I need some good new bands to listen to. Hook a brotha’ up…you’ll pretty much see what I’ve been listening too based on the posts here.
Who’s Listening to WHAT these days? Anything good?
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Top 40 Music Sucks! - A New Music Blog 
The two records or CDs or collections of downloadable media that I’ve been listening to that are both relatively new and good are The Raconteurs – Broken Boy Soldiers and Arctic Monkeys – Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not.Jack White’s side project made a damn good record. The pop single, Steady As She Goes, rocks with an uptight back beat and massive choruses. There’s a pretty impressive Rush impersonation on Hands. But the stand out track for me is Blue Veins – a slow blues that just blows it down (and I’m no blues fan). The last verse is entirely backwards and the production is amazing.Arctic Monkeys have thoughtful lyrics and hooky melodies. The singer/songwriter/guitar dude is the whole show. The rest of the band sound like 18 year old punks, which is a) not bad, and b) what they are, but any other young punk rhythm section would probably do. The lyrics are prescient (“there’s only music so that there’s new ring tones”) and the tunes are crafty (When the Sun Goes Down opens with the singer and a guitar playing an almost 20s vaudvillian intro), and this makes the record.Listen to enjoy.
The two records or CDs or collections of downloadable media that I’ve been listening to that are both relatively new and good are The Raconteurs – Broken Boy Soldiers and Arctic Monkeys – Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not.Jack White’s side project made a damn good record. The pop single, Steady As She Goes, rocks with an uptight back beat and massive choruses. There’s a pretty impressive Rush impersonation on Hands. But the stand out track for me is Blue Veins – a slow blues that just blows it down (and I’m no blues fan). The last verse is entirely backwards and the production is amazing.Arctic Monkeys have thoughtful lyrics and hooky melodies. The singer/songwriter/guitar dude is the whole show. The rest of the band sound like 18 year old punks, which is a) not bad, and b) what they are, but any other young punk rhythm section would probably do. The lyrics are prescient (“there’s only music so that there’s new ring tones”) and the tunes are crafty (When the Sun Goes Down opens with the singer and a guitar playing an almost 20s vaudvillian intro), and this makes the record.Listen to enjoy.
It’s good to hear from you el ticknor mi amigo.The Raconteurs have a killer website. I’m gonna check em out. Especially when there’s backward verses and RUSH impersonations involved.Now isn’t The Arctic Monkeys the band that got so popular on MySpace that they got signed? Also goin to check those guys out.Have you gotten into The Sea and Cake yet? You would dig ’em as well as Sam Prekop’s solo work as well as possibly Tortoise which is John McEntire’s (Sea and Cake drummer) project. The Sea and Cake is sonically jazzy and driving with a large touch of lounge. While Tortoise’s music is a bit more progressive. All good listens.
Recently signed band called Cold War Kids are definitely worth a listen. Check out their MySpace page. They may be the next indie darlings, thopugh they have to ditch their bassist — his mom must own the van. The lead singer is steady on the keyboards and has great vox. He’s pretty much the story.And they are still real young. I saw the bassist get carded afte a gig and he had to play the “I’m in the band” card, which worked.
