2004: First half gut check

Really drab for me, lots of albums with one or two excellent tracks that seem to run out of steam, current faves probably Jim White 'Dig into The substrate..' and Wilco 'A Ghost is Born'.

Bruce

I went off Hot Fuss within a week, and I am in danger of playing Involver to death.
For my tastes so far I think it's been pretty quiet - so I'm hoping for a better 2nd half. New Pearl Jam album is in the mail to me now, Billy Cogan is due something (surely) and the Foo Fighters must have something to tour soon as its festival time again. We need something from FSOL too. Fred's album is due out too.
I think it will all turn out OK at the end of the year.
The Johnny Cash album was good - especially his cover of Own Personal Jesus (Depeche Mode).

What was I talking about?

Oh- I guess I mean that this year I've only purchased 1 album that I'd adore in any year, a few others I consider great for this year, and a ton that are very underwhelming.

Something like that anyway.

Nevermind..

There's a new Rammstein album coming in September...

I think my favourites are some of Ludwig's favourite and many of his near misses: so Devandra Banhart, Les Savy Fav, AC Newman (a lot better than the last New Pronographers I reckon), Mission of Burma, Kings of Convenience.

Also this afternoon I rediscovered the first Le Tigre album which I had bought, liked a lot and then not played again. if you don't know it, its a Riot Grrrl classic with radical feminist lyrics -- basically Bikini Kill + Andrea Dworkin and therefore guaranteed to annoy Mick



Video for Deceptacon (Quick Time I think).

More samples at All Music

Matthew

[This message was edited by Matthew Robinson on Tue 20 July 2004 at 17:55.]

So far this year, the four live John Zorn albums put out as part of his birthday series are fab, the Mutant TG Throbbing Gristle remix album has grown on me (I was disappointed at first), and there's been some very good records released by Fennesz, Jack Rose/Pelt, David Thomas, Faust w/ Dalek, The Nectarine No. 9, Cecil Taylor, and others I can't remember off the top of my head. I also really like The Streets' new album.

Indie guitar stuff has mostly been dreadful, but that's been the case for a few years now IMO. I like the new Liars album, and The Shins (was that this year or last though?), otherwise mostly a lot of treading water, or stuff that's too derivative to make much of an impression, even if it's pretty good.

-- Ian

quote:

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Originally posted by Nick Lees:
_Slightly Disappointing Stuff By People I Expected More Of_

Air

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Mailed mine to an Amazon buyer minutes ago! Also on the chopping block are The Walkmen, Ghost, Savath & Savales, Twilight Singers, Rjd2, TV On The Radio, John Vanderslice, and Espers. All were immediately, or became, completely underwhelming to my ears.

quote:

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Originally posted by Matthew Robinson:
AC Newman (a lot better than the last New Pronographers I reckon)

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That's what *everyone* keeps saying but after 2 listens I'm left feeling lukewarm, whereas the last NP album still sees regular enthusiastic action on my CDP.

Something must be wrong!

[sings]Secretarial, Secretarial, Secretarial....

What's not to love?

Matthew

PS I agree on The Walkmen and TV On The Radio -- both very disapointing.

PPS How about the Plastic Constellations? I am still liking it a lot (it not exactly loving it quite as much as I thought I was going to)

Re: the Plastic Constellations, I've listened once while recovering from a night of debauchery and from what I (barely) recall it reminded me of They Might Be Giants and some cheesy "alternative metal" band thrown in the blender. I'm putting it on now since falling asleep, turning the volume way down, etc probably didn't make for a fair first try.

Re: those lyrics I haven't a clue as to what you're referring, which means something else in my collection deserves a closer listen.

PS- Between posts Twilight Singers sold on Amazon for $1.10 more than what I paid new.

The lyric is just the most obvious hook in the AC Newman album.

Like I said:

Something must be wrong!

PPS- The PC have added "indie pop muppet rockish" to the blend with my current, sober, second listen. Decent so far.

But I'd plump for

The Bees

Franz Ferdinand

Stereolab

Earth Wind & Fire (yes, their newest album is superb!)

Donny Hathaway (live compilation, lots of unreleased stuff)

Cornershop's Topknot 45 out next Monday folks) is the best single of the year so far.

Best compilation? Country Got Soul Vol.2

Kevin (Today, BBC Radio 4)

Best of the year so far:

Franz Ferdinand
Scissor Sisters

Both putting a bit of fun back into music.


