Any Other Requests?

Last week, I received an e-mail from Balgavy. It read:

i think it's time for another post like this one:
http://listmaker.blogspot.com/2004/07/thoughts-on-what-is-currently-in-my.html

First, I'll get to the matter at hand- what is on the current tape in my Walkman?

M. Ward - Transistor Radio, 2005
I immediately loved his last record. This one hasn't quite grabbed me on the first couple of listens. He still has that world weary feel to his voice. Maybe I'm too harsh on him these days now that he's hanging out with that wanker Bright Eyes. Plus, I'm still weirded out about how much he looks like Paul from The Hecklers.

M.


Paul


The Double - Palm Fronds, 2004
Youthlarge's pals and Matador's latest darlings but not at all related. John Darnielle's favorite album of 2004. I can't quite get a handle on this other than sometimes they sound like M. Ward trying to sound all futuristic and shit rather than looking to some non-existent past for inspiration.

Sadies - Favourite Colours, 2004
The British spellings of the album title to placate Jeremy, the melodies to please Stone Groove, and the overall goodness to satisfy Hard Workin' Larry, these Canadian faves answer the question: Who will carry on the sounds of the country era Byrds into the next generation?




And what else has been recently gracing my ears?

Rufus Wainwright - Want Two, 2004
His cameo was easily the best part of The Aviator.

Dean Carter - Call of the Wild!, Mid to late 60's
Pure insanity. Imagine Joe Meek producing a hopped up rockabilly freak doing his best to outsonic the Sonics.

The Cookies - The Complete Cookies, Early 60's
Alex and Anne were right. This band is amazing. Luckily for me, Stone Groove agreed and I was able to burn this from him. Don't Say Nothin' Bad About My Baby might be the best song ever recorded.



My Morning Jacket - The Tennessee Fire, 1999
Something about this band really haunts me, in a good way.

The Coctails - The Popcorn Box, 2004
Just as good as I always remembered, if not better. Tons of previously unreleased CD material. And, of course, immaculate packaging. A gift from the honey.

Dead Meadow - Feathers, 2005
While this LP is in no way, shape or form what Stone Groove would classify as a stone groove, this dirge like cacophony of sludge clearly defines what it means to be a stone groove in the year 2005.

Cass Mccombs -Prefection, 2005
Apparently, his last album was one of many CDs that Youthlarge has brought home that I barely gave a chance before blowing it off. I've given his second record more listens before doing the same. I'm not even sure if I will blow this one off, but with an already overfull collection of music, do I really need this? I don't even really know what to say about this record at this point other than one of the songs is a ripoff of some John Lennon song that I can't quite recall. How is that for a completely useless review?

The Decemberists - Picaresque, 2005
I've only listened to this a few times so far. It sounds exactly like you'd expect one of their records to sound like. Oh so literate and mannered. I like it and all but maybe I've reached my limit with this band. Or maybe I just haven't listened to it enough. Or maybe it is just suffering from the Difficult Third Album disease whereas you either put out your masterpiece or you get slogged for merely repeating yourself or you get reamed for changing your sound to a new crappy one.

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - Shake the Streets, 2004
I feel like this album was unfairly ignored for some reason. After two much hyped records, Leo is leaner than ever. Why take five minutes to sing your heart out when you can do it in a mere three and a half? While this album isn't as strong as the previous two, it is damn good and has some of his most memorable songs yet.

The Hives - Tyrannosaurus Hives, 2004
If a howling Swedish crooner in a skinny tie sings his heart out to the masses, but nobody listens, did it really happen?


Jennifer Gentle - Valvende, 2005
These Italian Mop-Tops (or so I imagine) do their best Syd Barrett. Youthlarge thinks some of their songs sound like Belly. Odd because there are no women in the band despite the name.

Dungen - Ta Det Lungt, 2004
Years from now when I think back to 2004, I'll reminisce about this brilliant brilliant record. Swedish genius records all instruments and sings all vocals on this incredible, bombastic CD. Strike the pose, grow a handlebar moustache and prepare to have your fucking mind blown.

Super Furry Animals - Mwng, 2000
Gruff Rhys - Yr Atal Genhedlaeth, 2005
Unlike the Dungen, where the lyrics in a foreign tongue help create an even more otherwordly feel, the Welsh on these two fine records might not even occur to you as you sing along in pure pop glory.

Monade - A Few Steps More, 2005
Laetitia from Stereolab puts out her first solo record. I was playing this in class one day which prompted one girl to exclaim how weird it was. Another girl asked what language she was singing in. I said that I wasn't sure but her other records have songs in French on it. She disdainfully replied, "This is NOT French."

Guided By Voices - Factory Of Raw Essentials, 2000-2002
Disc 4 of Jamie's massive 5 disc box set of GBV for me. And all I can say is that Isolation Drills is much better than Universal Truths and Cycles.

The Reigning Sound - Too Much Guitar, 2004
No not Thom Yorke's nightmare, but rather the Reigning Sound's latest. This, Dungen, Iron and Wine, and Neko Case are probably my favorites of the year.


Between Youthlarge coming home from work with most of these CDs, the occasional burned copy, the acquired through marriage Super Furries LP, and the Hanukkah gift, I'm proud to state that I did not purchase any of these CDs. Although an argument could be made that since the Coctails box set was purchased with money from our joint bank account, I did have a hand in that money transaction.