Tuesday Thread / whatcha been lis'nen to?

[3-LockBox]

I though I'd get a jump on ya.

White Stripes:Get Behind Me Satan - still trying to digest this one...I'm liking the funkiness of 'Blue Orchid' and 'Doorbell'...every album since Deja Stil is a more and more experimental (for them) in that there is a variety of instruments being introduced into White's repretoir, more production beyond the punk rock aestetic, and a broader scope of subject matter. Some songs are just wierd and White's vocal diversity is startling at times. He shows a remarkable sense of control, if not a tad bit of self-indulgence.

Dream Threater:Scenes From A Memory - don't know why I put off listening to this one (well, maybe it was the vocals on past albums)....there are some very affecting songs on this album. Its a great story line, though some songs seem to confuse the theme. Its a keeper. Neal Morse may be the best writer of the epic, but DT has the theme album down pat.

I've even been revisiting Genesis:Foxtrot. I've had this CD for a little over two years now...while I liked 'Watcher' and 'Time Table' right from the get-go, I still find 'Get Em Out By Friday' a tad silly, though the music is very good. I still don't get why a lot of people adore 'Supper's Ready'. I like the apocalyptic theme, and musically speaking, it has its moments. I think its a well written piece, but I think that Gabriel's vocal masturbating is my sticking point. Selling England By The Pound is the best of the Gabriel era IMO.

In fact, I guess you could say that most of my listening this week involves three acts whose lead singers are enamoured with their own voices. hhmmm...

I've also started to warm up to the new Hot Hot Heat:Elevator; its a grower. Same with DT's Octavarium; its getting a lot of rotation lately.

[ForeverAutumn]

I also spun Foxtrot this week.

James LaBrie - Elements of Persuasion

Muse - Absolution

Mercury Rev - The Secret Migration

The Killers - Hot Fuss

Keane - Hopes and Fears

Supertramp - Crime of the Century; Even in the Quietest Moments; Crisis? What Crisis?

[GMichael]

My CD changer still has the same 6 that have been in there for months:

Kansas - Leftoverature
ELP - Brain Salad Surgery
Avril Lavigne - Under My Skin
Beatles - Best of (something)
Genesis - And Then There Were Three
Shania Twain - Come on Over

The CD player in the dash has been rotating through Rush chronologically lately.
I'm up to Hemispheres today.

[tentoze]

Been a bit of a lull around here lately as far as new releases go. Just not much that has piqued my interest enough to plop down the cash.

Neil Young/ Prairie Wind- Very good NY. A bit too much production ona couple of tunes, but overall very solid, and certainly more likeable than Greenwood to my ears. This one's closer to Comes A Time, stylistically.

Grey DeLisle/ Iron Flowers- released earlier this year, picked up used. There were probably howls of indignation from Queen fans when DeLisle turned her autoharp and crystalline roots voice to Bohemian Rhapsody as the album opener- never having cared much for Freddie and the boys, I like it and the rest of this.

John Cale/ HoboSapiens- also from the used bin, and will probably go back to whence it came. For being a 2003 release, this sounds remarkably like 1986. There's only so much cheesy synth drum loops I can take, particularly when they don't support anything of substance.

Daniel Lanois/ Shine- after buying Lanois' latest release a few weeks ago only to find out that it was Elevator Music, I took a chance on this 2003 release and am not unhappy with it at all.

...and a bunch of twangy vinyl, as usual.

[Mike]

Son Volt - Okemah and The Melody of Riot. Thanks to Swish or was it Slosh (I forget) for putting me onto this one. One of the highlights of the year so far, plenty of catchy upbeat songs from Jay Farrar and some nice guitar. Not a bad production too, it lacks a bit at the top end but Stephen Marcussen at the mastering controls makes it a decent punchy sound.

John Butler Trio - Three. He's Australian but I won't hold that against him, the album is from 2001 and thankfully not as commercial as his latest. Vocally he reminds me of Ben Harper but he plays a nice bluesy rock slide guitar.

Hey Bill any big thump from the letter box yet?

Cheers
Mike

[noddin0ff]

Beethoven: Late String Quartets -- Really good. Much more modern sounding than you'd expect. Aggressive and dissonant at times. Good for the brain.

The Beta Band: The Three EP's -- Love it. Monday morning music and Friday quitin' time music all in one.

Morphine: Cure for Pain -- Two string base, Baritone Sax, Drums...So much w/ so little.

Cake: Fashion Nugget -- Fun. Best remake of 'I Will Survive' that I know of.

G Love and Special Sauce: Yeah, It's that easy - Philadelphia Hip Hop?

