Wednesday, November 10, 2004
Nearly Content Free Record Reviews
I’ve been burning records like some sort of nutty, screwy, record-burning machine lately, thanks to the deep library and easy-to-use cd-burning equipment of WZBC 90.3 FM. Here’s some of the stuff I’ve picked up, with brief comments and observations for the benefit of mankind.
Hair Police: Obedience Cuts.
Just listened to it for the first time. No surprises, really – some pretty intense noise, occasionally pretty at times, but mostly just churning and burning. Not a favorite of my co-workers, for sure.
Mika Vainio: In the Land of the Blind One-Eyed is King.
Listened to one song, “Snowblind”, which is an awesome, overdriven drone that sounds like a glacier made of molten lava. This guy was/is in Pansonic, I believe.
Circle: Raunio.
Some progressive Kraut-rock from these prolific Finnish vagabonds. I’m sure some badness must exist, but I have yet to hear any music from Scandinavia that is not fascinating in some manner or fashion. The dudes in Trans Am would probably gnaw their own testicles off if it would make them as great as Circle.
“Lokki” is fug-damn-fantastic, probably the best single thing on any of these
twenty cds currently in my black book.
The Mae Shi: Terrorbird.
Manic, schizophrenic freak-punk from some Californian smart-asses. I don’t go for some of the screamo bits, but there are several brief swatches of brilliance buried within.
Erkki Kurenniemi: Aanityksia Recordings 1963-1973.
Some relatively early electronic compositions from an old Finn. Lotsa sweeping noise and spacey effects and stuff. Haven’t listened to it much, again, but when I have I’ve dug it heavily.
Animal Collective: Campfire Songs.
Sounds live. More minimal aquatic drone-folk. Has some sort of rep, but it doesn’t sound all that extraordinarily superior to any of their other albums. I think scarcity has equaled quality in the minds of many, irt this record.
Bob Pollard: Waved Out.
Never even listened to the whole thing before. Fucking good. Disappointed, slightly, in “Subspace Biographies”, though; the “doot-doot-doot” part sounds much better live, when done by Bob, than on record, where it’s played by some horrible sounding synth. A good record, though.
Bob Pollard: Motel of Fools.
Definitely pretty different, for Bob, at least. Haven’t listened to it much, but I know the opening a capella chant is pretty damn transfixing.
The Lifeguards: Mist King Urth.
After one and a half listens I’m slightly disappointed; not nearly as good as the last Pollard / Gillard collaboration.
Guided by Voices: Crown Prince of the Menthol Trailer.
Finally got my hands on “Matter Eater Lad” and “Johnny Appleseed”, without having to pay full-length price for ten minutes of music. Pretty much essential for
the hardcore GBV nerd.
White Noise: An Electric Storm.
Unintentionally goofy late ‘60’s psychedelica. A less wanky United States of America. DJ would love the fuck out of this.
Okay, much more on the way. This barely scratches the surface of all the free stuff I've gotten the last week or so.
I’ve been burning records like some sort of nutty, screwy, record-burning machine lately, thanks to the deep library and easy-to-use cd-burning equipment of WZBC 90.3 FM. Here’s some of the stuff I’ve picked up, with brief comments and observations for the benefit of mankind.
Hair Police: Obedience Cuts.
Just listened to it for the first time. No surprises, really – some pretty intense noise, occasionally pretty at times, but mostly just churning and burning. Not a favorite of my co-workers, for sure.
Mika Vainio: In the Land of the Blind One-Eyed is King.
Listened to one song, “Snowblind”, which is an awesome, overdriven drone that sounds like a glacier made of molten lava. This guy was/is in Pansonic, I believe.
Circle: Raunio.
Some progressive Kraut-rock from these prolific Finnish vagabonds. I’m sure some badness must exist, but I have yet to hear any music from Scandinavia that is not fascinating in some manner or fashion. The dudes in Trans Am would probably gnaw their own testicles off if it would make them as great as Circle.
“Lokki” is fug-damn-fantastic, probably the best single thing on any of these
twenty cds currently in my black book.
The Mae Shi: Terrorbird.
Manic, schizophrenic freak-punk from some Californian smart-asses. I don’t go for some of the screamo bits, but there are several brief swatches of brilliance buried within.
Erkki Kurenniemi: Aanityksia Recordings 1963-1973.
Some relatively early electronic compositions from an old Finn. Lotsa sweeping noise and spacey effects and stuff. Haven’t listened to it much, again, but when I have I’ve dug it heavily.
Animal Collective: Campfire Songs.
Sounds live. More minimal aquatic drone-folk. Has some sort of rep, but it doesn’t sound all that extraordinarily superior to any of their other albums. I think scarcity has equaled quality in the minds of many, irt this record.
Bob Pollard: Waved Out.
Never even listened to the whole thing before. Fucking good. Disappointed, slightly, in “Subspace Biographies”, though; the “doot-doot-doot” part sounds much better live, when done by Bob, than on record, where it’s played by some horrible sounding synth. A good record, though.
Bob Pollard: Motel of Fools.
Definitely pretty different, for Bob, at least. Haven’t listened to it much, but I know the opening a capella chant is pretty damn transfixing.
The Lifeguards: Mist King Urth.
After one and a half listens I’m slightly disappointed; not nearly as good as the last Pollard / Gillard collaboration.
Guided by Voices: Crown Prince of the Menthol Trailer.
Finally got my hands on “Matter Eater Lad” and “Johnny Appleseed”, without having to pay full-length price for ten minutes of music. Pretty much essential for
the hardcore GBV nerd.
White Noise: An Electric Storm.
Unintentionally goofy late ‘60’s psychedelica. A less wanky United States of America. DJ would love the fuck out of this.
Okay, much more on the way. This barely scratches the surface of all the free stuff I've gotten the last week or so.
