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Well it's not even the end of February and I've already heard two excellent albums (Animal Collective's "Merriweather Post Pavillion" and Dan Deacon's "Bromst" - review here http://www.musosguide.com/?p=2530), one very good album (Mi Ami's "Watersports" - reviewing forthcoming) and one quite good album (Trail of Dead's "The Century of Self"). Man, being a music reviewer is pretty sweet. I think I'm finally becoming a proper muso, just like I always wanted.
Some other things due for release this year that I am looking forward to:
Mastodon - Crack The Skye (I hear very good things about it)
The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love (should be interesting at least)
Oneida - Rated O (as my interview should have shown)
The Russian Futurists - The Weight's On The Wheels
New Sonic Youth album (last 2 have been rather good)
I'm thinking 2009 might just be a good year, though it tends to be the bands you've never heard of that end of making a lot of the best albums.
So what have you enjoyed so far this year? What are you looking forward to in 2009? Why do I think anyone will answer these questions?
Thursday 26 February 2009
Tuesday 24 February 2009
Angst Angst Angst
So I had a little preliminary jam with the main guy from a band I'm looking to join, and I'm really not sure how to feel about it.
On one hand it was pretty good. The songs are beautiful and well constructed, I didn't fuck up too badly (though I did feel a bit bumbling at times) and we did it in a practice space he has above his garage, which is big and nicely done up. I also really like what the band are trying to do, in terms of mixing electronics in with a standard-ish indie sound, and having the commendable goal of trying to be on the experimental end of the accessible. It's ambitious stuff.
On the other hand I felt a bit sad when I got back last night, and I can't quite work out why. I'm having a bit of a crisis of confidence, with me feeling like I'm not really good enough for the band. It all seems quite professional, and I don't think I have the talent or the feel for the music. I'm slightly conflicted in a couple of ways too: I don't know if this is exactly what I want to do musically, and yet I don't think I could do that well enough, and I don't feel I'd have much creative involvement but, again, I don't think I want any because I'm going through a dry spell at present. However, how much of that is psychological I don't know. I just don't know how to feel.
Phew that was a bit morose. I'm lucky this is being crossposted to my livejournal.
On one hand it was pretty good. The songs are beautiful and well constructed, I didn't fuck up too badly (though I did feel a bit bumbling at times) and we did it in a practice space he has above his garage, which is big and nicely done up. I also really like what the band are trying to do, in terms of mixing electronics in with a standard-ish indie sound, and having the commendable goal of trying to be on the experimental end of the accessible. It's ambitious stuff.
On the other hand I felt a bit sad when I got back last night, and I can't quite work out why. I'm having a bit of a crisis of confidence, with me feeling like I'm not really good enough for the band. It all seems quite professional, and I don't think I have the talent or the feel for the music. I'm slightly conflicted in a couple of ways too: I don't know if this is exactly what I want to do musically, and yet I don't think I could do that well enough, and I don't feel I'd have much creative involvement but, again, I don't think I want any because I'm going through a dry spell at present. However, how much of that is psychological I don't know. I just don't know how to feel.
Phew that was a bit morose. I'm lucky this is being crossposted to my livejournal.
Monday 23 February 2009
Spamming the media outlets
Didn't think I'd update without a bit of shameless self-promotion did you? I have been keeping busy with all the reviewing lately, so here all the latest fruits of my musical womb*
Parts & Labor at Cargo: http://thisisoffset.co.uk/?p=1457#more-1457
Black Lips - Short Fuse: http://www.audioscribbler.co.uk/reviews/8731
Bob Log III - My Shit Is Perfect (2nd one on the page): http://www.musosguide.com/?p=2549
Now feed my massive ego.
*I promise never to use this metaphor again.
Parts & Labor at Cargo: http://thisisoffset.co.uk/?p=1457#more-1457
Black Lips - Short Fuse: http://www.audioscribbler.co.uk/reviews/8731
Bob Log III - My Shit Is Perfect (2nd one on the page): http://www.musosguide.com/?p=2549
Now feed my massive ego.
