Now Playing #6
Note: This is again old…trying to catch up. I will have an awkward conversation though today if anyone cares,
This doesn’t include a mixed tape of Radiohead songs I made for myself about ten years ago including some of The Bends, Pablo Honey, and assorted B-sides (“Killer Cars” is my favorite) of which I have also been listening to.
I bought Total Freakout Volume 3 in Austin at End of an Ear. It’s a great collection of Quebec-France-Belgique Psyche Jello from 1968-1973 and it’s perfect in every way especially if you like psychedelic music with French lyrics like I do. I have never come across the other volumes but if anyone knows of them or has them, definitely let me know how they are! I’m assuming as fantastic as this one…
Howe Gelb’s ‘Sno Angel Like You was my first real introduction to his work as I was not real familiar with Giant Sand for example. What I love about this album (and what I really enjoyed about the tour) is how adeptly Howe mixed his country folk rhythms with gospel (on tour he had a choir from Ottawa Canada who had the best voices in the whole world!). I was inspired to listen to this one after viewing a flickr contact’s photo of him
Of course I was listening to The Pipette’s alot last week to get ready for their show Thurs. at the Empty Bottle. What a great modern British take on a girl group with just a bit more cockney of an attitude. This is great for me because I always love the singing in the early 60s girlgroups popular with Americans but hated the guy dependent lyrics. This is a nice compromise and with great dance moves and an animated performance, it was a great show.
Well, who doesn’t love Keren Ann? Both Nolita and her newest self titled are perfect, lovely, beautiful singing (though I wish all lyrics were in French as I feel that enhances the sound overall and I like her singing better when it isn’t in English) I think Keren is part divine with such a velvety way about her.
The Maccabees album Colour It In is as catchy as many of the British bands that have been gaining widespread appeal such as Maximo Park and Bloc Party with great rhythms to it. I’ve enjoyed listening to it a few times right before and then after Sat’s show at Schubas. Would highly recommend it if you are into Brit rock.
Gene is an old favorite of mine and I only got a chance to see them once without a camera (I believe it was with Cinerama) Martin Rossiter’s vocals are perfectly melodramatic, his vibratoish voice swoons passionately all over the place amidst the darkness and light of the lyrics and sounds. His voice held up perfectly live and I’ll never forget the almost desperation at times. I wish there was some way to see them again. I don’t know if anyone will understand this but hearing Martin sing live was perhaps the one thing that consoles me that I never was able to see Jeff Buckley live to witness such a heavenly vocal range. Flawless. Us humans can sometimes redeem our species after all.