Saturday, July 16, 2005
She ruled the toads of the short forest, and every newt in Idaho.
FZ's classic instrumental album that eerily foretold the climax to The Ring.
My friend Paul recently put up a meme/obligatory roll call on his blog about his summer reading. I thought this would be a good chance to talk about my summer listening.
My summer listening almost came to a tragic end yesterday. I lost my 40 MB MP3 player (my beloved Nomad... which actually is more of a WMA player, but you get the point). But my hero Megan found it, and called my house. So in 3 hours I will go to reclaim my baby.
I have had a weird summer because a lot of bands I like released albums. This is a rare event for me because bands I like are dead and gone for the most part.
Beck's new album was very good, and if you buy the "Hell Yes" EP, you get some truly great alternate versions that stand well as entirely new songs (they are all orchestrated with Atari noises). System of a Down released an incredible metal album which simply owns. Nine Inch Nails, who I am not a fan of, released a mediocre album. So did Queens of the Stone Age, which hurts my feelings. The Gorillaz released a hit and miss album that seems like a dash for cash. At least Mindless Self Indulgence released a killer CD. Too short, but killer. Best of all, The White Stripes put out a CD that may seem less rockin' on the surface, but is just as great as ever, and a little more mature. I can't listen to "Blue Orchid" without playing air guitar.
So what am I listening to? A lot of Frank Black, for one. Some stuff never gets old in the summer (like The Doors, Lou Reed, Minutemen, Nation of Ulysses, and Steely Dan). In all honesty, I have been heavily rotating The Seatbelts' box set (Yoko Kanno is so awesome), Shudder to Think's "Pony Express Record", and the Akira soundtrack.
I still listen to last years stuff a lot too. I didn't have the time to properly dissect each one during the school year. I also still love the newest Radiohead, which sort of "got it right" when it comes to mixing rock with the Kid A noise. New hip hop CDs last year from De La Soul and MF Doom both make me very happy, as they are stealing hip hop back from crunk. Ween's "Live in Chicago" launched my lazy fandom into idol warship. Prince's "comeback" CD "Musicology" was very good, although I have yet to buy it. And, the almighty Steely Dan released another new CD, which I still haven't bought. I purposely have avoided both Morrissey's and Duran Duran's new releases. I just don't feel like being disappointed.
There has been a lot of bad, cookie cutter nu-metal music coming out, along with crappy pop. But not all metal has been bad. I dig a few of the tracks on the most recent Marilyn Manson CD (Golden Age of the Grotesque). "(s)Aint" is as inspired as metal gets. I have been digging on Anthrax's "Greater of Two Evils" CD, where they re-record classics from their past with the new lineup, live in the studio. It is sooooo good. In a metal kind of way.
In the meantime, I have been getting in FZ (Frank Zappa) lately. A friend of mine, Randy, dubbed some stuff off for me, and I picked up "Overnite Sensation" and the above pictured "Hot Rats" CDs. If you can ignore his perverted humor that pops up from time to time, you are treated to some killer orchestration mixed with even more killer rock guitar solos. I can see why the guy is an underground legend. He has released well over 30 albums over 30 years, and like a true artist went through varied periods... so depending on your tastes, there is something for you to love (or hate). I cannot get the songs "Dirty Love" or "Camarillo Brillo" out of my head.
Too bad he passed on, although I think in the era of over-the-top humor (ala South Park and Eminem), his schtick had worn thin, and no one wanted to recognize his musical genius. Anyway, a great guy to look into if you have burnt out on what you are into now. I mean, who could hate a guy that named an album "Sheik Yerbouti."
Looking forward there is good news and bad news. The good news is that Stevie Wonder has a new CD coming out this year, and the first single is fantastic ("What the Fuss?"). The bad news is that Better Than Ezra and INXS are trying to make comebacks.
And, to quote Chris Griffin, "That's enough, John Mayer."
Horns up.
Comments:
"Some stuff never gets old in the summer (like The Doors, Lou Reed, Minutemen, Nation of Ulysses, and Steely Dan"
Yeah Nation of Ulysses...so go see Weird War with me on the 28th! If I don't see you on this trip back home...I'll get in touch with my mob connections. Well not the actual mob, but a mob of people nonetheless.
If I don't see you, I'll book you a future flight to San Francisco to see me & get you a room in the Castro district. I hear they have some good B&B's there...Bed & Bondage. You better come out to play. Call me!
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Yeah Nation of Ulysses...so go see Weird War with me on the 28th! If I don't see you on this trip back home...I'll get in touch with my mob connections. Well not the actual mob, but a mob of people nonetheless.
If I don't see you, I'll book you a future flight to San Francisco to see me & get you a room in the Castro district. I hear they have some good B&B's there...Bed & Bondage. You better come out to play. Call me!