*I promise never to use this metaphor again.
Part 2 of Recent Listenings (I guess)
I have been playing Chrono Trigger for the DS a lot recently and my god, I forgot just how good the music for the game is. I'd even go so far as to say that it's one of the only games I've really paid attention to/actively noticed the music. It's just so atmospheric and adds to the game so well.
So here are some of my favourite cuts from the game (it's actually astounding how many different pieces of music there are, once you start listening for them):
First the battle music, a good staple of any RPG. The bassline is excellent and I want to write a song based around it (shh!): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1ClGL7kZ28
Next up, Lucca's theme. So very uplifting and inspiring: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BYxC7uEC_0
Some more epic stuff, "Courage and Pride". This music plays in a castle and is awesome and makes you want to be heroic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiMn6Ud3egU&feature=related
Boss Battle Music. Only just behind Final Fantasy VII boss battle music in terms of quality, and has a great organ part. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phVwKSjz0cc
And finally (so I don't overwhelm you too much), possibly my favourite track, "Wind Scene". It's just so plaintive and haunting, which is fair enough for travelling back 400 years to medieval times when the kingdom is embroiled in war. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YahK0kMq-_U
I've also elected not to link to Robo's theme, which sounds an awful lot like a certain song that has become popular on the internet of late, perhaps a little too much so. But it's all good.
So here are some of my favourite cuts from the game (it's actually astounding how many different pieces of music there are, once you start listening for them):
First the battle music, a good staple of any RPG. The bassline is excellent and I want to write a song based around it (shh!): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1ClGL7kZ28
Next up, Lucca's theme. So very uplifting and inspiring: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BYxC7uEC_0
Some more epic stuff, "Courage and Pride". This music plays in a castle and is awesome and makes you want to be heroic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PiMn6Ud3egU&feature=related
Boss Battle Music. Only just behind Final Fantasy VII boss battle music in terms of quality, and has a great organ part. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phVwKSjz0cc
And finally (so I don't overwhelm you too much), possibly my favourite track, "Wind Scene". It's just so plaintive and haunting, which is fair enough for travelling back 400 years to medieval times when the kingdom is embroiled in war. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YahK0kMq-_U
I've also elected not to link to Robo's theme, which sounds an awful lot like a certain song that has become popular on the internet of late, perhaps a little too much so. But it's all good.
Tuesday 17 February 2009
What Luck!
There's a french fry stuck in my beard!*
In other news one of my reviews has been uploaded (I'm waiting on two others) so I can link to that instead of doing a proper update, can't I?
Frightened Rabbit - Liver! Lung! FR!
Forthcoming reviews by yours truly: Dan Deacon, Bob Log III, ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead, Black Lips, Parts & Labor (live). You lucky, lucky people.
Horatio
x
*http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IH1PJTY9AVA
In other news one of my reviews has been uploaded (I'm waiting on two others) so I can link to that instead of doing a proper update, can't I?
Frightened Rabbit - Liver! Lung! FR!
Forthcoming reviews by yours truly: Dan Deacon, Bob Log III, ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead, Black Lips, Parts & Labor (live). You lucky, lucky people.
Horatio
x
*http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IH1PJTY9AVA
Sunday 15 February 2009
Technology funs
As of just now I've worked out how to get all my posts on here RSS-ed onto facebook. Once I find out how to do the same on livejournal I'll be the ruler of (the very small part of) the (internet) world! Mwa-ha-ha!
Note to all: anonymous commenting is still allowed!
Listen To This Y'all
Seriously, I have listened to it at least 5 times today, and probably another 10+ times in the last week:
"Knotty Pine" by The Dirty Projectors feat. David Byrne
I wasn't a massive fan of The Dirty Projectors' Rise Above (apparently an attempt to write a Black Flag album from memory) but this is incredible. Listen to the vocal interplay! The tinkly keyboard part! The understated guest appearance from David Byrne!
