Man Man - Six Demon Bag

Man Man - Six Demon Bag

First, Will, Doomsday, and Pat, this one is for you.

Last week, or at least recently, I told you how I was introduced to one of my new favorite artists. The discovery of music is sometimes as interesting to me as the music itself. I think there are three major ways we find new music. The first is the corprate music way.  It is shoved at you every way imaginable, and the music is just sort of absorbed.

The second is the active discovery method. You hear something intreguing and go after it. This is how I found Mr. Watts.

The third, and in my opinion the best, is to be brought into fandom by a friend who is already a fan. I love it when friends introduce me to new music. As is obvious, I guess, from this blog. The moment when someone says, what do you think about (band I have never heard of), I get a bit giddy. Usually, I am introduced to new music this way.

Man Man is one of these bands. I was introduced to them through a road trip that I have remarked upon before. On this trip, I was innundated with music, but this album and Death From Above 1979 were the break out hits from the trip.

Actually, I didn't really like this album at the beginning of the trip. It sounded to me like a way too easy attempt to make "ironic carnival dark music" and it was a bit blah for me. But with the insistance of my friends, I stopped tuning it out and actually listened.

Man Man is some incredibly dark, haunting, beautiful music. The surface is some weird carnival music, but that is just a cover for the deep dark depths that are under the surface. The music is deliciously crafted, often sounding raw and easily sticking in your brain. Every time you listen, you will hear a new sound, noise, or even line in the notes.

My only complaint is that there is a bit of an admission fee. You have to be able to deal with the somewhat distracting and simple theme to plum the depths, and you need to give it some time.  I would suggest that you listen, find a song you like on the album and use it as a seam to get in. Find the moment that you go "this is amazing," and try to absorb that. Personally, my way in was Feathers and Van Helsing Boombox.

Man Man is one of those bands that rewards you for getting involved with them.  You may be turned off by their sound, but if you stick with it, there is real musical treasure to be had here. It's one of those bands that I almost skipped class to go see in Baltimore. Almost. I cannot wait to see them the next time I can, and I hope you, faceless nameless reader will be there with me.

"Act of God, thought Dirk. But which God, and why?"
Matt

Franz Ferdinand - Tonight: Franz Ferdinand

Franz Ferdinand - Tonight: Franz Ferdinand

Published in: 2009

Wikipedia

Years ago (I cannot believe that I can refer to this blog with that, but here we are,) I wrote about FF's breakout self titled album. I was pleased when my favorite New York/Cali hipster friend Grant commented on the album. I was shocked to read what he wrote.

What he wrote was something along the lines that the self titled album was the only one that was good, and that it was too bad the other ones had missed that mark.

I am here today, ladies and gentlemen to disagree with that statement. I think that this album is not as good, but pretty fucking awesome in it's own right. And I shall present a theory about why my tastefilled and totally awesome friend got it wrong. It will be presented thusly.

Grant, you dumb fuck, you are totally wrong and this album is awesome. I agree that it doesn't match the solid consistency of the self titled, but it is not the same kind of record.

This is a dance record, and to view it as anything but that is to make a mockery of yourself and everything you stand for, Grant. If this were a record that had any of the same aims as the slef titled, you might have q foot to stand on, but you don't and you know it.

What they did wrong is interesting to me. I think this is a flatter record as befits a dance record. The album doesn't has the diversity of music that the self titled did, and it doesn't have any sort of single on it. The songs are very wall of noisey and they don't have as much in them as the ones on FF.

However, the songs as judged by me, are pretty good dance songs. They play well, they are very poppy, and the music is highly accessible. The lyrics, while not as good as Michael or 40', are good enough to sustain, the band is tight, and there are some good songs on here.

But the real reason I love this album and you are wrong Grant is because of Lucid Dreams. Lucid Dreams has one of te most epic breakdowns of any song that has been on the project, and it is intensely awesome. You should listen to it again. It actually reminds me of LCD Soundsystem a bit. Ts excellent.

Anyway, Grant, you know you're right. It's not as good as FF, and it never will be, but it isn't a misfire, it's a refocusing of the band to be a more electronic based dance hall band, as opposed to a solid alt rock band, which is ultimately disappointing.

Thanks for being such a downer Grant.

