Music

[commandercranky]

I've been listening to some really great music lately, which I thought I'd recommend:

1. Congotronics 2 - V/A - This is a compilation of bands from Kinshasa, released by the people who brought Konono No. 1 to international (European/North American) attention. Nine tracks by nine bands, and at least 3 of them are house-flatteningly good.

Comments

[shinybolt]

I've been sort of out of the music loop for years since I stopped working in food service. But, now that I'll be riding a bus a lot to DC and a friend loaned me her extra Ipod Nano (!), I've been thinking about music a lot again. Lately I've been listening to some older CDs of mine since I'm trying to save $. I've been listenging to PJ Harvey a lot lately and remembering why I love her, especially the Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea album. Plus, Dispatch got me totally hooked on Antony and the Johnsons and the Books. Those are my recommendations, though all those feel like old hats.

I LOVE Congotronics 2. And I'm glad to hear about that Roots album, as I was just wondering about it.

[commandercranky]

Interesting - I was a huge PJ Harvey fan in the early to mid 90's, and still go back to some of those albums (Rid of Me especially, but also Dry, and the 4 track demos from around that era, which were also released on CD). But I could never get into Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea. Too smooth, mostly. I'm sure it's good stuff, but I missed the snarl and the bombast.

[shinybolt]

I like the older stuff, too, but have been listening to that album a lot lately for some reason. I like the smooth. Guess that's why I was never into punk!

[slanderous]

I've been listening to Nouvelle Vague (French chanteuse covers of 1980s New Wave and punk hits, like Echo and the Bunnymen's "Killing Moon" and Dead Kennedys' "Too Drunk to Fuck"), and an old favorite, the Rezillos (Can't Stand the Rezillos LP). New stuff? The new Yeah Yeah Yeahs album. Pretty much, I've been listening to a lot of dance-y music that doesn't require "moves." My dancing looks like a three year-old on speed, or like a throwback to the '80s.

Last night I listened to Kelly Osbourne's "One Word." It's so catchy!

[commandercranky]

Woah - chanteuse cover of "Too Drunk To Fuck" sounds wonderful. I assume it's at like 1/8 of the original tempo?

[slanderous]

Check it out here!

I used YouSendIt to upload it for your listening pleasure!

[commandercranky]

Too cool. We live in the future. Thanks!

[commandercranky]

1. STOP TYPING TO ME ABOUT IT AND PUT THE DAMN THING IN YOUR STEREO AND TURN IT UP LOUD.

2. Yeah, I knew that "kids these days" all want to sound like Gang of Four, but I don't know who decided that - the bands themselves or the unimaginative illiterate music press - because they sure don't sound a damn thing like it.

3. I agree about Phrenology. Lots of people didn't like it, but I don't know why. It was brilliant, I think. The Tipping Point should have been an EP. There were a few songs I liked a lot, but that was about 4 of them. OMG - how about the part of Dave Chappelle's Block Party where the Roots are doing that song off The Tipping Point where Black Thought mimics Big Daddy Kane, and then woah, Big Daddy Kane comes out to rap it himself. Pretty cool.

Okay, I have to plead ignorance on Satyricon, Enslaved, and Tussle. But if they're good metal then I want to hear about it.

[commandercranky]

1. NO, REALLY. DO IT.

2. I know that it's true, but I find it hard to believe that the Au Pairs and Delta 5 were considered inconsequential. I think that riot grrrl helped bring them back.

I might have to investigate Enslaved and Satyricon.

[icki]

On regular rotation here in the basement:

•V/A - AK-79: Absolutely great compilation of old New Zealand punk from the late '70s into the early '80s. I've been listening to the CD reissue more when I'm scanning negatives because it's twice as long as the LP version. That means I don't have to get up to flip the record, plus twice as much music!
•Can - Tago Mago 2xLP: Quintessential kraut rock. I've also been throwing on a "best of" CD when I'm scanning.
•Kinks - lots of everything of theirs.
•Pretty Things - lots of everything of theirs too. Kind of a more rough & dirty Rolling Stones ('60s & early '70s era).
•Battleship - s/t: From Oakland. As intense (and fun) as their live show. Sorta like Monorchid meets Black Flag? Bad description, but not entirely off the mark.
•Flamin' Groovies - Shake Some Action: Probably one of my all time favorite albums. Brilliant power-pop with a solid bite.

Ummm...it looks like almost all the stuff I've been listening to is old. I'm really looking forward to the new River City Tanlines album. They're

[slanderous]

Battleship - s/t: From Oakland. As intense (and fun) as their live show. Sorta like Monorchid meets Black Flag? Bad description, but not entirely off the mark.

Actually, I think that's not a bad description. I was thinking myself the other day that Battleship's energy is not unlike Monorchid's.

[commandercranky]

If it's anything like the AUS/NZ stuff you sent me before, then I'm gonna have to check out that comp.

I'm not sure that I have any frame of reference for the Monorchid. I'm probably long overdue for a good listen to them. They're playing that Touch and Go fest, aren't they? I'm jealous that you and slanderous are gonna see The Ex. I look forward to a full report about the weekend.

[icki]

Yeah, I pulled a lot of the New Zealand stuff I sent you from the AK-79 comp. Great, great stuff.

Monorchid...hmmm...they were Chris Thompson's band after Circus Lupus. I never paid much attention to them (or Skull Control, his band after Monorchid) at the time because A) I didn't realize Chris Thompson was in the band; B) Lots of annoying DC hipsters were always raving about them, which turned me off. Maybe ADD punk (as in attention deficit disorder) could be a decent way to describe them?

[whitegato]

i listen to of electronic stuff, dont really know if thats in your line or not

daedelus - denies the day's demise. kinda like amon tobin circa permutations but a couple steps up
marc mac - right to be civil. he gave it away as mp3s a while ago at omniverse but i saw the cd for sale recently and it reminded me to pull it out again. instrumental hip hop, lots of civil rights samples, more tek9 than 4hero.
sam rivers - the complete blue note sessions. i used to go see him all the time and i've been homesick lately. he is way, way out there.

also good the new erase errata, oneida and zero db.

The Lunabombers

[red_mouth_ghost]

Lately I've been listening to these guys: http://www.myspace.com/thelunabombers

Re: The Lunabombers

[commandercranky]

I think I know these maniacs in person. Or at least one of them. Yes?

Re: The Lunabombers

[red_mouth_ghost]

Um, I think there may be only one of them. And yes, you do know them. They haven't recorded anything since "Destroy the Moon" but are looking to soon. Seriously. Befriend them on MySpace.