"So hey, I've got a shitload of records in the basement. All kinds of genres. I'm looking to sell them in one fell swoop for $250. But for you...I'd let 'em go for $200. Talking like at least 6* boxes of jazz, a few soul, some easy listening, and several boxes of really crappy rock." *6 was later estimated to be 16, but topped out at 24. I honestly didn't need any more records, and definitely not somewhere in the neighborhood of 2,000 of them. I don't want 2,000 of anything, really, except for books, or [...]
Bill Horist - Nukeru Oto (For Tiffany) (Urck Recordings 2007) Various Artists - Post-Asiatic: Lost War Dream Music / Urck Recordings riverrun, past Eve and Adam's, from swerve of shore to bend of bay, brings us by a commodius vicus of recirculation back to Howth Castle and Environs. I'm glad Ronnie broke with convention and posted his Devotion column last Thursday in preparation for the new season of "The Wire" (which I have just now started). The praise for that show has reached critical mass and it's almost [...]
Spiller Whale - "Raptures & Drynesses" (Uncle Grandpa 2007) Spiller Whale - Fresh Tables EP / Uncle Grandpa What makes a good indie rock band? I mean elementally, not the shaggy haircuts, thrift store clothing and extensive scene networking that have become unanimous with the tag. Exactly what musical building blocks need to be fastened to an indie rock song's understructure to cause that 20-something thrill-seeker to perk his ears, set down his overpriced PBR and start paying attention to the hard-working band on stage? Let's laundry list! [...]
From ExtraGolden.com : As many of you are probably aware, the political situation in Kenya is extremely volatile right now. There was a general election on December 27 whose pro status quo results have been universally condemned as rigged by the international community. Even the incumbent's hand-picked election manager is unwilling to confirm his boss's re-election as honest and fair. While the integrity of Kenya's fragile democracy is at stake, it is the people who are suffering the most. Violence has spread throughout the country, with hundreds already murdered. Businesses that haven't been destroyed are [...]
6a: 1. Johnny Cash - Redemption - God ( Columbia 2000) 2. Tammy Wynette - Stand by Your Man (live) - The Best of the Johnny Cash Show ( Columbia 2007) 3. Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - I'm Loving the Street - Ask Forgiveness ( Drag City 2007) 4. Smog - Our Anniversary - Supper ( Drag City 2004) 5. Bob Dylan - Spirit on the Water - Modern Times ( Columbia 2006) 6. Adrian Orange - It Ain't Me Baby - The Second [...]
Nicole Mitchell's Black Earth Ensemble - "Life Wants You to Love" (Delmark 2007) Nicole Mitchell's Black Earth Ensemble – Black Unstoppable / Delmark The Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicans' motto is "Great Black Music, Ancient to the Future." It is a sentiment strewn through and lived to the fullest by its acclaimed roster of musicians, composers and educators, among them Muhal Richard Abrams, Phil Cohran, Fred Anderson, Anthony Braxton, Malachi Favors and Roscoe Mitchell to name a select few. The organization [...]
"The Wire," fifth and final season. Sunday, January 6. 9pm. HBO . It's been a pleasure to witness the genius of "The Wire" all these years. It's inconceivable that anyone would ever be able to make a better cop drama - the core of the series - and almost preposterous to imagine that anyone would attempt a series so ridiculously ambitious as "The Wire" ever again (or have a network that would air it). It was a dense, morally ambiguous tale of killers and cops, innocents and avengers - and middle-managers from hell. It [...]
My favorite tracks of 2007 show (in no particular order): 6a: 1. Stars of the Lid - The Evil That Never Arrived - Stars of the Lid and the Refinement of the Decline ( Kranky 2007) 2. Lichens - Vevor of Agassou - Omns ( Kranky 2007) 3. Exploding Star Orchestra - Cosmic Tomes for Sleep Walking Lovers, Part 2 - We are all from somewhere else. ( Thrill Jockey 2007) 4. Fred Anderson & Hamid Drake - For Brother Thompson - From the River to the [...]
2008: the year we stop trying to make this an enterprise, and start making it a hobby.
