Wednesday, July 27, 2005

skittle induced mini record reviews

Arthur set out on a limewire quest to discover gold nuggets, lucky talismans, vestiges of quality and inspiration in the musical indie-rock genre. After consulting the oracles he collected a large number of samples and I have been perusing them now for two days while punching the beige keys and publishing the medical ether scrolls. Reviews as follows:

Winners:

be your own PET - the album is called Damn Damn Leash - listened to a few songs from this. Straight ahead messy rock, touch of punk (a la this overtired current trend, yes). but, the female vocals are great and lyrics great(ie, dumb but enough). It's familiar musical ground but it works for me. I am going to buy the record.

Black Mountain - self-titled. a hundred references for this band from Journey, Meatloaf, zep, Roxy Music, etc - & I only listened to 2 songs. I really dug this. Operatic rock, could seem too clever for its own good with the combo-sound, calculated maybe, but I got over it. Read the review on Pitchfork Media for better explanation.

Architecture in Helsinki - in case we die. crazy stylistic combos, horn sections, fancy singing, drum machines/keyboards, real drums, psychedelic passages, kind of pink floyd but without the classic rock part? hard to describe. male/female singing parts. one song lyric goes "just yesterday
was walking on the moon with your stalker". good stuffs. the songs I have really switch up a million times a la fiery furnaces, but for me WAY WAY less irritating. I might have to buy this too.

The Hold Steady - Lyrics-story driven songs, backed by traditional rock band, like a bar band. I didn't like it on the first listen but is growing on me. The media is going crazy for this band right now. will see in concert soon here.

Maybes

Hot Snakes - Automatic Midnight more straightahead stooges-esque rock. but they have a song called 'no hands' about a guy with stumps. (I'm talking to you Sammy NO hands) He says "i can do this with stumps' many times.

The Ponys - Laced with Romance are you a fan of the Brian Jonestown Massacre? it's like that but with a different kind of vocal. I'm a sucker for this kind of thing so i like. It has that great jangly early stones guitar thing and is catchy but with attitude, not dork, somehow i could listen to these kinds of songs for the rest of my life and be happy, but might be too boring for some. Prerequisite: the 2 Nuggets boxed sets.

The Dears - A Smiths cover band, well they don't say that on the album i bet but it is. There is one song called warm and sunny days that i liked then it slipped into a nostalgia trip and became embarrassing.

Not so Much

new Son Volt - heard some of the songs. i like the sound of the songs but the lyrics are LAME and CHEESY and i cannot get past.

Tegan and Sarah - no. alanis morrisette. terrible. folky rap singing cheryl crow like.

Xiu Xiu - serious dramatic blip acoustic guitar. pained. it pains me greatly to listen to this. but lots like it. not me. sensitive singing. blech. it makes me want to pick scabs.

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the recomendations, FB. I must look into.

AH!!!!!!!! Skittles. The nuggets of wisdom.

fairy butler said...

CYHSY... i like it fine. it is not my favorite somehow, but it is good to also mention. yes.

Anonymous said...

Thanks FB and Arthur! I love the Clap your hands.... I read about them in some mag. and looked them up.
I will look up your other suggestions when I am home in the room of sound. I love getting new tunes.

fairy butler said...

yes, I love the new tunes. I am going shopping after work to other music. trouble trouble. please pass on your summer music pix sometime. i am listening to my smog friend now. it is soothing.

Anonymous said...

I will, although you will probably know them all. I am gonna give it some thought. I can't go to other music. I would go way over my budget. That place makes me wanna buy EVERYTHING. They could sell me a porno soundtrack....

fairy butler said...

i know... although i get very nervous in there so usually dash to what I want, pay, and exit. We shall see if that is the case this time.

sloth said...

FB, your recommendations are much valued and appreciated. You are a thinker of thoughts, and an adept listener.

Beyond being good advice, though, they are also very entertaining to read! Your really terrific writing should be more widely published and read. This is a heartfelt wish from Sloth.

sloth said...

p.s. Architecture in Helsinki sounds intruguing. Plus I'm obsessed with Helsinki.

fairy butler said...

oh, thanks sloth, but they are hardly verbalized thoughts. i am glad you are able to get my shorthand. the arch. in helsinki cd is very odd. I bought it today. it's pop definitely - it reminds me in a vague way of the mink lungs but with more carnival and more varied stuff. it could be annoying to some, but i'm kind of digging it.

fairy butler said...

black mountain cd kicks ass if you are a led zep, blue cheer, vu fan - must enjoy the classic rock stylings.

fairy butler said...

note: arthur & yo are off to the wilds tomorrow...posting may become sporadic. we will create a mushroom circle of power this weekend in hopes to restore balance to the pscychic field... reduce dampening. we will spread out the daisy love. you may feel it tickling the underside of the pads of your ring fingers... do not fret.

Anonymous said...

I love Black Mountain FB!!!!! They are amazing.

Have fun in the wilds with arthur! We will miss you.

Mountain Man said...

Wow I have to get to work learning about the new. I have been in musical dullards land lately, need to update. Thanks!!! Have fun this weekend!

sloth said...

Fly away, Fairy Butler... cavort with passion and vigor! Or relax and close your eyes, and listen to the universe-music.

Anonymous said...

yeah FB, happy cavorting! I wish you thrills, chills, but no spills.

Watch out for fungus.

Anonymous said...

Have an excellent weekend FB! The daisy dew of the u-formation is ever present and ready for you.

Anonymous said...

FB, It is very still in here. There must be trouble. Financial squad car?

Anonymous said...

I mime the stump action of hi to you. Fairy Hi. It is good to see you in this handless manner.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful and informative web site. I used information from that site its great. »