This has never seem less important. In a year or two, we won’t even be listening to half of this stuff. Hands up, who had Hole on their list back when, and who has since traded it in or thrown it away? I used to herald Radiohead, and now the sound of Thom Yorke’s reedy little voice has me reaching for
a) my shotgun
b)my shotglass
c)my Mudhoney
d)all the above
And will pitchfork please shut the fuck up, for a year or ten? Maybe, by that time, I’ll be listening to stuff more age appropriate, like Ray Coniff or Alison Krauss.
That being said, or ranted, there is as much’good music out there as ever. You just have to dig, or read, or listen to WFMU, or stop listening to NPR. I couldn’t keep up with all the stuff I liked. And I enjoyed hating the ……… phone rang and I went out for five minutes. All of a sudden, I feel better.
Buy at Dusty Groove
1) GETATCHEW MEKURIA, THE EX AND GUESTS – “MOA AMBESSA”
Swings, rocks, rants. I knew this would be my number one as soon as I heard it was being recorded. Impossible to fuck up this combo, unless they let Bono or T-Bone near it. Or Daniel Lanois. Or Ry Cooder.
Buy new or used through Amazon
2) ROBERT WYATT – “COMICOPERA”
The greatest singer in the world makes his best album since “Rock Bottom.” Personal, political, the usual cast of characters, including the invaluable Alfie Benge, Annie Whitehead and someone named Yaron Stavi. I’ll overlook the ballad about Che just as I overlooked Wyatt’s cover of “Stalin Isn’t Stallin'” Not that he’s loosing any sleep over what I think.
Buy new or used through Amazon
3) NEIL YOUNG – “LIVE AT MASSEY HALL”
Didn’t love the studio release, or the couple before that, but I would never count him out. This piece of aural archeology will satisfy until his next attempt, or that trunkload of archives is actually released.
Buy new or used through Amazon
4) SIX ORGANS OF ADMITTANCE – “SHELTER FROM THE ASH”
Guitar hero Ben Chasny noodles his third great album in a row. Just don’t press the lyrics too hard.
Buy new or used through Amazon
5) OLD TIME RELIJUN -“CATHARSIS IN CRISIS”
I just heard of this band, and they have five or six other records. Just the right mix of grooves and skronk, strangulated vocals, fun and fear. Anyone remember the Irving Klaw Trio? Another Portland abomination of similar beauty.
Buy new or used through Amazon
6) LES BREASTFEEDERS – “LES MATINS DE GRANDS SOIRS”
Just ear candy. Cancel the just. Great ear candy
Buy new or used through Amazon
7) GHOST – “IN STORMY NIGHTS”
Allover the psych-prog map, allover my face. Epic mess.
Buy new or used through Amazon
8) GRINDERMAN – “GRINDERMAN”
Nick Cave awakens from his slumber,riffs it up and doesn’t care if the lyrics are infantile.
Buy new or used through Amazon
9) THE MEKONS – “NATURAL”
Went into the woods and came back with this pol i-pagan fun fest. Ragged folk, somehow reminding me of 70’s Rod Stewart. “Mandolin Wind” with human sacrifices.
Buy new or used through Amazon
10) PSYCHEDELIC HORSESHIT – “MAGIC FLOWERS DRONED”
Ever think Flipper was just too goddamned melodic?
ll) VIC CHESNUTT-“NORTH STAR DESERTER”
l2) SOUTHERN CULTURE ON THE SKIDS-“COUNTRYPOLITAN”
13) MV & EE AND THE GOLDEN ROAD-“GETTIN’ GONE”
14) ANGELS OF LIGHT-“WE ARE HIM”
15) SHARON JONES AND THE DAP KINGS-“lOO DAYS 100 NIGHTS”
16) ALASDAIR ROBERTS-“AMBER GATHERERS”
l7) THURSTON MOORE-“TREES OUTSIDE THE ACADEMY”
18) THE ROYAL PURPLE-“PSYCHOACOUSTICS”
19) BOOK OF KNOTS-“TRAINEATER”
20) HAUNTED GEORGE-“PILE 0′ MEAT”
also …
JENNIFER GENTLE – “THE MIDNIGHT ROOM”, GLENN MERCER “WHEELS IN MOTION”, LOS STRAIGHTJACKETS – “ROCK EN ESPANOL VOL. 1” , AKRON FAMILY – “LOVE IS SIMPLE” , SIR RICHARD BISHOP-“POLYTHEISTIC FRAGMENTS” , DINOSAUR JR. – “BEYOND” , BRIAN WILSON SHOCKTREATMENT – “THE HAMMER OF THE METAL GODS” , MOANERS – “BLACKWING YALOBUSHA”, WIRE – “READ AND BURN 3” , HOLLY GOLIGHTLY – “YOU CAN’T BUY A GUN WHEN YOU’RE CRYING” , MEG BAIRD – “DEAR COMPANION”
Reissue,comps, stuff
V/A-“THE ROOTS OF CHICHA” , THE STAPLE SINGERS – “BEST OF THE VEE-JAY YEARS” , SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE – “COLLECTION”, NICO – “THE FROZEN BORDERLINE” , MOVE – “SHAZAM” , ROY WOOD – “BOULDERS” , BONZO DOG BAND – “THE DONUT IN GRANNY’s GREENHOUSE” , PINK FLOYD – “PIPER AT THE GATES OF DAWN” , BETTY DAVIS – “BETTY DAVIS”
In one ear and out –
ARCADE FIRE, PLANT/KRAUSS, SPRINGSTEEN, FEIST, THE SHINS, IRON AND WINE, BRIGHT EYES, RYAN ADAMS, NEW PORNOGRAPHERS, RILO KILEY, WILCO
SHOWS:
MEKONS, YO LA TENGO, LES BREASTFEEDERS, LOS STRAIGHTJACKETS.
MOVIES:
“NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN” , “AWAY FROM HER” , “BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU’RE DEAD”, “SWEENEY TODD”
Two great performances in films that didn’t quite do them justice: Molly Shannon in “YEAR OF THE DOG” and Anna Faris in “SMILEY FACE.”
Huh? “I’M NOT THERE” You mean up Dylan’s ass. I get it, I just don’t want it. Fun in parts, but about an hour and twenty minutes too long. Good tunes, though.
Later.