What Are You Listening To?

[darrylduffy]

What are you listening to, not what are your opinions about what other people are listening to. Help people find something new to listen to.

I am listening to the Hold Steady's "Stay Positive" and the Submarines' "Honeysuckle Weeks."

[slapstickeulogist]

This catchy little tune by Kenneth Bager

http://youtube.com/watch?v=0m2sWyc6lOc

[Jack]

http://www.last.fm/user/JackSzwergold

[LordLargo]

I haven't been listening to much since the late nineties when I got burned by those damn Spice Girls and R.Kelly. I have an appoinment with a psychiatrist tomorrow.

[congolia]

Jay Reatard - Singles 2006-2007

Rainbow Dramatic - "These are my emotions, jeez.", "Amsterdam was good to me"

[Pop Zeus]

Sparks - Kimono My House

I was really into this album last year, revisiting it now.

[daveunfun]

Eli "Paperboy" Reed. And I don't listen to a lot of soul music, but this guy is really great. Here's a Youtube video of him playing in a laundromat:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orkQRT8MKho

This got me on a young throwback musicians mood, so I listened to some Dan Sartain.

And now I'm listening to the Rye Coalition.

[DOOM]

Buried at Sea - Migration

[Jack]

Eli "Paperboy" Reed. And I don't listen to a lot of soul music, but this guy is really great.

Wow, nice to see someone else who knows who Eli Reed is. As far as new/retro-ish soul goes, The Sweet Divines are really great. Some members do backup vocals for Sharon Jones and The Mighty Hannibal on his recent tours:
TTn5hXm6Eyk

Some folks in that group were members of The Dansettes:
kCYPHgXetNQ

And yeah, I really am into The Mighty Hannibal now as well:
mBI-CDxqu4o

[Embiggen]

I've been listening to Paul McCartney's first three albums a lot recently: "McCartney", "Ram" and Wings' "Band on the Run". So, so good. The song "Let Me Roll It" in particular blows me away, because it sounds like Paul's trying to do a Plastic Ono Band-era Lennon song, and somehow does it even better than Lennon. Or at least as good.

Also trying to decide how I feel about Vampire Weekend and the most recent albums from Bonnie "Prince" Billy, My Morning Jacket and Sloan. I feel pretty good about them so far.

[J vs W]

Hawkwind, Laurie Anderson, and the song Harborcoat by R.E.M. is the best music this weeek.

HEY JOEY PRETTY GOOD MUSIC
HEY THANKS MAN NO BIG D' I JUST LISTEN TO THIS AND THAT YOU KNOW NO BIGS

[Meen Bellpeppers]

I've been listening to Hawkwind too Joey!

Let's hug!

[billynord]

I stumbled upon this three piece from Minneapolis called Best Friends Forever. Really wavey, Civil War-esque pop-rock. I enjoy and hope you do too.

http://www.myspace.com/bestfriendsforeverandfriends

[yumitree]

yes, yes, yes, billy! i've been lovin' on best friends forever's 2007 full length and recently re-issued e.p. for the last few months. i've got a huge soft spot for nearly everything plan-it-x puts out (the one reason record has been playing quite a lot lately too). i almost restarted the singles thread yesterday to post "my head in front of your head."

most of my musical listening is currently being taken up by more garage, freakbeat, teen/frat/college rock, and psyche compilations than my brain can wrap around... ok, and some bubblegum too.

it's also heating up so i'm going to break out orchestra boabab - pirate's choice.

[J vs W]

I've been listening to Hawkwind too Joey!

Let's hug!

<img src=http://www.ravenmedium.com/hug.jpg>

[billynord]

Plan-it-x! Some beautiful, sweaty memories right there. Nothing's quite like seeing This Bike Is a Pipe Bomb perform in someone's kitchen while swallowing an entire forty through your ear.

Remember the calming Plan-it-x singer/songwriter Madeline? Chick is kicking it wonderfully:
http://www.myspace.com/madelinesongs

[yumitree]

ah, plan-it-x, i remember going to operation: cliff clavin shows!

while we're gushing about this label, they just put out the dublin duo, heathers (http://www.myspace.com/heatherswhatsyourdamage)' debut album and i've loved what i heard so far. they're on tour in the u.s. right now.

[Meen Bellpeppers]

Get a broom you two.

[thanks to the crash there is no evidence that I stole this joke]

[punkdc]

Been listening to the Dark Knight OST. Its sooooo ridiculous! Less than a week

[ragu sauce]

http://www.last.fm/user/strathm

[aenemaTron]

http://www.last.fm/user/aenematron/

The new Beck is really good. I have only listened once but the whole thing was good.