It's taken from indie-supergroup charity album Dark Was The Night, out soon and is probably my favourite track I've heard so far this year.
More substantial post soon. Toodles!
Friday 13 February 2009
Recent Listenings
Part 1 of at least 2 (but possibly 1).
The first months of the year for me are often spent catching up on the albums from the previous year I didn't manage to listen to first time around. With that in mind today I listened to the new Squarepusher album, Just A Souvenir.
I'm not quite sure what to think about it. It's certainly a bizarre enough, in an unsettling, hellish jazz-fusion manner. I'm not quite sure what I think of Squarepusher generally (apart from it is good that he is an astounding bassist, but bad that he is so much better than me), but I think I like this.
What really interests me about it, though, is the batshit insane "story" behind the album (see here for a longer version, that sheds no light at all). It's almost as good an idea as the one for the Penguin Cafe Orchestra, essentially a hallucination bought on by Simon Jeffes having eaten some bad fish.
It's exactly the kind of nonsense I would and do make up and I've gotta admire Squarepusher for going through with it. Man I wish I had the chops to pursue one of my ridiculous ideas through like that.
(For the word "chops" substitute one of the following: musical talent, energy, ambition)
Hopefully some more of my reviews will be up soon, so I can link to those instead of struggling to come up with content.
The first months of the year for me are often spent catching up on the albums from the previous year I didn't manage to listen to first time around. With that in mind today I listened to the new Squarepusher album, Just A Souvenir.
I'm not quite sure what to think about it. It's certainly a bizarre enough, in an unsettling, hellish jazz-fusion manner. I'm not quite sure what I think of Squarepusher generally (apart from it is good that he is an astounding bassist, but bad that he is so much better than me), but I think I like this.
What really interests me about it, though, is the batshit insane "story" behind the album (see here for a longer version, that sheds no light at all). It's almost as good an idea as the one for the Penguin Cafe Orchestra, essentially a hallucination bought on by Simon Jeffes having eaten some bad fish.
It's exactly the kind of nonsense I would and do make up and I've gotta admire Squarepusher for going through with it. Man I wish I had the chops to pursue one of my ridiculous ideas through like that.
(For the word "chops" substitute one of the following: musical talent, energy, ambition)
Hopefully some more of my reviews will be up soon, so I can link to those instead of struggling to come up with content.
Wednesday 11 February 2009
Playing them guitars.
I played some music yesterday, which was nice, as I've been somewhat lax in practising of late. Chris and I had some fun pretending to be an acoustic Cure: I was Simon Gallup, he was a ruddier Robert Smith.
I also got to try out an Ebow, which is a disntictly odd experience. For those not in the know, an Ebow creates an electromagnetic field, which allows notes to be sustained indefinitely and sound like they're being played by, well, a bow. It creates instant ambience, guy!
Some bad news, though: my guitar playing skills have decayed to a bitter husk of what they once were, like a decaying obelisk in an abandoned town, promising only hints of the greatness that it was once built to represent.
Yes, anyway. This is slightly concerning since I have now been contacted by TWO bands, and the inevitable new band fear is starting up again (see here)
God this "update" was boring. I guess something is better than nothing, right?
I also got to try out an Ebow, which is a disntictly odd experience. For those not in the know, an Ebow creates an electromagnetic field, which allows notes to be sustained indefinitely and sound like they're being played by, well, a bow. It creates instant ambience, guy!
Some bad news, though: my guitar playing skills have decayed to a bitter husk of what they once were, like a decaying obelisk in an abandoned town, promising only hints of the greatness that it was once built to represent.
Yes, anyway. This is slightly concerning since I have now been contacted by TWO bands, and the inevitable new band fear is starting up again (see here)
God this "update" was boring. I guess something is better than nothing, right?
