Friday, January 21, 2005
a snort off my own hose
I know y’all’ve been waiting for this shit, and I apologize for taking so long. But you’ve got to understand one thing: I’m a busy man. Every day I have countless obligations to fulfill. People are counting on me. Who’s going to read that newspaper, if I don’t do it? Who will stand up for our right to take a longer lunch, if we want to, if I’m not out there, every day, staying out for an extra fifteen, maybe thirty, minutes? Shit, guys. Metroid Prime II Echoes isn’t going to beat itself. There’s much more going on in my life than this stupid on-line opinion stuff. Hell, if you guys were working hard like me you wouldn’t even have time to complain about my lack of posting, much less actually read whatever shit I do throw up here. So get off my back, Sean, ‘cuz it’s starting to hurt, and really, you don’t want to be around me when my back starts to hurt, ‘cuz I can really get slightly kind of annoying, sort of.
I don’t have anything new to add, anyway. My favorite records have all been written up by somebody else here over the last few weeks. I doubt my recommendation will finally inspire somebody to go give Joanna Newsom a listen. But what the shit, let’s give it a crack of the ol’ leather.
In no real order, of course.
Animal Collective: Sung Tongs
Panda Bear: Young Prayer
Collectively the record of the year. I wouldn’t say that Sung Tongs is dramatically better than previous AC albums, but it feels more fully realized as an album. Corralling their indescribable sound into more straight-forward, song-like forms led to their most consistently listenable record, which pretty much dominated my jambox from April on. One of only four cds I uploaded to my work pc’s hard drive, for eternally ready access. And for people who say that these guys are too contrived and precious and are not earnest or passionate, I say listen to Young Prayer, and repent.
Joanna Newsom: The Milk-Eyed Mendor
I was supremely skeptical. Everything I had read primed me for some totally affected, pretentious, self-satisfied art project, devoid of feeling and sincerity. Instead The Milk-Eyed Mendor is beautiful and enchanting and transfixing and all that shit. If Cat Power’s mental problems didn’t feel forced and half-assed she’d maybe be half as good as Ms. Newsom.
Liars: They Were Wrong, So We Drowned
Excellent noise-prog no-wave pop music. Infinitely creepier than anything in Salem, which is the cheesiest town north, east, or west of Orlando.
The Mae Shi: Terrorbird
The Mae Shi’s schizophrenic debut is almost a guilty pleasure for me. I recognize that it isn’t really as good as I give it credit for, but I’ve probably listened to it more than any other record this year, outside of Sung Tongs. If any band represents the ideals that Twilight Delirium should stand for, it’s these guys, much more so than the France, even.
The Fall: The Real New Fall LP, FKA Country on the Click
The Fall’s been pretty consistently okay the last decade or so. They’ve had a couple of highlights in that time, though, and this is one of ‘em.
Oneida: Secret Wars
Another great record from what’s probably my favorite band. Not as strong as 2002’s Each One Teach One, but that’s one of the two or three best records of the century thus far, so that’s understandable.
Wolf Eyes: Burned Mind
Gives me a headache, but it’s all fucking good. I like taking them pills.
Paivansade: Puhalluspelto
Primitive forest folk from Scandinavia. True Nordic blood. They’ve got one eye and an eight-legged horse to see them through. Could be half-assed fucking around, but if so, is of the highest order.
Comets on Fire: Blue Cathedral
Ridonkulous noise-boogie. As heavy as a few dozen of them fat twins on motorbikes. Probably more accessible than Field Recordings from the Sun, but none the worse for wear.
Volcano the Bear: The Idea of Wood
Beautiful, haphazard cabaret-noise-folk. Seems constantly on the verge of collapse, but never wavers. A right stinker.
Also dug: Crystal Fantasy/Hair Police split 10”; Arktinen Hysteria comp; Les Savy Fav: Inches compilation; Black Dice: Creature Comforts; Sonic Youth: Sonic Nurse; those Devendra Banhart records; Summer Hymns: Fool’s Gold ep; Acid Mothers Temple: Mantra of Love; Dead Raven Choir: Selenocast Wolves; Klondike and York: Holy Book; Demos Yellow Swans: Live in the Police State Capital.
Not so hot: Wilco: A Ghost is Born; Sunburned Hand of the Man: Rare Wood; Guided by Voices: Half-Smiles of the Decomposed.
Almost admirable in its abject awfulness: Gwen Stefani: Love. Angel. Music. Baby..
Best record I played on by a band I haven’t been in for four years: Bugs Eat Books: Ghosts of Leaves.
