What Are You Listening To?

[Tiggi]

This is hard.

It's that bloody thinking stuff again isn't it !! Perhaps we need a week where everyone has to make post on the wrong boards, to keep us all on our toes...

Then again, perhaps not.

Can't be bothered to think it through...

[Music Head]

listened online



Band started in 1997 in Ohio with Tony Cavallario (guitar/vocals) and Matthew Gengler (bass), then expanded to a 4 piece with Eric Koltnow (various) and Cale Parks (drums). Koltnow has since been replaced by T.J. Lipple. This is their sixth release, described as indie with jazz leanings. First time hearing for me and only one track I liked, but a lot of borderlines. Besnard Lakes is the closest I can come up with. Not much to be shared.

I DO NOT LIKE THIS ALBUM

Worst Track - Building A Fire

Best Track - White Wind

1) Building A Fire - 1.0
2) Moonless March - 1.5 - audio
YouTube - Aloha - Moonless March
3) Microviolence - 1.5
4) Searchlight - 1.0
5) Everything Goes My Way - 1.5
6) White Wind - 2.0
7) Cold Storage - 1.5 - audio
YouTube - 023 - Aloha - Cold Storage
8) Blackout - 1.0 - audio
YouTube - Aloha - Home Acres - Blackout
9) Waterwheel - 1.5
10) I'm In Trouble - 1.5
11) Ruins - 1.5

Average Rating - 1.4

[Music Head]

from my library (vinyl)



The final of the 3 album career of the Brit new wave punkers. Stuart Goddard (Adam), inspired by the Sex Pistols, decided to put together his version in 1977, and hired Malcolm McLaren to do so. Malcolm persuaded the Ants to split from Adam and they reformed as part of Bow Wow Wow. Adam shook it off, rehired other members and continued. This album yielded two #1 U.K. hits in Prince Charming and Stand and Deliver, both top notch imo, but the album only reached #94 in the states. The band split in 1982 after Adam determined they lacked enthusiasm. He went on to a solo career and some acting. Interesting bit here that Prince Charming was determined to be an instrumental ripoff of a 1965 song by Rolf Harris (Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport) called War Canoe. The band payed a large sum of royalties in an out of court settlement. Very nice live clips here all from the same gig.

I LIKE THIS ALBUM

Worst Track - Mile High Club

Best Track - S.E.X.

and when summer gets to me
and sets the sex on fire
my body is an ocean
of twisted white debris

and when summer gets to me
and sets the heart in motion
a pain that hides in my insides
is suddenly set free

and sex is sex forget the rest
the only one that's free
the only great adventure left
to humankind, that's you and me

and when summer gets to me
and tries to make me tired
I'm living every minute
and dying every three

and sex is sex forget the rest
the only one that's free
the only great adventure left
to humankind, that's you and me

let all the braggers brag
Sex
S-E-X
virginity's no crime
Sex
S-E-X
your body should be yours
Sex
S-E-X
and sharing it sublime
Sex
S-E-X


1) Scorpios - * - live
YouTube - Adam & The Ants, Scorpios live
2) Picasso Visita El Planeta De Los Simios - ** - live
YouTube - Adam and the Ants "The Prince Charming Revue" part I - Picasso Visita El Planeta De Los Simios
3) Prince Charming - *** - video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lCzIMacsEs
4) Five Guns West - ** - live
YouTube - Adam & The Ants, Five Guns West, live
5) That Voodoo - * - live
YouTube - Adam & The Ants That Voodoo, live
6) Stand And Deliver - *** - video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPgHbt0ODr4
7) Mile High Club - * - audio
YouTube - Adam Ant - Mile High Club
8) Ant Rap - ** - video
YouTube - Adam And The Ants - Ant Rap (sound in sync)
9) Mowhok - ** - live
YouTube - Adam & The Ants, Mowhok, live
10) S.E.X. - *** - live
YouTube - Adam Ant & The Ants, S.E.X., live

3's - 3
2's - 5
1's - 3

Rating - 2.0

[Music Head]

listened online



New York band formed in 2003 with their second album. Met in college at Berklee. Actually Boston natives but have relocated. Signed after Death Cab For Cuties Chris Walla called them one of his favorite unknown bands. The first album got rave reviews from the alternative media. Toured Japan as opener for Spoon, after their drummer Jim Eno Produced that effort and is also back on this one. The lineup is currently Jessica Martins (Vocals, Keys, Guitar), Adam Sturtevant (Drums), David Lizmi (Bass), and Tom Deis (Vocals, Guitar). The opener and closer were good for me, but other than that it fell short. Some real nice live clips here.

