Radio Program, 2/17/2005, Stars of the Lid

First thing: my co-DJ Luke had this to offer last week, when I couldn't make it in to the show:

Calexico - Corona
Kronos Quartet - Mini Skirt
Cat Power - Free You Are Free
Deerhoof - Milkman Milk Man
Dub Narcotic Sound System - Sounds Narcotic
Broken Social Scene - KC Accidental You Forgot It In People
Clem Snide - Made for TV Movie
Tegan and Sarah - You Wouldn't Like Me So Jealous
Marianne Faithfull - Crazy Love Before the Poison
Johnny Cash - Jesus Was a Carpenter
Greg Brown - I Still Miss
Michael Bloomfield - Death Cell Rounder Blues
Carey and Laurie Bell - Trouble In My Way
Loretta Lynn - High On a Mountaintop
Dave Alvin - Rio Grande
Mason South - Room With a View
Iron and Wine - Jezebel
M. Ward - Hi Fi Transistor Radio
Sufjan Stevens - All the Trees of the Field Will Clap Their Hands Seven Swans
Mountain Goats - Game Shows Touch Our Lives Tallahassee
Andrew Bird - Fake Palindromes Andrew Bird and the Mysterious Production of Eggs
Grandaddy - Now It's On Sumday
Drive By Truckers - Sands of Iwo Jima
Devandra Banhart - Wake Up Little Sparrow
Sergeant Garcia - Revoluçion
The Public - The Initiative
Low - California The Great Destroyer
Professor Longhair - Jambalaya
Pierce Woodward - Leave No Millionaire Behind

As you might can tell, Luke hews a bit closer to the Americana end of things than I do, but it's a good blend. This morning's show was a pretty good one, with plenty of ambient drone to start things off, including the new Greg Davis record (soon to come - full of hottness) and, as promised, Stars of the Lid.

Stars of the Lid - Fac 21

Possibly a reference to the Durutti Column patch of the same Factory Records catalog number, or the FACUS 21 factory patch, or possibly to something I could never understand - this track is, like all SotL tracks, something I feel a little bit uncomfortable taking out of context. Of course, it's not a good idea to post 10 minutes worth of any track online, but the shorter tracks are best enjoyed as part of the cohesive wholes of each disc of this record, The Tired Sounds of Stars of the Lid. On the other hand, you do get an idea of what you're after, if not the sheer power of the record.

Order here. It's Krank050 at the very top of the page.

The Dead Texan

If you haven't heard Austin's Stars of the Lid, you're missing out on some of the most affecting and pretty instrumental music made in the last decade. On the other hand, I can understand those who occasionally have trouble with SotL. The music is present, but slow and thick - the definition of what great drone is. So, for those of you who feel like Stars of the Lid might be something you'd like, but want to ease in, check out .5 SotL side project The Dead Texan.


The Dead Texan - The Struggle

This is the final track on the self-titled record from The Dead Texan, and it's fucking pretty. More immediate than SotL and a lot poppier. Tomorrow, I'll post a track from Stars of the Lid's The Tired Sounds of... record.

Buy it, why don't you?

Hunter S. Thompson
1937 - 2005

Music is back tomorrow.

The studio was a hexagon.

Today, I have been reflecting upon last year, and the lonliness in which I stood as I ranted and raved about the Fall's record. Lonliness until, that is, my friends stopped scoffing and started listening, at which point they not only bought The Real New Fall LP, but also bought significant portions of the Fall's back catalogue, rarities compilations, greatest hits packages, argyle sweaters, etc. At one point, I was even given a Fall DVD in gratitude for my badgering about this Fall record.

The Fall - Sparta 2XX

And this is the track that hooked everybody. It's hard to argue with the raw energy and pure rock contained in "Sparta". The recording quality is the best the Fall have ever had. The drums, at times, approximate the quality found elsewhere (such as at the bottom link on this post) on This Nation's Saving Grace. The first time I showed this to my friend Adam, he almost drove off the road. Such is the power of Mark E. Smith and the Fall. And this is nowhere near the end of the quality on this record.

For the love of MES, buy it here.

