Common Market

No intro today, because I’m working on something Five Songs-related that will be fun, and I’m going to get back to that. So on to the tunes!

Tortoise & Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, “It’s Expected I’m Gone”

Will Oldham hasn’t exactly had a conventional career, ranging from his frequent name changes, the prolific output, and the often odd direction of his music. But this collaboration with post-rock titans Tortoise is one of the oddest moves of the lot. For starters, the collab doesn’t make a lot of sense. The ultra-cool Tortoise, with their calm precision and sometimes cold affect, seems like an odd fit with Oldham’s often messy but human style. But even beyond that, they hooked up to make a covers record. And those covers are of songs from a huge range of artists, from superstars like Bruce Springsteen or Elton John, to international artists, to underground favorites such as today’s subject, the Minutemen.

Modest Mouse, “Fire It Up”

I really need to go back and re-evaluate this record. Given how much I like the previous three albums from them (and the various EPs), it wasn’t really fair to kind of dismiss the record after only a couple listens. Sometimes it’s easy to just move on when a record doesn’t click right away, especially for a band that you love, because you expect to love it right away.

All over the map today.

Common Market, “Slow Cure”

It’s been a while since we’ve had Common Market, so a little re-introduction: this is a Seattle duo, featuring Sabzi (more famously known as half of the Blue Scholars) and RA Scion. Given that it’s Sabzi on the beats, it’s going to share a certain feel with the Blue Scholars, but Scion is different enough from Geologic that they don’t sound totally the same.

New arrival at Five Songs Manor is Engravings by Forest Swords, a record I found by reading the upcoming releases for May and wondering about the new record coming. So far, it’s really interesting, although I have to pause it for now to write about some songs. These songs, specifically.

Common Market, “Back Home (The Return)”

This is a Seattle rap group featuring Sabzi (of The Blue Scholars) and RA Scion on the mic. If you’ve heard the Blue Scholars, you’re familiar with Sabzi’s beats, and if you haven’t, you should fix that. At any rate, you’re likely to equally enjoy both groups. Since I like Sabzi’s work, I like this album a lot. I particularly like the piano on this track. And, as always, I’m always a sucker for artists repping the 206.