Sunday 8 February 2009
How was 2008 for you? (Part II)
As promised, let's have a look at all the other albums I heard in 2008 that didn't make my top 10. I can hardly wait! First up, let's have a look at some honourable mentions:
Deerhunter - Microcastle
Would have liked to put this in my top but it was just edged out. The band describe themselves as "ambient punk" which is somewhere approaching the truth but I'd prefer to describe it as intelligent, atmospheric, imaginative guitar music. The jam on the end of "Nothing Ever Happened" is one of the most sublime things I heard all year.
Brian Eno and David Byrne - Everything That Happens Will Happen Today
The fact that this album even came to be released was cause for celebration enough. Of course, it wasn't as groundbreaking as My Life In The Bush of Ghosts but the pair's folk-gospel-electronica was wonderfully human and clearly showed them both relishing being able to display their considerable songwriting powers.
Torche - Meantherthal
Thunder pop? Doom pop? Whichever slightly-awkward hybrid phrase you use to describe this, Meanderthal was a mighty refreshing album. Heavy as anything and yet so very soaring and catchy. Sounds like it shouldn't have worked, but it did. Very well.
Oneida - Preteen Weaponry
Now I love Oneida, as anyone who read my interview with them will be able to tell. Preteen Weaponry, the first part in a planned trilogy, is definitely the most unconventional album I've discussed. A 40 minute instrumental composition, split into three parts, that was by turns hypnotic and enthralling. Not one for the faint hearted, but a very worthwhile and enormously rewarding listen.
And now, some miscellaneous awards:
The "Could Do Better Award"
The Magnetic Fields - Distortion. About 3 really great tracks and a lot of okayish ones. C'mon Stephin Merritt, you can do better than this!
Most Disappointing
Broken Social Scene Presents Brendan Canning - Something For All Of Us. "Spirit If..." was excellent. This was very ordinary by comparison. Let Kevin Drew go back to writing all the songs, ok?
The "Hooray for Gloomy Indie-Pop" Award
Frightened Rabbit - The Midnight Organ Fight. Those crazy Scots and their lovestruck gloom.
Best Reissue
Wooden Shjips - Wooden Shjips Vol 1. Mmm, fuzzy psychedelia. Also includes some tape experiments. Excellent stuff.
The "You Clearly Just Made That Genre Up" Award
Abe Vigoda - Skeleton. Tropical punk? Come on. Actually the tag kinda makes sense when you hear it. Some very fine calypso rhythms and fiddly guitar lines from the West Coast boys, named after the not-dead actor.
Phew! Hope you enjoyed that. There were loads of other albums I could've mentioned as well. Man, I clearly listen to too much music (note - this is almost certainly not true).
Deerhunter - Microcastle
Would have liked to put this in my top but it was just edged out. The band describe themselves as "ambient punk" which is somewhere approaching the truth but I'd prefer to describe it as intelligent, atmospheric, imaginative guitar music. The jam on the end of "Nothing Ever Happened" is one of the most sublime things I heard all year.
Brian Eno and David Byrne - Everything That Happens Will Happen Today
The fact that this album even came to be released was cause for celebration enough. Of course, it wasn't as groundbreaking as My Life In The Bush of Ghosts but the pair's folk-gospel-electronica was wonderfully human and clearly showed them both relishing being able to display their considerable songwriting powers.
Torche - Meantherthal
Thunder pop? Doom pop? Whichever slightly-awkward hybrid phrase you use to describe this, Meanderthal was a mighty refreshing album. Heavy as anything and yet so very soaring and catchy. Sounds like it shouldn't have worked, but it did. Very well.
Oneida - Preteen Weaponry
Now I love Oneida, as anyone who read my interview with them will be able to tell. Preteen Weaponry, the first part in a planned trilogy, is definitely the most unconventional album I've discussed. A 40 minute instrumental composition, split into three parts, that was by turns hypnotic and enthralling. Not one for the faint hearted, but a very worthwhile and enormously rewarding listen.
