blues boy and pre string spaghetti

i know. long time, no post. my apologies.

two things i'd like to share in attempts to get back into your collective good graces: 1) a fantastic live recording of bb (blues boy) king and his band circa 1965. bb and lucille swing, the band jumps and the audience wails. 2) spaghetti western's debut, before they added string co. to the name... my latest impulse purchase. not as musically strong as the quiet mob EP, but worth a listen or two.

p.s. thanks for the great postings and tunes. 700 hobo names and neon bibles - you just can't beat this shit with a stick.

Arcade Fire - Neon Bible

I'm not sure I could think of a worse album title if I tried. Fortunately, Neon Bible is not as lame as it's title. It hasn't blown me away yet and is honestly a bit of a disappointment when compared to their debut album, Funeral. But it's still a good album except for a few throw away tracks. My favorites include "Intervention" and "No Cars Go." Enjoy.

Martin Dosh: Pure Trash

Though Dosh has been sharing the stage recently with Andrew Bird, he also performs wonderfully well alone. His solo performances are always a treat, and to watch him work up close (as I got a chance to do recently at a gallery opening), is fantastic. He completely ignores the crowd and simply experiments with his various instruments, throwing (sometimes literally) sounds together which you hear a moment later, integrated seamlessly. This isn't music to hum along with. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Minneapolis's own Martin Dosh.

LCD Soundsystem-Sound of Silver

Following up the leak's, I bring you the fabulous new release from LCD SOUNDSYSTEM- Sound of Silver.

As Kyle put it, "indie hipster electronic crap", this album is a hybrid of sorts, a la RJD2 or Junior Boys.

Made famous by their remixes and original songs under the DFA Label, James Murphy has created a unique sound. Everything culminated with 2005's "Daft Punk Is Playing At My House." My house.

Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha

Armchair Apocrypha is the follow-up album to Mr. Bird's amazing 2005 release, The Mysterious Production of Eggs. Recorded mostly in Minneapolis, Andrew enlisted the help of a few local musicians including Haley Bonar and touring partner, Martin Dosh. You can hear Dosh's influence throughout the album and specifically on the song "Static X" to which he wrote the music. Haley sings backing vocals on several tracks, most notably "Spare-Ohs." If you've seen Andrew Bird in the past year or so, there is a good chance you've heard several of these songs already. We have been lucky here in the Twin Cities that Andrew has played several shows locally while recording his newest album here. Andrew has a knack for tinkering with his sound during shows and his songs live usually never sound the same twice. So, even though these songs are familiar, there are some welcome surprises. It may be Dosh's influence, but this album seems more focused on electronics and drums than the acoustic sounds of The Mysterious Production of Eggs, it's nice to see a musician as talented as Andrew Bird push his sound even further. Armchair Apocrypha will be released March 20 on Fat Possum Records. Enjoy.

The PC is cooler then the Mac

I recently heard an interview with John Hodgman on NPR this weekend. He was promoting his new book Areas of My Expertise. You may recognize his name from his apperances on The Daily Show and This American Life. I had never but it together before but after looking him up on his website areasofmyexpertise.com, I did not not put two and two together and realize who he actually is. John Hodgman is PC, from those cleaver and often copied Mac ads staring Die Hard 4's, Justin Long. Justin Long is a realtive bore of an actor and often seen as the poor man's Zach Braff. But this is not about Justin nor Braff it is about the subline wackiness that is Mr. Hodgman.

Really take the time to explore his site. There is some great stuff on there. Apparently John has an unatural facination with Hobos, as we all do I am sure. I have posted on the iDisk John Hogman reading 700 different Hobo names. It sounds exactly what you would think. PC reading Hobo names like, "Cricket Eating Charlie Digs" and "Professor Challenger" while John Coulton playes guitar. It goes on for nearly an hour. The cool thing about it is that it was all done in one take. Yes I know it is weird but really take the time and listen to it, maybe not in all one sitting but listen. It is funny, extremely funny.

Enjoy

***uploaded while listening to John Hodgman and John COulton read 700 Hobo names***

Joanna Newsome

For the last couple of weeks we have been listing to David Byrne's January play list Welcome to Dreamland . The playlist consist of artists that fall under the freak folk rock category. Their roots are in ’60s psychedelia, ’90s jam bands, electronica, and a number of world music traditions. One artist that caught my interest is Joanna Newsome. I am posting both of her albums: Ys released in Nov. 06 and The Milk-Eyed Mender released in 2004. Newsome is an accomplished classical harpist that sings/tells stories (her pitch and phrasing may seem unusual or hard to take at times). Sometimes she sounds like Bjork. Either you like the vocals or you don't, it is definitely an acquired taste. The final mixing for her new album Ys was done by Jim O'Rourke.

Tom Waits "Orphans"

I going to assume you're aware of Tom Waits. If you like him, then dowload this. If you don't like him, then please ignore. This is the new 3 disc box set from Tom Waits. The box set is called "Orphans." Each disc is organized in of the 3 styles of Mr. Waits. "Bastards" is a collection of spoken word/weirdo music. "Bawlars" is a collection of sad songs. "Brawlars" are the types of songs that appear on the Fight Club Soundtrack or on a Ramones tribute album. Enjoy.

Jeff Tweedy - Sunken Treasure

Songs from the DVD Sunken Treasure: Live in the Pacific Northwest uploaded for Chris and anyone else that may be anticipating the upcoming release of Sky Blue Sky.

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Some Loud Thunder

Probably one of the most anticipated sophomore albums of 2007 next to Arcade Fire's forthcoming Neon Bible. Don't worry, Alec Ounsworth's voice is still annoying as hell and they sound like a band that is about to explode at any moment. But they've matured musically and have made anything but a safe follow-up to their 2005 self-titled independent release. What sets Some Loud Thunder apart is the production, at some points garbled and muddy, at other points crisp and poppy. In fact, the opening track is so unlistenable, CYHSY will probably loose as many fans with this album as they'll gain. Enjoy.