Also, you should get these two records, for your self-respect if nothing else. The holy grail of drum tracking and "Ludd Gang" on one page? Bow down.

The Blackouts

Before Seattle had a "scene", there were a lot of bar bands. At least, that's what K Records says. I don't know, I was born in Alabama in 1985. But, apparently, the Blackouts were one of the first great Seattle bands, and one who never got their due (although drummer Bill Rieflin now drums for REM). K Records recently released a compliation of all their studio tracks, many of which were recorded with Al Jourgensen (of Ministry). It is quite a good compilation.

The Blackouts - Idiot

This was the first Blackouts track I ever heard, taken from the Lost Souls' Club EP, which was released in 1983 on Wax Trax! and recorded in Boston with Al Jourgensen. It remains my favorite Blackouts track. The lead singer, Erich Werner, has a voice that can hew close to a more dignified Jello Biafra - which I find delighful. He can do very interesting things with his voice.

The Blackouts - It's Clay Again

This is a previously unreleased track just on the History in Reverse comp. that K Recs just put out. Longer, sounds a lot more like the Virgin Prunes circa ...If I Die, I Die than the hard-hitting post-punk elsewhere on this disc. Drummer Bill Rieflin is fantastic.


Get the CD here.

I think that would be a very good idea indeed. Also available on vinyl LP at the same site, krecs.

Marianne Faithfull

I must confess to having never heard Marianne Faithfull prior to two weeks ago, when I walked into 'TUL to do my show, and heard the DJ before me, Brian, playing the first cut off the new record, Before the Poison. Instantly, I was sold on this record. The fact that it has some songs that even begin to reach the heights of "The Mystery of Love" is simply icing on the cake. Featuring collaborations with PJ Harvey (on 5 cuts), Graham Coxon and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (backing band for most tracks, I think) - a lot of people are comparing this one to 1979's Broken English in terms of greatness. Having never heard that one, I can't comment. I can only say that this is a helluva record and this track is a helluva track. And I'm not a big user of "helluva".

Marianne Faithfull - "The Mystery of Love"

Buy the record from her site - which I think links to (arg) Amazon.

the Grammys

Oh, lord God. I tuned in just in time to see U2 win Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, over Franz Ferdinand's "Take Me Out". Fucking hell. Now, I get to see Stevie Wonder, Aerosmith, Brian Wilson, Velvet Revolver, Billie Joe from Green Day, et al, demolish "Across the Universe". At least Brian Wilson, Bono, and Billie Joe looked moderately uncomfortable. Steven Tyler, of course, threw up all over the stage with his disgusting presence.

And then John Mayer wins song of the year for something or another. Ah, the song is called "Daughters". Haven't heard it.

Happily, Wilco did win in the "Best Alternative Record" category - not happily because A Ghost is Born was that great, but happily because I like Wilco, and I like for them to win things, like gold records and Grammys.

Tomorrow, I think I'll post some music for everyone. Yes, tomorrow.

"I like a nap after dinner/and to see the seasons come round in good order."

Today I have no music for you to check out, rather, I have spent it eating, napping, reading Basil Bunting, napping more, then scuttling around the internet like some sort of crab. To that end, I finally saw the video that has set the web ablaze, namely, the overweight guy dancing to Russian pop (excuse me, Romanian pop) in his office on a webcam. I won't give you the link, but if you're that tied up on it, Andrew Sullivan has the link about halfway down his page. Even CNN used the clip at one point on one of their morning shows, but then, CNN is trying to be energetic and newsworthy. For example, on Anderson Cooper 360, they once used Television's "Marquee Moon" as outro music. The track in question, after some research, is called "Dragostea Din Tei" by Ozone. The yodelling is very catchy. Very catchy indeed. Sort of like when I first heard "Baby" by Melody Club.

Speaking of the big fish blogger-types, also linked from Andrew's page is a gallery of fotos of Wonkette, Instapundit, AS, some NYT types &etc. hanging out at some party. They're so much prettier than I thought. Seriously. Well, most of them.

