New Music for Y'all
I went on a bit of a downloading spree tonight. Some short reviews after the jump.
Mount Eerie with Julie Doiron and Fred Squire — Lost Wisdom
Nothing new or surprising for anyone who has already heard any of Phil Elverum’s previous work, just really quality song writing that feels sometimes sleepy, sometimes creepy, and sometimes both. Highlight so far was being surprised by a quote, of sorts, from Bjork’s “Undo”. Out of nowhere, Elverum & Crew are almost chantingly singing “it’s. not. meant to be a strife. it’s. not. meaaa-aa-aa-aant to be. a struggle uphill.” Not a cover, mind, you. Just a nod. Very cool.
Department of Eagles — In Ear Park
Dude from Grizzly Bear makes a record that sounds, unsurprisingly, a lot like Grizzly Bear, if, perhaps, a bit more playful.
Fucked Up — The Chemistry of Common Life
Didn’t get a chance to listen to this as much as it was getting late and this is a loud one, but it sounded like a really unique hard rock/hardcore album that I could really get into. Jury’s still out, though.
Marnie Stern — This Is It and I Am It and You Are It and So Is That and He Is It and She Is It and It Is It and That Is That
HOLY FUCK. HOLY FUCK. FUCK. HOLY FUCK. THIS IS SO GOOD. SO SO GOOD. That was my initial response about 40 seconds into the first track. Noisy, structured and count-y (all while sounding quite chaotic). This is damn near exactly what I want to hear 90% of the god damn time. I know it’s not for everyone and I’m not saying you will or even should like it. I’m saying I love it. I absolutely love it and I hope you do too so we can talk about how much we love it.
Masada String Trio — 50th Birthday and Azazel
A string quarter plays songs from John Zorn’s Masada songbook. I grabbed this for three reasons
- As previously mentioned, I love eastern music and am really digging this Masada stuff.
- Greg Cohen’s basswork on the Masada stuff I got earlier today lit my hair on fire and I wanted more. He’s in this quartet.
- Marc motherfucking Ribot. Tom Waits fans pay heed: this dude is all of Wait’s more recent stuff.
Comments
i can’t wait to hear the marnie stern record. i’ve already deemed it the best album title of the year.
That Fucked Up album is pretty goddamned great. Although I see myself getting annoyed at a potential onslaught of horrid Pitchfork approved “hipster hardcore” the same way they did with Boris and hipster metal.
Has anyone listened to the Department of Eagles album yet? It’s still early, but it’s definitely a potential best-album-of-the-year for me.
Marnie Stern, whoa!!!
Yo, I just got Juana Molina and she’s totally up your alley. Sorta Marnie Stern-y with the noise, but closer to El Guincho.