[Matt Braunger]

The Dodos "Visiter"
Also, this:
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qCVQpcY1au4&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qCVQpcY1au4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

[yumitree]

yes, "visitor" is as good as "beware of maniacs." i'd also like to recommend their san jose pals the mumlers who put out their debut album "thickets and stiches" earlier this year.

[mattlister]

Remember the calming Plan-it-x singer/songwriter Madeline? Chick is kicking it wonderfully:
http://www.myspace.com/madelinesongs

I have "Kissing and Dancing" on CD and "The Slow Bang" on LP. She's really young to already have 2 albums out and be touring everywhere---hope she comes out with another one soon.

[mattlister]

Antefatti's "Agisci"

[Meen Bellpeppers]

The Dodos "Visiter"
Also, this:
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/qCVQpcY1au4&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/qCVQpcY1au4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
Amazing.

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xn1FEBHU-4g&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xn1FEBHU-4g&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

[andrearunge]

Jay Reatard - Singles 2006-2007

Rainbow Dramatic - "These are my emotions, jeez.", "Amsterdam was good to me"

RD dowload (meenb.muxtape.com). These guys are great!

[frozen bear]

Clockcleaner - "Babylon Rules" (http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=10662025)

Monotonix - "Body Language EP" (http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=60761539)

[Me!]

Guided by Voices - Hold on Hope

[disl]

hey my friend plays drums in this group and i think they are great:

http://www.myspace.com/silvershampoo

jethro skull is a great song.

[thegreg]

How did it take me so long to get into Danielson? Don't make the same mistake I made.

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rRmkosOzQH8&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rRmkosOzQH8&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

[KeithTalent]

The Joggers' new tour-only EP is unbegoddamnlievable. It's got a bunch of new stuff plus the version of "Long Distance Runaround" that they originally did for a covers compilation...it is just fantastic. The songwriting is a huge step up from their first album, I cannot wait for the next album proper. This thing is hipster-friendly and at the same time I'm tempted to send it to Pardo. If you like guitars you need to check this out.

[Meen Bellpeppers]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=hCG8RCPY1F0
(http://youtube.com/watch?v=hCG8RCPY1F0)
This was a hit in 1982. WTF.

[frozen bear]

Future of the Left - Curses

If you haven't heard 'em it's the dude from McLusky, who also were good. Future of the Left maintains a pretty similar style, not quite as lo-fi, but still sarcastic angry rock music with a sense of humor. You'd probably dig it if you like Shellac or something.

Also the new beck is way better than his last two (or three) albums in my opinion. i like it. i really like "Chemtrails". I usually find beck albums to be spotty but this one's pretty solid upon first listen.

[NFox]

I just can't stop listening to Girl Talk's album Feed the Animals. I love this crazy "new" millennium we're in, where artists let you pay whatever you want. Check it out here (74.124.198.47/illegal-art.net/__girl__talk___feed__the__anima.ls___/).

-Nick

[JayRunner]

D93OD5IYDx4&feature

[SailRacer]

<object width="300" height="110"><param name="movie" value="http://media.imeem.com/m/ZqLuvwBLf0/aus=false/"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://media.imeem.com/m/ZqLuvwBLf0/aus=false/" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="300" height="110" wmode="transparent"></embed><a href="http://www.imeem.com/people/YerJ5Pg/music/1QYkQ1gO/jonathan_coulton_ikea/">Ikea - Jonathan Coulton</a></object>

[BrianStack]

Like Mr. Duffy who started this thread, I've also been listening to the new Hold Steady album, "Stay Positive", lately. I can't tell yet if I like it as much as their three previous albums, but they set such a high standard with those. Here's a clip of the band doing one of my favorite songs on the new album, "Sequestered In Memphis":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7RO0y1-ZAE

I've also been listening a lot to the great new album by James McMurtry, "Just Us Kids". I think McMurtry's one of the most underrated songwriters working today and I'm always amazed by his brilliant lyrics. Here's a clip from YouTube of him doing "Ruby and Carlos", one of the many great songs from "Just Us Kids", at a public radio station recently, followed by an interesting interview:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=dXVgl2Y4-Qg

Recently, a friend of mine who knows what a huge Neko Case (and alt-country) fan I am, recommended Canadian singer-songwriter Kathleen Edwards to me. I had never even heard of her before that, but I think she's really good. Here's a live clip of her doing a recent song of hers, "Asking For Flowers":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmVmycx7L9A&feature=related

[Ivan]

I've kept the new Aimee Mann album on constant repeat. It's fantastic.

