I got out this Scissor Sisters cd from the library, and it started off good, then the 2nd song was really catchy and I thought...ummmmmm...is there something here? Then their cover of "Comfortably Numb" came on and I think it's the shits! You can make any song into a Bee Gees "Saturday Night Fever" song, but that doesn't show anything. So fucking what? It could have been a cover of any song, with any words. Now if you want great Pink Floyd covers, get Luther Wright and the Wrongs "Rebuild the Wall" ***1/2. If I change my mind about this song, I will ask for forgivenesss.
The next song sounds alright, so who knows about these guys? I'll probably move on and explore others.
OK. I'm finished listening to this for the first time. Verdict? Strikes me as one of those albums, where I love some songs, but can't stand others (especially the disco sucks songs). Initial (early) rating? **1/2
***
Speaking of exploring new music, I found this blog Vaspers the Grate during some surfing, and he lists some great music (that he got from amazon.com as free downloads), and sites to look into. He seems to be really into free, legal downloads. And for free, legal downloads, look into Steve Coleman. He has his music available for free download, with a very articulate, rational reason for doing so. Steve Coleman's M-Base web site. Check him out, and also Vaspers' recommendations. Please forgive him though...he is a computer guy. ;)
***
I hate smiley faces, but I still use them. What's wrong with me....
***
I've always been fascinated by Captian Beefheart. He reminds me of me if I were more like Don Van Vliet.
I don't think it's a healthy fascination.
***
Harmonia: Musik von Harmonia (1974) **** It's a little too early to rate this cd, since I've only listened to it twice, but it certainly sounds like what a **** cd should sound like. Beautiful stuff. I couldn't really tell you the difference between songs...yet. However, I just love the way it flows as a continuous river rippling over rocks. A beautiful picture, if you will.
Another one from Randy. Hope all's going well with Anita! And you're heading towards the finish line at school with a fluorish.
***
9 comments:
Thanks for the bone of human milky kindness=random acts of civility.
I just bought MODEST MOUSE "The moon and antarctica" CD, and I love all of it, the slow murky creepy songs and the hard charging rock ditties, sea chanties, and electro-blond refilibration zones.
Whatever happened to Vandergraaf Generator, The Smoke, and Desperate Bicycles?
Van Der Graaf Generator are back in business. They've been playing live over the summer and have released, I believe, a new studio album. Great reviews. All 4 members from the Pawn Hearts era, which I recently got and love.
The Smoke (the ones who did "My Friend Jack"?)...last heard of in the 70s.
Desperate Bicycles? Damn. You got me again. Just read their bio on allmusic and their was no news past 1981.
I have Modest Mouse's previous cd "Good News" and really liked it. ***1/2 Found it really catchy and enjoyable. It sounds like the new one is a winner.
It's nice to know of someone who has similar musical interests. Rare.
Desperate Bicycles turned into, I think, The Homosexuals, one of the best avant garde rock bands ever, which split apart into Amos and Sarah, Milk from Cheltenham, Vic Serf and the Villains, The Just Measurers, etc.
Are you familiar with It's War Boys collective late 1980s, Black Noise Records, and Recommended Records of the UK?
Where do you go for free, legal mp3s? This is all new to me, since I got broadband, iTunes, and Audacity.
Made some really bizarre electro music lately, just finished my new Final Version of "Christian Noise Metaphysics" CD album by Steven Streight CompuMusik.
Want a free copy?
Email me an address to send it to.
Still need to learn how to have mp3s of my music hosted somewhere, available for downloading at my blogs, like my 49 Media podcast.
Hi Steven
There are people out there who are open-minded in regards to music, unfortunately, you have to search the crevices and dregs of our society!
I definitely have to check out both Desperate Bicycles and The Homosexuals. I listened to some 30 second snippets on allmusic of "The Homosexuals Record" and it sounds great! Thanks.
I'm not familiar with the "It's War Boys" collective. I couldn't find anything online in a quick search. Nothing on allmusic and that's a hard band name to find on google. Not as bad as "Family", though...
