The Ex - Turn and Dizzy Spells
Someone recently sold their collection of The Ex to the store I volunteer at and I bought it all up. I've been slowly working my way backwards through their catalog, and so far I've been pretty amazed. These two albums are rhythmic no-wave kind of stuff with an impeccable sense of pacing and structure, knowing exactly where to repeat & build and where to change.
Do Make Say Think - You, You're a History in Rust
All DMST albums (except the first one for some reason) eventually become regular parts of the sonic fabric of my life. This one took a few listens to grow on me but is there now. More of the amazing intrumental rock/lounge/ambient/experiemental goodness I've some to expect, with a few good vocals thrown in for good measure.
Faust - "It's a Rainy Day (Sunshine Girl)"
Kampfire Krautrock? The incessant motorik-style beat is there, but the instrumentation and arrangement feel organic, punctuated by a downright fun "ah-oom" vocal chant. And what lyrics could fit springtime better than "it's a rainy day/sunshine baby"?
Big Business - Here Comes the Waterworks
Big Business finally releases something that fulfills the promise of their pedigree.
Dalek - Abandoned Language
Ambient Noise Hop. Somewhere between the tech-paranoia of El-P and the chill feeling of Native Tongue bands, with a taste for noise and droll world-weary vocals.
Homostupids - S/T
Trashy noisy garage punk. Reminds me a bit of the better moments of Pink and Brown
Catena Collapse - Rai Rai Rai/Outback Songs
The '00s have brought us an increasing amount of bombast from emo hardcore bands. This is fine and all but eventually you get to a point where the music has so much drama it becomes imposing, mythic, trans-human. Catena Collapse come from a similar emo punk tradition, but they have a looseness that is approachable, human, even welcoming in its own way. Moss Icon, Current, or the All the President's Men comp are all reasonable reference points (as are the more obscure Plunger or the first Bob Tilton LP). How come all the good emo bands are from Europe these days, anyway?
Hefner - "Hymn for the Cigarettes"
The funny/biting chorus defies my powers of analysis and description.
Axolotl - "There are Sometimes Miracles"
This is currently my favorite track from the Way Blank album. Pop noise, like if My Bloody Valentine had decided to release an album of the shimmering, abstract interludes from Loveless and the EPs of that era.
Eluvium - "Amreik"
Ambient music. Reminds me a bit of the second side of Eno's Discreet Music where he reworks Pachelbel's canon, esp "The Fullness of Wind" version. Unlike the eno work, though, this nearly breaks my heart everytime I hear it. The rest of the album is good, but does not quite pack the punch that this does.
Built to Spill - There's Nothing Wrong With Love
Soundtrack for a drive to a spring wedding.
One Last Wish - 1986
One Last Wish is most of members of Rites of Spring playing music that sounds a lot like Rites of Spring. This was a lost album for a while until Dischord issued it in the late 90s/early 00s. "My Better Half" was included on a mix CD wedding favor and prompted a week of listens to this album.
Explosions in the Sky - The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place
honorable mention to the new album as well.
Pavement - "Old to Begin"
Not sure why, but phrases from this song keep popping into my head.
