Slob On My Blog: January 2010

Sunday, January 31, 2010

dark was the night

Dark Was The Night (2009)

No Last FM Tags... I'm gonna say indie/alternative

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

This is one of the best compilations I own. There were A LOT of great musicians involved in the production of this record. Artists feature Iron & Wine, Arcade Fire, Andrew Bird, The National, Yeasayer, and many more. There are both covers and original songs, including a Blind Willie Johnson Cover performed by The Kronos Quartet, a Vashti Bunyan cover performed by Feist and Ben Gibbard, a Nick Drake song performed by The Books and Jose Gonzales, and more. All of the artists included on this record are top notch and they all do what they do best, make bangin' music. On top of that, this album has outstanding production value studio-wise and was produced by Aaron and Bryce Dessner from The National.

Also, this album benefits HIV/AIDS awareness because it was released by Red Hot Organization, which is apparently an HIV/AIDS awareness charity I guess? Regardless, if you have the money buy this album for a good cause. ...If not, download it here.

Friday, January 29, 2010

king crimson

In The Court Of The Crimson King (1969)

"King Crimson is a progressive rock group from England formed in 1969 by guitarist Robert Fripp and drummer Michael Giles. Though originally an all-British musical group, later members have included a number of Americans, most notably Adrian Belew and Tony Levin.

The name King Crimson was coined by Peter Sinfield as a synonym for Beelzebub, prince of demons."

Last FM Tags: progressive rock, experimental, classic rock, progressive, rock

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

"In The Court Of The Crimson King" is widely considered to be the first ever progressive rock album. Very tasty. Every band member is extremely proficient at their instrument, there are some jazzy elements involved, and the reed solos are awesome. All around a very unique album.

the zombies

Odyssey And Oracle (1968)

"The Zombies formed in 1959 in St Albans, England and gained their initial reputation playing the Old Verulamians Rugby Club in that town. The group was formed whilst the members attended St Albans School and St Albans Boys’ Grammar School.

The Zombies signed to Decca and recorded their first hit, 'She’s Not There' after winning a beat-group competition sponsored by the London Evening News."

Last FM Tags: 60s, classic rock, psychedelic, rock, pop

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

This album is ridiculous. Truly an underrated gem.

I'm surprised I didn't post this earlier, definitely an essential.

Some classic 60's rock, this one's up there with Sgt. Pepper in my opinion. Not particularly innovative music, a lot of guys had the same idea that The Zombies had around their time. However, these guys are first class musicians and they put some really great tracks on this record. Santana did a cover of their song "She's Not There" (not on this album) and he made it pretty damn popular. There's a good chance you've heard it at one time or another.

AFI

The Art Of Drowning (2000)

All Hallows EP (1999)

Black Sails In The Sunset (1999)

"AFI (A Fire Inside) is an American rock band from Ukiah, CA that formed in 1991. Their career progression has taken them through notable and drastic changes in music styles from hardcore punk, to variants of post-hardcore and alternative rock, at times including some pop and electronica influences."

Last FM Tags: punk, punk rock, rock, alternative

My Rating For All: ★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2

I liked AFI before they got too girly for me with "Sing The Sorrow." Granted, they are still kinda girly in these albums, but it's not too bad. I was a huuuge AFI fan when I was younger, just started to get back into them. Good hardcore punk.

The Art Of Drowning

Black Sails In The Sunset

All Hallows EP

the misfits

Collection II (1995)

Last FM Tags: punk, horror punk, punk rock, hardcore punk, hardcore

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Another great Misfits album. These guys were my all time favorite band from when I was 12 to when I was like 14. Brings back memories. Excellent album, a lot of their albums are just the same tracks rearranged in different order so collection I and II are my favorite. (collection I is posted in an earlier section of my blog)

the faint

Blank Wave Arcade (1999)

"The Faint is an indie rock/dance punk band. Formed in Omaha, Nebraska in 1995 The Faint was originally known as Norman Bailer, a reference to Norman Mailer. The band Norman Bailer also included Conor Oberst, of Bright Eyes, with whom The Faint toured in 2005. He left shortly after joining and wasn’t let back into the band when he attempted to come back." (lol I thought that last bit was funny)

Last FM Tags: indie, electronic, indie rock, dance, electronica

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Great fusion of indie and electronic music, pretty damn unique.

soft machine

Volume One (1968)

Volume Two (1969)

"Soft Machine was a pioneering psychedelic, progressive rock and jazz band from Canterbury, United Kingdom, named after the book The Soft Machine by William S. Burroughs. They were one of the central bands in the Canterbury Scene."

