I really enjoyed learning about other forumites’ musical tastes and wound up picking up quite a few new favorites thank to everyone.  Here we go again…

(old thread right here)

I’ve been re-visiting a few classics lately - “Let It Bleed” by The Rolling Stones (solid album end-to-end - “Monkey Man” is a very under-appreciated track - hearing it pop up on an episode of “Entourage” made me dig out the CD); “Odyssey and Oracle” by The Zombies (another album which rates as a great listen from beginning to end - they never really re-captured what made this first LP work so well IMO); “Moby Grape” by Moby Grape (if you have any appreciation for late ‘60s rock and roll buy this album NOW - really amazing, criminally unknown).

What about everyone else???

DJ Shadow - “Endtroducing” (A classic of turntablism, still sounds as cutting edge as it did back in ‘96.)
Erdem Helvacioglu - “Altered Realities” (Intriguing ambient abstract guitar/electronic stuff.)
Best Boy Electric - “Songs Of Latitude And Longitude” (Decent little slowcore album featuring Low’s first bassist.)
Clan Of Xymox - “Medusa” (I’m a huge fan of Pieter Nooten’s “Sleeps With The Fishes”, and this album features many of the songs from that disc, albeit in a gothier, dancier mode.)

I’ve been trying to catch up with new releases myself. If it has been a lack-luster year in music it’s only because I haven’t been digging enough. Been skipping back and forth between…

Cease Upon the Capital’s self-titled starter - Say what you will about the rep of Emo, every so often there’s a slew of good material and this is a brisk and punchy effort, almost as much warm shoegazer as it is emo and after namedropping the excellent Envy as an influence it makes sense that they’re sweeping up an epic soundscape as well.

Grails - Burning Off Impurities. Most of these post-rock bands tend to bore the shit out of me lately but this one stands out in the crowd.

Lights Out Asia - Tanks and Recognizers. This is bound to be an end of year favourite. Again it’s a bit shoegazery though this time meshed with hazey electronica. While the sounds themselves are multi-layered it’s not a complex record, just crushed up fuzz and ambient drone that soothes the noggin when you need to unwind.

Yakuza - Transmutations. It’s just big solid rocks that manage to be positively huge at the best of times and clever at each moment inbetween. They deserve more attention.

BtoFu - July 24, 2007, 1:45pm

Lights Out Asia - Tanks and Recognizers. This is bound to be an end of year favourite. Again it’s a bit shoegazery though this time meshed with hazey electronica. While the sounds themselves are multi-layered it’s not a complex record, just crushed up fuzz and ambient drone that soothes the noggin when you need to unwind.

I’m checking these guys out right now, and I like what I hear.  Reminds me a little bit of Hammock, but I think I like this a little better.  Maybe it’s all of those squiggly little electronics.

Recent likes..

The Go! Team - Proof of Youth
My Little Airport - Zoo Is Sad, People Are Cruel
Shels - Sea of the Dying Dhow
Engineer - Reproach
World’s End Girlfriend - Hurtbreak Wonderland

And I just snagged the new Dntel, which was rather flat on first listen...a grower p’haps.

The National - Boxer
The National - Alligator
Interpol - Our Love to Admire
Joy Division - Closer

It’s been that kind of week ... just ordered about half of the short list for this year’s Polaris Music Prize, too.  Go Canada!

Todd Brown - July 29, 2007, 5:13am

The National - Boxer

Is this as good as everyone’s been saying?

Opus - July 29, 2007, 6:06am

Is this as good as everyone’s been saying?

Oh, hell yeah.

Got a couple other things I think you’d dig today, Opus, both from the Polaris short list.  New records by Patrick Watson (produced by the guy who does The Arcade Fire and Wolf Parade and it shows) and Miracle Fortress.  Both are on Secret City Records ...

Just got the new CD from Carta, The Glass Bottom Boat.  Nice, melodic instrumental stuff a la Unwed Sailor, but a little fuller and richer in sound.

Currently on..

The Mirimar Disaster - s/t
The Lionheart Brothers - Dizzy Kiss
Monkey Hole - Termites Don’t Respect the Temple of God
Eluvium - Lambent Material

Man, I was going to say I love the new They Might Be Giants album, but I’m afraid I might get beat up. In all seriousness, Collin, if you dig Odessey and Oracle, check out the Zombies 4 disc box set that came out about 10 years ago. It’s amazing. As for the Stones, I’ve always been partial to Their Satanic Majesty’s Request. What a great record.

The World On Higher Downs - Land Patterns
Pandatone - Happy Together
Himsa - Summon In Thunder
Galactic - From the Corner to the Block
Engineer - The Dregs

And a couple of old favourites..

Casino Vs. Japan - Go Hawaii
Ufomammut - Snailking

Tis rather quiet in here!

Trephine - s/t
Beecher - Breaking the Fourth Wall
Shuta Hasunuma - OK Bamboo
Down - Over the Under
Knut - Terraformer
Film School - Hideout

I’m currently listening to:

Ry Cooder - Chávez Ravine
Efterklang - Tripper
Björk - Best of and Vespertine (which has quickly become a favorite of mine)
Radiohead - The Bends
The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds

I know some Bjork fans who look down on Vespertine, but it’s probably my fave Bjork album so far.

Some recent items in rotation…

Epic45 - May Your Heart Be The Map (My review)
Lycia - Cold
Lights Out Asia - Tanks And Recognition
Miracle Fortress - Five Roses
mwvm - Rotations
Piana - Eternal Castle
The Mary Onettes - The Mary Onettes

Rosetta - Wake/Lift
Super Extra Bonus Party - s/t
Beecher - This Elegy, His Autopsy
Yellow Swans - At All Ends