"The spaceship hung in the air in much the same way that bricks don't."
Matt

If anyone is confused, I love Grant and he knows it. I just like being contentious and that wasthe only way this motherfucker was going to get written while I am hanging in the air over the ocean.

Reggie Watts - Simplified

Reggie Watts - Simplified

Published in 2004

Wikipedia

The discovery of music is an interesting thing to me. And if this blogs relative success is any indication (success is measured in how much I am motivated to do what I promised to the 10-12 of you who read my blog and myself who accounts for the other 90 hits a day probably. I hear it is going to be the standard unit of measurement soon.) it interests you too, a bit.

I was first introduced to Mr. Watts by what was then called Comedy Death Ray Radio, which is probably my favorite podcast in existence. It's incredibly funny, especially the ones featuring Andy Daly. But Reggie Watts was probably the breakout star of the show when he first came on, at least for me.

As a somewhat egotistic and narccistic person (could you tell?) I have a constant dialog in my head. When I hear music, I compare it to the way I'd do it if I were inclined/able. This project stemmed from that desire. Also, whenever I am handed a microphone, all bets are off, because, like my mother before me, I will sing scream do voices and generally make a fool of myself. Yes, I love my voice, I love singing and joking and everything, especially when others are forced to listen to me. It's the best.

So when I heard Mr. Watts creating music, it was a very strange feeling, because it sounded as if someone had finally made songs just for a person like me. He used a loop pedal and created some astonishingly complex beats, and as the songs developed, he added jokes, ideas and complexity of wordplay.

It was a revelation to hear someone make music like I wish I could. I immediately went on iTunes and bought his album.

His album was completely different than his comedy, but guess what. It's awesome.

Mr. Watts has the kind of voice that can be at one moment soulful and deep and transition, seemingly effortlessly to a high pitched, lovely bright tone. He's hot the kind of talent that people like me wish their voices could match.

His album is a collection of R & B styles songs, well written and strikingly performed. If this album had come out around 30 years ago, it would have been perfectly situated to take over the radio. It's a updated form that needed some updating. Quite spectacular.

You should pick up this album, and check it out or get on Earwolf.com and check out some of his appearances on there. His first comedy album, which came out a week after this one was purchased by me, is available now as well.

Support artists, get cool records.

"Dude, we've got a whole hour."
Matt

Gorillaz - Demon Days

Gorillaz - Demon Days

Published in 2005

Wikipedia

Wait, Dangermouse made a collaboration with a band Matt likes and he hasn't lead a dead horse to water to force you to read about it while he beats that selfsame dead horse? Well then, we better get right the fuck on that.

Demon Days is a continuation of the tradition that no two albums by the Gorillaz shall sound the same, and that they are going to make some of the ballerest music out there. You know how I know? Cause I said so.

First, let's talk singles. Feel Good Inc. is a masterful stroke of commercial and musical genius. De La Soul literally destroys the song, and the entire production is tight, handling huge tonal shifts with little to no difficulty. Beautiful. The other major track on this album, Dare, is one of those rare rock songs that one can completely surrender ones dancing ass to. You should be honored to know that Dare and your lifetime conicided.

The less well known tracks are quite good too. They have a very electronic music feel, using samples and sound as instrument as Dangermouse is want to do. Throw in some spectacular supporting turns from MF Doom and others, you have a solid album. This is the good.

Then there is the controversial and by controvertial I mean weird and maybe bad. Why is Dennis Hopper on this album? I love the guy, Blue Velvet and Apocolypse Now are like gospel to my insane taste but if there is something that derails your album more than a spoken word story that includes unwinked at and strange references to "happy folk" and "the monkey would stir from it's deep slumber" you may want to retry that.

However, the rest is superior. You need to get it and try it out, you'll like it. The end of the album is a miss or an experiment that sort of doesn't go off, but seriously, Dangermouse and the Gorillaz.

Maybe soon, I'll do their B side albums. Guess whether I like them or not. (I do.)

"Thanks Thom, let's drink until our hearts stop."
Matt

LCD Soundsystem - LCD Soundsystem

LCD Soundsystem - LCD Soundsystem

Published in 2005

Wikipedia

First off, I'd like to thank Grooveshark for introducing me to LCD Soundsystem, and for their incredible service. Secondly, when I was feeling like not listening to this anymore, Arianna interveined and told me about how much she liked this group, giving me fresh ears for it. If it weren't for her timely intervention, I might have missed out on this band for another year.

