What Are You Listening To?

[Tiggi]

Was thinking of checking out some stuff from Black Flag. Would you recommend any of their albums?

Damaged is very good...

[Music Head]

listened online



Denmark group formed in 2000 with their 3rd album. A four piece with some occasional sit ins for live performances. The name is a Danish word for remembrance. Their last album received rave reviews, but this one doesn't, from me anyway. Couldn't find much I liked. First single is the lead off, Modern Drift, which is a very pretty mello cut, but not much after that. Actually, after putting this post together and viewing these live clips, this is probably one of those bands that for me would be a much better live act than sitting under the headphones. Sort of an Arcade Fire feel, which is a good thing. But then my ratings are about the music and not the performance.

I DO NOT LIKE THIS ALBUM

Worst Track - Harmonics

Best Track - Modern Drift

1) Modern Drift - 2.0 - audio
YouTube - efterklang modern drift
2) Alike - 1.0 - live
YouTube - Efterklang Alike new song 2010
3) I Was Playing Drums - 1.5 - live
YouTube - Efterklang "I Was Playing Drums" new song
4) Raincoats - 1.0 - audio
YouTube - efterklang - raincoats
5) Harmonics - 1.0 - audio
YouTube - efterklang - harmonics
6) Full Moon - 1.5
7) The Soft Beating - 1.0
8) Scandinavian Love - 1.0 - audio
YouTube - efterklang - scandinavian love
9) Mirror Mirror - 1.5 - live
YouTube - Mirror Mirror - Efterklang
10) Natural Tune - 1.5 - video
YouTube - Efterklang - Natural Tune (Lydverket spanderer )

Average Rating - 1.3

[Music Head]

from my library (vinyl)



Compilation album much sought by U.S. Smiths fans (me), including all singles and b-sides that had yet to be released here. Packed with 24 tracks at a greatly reduced price for a double album if I recall. A few throw aways with that much on it, but still a good overall view of their work. Worth it just for the b-sides for me.

I LIKE THIS ALBUM

Worst Track - Oscillate Wildly

Best Track - Half A Person

Call me morbid, call me pale
I've spent six years on your trail
Six long years
On your trail

Call me morbid, call me pale
I've spent six years on your trail
Six full years of my life on your trail

And if you have five seconds to spare
Then I'll tell you the story of my life :
Sixteen, clumsy and shy
I went to London and I
I booked myself in at the Y ... W.C.A.
I said : "I like it here - can I stay ?
I like it here - can I stay ?
Do you have a vacancy
For a Back-scrubber?"

She was left behind, and sour
And she wrote to me, equally dour
She said : "In the days when you were
Hopelessly poor
I just liked you more..."

And if you have five seconds to spare
Then I'll tell you the story of my life :
Sixteen, clumsy and shy
I went to London and I
I booked myself in at the Y ... W.C.A.
I said : "I like it here - can I stay ?
I like it here - can I stay ?
And do you have a vacancy
For a Back-scrubber ?"

Call me morbid, call me pale
I've spent too long on your trail
Far too long
Chasing your tail
Oh ...

And if you have five seconds to spare
Then I'll tell you the story of my life :
Sixteen, clumsy and shy
That's the story of my life
Sixteen, clumsy and shy
The story of my life
That's the story of my life
That's the story of my life
That's the story of my life
The story of my life


1) Is It Really So Strange - ** - live
YouTube - The Smiths - Is It Really So Strange (Rank Album Live Footage)
2) Sheila Take A Bow - ** - live
YouTube - The Smiths - Sheila Take A Bow
3) Shoplifters Of The World Unite - ** - live
YouTube - The Smiths - Shoplifters Of The World Unite
4) Sweet And Tender Hooligan - * - video
YouTube - Sweet and Tender Hooligan - Morrissey The Smiths
5) Half A Person - *** - audio
YouTube - The Smiths-Half a person
6) London - ** - live
YouTube - The Smiths - London (Rank album live footage)
7) Panic - *** - video
YouTube - The Smiths - Panic
8) Girl Afraid - ** - live
YouTube - The Smiths - Girl Afraid - Rockpalast 1984
9) Shakespeares Sister - * - live
YouTube - The Smiths - Shakespeare's Sister
10) William, It Was Really Nothing - * - live
YouTube - The Smiths-William It Was Really Nothing TOTP
11) You Just Haven't Earned It Yet Baby - * - audio
YouTube - the smiths....you just haven't earned it yet baby...
12) Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now - *** - audio
YouTube - Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now
13) Ask - *** - video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMY4W0l4peY
14) Golden Lights - *** - audio
YouTube - The Smiths - Golden Lights
15) Oscillate Wildly - * - video
YouTube - The Smiths - Oscillate Wildly ?
16) These Things Take Time - ** - live
YouTube - The Smiths - These Things Take Time - Live
17) Rubber Ring - *** - audio
YouTube - The Smiths - Rubber Ring
18) Back To The Old House - ** - audio
YouTube - The Smiths - "Back To The Old House"
19) Hand In Glove - ** - live
YouTube - The Smiths - Hand In Glove (Live)
20) Stretch Out And Wait - *** - audio
YouTube - The Smiths -`Stretch Out And Wait`
21) Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want - ** - audio
YouTube - The Smiths please please please let me get what i want (LIVE)
22) This Night Has Opened My Eyes - *** - live
YouTube - The Smiths - This Night Has Opened My Eyes (12.07.83)
23) Unloveable - ** - audio
YouTube - The Smiths- Unloveable
24) Asleep - *** - video
YouTube - The Smiths - Asleep