I know y’all’ve been waiting for this shit, and I apologize for taking so long. But you’ve got to understand one thing: I’m a busy man. Every day I have countless obligations to fulfill. People are counting on me. Who’s going to read that newspaper, if I don’t do it? Who will stand up for our right to take a longer lunch, if we want to, if I’m not out there, every day, staying out for an extra fifteen, maybe thirty, minutes? Shit, guys. Metroid Prime II Echoes isn’t going to beat itself. There’s much more going on in my life than this stupid on-line opinion stuff. Hell, if you guys were working hard like me you wouldn’t even have time to complain about my lack of posting, much less actually read whatever shit I do throw up here. So get off my back, Sean, ‘cuz it’s starting to hurt, and really, you don’t want to be around me when my back starts to hurt, ‘cuz I can really get slightly kind of annoying, sort of.
I don’t have anything new to add, anyway. My favorite records have all been written up by somebody else here over the last few weeks. I doubt my recommendation will finally inspire somebody to go give Joanna Newsom a listen. But what the shit, let’s give it a crack of the ol’ leather.
In no real order, of course.
Animal Collective: Sung Tongs
Panda Bear: Young Prayer
Collectively the record of the year. I wouldn’t say that Sung Tongs is dramatically better than previous AC albums, but it feels more fully realized as an album. Corralling their indescribable sound into more straight-forward, song-like forms led to their most consistently listenable record, which pretty much dominated my jambox from April on. One of only four cds I uploaded to my work pc’s hard drive, for eternally ready access. And for people who say that these guys are too contrived and precious and are not earnest or passionate, I say listen to Young Prayer, and repent.
Joanna Newsom: The Milk-Eyed Mendor
I was supremely skeptical. Everything I had read primed me for some totally affected, pretentious, self-satisfied art project, devoid of feeling and sincerity. Instead The Milk-Eyed Mendor is beautiful and enchanting and transfixing and all that shit. If Cat Power’s mental problems didn’t feel forced and half-assed she’d maybe be half as good as Ms. Newsom.
Liars: They Were Wrong, So We Drowned
Excellent noise-prog no-wave pop music. Infinitely creepier than anything in Salem, which is the cheesiest town north, east, or west of Orlando.
The Mae Shi: Terrorbird
The Mae Shi’s schizophrenic debut is almost a guilty pleasure for me. I recognize that it isn’t really as good as I give it credit for, but I’ve probably listened to it more than any other record this year, outside of Sung Tongs. If any band represents the ideals that Twilight Delirium should stand for, it’s these guys, much more so than the France, even.
The Fall: The Real New Fall LP, FKA Country on the Click
The Fall’s been pretty consistently okay the last decade or so. They’ve had a couple of highlights in that time, though, and this is one of ‘em.
Oneida: Secret Wars
Another great record from what’s probably my favorite band. Not as strong as 2002’s Each One Teach One, but that’s one of the two or three best records of the century thus far, so that’s understandable.
Wolf Eyes: Burned Mind
Gives me a headache, but it’s all fucking good. I like taking them pills.
Paivansade: Puhalluspelto
Primitive forest folk from Scandinavia. True Nordic blood. They’ve got one eye and an eight-legged horse to see them through. Could be half-assed fucking around, but if so, is of the highest order.
Comets on Fire: Blue Cathedral
Ridonkulous noise-boogie. As heavy as a few dozen of them fat twins on motorbikes. Probably more accessible than Field Recordings from the Sun, but none the worse for wear.
Volcano the Bear: The Idea of Wood
Beautiful, haphazard cabaret-noise-folk. Seems constantly on the verge of collapse, but never wavers. A right stinker.
Also dug: Crystal Fantasy/Hair Police split 10”; Arktinen Hysteria comp; Les Savy Fav: Inches compilation; Black Dice: Creature Comforts; Sonic Youth: Sonic Nurse; those Devendra Banhart records; Summer Hymns: Fool’s Gold ep; Acid Mothers Temple: Mantra of Love; Dead Raven Choir: Selenocast Wolves; Klondike and York: Holy Book; Demos Yellow Swans: Live in the Police State Capital.
Not so hot: Wilco: A Ghost is Born; Sunburned Hand of the Man: Rare Wood; Guided by Voices: Half-Smiles of the Decomposed.
Almost admirable in its abject awfulness: Gwen Stefani: Love. Angel. Music. Baby..
Best record I played on by a band I haven’t been in for four years: Bugs Eat Books: Ghosts of Leaves.
