Hey there cats. What a week it's been in politics, hey? Nevermind. To the music. This week there seems to be a bit of a Best Of thing happening. That's mostly a case of not knowing which album to chose and wanting a variety of songs from the artist. Anyway, it looks like this.
US3 - Broadway & 52nd
US3s debut album, the very cool Hand On The Torch was in last week's list. It was good to hear it again. This is the equally groovy follow up. By the third album, An Extraordinary Day in an Ordinary Place, something wasn't quite right with US3 for me. 
The Whitlams - Truth, Beauty and a Picture Of You
Maybe it was the link to Gough Whitlam and his dismissal, or maybe it was Juli Gillard's 'aphrodesiac' red hair, but The Whitlams sprang to mind this week.A Best Of retrospective of Tim Freidman and co. I was late to The Whitlams, I'm ashamed to say. JJJ turned me on to them with No Aphrodesiac. It's a shame, because by that time they had already had several solid albums and told a great many tales of Australian suburbia.
Conor Oberst - Conor OberstThe self-titled solo album (as if there's much difference) from Mr Bright Eyes is more of the same, wonderfully whiney yet quirkily optimistic indie jewels. I can't get enough Bright Eyes. If there's a cooler song than Lua about drug and alcohol abuse, I haven't heard it. But I can't pass up an opportunity to point out that the Gillian Welch and Conor Oberst duet version is far superior to the Bright Eyes original.
James 
Brown - Sex Machine
Get on the good foot cats, get up off that thing and feel good. The Godfather of Soul. The hardest working man in show business. The amazing Mr Please Pleas himself, JAMES BROWN! Ow!!!
Every day can suddenly become a lot less stressful and a whole lot more energised with a dose or two of the Godfather. Warning - may cause severe Funkitis. If effected, perform an immediate Boogiectomy.
Van 
Morrison - The Best of Van Morrison
After disrespecting Van the Man last week by pointing out that Patti Smith does Gloria better than he does, I thought I'd pay penance and remind myself of all the songs the man does best. From the pure romance of Moondance to the sweet soul of Sweet Thing, you got to love Van.
Miles Davis - The Birth of the CoolNothing I could write about Miles Davis or this album would ever do either true justice. This is just what it says it is - The Birth of the Cool. The brand new cool jazz sound that took the genre out of bebop and exploded into the 1950s is here exemplified by Miles Davis and other exceptional talents including Max Roach on drums and Gerry Mulligan on saxophone.
VA - Uncut: The New Frontier
A collection of various alt-country tracks compiled by Uncut Magazine in 2007. I do love me some alt-country. This one has Bright Eyes - Lua, funny enough, as well as great tracks from The Dexateens, Sufjan Stevens and Josh Ritter. It's not often I put compilations on my list, but a good bit of twang is always appreciated early in the week.
The Stooges - Funhouse
Because I usually reach for The Stooges outstanding self-titled debut, I decided to go with the follow up for something a little crunchy. The chaotic swirl of the 1970 is in enjoyable contrast of the rockabilly roll of the previous album's 1969 - as if The Stooges were taking anarchy into the new decade. That's fairly befitting considering these guys were Punk as all get up before there was such a thing.
Grinderman - Grinderman
Again, this is not my usual Nick Cave related fare. I'm usually all about the sombre poerty of No More Shall We Part and The Botman's Call and such. So I grabbed another bit of crunch instead. I'm not sure whether Grinderman are ever bringing another LP out, but this one is a bit of fun.
A Tribe Called Quest - The Low End Theory
And finally, another album by an artist from whom I usually grab another. Ordinarily, I'd be listening to Midnight Marauders (as I think most casual Tribe fans would) so I am playing The Low End Theory this week, Just as jazzy and cool as Midnight with all the usual fun and games from Q-Tip and co. Brilliant for a Friday ot get the day started.
There we go for another week. Happy weekend you crazy kids.
First things first; what do you think of the new blog format? I didn't design it (shaaa, as if). Blogger offered a bunch of new templates (I suppose in an attempt to fight WordPress 3) and I picked one. I like it. It even made me change the way I do things and I've uploaded the artwork this week. I probably won't do that on busy weekends.
