Posts

Einstürzende Neubauten, “Sand”

Every now and again, Neubauten will make a song that’s relatively conventional. And you still end up with a creepy torch song like this one, complete with strangled half-falsetto and tribal drumming.

Built to Spill, “Revolution”

Before going on their tear with their last three albums in the 90s, Built to Spill released Ultimate Alternative Wavers. It forms the missing link between the Dinosaur Jr. tribute of the Treepeople to the extended twisted pop of their next few records. There are plenty of things to like on this record, and it’s easy to see how Martsch evolved from here, but it’s not their best work.

Kid Koala, “The Observable Universe”

Oh, sure, “music to draw to”, huh? Well, what about music to blog to? How come nobody ever writes that? Huh?

U.S. Girls, “Rage of Plastics”

I’m not sure how U.S. Girls flew under my radar for as long as they did. They’ve been around for ages, and on paper seem to be right up my alley. And check that wailing sax! And yet, I haven’t gone back and explored other records, because I am a sloth.

The Delgados, “If This Is A Plan”

There are times when I kinda run out of things to say about a band. That’s not even interesting things, mind you, just things in general. I suppose I could just straight repeat myself, but the tags would betray that, if anybody cares. Besides, I’m sure I’m unintentionally repeating myself plenty as it is. I’ve written nearly a thousand of these articles, so nearly five thousand little stories. I haven’t had five thousand distinct things happen to me in my life!

It’s Megan’s birthday! Happy birthday! I picked a keyword today, can you figure it out?

The Budos Band, “Old Engine Oil”

The opening track of V, which I like a lot. This track in particular has a lot of classic rock vibes going, which go well with that big, brassy horn part.

The Beautiful South, “Old Red Eyes Is Back”

I adored the first Beautiful South record (Welcome To The Beautiful South), and was kind of disappointed with the followup (Choke). There just weren’t as many transcendent moments, there weren’t as many of the really acid moments in the lyrics, and it felt kind of rushed out. When 0898 Beautiful South came out, I was happy to hear it was closer to the first album. It’s still not quite as good, but it’s close, and it’s my second favorite album from them.

Eels, “Hey Man (Now You’re Really Living)”

Hey man, have you ever tried to write something interesting about five random songs every single day? Now you’re really living!

Foo Fighters, “My Hero”

I like this album just fine, sometimes I just want something tuneful and energetic. But I don’t really listen to it that often…on a stereo. On Rock Band? I’ve heard these songs a ton. I can just see the little colored lights if I close my eyes.

Descendents, “Victim of Me”

At this point, with the release of 9th & Walnut, the Descendents have now released as many studio albums after their breakup as pre-breakup (4). Does it even make sense to think of their career in two phases any more? I suppose it does, because during the 80s, they put out albums regularly, while these days it takes a while for them to pop up.

The New Pornographers, “The Laws Have Changed”

Maybe the best tune off of the second New Pornographers album, this is such a shiny song. This is a smile turned into music. I sometimes forget about this album, because I love the first one so much, but I really should spin it more.

The Suicide Machines, “Punck”

Punk!

UGK, “The Game Belongs To Me”

Underground Kingz is one of those rarities, a rap double album that doesn’t end up feeling totally shaggy and unnecessary. While, yes, it does have some filler here and there, it’s mostly a very likeable listen, and Bun B in particular is always a pleasure to listen to.

The Skoidats, “Rootsawalkin'”

It’s a bit of a ripoff using the horn intro from “Guns of Navaronne” and then not have it be the song. I paused this and went and listened to that song instead and then came back. That said, this isn’t a bad tune, thick with horns and with a nice, frantic groove to it. It’s not the Skatalites, but nobody is. Except the Skatalites, I suppose.

Wilco, “Kicking Television”

This take is from Alpha Mike Foxtrot, the collection of rarities, live versions, and alternate takes that covers the first twenty (!) years of Wilco. “Kicking Television” appears on a bonus EP with A Ghost Is Born, and was also the title track of a live album, so it’s a familiar song from them, but this is an alternate take here.

The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, “Hell”

Apparently, we’re doing rarities collections today. Works for me! Bring it the fuck on!

The Good People, “Windows Down”

We’ve had the Good People on here before, and it’s always nice to hear them. The Summer EP absolutely nails its purpose, this is totally music to roll around bumping loud with the sun shining.

Gift of Gab, “E2Mtro”

Rest in power, Gift of Gab.

Magic Hour, “Lower”

We had the Crystalized Movements the other day, featuring a tune from their swan song, Revelations from Pandemonium. After that band broke up, Wayne Rogers hooked up with Damon Krukowski and Naomi Yang (Galaxie 500) to form Magic Hour…which kinda sounds like Crystalized Movements. The name of this record (No Excess Is Absurd) really speaks to Rogers’s tendency to just go over the top on fuzz. Fun record, though.

The Queers, “Too Many Twinkies”

Eh. Next!

Guzzard, “Deaf Ears, Gamma Rays”

As the world moved on from Amphetamine Reptile once Helmet was no longer there, the later bands never got much attention even from the alternative press. But there were some real gems from the mid-90’s releases, with the third Guzzard record (The Alienation Index Survey) being one of my favorites. They started as a pretty straightforward punk band, but evolved over the course of their three albums to something more interesting. Maybe they just refined their songwriting, but this thing totally slams and is one of my favorite releases from the back half of AmRep’s fertile period.