufjan, etc.), I would have listened to straight away. And, looking back at the other 10 CD Thursdays, that's pretty much the average. So, way to go Brooklyn!
Appropriately enough, the Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival (with Ghostface) starts this weekend. Visit www.brooklynbodega.com for more.
2 Skinnee J's (718) would be perfect here, but I cannot find the video anywhere online. :(
Ten CDs: I should have listened to this ages ago edition
The theme this week is just what it sounds like, CDs that have been moldering on my desk for months or more. We'll see how that goes...
Les Sans Culottes "Le Weekender"
This group of Brooklynites sings exclusively in French. It's a trick that could get old, because from what I can tell, they're no Samuel Beckett. But it sounds like they're having too much fun to care. Over all: retro rock complete with "la la la" choruses that's minimally gimmicky.
Pere Ubu "Why I Hate Women"
These guys do indeed rock out on the theremin. Robert Wheeler is the man with the hands.
Elf Power "Back to the Web"
Hmm...nothing much to say about this one.
Why? "Sanddollars" (EP)
"No one knew your name at the local open mic tonight" — from "Miss Ohio's Nameless". That's awesome.
OK, this album is more than two years old. I had heard good things about it, but something about the way the promo disc was packaged made me keep reshelving it without listening. That's too bad. I was missing out. Pleasant downer rock with barbed lyrics. It's kind of what I imagine living in the center of the country sounds like.
They also kind of sound like a cross between TMBG and my friend Brook (which everyone involved should take as a compliment).
Finian McKean "Shades Are Drawn"
A nice Irish name if I ever heard one.
McKean plays Pete's Candy Store pretty often (in fact, he was there last night) and he has some free downloads up on his site, so if you're into vaguely bluesy, somewhat depressing folk-rock jams, he's pretty accessible.
¡Forward, Russia! "Give Me a Wall"
This band was the talk of the town when this album came out in Sept. 2006, receiving nearly Clap Your Hands Say Yeah-amounts of attention. I thought they broke up shortly after (I think I may have gotten them mixed up with Test Icicles, who can say why), but turns out they're busy working on a follow up. I don't know. It kind of sounds like whiny Bloc Party to me.
J.Dilla "The Shining"
I honestly had no idea what to expect on this one. I had heard his story, but wasn't so familiar with his work. It openings with Busta Rhymes spewing (and I can't believe I'm going to write this) an alarming barrage of curse words over a kazoo rendition of "Flight of the Bumblebees." The tunes that follow feature smooth rhyming over old school soul samples and other mixing board shenanigans. The man was not the go-to production guy for nothing.
Let's Go Sailing "The Chaos in Order"
Average girl pop.
Five for Fighting "Two Lights"
I don't have much patience for John Ondrasik's "sensitive" and "deep" ballads, so I came to this album with great prejudice. And, ugh, I think even if I had never heard of F-for-Fing before, I'd still be annoyed by this album. His lyrics are trite and cloying over boring-ass string and piano arrangments: "I never loved the soldier until there was a war/Or thought about tomorrow/'til my baby hit the floor." ... I know, right?
And I even liked "Superman" at the time it came out. It was a good expression of the idea that sometimes just living is hard. Until it was picked up as the 9/11 anthem, thus imbuing it with Importance and Weight that it couldn't really carry.
David Vandervelde "The Moonstation House Band"
Oops. I forgot I was supposed to be listening critically to this. It's good background music, although the thought "his voice is a little annoying" keeps floating to the forefront of my mind.
Young Love "Too Young to Fight It"
This CD is dumb. And so am I, because those of you who can count will realize that this is album number 11. But, anyway, it sounds like dishwater electro-emo.
So, 4 out of 11.
Bonus:
I meant to post this video with the post on the VLES, but I forgot. So here it is.
I loved this video when it came out — how does he move like that? The "Pop-Up Video" version of this video is especially cool. Why aren't any of those on YouTube?
As everyone in a 12-person radius already knows, I don't feel well today. So I'm giving myself a pass and skipping listening to 10 crappy CDs in favor of listening to Ben Folds Five self-titled debut 10 times in a row (this album is more than 10 years old, btw). Check out the video for "Underground" here.
And here's "Uncle Walter."
Ben looks so young!
This week's score: a perfect 10 for 10.
Bonus: Queens of the Stone Age's "Sick Sick Sick," which I'm also finding quite comforting.
Hmmm... this week's 10 CDs were grabbed at random, and we're off to a rocky start.
First up:
1 The Sharp Things "A Moveable Feast"
This is a large local chamber pop ensemble. They've been playing together since the mid-'90s, and it shows through in their musicianship and ability. But resembling as it does the more-stylized portion of Elvis Costello's output, I just never got into their stuff.
Then:
2 Matt Nathanson "Some Mad Hope"
3 Erika Jayne "Roller Coaster"
4 Test Your Reflex "The Burning Hour"
Just ... no.
5 Von Südenfed "Tromatic Reflexxions"
The Fall's Mark E. Smith teams up with producers Andi Toma and Jan St. Werner for some messed up punk rock-tronica. I'm not sure if I mean "messed up" in a good way or a bad way. I think I hate it. Judge for yourself here.
6 John Doe "A Year in the Wilderness"
The Aimee Mann collab on "Unforgiven" is nice. I love her.
7 Apostle of Hustle "National Anthem of Nowhere"
Praise Apollo. An album that doesn't make me want to smash my hard drive in the first five seconds of listening. AoH is one of the thousands of bands associated with Canadian juggernaut Broken Social Scene — for some reason, I really like the various satellite groups (Feist, Stars, Metric, etc,), but the allure of BSS itself has eluded me.