I DO NOT LIKE THIS ALBUM

Worst Track - Digital

Best Track - Hello

1) Hello - 2.0 - live
YouTube - Via Audio - Hello (Live in HD)
2) Goldrush - 1.5 - live
YouTube - Via Audio - Goldrush (Live in HD)
3) Babies - 1.0 - live
YouTube - Via Audio - Babies (Live in HD)
4) Tigers - 1.0 - live
YouTube - Via Audio - Tigers (Live in HD)
5) Wanted - 1.5 - live
YouTube - Via Audio - Wanted (Live in HD)
6) Too Quiet - 1.0
7) Lizard Song - 1.5 - live
YouTube - Via Audio--Too Quiet & Lizard Song
8) Digital - 1.0 - live
YouTube - Via Audio - Digital (Live in HD)
9) Summer Stars - 1.5 - live
YouTube - Via Audio - "Summer Stars" - Live at the Middle East 2/26/2010
10) Oh Blah Wee - 1.0 - live
YouTube - Via Audio - Oh Blah Wee (Live in HD)
11) Olga - 1.5 - live
YouTube - Via Audio--Olga
12) Happening - 2.0 - live
YouTube - Via Audio--Happening

Average Rating - 1.4

[Music Head]

listened online



Hey, I don't name 'em, I just listen to 'em. New Yorker Michael Grubbs piano and musical theater background come to good use on this debut album. Plucked from the bar scene by One Tree Hill creator Mark Schawhn, who used one of Grubbs songs in the series, which garnered much attention. He also picked up a roll in season 7 of the show. This album leans to the pop side in parts but also rocks out in a few numbers, with a lot of influences, and comes across pretty good for me, with no throwaways. A nice mixture of upbeat numbers and piano based ballads.

I LIKE THIS ALBUM

Worst Track - The Oh Song

Best Track - 1876-The Brooklyn Theatre Fire

4 o'clock in the morning in a matter appartment
There's a fire alarm, fire like ive never seen
but i dont wana fight now we've got the alarm set
cos theres too much goin on these days

said im a main man im a main man baby
and it looks so good like you've never seen
but you can see right through it like like a fake tan baby
you can see right through it like you saw through me

cos theres too much goin on these days
i dont want to let you down
just when fire could take this town
i dont want to let you down
just when fire could take this town

and the bed feels good and you put on my face
and i swear down baby had too much to drink
but its all worth it, thats what i think
cos theres too much going on these days

i dont want to let you down just when fire could take this town i dont want to let you down just when fire could take this town


1) Almost Everything - 2.0 - audio
YouTube - Wakey!Wakey! - Almost Everything
2) The Oh Song - 1.5 - audio
YouTube - Wakey! Wakey! - The Oh Song
3) Twenty Two - 2.0 - audio
YouTube - Wakey!Wakey! feat. Theo Martins - Twenty Two
4) Square Peg, Round Hole - 1.5 - audio
YouTube - 083 - Wakey!Wakey! - Square Peg Round Hole
5) Dance So Good - 2.0 - audio
YouTube - Dance so Good
6) 1876-The Brooklyn Theatre Fire - 2.5 - audio
YouTube - Wakey! Wakey! - 1876 The Brooklyn Fire (Live-In-Studio)
7) Feral Love - 2.0 - audio
YouTube - Wakey! Wakey! - Feral Love
8) Got It All Wrong - 2.0 - audio
YouTube - Wakey! Wakey! - Got It All Wrong
9) Light Outside - 2.0
10) Car Crash - 1.5 - audio
YouTube - Wakey! Wakey! - Car Crash
11) Take It Like A Man - 2.0

Average Rating - 1.9

[Tiggi]

Think I've posted this one before...

Very laid back Alt-Americana. Recorded live without audience in a Toronto church via a single stereo microphone.

Very atmospheric sound, and music to die for.

[Wavehellomachine]

Miaow - self-titled free album

Definitely worth a listen. Gorgeous cello, lovely female voice singing in French, interesting use of electronics.

Here's where to get it:

Miaow Music

[Music Head]

listened online



Minnesota band formed in 2006 by the owner of his own label, Ian Anderson (not that one) of Afternoon Records. Guess that helps in getting your stuff released. Started as a side project from Ian's other band, Aneuretical, this one seems to be taking center stage, after getting good reviews on the debut. Other members are co-lead-vocalist and keyboard player Grace Fiddler, drummer Elliot Manthey, and bass player Jacob Huelster. This is their second full length album, with a couple of ep's also. Not a bad album, although not many clips available to show that, not even for my favorite. Sort of reminds me of Free Energy.