The Cure: Kiss Me (x3) --Had to dig this one out to listen to 'Catch'

Lou Reed: Magic and Loss -- Truely an amazing album. If you've ever lost someone there's a lot of anger/healing inside. More beauty to be found on every listen. Desert island material here.

Lounge Lizards: Voice of Chunk -- not for everyone. Strange and beautiful.

[Swish]

Death Cab for Cutie - Plans (could be better than Transatlanticism)
Super Furry Animals - Love Kraft (not exactly Rings...but not bad)
The National - Alligator (this one's a keeper)
Spoon - Gimme Fiction (not quite new, but still fresh and very good)
New Pornographers - Twin Cinema (one of my faves for 2005...without question)
Milton - Scenes From the Interior (hasn't anyone else on RR heard this one? Great stuff!)

Swish Daddy

[BillB]

Listening to XPN's 885 greatest albums of all time but just got back from picking up:

Kasabian
Ryan Adams & The Cardinals (new one)

Finally broke down and ordered SFA's latest on SACD (import only) as well. Hope I like'em all.

BillB

[dean_martin]

I picked up some used stuff late last week.

New Order - BBC Live - good sound, I was surprised at how effective this style is live.

...Trail of Dead - Secrets of Elena's Tomb (EP) - at least 3 of the 5 songs are very good. The 3 tracks I like are reminiscent of Sonic Youth's more straight forward stuff. I detect another influence too but I haven't put my finger on it. I look forward to checking out full length albums. Any suggestions?

Pavement - Slanted and Enchanted, 2 disk version. I really like this one. It took a couple of listens for me to "follow" it since I haven't listened to "real" indie in a while, but now a couple of tracks are stuck in my head. Listening to this one also prompted me to pull out Crooked Rain, Crooked, Rain which is probably my favorite of theirs.

The shop owner and I were talking about Porcupine Tree and I mentioned that one of their album covers reminded me of the cover of Roxy Music's Avalon which I've been looking for on vinyl. He threw in a dirty copy of Avalon for free. It cleaned up well. I've only spun it once so far. No scratches and minimal noise. I'll be listening to this one in the evenings this week.

I had a chance to listen to some newer stuff over the weekend after following discussions on this board. I sampled albums from Sigur Ros, Queens of the Stone Age, Spoon and the Decemberists at Barnes & Noble while hangin' with the wife. I've got Sigur Ros - Takk and Spoon - Gimme Fiction on the wishlist.

[Jim Clark]

The shop owner and I were talking about Porcupine Tree and I mentioned that one of their album covers reminded me of the cover of Roxy Music's Avalon which I've been looking for on vinyl. He threw in a dirty copy of Avalon for free. It cleaned up well. I've only spun it once so far. No scratches and minimal noise. I'll be listening to this one in the evenings this week.

.

That's one of my favorite late night discs of all time. Excellent choice.

jc

[BarryL]

Marillion - Script Of A Jester's Tear
Andrew Bird - And the Mysterious Production of Eggs


"Don't give me your problems."

[ForeverAutumn]

Andrew Bird - And the Mysterious Production of Eggs

Really? I don't know why I'm surprised at this. Your taste is quite diverse. I guess I just never expected you to listen to something that Davey has spent so much time raving about.

What do you think of it? I've almost bought this on a couple of occasions, but in the end decided I didn't want to spend the big bucks being asked for it.

Now, perhaps I could borrow your copy for test drive. Hmmmmmmm?

[ForeverAutumn]

...Trail of Dead - Secrets of Elena's Tomb (EP) - at least 3 of the 5 songs are very good. The 3 tracks I like are reminiscent of Sonic Youth's more straight forward stuff. I detect another influence too but I haven't put my finger on it. I look forward to checking out full length albums. Any suggestions?

Hmmm. I haven't heard this one. I have Source Tags & Codes and Worlds Apart. I really like them both, but I have to say that I prefer Worlds Apart. I find Words Apart is a little more accessable. Some people may see that as a bad thing. I like it.

[Davey]

I just never expected you to listen to something that Davey has spent so much time raving about.

Ouch! Maybe just a temporary lapse in judgement, eh?

I wouldn't be surprised if Barry really liked that one because Andrew Bird is a great songwriter, and shares sensibilities with many we both love. Of course, I may just be delusional as well. Your call. But anyone who can resist the abundant charms on display when playing Mysterious Eggs is a stronger person than me

she's got red lipstick
and a bright pair of shoes
knee high socks
what to cover a bruise
she's got an old death kit
she's been meaning to use
blood in her eyes in her eyes for you
she's got blood in her eyes for you

Now we just need to get him a copy of Picaresque

[Davey]

...Trail of Dead - Secrets of Elena's Tomb (EP) - at least 3 of the 5 songs are very good. The 3 tracks I like are reminiscent of Sonic Youth's more straight forward stuff. I detect another influence too but I haven't put my finger on it. I look forward to checking out full length albums. Any suggestions?

