What I did last week in Toonsville

[Davey]

Time of the week to testify folks. Old and young alike. Stand up and be counted. What good tunes ya got cookin and steamin (or workin or relaxin) on the burner this past week? Don't be shy, couldn't be any worse than mine ....

The Electrelane ladies big time. Been spinning The Power Out off and on most of the week. Never get tired of this one from 2004. Still close to best of that year and aging well as one of my favorites. That Albini magic in the recording just gives it such a nice and comfortable feel, so different and refreshing compared to the usual crop of compressed and distorted in-your-face music that is the normal for production, engineering and mastering these days.

And some Red Red Meat, but this week I retired the great Bunny Gets Paid that has ruled my playlist for the last couple months in favor of their last album before they dissolved into what became Califone and Sin Ropas and a couple other bands and side projects, There's a Star Above the Manger Tonight. Not quite as epiphanic as when I discovered Bunny with it's heavier leaning on classic roots rock, but solid and shambolic electro-dub-indie-folk-rock. These guys really did pioneer a new genre, dragging turn of the last century Appalachian folk music into the new millenium. And sometimes it don't come easy, and has to be dragged kicking and screaming, but into the new world it becomes reborn. My favorite type of music these days.

And some early 90s Tracy Chapman from my favorite Matters of the Heart. Beautiful CD. Even more beautiful LP, but this week it was the little one. It seems to be the one that critics and many fans call her worst, but to me this is her masterpiece. This is the one she reflected on and went away to write. Gone are all the radio friendly hooks and instant hits. In their place is a soft, simmering beauty that only comes to the surface after many listens. A warmth that goes beyond anything she did before or since. And the clinical digital sound with it's exagerrated dynamics and uneven production that marred her previous albums (to my ears) is replaced by an inviting analog warmth with harmonically rich acoustics. This is the one for me, from the opening "Bang Bang Bang", to the beautiful "I Used To Be A Sailor", to the long, loping "Matters of the Heart" that closes side B, this is the one that I can listen to repeatedly, and did.

And last year's Spoon, and the last Honeydogs, and of course my favorite from this year, Howe Gelb's beautiful 'Sno Angel Like You, and the new Built To Spill that I love and that great new Appleseed Cast. That's all. Til next time. Anyone else?

Oh yeah, and nearly forgot that Mystery Disc that I love so much from last year, Voyager One Dissolver. Don't know why everyone doesn't love it like I love it, but glad I do. (On second perusal of the list above, maybe there is a clue or two pointing to the answer :)) But what a treat it is for a space traveller like me. One of those that can go on infinite repeat at my little place in Toonsville.

[Mike]

Had the ipod on random whilst decorating and it put together some bizarre back to back sounds too many to mention though.

Of the CD’s I listened to here are some I remember…

Strokes, First Impressions Of Earth, the first 6 or 7 tracks are great but then it goes off the boil quickly.

Nada Surf, Weight Is A Gift, just a great pop rock record with an indie twist.

Secret Machines, Ten Silver Drops, good album I prefer this to the debut.

Sufjan Stevens, Seven Swans it’s easily my favourite of his work.

Radio 4, Stealing Of A Nation.

Natalie Merchant, Anthology. Great double album features hits, B sides, outtakes etc but it hangs together so well.

Pinback, Summer In Abbadon.

Sol Seppy, Bells of 1 2, wow this is good apparently she did some work for Sparklehorse but she’s new to me.

Lou Rhodes, Beloved One, Former vocalist with Lamb, I urge anyone who likes female solo vocalists with a folky earthy backing to grab this one quick.

Cheers
Mike

[kexodusc]

Okay, I confess:

This week I went mainstream - Tool and Pearl Jam.

Both have given me very good first impressions. I doubt either will win new fans over, but they should please old fans, discouraged fans, and loyal fans alike.

Especially Pearl Jam - Just very good, straightforward rock...sometimes boxes are good. Probably their most consistent album period (except the incredibly ironic Lost Dogs album, possibly) That's 3 very good albums from them in a row...and I wrote them off in '95.