Brother Ali - The Undisputed Truth

Since appearing on Non-Prophets "Doomage" in 2004 with the line "Must not discuss divorce with the case still pending, but I got some shit to tell you on my next record," The Undisputed Truth has been one of the most anticipated of upcoming hip-hop albums. Originally set to be released in early 2006, Brother Ali's latest effort has been pushed back to March 2007. I offer to you the "Clean Advance" version of The Undisputed Truth. Unfortunately, this means that all the naughty words have been scratched out and you are reminded every minute or so that "this is a pre-advance copy." Fortunately, this means you have a chance to preview this album and pre-order it before it drops.

Brother Ali joins forces once again with Rhymesayers super-producer, Ant. The beats are tight and musical like you'd expect, the flow is smooth and positive in a way that only Ali can spit. But there is something noticeably different about this record compared to Ali's previous efforts. His lyrics have always been extremely personal, but this album quickly becomes a confessional and appears to be as much therapy as it is entertainment. Since releasing Champion in 2004, Ali has apparently lost his mother to cancer, gone through a divorce, and a subsequent custody battle. Normally, that type of personal struggle may be better left unmentioned, instead he makes it the forefront of his storytelling. Brother Ali's rise from the ashes is the theme of The Undisputed Truth. Unfortunately, the record suffers a bit from all this truth. Ali forgets the listener in favor of dealing with his personal ghosts. The Undisputed Truth doesn't have the urgency of Shadows on the Sun or Champion, but it is an important step for one of underground hip-hop's rising stars.

Enjoy.

Heartless Bastards: All This Time

Heartless Bastards, a recent LaLa acquisition covertly selected by my sly girlfriend, feels like an amped up version of Cat Power minus the with less piano and histrionics. "Into the Open" and "Searching for the Ghost" get the album rolling and the rest of it doesn't disappoint.

Mos Def-True Magic

So apparently this was recalled today by Geffen. Pitchfork talked about it. The CD came in a clear plastic case with no artwork or liner notes. It was pretty cheap. According to the article, they are going to rerelease the album in the spring with a different tracklist and actually promote the thing, as opposed to what they did this time by releasing it on the last Friday of the year and making it hard to find.

I actually quite like the album. It is more Black on Both Sides than the Black Jack Johnson punk/rock/hip hop of The New Danger. There are a few songs where he mumbles some of his def poetry shit however.

Either way, decide for yourself.

Paleo – Carpet Samples from The Song Diary

Some notes:

Paleo is David Strackany.

Is originally from Illinois.

Went to college in Iowa.

May or may not have run an art gallery.

Is currently writing one song a day for every day of one year –(that's 365 for you folks in LA).


He's touring and recording a song a day and posting them to his website as part of his "Song Diary" project. I just saw this guy perform last night at Big V's and got a copy of this and his first record Misery, Missouri. He plays this toy acoustic guitar and he reminded me of a younger, thinner version of Tiny Tim. It was cooler than it sounds and the more songs I hear, the more I like it. Check out his website (paleo.ws) for the rest of the Song Diary, including yesterday's song "Sunday Prayer XXXIX". If I wasn't out so late last night, I would be catching his show tonight at the 331 Club (I guess I'll just have to wait for the mp3).

Gyrofrypepsi

So, here's this thing.

As far as I can tell, Selda Bagcan is like the Ethel Merman of Turkey. Or maybe the Judy Garland, or Lesley Gore. Maybe she's closer to the Grace Slick of Turkey, or maybe, just maybe, I don't know what the hell I'm talking about. It's possible there is no American analog to this woman with the throaty, emotional voice.

All I know are these facts:

1. I got this album last Thursday night


2. This album is filled with chunky Turkish psych-rock breaks


3. Listening to this album makes me feel like I'm drunk, it's 3am, and I'm waiting in line for gyros and fries at the Parthenon, State St.

It might be a little far-out for some of you indie kids, but as Abba said (and they were foreigners too) Take A Chance!

My Best of 2006

Hello Everyone.

Here are my 2 cents on best of lists. A disclaimer, I do not necessarily think these 10 albums are the "best albums musically" or anything like that, they are simply my favorite 10 albums, or the albums that did the most for me this year.

Here you go, if you want a specific album, just let me know and I will post it.

1) Phoenix-It’s Never Been Like That

2) OH NO! OH MY!-ST

3) The Stills-Without Feathers

4) Razorlight-ST

5) Peter, Bjorn and John-Writers Block

6) Murs and 9^th Wonder-Murray’s Revenge

7) Beck-The Information

8) Band of Horses-Everything All The Time

9) Islands-Return to the Sea

10) Justin Timberlake-FutureSex/LoveSounds

Honorable Mentions:

1) Tokyo Police Club-A Lesson in Crime (This would be above, but it is only 16 minutes long)

2) Built To Spill-You in Reverse

3) Jarvis Cocker-Jarvis

4) The Magic Numbers-Those the Brokes (Out in the UK in 2006, USA is 2007)

5) Ratatat-Classics

6) The Decemberists-The Crane Wife

7) Ghostland Observatory-Paparazzi Lightning

8) The Whitest Boy Alive-Dreams

9) Lupe Fiasco-Food and Liquor

10) Guillemots-Through the Window Pane

11) I Love You But I’ve Chosen Darkness-Fear Is On Our Side

12) Voxtrot -3 EP’s

13) Maritime-We The Vehicles

14) Ghostface Killah-Fishscales

15) The Kooks-Inside In/Inside Out

And if you care, my favorite movies of 2006 are:

1) CHILDREN OF MEN
2) BRICK
3) UNITED 93
4) BORAT
5) JACKASS 2 (Yes, seriously)


Films I have not seen yet but expect them to be on this lists are: The Departed, Pan's Labyrinth, Half Nelson, Babel...many more, I see to many movies for work so I don't get out that much if they are not a Universal flick.

Explosions in the Sky - All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone

Post-rock, or music for your New Year's Day hangover. Enjoy.

Year of the Dog - 10 Songs from 2006

Similar to my previous post listing my favorite albums of 2006, here are some my favorite songs of the year. This was a tough list to create since I kept it to only 10 songs. But this list reflects those songs that caught my ear and stayed there. I've uploaded the playlist for those of you that don't already have these tunes. Enjoy.

