What albums do I need to add to my collection?

[Feanor]

So maybe some polka music would have been a better suggestion?

http://www.polkacide.com/sounds.html

Yey, Frankie, (RIP) ...
..

[Feanor]

Yey, Frankie, (RIP) ...
..

... Li'l Wally Ostanek, (also RIP) ...
...

[Slosh]

Richmond Fontaine: Thirteen cities (ditto above, had a Swish Daddy demo for awhile now, but got the real deal from his deepdiscount hangout, those dusty story-based songs of singer Willy Vlautin always take me away. Recorded in Arizona with members of Calexico, the americana.uk site gave it a way over the top 10/10 ... "We live in a world of hyperbole and exaggeration which is a pity because when this album is called a masterpiece, such words lose some of their effect. But a masterpiece it is – daring, adventurous, literate, and consummate.")

I don't know about a masterpiece but I do like it and it grows on me a little more every time I listen.

Andrew Bird: Armchair Apocrypha (had a freebie for quite awhile now, from an Autumn place, and easily became one of my favorites of the year, so had to get the real one - Andrew Bird is one of the most special songwriters I know of today, and this is one of his best)

Album of the year (so far) for me.

Cat Power: The Greatest (skipped at the time last year, cause Moon Pix will always be my favorite, and I do kind of miss the wreckage, but I do still love Chan, and that voice works great in this setting too, even if not like it does on You Are Free or Moon Pix)

Much to my surprise this has grown on me. "Love & Communication" is just great. Maybe seeing her perform many of these songs on Austin City Limits made me appreciate her more. I still think You Are Free is a snoozefest (except for "He War"), however.

Palace: Viva Last Blues (Will Oldham is a long time favorite, picked up this on vinyl way back in the mid 90s, and it's still probably my favorite, another great Albini recording, but the turntable has been in mothballs for awhile due to moves, and I really needed to hear it again, and only $5.99 for the CD of a truly understated classic of the 90s - no brain needed for this buy, gawd, I might be able to listen to Will's creaky old ramblings all day long)

Don't have any Palace but am a big fan of this:

[Slosh]

Swish wins!

NP:

[Monkey Bones]

Don't have any Palace but am a big fan of this: (insert picture here, because we'd all rather look at images of CD covers than talk about the music)

I don't really understand what his intent was with that record, although the idea of an artist revisiting some of his most loved songs a few years later does have a certain appeal. Many do it in concert all the time, changing it up to keep interest. Dylan is one that comes to mind, always changing around his songs, sometimes making it hard to even know what he's playing unless you catch a lyric. I have a copy someplace, but it just seems that his original versions were so much better, so I've never really listened to it much. Viva Last Blues is pretty special, one of those records that has grown quite a bit in stature with me personally over time, and also with many music critics, it seems. Such a nice recording too.

Cat Power: The Greatest (skipped at the time last year, cause Moon Pix will always be my favorite, and I do kind of miss the wreckage, but I do still love Chan, and that voice works great in this setting too, even if not like it does on You Are Free or Moon Pix)

Much to my surprise this has grown on me. "Love & Communication" is just great. Maybe seeing her perform many of these songs on Austin City Limits made me appreciate her more. I still think You Are Free is a snoozefest (except for "He War"), however.

Yea, saw some of that Ausin show. She's got a weird charm. Saw her once a few years ago and she was pretty on that night, though still kind of jittery. Could probably fall in love with her. Bet they had fun making this record. I know it hasn't always been fun for her in the past. You Are Free is still one of the best of the last few years, so just goes to show you still suck ass

[Audio Girl]

Hi Slosheroo,

Here's a few releases that I have purchased recently and recommend (I am not stating that these are masterpieces just that they are enjoyable):

Kings of Leon -- Because of the Times (LP)
Golden Smog -- Blood on the Slacks (LP)
Arcade Fire -- Neon Bible (LP and CD)
The Sea and Cake -- Everybody (LP)
Secondhand Serenade -- Awake (CD) -- may not be your cup of tea
Macy Gray -- BIG (CD)
Mary Chapin Carpenter -- The Calling (Closer and Closer Apart is worth the price of admission; CD)
I'm From Barcelona -- Let Me Introduce My Friends (This is a fun, enjoyable CD!)
Bon Jovi -- Lost Highway (Their reoccurent message about aging strikes home; CD)
Wilco -- Sky Blue Sky (LP and CD...one of the best releases of 2007)
White Stripes -- Icky Thump (LP; mastered by Steve Hoffman)
Damien Rice -- O (I just discovered this 2003 release)
Warren Zevon -- Preludes (not particularly well recorded but some wonderful gems)
Modest Mouse -- We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank (LP)
Low -- Drums and Guns (LP; very eerie and disturbing but hard not to listen to)
The Polyphonic Spree -- The Fragile Army (LP; this Dallas group does us good).

Keep us posted on what you buy and enjoy. Or not enjoy. :0

[tentoze]

One word of advice: Twang.

[Slosh]

One word of advice: Twang.

Wha'cha think of James McMurtry & The Heartless Bastards? More rock than twang but still at least there is some twang in there. I only have the Sugar Hill comp and me thinks I need some of the albums proper. I also need that sophomore Holopaw album.