All that talk of awesome drummers on the other thread made me dig up most of those nominees...Whoever nominated Yes's Bruford and King Crimson's drummer - thanks!!! It's funny how you can hear music again like it was the first time.

[-Jar-]

There's this woman my wife knows from her knitting group. She volunteered for NASA to go on bedrest for 3 months. She's getting paid for it, but it's been a real struggle for her. The idea is to see what it would be like for humans to make a trip to Mars. Her story is here:

http://stardustholiday.blogspot.com/

Anyway, I made this comp for her because I read on her blog that she likes some cool stuff. And, this is pretty much what I've been listening to as well, so take it like that.

Furry Logic

01 Death Cab For Cutie - Why You'd Want to Live Here
02 Super Furry Animals - Receptacle for the Respectable
03 Elysian Fields - Jack In The Box
04 Stereolab - Diagonals
05 Hooverphonic - Renaissance Affair
06 The Flaming Lips - Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell
07 Elbow - Can't Stop
08 Furry Things - Downswing Dub
09 Yo La Tengo - Moby Octopad
10 Cocteau Twins - Spooning Good Singing Gum
11 Chapterhouse - In My Arms
12 A.R. Kane - Green Hazed Daze
13 Codeine - Old Things
14 King Black Acid - Into the Sun
15 Bark Psychosis - The Loom
16 Radiohead - Exit Music (for a film)

Also *trying* to get into the new Flaming Lips, but it's a really difficult.. difficult in that it's very simple.. which can be fine, but I feel it's more "empty" than just simple..

Not too much else I guess.. old comps n' stuff.

-jar

[MasterCylinder]

I went old school:


Deep Purple -- BURN
-- MACHINE HEAD

Beatles -- WHITE ALBUM

Beach Boys -- HOLLAND

Steely Dan -- GOLD

Pink Floyd -- DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

[Dusty Chalk]

I tried Matchbook Romance's Voices -- big ol' thumbs up from the Dustier one, definitely my cuppa. "Hard pop" in the vein of Garbage, et al, albeit with a male vocalist.

Ms. John Soda, No P or D -- decided to give this a try when they compared it to Notwist. The "pop sensibility" isn't as strong as with Notwist, but it's still a pop music/electronica/glitch hybrid thing going on, and in that, it succeeds. RIYL Lali Puna, Mum.

Rob Zombie, Educated Horses -- definitely a good time to be a "hard popper", this is a very good album. Needs more listens, as does the new Rammstein. As does the new Gathering. As does...well, a lot of stuff.

Will be listening to the new Tool shortly.

All on my newly resurrected Manley Stingray/Dynaudio Special 25 rig -- rawk! Huzzah.

[BradH]

Otis Redding - Great bootleg soundboards from 1967. The one from Alabama is killer.
P-Funk - Amsterdam 1978. Another good soundboard. Too bad Bootsy wasn't there.
David Gilmour - Inside On An Island - Sirius Radio Interview 2006
Louis Jordan - Caldonia (Blues Collection 28)
David Gilmour - March 7, 2006 - Mermaid Theatre, London/BBC 2 (Bob Harris)
Gong - Camambert Electrique - Their first from 1971. Essential for Zappa fans of the same period.
Giles, Giles & Fripp - The Brondesbury Tapes - Nothing earthshattering here. Stick with Cheerful Insanity.
Brand X - Masques
Magma - Merci - Seven songs about death and the whole thing sounds like Up With People! Nice & funky in a Euro way.
Brand X - Is There Anything About? - This one deserved its panning.
Sly & The Family Stone - Dance To The Music - Non-stop innovation. And you can dance to it.
Stephen Stills - s/t
Brand X - Product
Gong - Flying Teapot
Prince - Dirty Mind In New York - March 21, 1981-The Ritz, NYC - soundboard
XTC - K-Rocking In Pasadena - May 29, 1989 KROQ-FM. By far the best vocals of the mini acoustic tour that I've heard.
Neil Young - On The Beach

[ForeverAutumn]

I tried Matchbook Romance's Voices -- big ol' thumbs up from the Dustier one, definitely my cuppa. "Hard pop" in the vein of Garbage, et al, albeit with a male vocalist.

