Lebanon - Planet Rubble [2007]
I had high hopes for this record all last year, yet I never listened to it. Go figure. It's instrumental rock with a good, raw sound to it. One of the tracks opens with this really nice sparse guitarwork that reminds me a lot of Jefferson Airplane or Japanese guitarists like Tetuzi Akiyama or Hisato Higuchi. I sorta wish more of the tracks had that feel to them. There's a Middle Eastern flair to some of the songs, too, which I love as I'm a big fan of that type of rock (i.e. Grails). Other than that I think it's a pretty decent instrumental record halfway between Toe and sgt. I wish I saw them at CMJ, I don't know what the fuck else I was doing whatever night they played.
The Killers - Hot Fuss [2004]
LOLOLOL. Fuck off, they're a catchy band. Obviously this is the first time I've bothered to listen to the full record, but if anything I can actually admit I like this band now. Maybe not in public, but still. When you couldn't walk outside without hearing "Mr. Brightside" coming from someone's radio, I thought it was a good tune and the other single from the record I just heard mashed-up with The Clash's "Rock The Casbah" and it was goddamned awesome, so I downloaded the whole album and I'm glad. I suppose this would cheer me up if I were in a bad mood or something. If there're a few things I can honestly say about The Killers, it would be that they're good songwriters, the bassist is exceptional, and they put those cheesy electronic/synth inclusions to good use unlike every most other bands I've heard
in this style of music.
09 January 2008
Peter Bjorn & John - Falling Out [2005]
I think this is the only record by them I haven't heard. This one is a reissue with a couple of bonus tracks that are okay. The songs on this record are just like everything else I've heard by them: catchy and upbeat. There are a few female vocal spots of which I wish there were more; I think it's the singer of The Concretes because they sounded like the same lady from "Young Folks". Other than that I don't know what else to say really,
it's a good record and they're a good group.
I think this is the only record by them I haven't heard. This one is a reissue with a couple of bonus tracks that are okay. The songs on this record are just like everything else I've heard by them: catchy and upbeat. There are a few female vocal spots of which I wish there were more; I think it's the singer of The Concretes because they sounded like the same lady from "Young Folks". Other than that I don't know what else to say really,
it's a good record and they're a good group.
Images Of .44 Casings.
Dälek - Negro Necro Nekros 12"
Just got this in the mail the other day. Trying to build up my Dälek collection, I guess. I think this might've been their first output when they were a trio rather than the duo they are now. It's not terribly different than the newer stuff, but Absence and Abandoned Language are very close in their set-up while this a lot shorter. Even though it's only a 12" and not an LP there are lengthy instrumental passages throughout the four songs. His voice is perhaps a little weaker but it's nothing too bad, they've obviously matured as a group. The rhymes are solid and are pretty much the same stuff he's still rapping about now: impoverished peoples and the like. Dälek doesn't make shitty 'conscious hip hop' though, like Immortal Technique or something. There's a lot of creativity here and the potential obviously came through in spades as Abandoned Language in '07 was one of the best records I've heard in years.
Just got this in the mail the other day. Trying to build up my Dälek collection, I guess. I think this might've been their first output when they were a trio rather than the duo they are now. It's not terribly different than the newer stuff, but Absence and Abandoned Language are very close in their set-up while this a lot shorter. Even though it's only a 12" and not an LP there are lengthy instrumental passages throughout the four songs. His voice is perhaps a little weaker but it's nothing too bad, they've obviously matured as a group. The rhymes are solid and are pretty much the same stuff he's still rapping about now: impoverished peoples and the like. Dälek doesn't make shitty 'conscious hip hop' though, like Immortal Technique or something. There's a lot of creativity here and the potential obviously came through in spades as Abandoned Language in '07 was one of the best records I've heard in years.