Hmmm. I haven't heard this one. I have Source Tags & Codes and Worlds Apart. I really like them both, but I have to say that I prefer Worlds Apart. I find Words Apart is a little more accessable. Some people may see that as a bad thing. I like it.

What she says.

[BarryL]

Really? I don't know why I'm surprised at this. Your taste is quite diverse. I guess I just never expected you to listen to something that Davey has spent so much time raving about.

This one kept coming up as a favorite of people, and when Davey raved about the quality of the songwriting, I thought I'd look into it.

Also, any artist and title combination this good required a try (Andrew Bird and the Mysterious Production of Eggs).

I haven't had any time to investigate the lyrics, but the songs are catchy and innovative and folksy, and just offbeat enough to qualify as "art rock" in the vein of bands like XTC and Split Enz, but more folky and accoustic.

I'm not sure that I would rave as much as Davey about this one yet, but it's a good album and an interesting find. I don't have anything more to say about it yet, but I'll continue listening to it.

I'd be happy to let you take it for a test drive. You pay for the gas.

[ToddL]

I'm starting to like this Tuesday thread. I have been trying to hear this band from the U.K. called The Rakes. New York "hipster" kids seem to be raving about them, are they worth the buzz, anyone?

[Jim Clark]

I listened to a lot of stuff while taking breaks from ruining a guy's business....

I really like the new American Analog Set. Just finished listening to it again. Low key affair but not to be confused with the singer/songwriter stuff that I've had more than enough of. Lots of fuzziness and laid back melody. Pretty cool even though there's a filler track or two.

Also really enjoyed the new Abandonded Pools record, which I just got today in time for one quick spin before I posted. Reminds me of the good old days when "alternative" meant something. If you liked the first one, this one is highly recomended. If you missed the first one, shame on you.

Still digging Stars,"Set Yourself On Fire". I'd really like to see something challenge this for one of the top spots on year ending top ten list, that would be a real treat.

Got a Clap Your Hands Say Yeah bootleg that I've played quite a bit, it was fun as was a 2004 bootleg from the B-52's. Exceptional SQ from both.

Cut Copy was playing live in Lawrence last night and Madina tried to cajole me into making the trip. I made the poor choice of staying home to watch the MNF disaster. At least I got to watch the Chiefs get shellaced in HD.

Been putting a tubed CD player through it's paces and it's been a blast revisiting lots of stuff I haven't played in a while: Echoing Green, Paul Simon, Juno Reactor, The Pogues and of course the Ramones.

Oh, I almost forgot - I saw last year's A Perfect Circle release at the library and grabbed it on a whim. Awesome! I was thinking this was like Korn, Tool or some other crap that I don't care for. "The Noose" alone would have been in the running for my favorite song last year. If Slosh had told me how gothic this album was I'd have tried it sooner. APC rools. L, even my kids like it and that has them scared.

jc-over and out.

[Slosh]

"The Noose" alone would have been in the running for my favorite song last year. If Slosh had told me how gothic this album was I'd have tried it sooner. APC rools. L, even my kids like it and that has them scared.

Actually I think that album blows. I do like the first one though (warning - sounds like Tool . . . before they got too proggy).

Didn't get the new AmAnSet and probably won't. I like Know By Heart well enough and all but it's probably all I need from them.

Other than that Calexico/Iron & Wine EP I haven't heard anything new but I'm might try and see if that Wolf Eyes Parade album is really as good as the hype would leave one to believe. Not sure if a Funeral II would be a good thing or not but it could be a good thing..

Did the whole space/time thingie get flip-flopped? While Barry L's been listening to Andrew Bird I've been listening to Deadwing. See, my friend has the DVD-A and he burned me a copy of the video layer (48kHz/24-bit stereo and 5.1 DTS). I can see why people like this but then again lots of people call Coors Light beer too. Bland, bland, bland.

Mike, thanks for the comp. Just got it today. As for the new Son Volt; not bad but never really did get under my skin. Like Porcupine Tree it's just too predictable to really engage me. I need me some quirkiness in my music

[Davey]

Still digging Stars,"Set Yourself On Fire". I'd really like to see something challenge this for one of the top spots on year ending top ten list, that would be a real treat.