If Elton John can get away with putting his head on a jetliner, then I can get away with a day of no music stuff. Or, I suppose I could just ramble. For instance, Soon, I shall be purchasing albums by the Necks, another Stars of the Lid record (Avec Laudenum, for those keeping score at home) and some delicious pseudo-drone from Staalplaat. Yes, I am heavily in the middle of a drone phase, brought about by Slowdive, nonetheless, which has led me to pronounce The Dead Texan's self-titled record the first great album I've heard this year (even though I get the distinct feeling it was actually released last year). Superwolf is right there with it, and M83's Before the Dawn Heals Us isn't too far behind.

In other news, if you want my band's first full-length, it's available for $5. Self-promotion? Fred Durst does it, so can I. Take that, good taste.

Superwolf

With the exception of the tremendous I See a Darkness and the exceptional Viva Last Blues, Bonnie Prince Billy/Will Oldham albums usually are difficult for me to listen to all at once. They physically tire me. I love Will Oldham, which is why this is even more difficult.

Bonnie Prince Billy & Matt Sweeney - Beast for Thee

Superwolf isn't yet in the Viva Last Blues camp, but with repeated listens it's getting there. To be honest, I had trouble choosing between "Beast for Thee" and "Lift Us Up". The latter's semi-chorus is genius - the vocal melody is hopeful and destroyed from one breath to the next. But that's not the track I chose. "Beast for Thee" is a rare near-bouyant melody, probably the best collaboration between the two songwriters on the record.

Buy it over at Aquarius or from Drag City.

Dabrye

So, my first non-New Orleans-based MP3 launch. Today's track is by a guy who's been linked pretty closely to Scott Herren (of Prefuse 73, Savath & Savalas, etc.) and released the album this track is from on Herren's own Eastern Developments label.

Dabrye - D-Town Tabernacle Choir

At first, people told me Dabrye was mostly like Prefuse-lite. And, for a bit, I believed them - but Dabrye's got something else going on. He tends to be a lot more minimal than Herren in either Prefuse or Savath mode and a bit simpler, too. For Dabrye, a lot rides on the hooks he grabs up. On this track, the piano line is near-perfect. He doesn't really glitch it out too much, either. He just lets it ride. Not bad at all.

I hate to do it, butAmazon, as an import, was the only place I could find it.

Also, if you get a chance, run over to Copy, Right? and take a listen to M. Ward's Beach Boys cover. It's no "Let's Dance", but it definately takes the track to M.Ward territory.

DJ Potpie

It appears that I'm making the unconscious shift to MP3 blog, which wasn't my initial intention, but seems to be the organic unfolding of Contort Yrself's essence. I'm just channeling. To that end, the end of Mardi Gras has come and, thusly let me channel what's going on in your head today (or at some point this weekend):

DJ Potpie - Track 1 (from Hallucinations of a Deranged Mind)

I've never gotten the opportunity to see Potpie and his sine wave generator live, but I would imagine it's a contemplative evening. In fact, it appears that Potpie uses only a sine wave generator and looping pedals with occasional ebowed guitar. For such limited instrumentation, he really got a lot of variation on the 2001 release from which I culled this track. Some stuff sounds more academic, some stuff sounds more pastoral, some stuff sounds like a stripped-down version of a track or two off of the Mirages LP by Tim Hecker, which, if you've been reading, you know is high praise.

Sorry, once again, no track names, as I can't find this disc anywhere online with tracklistings or anything. I don't know where to buy any of Potpie's records either, so if anyone knows, do tell.

That's the last of the explicitly New Orleans content for a little bit - though I may put up a bit of Mr. Quintron tomorrow if the mood strikes me. If I work up the nerve to post some non-local MP3s, some of my more recent favorites might be on the way. In any event, I hope somebody has learned something about the vibrancy of the NO scene - it's more than shitty bar-funk. And apologies that I didn't get around to some other great local artists, like Mexico 1910 and Dave Mooney Trio (their track "Wrinkles" has been blowing me away, recently - great use of hip-hop breakbeat without overdoing it).

Radio show tomorrow (Thursday) morning, 8 - 10am CST, if you're up. Listen in the NO area at 91.5fm or on the web from www.wtul.fm.