Dear Santa, I know you had your heart set on finally getting me an iPod this year because I had suggested to my parents a few weeks ago in desperation that I supposed I wanted one. "Everybody else in this city seems to own a pair of earbuds," I told my mother, "and if I'm ever going to feel like a worthy subscriber of all those Faders I've been reading, I guess I should fetch a pair for myself to keep up with the times." But you didn't deliver. It's always nice [...]
May 3, 1933 - December 25, 2006
we don't usually do this kind of stuff, but these are good people doing interesting things, so.... WLUW's Hump Day Dance Party presents... WEIRD KIDS 2: CHRISTMAS BUGALOO Sunday, December 23 Darkroom (2210 W. Chicago) 9:00 PM /$7 /21+ A night full of fresh holiday classics! And all the holiday treats your elementary school principal confiscated! Featuring... [...]
I have written a lot this year. Way more than anyone of my caliber should ever be allowed to write. And it has been almost unanimously about music. God knows what motivates me to do so on my own unpaid (in both financial and attention terms) accord, but I can only assume that it's whatever the same odd driving force is that seems to be encouraging the rest of this outspoken faceless society we refer to as the blogosphere. Maybe it's a reaction to being bombarded by so much curious and easily accessible media, an [...]
It's no secret that I burned out on music as 2007 rolled into its final quarter. After moving to Chicago and getting a job that actually kept me busy, it was hard to stay motivated splitting all of my time between working from 6AM to 6PM, keeping up appearances to try and get a foothold on this place, and making sure I paid all my bills. Growing up is demanding, I don't have to tell you this. Unfortunately for newcomers, there are a lot of albums already suited to coping with this issue. And looking back on this list, not [...]
OK. So I know that I haven't been posting very much in the past few weeks, but freelancing has picked up! Fortunately, I still have 12 things that might interest you, even though they're metal (save for two of them). I just did these alphabetically so my brain didn't explode. Aeon - Rise to Dominate / Metal Blade Aeon - "Godless" (Metal Blade 2007) [...]
I'd feel a lot better about this if I had actually listened to every album that came out in 2007. But who has that kind of time and money hard drive space? Albert Hammond Jr. – Yours to Keep – New Line It's always interesting when a member of an established band branches out with a [...]
We're wrapping up our year-end lists. They start tomorrow.
6a: 1. Cocteau Twins - Carolyn's Fingers - Blue Bell Knoll ( 4AD 1988) 2. 90 Day Men - Harlequin's Chasis - Too Late or Too Dead EP ( Southern 2003) 3. Citay - First Fantasy - Little Kingdoms ( Dead Oceans 2007) 4. Hüsker Dü - Chartered Trips - Zen Arcade ( SST 1984) 5. Polvo - d.d.(s.r.) - Shapes ( Touch & Go 1997) 6. Kevin Ayers / John Cale / Eno / Nico - Baby's on Fire - June 1, [...]
Dig the "walk on by" moves at 2:40. Buttery slickness. Devotion's Top Singles of 2007 Justice – "D.A.N.C.E." ( Ed Banger ) People may stop paying for music, which I hear is a bit of a problem for some. But let me know when they stop dancing, because that will be a problem for everyone. UGK featuring OutKast – "International Players Anthem" – UGK (Underground Kingz) (Jive) R.I.P. Pimp C [...]
CHIRP are the beneficiaries of Danny's monthly (and notorious) Peace Party, on Monday, December 10th! Come out and dance with CHIRP , the Chicago Independent Radio Project at Danny's THIS MONDAY 12/10! We're known to be party-goers and party-starters, and come by and help us rock Danny's! Be sure to visit the bar, as 50% of drink sales will help bring community radio to Chicago. Tunes will be provided by CHIRP DJ's Mary Nisi and Michael Ardaiolo. Mary's well-known for getting a packed Hideout to shake it at Smashing Time, as well [...]
Audiversity
Bison - Quill
Neutral Milk Hotel- Aeroplane Over the Sea
Shinichi Osawa – Big Beach Mix 2012
Mr Fogg - Eleven