07 January 2008
Kiyoshi Mizutani - Scenery Of The Border: Environment & Folklore Of The Tanzawa Mountains [2005]
Here's one I actually own. It's a 2xCD I picked up last year at No Fun Fest in Brooklyn. I'd never heard of Mizutani, but I love field recording stuff like Toshiya Tsunoda and this one Charlemagne Palestine disc I heard a couple of years ago that he constructed out of ambient noise from some ethnic parade in lower Manhattan or something. I really want to buy that one but I can't remember the title. Anyway, I love hearing new stuff in this genre and this collection is pretty impressive. It's put together well and it has a lot of different tracks from the various specific locales he took the source material from, all of which fall within this Tanzawa Mountain region in Japan. I like that the tracks are shorter and don't resort to long and overdone ambience that's barely connected to the original sounds like a bird chirping or a river flowing, but rather he takes the sounds of each area and really lets them do the 'talking'.
I don't think he even added anything to these tracks, unlike most other field recording artists I've heard. I like that. It's a very calming work and I applaud his efforts. Well worth the $8. I dare say I'd love to do something like this myself one day, if for nothing else than my own enrichment or personal gratification. Hopefully in Japan, too.
Here's one I actually own. It's a 2xCD I picked up last year at No Fun Fest in Brooklyn. I'd never heard of Mizutani, but I love field recording stuff like Toshiya Tsunoda and this one Charlemagne Palestine disc I heard a couple of years ago that he constructed out of ambient noise from some ethnic parade in lower Manhattan or something. I really want to buy that one but I can't remember the title. Anyway, I love hearing new stuff in this genre and this collection is pretty impressive. It's put together well and it has a lot of different tracks from the various specific locales he took the source material from, all of which fall within this Tanzawa Mountain region in Japan. I like that the tracks are shorter and don't resort to long and overdone ambience that's barely connected to the original sounds like a bird chirping or a river flowing, but rather he takes the sounds of each area and really lets them do the 'talking'.
I don't think he even added anything to these tracks, unlike most other field recording artists I've heard. I like that. It's a very calming work and I applaud his efforts. Well worth the $8. I dare say I'd love to do something like this myself one day, if for nothing else than my own enrichment or personal gratification. Hopefully in Japan, too.
Can't sleep, s'more...
The Skull Defekts - The Black Hand [2007]
This group (pretty sure they're from Europe...or at least their latest record was released on a Euro label) isn't half-bad. I had semi-high hopes for their sound because I'd often seen people review their brand of noise/drone with modest admiration and hope for continued success in future releases. So, this record is in the typical neuve-noise pattern of one or two long ones and a couple of short, more spastic tracks but I thought it worked well.
There's a steady rhythm to their work
but I was expecting a louder, more unforgiving assault type of sound.
I guess this isn't that release for them?
Or maybe I was recalling their reviews incorrectly.
Either way, pretty satisfied with this one and I may even pick it up at some point. Based on the track lengths, this probably saw a vinyl
release but I'll wager it's out of print by now.
Various Artists - Ukrainian Village Music [1994]
Awesome. I have no idea which decade each of these songs is from, but it's not so much the music I was expecting. I mean, I guess I had an idea of what sound to expect when I imagined 'Ukrainian Village Music', but a lot of this is just uptempo string instrument stuff. I would've imagined more melancholy-sounding stuff, with maybe a folkier edge to it? Take away the knowledge that this is Ukrainian and remove some of the quicker passages and this could all pass for really early American jazz. Then again, what the hell do I even really know about the Ukraine other than a little bit about its history in various wars and the fact that it's close to Russia? Pan-Slavism revival 2k8!
Old Time Relijun - Uterus & Fire [1999]
I thought this sounded like some watered-down David Yow project at first. It quickly got more distinct though. Oddly enough I've never even heard of this band until now. It's catchy stuff that's rough sounding, especially the drums. The guitarwork mostly sounds like Neil Young solo-ing slowly and while as bored as he could possibly be. That sounds a lot more negative than it really is. For me, anyway. I looked into it and apparently they're still a band. Don't ask me why but based on their sound it seems to me like they'd be the type of band to put out one or two records in the mid-90s and play some shows memorable to only a few people and then disband. I'm not sure how much I'll be into this on subsequent listens. We'll see.