Chef Menteur

In a scant 2.5 weeks, Chef Menteur will be playing their first gig in a long while, to celebrate the release of their first full-length. If you're not familiar with them, they mostly craft delicate, borderline-ambient guitar-based pieces of music.

Chef Menteur - Track 4

This is a track from their 2003 Vive La France! EP. It has some of those Stars of the Lid elements, but it's much too melodic for that category of ambient drone. It's sort of Tortoise-y, from time to time (esp. at the end, when the repeating clean guitar figure comes in), but it's not really so much like that, either. Unfortunately, I don't have the track names for the CD.

Apparently, their records will soon be out on Backporch Revolution records, whose site looks nice but apparently isn't functioning yet. Chapel Hill? It's all adding up now. Enjoy the tracks. It appears that the Vive La France! EP can be purchased at Chef Menteur's live show. Maybe on the website, if you ask them real nice. I don't know.

David Byrne & The Arcade Fire

Apparently, David Byrne joined the Arcade Fire on stage at Irving Plaza for a rendetion of "Naive Melody (This Must Be the Place)" - which, incidentally, they didn't even play when they came to New Orleans. Fuck. New Yorkers get all the good shit.

Anyway, I Rock I Roll has got the bootleg up and running. It sounds pretty nice. Go check it out.

Happy Carnival, btw.

My first show of 2005, Jan. 20

Playlist for my first radio show with Luke coming up:

Slowdive - Souvlaki Space Station
Xiu Xiu - I Luv the Valley OH!
The Virgin Prunes - Baby Turns Blue
M.I.A. - Fire Fire
Experimental Dental School - Hideous Dance Attack!
Castanets - Industry & Snow
Dungen - Panda
Joanna Newsom - Peach, Plum, Pear
Elvis Costello - Redlam
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - Abattoir Blues
Tom Waits - Alice
Faun Fables - Lightning Rods
Steve Earle - John Walker's Blues
the Fantastic Ooze - GoGo Space Girl
Death From Above 1979 - Sexy Results
Isis - So Did We
Throbbing Gristle - Slug Bait (Southampton)
Wire - Ex-Lion Tamer
Blackouts - Idiot
Rob Sonic - Shoplift
Libretto - Alma Mater
Hanger 18 - Boombox Apocalypse
Interpol - Slow Hands
Autistic Daughters - Spend It On The Enemy (While It Was Raining)
Bright Eyes - I Woke Up


------------

Coachella setlist has been announced. It's pretty unreal, Bauhaus, New Order, Wilco, Gang of Four, etc. If I can, I'm going to try to make it out. Anyone from NO going? Hit me up and maybe I can steal your way of getting there. Seriously, a cross-country drive is out for the end of April, still got school and work, and a plane ticket doesn't solve anything, 'cause you've got to get from either LA to Indio or Phoenix to Indio. Blast. On a side note, my Coachella predictions turned out pretty well. Kudos to me.

Also, Wilco has announced that they're playing Jazzfest on Friday, April 22. Hopefully, Jeff Tweedy won't get addicted to anything else in the meanwhile and this show will actually happen.

And, finally, Spoon's new record, Gimme Fiction (not The Beast & Dragon Are Adored, as was previously thought) has a release date of May 10, 2005 on Merge. Tracklist:

01 The Beast and Dragon, Adored
02 The Two Sides of Monsieur Valentine
03 I Turn My Camera On
04 My Mathematical Mind
05 The Delicate Place
06 Sister Jack
07 I Summon You
08 The Infinite Pet
09 Was It You?
10 They Never Got You
11 Merchants of Soul

For those of you who weren't there or didn't know, Britt & Co. previewed a fair number of these at their show at Tips a few months ago - there seemed to be a goodly number of classic Spoon moments, with a bit of the Rolling Stones substituted for the usual Pixies muse. Overall, I must say that I'm looking forward to it. I was most taken with "I Summon You", which has been online for a while. I do wonder how it's going to be presented on record, though; judging by the studio track sheets, viewable on their website (above for link), there's a lot of stuff in each song, handclaps and effects and whatnot. Interesting.