Hey folks, Harry here… I feel a bit like Woody Harrelson here, giving you a look at my wife… of course if you’re Robert Redford, she’d leave me in a heartbeat for you. Yeah, even if he looks like weathered leather. Yoko (Patricia) is a wonderfully self-loathing companion in life. From the moment I met her she’s been recommending music, taking me to concerts and immersing my ears with not just modern obscure and not so obscure jewels… but great things that I simply had missed over the years. She is a music junkie. Perhaps not THE expert on music that someone out there is, but AICN has never been about the refined expertly crafted opinion. It’s been about people with a passion and a love for something expressing and sharing that irrepressible love with the rest of us. She will be brutally honest, but she will also be schoolgirl drunk in love with things. This is an experiment for AICN, one that she and I have hopes for… and she’s looking for real feedback from you – and partners on her musical discovery, which may lead to a new area on the site if we find an audience. I hope you enjoy this her first column -
This article has been a long time comin'. I've asked Harry many times in the past to cover music on the site, and he would always retort with the suggestion that I write whatever I thought was lacking. However, 22 years seems hardly enough time to have listened to enough music to speak with any authority about that immeasurable subject. While still of that mindset, I would like to approach this endeavor as an opportunity to explore music retrospectively while also discovering what's here now and what to anticipate.
The idea is to cover whatever catches my fancy which could include pop, rock, folk, psychedelic, experimental, electronic, hip hop, and jazz. This is my first time doing this, and I hope to put out some more articles that turns y'all onto to new things, cause I have definitely learned a lot just from this first attempt.
Working on a Dream
Bruce Springsteen
Super Bowl XLIII's half time performer's brings us 12 new tracks plus "The Wrestler", Darren Aronofsky's film that shares the title. From what I've heard of the title track, this seems to have a more Americana and a little less pop-y. Are you a fan of joy? You might want to pick this up.
Tonight:Franz Ferdinand
Franz Ferdinand
As danceable as ever, this junior album seems to jump all over the board from syncopated/reggae rhythms on "Send Him Away", to electronica melody of "Live Alone". "Can't Stand Alone" reminds me of a great 80's dance song that could have been a great dance anthem like "Sunglasses At Night", but is missing a driving beat and a hipster hook that "Sunglasses" provides. However the opening track, "Ulysses", definitely does not lack the driving force of a heavy beat. A great junior effort by the Glasgow quartet.
The Crow New Songs For The 5-String Banjo
Steve Martin
Imagine Kermit on his lily pad, with his earbuds hooked up to his iPod, reminiscing about the good ol' days when he and Steve Martin would just hang out and jam. This is Martin's first full compilation of Banjo tracks. On a previous comedy album, The Steve Martin Brothers, side two consisted of the bluegrass stylings of Steve Martin on banjo.
Boombox
Kylie Minogue
I love when labels decide put together compilations of "rarities". This one is made up of remixes and things of that nature that had previously only been available on singles, vinyl, or imports. To be frank, I'm not the biggest Kylie Minogue fan. Not to say I dislike her, but I hold a sort of indifferent view. However, I LOVE what Death Metal Disco Scene did with "Wow". They make Minogue sound downright animalistic with the opening bars of "wow, wow, wow, wow." This also features one of those mash ups you kids seems to be into these days that is of Minogue and New Order's "Can't Get Blue Monday Out Of My Head."
Ray Guns Are Not Just The Future
The Bird and The Bee
Be sure to have your dental hygienist's number readily available, because after a listen to this album you will surely be able to spin cotton candy from your saliva from the pure sugary sweetness of this music. Hopefully not as repetitious as "Fucking Boyfriend", or "Again, and Again" (I know, with a title like that, who would think repetition, right?), since these really began to wear on me after a few play throughs. Although the duo are personally influenced by old jazz standards, they have a floaty pop/psych/electronica sound that has filled dance clubs across the country.
Down the Line: The Rarities
Buddy Holly
Another great compilation of hard to come by songs. If I'm not mistaken, the opening track of the disc 1 is Holly's first known recording, "My Two Timin' Woman", made on a wire recorder, and is full of other "garage" recordings. Take time to observe the Day the Music Died next week.
Best Kept Secret
Leona Lewis
Leona Lewis, fame by way of the television show, the X Factor, put out my favorite major pop album by a female vocalist. That's right. I liked it better than I Am... Sasha Fierce. I'm putting that out on the table. Spirit was very reminiscent of Mariah Carey in the '90s, and Lewis' single from this latest album is very much in the same vein.
Tricks of the Senses
Incredible String Band
Great British pysch-folk band from the mid '60s/early '70s. This is a bunch of their live recordings, and radio sessions. Also a part of the illustrious line up of Woodstock '69 which will be celebrating their 40th anniversary this year.
Jon Brion Remix EP
Of Montreal
The man behind most of the scores for Paul Thomas Anderson's films remixed a couple of Of Montreal songs, and no, they are not about visiting your local chain steakhouse for their latest blue plate special. My favorite from what I can gather from little snippets is the acoustic version of "First Time High." It's nice to hear a simplified Of Montreal song when the band's music is usually is fully layered and complex.
Two Nice Catholic Boys
Loren Connors, Jim O'Rourke
Very experimental album. Jim O'Rourke being the more recognizable name out of the two for his five year stint as a part of Sonic Youth, and work with Wilco (his participation with them delivered my two favorite Wilco alums, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and A Ghost Is Born.) Loren Connors is best known for his work as an improvisor on acoustic and electric guitar. This is the second collaborative work released together by these two. This is a 47 minutes is a just a fragment of a decade's worth of recording.
Keep You Friends and Lovers Close, and The City You Call Home Closer (EP)
Headlights
This is probably no the best introduction to the Headlights if you are not familiar with them. I would suggest starting with their previous album "Some Racing, Some Stopping." Erin Fein's vocals remind me of Jane Heller's from the Arrogants. A little shoe gazer, a little twee, quintessentially indie pop. This latest release is made up of three separate radio sessions from this past year of touring. I can't wait to catch them at this year's SXSW.
Dear John
Loney Dear
Evidently, punctuation within band names are no longer in keeping with indie rock's style. So, you can reference Panic at the Disco without raising your voice, and now, say Loney Dear without the correct pause the comma had formerly alluded to when mentioning them while conversing. Phew, I'm glad we addressed that. So, the band that had previously been referred to as Loney, Dear, has a new album out on Polyvinyl. Loney Dear is sorta difficult to categorize, but I believe they almost fit in that folk-pop genre that has been so popular in the indie scene lately. They will be touring this year with Andrew Bird. Another couple acts I will be popping in on during SXSW.
This Pussy Belongs to Me
Rudy Ray Moore
The real Black Dynamite. Aka DOLEMITE (RIP)
Julie Ruin
Julie Ruin
Head of Le Tigre? These are their roots. Kathleen Hanna released this "self-titled" album under the pseudonym of Julie Ruin that was part of a sort of sub genre of riot grrrl rock. Hanna got a couple of friends together to create the live version of this album, and this trio became Le Tigre.
So, that's it! I hope I covered a good range of things. This was a fairly interesting week. Next week seems to be a bit weaker, but I think I might throwing up a few music-centric DVDs, like the Cure on Blu-ray. Well, until next time...
Peace out
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