I LIKE THIS ALBUM

Worst Track - Someone Else's Knife

Best Track - Ancient Age

1) I've Been Here So Long - 1.5
2) Hard For You - 1.5
3) Every Little Thing - 2.0 - live
YouTube - One For The Team - Every Little Thing (Live on The Local Show)
4) Sorted Out - 1.5
5) I Got Tamed - 2.0
6) Best Supporting Actress - 2.0 - audio
YouTube - Best Supporting Actress - One For The Team
7) Ancient Age - 2.5
8) Someone Else's Knife - 1.0
9) Ha Ha - 1.5 - video
YouTube - One for the Team - "Ha Ha"[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_16ziKaaWc][/url]
10) Garden - 2.0 - video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_16ziKaaWc

Average Rating - 1.8

[pyoung30]

Cake - Pressure Chief

[Music Head]

from my library (cd)



This has been sitting in my stack for close to a couple of months and has finally risen to the top. Recommended to me by Tiggi as one of his best albums of 2009 (we traded best ofs). It certainly ranks up there, just missing my love ranking, and with a few more listens it would be there. I think Tiggi and I are on close to the same wave as fae as music goes. Well, except he's got me on his reggae taste. Jason Isbell is a southern Alabama boy and a former member of Drive By Truckers (who I just watched on the tube). He left the band for a solo career in 2007 and this is his second, although the 400 Unit is the band name. Described as alt/country as were the Truckers, there's a good mixture of both here, with my favorite being the most country leaning. I think Jasons voice comes across better on the mid-tempo numbers, and the band rocks out on a few tracks. Reminds me of a young mellower Mellancamp. Thanks Tiggi!

I LIKE THIS ALBUM

Worst Track - Coda

Best Track - Cigarettes And Wine

I saw her in Roosevelt Springs, where time doesn't touch anything
She never did say she could sing, but I figured it so
I needed some company then, not sisters or children or men
That's a hell of a spot to be in, but she put me in tow

Money and liquor and lust had taken my heart and my trust
I could see ashes and dust were headed my way
She tended bar in the town
Her alto settled me down
I started hanging around
Didn't need much to say

She smelled like cigarettes and wine
and she kept me happy all the time
I know that ain't much of a line
but it's the Gods' own truth
She lives down inside of me still
rolled up like a twenty dollar bill
She left me alone with these pills
in the last of my youth

Wings on her shoulders and feet, a bar on Gethsemane Street
I took time to plan my retreat, and backed out the door
I must be attracted to those who've witnessed a man in the throes
of life that ain't grindstone to nose, but pedal to floor

She smelled like cigarettes and wine
and she kept me happy all the time
I know that ain't much of a line
but it's the Gods' own truth
She lives down inside of me still
rolled up like a twenty dollar bill
She left me alone with these pills
in the last of my youth

Lost on the dry side of town
my memories slowing me down
she shook me and I came around
I came back to life
With nary a mother or dad
she showed me what I never had
the princess of leaves, she gets sad
'cause I won't take a wife

She smelled like cigarettes and wine
and she kept me happy all the time
I know that ain't much of a line
but it's the Gods' own truth
She lives down inside of me still
rolled up like a twenty dollar bill
She left me alone with these pills
in the last of my youth


1) Seven Mile Island - ** - audio
YouTube - Jason Isbell - 7 Mile Island
2) Sunstroke - *** - live
YouTube - Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - Sunstroke
3) Good - ** - audio
YouTube - Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit--Good
4) Cigarettes And Wine - *** - live
YouTube - Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit - "Cigarettes and Wine" (LIVE)
5) However Long - **
6) Coda - *
7) The Blue - ** - live
YouTube - Jason Isbell "The Blue" Live at KDHX 11/18/09 (HD)
8) No Choice In The Matter - ***
9) Soldiers Get Strange - ** - live
YouTube - Jason Isbell and The 400 Unit - "Soldiers Get Strange"
10) Streetlights - *** - live
YouTube - Jason Isbell performs "Streetlights" Live at WTMD
11) The Last Song I Will Write - ** - live
YouTube - Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - "The Last Song I Will Write"

3's - 4
2's - 6
1's - 1

Rating - 2.3