So to the list. There's a very odd retro vibe going on this week and I'm not entirely sure why. I've hit the 70s hard, but come up with some 80s too. Even an album from the 00s is called 1972 and sounds like the year.
Okay, so it's probably because I had my birthday last week. Shut up.
Josh Rouse - 1972Well it was my birthday this week just gone and yes, I am that old. Either way, this album is smooth as freshly spun silk and Josh Rouse somehow finds a way to make music sound like a period of time without being the style of that period. I found Josh Rouse through this album that I only bought for the title. Sometimes, that really works. I'm still a huge fan of all he's ever done. 
Cat Stevens - Tea For The TillermanYusef Islam was recently in the sleepy little hollow of Perth for a concert. I did not go and see the man, but many did and seemed to report only good stuff. What I found quite cool was that Mr Islam took the time out to take his family for a walk along Scarborough Beach. Of course they were spotted by the local rabble, but by all accounts he was accommodating in signing autographs and taking photos.
Bruce Springsteen - Greetings From Asbury Park N.J.The other day I played a list of songs that haven't been played on my iPod since I had to restore it. One of them was It's Hard To Be A Saint In The City. It reminded me that before he was a bona fide dinosaur, corporate rock star, The Boss was, well, The Boss. And one thing about The Boss was, he sure could tell a story. This is the man of the hour's very first album and it's alive with cityscapes and shady characters of all manner - all meticulously fleshed out with Bruce's careful Jersey words. PS I have it on vinyl too.
Joni Mitchell - Hejira
This is among my favourites. I have the vinyl and the CD. I've been a Joni Mitchell fan since I heard Blue after it made the Rolling Stone 100 Best Albums of All Time list. I've since discovered that nearly every album from Joni Mitchell is a different style from the last. With Hejira, she has sculpted sparse landscapes of rolling sound like a cross country road trip in an old car. Jaco Pastorius' bass under Joni's jangling chords is the ebb and lull of a long dry highway. Much of the lyrics are small town, truck stop style vignettes and Refuge of the Roads sings to the freedom of open spaces and the insignificance of us all. Even the artwork shows an open road in transparency within Joni's clothes, even as she stands in an isolated landscape. This album right here, this is the business.
Hank Mobley - Soul Station
I got hold of this album after reading yet another fine article on my iPad. Whether it's Salon, The New Yorker, NPR, USA Today, The Observer or even Cool Hunting, I'm always finding great articles on my iPad that were obviously always there, but not so conveniently.
I don't even recall where it was, but I read a list of must-hear albums. I have a decent collection of jazz LPs and many were on the list, but I hadn't even heard of Mobley. I figured I'd better remedy that.
Meatloaf - Bat Out Of Hell
Does anyone over the age of 30 NOT have this album? Back in the day, nobody under 30 was without it. It's corny, it's camp, it's a little self-indulgent and over-produced - and that's just the good bits! You have to hand it to old "Bitch Tits Bob", he can belt out a tune like he means it. This is a rock classic and will always be good for a listen every now and then.
Devo - Freedom of Choice
There's a certain kind of music that for some reason sounds really good while working but just okay when out and about. Devo for me definitely fits the description. I'm not usually a big fan of synth style pop, but it sits well in headphones. This LP contains the biggest hit of Devo's career - Whip It. The stand out track for me though is probably Girl You Want.
You Am I - The Cream & The Crock
I needed something that would rock a lot to shake off some of the warm lustre of Hejira and the bubble gum corn of Meatloaf. This is my choice.
An unappreciated Australian treasure, if we don't hold on to them, they might leave for New Zealand - much like Tasmania. Stand out track on a great compilation is still the sparkling grunge of Berlin Chair.
Jakob Dylan - Women + Country
Wow. Someone sure looks like his Dad up on that horse. I haven't heard this album yet, but mini-Bob has teamed with the awesome Neko Case and Kelly Hogan on a T Bone Burnett production. The LA Times review said,"...the 11 tracks of “Women and Country” are similarly dressed with low-key Americana atmospherics." That and Neko Case were reason enough for me to give it a whirl.
