2007-06-18
pete
your new year's CD has music from the last 10 years that i have found and enjoyed. and it's been that long since we used to send each other mix tapes. I wanted, after getting in touch with you, to show you what I've been listening to all these years. Although the list was limited to what i had laying around, and i kind of rushed it, i feel that it is a good starting point. I would recommend every album that each song comes from, as excellent albums. Like best of their perspective year.
Also, i think its kind of obvious that i listen to a lot less aggressive music these days. Although i still look for honesty, energy, and grittiness, the anger is sometimes more muted, or aged in these songs. Although i know you listen to a lot of fast, hard music, give these people a chance. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
so on with the list
(Artist, song, album)
1. Nas, Get Down, from God's Son.
This album is amazing. I was living in New york, and becoming more and more under the influence of rap. I think i listened to Godsson about 500 times. Nas, to me, is the most quintessential newyork rapper still out there. and not only that, but my studio was a few blocks from his hood, Queens Bridge Projects, which he raps about relentlessly in his songs. He is really unique in his flow, his honesty. He stays real to the streets, and you can hear it.
2. Bebel Gilberto, Samba da Bencao, Tanto Tempo.
I found this album randomly in a virgin record store, and bought it before going into work at my midnight shift job. I found the music so soothing while sitting at a desk in the dark, trying to stay awake. Her voice is just beautiful, and the rhythms are up to date, but not stupid jazz. She is the daughter of a famous Brazilian singer.
3. Stereo Total, Automatic Music, Music Automatique
I saw this two person group in New york in a tiny club that i just walked into. and we all ended up getting sweaty and crazy dancing through the night. They are french, and they are the shit. the sounds here are simple and really work together. kind of funny, good songwriting, and catchy. Shit just makes me want to dance.
4. The Magnetic Fields, I don't Believe in the Sun, 69 Love Songs
OK... I can't write this up with justice. Just the most beautiful, desperate, cynical songs. and this album is crazy, it really has 69 songs. Stephen Merrit is the brainchild/singer. He was my hero for a few years after this came out. I saw him in New york also, and it just blew me away. just listen how he puts together cliches in his own idiosyncratic way. He's smart, kind of theatrical. which is what i'm into, i guess. He's the best!
5. Hi Cheekbones, Me, Shoot for the Moon
I made a few albums, in 1999, and 2001. This one, was about a girl i met in Budapest, where i was traveling with Scott Osif. Sad and quiet, i guess. let me know if you want to hear more, i can send some to you. I haven't really played music in a few years now, but i might get back into it...
listen for the sneeze at the end
6. Sebadoh, truly Great thing, Freed Weed.
Earlier, when I was in Penn State, my roomate introduced me to sebadoh, Lou Barlow is the main singer. He also is in the Folk Implosion, who did the Kids Soundtrack. Lou was my hero for many many years, as stephen merritt was later in New York. I put on two songs from this album because of his HUGE influence on me, and because they are short
7. Sebadoh, Kath, Freed Weed
Kath is Lou's girlfriend, this song is made for her. It is so simple and straightforward, its almost punk in its dedication to good songwriting. Listen to the guitars. simple and perfect.
I've covered lots of sebadoh songs. later in the nineties, they put out some popular, big label albums, but i like freed weed the most. its raw
8. Modest Mouse, Dramamine, ??,
Ok so you probably know the band, and maybe the song. This one just has a drifty floating quality to it. For me, it reminds me of my first year at the midnight shift internet job i had, where i was just learning about Napster, and downloading songs. this is perfect for late night dreariness. Also, I saw M.Mouse play, and the singer was a fucking amazing showman, he screamed into the mic picups on his guitar until he was a slobbering mess, and bashed an audience member in the head by accident.
9. Smog, Red Apple Falls, I was a Stranger
Smog is just great. and Red Apple Falls is one of those albums you have to hear in order to understand. It is completely different from anything I had ever heard at the time (mid 90's), and still I don't hear much to compare to it. This song may not be the best song on the album, but they all flow together so well, and there is such a poetry in the context of the songs put together, its hard to pull one out. This one is kind of happy, kind of peppy, and incredibly sad at the same time. I almost always sing along at the top of my lungs, and mean every word of it. don't let the country slide guitar fool you, this is the shit.