1. The Great Salt Lake | Band Of Horses
2. Chinese Translation | M. Ward
3. Rabbit Fur Coat | Jenny Lewis with The Watson Twins
4. John Saw That Number | Neko Case
5. Born In The U.K. | Badly Drawn Boy
6. Bush-League Psych-Out Stuff | P.O.S.
7. Original King | Brother Ali
8. Get Your Curse | His Name Is Alive
9. Clogged Castle | BOAT
10. Do You Believe In Rapture? | Sonic Youth

The Beatles - Love

Ever wondered what classic Beatles tunes would sound like if they where in the hands of someone with ProTools? Well no need to lie awake at night and wonder, the result is Love. This is a remix of classic songs by the Beatles (from the original 4 track recordings) by George Martin and his son Giles Martin. This was done for the Cirque du Soleil Vegas show of the same name. Sounds like it would be a load of crap, right? Sounds like it could be like that Billy Joel musical, or heaven forbid the Bob Dylan one.

Suprisingly it is not as bad as you would think. Love has a big thing going for it, it is the original Beatle music, and producers that are familiar and love the original material

I enjoyed the album, it never got too "clever." Beatle songs are like the U.S. Constitution. Either you feel that they way they are record is the way they should remain for the end of time and should not be f'd with or you feel that they can be changed and evolve with the times. I as with the constitution fall some where in the middle. Beatle songs where close to perfect when they were recorded and in an essence timeless, this is why there are so many bad Beatle covers (G Love's Blackbird and most of the I am Sam soundtrack). Now the timelssness of their songs make it so adaptable to change (ie Rufus Wainwright Across the Universe). When it is done with care and respect it can make something magical.

Love is close to magical. Giles intertwines several classic Beatle tunes to make a swirling sonic experience that continues to make the listener think about what they are hearing but also of the original tunes. Unfortunately this is a gimmick and with all gimmicks I can see it getting old really fast. Love will not be a lasting album in the Beatle's pantheon of great records, but an interesting footnote in their ever expanding mythology.

All Songs Considered recently did a show that interviewed Giles Martin and talked extensively about the record and the project. If you are interested I would suggest downloading their podcast on it. If you don't subscribe to their podcast you should because it is really good.

I have included the art work from the album for you reading pleasure.

***This post updated while listening to Rufus Wainwright, no particular album but just some songs by him.***

Low - Drums and Guns

I was first introduced to Low by Greg who gave me a copy of their 2001 release, Things We Lost in the Fire. It took a very long time for the album to sink in. For some reason I didn't get it at the time. But one day it clicked, and now Low is one of my favorite bands currently recording. Granted their live shows are as slow and tedious as you might imagine, but if you are familiar with their music, seeing them live can be an impressive experience.

I am very happy to share their upcoming release, Drums and Guns. On first listen, this album is every bit as good as last year's, The Great Destroyer. If you've seen Low live this past year, you will most likely recognize several of the songs which have been reworked for this album. There is a stunning version of Murderer which has been a staple at live shows recently. Producer Dave Fridmann, who also helped on The Great Destroyer, joins Alan Sparhawk and Mimi Parker once again to hone Low's haunting sound. Zak Sally has apparently been replaced by bassist Matt Livingston, both in the studio and at live shows. Drums and Guns is haunting and terrifying both in lyrics and tone. Apparently, Alan has gone through some dark times recently and these songs are the result. Drums and Guns is scheduled for release on March 20, 2007.

Enjoy.

A Christmas Gift from David Gilmour

It's the long-awaited impromptu acoustic rendition of David Gilmour playing Syd Barrett's Dark Globe. He premiered it at the Clam Castle show in Austria last summer, without even having played it at the soundcheck or having rehearsed it! The performance was so emotional, the entire band and crew spontaneously applauded when he finished.

Also posted is an Arnold Layne video of David Gilmore, Rick Wright, David Bowie, and band performing a great early Pink Floyd song that Syd wrote.

David Gilmour | On An Island

Merry Christmas

Happy Christmas (War is Over) | John Lennon
Ding Dong Ding Dong | George Harrison
Father Christmas | Kinks
A Christmas Song | Jethro Tull
Little Drummer Boy/Silent Night | Jimi Hendrix
Blue Christmas | Elvis Presley
Santa Baby | Marilyn Monroe
I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas | Bing Crosby
Linus and Lucy | Vince Guaraldi Trio
Hanukkah Song 1 | Adam Sandler
Christmas Parodies | Jimmy Fallon

Ho Ho Ho! It is Christmas Time!

So I got two little presents for all of you. First of which is a little Christmas mix I put together. It is reminiscent of the "card" I sent in 2003. Here is the Track listing:

1. Snowflake Music - Mark Mothersbaugh
2. Welcome Christmas - Dr. Suess
3. Christmastime is Here (Instrumental) - Vince Guaraldi Trio
4. I Saw Three Ships - Darol Anger
5. Love Came Down at Christmas - Shawn Colvin
6. Christmas Is Near - Dr. Ralph Stanley
7. Winter Weather - Benny Goodman & His Orchestra
8. Jingle Bells - Frank Sinatra
9. White Christmas - Esquivel
10. You're A Mean One Mr. Grinch - Aimee Mann
11. Zat You Santa Claus - Louis Armstrong
12. Santa Claus - They Might Be Giants
13. Silent Night - Johnny Cash
14. Joy To the World - Eef Barzelay
15. I Love NYE - Badly Drawn Boy
16. Careless Santa - Mono Puff
17. welcome christmas (reprise) - califone

Also as a bonus I have put up "The Night Before Christmas" as read by Bob Dylan. It is wonderful. Enjoy and have a Merry Christmas.

Midlake - The Trails of Van Occupanther

I'm sure there are more than a few great new albums that I missed this year. I missed this one when it was released and almost avoided it completely because the first review I read of this album compared Midlake to Fleet Wood Mac. I do not like Fleet Wood Mac, but I'll let you decide for yourself if the comparison is valid. So, after hearing the single, Young Bride, I decided to give this album a chance. I'm glad I did. If you haven't heard The Trails of Van Occupanther yet, it's worth the download if only for the opening track, Roscoe, and the aforementioned single. Although, the remainder stands up very well as a complete album. Enjoy and happy Christmases.

