Anything On Your Mind?
Well, this was written after the election results, and to say that they were encouraging is to understate things. As of this writing, the Mississippi and Alaska Senate results are still unknown, but the rest of the Senate and House results (not to mention the state level results) put people in a position to potentially hold a lot of evil people accountable. We’ll see if that can happen, and I recognize that this is the first step to a long journey, but it would have been dark indeed had things not gone that way. The big discordant note, especially here in Washington, is the passage of the awful trans sports ban, an especially baffling vote given that the better disguised “parental rights” ballot initiative (which was also a disgusting anti-trans bill in disguise) went down in flames. I genuinely don’t understand someone who could split their vote like that. It seems obviously incoherent to me. Anyway, I am assuming a legal fight will follow, and the Washington Supreme Court has tossed lots of ballot initiatives in the past, but it is disheartening nonetheless. Once I figure out what that fight looks like, I’ll be donating to it, but it’s also a good reminder that this whole episode is far, far from over. Big step, though.
What Are You Listening To, Josh?
A sampling of albums that I’m playing regularly, whether older ones or newer ones. Just the things that I think are worth highlighting, and maybe you’d enjoy.
The Swimming Hour, Andrew Bird’s Bowl of Fire
I mentioned this record the other day, and so, here it is. I am highly suggestible. Anyway, this is the final record from Andrew Bird’s Bowl of Fire before he started releasing music under just his own name. The Bowl of Fire was originally a jazz group, much in the vein of the Squirrel Nut Zippers (who Andrew Bird also played with). This, their third record, was a lot more eclectic than the previous two, borrowing from a lot of other influences rather than just the hot jazz and swing of the other albums. It therefore presaged the restless music that he would come to make. This is the first great record that he made, and really kind of unlike anything else in his discography.
He would end up playing a solo show when the rest of the band was unavailable, successfully, and that gave him the push to strike out on his own with Weather Systems, followed by the brilliant Mysterious Production of Eggs, which is one of my favorite albums by anybody ever. But the ramp really started here.
In The Dark, Toots & The Maytals
A ska/reggae classic, In The Dark is basically unimpeachable. I defy anybody to stay in a bad mood after listening to this. I don’t know that I can really do it justice, other than to say that Toots sounds magnificent, the whole band is locked in, and it’s a ray of sunshine. If you’re sad about the loss of daylight, here you go.
Why yes, I did bring this into the rotation because the home crowd in Cleveland games would sing “Take Me Home, Country Roads” and I could hear it on the radio in the playoffs. Again: suggestible.
Some Girls Like Cigarettes, The Karl Hendricks Trio
The Karl Hendricks Trio were fixtures in the Pittsburgh rock scene in the 90s, and it’s entirely possible that I’ve seen them play more than anybody else, given how many shows they opened up while I was living there. This record, their second release, was originally a 10" EP and later got the “Baseball Cards” single added. That was a great addition, as both songs from that single are great. While their first record, Buick Elektra was good, they took another step with these songs. I think the closest comparison point is Brassneck-era Wedding Present, with huge guitars and melancholy songs about heartbreak. Indeed, the next album would be called The Karl Hendricks Trio Sings About Misery and Women which is exactly what it says on the tin. Thanks to the personal connection, they’ll always be one of my favorite bands, and this set of tunes is a great one.
Let’s Talk New Releases
Records come out every week, and there’s no way to stay on top of them. This isn’t a comprehensive look at everything, just a few things that have caught my ears out of recent releases. Any impressions here are very early!
Paratiisi, Kohti Tuhoa
Hardcore out of Helsinki, this album starts out with a slower tune before stepping up the pace, but one thing I really like about this record is that there’s some really fun touches to the songs. Like that long roll on the toms on “Valmistaudu Sotaan”, the martial feel of “Rikottu Luottamus”, the intro of “Kuka Heitä Kuulee?” or a bunch of other things. Fun record!
Bloody Dreams, Devil Master
More hardcore, or perhaps hardcore leaning. But this time coming with plenty of metal touches to it, with blackened vocals and plenty of other metallic parts, including some of the riffs, solos, and…well, look, it’s called Bloody Dreams. Anyway, filthy record. Good stuff!
Jacht der Mysteriën, FLUISTERAARS
Three long pieces of black metal, there’s an alchemy to this sort of thing when it’s done well. This album was supposedly recorded in one take, live, which I think helps give it a certain urgency. There’s of course quite a bit of repetition to the tracks but the songs gradually unfold and evolve as they go. There’s a kind of trance that I can get into when playing something like this. I’m not sure what black metal that I really like has compared to stuff that leaves me cold, but whatever it is, this album has it.
Five Random Songs
Yes, it’s the “classic” five random songs format. It’s been told before on this blog many times, but basically, on an old forum, people would post the last five songs their shuffle pulled up. I liked it, so I made it into a blog. And now, here we are.
“House of Warship”, Shining
This is Jørgen Munkeby’s crazed industrial/jazz/prog/whatever band, not the Swedish extreme metal band. Anyway, this is from 2015’s International Blackjazz Society, which is more jazz than it is the metal hybrid that the previous couple albums were. This, for instance, is just kind of a free-jazz workout with some metal touches. Nothing wrong with that, mind you!
“Red Amarcord”, Edenic Past
This is a Krallice side project, featuring Colin Marston and Nick McMaster working with vocalist/grunter Paulo Paguntalan. It’s…look, you can hear what this is. Your reaction was either “what the fuck?” or “what the fuck!” and you should just roll with that reaction.
“Helmet in the Bush”, Korn
Got a laugh out of my son in the car the other day when I hit a credible “are you REAADYYY?” when “Blind” came up on shuffle in the car.
“Caress”, Drive Like Jehu
This is how Drive Like Jehu’s first record started, a bit of calm before an absolutely searing verse by Froberg that is burned into my brain. And that chorus! “Pleasure is your crime / junior is your punishment” my god. A stone-cold classic.
“12304(te Nacht)”, Einstürzende Neubauten
God, Neubauten can even make silence (from 3:20 on) sound menacing. What a band.
Josh, What Are You Doing Here?
I’m just writing about music. A structure like this blog helps me get my thoughts out, and it’s a way for me to explore my own music collection through various lenses. My sincere hope is that some folks out there find some new music they love. That’s all I’m up to. Sincere thanks to everybody who sends me feedback, with news that they’ve found a new favorite especially fun for me. There’s no monetization, no metrics, no ads, no promos, no nothing. Just some static web pages, some links, and my scribbling. If you want to support it, just shoot me a note! Thanks for reading.
Some Better Places To Learn About Music
Check these folks out, you’ll learn more for sure. In no particular order: To The Teeth, Wolf’s Week/Plague Rages, The Devil’s Mouth, Burning Ambulance, Lamniformes Cuneiform, Hex Records, See/Saw, Starkweather, Treble Magazine, The Quietus, Stereogum.