New Music

Posted by: Mike Hanson on 31 July 2000

Over the past week I've been on a quest for "new and amazing" music. (I was wishing that XTC had released more albums.) Here's what I've found so far:

12 Rods "Separation Anxieties" - Really quite amazing, although they tend to sound a little "poppy" at times. However, if you can put up with the occasional bit of sugar coating, the bulk of the material is great fun.
Kevin Gilbert "Thud" - Apparently this guy has been around forever as a session musician, although I had never heard of him before this last week. It's a little bit adult contemporary at times, with lots of acoustic guitar. It also has proggy elements, although these are at a minimum. The lyrics are quite insightful, and the whole album flows very well together. His newest album (and last, because he's dead) is called "The Shaming of the True". It's supposed to be one of those "desert island" discs. I haven't picked it up yet.
Doves "Lost Souls" - This was recommended on the old forum, and it is very enjoyable. Tons of layered guitars, almost like garage rock without being so noisy, and there's something else magical going on. Recommended!
Wilco "Summerteeth" - This album was on many people's "Best of..." lists last year. I finally picked it up, and it's really great. Sometimes veers quite a ways into "Country", but it's very impressive throughout.
XTC "Wasp Star (Apple Venus Volume II)" - I may as well mention this one too, even though I've had it for a couple of months now. If you like XTC, this one's a no brainer. The songs are infectious, the arrangements are stunning, and the production is top notch. I had this one in the player for a solid week!

Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated, as my appetite for this type of music is horrendous. Catch you later!

-=> Mike Hanson <=-

Posted on: 15 August 2002 by rch

Sounds great, but I must confess that I don't know any of those. What kind of music is it?

Christian

Posted on: 16 August 2002 by Mike Hanson

quote:
Sounds great, but I must confess that I don't know any of those. What kind of music is it?

Most of it is what I like to call "intelligent pop". The music is acceptable to most people, although many "pure" popsters will find it too challenging for their desires.

It's not the dreck that usually appears on AC (Adult Contempory) radio stations. It's a little more complicated and less predicatable, yet the hooks are still infectious and fun.

-=> Mike Hanson <=-

Posted on: 16 August 2002 by rch

thanks for clearing that for me!
I'll try to find some of those albums in Germany.
Regards

Christian

Posted on: 16 August 2002 by Mike Hanson

A couple of weeks ago I got Fun Trick Noisemaker from The Applies In Stereo. The songs are great, as is the instrumentation. It definitately fits into that "intelligent pop" category of mine. However, The Apples came from the lo-fi cauldron that also spawned Olivia Tremor Control. I really hate listening too all that mush and noise, and cringing at the fact that the artists think it's a "good" thing.

-=> Mike Hanson <=-

Posted on: 16 August 2002 by JohnS

I have the Apples In Stereo "The Discovery of a World Inside the Moone" album which I bought because I really liked Stream Running Over and Rainbow. On that basis, can anyone recommend which of their other albums I should get?

My friend referred to Apples In Stereo as the Faux British Invasion along with Neutral Milk Hotel and another band (Elves something?). I never really got into the Neutral Milk Hotel stuff though.

-John