Monday, July 5, 2010

Texas Is The Reason - Do You Know Who You Are



I bought this as an LP for 2 reasons. The cover looked like a 4AD album so much I had to turn it around to see what label it was on. When I did check the back I saw the first track "Johnny On The Spot". I loved 4AD artists and similar artists, and I collected Johnny songs (there are more than one would think). So I bought the LP and although it didn't sound anything like a 4AD band the album did get regular play for about 6 months.

Someone recently told me this was emo. It doesn't sound like the crap that I'm subjected to at the bar I work at, but maybe this is emo if emo was good. Anyway, it sounds good to me if it is emo or not.

1. Johnny on the Spot
2. The Magic Bullet Theory
3. Nickel Wound
4. There's No Way I Can Talk Myself Out of this One Tonight (The Drinking Song)
5. Something to Forget
6. Do You Know Who You Are?
7. Back and to the Left
8. The Day's Refrain
9. A Jack with One Eye


    HERE

    Sunday, February 21, 2010

    Totally Insane - Goin' Insane


    Because track #5 is hilarious.  


    Living in East Palo Alto wasn't the highlight of my early 20's especially living there with an alcoholic boyfriend, but it was his apartment, just like it was his CD. 


    If you think you hear Pam the Funkstress from The Coup you're right.  
    1. Intro
    2. Goin' Insane
    3. It's On
    4. The Bad Hand
    5. Pimps Up, Hoes Down
    6. The Times
    7. A to D
    8. That Insane Shit
    9. Epa Interview
    10. Backstreet Boys
    11. Can't Be Faded
    12. Here We Go Again
    13. Slangin Bean Pies
    14. Maggot Ass Bitches
    15. Krazy Shit
    16. No Mo Muzik
    17. Outro




       HERE

      Saturday, February 20, 2010

      Extra Fancy (Brian Grillo) - Sinnerman


      HIV-Positive Brian Grillo fronted this nearly forgotten pop punk band. I took this CD with me to work because their cover of (the American gospel song made famous [at least to me] by Nina Simone) Sinnerman, was so perfect for the work environment. The video played frequently on MTV until the label abruptly dropped the band and closed the homocore arm altogether. I can't help but think it had to do with Brian being out and more importantly outspoken about being positive, because if a record label can't make a few million off of exploiting a sexy, fit, shirtless gay man banging on an oil can, they have no business in being a record label to begin with. These guys made the other homocore bands look like, well, pansies... 

      Brian is in his late 40's now and still putting out music. His new album "Stomping Back On Fire" is available here.


      1. self made
      2. c'mon louie
      3. imitating angels
      4. violator
      5. 7 years ago
      6. sinnerman
      7. movie star honey
      8. porno star sonny
      9. yes sir
      10. son of that man
      11. william
      12. what i have
      13. beautiful world

      HERE





      Friday, February 19, 2010

      Paco de Lucía - Cositas Buenas



      Supposedly flamenco is music for the poor and disenfranchised. I think most of the greatest music has always been for the disenfranchised. What I think really doesn't matter, Paco de Lucía matters. I'll never make anything so brilliant.
      1.  Patio Custodio (Buleria)
      2. Cositas Buenas (Tangos)
      3. Antonia (Buleria por Soleá)
      4. El Dengue (Rumba)
      5. Volar (Buleria)
      6. El Tesorillo (Tientos)
      7. Que Venga el Alba (Buleria)
      8. Casa Bernardo (Rumba)

      Bongwater - Too Much Sleep


      It's hard to choose a Bongwater album, I really like them all but I don't listen to any of them very much anymore. Paul showed me Bongwater after I started getting into Negativland and I guess looking back it kinda makes sense even though they are really not related to each other in any way. Ann Magnuson and Kramer make some unforgettable music on this disk.  I think Ann is actually brilliant, I wish I could come up with crap like that. 



      1. The Living End
      2. The Drum
      3. Mr. and Mrs. Hell
      4. Too Much Sleep
      5. Talent Is a Vampire
      6. The Bad Review
      7. Ill Fated Lovers Go Time Tripping
      8. Psychedelic Sewing Room
      9. Splash 1
      10. He Loved the Weather
      11. Teena Stays the Same
      12. One Hand on the Road
      13. Then the Babies Return
      14. Why Are We Sleeping?
      15. Khomeini Died Tonight
      16. One So Black
      17. No Trespassing

      Here

      Thursday, February 4, 2010

      Over The Edge Radio (Don Joyce of Negativland) - Arabian Night


      This was probably the show that grabbed my attention the most out of any. It covers Iran, Israel, Palestinians, Egypt etc... Of course the then recent attacks on the World Trade Center is brought up in the broadcast as well as fundamentalist Islam and its effect on the Middle East and the rest of the world. I remember that night Siouxsie was playing in San Francisco and I didn't go and was regretting it when I heard the samples of her song Israel.
      As always the radio show has call-ins, "When your phone stops ringing, you’re on the air and in the mix, don't say hello", there are plenty of callers ringing in with their stupid comments that only KPFA listeners could say.
      I think that it was Negativland's Crosley Bendix and his reviews that made me cynical towards critics and blogs reviewing film and music, because who really gives a squant what you (or myself) think about a piece of culture anyway. Besides the fact that I doubt anyone is reading this or cares what is jotted down here, I try not to make reviews of the music and instead just wallow in my nostalgia of where I was when I heard the music or what it means to me.
      Negativland is one that brings up loads of nostalgia, but every time I listen to something of theirs I also hear new things, or notice new things.
      Here Joyce cuts up the audio from film, interviews, and music to paint a picture of a complex situation that only an artist can articulate so clearly and unbiasedly, though his anti-religious stance comes across as it does in many of his shows.
      Gore Vidal, Bill Maher and all sorts of political commentators have their words cut up and pasted together to present Don Joyce's perspective which is much more palatable to me than most of the analysts he samples. I wish I could do that in my life, just take bits and pieces that please me from each personal conversation I have, and leave the rest in the recycle bin on a hard drive.