Hey Dusty. I'm glad you liked this. I thought that you would. I was having trouble describing it to you, but you hit the nail on the head with "Hard pop".

I haven't listened to anything really worth mentioning this week. Same old, same old. Some Luke Doucet, Andrew Bird, Ray Lamontagne, New Pornographers, Elbow, and a bunch of other stuff along the same vein that I can't recall just now.

Oh, I did spin some Beach Boys today as I cruised around town with the sun roof open and the windows down. The Canadians are coming out of hibernation!

I bought the new Jeff Martin CD and listened to half of it, but as I was carrying it from the house to the car, I dropped it. The jewel case cracked (I should say smashed) open and the CD rolled under the car in the garage. I had to move the car to get to it and it doesn't look pretty. Lots of dings and scratches in the disk. I'll give it a spin tomorrow to see how it sounds, but I suspect that I might have to spring for a new disk. :incazzato:

[Troy]

Shuffle mode again. This was today over the last 5 or 6 hours.

I bought the new Flaming Lips disc last week. Played it once and have had no desire to play it again. I didn't hate it or anything, I just don't seem to care about it at all.

http://www.designshed.com/tuesday.jpg

[3-LockBox]

Changing the brakes-pads on my car, I whipped out the following CDs:

Rush - Grace Under Pressure; my second fave disk from them
Yes - 90125; amazed at how good it still is
Elo - Balance of Power; not a bad disk at all

[Rockofeller]

tommy Flanagan - Sea Changes
Blind Willie McTell - Atlanta Twelve String
Bill Evans - Sunday at the Village Vanguard
Albert Ayler - Witches and Devils
John Coltrane - My Favorite Things
Branford Marsalis - Trio Jeepy
Skip James - Hard Time Killin' Floor
Skip James - Devil Got My Woman

[Stone]

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drd700/d712/d712281a92q.jpghttp://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drf900/f984/f98431jdmsg.jpghttp://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drf600/f622/f62255s23i1.jpg
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[ForeverAutumn]

The Jeff Martin disk cleaned up real nice. A few visible scratches, but it plays fine.

As for whether it sounds fine, the jury is still out. This will need a few more spins before I can decide if I like it or not. Definately, not as good I the last Tea Party disk, but then again, this isn't really The Tea Party....or is it? :ihih:

[Davey]

http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drh200/h221/h22162evw40.jpg
Hey, how ya liking the new Neko? Been meaning to snag me a copy. Probably will before long. Got my eye on the new Black Heart Procession coming next week. That should keep me busy for a few weeks if it's any good. Best band around. Almost. New Scott Walker too. Now that'll take a long while to absorb, I'm sure. And gotta grab the new Eleventh Dream Day. Then I'll be so in like flynn, over like clover, good like lucky. Venus luxure #1 baby, so come down to my level ;)

Oh yeah, also meant to ask you about that new Liars rec. I know you were giving it the initial test drive awhile back and weren't sure what would become of it. Any more news? Probably not the ideal type of music for someone not too much into that arty noise stuff, eh? Sounds kinda nice, but also sounds like it might be kinda off putting. Haven't listened to anything from it yet myself, but my adventurous side keeps nagging me to try it ;)

[Davey]

Furry Logic

01 Death Cab For Cutie - Why You'd Want to Live Here
02 Super Furry Animals - Receptacle for the Respectable
03 Elysian Fields - Jack In The Box
04 Stereolab - Diagonals
05 Hooverphonic - Renaissance Affair
06 The Flaming Lips - Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell
07 Elbow - Can't Stop
08 Furry Things - Downswing Dub
09 Yo La Tengo - Moby Octopad
10 Cocteau Twins - Spooning Good Singing Gum
11 Chapterhouse - In My Arms
12 A.R. Kane - Green Hazed Daze
13 Codeine - Old Things
14 King Black Acid - Into the Sun
15 Bark Psychosis - The Loom
16 Radiohead - Exit Music (for a film)

Hey, fun looking comp. Nice to see someone else keeping the old flame alive. Bet she loves it. Speaking of which, did you like any of that stuff I sent awhile back? Think there was some V1 and National and that JD Box copy. Maybe something else?