But, back to the Apostle. Album opener "My Sword Hand's Anger" manages to sound both tribal and techno, employing an intriguing mix of style. And the rest of the album is just as endearingly contradictory: laid-back intensity, smoothly hard-charging, rocking with brass section are just a few of the descriptors that apply.
8 Mogwai "Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait"
Ok, I have to cheat a bit on this one. It's a soundtrack by the Scottish instrumental post-rock outfit for a French experimental film which consists of a full-length soccer game shot entirely from the perspective of head-butt machine Zinedine Zidane. It's a little difficult to make the "10 CD Snap Judgement" on this one. So, by reputation and expectation, I'm giving this one a thumbs up.
And but actually, I'm digging the album's chill noodling. It's music to think about, however, so I'm going to need some more time to digest.
9 Las Romanticas "America"
The album cover features a woman with water running all down her face (I think its rain, not tears), and the music therein sounds just like you'd expect from a record called "America" by a band called "Las Romanticas" featuring a soaking wet woman on the front cover. Folksy americana, just barely country western. Kind of Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers, minus everything that makes Clyne so exciting and fun to listen to.
10 Charlotte Kendrick "North of New York"
Exactly what I'm not looking for from popular music: Extreme first-person confessionals with gag-worthy metaphors by a nice-sounding but ultimately bland girl-with-guitar who's a little bit country.
Sample lyric: "I've got good directions and there's no room for luggage in the backseat of my heart." This makes me want to stab teddy bears.
So 2.1 out of 10.
Bonus! Because this week was so bogus, here's a funky take on Thelonious Monk's "Well You Needn't (It's Over Now)."
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Silver Lung, "These Are Powers"; Lonely China Day, "Sorrow"; The Death of Jason Broady, EP; Fields "Everything Last Winter"; Au Revoir Simone, "The Bird of Music"; The Naked Brothers Band, "TNBB: Music From the Movie"; The Hero Cycle, "Lakes and Ponds"; Thee More Shallows, "Book of Bad Breaks"; Faber Drive, EP (This made me want to angst someone to death); Paul Rodgers, "Live in Glasgow" — ok, this last one I have heard of, and so have you.
This week I went back to the pseudo-random selection method of the first week. And I ended up with a bunch of bands that I have never heard of before in my life. An exciting prospect, but the jaded music critic in me was braced for 10 albums of unadulterated crap.
It wasn't that bad, but there weren't too many cuts that I'd revisit.
Fields is interesting. Dark and moody rock with a lot of interesting things going on in the melody. And there's a flute.
They just played Coachella and their album just came out May 8, so maybe if I was paying attention, I would have heard of them before. Anyway, they're streaming selected tracks on their website.
Thee More Shallows was an awesome surprise. At number eight, it had to grab me right away, or I was going to eject it 30 seconds in (as I did with Faber Drive). There's a lot of complexity to this album, and mixing of elements that you might not think would go together: some electronica noise over top of a straightforward rock score in a way that doesn't mesh, but totally works. And something about the singer's delivery reminds me of They Might Be Giants. I guess they're sonic kin to Bloc Party; there's a certain electrified paranoia that the two groups share. I don't know. But I like them.
They happen to be playing Luna Lounge May 26, Pianos May 28 and Maxwell's June 1.
And, lastly, that photo at the top of this entry? That's The Naked Brothers Band. They're from a kids show on Nickelodeon. The show is adorable; I watched it with my little cousins. It's about these two brothers who are in a band (no one gets naked, though) and all of their management and crew are also kids. It's kind of like "Bugsy Malone" if, instead of gangsters, the film was about the music business.
Anyway, the CD sounds like a CD made by two ten-year-olds. I'm never going to listen to it again, but it was cute to hear. One of their songs is called "Hardcore Wrestlers with Inner Feelings," which is pleasingly David Foster Wallacian.
Last Thursday I tried to listen to and review 10 CDs in one day. As you'll recall, I got as far as slotting number 10, but I only got to listen to 9.
Anyway, I finally listened to ONO's "Open Your Box," a covers CD, on which old Yoko Ono songs were remixed by the Pet Shop Boys, Peter Rauhofer, Danny Tenaglia, and the like. My verdict: Serviceable techno, if you're into that sort of thing, featuring the enchanting vocals of the woman who broke up The Beatles.
I had so much fun doing 10 CDs in a day last week, so I figured I'd do it again. If we're not careful, we might have a regular feature on our hands here.
This week, I decided to go with all albums made by non-Americans. This meant the selection was less random than last week, when I just reached for 10 CDs at the top of the unorganized pile that is taking over my desk; I was picking out bands that I knew were foreign. I also tried my best not to be UK-heavy as well, because I really wanted to get to the more exotic-sounding albums.
While I hadn't listened to any of these albums before, I was already pretty familiar with most of the groups. So there were not a lot of surprises, but there were a few.
Here's the breakdown:
1&2 Dungen (Sweden) "Tio Bitar," Swedish/instrumental/Mando Diao (Sweden) "Ode to Ochrasy," English
Both of these albums, for me, were anticipated follow-ups to works I already liked. They did not disappoint. I'll have more on them next week.
3 Tunng (UK) "Comments Of The Inner Chorus," English
Energized ambient folk. Good, but not my cup of tea.
4 Puffy Amiyumi (Japan) "Splurge," English/Japanese
This was a big shocker. This Japanese duo has a fairly cheesy cartoon on Cartoon Network, which when you listen to their music, you can totally see how a group like this could be a cartoon. But they're good!
"Nice Buddy"
This song in particular has a real late-'90s "modern rock" vibe wrapped up inside its fluffy J-pop exterior. Although the aesthetic varies from song to song, and some of it is a little annoying. The lyrics in English definitely sound as if they were written by someone for whom English is a second language. But on the whole, superfun crazycool power-pop.