The Shins — Wincing The Night Away

Here is the much talked about leak of their upcoming album. There are lots of tight catchy pop songs with ambitious melodies. The Shins have a certain sound and are sticking with it.

Ultramagnetc MC's

Sam's recent post and Hartzell's constant reminders have inspired me to add some more influential hip-hop to the scene. Ultramagnetic MC's came out of the Bronx block parties of the 80's sounding like no other group around. Apparently the first group to use a sampler as a live instrument and the first to trust a former psychiatric patient with the mic. Kool Keith's unconventional lyrics and timing along with Mo Luv's danceable break-beats and experimental sound make Ultramagnetic a group that can't be ignored. Their first and best release, Critical Beatdown, may sound dated now but in 1988 it took underground hip-hop by storm.

I'm also offering up Ultra's first studio release in 11-years. Due out in 2007, I was hoping it would remind me of what influenced the underground scene in the 80's and 90's. Unfortunately, it come across as dated and the lyrics forced. There is nothing fresh here. But I offer it up anyway at Sam's request.

Enjoy.

The Who - Odds & Sods

I am also posting The Who "Odds and Sods" a collection of unreleased material, rarities, and outtakes released in 1974. It is a quirky collection of songs that are fun to listen to. Enjoy

The Who - Endless Wire

"Endless Wire" is the first new studio album/original material by The Who in twenty-four years. If you are a Who fan give it a listen. At one time in my life their music spoke to me. It had the right mixture of aggressive rhythms, wild drumming, great base lines, and of course angst lyrics. What more does a young adolescence male need?

The second part of my Birthday gift to all of you, goes along with the Best of 2006.

My personal favorite album of 2006 is still PHOENIX-It's Never Been Like That.

My second favorite album is this, PETER BJORN AND JOHN-Writers Block.

You may have heard the ridiculous first single, Young Folks, with the addictive whistled opening, and chorus that will gladly stay in your head for weeks. Easily my vote for Best Song of 2006, by such a long distance, I can't even think of number 2. (Although it is Long Distance Call by Phoenix)

This album is so amazing, you may have to check your pants, pinch yourself, or simply wipe the tears away from your face. Seriously though, I don't want to build it up anymore.

Please just download it, listen to it, love it, and pass it off to people. Oh, and do it quick because the rumor is that Coke or Budweiser just bought the rites to Young Folks, and Grey's Anatomy already played it during one of their episodes.

I don't want to write about what it sounds like or anything clever or not so clever about it. It truly just deserves a listen from beginning to end, and you will be hooked.

I seriously believe that after the first and second listen, it could end up on many of your Best of 2006 lists. (Don't get me wrong, I love Badly Drawn Boy more than the next guy, but this album makes Born in the UK look like the latest release from Danity Kane)

The Magic Numbers-Those the Brokes

Hello Everyone,

Today is my birthday and I am feeling like giving things to other people.

My first gift to you all is the AMAZING new album from British brothers and sisters, THE MAGIC NUMBERS-THOSE THE BROKES.

This is their second album, and criminally does not come out in the U.S until February or March.

With sounds rooted in the 60's harmonies of beach pop, as well as modern Brit Pop and the lovingly titled Twee movement, THE MAGIC NUMBERS craft excellent pop songs that both move you and tickle and love bone. God, I am so cheesy sometimes.

Comprised of 2 sets of brothers and sisters, with simple pop harmonies and lyrics about love and joy and relationships, this is a perfect companion album to a bad day, a new girlfriend, a break-up, a long drive, a first date, a horrible Bears loss to the Vikings, or simply during the day in the office.

Happy Birthday from Me to all of you!!

How Cold Can Coldcut Get?

Coldcut is the seminal UK hip-hop production team of Jonathan More and Matt Black, a team that can be credited as much as anyone with advancing the hip-hop scene on British shores. Their style tends toward urban breaks, ambient dub, and jungle music, and anyone familiar with Ninja Tune Records can thank these two blokes: they started the label on the success of their early bootleg EPs.

What I've posted here is one of my favorite mixes, "70 Minutes of Madness", compiled by Coldcut as part of the Journeys by DJ series in 1995. Check the way they throw down the hilarious/bad-ass Kung-Fu film dialog in the beginning, move effortlessly into dub/reggae, slide over into urban breaks ("do you like scratchin'?"), and throw down some absolutely sick mixes. Nearly every important hip-hop break is represented on this mix at some point (the ubiquitous Stubblefield break, the Zeppelin break, an Eddie Bo break), as well as a lot of hip-hop artists like Mantronix (dig how they drop just a few moments of "King of the Beats" halfway through).

For hip-hop heads, this thing is geeky fun. The production is pretty slick, totally sick, and for an 11-year-old mix, remarkably fresh. Enjoy!

Posted while listening to Change (Makes You Want to Hustle) by Donald Byrd

a holler for some songs

Hey, does anyone still have that singles mix I posted a few weeks ago? I accidentally deleted some of the songs from my hard drive, and I NEED THOSE SONGS.

If someone could re-post, that would be tits.

EDIT: The relevant blog post is here

The Current's Top 89 of 2006

This is the time of year when music professionals and fans alike start compiling lists of their favorite releases of the past year. While I think these lists are a bit silly and pretentious, it's still fun to look back over the past year and remember what caught your ear. I know I have an iTunes playlist dedicated to this task. So, Minnesota Public Radio's very own, 89.3 The Current, is asking it's listeners to pick their top albums out of more than 700 that debuted on air in 2006. If anything, it's chance to throw your name in the hat for a new iPod.

Here's the list I came up with. See how important I am?

