Emotional Listening #36

Solid Guild - The Joggers (StarTime, 2003)
The Joggers were (are?) an awesome guitar rock band that I would have LOVED in college. Solid Guild is their 2003 debut LP, and it features angular, technical yet melodic guitars within the context of a more complicated pop song structure. I dig the vocals, though they can be a little too 2002-era Hot Hot Heat at times, and the barber shop-style harmonies that pop up every once in a while are a nice touch. The songwriting is good, but the real draw for me is the musicianship all around. I'm always a fan of the merging of technicality (almost to a mathy degree) and pop sensibility. Seriously, this is a great record.
Top jams: "Loosen Up," "Hot Autism," "Back to the Future," "Neon Undercarriage," "Natural Novice," "Oriental Alarms," "Blurred Digits," "Same to You"


The Punch Line - Minutemen (SST, 1981)
I can already tell that the insanity of the band Minutemen over their career is going to be a hard pill for me to swallow. I have listened to some of their seminal Double Nickels on the Dime, and frankly it is way too silly for me. Their debut, The Punch Line, on the other hand, as ridiculous as it is (18 songs in 15 minutes!), is quite enjoyable. It's still zany as hell with some tougher punk vocals, pretty sparse, almost post-punk guitar, and some ridiculously funky (and awesome) bass playing via Mike Watt. It's hard to separate each song and all that I like about them because of the way they are all jumbled together due to the quick and urgent nature of the record. These dudes were having a lot of fun being both artsy and punk, and it is a blast to listen to.
Top jams: "Search." "Tension," "Games," "Disguises," "Monuments," "Issued," "Song for El Salvador," "History Lesson," "Fanatics," "No Parade," "Straight Jacket," "Static"


Perfect Teeth - Unrest (Teenbeat/4AD, 1993)
I think it was around this time last year that I was spending some time with Unrest's Imperial F.F.R.R., which is too inconsistent, but, still has some outright jams. Perfect Teeth, their 1993 follow-up, is much more cohesive, has even more jams, and, is just generally the superior album. Combining post-punk rhythms with punk urgency and 90s indie rock dynamics and melodic styles, this is an album for me. Admittedly, it did not blow me away quite like I expected, but that doesn't take away from the fact that it is excellent, and even gets better with each listen. The tracks that stand out the most are "Cath Carroll" and "So Sick."
Top jams: "Cath Carroll," "So Sick," "Light Command," "Make Out Club," "Breather X.O.X.O.," "West Coast Love Affair," Six Layer Cake"


Electr-O-Pura - Yo La Tengo (Matador, 1995)
As you all know, Yo La Tengo is one of the greatest modern bands around. It's insane how long they've been going, and still every three to four years they release an excellent album. That being said, I must say that 1995's Electr-O-Pura has to be my least favorite of theirs at this juncture. I do appreciate that it rocks a bit harder than 1993's Painful (even if I prefer that album), yet still maintains a lot of its moodiness. Don't get me wrong, it is a solid album, it's just that the number of standout tracks is fairly thin. However, a nice bonus here is that this is some of the strongest drumming I've heard from Georgia Hubley. Also to note - "Tom Courtenay" is one of THE GREAT Yo La Tengo jams. I love it when they do the melodic-yet-droney guitar thing.
Top jams: "Decora," "Flying Lesson (Hot Chicken #1)," "Tom Courtnenay," "Pablo and Andrea," "False Alarm," "The Ballad of Red Buckets," "(Straight Down to the) Bitter End," "My Heart's Reflection," "Blue Line Swinger"

Emotional Listening #35

God Save the Clientele - The Clientele (Merge, 2007)
I have no idea why this record didn't hit me so hard when it first came out. God Save the Clientele (the band's fourth proper LP) is fall music at its finest: soft whispers for vocals, arpeggiated guitars, strings, brushed drums and somber vibes all around. I finally came around on 2009's Bonfires on the Heath, and also have no idea why I haven't gone to their earlier stuff. "I Hope I Know You," "From Brighton Beach to Santa Monica" and "Somebody Changed" are all SO GOOD, and should have been considered for my 2013 fall mix.
Top jams: "Here Comes the Phantom," "I Hope I Know You," "The Dance of the Hours," "From Brighton Beach to Santa Monica," "Winter on Victoria Street," "Somebody Changed," "Bookshop Casanova," "The Garden at Night"