Mountain Mirrors - Lunar Ecstasy [2004]
When I had read about this act, the phrase "Heavy acoustic music from the woods of Massachusetts" came up about 237 times in the first paragraph alone. I thought it would be pretty cool, like a mix of the gothic Death In June sound with what I hoped would be a kind of Pearls & Brass thing going on in there too. I was close but not really (what?). I think this is just one guy but this isn't that heavy and what I can only assume is a drum machine on this record will make J.K. Broadrick turn over in his grave when he passes away. I'll skim over the other record I'm aware of but I consider this a disappointment.
Nalle - By Chance Upon Waking [2006]
I don't know what the hell I read about this to even bother downloading it, but it blows. They're from Glasgow, maybe that had something to do with it. It's like if Bjork wanted to make fun of herself by singing off-key overdubbed over her own vocals and the rest of the group refused to play anything but broken toy instruments. Didn't make it through this one.
Wyclef Jean - The Carnival [1997]
I never really bothered with Wyclef before. I don't think I've even listened to a full album of his.
I liked that one song years ago about him being the President for 3 days before being assassinated but that's all. I sorta skimmed through these songs but I enjoyed all of what I heard so I'm going to keep this album around and give it a good listen some other time, I think I'll enjoy it even more. I believe I downloaded this because I liked what I heard on some commercial promoting his new record, which I thought this was but that's actually The Carnival Vol. II or something. I don't know. There's a good mix of styles here and I give it a thumbs up. I'm going to check out the new one next and
potentially miss a decade of great tunes of his.
Let me know if I'm missing out on anything.
Various Artists - Waves [2002]
So this is a compilation of French house music mixed by Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo of Daft Punk. I think it's all material that came from records/artists on his record label. Don't quote me on that though. I thoroughly enjoyed this compilation. The songs are all good interesting enough,
maybe a little too beat-oriented but I guess this is intended as club music more than anything else. One of the tracks has a riff or sample that sounds suspiciously like the main beat from "One More Time". It's also one of the best songs on the record.
Anyway, he did a great job mixing the tracks as they all flow pretty well.
Still, it just reminds me of how much I want to hear some solo Guy-Manuel stuff after discovering and really liking the material I've heard Thomas Bangalter did on his own. I'll think about picking this one up. It's got enough material on it but I get the feeling it was released only across the pond and that'll definitely screw over the price of it, if it's even still in print. Fuck the US dollar.
This group (pretty sure they're from Europe...or at least their latest record was released on a Euro label) isn't half-bad. I had semi-high hopes for their sound because I'd often seen people review their brand of noise/drone with modest admiration and hope for continued success in future releases. So, this record is in the typical neuve-noise pattern of one or two long ones and a couple of short, more spastic tracks but I thought it worked well.
There's a steady rhythm to their work
but I was expecting a louder, more unforgiving assault type of sound.
I guess this isn't that release for them?
Or maybe I was recalling their reviews incorrectly.
Either way, pretty satisfied with this one and I may even pick it up at some point. Based on the track lengths, this probably saw a vinyl
release but I'll wager it's out of print by now.
Various Artists - Ukrainian Village Music [1994]
Awesome. I have no idea which decade each of these songs is from, but it's not so much the music I was expecting. I mean, I guess I had an idea of what sound to expect when I imagined 'Ukrainian Village Music', but a lot of this is just uptempo string instrument stuff. I would've imagined more melancholy-sounding stuff, with maybe a folkier edge to it? Take away the knowledge that this is Ukrainian and remove some of the quicker passages and this could all pass for really early American jazz. Then again, what the hell do I even really know about the Ukraine other than a little bit about its history in various wars and the fact that it's close to Russia? Pan-Slavism revival 2k8!