This is an interesting record. I say interesting a lot on here, but this time I mean it in a strict way. I mean that the actual record interests me, but, from time to time, it is difficult for me to remain interested. The more time I spend with it the more I realize how good it is, and yet, I still cannot say that I love this album.

I experience moments in which I am completely inside of the music, but these are not in the same way that I get involved with a Megadeth album. I am never inside the moment with it, but looking at it from the outside with a kind of jaded gaze.

Even the moments in which I am singing along, bobbing my head and such, I feel required to put some space between my animal enjoyment and my intellectual enjoyment.

Musically, this album is right up my alley. It's a deeply produced rock/electronic/hiphop/trance/house mix, which sounds like it would be cacophany, but works well in the moment. The opening track uses it's time to mix styles and build up to a climax, then continues to use the music past that point. It's a great song. Disco infiltrator is a fucking great song, and the beats for the rest of the tracks are this good already.

Lyrically, the songs are strong. Losing my Edge is a triumph for sheer interesting lyrics, and long form musical history. Also, for the criticism of jerk offs like me that delve into the history of music as if we were a part of it, when we are really only observers. It's a classically awesome song.

So far, I'm gushing about this album, and maybe that is because my criticism is so small, but it is a potent one. I don't feel that this album was made for me. I don't think that the band wants me to be their fan. Thy seem to be striving for a fan who is ironically detatched from the world of music and recognizes how derivitive music is as a whole. While I recognize these parts as ironic too, I have to say that they are not as ironically motivated as one would hope.

What I mean is that the aformentioned Losing My Edge assumes that you'll understand his point of view, and look at it through the detatched eyes of someone who thinks these things. I'm not saying that this feeling is false, but the most amazing thing is that the band seems to think that the feeling is false.

It shouldn't though. This is a song about the insecurity and loss that a person can feel. Like when I read a blog that I know is better than mine (look up and to the right) and think about how I am never going to be as good as them. My writing is pedantic, my words are used over and over, and I only write to figure out how to run away from the things that make me feel uncomfortable, and how all I really want is one person out there to recognize how hard I want to be noticed and picked up and invited and to reach the moment where I say something and people listen. But that moment, the one where I an acclaimed and appreciated, will be the moment that I think about the people who wrote those better blogs, and how mine wasn't the best. The insecurity there is a sincere thing, and to play it with detatchment is strange.

Well, this got personal. This is a great album, assuredly. You really should give it a shot, because it is very likely that you'll find at least one song that must be played at a party. And what more could you ask for?

"I'll solve it or my name isn't Mik Dtctiv."
Matt

Ryan Adams - Gold

Ryan Adams - Gold

Published in 2001

Wikipedia

First off, let's all thank Will for his album suggestion. He's good people. 

I'll be the first to admit that I have a have blind spot in my musical knowledge. I'm not the only one, and I certainly try to have a diverse taste in music, but country has largely remained a mystery to me. 

I think the reasons for this are a little interesting, so let's talk about it. First off, in my life time, country music has become a bastion of a certain kind of politics that I personally find distasteful. It's a shame that this even enters into the equasion, but popular country has seemed very right wing, and that rubs me the wrong way. This is not a deal breaker for me, obviously, because the gender and sexual politics of hip hop has not prevented me from finding great appreciation. 

Second, there is a deep undercurrent of religious subtext and overt text in country that doesn't appeal to me, mainly the overt stuff.  However, this is something that many of my favorite artist have that I don't and it isn't the end either. 

Thirdly, in mind and to my ear, it all sounds kind of samey. It just doesn't pull me in at all, and the structures all sound the same. I have gotten into bluegrass, folk, and everything that lives around country, but country is still a frontier for me.

Finally, there is an element of looking down from both sides involved. I think all of the above things somewhat strongly, and think those who write songs about the attractive qualities of farm equipment or putting footwear in the posterior of other human beings as if it is our countries sole contribution to the world are not using their songwriting ability to their highest potential. Then, they call me a liberal elitist snob who doesn't know anything from their giant piles of money, so they at least have the height on their side. It's a contentious relationship.    

