I went by the Tower Records closing sale on Sunday, and picked up a bunch CDs. Some are good, and others are laughable:
Tripping Daisy "Bill" - This was their first album, and isn't quite as "twisted" as their later albums. It's still fun, though.
Cafe del Mar "Vol 2" - Chill-out music that does it's job. This is great for work, as it's exudes energy, without being too distracting. It's a little more non-descript than volumes 6 and 7.
The Brides of Dr. Funkenstein "Live at the Howard Theatre 1978" - I couldn't resist the title. It's pretty awful, but might be better later at night after a few stiff drinks. 
Gay Dad "Leisure Noise" - I'm not sure who suggested this to me originally, but I found it in the long list of "planned" purchases in my Palm Pilot. This a great album: energetic pop, with lots of hooks, quirky lyrics, and general fun.
Tom Wilson's "Planet Love" - This has a good portion of roots rock, but often flirts with shades electronica and other styles. I listened to this at pretty low volume in a client's office, and it sounds very promising for future spins. BTW, it's a Canadian release, and I've not been able to find any information on it from my usual sources. It was featured on the cover of Eye Magazine (one of our weeklies here in Toronto) a few months ago. Addendum: I just realized that this is the Tom Wilson from Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, which explains the roots rock side of things.
Madder Rose "Hello June Fool" - This is laid back and relaxing, with a touch of folk and that sound everybody likes to call "alternative pop". At times it reminds me of a Glasgow folk-pop band called Five Guys Named Moe. (FGNM were Canadian, but never "made it" until they moved to Scotland).
There were a few more that I picked up, but I haven't had a chance to listen to them yet. I might report back on them later.
BTW, I'm still listening to Gay Dad. It's too bad their name is so silly, as I think it detracts from the respect they deserve for their music. (It kinds of reminds me of the situation with Barenaked Ladies.)
-=> Mike Hanson <=-
[This message was edited by Mike Hanson on TUESDAY 25 September 2001 at 03:40.]
[This message was edited by Mike Hanson on TUESDAY 25 September 2001 at 04:03.]
Posted on: 25 September 2001 by Former member
Just got back from the nearest independent music store to me (about 30 miles away). And the trip was fairly successful despite the less than favorable trade in credit I received. This round is a bit heavier than usual for me and not for the sonicly delicate (you've been warned).
The F*cking Champs - IV(Drag City) -The first time I heard this at a friend's place, it took both sides to fully digest it. But, now I admit I believe that I am about to rock (salute me?). And so I did, when I saw them last Thursday in Los Angeles. Don't let the Drag City tag fool you, these guys are 100% metal to the core (no indie rock here - half the audience was confused). Two guitars, one drummer and all instrumentals. They represent the mutated byproduct of 25+ years of metal. No attitude, no image, no lyrics - just music. These guys are rock gods. The songs are powerful, intense, strangely arranged, and a bit tongue-in-cheek (particularly with names like What's a little Reign? and NWOBHM 2). I'm convinced they are really on to something.
Carcass - Reek of Putrefaction (Earache) - First album from the gridcore/gore masters. Insanely humurous but digusting lyrics (you have to read them, unintelligable in the music) and retentless music make this a classic. It still makes me giggle to think that vegetarians wrote songs with names like "Regurgitation of Giblets" and "Microwaved Uterogestation".
Emperor - IX Equilibrium (Century Media) - If your music collection (like mine) can really only handle one Norweigian Black Metal album, this one should be on the short list. An apex of the genre.
DJ Scud/Rich Kid - Murder Sound (Ambush)- Extreme genre pushing drum n' bass, dub and dancehall. I use those categorizations loosely as any accessible aspects of those styles have been uncleanly ripped away by an onslaught of distortion, white noise, and intense sine waves.
Coil- Constant Shallowness Leads to Evil (Eskaton) - One of the things I love and hate about Coil is the unpredictability of the sound/style of each record. I've listened to Coil for about 10 years and I like what they do but not nessecarily all incarnations. Fortunately, I like this one quite a bit (more with each listening). Its a departure from their foray into "twisted techno" that started with Love's Secret Domain and has a bit of The Angelic Conversation in it, but much more precise and a bit lighter in mood. Slow building intensity and subtle changes are a treat for the active listener.
Thats it. I'll do jazz and classical next week. I promise.
-brad
[This message was edited by soundzero on TUESDAY 25 September 2001 at 15:19.]
Posted on: 25 September 2001 by Thomas K
Brad, even the names and titles on their own are quite amusing – music must be a real laugh …
Joe Henry, "Scar"
Anyway, this is my album of the week. I did a search on the forum and was surprised to find that only Paul Darwin has mentioned him before. Very relaxed, groovy, hard-to-define music with a bit of lo-fi and surprising bits and pieces thrown in here and there, e.g. an intriguing solo by Ornette Coleman. Good production with some of the driest bass I have ever heard.
Thomas
