Boredoms – “Super Going” from Super Ae [1998]
Here is some mind-expanding minimalist drone punk to laze away a summer Sunday with. Boredoms at 2006 Intonation Festival (pictured above) blew me away with volume and rhythmic attack, but they lacked the tunefulness (albeit in the loosest sense of “tune”) this song soars with. Enjoy.
Can’t buy me [...]
Entries from June 2008
June 29, 2008
“Shine in/Shine on”
June 23, 2008
“He never helps out in the yard”
The Feelies – “The Boy With The Perpetual Nervousness” from Crazy Rhythms (1980)
The Feelies, Television, and Talking Heads form some kind of unholy late-70s triumvirate of nervy New York dorkitude. I don’t know the work of Glenn Mercer & co. as deeply as I know that of Television and Talking Heads, but I have a [...]
June 22, 2008
“You leave me [breath sound] breathless”
Jerry Lee Lewis – “Breathless” [Single, 1958]
He grew up playing piano with his cousin, future televangelist Jimmy Swaggart, married his 13-year old cousin (Lewis was 23 at the time; she was his third wife) and goes by the nickname “The Killer.” Jerry Lee Lewis was Rock and Roll’s first wild man. Once, very early in [...]
June 21, 2008
“But I prefer…alcohol!”
The Clash – “The Right Profile” from London Calling (1979)
The Clash – “Gates of the West” from Super Black Market Clash (1994) [originally on The Cost of Living EP, 1979]
Two lesser-known Clash songs, both of which feature top-notch vocal performances by their respective singers. (That’s Joe Strummer on “The Right Profile” and Mick Jones on [...]
June 19, 2008
“Tell it to me slowly”
The Zombies – “Time of the Season [UK mono mix]” from Odessey & Oracle [1968]
As a young boy, I was captivated by this song. The hushed forthrightness and swagger of the narrator disturbed me. Nevertheless, I wanted to be the guy who could walk up to a girl and ask “What’s your name?/Who’s your daddy?/Is [...]
June 17, 2008
Hammocks, et al.
Tren Brothers – Gold Star Berlin from Ep [1997]
I just found out that the Tren Brothers are playing at Schuba’s in Chicago. Against my better judgment, I purchased two tickets and a round-trip plane ride in order to witness this event. Why, you ask?
Mick Turner and Jim White (two thirds of the Dirty [...]
June 13, 2008
“Now it’s Friday.”
Migala – Suburbian Empty Movie Theatre from Arde [2001]
I first heard Migala on a covers record of Low’s I Could Live In Hope and it was spooky. In researching their back catalog, I found that they used to be an experimental noise band.
Whatever.
Regardless, this song off their first US release for Sub Pop makes [...]
June 12, 2008
“I have made a cake like that in my own home once or twice”
Palace Music – “Untitled [live]” available on Lost Blues and Other Songs (1997)
If I wrote songs, this is what they’d sound like: raw, rollicking, inspired.
I cannot stress enough the value of this Palace Music collection.
I just ordered the new B ‘P’ B album. I hear it’s good. Item: stay tuned to Drag City [...]
June 10, 2008
“For the sake of future days”
CAN – “Future Days” from Future Days (1973)
Imagine sitting in on a jam session with Can in the early 1970s. That must have been something to witness. Even their studio recordings attest to their unCANny unity as a group. They sound like one, highly coordinated machine. Yet what separated Can [...]
June 5, 2008
“The sun is gonna burn into a cinder/before we ever pass this way again”
Cat Power – “Silver Stallion” from Jukebox [2008]
The Highwaymen – “Silver Stallion” from Highwayman 2 [1990]
Lee Clayton – “Silver Stallion” from Border Affair [1978]
Here we have three versions of the same song by three different artists. The three versions of the song are all very different [...]
June 3, 2008
An Exceptionally Brief Primer on Some Ambient Music
Brian Eno – “1/1” from Ambient #1 Music for Airports [1978]
Stars of the Lid – “Even If You’re Never Awake (Deuxieme)” from And Their Refinement of the Decline [2007]
If you have never heard “1/1,” then what the hell is your problem. This is the eponymous and seminal work of ambient music, a genre now [...]
June 3, 2008
“I love to see you dress before the mirror”
Bob Dylan – “Abandoned Love” from Biograph (1985)
This is my second post here. The powers that be asked me to become a regular contributor, so I’ll be here posting from time to time.
“Abandoned Love” was recorded during the Desire sessions but was struck from the album in favor of “Sara.” This meant that [...]
June 2, 2008
I’m ready
Akron/Family – “Italy” from Akron/Family (2005)
There’s something very important about this band that I can’t put my finger on. It’s one of those things that sits in the back of your brain on its haunches for months at a time and then, suddenly, hits you with incredible bombast, with a cinder block on the [...]