Interesting those Cold War Kids. He’s got a pretty cool voice and there’s….piano! I’ll have to check ’em out at Cafe Du Nord on Sept 9th. Thanks for the heads up. Any others? Upcoming ShowsSep 7 2006 8:00PThe Casbah San Diego, CASep 8 2006 8:00PThe Troubadour Los Angeles, CASep 9 2006 8:00PCafe Du Nord San Francisco, CASep 11 2006 8:00PDantes Portland, ORSep 12 2006 8:00PCrocodile Cafe Seattle, WAOct 21 2006 8:00PIceland Airwaves Festival 06′ Reykjavik
Here’s my “must have” albums. The one’s I’d take on a desert island. Post yours.RUSH: HemispheresRUSH: SingnalsAgent Orange: This is the VoiceMichael Hedges: Breakfast in the Field7 Seconds: OurselvesPrimus: Sailing the Seas of CheesePrimus: Frizzle FryAnthrax: Persistance of TimeP.O.D.: Payable on DeathHelmet: Size MattersHelmet: BettyHelmet: Strap it OnFrank Black: Teenager of the YearDinasaur Jr: Green MindAt the Drive In: Relationship of CommandBlind Melon: SoupBurning Brides: Fall of the Plastic EmpireYes: DramaWeen: Chocolate and CheeseWeen: 12 Golden Country GreatsVan Halen: Women and Children FirstVan Halen: Fair WarningThe Sea and Cake: One BedroomThe Police: SynchronicityThe Pixies: BossanovaThe Flaming Lips: Coulds Taste MetallicThe Cure: WishThe Afghan Whigs: CongregationTed Nugent: Double Live GonzoTaproot: WelcomeStevie Ray Vaughan: Texas FloodSteve Vai: Passion and WarfareSoundgarden: BadmotorfingerSonic Youth: Daydream NationSonic Youth: Murray StreetSonic Youth: DirtySmashing Pumpkins: GishRollins Band: End of SilenceRadiohead: Kid AR.E.M.: GreenR.E.M.: DocumentQueens of the Stone Age: Rated RQueens of the Stone Age: Songs for the DeathThe Presidents of the United States of America: The Presidents of the United States of AmericaPorcupine Tree: Deadwing+/-: You are HerePink Floyd: MeddlePhish: Picture of NectarPhish: LawnboyPhish: RiftPavement: Wowee ZoweePat Metheny: Imaginary DayNonpoint: StatementMother Hips: Part Time goes FullMidnight Oil: Diesel and DustMegadeath: Rust in PeaceMarcy Playground: ShapeshifterLiving Colour: VividKings X: Gretchen goes to NebraskaKings X: Faith Hope and LoveJohn Scofield and Pat Metheny: I can see your House from HereJane’s Addiction: Nothing’s ShockingJane’s Addiction: Ritual de lo HabitualIron Maiden: PowerslaveIncubus: Make YourselfHUM: Downward is HeavenwardHoobastank: HoobastankGreen Day: American IdiotGenesis: AbacabFaith No More: Angel DustBela Fleck and the Flecktones: UFO TofuDeath Cab for Cutie: PlansBabe the Blue Ox: PeopleBens Fold Five: The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold MessnerBlinker the Star: Bourgeois Kitten
Here is a really good site paxtejana turned me on too that has a lot of good music reviews some free downloads, news, and a lot of new music. Check it out here
Dude,Living Color’s Vivid?I think you can survive on a desert island without Living Color’s Vivid.You know what’s vivid for me about Living Color? That fucking wet suit the singer always wore. Right there, Vivid should not be on anyone’s must-have.Vivid?I’m surprised you don’t have Lita Ford on there, while you’re at it. Can’t survive on a desert island without some Lita Ford, not if Living Color is involved.Jesus Mother Mary Joseph and the twelve apostles.
DUDE…2 words – Vernon Reid. Nobody should live on a desert with out Vernon Reid. Also, I meant cop a feel – you know…what you do to men’s balls. Throw your must haves up there Chaddly.