Year After Year - Idaho (Caroline, 1993)
A few months ago I downloaded some Idaho EPs and their 1993 debut full length, Year After Year, on a whim. Not long after, while I was working at Cafe Ollie in Ypsilanti, my boss Mark was raving about them, as did my friend from Bloomington, Frank Schweikhardt, a couple weeks later. So, I went for it, and while I didn't like this record as much as I was hoping (it is definitely too slow and boring in places), I still found plenty to appreciate. "God's Green Earth" is a gnarly opener, and "Skyscrape" is a slowcore anthem that absolutely had to have played a huge role in influencing David Bazan/Pedro the Lion. "One Sunday" is by far the most upbeat jam, and also the album's best, with its almost electro-sounding drums and jagged, jangly guitars that borderline on shoegaze. Shit gets pretty dark and dire as the album goes on, but, ends on a strong note with the title track and the appropriately titled closer, "End Game." I'm interested in moving forward with these guys. Anyone have any ideas as to where I should go next?
Top jams: "God's Green Earth," "Skyscrape," "Gone," "One Sunday," "Save," "Year After Year," "End Game"


Anahata - June of 44 (Quarterstick, 1999)
I don't mean to be a culturist, but it is shocking to me that a band so weird as June of 44 came from Louisville. They are one of those classic math rock bands from the 90s, and Anahata was their final album. There are certainly some quirky rhythms and sounds going on here, but nothing quite as complex as I had expected. I was surprised by the (sometimes) tuneful vocals. Even if the singing on "Southeast of Boston" goes a little out of tune, the melody is quite good and at least interesting. "Equators to Bi-Polar" showcases some tropical vibes in the guitars and drums, and is probably my favorite song here, while "Cardiac Atlas," with its nice and moody guitars, comes in at a close second. I don't love this record, and it's not something I'm going to feel called to listen to all the time, but I greatly respect it for its originality, and am glad I own it on vinyl.
Top jams: "Escape of the Levitational Trapeze Artist," "Cardiac Atlas," "Equators to Bi-Polar," "Southeast of Boston," "Five Bucks in My Pocket"


Band on the Run - Paul McCartney & Wings (Apple, 1973)
I won't argue with anyone who thinks Paul McCartney's solo material is cheesy, because most of it is. But you cannot tell me that the guy didn't know how to write a great pop song (not that he's dead, I just assume he's lost that skill by now). After getting entirely into Ram last year, I've decided to go ahead with Band on the Run, which also features McCartney's official backing band, Wings. It is nowhere near as good as Ram, but is still a solid power pop album with one tremendous jam: "Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five." Admittedly, that is pretty much the only bright spot on the second half of the record, but, man, is it a big one. The first five songs, however, are a different story: they are all good. Yes, even the title track. Obviously.
Top jams: "Band on the Run," "Jet," "Bluebird," "Mrs. Vandebilt," "Let Me Roll It," "Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five"


Velocity Girl EP - Velocity Girl (Slumberland, 1993)
It is so crazy to me that Velocity Girl were on the Clueless soundtrack. Anyway, this EP is a collection of early singles from this Slumberland band, two of which are different versions of the same song (both being good). The Clueless song, "Forgotten Favorite" is so ridiculously corny, I have difficulty taking it seriously, even if it isn't that bad of a song. "Why Should I be Nice to You" and especially "Always" (LOVE the drony guitars) both rule, in all their fuzz pop glory.
Top jams: "I Don't Care if You Go," "Always," "Why Should I be Nice to You," "I Don't Care if You Go (Acoustic)"

Fall 2013 Mix

Fall is officially here, and I present to you my eight annual mix of fall jams. 20 songs to get you in the mood. Enjoy, and if you have any issues downloading, please let me know!

http://www.mediafire.com/download/hht2hywivuqwzcp/Fall+2013.zip

TRACKLIST
1. "Bird and Flag" - The Sea and Cake (1997)
2. "Honey Lake" - Frank Schweikhardt (2013)
3. "FBI and Their Toronto Transmitters" - Lilys (1994)
4. "Heart Beat" - Chris Cohen (2012)
5. "I'll Tell You Now" - Lindsey Buckingham (1981)
6. "An Impression" - No Age (2013)
7. "Hardly Getting Over It" - Husker Du (1986)
8. "Winning a Battle, Losing the War" - Kings of Convenience (2001)
9. "Fling" - Built to Spill (1994)
10. "Burial Ground" - Alec Jensen (2008)
11. "Andmoreagain" - Love (1967)
12. "Thirteen" - Big Star (1972)
13. "Bedlam" - The Bats (1990)
14. "Petrified Forest" - Cass McCombs (2007)
15. "I'll be Around" - Yo La Tengo (2013)
16. "It All Feels Right" - Washed Out (2013)
17. "Ms. Dot" - Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin (2013)
18. "She is Staggering" - Polaris (1999)
19. "Rainbo Conversation" - Stereolab (1997)
20. "Coffin Companions" - Owen (2013)