P.O.S. | Audition
Badly Drawn Boy | Born In The U.K.
The Decemberists | The Crane Wife
DeVotchka | Curse Your Little Heart
His Name is Alive | Detrola
Band of Horses | Everything All the Time
Neko Case | Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
Cat Power | The Greatest
The Roots | Game Theory
Belle & Sebastian | The Life Pursuit
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy | The Letting Go
Mr. Lif | Mo' Mega
Murs & 9th Wonder | Murray's Revenge
M. Ward | Post-War
Califone | Roots & Crowns
Jenny Lewis & the Watson Twins | Rabbit Fur Coat
Sonic Youth | Rather Ripped
TV On The Radio | Return To Cookie Mountain
Boat | Songs That You Might Not Like
Wolfmother | Wolfmother

Gob Iron - Death Songs for the Living

While not the Will Arnet inspired Banana Grabber death metal opus I was hoping for, Gob Iron is an interesting piece of music. Gob Iron is a UK slang for harmonica. and the band is a collaboration between Son Volt front man Jay Farrar and Varaline multi-instrumentalist Andres Parker.

Death Songs for the Living is album composed of folk tunes, are reworked to the duo's own stylistic musings. Where the music is not much of a departure from Farrar's work with Son Volt and Uncle Tupelo the album is interesting a quite good. The album could be best described as close cousin to that of Tupelo's March 18-20, 1992. Farrar playing the part of, well Jay Farrar, and Anders playing Jeff Tweedy. Both adding their own finger prints on each of the songs. The biggest complaint is that Anders doesn't play a bigger role vocally on the album. Anders voice sounds like a young Billy Bragg and is a bit fresh (at least to my ears) then Farrar's lazy pseudo-southern drawl.

Highlights on the album on are, "Hard Times," "Hills of Mexico," and "Death is Only a Dream."

***This post updated while watching Boston Legal***

Jay Bennett - The Magnificent Defeat

I while back I posted something and mentioned that I was listening to Jay Bennett's The Magnificent Defeat. Klein freaked and wanted to have the album. Now, it took me awhile, but here it is for Klein and the rest of you. But before I you go and download it let me give you my two cents, which inevitably will become a dollar you didn't ask for.

Jay Bennett got his first musical chops while in Titanic Love Affair. TLA was a middling power pop group from Urbana IL. Think Mudhoney without the Seattle Sound. Nothing special. Jay toiled in this band as well as Steve Pride and His Blood Kin. Jay's real talent was found in producing and engineering. He also taught Math. Jay engineered albums for low end alt country acts such as Tim Easton, Allison Moorer, and Sheryl Crow. His relationship with Allison Moorer eventually brought him to the notice of Jeff Tweedy of Wilco. Jeff brought Jay on to Wilco as a touring member for AM. Jay was made a full member while recording the fantastic Being There. Jay played everything under the sun on that record. This would eventually become Jay's m.o. multi-instrumentalist.

Jeff found a unique writing partner in Jay. Jay was also the driving force behind the groups collaboration with English troubadour Billy Bragg on the Mermaid Avenue Records. Jeff and Jay's most fruitful collaboration was 1999's Summerteeth. It was Jay's crowning achievement in Wilco. He was able to put his stamp of a Beach Boy's-esqe harmonies and arrangments. Jeff really needed Jay and Jay needed Jeff. They worked well as a writing/producing team. 2001 brought about Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. And well if you have not seen Sam Jones' documentary "I Am Trying To Break Your Heart," about the making of that record, I cannot do the story justice. My suggestion is that you rent it. The short of is Jay left the band under dubious circumstances. "A circle can only have one center."

Jay was now free to do what he wanted. His first forary into solo music is to team up with a long time friend, Edward Burch and recorded the modest The Palace at 4 am and Palace 1919. The songs where great, a mix of stuff he and Jeff wrote but did not record for YHF, the Mermaid Avenue sessions and others.

Jay then went off on his own with the Ryan Adam's-esqe task of recording three albums in one year. First of which was Bigger Then Blue. Jay's second album The Beloved Enemy came out just 6 months later. Of course, marriage, divorce, and producing an album for Blues Traveler can put a cramp in anyone's plans. The third of the trilogy did not come out in 2006.

That brings us to this point. The Magnificent Defeat is a mess of an album. Apparently is culled from 70 + songs. It never finds it voice, it jumps from style to style with no reason to do so. Also the production is short of terrible. Jay, who is so enamored with the fact that he can play 50 instruments feels as though he should play them on every song. With several effects and vocal changes thrown in their for good measure. The album feels like someone who has discovered Pro-tools for the first time. The album is overindulgent and pretenious. With that being said there are some great songs on it. The opener "Slow Beautiful, Seconds Faster" is what is right and wrong about this album. "5th Grade" is what is right about song writing. "I Feel Fine" reminds us about why we fell in Love with Big Star and the like. The album is worth a listen, maybe a couple if you are big Summerteeth fan. Enjoy.


***This post updated while listening to Amiee Mann's I'm with Stupid***

Ryan Adams - Cardinal Radio

What happens when one of the most prolific songwriters of the last 5 years realizes that he can record music cheaply and get them out to the masses via the internet? The result is Ryan Adams' "Cardinal Radio". This online "radio station" consists of 8 Albums that Mr. Adams recorded under various pseudoyms such as DJ Reggie, The Shit, and WereWolph. Each band has its own unique style, from Hillbilly Punk to odd electronica. I feel most of it is unlistenable, but there are a few good nuggets mixed in there. I think Adams is doing this just becasue he can, and he knows people will listen and talk about him (like I am doing).

Adams' other albums are there as well for you to enjoy, if you are not familiar with his music check those out as well. I really like Ryan Adams with no real reason to do so. I think he is a great song writer, especially if you are into songs about women screwing you over. Or songs that sound like the Dead (Cold Roses) or the Replacements (Love is Hell). The problem is that he thinks he is the greatest songwriter ever and everything he puts out is awesome. Unfortunatly about 1/3 of it is fabulous and 1/3 is ok, and the last well is just not. I wish he would slow down and not put out some many albums and concentrate on putting out an album that is truly great. He has it in him. Plus he is looking more and more like a strung out Harry Potter, which is always cool.