What I do to men’s balls?Hey, I’m not the one saying that I need to be with some guy named Vernon Reid on a deserted island, buddy.Sounds to me like you want to cope some balls.Must haves?All right. Let the carnage begin.The Beatles catalogueYo La Tengo catalogueDavid Byrne/ Talking heads catalogueMichael Bolton catalogueJim Ruiz – Oh Brother Where ARt Thou?David Bowie 1972-1979Genesis- Lamb Lies DownGenesis-Selling England by the PoundVernon Reid’s BallsBach’s Brandenburg ConcertosBach’s Passion of St. MatthewMatthew Sweet – Altered Beast (total guilty pleasure)Men At work – Business as us.Men At work – CargoColin Hay – peaks & valleysColin Hay – Going somewhereXTC – Oranges & LemonsXTC – Apple VenusXTC – SkylarkingDonald Fagen – NightflySteely Dan – Royal ScamCaetano Veloso – Domingo (one of my all time fav’s)Paul Simon catalogue up to and incl Rhythm of the SaintsSimon/Garfunkel – what the hell the whole damn thingBrian Wilson – SmileBeach Boys – Pet SoundsBeach Boys – Smiley SmileBee Gees’ – Saturday Night FeverBelle & Sebastian – Tiger Milk (great debut album)Bob Dylan – Bringing it all back homeCrowded House – WoodfaceCurtis Mayfield -Back to the WorldDef Leppard – PyromaniaZbigniew Priesner – Requiem for my friendYazbek – DamascusYazbek – TockYazbek – The Laughing ManPolice catalgoueStevie Wonder – Talking BookStevie Wonder – Songs in the key of lifeStevie Wonder – InnervisionsSpinanes – ManosPhil Collins – Face ValueOingo Boingo – Halloween concert liveNick Lowe – ConvincerNick Lowe – greatest hitsNick Drake catalogueMIchael Franks – Sleeping GypsyMichael Franks – Art of TeaJoni Mitchell – blueJohn Lennon – ImagineJohn Lennon – Plastic Ono BandJohn Lennon – Double FantasyFuck Paul McCartney (sick of him at the moment)Joe Jackson – Look SharpGeorge Harrison – All things must passGeorge Benson – breezinFlaming Lips – Soft Bulletin (way better than Yashimi)Paul McCartney – McCartneyPaul McCartney – RamCharlie MIngus – Tijuana MoodsMiles Davis – In a Silent WayJohn Coltane – Crescent (my personal fav)Robert Palmer – Sneakin Sally through alleyRobert Palmer – Double Funoh, also a stereo system. I’ll need that too on the desert island.let the carnage begin, gentlemen
Vernon Reid’s balls: HAHAHAHA!Michael Bolton catalogue: HAHAHAHA!BEE GEE’s: You need therapy.I know you were kidding about Vernon Reid’s balls and Michael Bolton, but the BEE GEE’s! DUDE! You couldn’t live with out the BEE GEE’s!? Thank gawd I wouldn’t be stuck on that same island with you or I might end up a beauty with a dick in its ass.
The Bee Gee’s are required listening. I’d go beyond Saturday Night Fever though — what about ‘How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?’ or ‘Tragedy’, classics.Obviously:Beatles catalogPolice catalogVan Halen catalogElvis Costello catalogbut I haven’t really listened to the must haves too much lately. I did listen to Van Halen II all the way through the other day. Kick ass.Yesterday I got the new M. Ward record and the Hold Steady’s latest. Oh, and some Yves Montand.I think I’m starting to be bored with music. I love the iPod shuffle. I also love Corey Glover’s balls. The wetsuit would come in handy on the island.
hahaha! Yeah the yellow body glove wetsuit would surely come in handy. Not much to say about Will Calhoun or Doug Wimbush though. Oh, and who in the hell are the last 3 artists you mentioned? Are they new or vinyl style?
I should clarify the Michael Bolton catalogue. Only the albums pre-haircut. There’s musical magic in the mullet.Bee-Gee’s, man. I would think you’d appreciate them, Mike. There’s some technical wizardry going on in Saturday Night Fever. If you like Breezin’ it’s not a huge leap to the Bee-Gee’s, I mean they’re separated by only, like, a single chromosome.Forgot about Elvis Costello.I suppose the first six or seven albums would suffice. I would probably go from My Aim is True up to Get Happy! He never really did a bad album. It pains me a little to not have King of America or Spike, but this is a deserted island we’re talking about here.Forgot about Les Baxter as well. I’d have one of his greatest hits.Maybe a little Ween.Mike, did you notice no Rush on my list? How’s that make you feel?By the way, did you know that both Geddy Lee and Neil Pert both have Bee Gee’s Saturday Night Fever on their list of 50 greatest albums of all time? Alex LIfeson put it at 51 so it didn’t make his top 50. And did you know that they did not include a single rush album on their top 50 list?How does that make you feel, Mike?Tell me.I want to know.
It makes me feel sad. And you are a big ‘ol liar re: Geddy (or should I say Gary Weintraub), Niel, and Alex’s Top 50 albums. Big fat liar. That’s right. Big AND fat liar. Liar. liar. Liar. Elvis Costello makes me want to vomit too…what do you think about that? Huh? How does that make you fee? Like cop’ing some balls?