Ro Spit - A Different Arrangement
I had never heard any Ro Spit when a Jazz Hop blog I read posted this album. It's actually being distributed for free and you can download it from the page to which the artwork is linked. Beyond even the cool of Jazz Hop, this album seems to be solid rhyming to Berry Gordy Motown arrangements - think The Supremes. It sounds like an interesting mix. I'm looking forward to a proper listen. Give it a try, it's free.
US3 - Hand On The Torch
While trying to pick another Hip Hop / Rap album, I constantly kept coming across this. I'm adding the persistent little devil to my list because it is an enjoyable listen. We all know the great hit from Triple J's Hottest 100, Canteloop (Flip Fantasia) which was a few bouncy rap rhymes and samples over a loop of Herbie Hancock's Canteloupe. The rest of the album is just as smooth, laid back and jaunty and I really like it.
Television - Adventure
The follow up to the scintillating perfection of their debut a year earlier, Marquee Moon, Adventure is often overlooked or not rated by fans and critics alike. After reading an indignant Aquarium Drunkard post admonishing the ignorance people had of this album, I realised I didn't even know it existed. What could I do, besides give it a spin? If it's half what Moon is, I won't be disappointed.
That's the list done. Until next time cats, be excellent to each other.
Patti Smith - GloriaSo anyway, I don't really have a song of the week this week. I've been listening to a lot of music, but once again it's rolled right over me. I really got into Whiskeytown - Faithless Street when I ran out of playlist, but they get over-represented (by me) in SOTW so I didn't want to go with them. So what I did was look at everything on this week's playlist and pick my favourite song of all of them. That's how I got a song that I've probably used before.I have gone on record as saying this cover outstrips the original Van Morrison & Them track by a long way. Them do it bluesy with a little bit of a sexy growl. Patti Smith blows the doors of it with insatiable and violent lust. I can't imagine what a scene it would have caused on release. No wonder Punk pissed the parents off with naughty little pseudo-lesbian minxs like Patti screaming about hot chicks called Gloria.Now of course, sexual innuendo and carnal longing are the norm and dressed up with pop princess bubbles. But back then, I'm betting this was shocking. I love it because it straight out rocks. It drags you along from the opening quiet scowl of "Jesus died for somebody's sins, but not mine" on a path of destruction that crescendos somewhere around Smith yelling "ding dong! ding dong! ding dong!" about the bells in the street. Brilliant. Sorry Van, but you got pwned.So that's my Not song of the week. I didn't intend to write that much on a song I picked the way I did; it just kind of came out :) Hope you like the listen anyway.
Well it's my birthday on Wednesday. You can buy me gin if you like. Or I am quite partial to Apple bluetooth keyboards. Or not. Thanks for nothing, punks. The good news is we have a new coffee machine ready for pick up. So I don't have to grimace while drinking instant anymore.
This week's list is a bit all over the place. I have gotten a bit of inspiration from everywhere and it shows in a the mish mash of styles that made the cut. It looks like this:
- Okkervil River - Overboard & Down: Just a 5 track EP that @sunky recommended. I do like these guys; sort of melancholy drunk indie rockers with the slightest touch of country.
- LCD Soundsytem - This Is Happening: I first heard this band when I bought their Sound of Silver album for a workmate for Secret Santa. I don't know if she enjoyed it, but I really did. This is their new one.
- VA - I Am Sam OST: Good performance by Sean Penn and a great bunch of Beatles covers on the soundtrack. If anyone besides the Fab Four can play Let It Be and not sound like a try-hard douche, it's Nick Cave - and that's just what he does.
- VA - Juno OST: When I found I Am Sam, I saw Juno just under it in iTunes. Two soundtracks in one list? Why not. Such a quirky little film and a bouncy soundtrack. I really like The Moldy Peaches. I should track down more of their stuff.