[Scammy Davis Boogah Jr.]

MC Paul Barman, the full buck moon mixtape, available on his website.

It's brilliant.

A taste: "Television is a medium because it's seldom rare or well done".

Another taste: "Your fitted hat looks like shitted crap".

[KeithTalent]

Oh lord, Paul Barman is still around?

frozen bear - Have you heard the band 1990s? It's the guy from the Yummy Fur (who were awesome)...fun and sarcastic like McLusky/FotL but less angry.

[ReverendMediocre]

Abigail Washburn & The Sparrow Quartet

"A Fuller Wine"
http://youtube.com/watch?v=P0O_34xe0S0

Serious NPR egghead music, but also the most interesting and innovative folk record in recent memory. Washburns pop-inflected vocals and old time banjo mixed with Bela Fleck's classical banjo picking and a string section backing them both is just fantastic.

[metal2000]

The new Prescilla Ahn CD, "A Good Day", is incredible. And I've been listening to it lots, along with the upcoming Emma-Lee CD, "Never Just a Dream" (kind of a jazzy pop 50s feel). What else... hmm... still lots of Ingrid Michaelson, Mute Math, Emme Packer, and Rue Royale. And of course my favourite in the world, Sarah Slean.

Oh, and the new Opeth, "Watershed". Damn it's good.

[Siggers]

my broken fan and my fat man panting.

[crap in a hat]

Black Mountain's "In the Future" won't stop pleasantly haunting my existence.

[CaptainBreakfast]

Got "The Hard Sell" extended set by Dj Shadow and Cut Chemist in the mail today, I've listened to it four times already. It's fun, I recommend it.

[yumitree]

those who have enjoyed the dodos' album might want to check out the meth teeth (http://www.myspace.com/methteethmusic)'s ep, bus rides.

[punkdc]

Dunno if this was posted, but if you use Last.Fm go ahead and join the AST group! http://www.last.fm/group/AST.FM
And if you don't have last.fm go ahead and get it because its a fun and awesome program that tracks your music.

[derekthedrummer]

Man, I'm stoked there are Plan-It-X fans on here. I had no idea. I'm digging some Andrew Jackson Jihad lately and One Reason's "All Rivers..." is one of my all time favs. If you dig plan-it-x and you haven't heard Mischief Brew, you really outta. They (he) have a new split w/ Joe Jack Talcum about to come out and the first song is on their myspace and it's REALLY FUCKING GOOD.
Also, while on vacation I just got the new Kill Your Idols and Hot Water Music b sides collections and the wife and I realized we should have bought the first Gorillaz cd a long time ago, so we got that. Also recently got Dead To Me's Cuban Ballerina.

[punkdc]

Andrew Jackson Jihad is amazing.

[CaptainBreakfast]

Listened to Ten by cLOUDDEAD. If you like your hip-hop to be unnerving/nonsensical/limbo-ish, then you might like this album.

[nadsat droog]

On of my favorite music blogs, indieducky.com (http://indieducky.com) (formerly Regnyouth Archives), posted about the new Elliott Brood album (http://indieducky.com/reviews/folk/elliott-brood-mountain-meadows/) yesterday and I've been listening to it non-stop. It's alt-country (or death country or blackgrass, stupid labels) greatness. There's a certain sense of earnestness to everything about the music that just grabbed me immediatly.

[Dr. Feelgood]

Para One - Epiphanie

I don't get why Justice, Simian Mobile Disco, and MSTRKRFT (all of whom I love) are so big and nobody knows about this guy.

[TenJay]

Behemoth-Demigod

Damn god metal

[BillBrasky]

Sparks- Good Morning (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwdkbzmIaRg)

[mcpiranhas]

I think the new Byrne/Eno is pretty fantastic, though it sounds little to nothing like Bush of Ghosts. It's available from their website in some sort of complicated Radiohead/NIN-type multi-tiered purchase system.

[Ivan]

Aceyalone & RJD2 - A Beautiful Mine (http://www.megaupload.com/?d=8VPLV58M)

aka the theme from Mad Men but with RAPPIN

[Umlaut]

Of Montreal - Skeletal Lamping
I still don't know how I feel about this one, though I definitely am getting down to at least a few tracks.

The Walkmen - You&Me
I love it.