This album might be my way in. Maybe. I'm definately a Ryan Adams fan now, so that means that I am into at least one country(ish) artist, but I cannot tell how representative he is of the whole of country music. I simply have not heard country music like this before. 

Will specifically asked me to talk about the second half of the album, so that is what I am going to focus more on, but the beginning of this album is a hit parade. The songs are well performed, massively open, and they are very inclusive. I quite enjoy the first half of this album, but it is obviously the easier side to like. 

The second half of this album is amazing. It's well written, smart, funny and engaging. It's a complex work written by someone who obviously has not pidgeonholed himself into one kind of music. 

If I were to single out a favorite song on the album, I would have to say that Sylvia Plath is far and away my favorite. It's a wildly quiet, with hints of humor and genuine emotion behind it.  It's one of those b sides that yu stumble across and are completely absorbed by. I'm happy to have this album on my iPod just for that song. 

The album is beautifully produced, and doesn't fall into the trap that many fall into of trying to sound a certain way. Some tracks are pure rock, some are ballads and some are more traditional country style songs, but they are wide open.

They're also smart. Just really smart songs. They have an elegance you rarely hear, and that is independent of any other consideration.

This is a great album, you should listen to it right now. Get on it, boys and girls.  Thanks again Will! 

"But enough of my yapping, let's boogie."

Matt

PS: Check out some of the blogs up and to the right. Comment, and tell me more albums. 

PPS. I love Johnny Cash, so any complaints must be filed with that in mind.    

The Stooges - Raw Power

The Stooges - Raw Power

Published in 1973

Wikipedia

First off, thanks to my Dad for suggesting this album.  I'm really glad that you did, and consider your musical influence to be one of the reasons that I have the taste that I do.

Instead of calling this month "What albums can I find that I know that I love the artist but have never really listened to the whole of one of their particularly well loved classic albums?" month, apparently I should have just called it Albums (Sometimes Obliquely) Related to David Bowie month.

Let's get down to brass tacks, gentlemen and ladies.  Raw Power is awesome.  It's one of the most driven, well produced, well conceived albums.  It documents rock and roll and is rightfully called a turning point into punk.  It's simply a great album.

The most interesting thing to me is actually listening to it as someone who grew up knowing that The Stooges were a huge influence on the people that I cared about in rock and roll.  It's one of those quintessential American rock bands that everyone knows about, and was unrecognized in it's own time.  To listen to the Stooges now is an interesting experiment in musical time capsule-ism.

Popular music is generally consumed in two ways.  The first way is to consume it on the short term basis, where a massive amount of people get involved with the music, listen and digest it and for the most part, move on.  This is why popular music stations have a generally quick turn around time for most songs, and the songs that stick around are hugely overplayed, because if they have staying power, people will continue tuning in.

The second way is the fan's way of consuming it.  In general, these are the people like me, who get obsessed with an album, listen to it over and over, at different points in our lives, and try to find the meaning and beauty over and over.  The music is purely there for us to continue listening to it, and we consume it over a long time, drawn out.  Some of these albums you grow out of, but many are the backdrop of continuity that a music fan has in their lives.  

The Stooges seem to be designed for that second kind of consumption.  The popular music crowd would dispose of them quickly, but for lonely young people, looking to voraciously attack an album, make it their own, and understand every moment and subtext, this album would speak to one in a way that most others wouldn't,  The songs have a power that is not just because of the volume or speed, or even lyrically, but because it sounds like the guys are playing at you, not to you.

This album is not perfect by any means, and it is highly derivative.  At times, Iggy goes into a Doors like cover mode, which is perfectly serviceable, but I wish that they had more free reign to go all out on this album.  Some parts slow down too much to get the full power of the sound out of me, and some of the songs are just good, not great.

However, this album has Search and Destroy on it.  If an album has a song like Search and Destroy on it, it is immediately not optional.  Search and Destroy will make you give up writing music, if you go into it thinking that you're better than the Stooges.

Music, by it's nature, moves.  Any style of music that stagnates is going to be cut off, or be celebrated in small circles.  However, the cutting edge of music is also unappreciated.  When Iggy and the Stooges start playing, you can hear where they came from, and you can hear where music is headed.  This doesn't mean that this album is the reason, but it is a signpost of things to come, and that might be the highest praise an album can get.

"And I shall sing the song that ends the world,"

Matt