Rating - 2.2

[Tiggi]

Dirty Projectors - Rise Above



I bought this because I liked the idea of it...

The band went into the studio with the intention of recording a re-interpretation on Black Flag's Damaged album (see above), using only their collective memory of the songs. This appeals to me.

However, anyone expecting a Punk album would be surprised at this, to say the least. Not every song is covered, and they've messed with the running order.

It's a Folk-Dream-Pop-Rock confection that isn't an easy listen, but I love what they've done with the source material.

[Music Head]

listened online



Illinois band formed in 1996 with their 7th album, the first on their own label. Group debut for me. Described as a return to their root, I wouldn't know. Same producer as their early work. Not too bad with some punkier elements blended in with the power pop radio friendly tunes. I can see this getting some momentum. Reminds me of Motion City Soundtrack.

I LIKE THIS ALBUM

Worst Track - Piss And Vinegar

Best Track - Off The Map

I needed more wine, you needed more sleep.We just fought two hours and 7 minutes,Honestly I'm surprised we made it.I retired to my chair, I grabbed my new guitar.But i cant make a sound,You could hear poisonous pins dropping all around like rain.But I can ride this storm out,Because I'm like a junkie for your smart mouth.See im so far off the map the sun is shinning.While its raining and im drapped in silver lining.And I can row row row my boat back to shore someday.So are you coming with me?Anchors away!I loosen my lips and the truth slips out.A free ride on a forked tongue,This twine of trust is unspun.I can start to believe thats what you need from me.So far from what i want for you but I lock it down and we'll make due.You're right, there's only one real option.And I'm here now so help me keep my voice down.See I'm so far off the map the sun is shinning.While its raining and im drapped in silver lining.And I can row row row my boat back to shore someday.So are you coming with me?Anchors away!Yeah I'm so far off the map the sun is shinning.While its raining and im drapped in silver lining.And I can row row row my boat back to shore someday.So are you coming with me?Anchors away!1) This Addiction - 2.0 - video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNS4CR7vP4c
2) Dine, Dine My Darling - 2.5 - audio
YouTube - Dine, Dine My Darling (Alkaline trio)
3) Lead Poisoning - 2.0 - audio
YouTube - Alkaline Trio - Lead Poisoning
4) Dead On The Floor - 2.0 - audio
YouTube - Alkaline Trio - Dead On The Floor (High Quality)
5) The American Scream - 1.5 - audio
YouTube - 5.Alkaline Trio - The American Scream
6) Off The Map - 2.5 - audio
YouTube - 6.Alkaline Trio - Off the Map
7) Draculina - 2.0 - audio
YouTube - Alkaline Trio - Draculina (With Lyrics) [New Song 2010] (Album : This Addiction) [HD]
8) Eating Me Alive - 2.0 - audio
YouTube - Alkaline Trio - Eating Me Alive [With Lyrics] (Album : This Addiction) [New Songs 2010] [HD]
9) Piss And Vinegar - 1.0 - audio
YouTube - Alkaline Trio - Piss And Vinegar (With Lyrics) [New Songs 2010] (Album : This Addiction) [HD]
10) Dorothy - 1.0 - audio
YouTube - Dorothy-Alkaline trio (lyrics)
11) Fine - 2.0 - audio
YouTube - Fine-Alkaline trio (lyrics)

Average Rating - 1.9

[Music Head]

listened online



Ben Cooper and Alex Kane started making their own music in 2000, in their bedrooms and garage. Assuming this one is out of that environment. If not, I love that garage. It does sound awful lo-fi at times, but very good. No clunkers and that lead off track is just hypnotic for me, both music and vocals.

