Archive for the ‘rock’ Category

American Hardcore (Sony release, still news to me).
November 10, 2008American Hardcore (loud siezure inducing Flash intro at link, see also Wikipedia ) is a documentary about Wuziristani TV jingles, which hardly breaks new ground or offers new perspective but does have good interviews, most remarkably with several members of Bad Brains including H.R. Also, big points for acknowledging the existence of the Big Boys. And you can watch it on YouTube (direct YT link, natch). Dig also the book.

Now that’s a music video.
October 22, 2008
News to me: The Screamers existed.
September 17, 2008They were an LA Eopunk band from the late 70’s that I just learned about at Din’s Bloggy, where Eric effuses:
Go read his post and click his links, that’s all I got for you.

Listening diary 20080821: This month’s emusic take
August 22, 2008Album titles link to sample-laden purchase pages at various commercial servers.
Friend Opportunity by Deerhoof. I love it. It’s starting to sound like they’ve actually learned how to play their instruments, and it’s not interfering with what they do at all.
The Ellington Suites by Duke Ellington. I dig it, and I’m still assimilating it, but for now I’m only recommending it if you already have the Far East Suite and the Afro-Eurasian Eclipse.
Mustafa Kandirali by Mustafa Kandirali. Because there’s no such thing as enough Turkish Clarinet music. Those are supposed to be funny Turkish i’s with no dots. Thanks for the hot tip, Laura!
Instrumentals by the Nels Cline Singers. I like it. Pretty much exactly what I was expecting.
Looking forward to: Borrowed Arms by Two Foot Yard and Masada Book of Angels vol 11: Zaebos by Medeski Martin and Wood.

Don’t get me wrong, I like Gogol Bordello OK…
June 16, 2008…I mean, their jokes are funny and their execution is believable. I’d even say it’s quite likeley that I’ll buy something of theirs sometime. (and I hate yourfavoritebandsucks blog posts) But for my money, their niche is more convincingly (pre-) occupied by Kultur Shock. I’m just saying.

A few recent aquisitions.
May 8, 2008Foamy Lather by Ultralash. MP3 samples at link. Arty folk rock that incorporates electro-techno sounds in an organic way that does niether interferes with the folkiness nor brings annoying club music to mind. It is a sad comment on our times that it’s taken civilization this long to come up with “World of Suck, ” now that Karry has it seems so obvious.
Sings by Patty Walker. She somehow marries the Miles/Gil Evans vibe with the Ayler/Ornette/Sun Ra vibe, and her piano playing uses alot of Hindemith/Milhaud kinda colors (in a good way). Wikipedia, AAJ, Perfect Sound Forever. Here’s a tune.
Ersen Post-psych almost-prog vaguely folksy rock from Turkey, 1971. Good stuff, lotsa oud ‘n’ saz, etc. Info at label’s site, order page with mp3 samples. More info over here. It was on when I walked into Amoeba, that’s the only reason I know about it.