[frozen bear]

frozen bear - Have you heard the band 1990s? It's the guy from the Yummy Fur (who were awesome)...fun and sarcastic like McLusky/FotL but less angry.

no, thanks for the heads up though, i'll check em out and report back.

[priceyeah]

I recently discovered the Electric Six (again). Thing is, after their hits around 2002, "Danger! High Voltage!" and "Gay Bar," they were kind of written off. But they've released four albums since then (the fourth comes out in the autumn), and much to my surprise, their catalog is wide, deep, and immensely satisfying.

Here's a link to a zip file (http://perpetua.tumblr.com/post/48425730/predator-mode-the-best-of-the-electric-six) with a bunch of good songs. IMO there are about ten others that aren't in this mix that are also great. I'll supply more titles if people take a liking to this stuff.

[MrDys]

Detektivbyrån (http://www.myspace.com/detektivbyran).

Falls into the Devotchka realm of neo-accordion/glockenspiel folkie music. It makes me want to play old video games for some reason.

[pmottaz]

Two things:

KCRW's "Sounds Eclectic" disc--a collection of live performances from Morning Becomes Eclectic. Lots of good stuff in just 12 songs.

And I can't stop playing Beck's <HTML=http://www.thetripwire.com/features/2008/9/8/greatest-song-at-this-moment-becks-timebomb>"Timebomb."</HTML> So much so that I wrote about it at length.

Like so: http://www.thetripwire.com/features/2008/9/8/greatest-song-at-this-moment-becks-timebomb

[ArtsyMcShitshimself]

Aceyalone & RJD2 - A Beautiful Mine (http://www.megaupload.com/?d=8VPLV58M)

aka the theme from Mad Men but with RAPPIN

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/455/madmenix9.jpg

[the kid]

I've been listening to alot of Jurassic 5 recently.

[(Mul)Doomstone]

VARIOUS ARTISTS – “Lux and Ivy’s Favorites, Volumes 1-6”

Somewhere, at some time, back in my darker days, I met some guy who told me some stories about The Cramps because – again, somehow – he had spent some time on tour with them. Where, when, in what capacity – I just don’t recall. And what did he have to say about The Cramps? Once again, I don’t recall exactly … I only recall that the stories left me with the indelible impression that Lux Interior and Poison Ivy are really fucked up. Like, just monsters. Is that good or bad? Is it even true? Who knows. These compilations are routinely floating around the web and what makes them so incredibly awesome is that they’re totally on-target, and they’re so on-target because they’re so incredibly unofficial. It would take Rhino money to put these things out for real. Anyway, here’s about 200 songs you need to hear right away. Make like a necrophiliac and dig ‘em up.

MATRICIDE – “Black Mass Gathering”

I got that terrific, eye-popping book, “The Encyclopedia of Svensk Dodsmetall,” a few weeks back and something struck me – and I realize this is something much less than a revelation to anyone at all. But it’s just so strange that such a demarcation was made at some point between death metal and black metal. I think that for most of us that were dubbing tapes before the first church was burned (if that’s a fair starting point), the two will always be unavoidably linked. Like, Darkthrone did nice work with that name either way, but wouldn’t you think a band like Dissection would have wanted a more eerie name at the end of the day? Please be advised that these thoughts are worthless. And what does this have to do with Matricide? Not much, clearly. But I like this raw and ugly album and every now and then they do that thing where you can’t tell if the clean guitar sound over the top of the buzz & roar is intentional, or is someone forgot a pedal. Awesome.

KISS – “Destroyer”

C’mon, I’m not made out of stone. “Your backstage passes and dark sunglasses make you look just like a queen!”

THE CLASH – “Sandinista!”

C’mon, I’m not made of wood, either. “WHAT HAVE I DONE?!?”

MASON BROTHERS – “The Sun, The Moon & The Sea”

For their first full-length album, the Richmond-based Mason Brothers have built an apparent framework around three of the most common elements in the history of popular song: the sun, the moon and the sea (also the album’s title). Sensible, then, that their songs would also draw upon familiar musical elements: comforting acoustic arrangements, augmented by tasteful starbursts of lap steel guitar and memorable vocal harmonies. More demanding is to understand why these common elements result in such a revelatory listening experience, a new release that sounds absolutely timeless after several spins. The Mason Brothers have succeeded in wrestling new magic out of the universal, resulting in a new universe with a brighter soon, a higher moon and a deeper sea.

[FF Woodycooks]

Jay Reatard - Singles 2006-2007


This is a fucking great album. Same with Blood Visions. I saw him live awhile ago and it made me want to be a guy with long hair.