Close behind:

Air
Zero 7
Graham Coxon (thanks Bruce)

Overall not much to get excited about!

Greeny

New Grand Drive on my doormat this am-I'll let you know!

Bruce

Got to agree: Any why is everyone so positive about Franz Ferdinand. I bought it and tried soo hard to like it. But, on the face of it, it's a pretty fine single with a dozen b side...

Faves:
Ryan Adams, Love is Hell ... and I really don't like liking it as much as I do
Stereolab: Margarine Eclipse
John Zorn, Electric Masada
Thomas Stanko, Suspended Night
Uri Caine, Live at the Village Vanguard
Sigur Ros, Ba Ba Ti Ki Di Do
Vinicis Cantuaria, Horse and Fish
Sonic Youth, Sonic Nurse


Most years I've picked up a few better Indie/ Alt/Country records by now but I'm finding myself searching the other racks to get a buzz these days.
Do any of you remember the Mick Farren titanic article in 1975 bomoaning the state of contemporary music? It was followed by three of the most exciting years ever! Maybe this is the lull and the days of retro rock ( Franz/ Scissors/Fuss: all basically tribute bands to better days) might be over soon.

I read an interview with Davendra Banhart in Wire: sounded pretty interesting but was then compared to early Marc Bolan - not a good thing IMO. Is it worth getting? Ludwig's usually spot on with these things.
Kevin

quote:

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Originally posted by kj burrell:
Got to agree: Any why is everyone so positive about Franz Ferdinand. I bought it and tried soo hard to like it. But, on the face of it, it's a pretty fine single with a dozen b side...

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That was my feeling too. I liked the single enough to buy the album, but got bored and disappointed half-way through and see no reason to listen to it again.

I'm glad the Gang of Four and Wire are getting namechecked, but the bands who are doing the namechecking mostly don't seem to be bringing much of their own to the party.

Bought the Uri Caine the other day, I agree, really good.

-- Ian

It's a classic listen to lots for 2 weeks then throw away album. Comparisons to Gang of Four are frankly risible.

Matthew

2 weeks? I only got through side one once...

-- Ian

I have been led down the garden path sooooo many times by flavour of the week inkies new saviours of rock that now I don't bother any more.

Rock music is finished (well virtually)

I can't think of one rock record this year that has merited more than one play.

Other genres have not fared too well either compared to previous times.

we seem to be in a musical hiatus at the moment, waiting for Cologne shuffle fever to catch on everywhere ?

DS

OTD - Overboust - Tribal Groovy Heartbeat

quote:

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Originally posted by kj burrell:
I read an interview with Davendra Banhart in Wire: sounded pretty interesting but was then compared to early Marc Bolan - not a good thing IMO. Is it worth getting? Ludwig's usually spot on with these things.

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Yes, of course it's worth getting. I gave it 5 Nh and Matthew "Down Wit Da Kids" Robinson called it "ace". How can you beat that? I mean, we're kEwL dOoDs!!!

Oh man...not to knock any of the aforementioned, but I have such a hard time with this general subject, being 50 and a semi-retired musician. I'm told about all sorts of cool new artists; but when I hear 'em, I tend to think "that's the 5,000th time I've heard that chord progression" or whatever...I do keep my ears open, I'll listen to anything, hoping for a gift of good new music; most of my contemporaries, if they buy anything at all, are buying a Springsteen box set or something. I'm just about to slice open the shrinkwrap on the Secret Machines album, hoping...I'll also get the Bees album when it appears here, sounds like something I'd like. Otherwise, it's waiting for XTC to release a new album, or King Crimson, or Jeff Beck, or Neil Finn or whoever believes in classic songcraft and accomplished playing.

Greying at the temples and falling into my porridge...

You like music with chord progressions? How quaint!

Matthew

There is so much interesting new stuff out at any given time that I don't see how it's possible to make an informed judgment about how this year shapes up relative to others. I'm still digesting a lot of music from last year <burp>

Anyway, there has been some fine pop music this year from Mission of Burma, Morrissey, Animal Collective, Sonic Youth, Les Savy Fav, A. C. Newman, The Walkmen, Jason Forrest, Kanye West, and probably many others that I have yet to hear.

The internet is such an incredible resource for finding new music that I have no sympathy with those who claim they can't find any (sorry David S and bhazen). Look, you can go to allmusic or other review sites, read reviews of new bands and follow links to countless others, and then more often than not track down sample tracks to try, all for free. Anyone serious about music is going to find new stuff they like if they make an effort.