You can really tell that the *Minutemen *moved their musical scions in all
the right ways with this splendid covers compilation. 33 tracks, and not
one band does a disservice to the Minutemen's legacy! That's usually not
the case with covers compilations. Every band on this compilation channels
the heart and politics of our beloved punk heroes perfectly; while also
infusing their own brand of sound.
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Monday, October 06, 2008
Yeah Yeah Noh - Leicester Square - The Best Of (2001)
Despite being hatched in the none-too-rock'n'roll environs of Leicester
University (and, apparently, containing alumni from Leicester Poly plus
Birmingham and Liverpool Unis as well) it's curious as to why Yeah Yeah Noh
have so far failed to be awarded the ubercult status of, say, Wire or The
Blue Orchids, considering that they produced virtually the only genuinely
psychedelic music that wasn't retro (allowing for a few exceptions like
Julian, the Television Personalities and the early Mary Chain of course)
during that fallow 1984-86 watershed period in the annals of UK post-punk.
This compilation, cherry picked by lead singer and lyricist Derek Hammond
with assistance from Tim Madgewick, showcases a fine treasure trove of songs
that drew little or no public attention outside their home town bar the
standard accolades fom the John Peel / NME axis.
University (and, apparently, containing alumni from Leicester Poly plus
Birmingham and Liverpool Unis as well) it's curious as to why Yeah Yeah Noh
have so far failed to be awarded the ubercult status of, say, Wire or The
Blue Orchids, considering that they produced virtually the only genuinely
psychedelic music that wasn't retro (allowing for a few exceptions like
Julian, the Television Personalities and the early Mary Chain of course)
during that fallow 1984-86 watershed period in the annals of UK post-punk.
This compilation, cherry picked by lead singer and lyricist Derek Hammond
with assistance from Tim Madgewick, showcases a fine treasure trove of songs
that drew little or no public attention outside their home town bar the
standard accolades fom the John Peel / NME axis.
Saturday, October 04, 2008
Sentridoh - Free Sentridoh Songs from Loobiecore (2002)
Here's another *Lou Barlow* solo album, and again it's lower than lo-fi.
Twenty-three songs with just Lou, his acoustic guitar, and the occasional
whistling and subtle keyboard sounds, probably recorded in his bedroom. There
are some astonishingly good songs on this, or maybe you should call them song
ideas, but whatever you call it it's impossible not to see the genius in some
of them. It's all very raw but strikingly personal, without being depressing.
There are some fillers but also stand-out songs like /Mountain on the Hill/
and /The Devil & The Barbie Doll/.
Twenty-three songs with just Lou, his acoustic guitar, and the occasional
whistling and subtle keyboard sounds, probably recorded in his bedroom. There
are some astonishingly good songs on this, or maybe you should call them song
ideas, but whatever you call it it's impossible not to see the genius in some
of them. It's all very raw but strikingly personal, without being depressing.
There are some fillers but also stand-out songs like /Mountain on the Hill/
and /The Devil & The Barbie Doll/.
Family Fodder - Savoir Faire - The Best of Family Fodder (2002)
One of the most obscure new wave bands of the 80s, and one of the very best.
In fact, putting them in the New Wave category is harsh injustice, as they're
far more creative than their peers. Picture a cross of *Blondie*, *This Heat
*and *Devo,* and you're still pretty far off from what this sounds like.
In fact, putting them in the New Wave category is harsh injustice, as they're
far more creative than their peers. Picture a cross of *Blondie*, *This Heat
*and *Devo,* and you're still pretty far off from what this sounds like.
*Family Fodder* released a series of compelling, now collectable singles and
albums between 1979 and 1983. Described as 'entertaining idiosyncratic
experimentalism' with pop sensibilities, they were best known for indie-chart
hits such as 'Debbie Harry', 'Playing Golf (With My Flesh Crawling)' and
'Savoir Faire', More recently, Family Fodder songs have been covered by *Zion
Train* and *Unrest*, and they've been hailed as 'unsung heroes' in The Wire.
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Marine Research - Sounds from the Gulf Stream (1999)
A rather harmless twee pop album by the Ex-*Heavenly* band *Marine Research*.
It does have its charming moments, and features the excellent song /"You and
a Girl"/, which may be the only track on the album that strays from the
beaten path. Released in '99 on K Records, it remained their only full
release.