[-Jar-]

Hey, fun looking comp. Nice to see someone else keeping the old flame alive. Bet she loves it. Speaking of which, did you like any of that stuff I sent awhile back? Think there was some V1 and National and that JD Box copy. Maybe something else?

You included something new by David Sylvian, which you had mentioned on that other board. It's been a few weeks since I listened to that stuff. I specifically used my portable so they would be true mystery discs. I think one of them I had a difficult time figuring out who it was.. but the Sylvian was obvious, and it sounded really good. I'll give the others a spin again.. thanks for sending that stuff btw. To say my homelife has been hectic would be an understatement. I'm not even sure where the hell the discs are at this point :)

To give you an idea of how crazy things get, I've found unopened envelopes of digital media from fellow Rave Rekkers almost a year after I've received them.. My "music collection" has never been in such a state of disorder. I've been waiting for a guide to come and take me by the hand, or something.. I have this sense of isolation from many of my old albums, esp. the vinyl..

Again, and as always, thanks for the sound of music.. soon I will take my kids to see The Ice Age 2.

-jar

[Davey]

To give you an idea of how crazy things get, I've found unopened envelopes of digital media from fellow Rave Rekkers almost a year after I've received them.. My "music collection" has never been in such a state of disorder. I've been waiting for a guide to come and take me by the hand, or something.. I have this sense of isolation from many of my old albums, esp. the vinyl..

Again, and as always, thanks for the sound of music.. soon I will take my kids to see The Ice Age 2.

-jar
Hey, I hear you buddy! After twenty four hours, and sometimes sooner, I remember nothing. Hehehe, you could write a whole paper just using JD song titles. Never noticed that before :)

[Stone]

Hey, how ya liking the new Neko? Been meaning to snag me a copy. Probably will before long. Got my eye on the new Black Heart Procession coming next week. That should keep me busy for a few weeks if it's any good. Best band around. Almost. New Scott Walker too. Now that'll take a long while to absorb, I'm sure. And gotta grab the new Eleventh Dream Day. Then I'll be so in like flynn, over like clover, good like lucky. Venus luxure #1 baby, so come down to my level ;)

Oh yeah, also meant to ask you about that new Liars rec. I know you were giving it the initial test drive awhile back and weren't sure what would become of it. Any more news? Probably not the ideal type of music for someone not too much into that arty noise stuff, eh? Sounds kinda nice, but also sounds like it might be kinda off putting. Haven't listened to anything from it yet myself, but my adventurous side keeps nagging me to try it ;)

I really like the new Neko. It's been a real grower for me. It doesn't have the slightly off kilter moments that made Blacklisted such a great album, but Confessor is a nice, charming, straight ahead album that suits me well, especially in the mornings.

So far, that Liars album is my album of the year. In reviews and on Obner I see it as a very polarizing record. It's different from what they've done in the past. It's really a concept album (which I still haven't wrapped my head around completely) and really focuses on the drums and percussion throughout. Drum's Not Dead is not really a noise album, but certainly not one that I would call a standard rock record either. I really don't know if this will be to your liking or not, but if you're looking for something different, this should fit the bill.

I'm really looking forward to that new BHP too. I read a couple blurbs about it and from the sounds of things, it should be great. My latest pick up is the new Alejandro Escovedo. It really has a lot of different styles going on, but I'm only one listen in so far, so the jury's still out.