Love Ryan Admas or hate him, he is doing some interesting things with music putting out what he wants. Pure Egotism, maybe? Genius? Time will tell. Interesting, yes.

***this post updated while listening to Katie sing lullabyes to Burke***

Right or Wrong?

Of all of the albums covered out there in the big bad world, not many artists have had the cullions to remake a masterpiece. Could anything be more dangerous to a musical career than to turn The Wall into a bluegrass album? Enter Luther Wright and the Wrongs.

I give to you the timeless clasic, only this time with a side of madolin, banjo and pedel steel.

Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?

Of Montreal's newest album, Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?, continues the journey with Kevin Barnes into euphoric synth-pop. Although this album is scheduled to be release in the first month of 2007, it could easily have been released in 1977. Parallels with prog-rock experimental artists of the 70's and 80's is uncanny. I've only listened to this album once through, so I pass it along to you without judgement, except to say that the album's longest track, The Past Is A Grotesque Animal, is terrifying. Enjoy.

Sean Lennon - Friendly Fire

If you are a Beatles fan give this album a listen. Throughout the album there are Beatles-esque, whimsy, simple, and melancholy melodies. It has grown on me. Tracks 1 and 10 are good.

Ghostland Observatory-Paparazzi Lightning

Thought I would post a little upbeat dancing tunes for this here Tuesday, the voting day.

The band is not political, just excellent.

They hail from Austin, Texas, and are comprised of a 2 friends, one with pig-tails who sings oh so heavenly, and the other who usually wears a cape, and makes the beats with his computer. Check out their Myspace page for more. www.myspace.com/ghostlandobservatory

The music is on par with The Rapture, but you can tell very distinct differences. I actually prefer the two Ghostland albums to the new Rapture.

Sad Sad City may be one of my Top Five songs of the year.

I know they recently played 7th St for all you MPLS peeps, but if you get a chance to see them again, go go go go go.

Whitest Boy Alive- Dreams

It's FINALLY here. Sorry for the delay, it is well worth it.

This is the sideproject of Erlend Oye, of Kings of Convenience fame. The band is comprised of Erlend and 2 of his friends. It was concieved in the same way The Postal Service came to be; where Erlend and his friends were commisioned to write a song for a compilation (Jimmy Tamborello and Ben Gibbard made a track for DNTEL, called This is the Dream of Evan and Chan, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR FANS).

Well, The Whitest Boy Alive liked what they heard and decided to record and album. It is similar in tone to Kings of Convenience, but is has a more upbeat, dance tune to it.

Despite the succes of Whitest..., Erlend promises another go around for Kings in the near future.

Dreams is a complex album, that goes from airy pop, to harmonizing twee, to techno sugar pop.

John Lennon - Plastic Ono Band

Lennon told Jann Wenner, founder of Rolling Stone Magazine: "The poetry on this album is superior to anything I've ever done because it's not self-conscious...." Of the equally minimalistic music he said: "I always liked simple rock.... I was influenced by acid and got psychedelic like the whole generation... but when you just listen, the piano does it all for you, your mind can do the rest.... I don't need anything else."

Singles

Singles are the best. They're the first music I ever latched onto, when I found my parents' box of 45s. It's not big, and there are deeper collections out there. But there's some Motown, Stax, a mess of Capitol & RCA, and Leslie Gore. I've toyed with the "album", but I'll always favor pop singles. These are some of my favorites.

1. Mississippi Delta - Bobbie Gentry: She left a ton of great singles, and I think this is a great soul banger. If you're ever at Half-Price Books and can cop some Bobbie, do it.

2. Hard Times - Baby Huey: This came from Curtom, Curtis Mayfield's label. Baby Huey was an enormous Chicago dude who died of a heart attack at 26. Another great soul tune.

3. Independent Women - Destiny's Child (remix by 2 many dj's): I swear the only thing holding back soul and R&B these days is lousy production. This remix - actually a mashup with 10CC - gets everything right about Beyoncé. The vocal performance is lightning, but the original's flat production drags it down and masks a superior tune waiting to get out.

4. Lover & A Friend - Eddie Bo & Inez Cheatham: Super-catchy funk, complete with tremendous breaks. Eddie Bo is a total god, and probably my favorite singles artist.

5. (Runaway) I Wouldn't Change a Thing - Coke Escovedo: This is AM Gold, great pop from the 70s. Again, a very generous break, and terribly catchy.

6. Doomsday - MF DOOM: First, he crafts a hip-hop alter-ego based on Dr. Doom. Next, he samples Anita Baker.

7. My 2600 - Captain Funkaho: The genius of this cut is that it manages to use the bad cliches from three full decades of music. It's weird and goofy, and totally bad. But it's from Stones Throw, so it's got to be good, right?

8. Mama Roux - Dr. John: Great tune, back when the Doctor mattered.

9. Our Happiness Is Guaranteed - Quasi: My friend John turned me on to Sam Coomes and his two-person band. You should really check out "Featuring Birds", as it's pretty much a solid pop records loaded with singles. I love the thunderous drums throughout, and how the dystopic sci-fi lyrics go down so sweet.

10. Check Your Bucket - Eddie Bo: "There's a Hole in the Bucket" re-done in sexual terms (or maybe the themes are just made more explicit). Another big winner by Eddie.

11. Honky Tonk Women - Rolling Stones: It rocks out hard, and has a nice break at the beginning - big ups to Charlie Watts.

12. Hard to Handle - Otis Redding: Like me, you probably only knew the Black Crowes version. Otis Redding might be the best male soul singer who ever lived.

13. The Mexican - Babe Ruth: Would you believe me if I said they rocked this at block parties in the Boogie Down in '80? Strange how British prog rock is present at the birth of hip-hop.

14. Like a Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan: I figured everyone had this, but this mix is about pop singles, and this is likely the best single ever.

15. Where Is Love - Eldridge Holmes: Tough to follow Dylan, so something short and to the point. I like that this song goes all over the place in less than two minutes, but you never feel lost.