      There are years and years of shows available from the Negativland website .
      There is only 1 track, it is 3 hours long.

      HERE

      Sunday, January 31, 2010

      The Apples התפוחים - Buzzin' About

      این هدیه به پسرعموهای من که در فارسی ممکن است به این وب سایت وارد شده است.رایگان موسیقی فانک اسرائیل مرسوم ، مد روز برای افراد جوان لذت ببرید.
      Here is the post-funk Israeli band that everyone loves. I hardly ever listen to this album unless a tourist asks me to play some popular Israeli music. I heard it while traveling to the nature reserve beach Hof HaBonim (workers beach) where I illegally camped with 2 strangers whom I had just met. It was a great album for the car ride. The beach was more memorable than the music. A clean nature reserve untouched by mans dirty hands, a refuge of peace and beauty in this unholy land. 

      1.Stack It Up!
      2.Run This Town
      3.Debils Dream
      4.The Bell Step
      5.Run Shai Ran
      6.Lou-E Zee-Yanaa
      7.Kol Hayom Bahalal
      8.Number Two
      9.Up-Skirt
      10.Yablaki
      11.Buzzin' About
      12.Killing (bonus track)


      HERE

      Tuesday, January 26, 2010

      Taylor Meets Thee Headcoatees


      This is a small post. Now I'm in a nostalgic mood and on a Headcoatees kick. This was a CD EP I found at Amoeba  Records and wound up taking to work with me. I usually hate remixes, but these are great. Woodie Taylor from The Meteors is remixing some classic Headcoatees songs into sorta dance versions or something. 

      1.Have Love Will Travel

      2.Say That You're Mine

      3.Deep Inside

      4.Meet Jaqueline

      5.You Know You Can't Resist

      6.Kyra's Vowels


      Monday, January 25, 2010

      Alcest-Souvenirs D'un Autre Monde



      This is my afternoon, fresh squeezed mandarins with cheap vodka. It's a strange mix of Black Metal and Shoegaze. Whatever it is, I like it (and it goes well with my choice of beverage). 


      There is a 7" or EP called Le Secret, and a demo or something called Tristesse Hivernale. Both are very heavy and cannot be confused with Shoegaze, but this is my favorite from the band so far. It might be the mandarine juice talking.



      1. Printemps Emeraude
      2. Souvenirs D'un Autre Monde
      3. Les Iris
      4. Ciel Errant
      5. Sur L'autre Rive Je T'attendrai
      6. Tir Nan Og

      Sunday, January 24, 2010

      Thee Headcoatees - Have Love Will Travel


      The first track is my theme song. It has followed me across North America, through the south of Europe and to Amman Jordan and back to Tel Aviv. Track 5 "Mess Of Pottage" is also a cute song but probably only if you know the story from the bible. Typical garage rock is what I need when I'm traveling. It is easy to share with people that I meet along the way. I found this way back when I was a teen, some friends were listening to Billy Childish, but I was much more entertained by this.


      1.Have Love, Will Travel
      2.Baby Please
      3.Don't Try And Tell Me
      4.Gotta Get Inside That Boy's Mind
      5.Mess Of Pottage
      6.You Know You Can't Resist
      7.Louis Riel
      8.Baby Come Closer
      9.Come Into My Life
      10.Tear It To Pieces
      11.Something Went Wrong
      12.Big Boss Man
      13.My Boyfriend's Learning Karate
      14.I'm Gonna Make You Mine
      Here

      Wednesday, January 13, 2010

      Farman Fathalian فرمان فتحعلیان - Mast o Kharab مست و خراب (Drunk & Broken)

      With that kind of title who wouldn't like it? Well, it is actually uplifting to listen to when I'm feeling drunk and broken, which happens often. I found it while wandering around Persian blogs. It's pretty and upbeat while simultaneously being sad and melancholy (like me).

      He has a website but there isn't much there yet. He also has a blog that has his gmail listed with some personal stories. There is also another blog where his poetry and lyrics seem to be the theme.

      1. Mast o Kharab مست و خراب
      2. Hoo Hagh هو حق
      3. Soltane Tarighat سلطان طریقت
      4. Baadehye Moghan باده مغان
      5. Saghi ساقی
      6. Ghessehye Najaf قصه نجف
      7. Sahebe Dam صاحب دم
      8. Safare Eshgh سفر عشق
      9. Mast o Kharab (Bi Kalam) مست و خراب
      10. Safare Eshgh (Bi Kalam) سفر عشق


      HERE