I actually have heard of Black Noise Records, but not too much. The bit I saw online looked good. Now, I hadn't heard of Recommended Records, but went to their web site, and I am quite familiar with one of the gentlemen who started it. Chris Cutler...I've heard some Henry Cow (need to check out my local record store), Art Bears and I also believe he did some work with one of my all-time favs Kevin Coyne. I highly recommend Kevin Coyne's music.
Free, legal mp3s? I have found some on artists web sites. Steve Coleman...if you like experimental jazz check him out. He's played with Maceo Parker, Dave Holland and Cecil Taylor. Most of his music is available for free download on his site. Now, if you want to know about file-sharing...and after the Sony debacle...
Your cd sounds wild! I love the fact that you're into sharing your music. I'll email you my email for your cd and make you an offer.
Having a place on the web to host your music and available on blogs would be awesome! I wonder if there is a site for independent musicans to make available their music? Then have a link from your blog. It's possible...there's Flickr / Picasa for photos, blogs for words and ??? for music.
Oh, it's already available for blogs to post audio and music. I'm just behind the times, trying to get up to speed.
Many web usability specialists advise against "ice cream truck sites" that automatically play music when you arrive at the site.
But posting links to free legal music mp3s is altogether different. I think there is a way to allow users to listen to self-selected music as they view your blog, and the music will continue, as they go to other sites, if they don't turn it off somehow.
I'm trying to remember all the ins and outs of this feature. It's hard, even as a blogologist and web analyst, to keep track of everything, even in a narrow specialty.
Yes Art Bears, Renaldo and the Loaf, Residents, etc. are great.
The Homosexuals turned my musical world upside down when I first ordered singles by them from WaxTrax in Chicago, shipped in "plain brown wrappers".
I'm not gay, I'm not even happy, but I love that H band. There is an album by L. Voag called "The Way Out" that is supremely cool. He was one of "them". Like I said, The Homosexuals split into various collectives and bands.
One of them, according to my old band's lead singer Bennett Theissen, has a band called Die Trip Computer Die or something.
I phoned Recommended Records in London, in 1980 or so, and asked about The Homosexuals. I was told they were a "slapdash" band. I guess he meant they were "thrown together", not a serious band.
I was pen pals with L. Voag or Bruno or some guy in that band. They sent me red ink typed letters, we sent them cover versions of their songs, like "Hearts in Exile", as done by our band Camouflage Danse.
I will send you the "Our Sound" Camouflage Danse 1983-89 CD and my new electro-acoustic CD, once you email me your address. I'll mail it to you next payday, which is Dec. 15.
Hi Steven
I figured you could play music on your blog...just a matter of where to host it.
I've done some web page design, and I would rather not have the music playing, but give the user the option to play music. Always give the user as much power as possible. I have to admit when I've made some "fun" web pages (I did a Van Morrison one), I'll have the music playing, but that's just for me.
I guess the only way to turn off the music, is by stopping it on your media player, unless it's embedded in the program and they forget to close it on unload....fun stuff!
I love The Residents as well. For some reason, I love the first one best of all. "Meet the Residents". They're great.
Haha. I'm not one of "them" either...you can tell by the awful way I dress and I'm also a terrrible dancer! Couldn't care less. The Homosexuals sound very cool. Next time I place an order, I'll see if any of their stuff is available. The singles sound great! They sound like nice guys as well.
Your cds sound fantastic! I emailed you a couple of days ago, but will re-email you tonight with my address.
And I'm looking for your other comment but haven't seen it appear yet!?
I'll shoot you the email now.
Take it easy
there are NO desperate bicycles in the Homosexuals collective!
Hey, I am checking this blog using the phone and this appears to be kind of odd. Thought you'd wish to know. This is a great write-up nevertheless, did not mess that up.
- David
Thanks David! Not sure what the problem could be? I'll check it out though.
John
Post a Comment