Oh, and let’s talk Michael Bolton. w/ or w/o hair he only belongs in one place. An elevator…straight to bad music hell. Oh, and you need to pick up some RUSH albums…geez.Last thing, have you heard of Marillion? Someone at woek just turned me on to them. Very Genesis like. Not sure if I dig ’em yet or not. Only on my first listen.
Before I post my list, I want to note that I picked one album per band and tried to keep the list fiarly short. If there were no limits to the albums you could bring (the entire catalogue?) then it’s not much of a desert, now is it?In no particular order:Van Morrison – Astral Weeks Richard Buckner – Bloomed Modest Mouse – The Lonesome Corwded West Calexico – The Black LightBonnie Prince Billy – I See A DarknessPalace Music – Viva Last BluesWilie Nelson – The Red Headed Stranger Pixies – Surfer RosaGuided By Voices – Under the Bushes Under the StarsPrimus – Sailing the Seas of CheeseThe Shins – Oh, Inverted WorldThe Connells – Fun ‘n’ Games Boogie Down Productions – By Any Means Necessary Pavement – Slanted and EnchantedBob Dylan – The Freewheelin’.. .EPMD – Strictly Business Joni Mitchell – Blue Rush – HemispheresNew Pornographers – Mass RomanticYo La Tengo – And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside OutNeutral Milk Hotel – In an Areroplane Over the Sea 7 Seconds – The New Wind David Bowie – Hunky Dory Phish – Picture of Nectar Towes van Zandt – Be Here to Love MeRadiohead – The Bends Ryan Adams – HeartbreakerTom Waits – Closing TimeBelle and Sebastian – If You’re Feeling SinisetrAir – Moon SafariThe Sea and Cake – The BizPeter Tosh – Wanted Dread or AliveNick Drake – Bryter LaterRobert Earl Keen – Gringo HoneymoonLyle Lovett – The Road to EnsenadaUncle Tupelo – AnodyneThey Might Be Giants – FloodBob Marley – Catch a FireREM – Out of TimeSmashing Pumkins – Siamese Dream John Prine – Sweet RevengePaul Simon – GracelandLucinda Williams – Car Wheels On A Gravel Road
Necessary addenda:Chris Whitley – Dirt FloorOld And In the Way – Old And In the WayRolling Stones – Sticky FingersElton John – Honky ChateauCurtis Mayfield – SuperflyNWA – Straight Outta Compton Wilco – Yankee Hotel FoxtrotBruce Springsteen – The Ghost of Tom JoadMichael Jackson – ThrillerStevie Wonder – Talking BookJane’s Addiction – Ritual do le HabitualVelvert Underground – LoadedMerle Haggard – That’s the Way Love GoesSteve Earle – GuitartownCat Stevens – Teaser and the FirecatIndigo Girls – Rites of PassageGreen Day – KerplunkDead Kennedys – Bedtime For DemocracyTori Amos – Little EarthquakesBeastie Boys – Paul’s BoutiqueLed Zeppelin – Physical Grafatti
Mike fell for the Michael Bolton trap.It worked beautifully.Now phase two of my plan may commence.
to paxtejana,the desert island game is to reduce your albums to what you think are the core essentials so there are some artists that the entire catalogue is a core essential, like the beatles or Michael Bolton or Vernon Reid’s balls.Whether you’re chosing a particular artists entire catalogue or 100 artists single albums doesn’t really matter. You know why? Because it’s only a fairy game that Mike made up.so, paxtejana, if that is your real name, while I can appreciate and even admire the Astral Weeks album that I forgot to list on my own desert island list, I have to say that, for the sake of spicing up Mike’s blog, you need to shut the hell up.You’re in my world now, Grandma.I don’t really mean that.I’m a pussy.Good list, Paxtejana. Good list.Mike sucks.Might I commend you Paxtejana for your omission of Living Color.
Oh shizzle my nizzle…it looks like the war is on. Let’s sit back and enjoy the ride.”In the left corner we have Chadd Schaefer…and in the right corner we have paxtejana”DING…DING
Just dawn on me that I did not put The Stone Roses’ first, eponymous album on my dessert island list. That’s what sucks about dessert islands, you always forget to take something really precious with you.