Old Time Relijun - Uterus & Fire [1999]
I thought this sounded like some watered-down David Yow project at first. It quickly got more distinct though. Oddly enough I've never even heard of this band until now. It's catchy stuff that's rough sounding, especially the drums. The guitarwork mostly sounds like Neil Young solo-ing slowly and while as bored as he could possibly be. That sounds a lot more negative than it really is. For me, anyway. I looked into it and apparently they're still a band. Don't ask me why but based on their sound it seems to me like they'd be the type of band to put out one or two records in the mid-90s and play some shows memorable to only a few people and then disband. I'm not sure how much I'll be into this on subsequent listens. We'll see.
Mountain Mirrors - Lunar Ecstasy [2004]
When I had read about this act, the phrase "Heavy acoustic music from the woods of Massachusetts" came up about 237 times in the first paragraph alone. I thought it would be pretty cool, like a mix of the gothic Death In June sound with what I hoped would be a kind of Pearls & Brass thing going on in there too. I was close but not really (what?). I think this is just one guy but this isn't that heavy and what I can only assume is a drum machine on this record will make J.K. Broadrick turn over in his grave when he passes away. I'll skim over the other record I'm aware of but I consider this a disappointment.
Nalle - By Chance Upon Waking [2006]
I don't know what the hell I read about this to even bother downloading it, but it blows. They're from Glasgow, maybe that had something to do with it. It's like if Bjork wanted to make fun of herself by singing off-key overdubbed over her own vocals and the rest of the group refused to play anything but broken toy instruments. Didn't make it through this one.
Wyclef Jean - The Carnival [1997]
I never really bothered with Wyclef before. I don't think I've even listened to a full album of his.
I liked that one song years ago about him being the President for 3 days before being assassinated but that's all. I sorta skimmed through these songs but I enjoyed all of what I heard so I'm going to keep this album around and give it a good listen some other time, I think I'll enjoy it even more. I believe I downloaded this because I liked what I heard on some commercial promoting his new record, which I thought this was but that's actually The Carnival Vol. II or something. I don't know. There's a good mix of styles here and I give it a thumbs up. I'm going to check out the new one next and
potentially miss a decade of great tunes of his.
Let me know if I'm missing out on anything.
Various Artists - Waves [2002]
So this is a compilation of French house music mixed by Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo of Daft Punk. I think it's all material that came from records/artists on his record label. Don't quote me on that though. I thoroughly enjoyed this compilation. The songs are all good interesting enough,
maybe a little too beat-oriented but I guess this is intended as club music more than anything else. One of the tracks has a riff or sample that sounds suspiciously like the main beat from "One More Time". It's also one of the best songs on the record.
Anyway, he did a great job mixing the tracks as they all flow pretty well.
Still, it just reminds me of how much I want to hear some solo Guy-Manuel stuff after discovering and really liking the material I've heard Thomas Bangalter did on his own. I'll think about picking this one up. It's got enough material on it but I get the feeling it was released only across the pond and that'll definitely screw over the price of it, if it's even still in print. Fuck the US dollar.
First batch.
I was listening to Daft Punk's Daft Club earlier, which is a collection of remixes of their songs, mostly from Discovery. It's pretty bad. There was a cool Slum Village remix because they actually rapped over the song and one of The Neptunes' remixes (they were allowed two for some reason) was good but that was it. Guess you can't fix what ain't broken, especially when the OGs are so good. And why are there so many duplicate tracks? How many times can someone fuck up "Aerodynamic" or "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" before the songs are completely killed? On the same compilation nonetheless. Whatever.
Now I'm listening to Jandek's Later On from 1981. Aside from the fact that every Jandek song sounds the fucking same, I like this record a decent amount. It didn't make me think too much of the typical 'make your guitar out-of-tune and sing like Huckleberry Hound' formula he's so well-known for. I'll be coming back to this one, probably while drunk.
Now I'm listening to Jandek's Later On from 1981. Aside from the fact that every Jandek song sounds the fucking same, I like this record a decent amount. It didn't make me think too much of the typical 'make your guitar out-of-tune and sing like Huckleberry Hound' formula he's so well-known for. I'll be coming back to this one, probably while drunk.
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