I'm liking the new Spoon. Kind of a raunchier version of Kill The Moonlight, though no where near as punky as A Series Of Sneaks. Most of the songs are piano-driven.

NP: (Sunday morning music)

[tentoze]

Not familiar with McMurtry at all. Saw Heartless Bastards open for Lucinda a couple months ago. Fortunately, their set was short- I was ready to go out to the lobby bar to wait them out when they ended their set. Pretty awful, at least live. The chick that sings and "plays" guitar was...uhhh...amateurish, at best. Maybe it was stage fright or something. Bottom line for me is they were a trio that never seemed to all be playing the same song at the same time.

[Monkey Bones]

Wha'cha think of James McMurtry

Always loved that "Sixty Acres" song, the one about his grandma dying, and leaving him a piece a crap parcel that he could maybe grow corn on, but he hates farming, and his cousin got the pot of gold piece of land ... "looks like a Wal-Mart waiting to happen"

[noddin0ff]

That's not bad. Kind of a Violent Femmes meets The Vibrators sound. Me likey.

Much less serious, though. Wiki has a terse write up. As one page put it, "they're probably more respected than known." You got PM with links.

[Mike]

Howz about trying The Maccabees - Colour It In, really good debut album from a UK band.

Failing that go for The Go Find - Stars On The Wall, or Kings Of Leon -Because Of The Times, there's a new one from The Editors too which is ok.

Cheers
Mike

[Troy]

You REALLY need this one to quench the polka afterburn:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lostame...7594204123124/

[audiobill]

I'd go with some of these recent ones to add some zing to your music collection and, of course, your summer:

The White Stripes - Icky Thump

Liars - Liars

Aereogramme - My Heart Has A Wish That You Would Not Go

Shellac - Excellent Italian Greyhound

Iron & Wine - The Shepherd's Dog

Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger


The White Stripes' latest is great driving music, whereas the Aerogramme is great in a PInk Floyd kind of way......... the others, I'm sure you already know about.

Let us know what you end up with,

audiobill

[JDaniel]

I think I remember you saying one time that Car Wheels was the only Lucinda Williams you owned. I recommend exploring her albums, all of which are available on vinyl.

Also, mebbe some:

Red House Painters.

Jesse Sykes & the Sweet Hereafter

Handsome Family

Doc Watson

John Hiatt

I could go on, but that's enough twang.

JD

[Slosh]

I think I remember you saying one time that Car Wheels was the only Lucinda Williams you owned. I recommend exploring her albums, all of which are available on vinyl.

Also got the debut (decent) and West (sucks), and the Austin City Limits DVD (excellent performance from the Car Wheels tour so the song selection is really good). New Spoon is excellent. Can't hardly wait to get it on 180 gram vinyl (I'll just have to make do with a FLAC copy for now )

[Mr Peabody]

Man, you ain't twangin til you get the first couple Dwight Yoakum albums. A little Guitars & Cadillacs will get ya up and kickin.

[ForeverAutumn]

Ryan Adams - Easy Tiger

Hey Bill, you enjoying that new Ryan Adams disk?

I was downtown yesterday...said good-bye to Sam the Record Man (nothing but crap and overpriced imports left) and then mosied into HMV. I had the new Ryan Adams in my hand but then put it back. I just wasn't in the right mood. Looked at their way overpriced Metal section for a while and then left empty-handed.

[audiobill]

Hey Bill, you enjoying that new Ryan Adams disk?

Hey ForeverAutumn,

I do lilke the new album but, be forewarned, it's very mellow. For me, that's not an issue; esp. since I have several of his other albums. In fact, it has a laid back feel, very similar to a laid back Neil Young album.

Not as good as "Gold" or "Rock and Roll" imho. If you don't have any RA, I suggest passing on this one.

Hope this helps,

Bill

[ForeverAutumn]

Hey ForeverAutumn,

I do lilke the new album but, be forewarned, it's very mellow. For me, that's not an issue; esp. since I have several of his other albums. In fact, it has a laid back feel, very similar to a laid back Neil Young album.

Not as good as "Gold" or "Rock and Roll" imho. If you don't have any RA, I suggest passing on this one.

Hope this helps,

Bill

Thanks. I have a few RA disks at home. I prefer his mellow side.

[Mr Peabody]

Do you have:

Aphrodites Child - 666
JD Blackfoot - The Ultimate Prophecy
or Legend of Crazy Horse

Before CD the Ultimate Prophecy was $100.00 used. I didn't think it would be on CD. I bought a CD for $20.00, from a CD store, only to find it was a bootleg. You could hear an occasional vinyl pop. I see now it is available on import. I assume what's available now are legit copies. Legend of Crazy Horse is JD's best seller. Both are very cool.

Aphrodites Child, if you haven't heard it, you must experience it, words fail me.

[hifitommy]

a self titled album of unique music that i characterize as japanese fusion music. a similar cut can be found on stix hooper's album-the world within named jasmine breeze. osamu is the main performer on this.

great stuff.

http://www.musicweb-international.co...orldWithin.htm

the hooper LP is findable in the used racks on occasion, i bought mine new before i knew osamu was on it.