It does have its charming moments, and features the excellent song /"You and
a Girl"/, which may be the only track on the album that strays from the
beaten path. Released in '99 on K Records, it remained their only full
release.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
The Upsetters - Upsetters 14 Dub - Blackboard Jungle (2004)
The absolutely amazing re-issue of the classic 1973 /Blackboard Jungle Dub/
by *Lee "Scratch" Perry and the Upsetters*. If you've heard any of the
various releases of this album before, forget what you thought you know about
it. David Katz managed to pull off the impossible and remastered this album
from an original pressing (the master tapes had long been lost), using analog
equipment, and carefully giving it new life. The result is absolutely
astonishing. AMG's David Jeffries is spot on:
by *Lee "Scratch" Perry and the Upsetters*. If you've heard any of the
various releases of this album before, forget what you thought you know about
it. David Katz managed to pull off the impossible and remastered this album
from an original pressing (the master tapes had long been lost), using analog
equipment, and carefully giving it new life. The result is absolutely
astonishing. AMG's David Jeffries is spot on:
RjD2 - Dead Ringer (2002)
His debut LP for Definitive Jux, DJ/producer RJD2's /Dead Ringer/ is a deeply
creative and musically poignant hip-hop record for summer 2002. Creating a
raging underground listenership from a series of 45s and white labels and
being the only non-MC signed to Def Jux, RJD2's talent as a DJ and as
producer, to match beats and lay cult/pop gems over dusty soul tracks, is
paralleled only by people like DJ Shadow [1] and Z-Trip [2].
creative and musically poignant hip-hop record for summer 2002. Creating a
raging underground listenership from a series of 45s and white labels and
being the only non-MC signed to Def Jux, RJD2's talent as a DJ and as
producer, to match beats and lay cult/pop gems over dusty soul tracks, is
paralleled only by people like DJ Shadow [1] and Z-Trip [2].
[1] http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:wnfwxqqgld0e
[2] http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:hpfyxqlhldte
Sunday, September 28, 2008
The Distillers - The Distillers (2000)
If you believe that punk rock started around 1975, the year 2000 would mark
its 25th anniversary. At the end of the 1990s, not many of the early punk
bands were still together -- the Sex Pistols [1], the Clash [2], the Damned
[3], Sham 69 [4], and the Dead Boys [5] had long since broken up. But punk's
influence remained strong; young punk bands were still emerging, and
countless alternative rockers claimed punk as a major influence even if they
weren't punk artists per se.
its 25th anniversary. At the end of the 1990s, not many of the early punk
bands were still together -- the Sex Pistols [1], the Clash [2], the Damned
[3], Sham 69 [4], and the Dead Boys [5] had long since broken up. But punk's
influence remained strong; young punk bands were still emerging, and
countless alternative rockers claimed punk as a major influence even if they
weren't punk artists per se.
[1] http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:kifoxqr5ldke
[2] http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:gifqxqw5ldte
[3] http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:difwxqe5ld6e
[4] http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:hifpxqr5ld0e
[5] http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=1:THE|DEAD|BOYS
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Experimental Audio Research - Beyond the Pale (1996)
Recorded in 1992 and promised to appear shortly after /Mesmerised/ [1]'s
release, /Beyond the Pale/ only finally surfaced four years later, on a
completely different label than indicated. Arguably this had something to do
with Kevin Shields [2], who makes his one and only appearance on an E.A.R.
[3] album with the first track, also the title song -- perhaps they had to
remix it to death or something.
release, /Beyond the Pale/ only finally surfaced four years later, on a
completely different label than indicated. Arguably this had something to do
with Kevin Shields [2], who makes his one and only appearance on an E.A.R.
[3] album with the first track, also the title song -- perhaps they had to
remix it to death or something.
[1] http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:wzfyxq8hldfe
[2] http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:wpftxqegldse
[3] http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=1:E.A.R.
Murs - The End of the Beginning (2003)
A ten-year hip-hop veteran, Murs doesn't want to be called an up-and-comer
anymore, and he proves his maturity with one of the most refreshing rap
records in years, an excellent debut for Definitive Jux named /The End of the
Beginning/. Murs has an old-school flow that recalls Ice Cube [1], and unlike
many in underground rap, he's not only got a clever delivery but a lot to
say.
anymore, and he proves his maturity with one of the most refreshing rap
records in years, an excellent debut for Definitive Jux named /The End of the
Beginning/. Murs has an old-school flow that recalls Ice Cube [1], and unlike
many in underground rap, he's not only got a clever delivery but a lot to
say.
[1] http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:aifrxq95ld6e
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