- Thelonious Monk - The Definitive Thelonious Monk: After adding Miles and Trane to my list mid week and realising how good jazz was to work to, I've slipped some Monk in this week. This guy owns pianos like the ocean owns the ships that sail it.
- Public Enemy - Yo! Bum Rush the Show!: I needed a hip hop fix for the week. As well as possibly getting hold of Eminem's Recovery album, I've gone with PE's debut for the love of its beats and grooves. The rolling growl of You're Gonna Get Yours sounds like every great day I had in 1987.
- Ben Kweller - Changing Horses: Every good list for me needs a little alt country twang. Kweller's most recent is probably more country than alt, but still feels right.
- Otis Redding - The Complete Stax-Volt Singles 1959 - 1968: Earlier this week, my wife and I spoke with Miss 3 about the songs she would dance to when she was Miss 1's age. Songs like Love Train, Respect Yourself and Respect. She told us "I love those songs!" to which I replied "Me too. They're the only kind of songs that really matter." So, after the wife accused me of brainwashing our child, I decided to add a little Soul to the list. I took all the Otis singles off this 9 disc compilation.
- Patti Smith - Horses: I'm just going to say it, so brace yourself; Patti Smith's cover of Gloria is better than Them's original. There, now that's off my chest... This is a fine album. Punk as hell from 2 years before punk broke. Pity I was only 3 and my parents weren't cool or I would have grown up listening to this great album.
So that's it, that's all, that's all there is. Off to pick up the Manna... ah coffee... machine in a bit. If you hear a sigh, wherever you are, it's just me getting my first taste of machine coffee at home for a week.
Ciao amigos \m/
Tonight's post was mostly written on my iPad. I wrote it in Pages and then was going to paste it into Blogspot, but for some reason, the Compose window wouldn't take a paste. So I emailed it to myself in Word format and I'm going to paste it in here. Did I mention how much I'm loving the iPad... any less than a bazillion times? Best. Birthday. Present. Ever. Thanks to my wonderful wife. < / iFawn> To the list!
- Ryan Adams - Orion : Released on clear vinyl, Orion is a metal / rock sci-fi concept album / probable satire. Adams in the past has tried country punk, noise pop thrash and everything in between; this is Radams does Metal.
- Ozi Batla - Wild Colonial : Distinctively voiced member of Oz Hip Hop outfit The Herd, Ozi has recently released his latest solo joint.
- Bob Dylan - Bob Dylan : A then 20 year old Bob Dylan's debut that sounds like an 80 year old blues man signing off. In the bluesier tracks, you can hear where Led Zeppelin might have taken some influence - either from Bob or the same legends he was emulating.
- Toad The Wet Sprocket - Dulcinea : Another old favourite that saw a lot of walkman play in the 90s, I'm spinning it to see how it's held up. If you've never heard them, Toad are a sort of more subdued R.E.M. with the slightest touch of The Smiths.
- Elastica - Elastica : Formed by two departing Suede musicians, Elastica were a part of the Brit Pop scene of the mid-90s.
- VA - Dark Was The Night : Double album of indie acts for charity from the people who brought us Red Hot & Blue and No Alternative. Stand out tracks include a duet version of Lua from Conor Obst and Gillian Welch as well as The National singing about Pavement in So Far Around The Bend.
That's it for this week. Long weekend well under way. Play safe out there kids.
Liked the Dave Rawlings album I played this week. One track in particular was a stand out. It made SOTW. My email:
Last week I happened upon The Dave Rawlings Machine playing live on NPR and a video of a performance of To Be Young (Is To Be Sad, Is To Be High) which Rawlings co-wrote with Ryan Adams. Turns out the songs played were from Rawlings' solo album Friend of a Friend, so I thought I'd check it out. It's kind of like a Gillian Welch album with drunken vocals. It's a hoot.
I chose this song, Ruby, because I like the melody and the tone of the song. It sounds almost like it comes from the early 70s school of country rock - like a lost and newly mastered Gram Parsons track. I think it's groovy. I hope you enjoy it.
Grinderman - Grinderman