10. Aimee Mann, Invisible Ink, Lost in Space
Aimee was the lead singer of the 80's band Til Tuesday (who had that song "oh josh, keep it down now, voices carry...") More recently, she did the soundtrack for Magnolia, which was really distinct and great. I learned from my wife, Kelli, to love Aimee Mann, and this album is her best. Every single song is just astounding. Its similar to Magnetic fields -- sad, strong songwriting. But Aimee is more syrupy, and steady. Again, listen to the words, and how they are put together, how they are composed.
11. Victor Vaughn, Let Me Watch, Vaudeville Villian
This is the side project psuedonym of a rapper who usually calls himself MF Doom. He's from brooklyn, and he always only appears with a metal mask on.(like DR. Doom) HIs music is really funny, and not like other hip hop i hear. he usuallly works in these strange couplets. This song in particular is rare for being a duet... but i really like it. The back and forth between them is great. and when he says 'let me watch' its hilarious. Take time to hear it a couple of times.
12. Work as We Go, Me, Shoot for the Moon
Another song by me. They weren't all this slow, but oh well , what you gonna do. I made this album in a few days at my friend Andy's house in Chicago. I basically just shut myself in his music studio room and recorded like 30 songs about 5 times each. He did a little sound effects, which you here for a moment in this song
13. Built to Spill, You Were Right, Keep it like a secret
Ok, this song i just found on LimeWire the other day, so it doesn't really fit in with such a significance that all these other songs have. But the computer won't read the CD i do have of this band... Any way, i like all the references to old rock songs and music, which reminds me of our friendship. Built to Spill played at the Lollapalooza 95, which I attended and i think you missed because of a flat tire or something... they were on second stage and i had never heard of them, and didn't even see them really. But it turns out, 8 years later, i finally start listening to them and love them. They have great rock n' roll chops, yo, just check em out
14. Andy Kostrub, (AKA AOK) We Will Pay,
this is my friend andy from college who helped me make that cd. he sings beautifullly sad songs. he got married, and went to the peace corps in Africa. I felt like he was my main colleague as I was making music.
15. Nina Simone, Mississippi Goddamn
OK, maybe this is not on my top favorite list, but its very good anyway. She's like this pissed off diva who's trying to educate her white audience in the 60's. She gets more and more angry, and the crowd stops laughing. "Your'e all going to die, and die like flies!" Nina just died two years ago. She's recorded so much music, and its all good.
16. Squirrel Nut Zippers, Meant to Be, Hot
I always loved this song. this woman is doing this retro1920's jazz swing, and has completely incorporated it into her life. this album was around 96. Later, she killed herself. Her delivery is like billie holiday, but it doesn't sound like a copy. she sounds authentic.
17. Lucinda Williams, Overtime,
this is a live version i found on limewire. Not the version i'm used to , but still pretty good. she's doing a country-blues style, but she is so much more authentic and real and contemporary than anything you usually hear. I sing along to this album, i can't stop myself... its so beautiful
18. Ghostface Killah, Apollo Kids, Supreme Clientele
The best rap album I've stumbled on, i think. His flow here is spastic, but makes some kind of sense, a hip hop flow that gives pleasure after 100's of listens. still surprizes. what he just say? Every song on this album is great, and the beats are unusual, crazy post wu-tang influenced shit. After Supreme Clientele, Ghost hasn't been able to reduplicate the rawness and power... still he's one of my big favorites because of this.
19. Low, When I go Deaf, The Great Destroyer
Hey have you heard of Low? if not i suggest you go out and get The Great Destroyer now. its amazing. they guy girl team sing together in this slow deliberate way, they just try to get the notes right, one at a time. The singer canceled the tour after having a nervous breakdown, that he blamed on writing this album.
hahaist011
log
papozzan