Getz/Gilberto - Vol. 1 & 2

Reviews from Amazon.com
Vol. # 1, Originally released in March 1964, this collaboration between saxophonist Stan Getz and guitarist João Gilberto came at seemingly the end of the bossa nova craze Getz himself had sparked in 1962 with Jazz Samba, his release with American guitarist Charlie Byrd. Jazz Samba remains the only jazz album to reach number one in the pop charts. In fact, the story goes that Getz had to push for the release of Getz/Gilberto since the company did not want to compete with its own hit; it was a good thing he did. Getz/Gilberto, which featured composer Antonio Carlos Jobim on piano, not only yielded the hit "Girl from Ipanema" (sung by Astrud Gilberto, the guitarist's wife, who had no professional experience) but also "Corcovado" ("Quiet Night")--an instant standard, and the definitive version of "Desafinado." Getz/Gilberto spent 96 weeks in the charts and won four Grammys. It remains one of those rare cases in popular music where commercial success matches artistic merit. Bossa nova's "cool" aesthetic--with its understated rhythms, rich harmonies, and slightly detached delivery--had been influenced, in part, by cool jazz. Gilberto in particular was a Stan Getz fan. Getz, with his lyricism, the bittersweet longing in his sound, and his restrained but strong swing, was the perfect fit. His lines, at once decisive and evanescent, focus the rest of the group's performance without overpowering. A classic.

Vol # 2, This live follow-up to the surprise blockbuster Getz/Gilberto was inevitable. Interestingly, the original LP release of the October 1964 Carnegie Hall concert focused on separate sets by Getz's quartet (featuring vibist Gary Burton) and Gilberto's trio: each is as meditative and sweetly melancholic as you'd expect.

Pavement, Live at the Palace, Hollywood, April 24, 1994

Matador has been giving us gold in the form of their Pavement reissues. If you are a fan, you need to go out to Cheapo, Amoeba, InSound, whatever and buy them right away. Slanted and Enchanted, being the greatest album of the 90's or just a great Pavement album, is fantastic in the reissue. The packaging, extra songs, quality of recording, just great. Crooked Rain, my personal favorite, has never been better.

So Matador is again giving us a reason to buy albums, and is releasing the seminal Pavement album, Wowee Zowee, on November 7th, calling it the Sordid Sentinels edition. It is jam packed with bonus songs, b-sides, demo's, live, you name it.

They had a great pre-order program with the album where you get a 7", fold out poster, and upon pre-ordering, access to this here live show from Los Angeles. The show was right before Zowee came out and shows Malkmus and Spiral and Crew testing out the new tracks.

Excellence!!!!!

Pussy Cats

I've posted both albums, but I'll let allmusic do the talking.

The relationship between Harry Nilsson and John Lennon is legendary. They were notorious booze hounds and carousers, getting kicked out of clubs for misbehavior and generally terrorizing L.A. during Lennon's "lost weekend" of 1974. They wanted to make an album together -- hell, anyone working at such a peak would -- and the result was Pussy Cats, a Nilsson album produced by Lennon. Almost immediately, Nilsson got sick, resulting in a ruptured vocal cord. Not wanting Lennon to stop the sessions, Nilsson never told his friend, stubbornly working his way through the sessions until he lost his voice entirely. These are the sessions that make up Pussy Cats, an utterly bewildering record that's more baffling than entertaining. Like many superstar projects of its time, this is studded with contributions from friends and studio musicians, all intent on having a good time in the studio -- which usually means hammering out rock & roll oldies. In this case, it meant both Dylan's "Subterranean Homesick Blues" and the children's song "Loop de Loop," which gives a good idea where Nilsson was at. Through its messiness, Pussy Cats winds up showing how he and Lennon violently careened between hedonism and self-loathing. Of the new songs, the inadvertently revealing "All My Life" is the strongest, followed by the sweet "Don't Forget Me," yet this is more about tone than substance. It's about hearing Nilsson's voice getting progressively harsher, as the backing remains appealingly professional and slick. It doesn't quite jibe, and it's certainly incoherent, but that's its charm. It may not be as wild as the lost weekend itself, but it couldn't have been recorded at any other time and remains a fascinating aural snapshot of the early days of 1974.

Remaking an entire album -- especially one as rooted in mood and the performers involved as Harry Nilsson's Pussy Cats -- seems about as wise an idea as Gus Van Sant's shot-by-shot remake of Psycho. Fortunately, the Walkmen's song-by-song redo of Pussy Cats doesn't come off as a half-baked technical exercise. The band remains loyal to the rambling feel of the original (which, to be fair, was half covers itself) and the results are as intimate as an in-joke between old friends. The Walkmen recorded this album concurrently with A Hundred Miles Off and were getting ready to shut down their Marcata Studio; while it's not exactly the months-long "lost weekend" that Nilsson and John Lennon embarked on in early 1974, Hamilton Leithauser and crew give off a similarly rumpled, tweedy, maybe too smart for their own good vibe as Nilsson did, and invite a bunch of friends, including Ian Svenonius and Mazarin's Quentin Stoltzfus, to help them send Marcata off. Interestingly, one of the stronger moments on A Hundred Miles Off was the band's cover of Mazarin's "Another One Goes By," so the spirit of having fun interpreting other people's music was already flowing by the time they approached Pussy Cats. And while the band's versions of these songs aren't much different than the originals, they do them well: Svenonius' cameo on "Subterranean Homesick Blues" helps make it a goofy highlight, along with Stolzfus' collaboration on "Mucho Mongo/Mt. Elga," which with its tropical percussion and shimmering organs, seems to have been a big influence on A Hundred Miles Off. Likewise, Pussy Cats' rare moody moments, "Don't Forget Me" and "Black Sails," are also perfect fits for the band's sound. A little messier than its inspiration but with the same freewheeling spirit, the Walkmen's Pussy Cats feels like a musical wake, rooted in just having fun making music with friends.

Enjoy.

Haunted Mix Tape

In honor of the impending Devil's Night, I've created a Halloween-themed mix. These 13 tracks remind me of Halloween for one reason or another. I've included the XML file so you can keep the playlist order. After you import the tracks to iTunes, go to File > Import… and select the XML file.