Lately I've been listening to Songs: Ohia's album "Didn't It Rain". If you're bummed out about living in a run down town in the midwest, it's a pretty great album to confirm that feeling. It's very intimate - the arrangements are pretty spare and it was recorded live, with (my hero) Jim Krewson and the Jenny from Jim and Jenny and the Pinetops. It's nice and spooky.

In the same Alt-Country vein, I've been listening to this song a lot: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQP2ChNur-A

Also digging Otis Redding (obviously), Liar's self titled album from last year, and recently discovered that Lil' Wayne is totally awesome and not just hype.

punk dc/derekthedrummer - I love Andrew Jackson Jihad! My friend played a couple shows with them last year and said they are also awesome people.

It's kinda surprising to me that so many people here like the same kind of music, but I guess it shouldn't be, really.

[P. J. Head]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mVEGfH4s5g

Seriously.

[conundrum]

Squarepusher - Just a Souvenir

One of the best bass players ever
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/video/2008/nov/10/squarepusher-session-live

[(Mul)Doomstone]

THE SMITHS – “The Sound of the Smiths”

My older brother had a really cool “The Queen is Dead” poster when we were young & I wish I still had it. I guess. Maybe not. What would I do with it? Anyway … that was the only album of theirs that I ever owned and I really couldn’t get my head around it, like, ever. And when I listen to The Smiths now I really … it’s weird. It’s not really the type of thing I think I like … but I think it’s so damn good I can’t help but be fascinated with it, ya’know? It’s so strange to me that this band is so affecting to so many people in their youth because I don’t think I understood the appeal at all until I was in my mid-twenties. Same with Bob Dylan and John Prine. Maybe it’s because of the lyrics. “Does the body rule the mind or does the mind rule the body? I don’t know!” I don’t know.

JEX THOTH – “Jex Thoth”

“When the Raven Calls” sounds so good at preposterous volumes.

WINTERFYLLETH – “The Ghost of Heritage”

This is just so great, despite the fact that it makes me feel very inadequate about my historical knowledge. I’m an American, through and through! If I make a top-ten list for the year, this has a spot there, me thinks.

ALICE COOPER – “Billion Dollar Babies”

What a wacky album. I used to have the giant (billion) dollar bill that came with the vinyl hung on my wall for the longest time … I hope I still have that somewhere. Those early Alice Cooper albums are really something special, such an incredible mix of garage rock, creep rock, proto punk, horrified bubblegum pop … they’ve got it all. What’s the modern equivalent? I really can’t think of one. The title track is fucking amazing. AMAZING! I never heard the offshoot album by the band Billion Dollar Babies – is that worth tracking down?

ROSETTA – “Wake/Lift”

I don’t know that this band gets enough credit. Maybe they do – I mean, I really don’t know.

[I love nny]

Talking Heads: Psycho killer

[MikeHilinski]

Vic thrill and the saturn missile.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztY9uxEyhC0

[bao]

Any other Hangar 18 junkies around here? Probably my favorite group of this millenium -- I'm still listening to Sweep the Leg almost daily.

Here's a clip from Freestyle 101:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WM5hnmp0k_k

(and yes, they do actually freestyle ... unlike most other "freestylers")

[yumitree]

If I make a top-ten list for the year, this has a spot there, me thinks.

i'm glad someone else brought this up because it's getting close to the time when i take my annual hawai'i christmas trip which involves lots of anti-social socializing with me, my family, and my ipod. this is usually when i get a chance to sit down and really listen to everything that came out (or i acquired) this year and create a ridiculously detailed end of the year list. i don't imagine that everyone (or anyone) on this board is interested in creating a 50 page report including the top albums, songs, singles/e.p.s, reissues, recent (but not 2008) releases, new discoveries, disappointments, etc. (or reading one, for that matter), but i'm hoping we can get a good top 10 thread going this time around.

anyways, lately i've been listening to the following:
amanaz - africa: this is a 2008 re-issue of a 1975 lp by some fuzzed-out zambian rockers.

the downliners sect - the country sect: some of you garage/beat/mod/raw r'n'b kids might know of this group from their 1964 debut and/or the 1966 album, the rock sect's in, which were reissued together, or from their collaboration with the headcoats as thee headcoat sect, but between their two albums, they put out probably the first country rock record ever... at least the first in britian.

p.i.l. - album: i recently re-watched the promotion and their use of "rise" made me want to listen to this album and forget about that silly margarine commercial johhny did recently.

lover!/livefastdie - split 7": lover!'s song is called "booger in my asshole" with livefastdie's "sick as shit of shit" on the b-side. last year, i said that eat skull's self-titled 7" was the reason 7" singles were made, that crown might go to this split.

this recording of the hartford whalers/minnesota saints game from 1975 (http://www.brassbonanza.com/hcc/whalers-audio/whalers-vs-saints)

[Ethan]

Talking Heads: Psycho killer

The Talking Heads have had a major renaissance in my life over the past 3 weeks.