Last FM Tags: progressive rock, psychedelic, canterbury, jazz, experimental

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

These guys toured with Hendrix on his "Experience" tour in 1968. Great 60's psychedelic rock band, I'm pretty sure Allan Holdsworth joined this band in their later days, which makes them even more awesome. Either way, great band and solid albums.

Volume One

Volume Two

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

explosions in the sky

The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place (2003)

Last FM Tags: post-rock, instrumental, ambient, experimental

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

I already posted "All Of A Sudden I Miss Everyone" a while ago so I am not re-posting a Last FM description for these guys.

One thing I really admire in a band is the ability to create an atmosphere with their music. These guys certainly know what they are doing when it comes to creating a mood, and they keep their music dynamic enough to keep the listener from becoming bored. Great album, outstanding live performers as well. Check them out.

You have probably heard this song sometime before.

Monday, January 25, 2010

port o'brien

All We Could Do Was Sing (2008)

"Port O’Brien is a folk group that is the project of Van Pierszalowski. Van was raised in Cambria, California and now lives in Oakland. His father is a commercial fisherman on Kodiak Island in Alaska and Van spends 3 and a half months of every year working on the F/V Shawnee looking for salmon. Van’s work in commercial fishing is a great source of inspiration for the group."

Last FM Tags: folk, indie, indie folk, indie rock, rock

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2

Don't know much about this band, but I really like this album.

pixies

Doolittle (1989)

Surfer Rosa (1988)

"Pixies are an American alternative rock band which formed in Boston, Massachusetts, United States in 1986 . They consist of Charles (Black Francis) Thompson IV (vocals, guitar; also known as ‘’Frank Black’‘), Kim Deal (bass, vocals), Joey Santiago (guitar) and David Lovering (drums). The band officially split in 1993 and reunited in 2004. They went on hiatus in 2007, with each band member pursuing projects of their own, only to reunite in 2009, with the announcement of a new tour commencing in Europe that summer."

Last FM Tags: alternative, indie, rock, alternative rock, indie rock

My Rating For Both: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Two exceptional Pixies albums.

Doolittle

Surfer Rosa

Sunday, January 24, 2010

edit

Certified Air Raid Material (2007)

"Born and bred in Weston, Massachussetts, Edward Ma, now known to the world as edIT, began his music career as “The Con Artist” just before the turn of the millennium. As a resident DJ at the now defunct Konkrete Jungle Los Angeles, he shared the stage with Hive, Daddy Kev, James Tai and mic rockers Busdriver, P.E.A.C.E. and Mikah 9. Konkrete Jungle marked the golden age of indie hip-hop in Los Angeles, and was the bridge between the jungle and b-boy massives.During this time, he also held a residency at Dublab Radio. He was one of the very first Dublab DJs and broadcasted two weekly shows from the legendary Melrose Avenue studio. Far ahead of its time, Dublab operated as an internet radio station and served as a unifying force for the melting pot of L.A.’s intellectual DJ culture. During this musical renaissance, edIT used “The Con Artist” name to produce and engineer for the likes of Sole (Anticon), Busdriver (Epitaph), Aloe Blacc (Stones Throw), Emanon (Shaman Work), and Dr. Oop (Black Love)."

Last FM Tags: idm, glitch, electronic, glitch-hop, hip-hop

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

I can't believe I haven't posted this album yet. It is ridiculous, some of the best IDM i've heard in a while.

awwww yeah

phish

Junta (1992)

The Story Of The Ghost (1998)

"Phish is a popular American rock band most noted for its extended improvisations, elongated song compositions and the varied genres represented in their song repertoire."

Last FM Tags: jam, jam band, rock, alternative, classic rock

My Rating For Both: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Great band, if you are into jam bands or jam music at all you have heard of Phish. I've seen them three times so far and every show was spectacular. Their combination of grateful dead-esque guitar playing, ripping leads, and jazzy improvisations are what really make these guys stand out. Pretty much pioneers of modern jam music, no big deal or anything.

Sorry, couldn't find any studio versions of the song I wanted. Check out these live clips though. Phish are really a band that need to be seen live to be appreciated anyway.

The Story Of The Ghost