01. Incanatrix - Jedi Mind Tricks
02. Tonight the Monkey Dies - Low
03. Do They Know It's Halloween? (Radio Edit) - North American Halloween Prevention Initiative
04. Halfsharkalligatorhalfman - Dr. Octagon
05. This Devil's Workday - Modest Mouse
06. Monsters - The Boy Least Likely To
07. The Boogie Monster - Gnarls Barkley
08. Vampires - Atmosphere
09. They Are Night Zombies!! - Sufjan Stevens
10. The Ghost - I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness
11. Dracula - Gorillaz
12. The Killing Moon - Echo & The Bunnymen
13. Blood Embrace - Matt Sweeny & Bonnie 'Prince' Billy

I've convinced my wife to dress up as Tenacious D with me for Halloween. What are you going as?

Taking a vote

Hi Everyone, longtime reader, firsttime writer...

I used to work with Kyle in MPLS, but then moved to LA to further my acting career. Okay, that was a j0ke.

So I have a ton of new music I have been obsessed with and wanted to take a vote from you guys as to what I should post about first.

Let me know which of the following you are most interested in:

Peter, Bjorn and John-Writers Block
The Whitest Boy Alive- Dreams
The Kooks-Inside In Inside Out
Oh No! Oh My!
Tokyo Police Club
Ghostland Observatory-DeleteDeleteIEatMeat
Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly-Chronicles of a Bohemian Teenager
I'm From Barcelona-Let Me Introduce My Friends

I found Harry Smith

If anyone is interested-Harry Smith, the folk, blues, ect. music collector guy is a member at LaLa. You can view his LaLa page at
http://www.lala.com/frontend/action/karma?userToken=55392@10157

Seu Jorge - The Life Aquatic Sessions

Seu Jorge is a Brazilian musician who is known for his work renewing the interest samba. His popularity has never moved much past his native Brazil, but his work was featured in the films City of God and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. It is the second movie that brought him to my attention. Seu had a bit part in Wes Anderson's fantastic character study, as a deck hand/sound man with Steve Zissou's crew. The movie is just short of fantastic. Fantastic being Rushmore. It is probably my second favorite Wes Anderson film. I thought it really expressed the theme of fatherhood and what it means to be father and son and that realationship. It was dark, but not overly morose like The Royal Tennebaums. It kept the essence of the ensamble cast but narrowed its focus on Steve and Ned, rather then the meandering as The Royal Tennebaums. I know I am probably in the minority of with my love of The Life Aquatic, but hey deal with it.

Seu Jorge did most of the soundtrack for The Life Aquatic, it is comprised of sweet acoustic music, enhancing Seu's deep timber. Did I mention that all of Seu Jorge's songs on The Life Aquatic soundtrack are all David Bowie covers. Yes the Thin White Duke, being covered by samba musician who speaks and sings in nothing but Portuguese. It is suprisinly good. Seu strips the songs to their essence and brings out the qualities of the music. It is what a good cover/tribute album should be. The idea of the original music is there but the artist makes it their own. Seu does a wonderful job.

The uploaded album is not the soundtrack rather the studio sessions that Wes Anderson had Seu Jorge record for the album. Only five songs make the soundtrack. On the The Life Aquatic Sessions there are 13 Bowie songs and one original composition (Team Zissou). If you are fan of Bowie or not, you will enjoy this album. Highlites on the album are Life on Mars, Changes, and Queen Bitch.

Enjoy

This post updated while listening to The Maginificant Defeat by Jay Bennett

Beck-The Information

Beck's new album The Information.

Atlanta Rock n Roll

If you hang out with the Clap Your Hands and Say Hey Hey Look at Me, I'm Hip crowd then you should already know about Atlanta's Snowden. I heard about Snowden via the Musichead podcast everyone reading this should check out. Anyway, Snowden sounds like Interpol or the Cure. Check out tracks one (Like Bullets) and five (Black Eyes). Enjoy.

Uploaded by listening to Ambulance LTD cover Pink Floyd's "Fearless."

Badly Drawn Boy - Born in the U.K.

The newest offering from Badly Drawn Boy, aka Damon Gough. I've been hooked on his lush pop sound since I came across his first album, Hour of the Bewildered Beast, in 2000 at SRI. I've only listened to this once through, but it's seems pretty good so far. The title track is pretty interesting, check out the video for it here.

The Stooges - Fun House

Proto-punk at its best. A classic.

TV On The Radio - Return To Cookie Mountain

Here is TVOTR new album. There are some interesting cuts with lots of guitar, fuzz, and high-energy vocals. David Bowie does some guest vocals on "Province." The song "Wolf Like Me," reminds me of the Joy Division song "Walked In Like." If you are interested, go to YouTube and look up "Wolf Like Me" on Letterman, it is a great live performance that aired in early September.

Anthology of American Folk Music, Vol. 3: Songs

The Anthology of American Folk Music is one of the most important compilations in American music. It was assembled, sequenced, and edited by Harry Smith, a strange, self-styled anthropologist/ethnologist/experimental filmmaker/bohemian independent scholar. He was an odd figure around the intellectual beatnik scene in New York in the 50s and 60s. He had a huge, legendary collection of hillbilly and blues 78s, back when no one really thought much of those recordings. This was before those old recordings were largely ignored or thought of as backwards and unimportant. Smith is partly responsible for changing that perception by creating the Anthology, which became the central canon of American Roots Music.

I won't write a long history of the set. If you want to learn more, you can read about on the Folkways site or in the book The Weird, Old America: The World of Bob Dylan's Basement Tapes, by Greil Marcus, or check it out on Wikipedia. Suffice it to say that it sparked and inspired the Folk Revival of the 1960s and influenced all of popular music since then. It's a source of songs and lyrics of staggering beauty, brutality, and honesty.

I've uploaded Volume 3 of the set, which focuses on lyric songs (as opposed to ballads or story songs) and blues. This is the most accessible volume of the three.

If I had to choose a desert island collection, this would be it. I wouldn't even have to think about it.

Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

In my social circles, my loathing of indie rock is legendary. Yet I adore this album. Here's what strong, original songwriting and clear production can do for ya.