I cannot stop listening to/watching Stop Making Sense.

[Horking My Lunch]

The Sundays and Gang of Four have been in heavy rotation on the pod.

[pauliophonic]

A Wilhelm Scream

[TenJay]

New Order and Oldies music form the video game Bioshock

[(Mul)Doomstone]

BOB DYLAN – “Live 1966 (Disc 1)”

Over the weekend I started reading a book I got from the library called “There’s a Riot Goin’ On: Revolutionaries, Rock Stars and the Rise and Fall of the 60’s” by Peter Doggett. I suspect it’ll be well-traveled ground for the most part, but the topic is sort of endlessly fascinating for me and has been for years (and I just can’t find it in my heart to pass up any book with a picture of Rob Tyner on the spine). But I can’t help but think I will pick up one or two hidden nuggets of useless information, as the book looks pretty well-researched (case in point: apparently, it was once common for British university students to great each other with a fist-bump, and a reverent utterance of the name, “Che.” Let’s bring it back!) Anyway … in the preface, the author breaks down that Bob Dylan film from a few years ago, “Masked & Anonymous,” saying that it’s Dylan’s most direct response/repudiation/reaction to the kind of de-facto revolutionary leader tag he got sometime in the early 60’s. Which reminds me: I need to see “Masked & Anonymous.” ANYWAY … you could make a case for this being the single greatest Dylan live set ever recorded and I wouldn’t offer much resistance. Just flawless.

CELTIC FROST – “Monotheist”

Where was it that I read that the reformed Asphyx is doing a Celtic Frost cover … and it’s a song from “Monotheist”? I love that. I truly love that. Why can’t cover versions be of recent (or semi-recent) songs? Why does every cover song have to be about, “Here’s one from 25 years ago!”?!? Remember when Hendrix covered “Sgt. Pepper” about a week after it came out?!! I WAS THERE, DUDE. I. WAS. THERE.

COUGH – “Sigillum Luciferi”

I think this is another one for my threatened best of the year list. Good and massive.

THE SMITHS – “The Sound of the Smiths”

Still!

GRIS – “Il Etait Une Foret …”

This is another one that may be in the running for the mythical, stupid and completely worthless best of the year list … although I kind of don’t want it to be. Which isn’t really fair or good, but I never said I don’t have problems. I never said I’m not conflicted. Walt Whitman: “I contradict myself? Very well then: I contradict myself. I am massive. I contain multitudes.” So I thought I was over the idea of dreamy, atmospheric “black metal” with French song titles, after drowning myself in the Alcest oeuvre last year (and “Souvenir’s …” was at the top of that “best of” list). But it turns out that I’m not. Because goddamn if Gris don’t sound like a fucking thunderstorm and if that first reverb-drenched shriek doesn’t turn my mind to goo and …

[Horking My Lunch]

THE SMITHS – “The Sound of the Smiths”

Still!

I was a little disappointed with the remasters, but thumbs up anyhow.

[StrangeLight]

my best of 2008 (i realize none of you know me, but i have super-awesome taste [and i taste super-awesome], so trust this list)

black mountain - in the future
black keys - attack and release
isobel campbell and mark lanegan - sunday at devil dirt
melvins - nude with boots
mogwai - hawk is howling

good this year, but not top 5 material:

boris - smile (live). they're much better live than in the studio.
the gutter twins - saturnalia. mark lanegan and greg dulli together should have been better than this, but it's still good. my expectations were just too high.


and also just happen to be listening to the pink mountaintops (black mountain side project), assemble head in sunburst sound, air (moon safari, in particular), the soulsavers, getatchew mekurya, and an unhealthy amount of ween.

[kinane]

i know i don't post here often and maybe someone's made mention of it already, but blake schwarzenback of jawbreaker and aaron cometbus of crimpshrine have a new band called thorns of life. so far only some videos on youtube, but it's sounding REAL good.

[darrylduffy]

um this is really cool and free:

http://library.team-love.com/

if nothing else, you can get jenny lewis' first album.