Isn't that Stars kind of twee? Are you a big Belle & Sebastian fan? I've only heard a song or two, but probably from their last one. They did have a last one, right? Anyway, can't remember much but seemed kind of lightweight. It's one of those boy-girl bands, right? Guess I should've looked some of this stuff up first, right? But what's the fun in that, right? I'd put a smiley winkey here, but you hate those twee things, right?

Hehehe, just teasing, but still, the Stars, eh?. I've been listening to the Lucksmiths latest quite a lot myself and it's probably kind of similar. Warmer Corners. Nice CD. Not best of the year or anything, but nice and well done. And I think Stoney likes it too, so I'm cool. Wonder what he thinks of the Stars?

Mostly been listening to the latest from the National and the Decemberists this week, along with Shack's Waterpistol and a few others from the heavy rotation pile. Someone else in my house has been playing the latest from Garbage a lot, courtesy of everybody's favorite pity clicker, FP. Kind of fun and catchy, but ... also I just got a demo copy of Love Kraft and gave that a listen and it left me kind of unsatisfied. This latest is really slick and I bet is a lot of fun in multi-channel, but kind of slipped by without too much notice for me in multi-channeless. Gonna have to hear it some more before deciding how much I like it, but occasionally it seemed they were tracking a bit close to lackluster newage on this one. But that's just my unreliable and ill advised first take on it. And started listening some to the new Fruit Bats too. Thanks, as always.

[Jim Clark]

Actually I think that album blows. I do like the first one though (warning - sounds like Tool . . . before they got too proggy).

OK, now the Universe returns to normal.

Wolf Eyes huh? I may have missed that one unless you mean Wolf Parade? Wolf Eyes was the massive industrial thingie that even I didn't like too much, it'd probably kill you. Wolf Parade I actually picked up today and haven't played more than the first three songs. I haven't been to Obner for ages so I was unaware of any buzz-the tatooed gal at the record store just told me "lot's of synths". So far I'm hearing a lot of the XTC, HHH, Franz Ferdinand, Dogs Die In Hot Cars stuff more than anything Arcade Fire. Lots of songs there I haven't heard though.

jc

[Jim Clark]

Isn't that Stars kind of twee? Are you a big Belle & Sebastian fan?

Funny thing, in my little blurb last week I was going to write that it did have a touch of twee. I didn't only because I wasn't entirely positve that I even knew what twee was. Really. Guess I do now. There is substantially more to it than that though-it's one of those everything and the kitchen sink kind of things. It's so varied but at the same time is a really coherent whole. A remarkable album and I'm sure it's bound to make a few other top ten lists this year. It'll be a nice change to not be all alone on this one-or so says my crystal ball.

The only Belle and Sebastian album I have is this year's 2 CD release of EPs and B-sides. Honestly I liked it, but never really got too hooked on it. I guess for me it was like -I should like, and do, but there's other stuff I like a lot more.

jc

[Slosh]

OK, now the Universe returns to normal.

Wolf Eyes huh? I may have missed that one unless you mean Wolf Parade? Wolf Eyes was the massive industrial thingie that even I didn't like too much, it'd probably kill you.

Wolf Parade I actually picked up today and haven't played more than the first three songs. I haven't been to Obner for ages so I was unaware of any buzz-the tatooed gal at the record store just told me "lot's of synths". So far I'm hearing a lot of the XTC, HHH, Franz Ferdinand, Dogs Die In Hot Cars stuff than anything Arcade Fire. Lots of songs there I haven't heard though.

Maybe I'll just borrow it then.

NP:!!!

[Slosh]

... also I just got a demo copy of Love Kraft and gave that a listen and it left me kind of unsatisfied. This latest is really slick and I bet is a lot of fun in multi-channel, but kind of slipped by without too much notice for me in multi-channeless. Gonna have to hear it some more before deciding how much I like it, but occasionally it seemed they were tracking a bit close to lackluster newage on this one. But that's just my unreliable and ill advised first take on it.

Man, I'm gonna have to busy some balls at year-end list time You can edit this out of your post but not outta mine. hehehe

NP: !!! (just flipped the record over if you're gonna be that damn nosy )

[ForeverAutumn]

I'd be happy to let you take it for a test drive. You pay for the gas.

Might be cheaper to buy it afterall...if I have to pay for the gas.

Finally, after all these years, you can legitimately give me The Bird.

Actually, I'm looking forward to hearing it. There was a cut off of this disk on CRSv10 that I really dug. Can't remember which one now and don't have the disk handy, but it peaked my interest, for sure. Same thing with that Spoon disk that Davey (and others) keep touting. I don't suppose that you've picked that one up too? Probably too much to hope for.