And now, some miscellaneous awards:
The "Could Do Better Award"
The Magnetic Fields - Distortion. About 3 really great tracks and a lot of okayish ones. C'mon Stephin Merritt, you can do better than this!
Most Disappointing
Broken Social Scene Presents Brendan Canning - Something For All Of Us. "Spirit If..." was excellent. This was very ordinary by comparison. Let Kevin Drew go back to writing all the songs, ok?
The "Hooray for Gloomy Indie-Pop" Award
Frightened Rabbit - The Midnight Organ Fight. Those crazy Scots and their lovestruck gloom.
Best Reissue
Wooden Shjips - Wooden Shjips Vol 1. Mmm, fuzzy psychedelia. Also includes some tape experiments. Excellent stuff.
The "You Clearly Just Made That Genre Up" Award
Abe Vigoda - Skeleton. Tropical punk? Come on. Actually the tag kinda makes sense when you hear it. Some very fine calypso rhythms and fiddly guitar lines from the West Coast boys, named after the not-dead actor.
Phew! Hope you enjoyed that. There were loads of other albums I could've mentioned as well. Man, I clearly listen to too much music (note - this is almost certainly not true).
Obvious Post Time
Right, to get me back into the habit of writing for this thing I'm going to do something very obvious and write my top records of 2008. It's still early enough in the year to do this, right?
10. Why? - Alopecia
9. Melvins - Nude With Boots*
8. Hercules & Love Affair - s/t
7. Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours
6. Nice Cave & The Bad Seeds - Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!
5. The Fall - Imperial Wax Solvent
4. Fuck Buttons - Street Horrrsing
3. Gang Gang Dance - Saint Dymphna
2. No Age - Nouns
1. Earth - The Bees Made Honey In The Lion's Skull
Check out my livejournal post here for some more detail on why I like these albums. Man, I'm just full of links recently, aren't I? But, because I'm nice like that, you can actually have some new content! Yes, the review part 2 teasingly implied by that livejournal. Expect it next, y'all.
* Also winner of my "Obligatory Metal Award" for 2008.
(I expect a comment from Speednik saying he has heard none of these albums)
10. Why? - Alopecia
9. Melvins - Nude With Boots*
8. Hercules & Love Affair - s/t
7. Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours
6. Nice Cave & The Bad Seeds - Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!
5. The Fall - Imperial Wax Solvent
4. Fuck Buttons - Street Horrrsing
3. Gang Gang Dance - Saint Dymphna
2. No Age - Nouns
1. Earth - The Bees Made Honey In The Lion's Skull
Check out my livejournal post here for some more detail on why I like these albums. Man, I'm just full of links recently, aren't I? But, because I'm nice like that, you can actually have some new content! Yes, the review part 2 teasingly implied by that livejournal. Expect it next, y'all.
* Also winner of my "Obligatory Metal Award" for 2008.
(I expect a comment from Speednik saying he has heard none of these albums)
Been a long time comin'
Howdy folks,
Yes, that's that right, I'm starting this old thing up again. Mainly because I'm doing a fair amount of musicy stuff at the moment, but also because I'm slightly less of a whiny, attention-desiring bitch now. Slightly.
Anyway, until I think of anything better to post, here are links to some reviews and stuff I have done (plug plug plug)
http://www.musosguide.com/?p=1978
http://www.musosguide.com/?p=2025
http://thisisoffset.co.uk/?p=1240 (interview with Oneida. I am VERY pleased with this)
Love and kisses,
Horatio
Yes, that's that right, I'm starting this old thing up again. Mainly because I'm doing a fair amount of musicy stuff at the moment, but also because I'm slightly less of a whiny, attention-desiring bitch now. Slightly.
Anyway, until I think of anything better to post, here are links to some reviews and stuff I have done (plug plug plug)
http://www.musosguide.com/?p=1978
http://www.musosguide.com/?p=2025
http://thisisoffset.co.uk/?p=1240 (interview with Oneida. I am VERY pleased with this)
Love and kisses,
Horatio
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