I LIKE THIS ALBUM

Worst Track - Nightmare No. 5 or 6

Best Track - The Violent Blue

It's hard to get a solid breath down here
My lungs are burning
The pressure is as thick as my fear
But it's worth what I'm learning
Cause down in these depths I can see
Our history unfurling
Come I'll show you what we've lost

Light's just a memory down here
Like lost change in couches
There's nothing for as far as I can see
But remnants of houses
Up and down up
Up empty streets
I count the empty cars
And the sky scrapers don't scrape the fan anymore

The earth reclaims these holes
Dug this world in as its own
Now it grows along the bones
There's light from what we'd saw

There are worlds beneath our world
And deep Beneath the skin
We always peel the layers back again
We peel the layers back again

We peel the layers back again (repeat)


1) The Ocean Floor - 3.0 - audio
Electric President ? the ocean floor ? Free listening at Last.fm[/url]
2) Mr. Gone - 1.5
3) Safe And Sound - 2.0 - audio
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27bESHiJ9cU
4) Feathers - 1.5 - audio
[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIC5nmCV-2I]YouTube - Feathers-Electric President
5) Nightmare No. 5 or 6 - 1.5
6) The Violent Blue - 2.5 - video
YouTube - Electric President - The Violent Blue (Official Music Video)
7) Circles - 2.0
8) Elegant Disasters - 1.5
9) Eat Shit And Die - 2.0 - audio
YouTube - Eat Shit and Die - Electric President
10) All The Distant Ships - 2.5 - audio
Electric President ? all the distant ships ? Free listening at Last.fm

Average Rating - 2.0

[Tiggi]

Midlake - The Courage of Others



Second listen.

I really like this album. It has a very pastoral, early '70s feel, yet still manages to sound fresh & interesting.

I think Griff would like this...

[Music Head]

listened online



Detroit 16 year old drops out of high scholl, moves to the big apple and gets a recording contract. Sounds like a good story. Goes on to cut an album which never gets released. Goes on to form Jealous Girlfriends who I never heard of. They released two albums, then decided to pursue solo projects. This is Hollys second of those and nabbing Yeah Yeah Yeahs producer Dave Sitek is giving her some street cred. Not with me though. A very nice voice but the ambience over powers it leading to some nodding off. I held up with the slow tempo for awhile but burnt out.

I DO NOT LIKE THIS ALBUM

Worst Track - Slow Burn Treason

Best Track - Everytime I Go To Sleep

Every time I go to sleep I kick and scream and dream a little bit
Violently awakening to what's real is really bullshit
And there's no light for me

Every time I go to sleep I kick and scream and dream a little bit
Violently awakening to what's real is really bullshit
And there's no time waiting

All this space, we stretch to bend to pull
To keep our face on the other side of the world
And there's no going back
And there's only change
Uh huh

All my life has been on the edge of falling down
One cool night, they're gonna put my heart in the ground
And there's no going back
And there's only change
Uh huh


1) Forest Green, Oh Forest Green - 1.0 - audio
YouTube - Holly Miranda - Forest Green Oh Forest Green
2) Joints - 1.5 - live
YouTube - Holly Miranda - Joints (Live)
3) Waves - 1.5 - live
YouTube - Holly Miranda makes "Waves"
4) No One Just Is - 1.0
5) Slow Burn Treason - 1.0 - audio
YouTube - Holly Miranda- Slow Burn Treason
6) Sweet Dreams - 1.5 - live
YouTube - FADER TV: Open Bar With Holly Miranda, "Sweet Dreams"
7) Everytime I Go To Sleep - 2.0 - live
YouTube - Holly Miranda - Everytime I Go To Sleep + Hymnal (Live)
8) High Tide - 1.0
9) Canvas - 1.0
10) Sleep On Fire - 1.0

Average Rating - 1.3

[JonG]

Sun Araw - Barstool Blues from Geneva Hits [Mental Groove, 2009]

A live cover of the Neil Young song. The music is more psych and dub than Young's. Sun Araw's work has been described like this:

"...the ultimate kaleidoscopic island-psych cocktail ... Dubby basslines and reverbed drum pad action still reign hard but the song construction is less western and more liberated than ever before... micro-cycles of flute, voice and organ cascading down like fuchsia sunset light across the plastic rhythm section. "

[Tiggi]

Deer Tick - War Elephant



Another illicit download, burnt to CD & lent to me by Robbie.

Alt-Americana with considerable style. This is the second of theirs' he's lent me, and I like the band a lot. Sound very like Green on Red, which is a good thing.

Onto the Buy List they go...