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Post by ascoldasice on Jun 15, 2008 21:16:06 GMT -5
Much like the Summer of George in Seinfeld, this is the Summer of ACAI, the music edition. Just something to keep myself amused, but this may grant you peeps some useful information, or spark some interesting comments. *** 16/6/08 The Ramones - Leave Home (CD) Brilliant, and their best album. No bad songs, and several exceptionally good ones. Punk pop at it's finest. Verdict - Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - The Good Son (CD) Goth ballady alt rock, which goes from downright outstanding (The Ship Song, Lament, Sorrow's Child) to average (The Hammer Song). Still great as a whole Verdict - *** 17/06/08 The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Axis: Bold as Love (CD) Probably the least appreciated Hendrix Exp album (if there is such a thing), mainly because while it's still exceptionally good, it lacks the hits of both Experienced and Electric Ladyland. Still, Spanish Sand Castles, Castles Made of Sand and Little Wing are brilliant, and the CD as a whole is very easy to listen to, especially compared to the other two. Verdict - The Doors - The Doors (CD) One of the greatest albums ever. No song less then superb, Jim Morrison's powerful singing aura, Ray Manzarek's intriuging organing, Light My Fire, The End, Break on Through, Soul Kitchen.... Verdict -
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Post by ascoldasice on Jun 17, 2008 22:16:18 GMT -5
*** 18/6/08 MC5 - Kick Out the Jams (CD) Kick out the jams, motherfucker! An enjoyable live show from 1968, and considered by many to be one of the first punk albums. Some of the longer songs at the end aren't as good, but as far as energetic rock goes, it works. Verdict -
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Post by ascoldasice on Jun 18, 2008 22:12:02 GMT -5
*** 19/06/08 Primal Scream - Screamadelica (CD) Weird indie dance pop rock. This album encompasses so many genres, from rock, to new age, to house, to gospel, and does it resonably well. It's just a shame that at 65 minutes it's a little too long. Verdict - John Frusciante - To Record Only Water For 10 Days Entirely solo effort from the Red Hot Chili Pepper's guitarist. Many weird synths, drum machines and of course John's great guitar work makes this an interesting and captivating album. Verdict -
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Post by wank_herod on Jun 20, 2008 17:17:40 GMT -5
Primal Scream - Screamadelica.
This album gets top marks from me. It's the sound of rock and underground dance music coming together perfectly in soulful, blissed-out union. Some tracks are (or were - it's...what, almost 20 years old now?) truly ground-breaking - 'Higher Than the Sun', 'Don't Fight It, Feel It', 'Slip Inside This House' (one of the few cover versions which imo manages to surpass the original, already a great track by the superb 13th Floor Elevators).
I guess I'm a little biased with this album as, for me, it was one of those which became the soundtrack to a particular summer, 1992, spent bumming around the Glastonbury area, 5 days of psychedelic dance at the famous festival, then a period of following various free and wholly illegal rave festivals around the area for the remainder of the summer. Good times. I hear 'Screamadelica', I hear that summer.
TJHE - Axis Bold as Love
It's a fine album, but it rightly doesn't get the attention that other two get, especially Electric Ladyland, which is the definitive Hendrix album imo - gorgeous sensual psychedelia matched only by Sly and the Family Stone.
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Post by ascoldasice on Jun 20, 2008 20:52:57 GMT -5
Primal Scream - Screamadelica. This album gets top marks from me. It's the sound of rock and underground dance music coming together perfectly in soulful, blissed-out union. Some tracks are (or were - it's...what, almost 20 years old now?) truly ground-breaking - 'Higher Than the Sun', 'Don't Fight It, Feel It', 'Slip Inside This House' (one of the few cover versions which imo manages to surpass the original, already a great track by the superb 13th Floor Elevators). I guess I'm a little biased with this album as, for me, it was one of those which became the soundtrack to a particular summer, 1992, spent bumming around the Glast onbury area, 5 days of psychedelic dance at the famous festival, then a period of following various free and wholly illegal rave festivals around the area for the remainder of the summer. Good times. I hear 'Screamadelica', I hear that summer. TJHE - Axis Bold as Love It's a fine album, but it rightly doesn't get the attention that other two get, especially Electric Ladyland, which is the definitive Hendrix album imo - gorgeous sensual psychedelia matched only by Sly and the Family Stone. Well, I can see why you like Screamadelica ;D. I almost think Axis is better then Experienced, but you are right in saying Electric Ladyland easily beats both.
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Post by ascoldasice on Jun 22, 2008 5:53:47 GMT -5
*** 22/06/08 Shpongle - Tales of the Inexpressible (Digital) Brilliantly strange tribal psychedelic latin world beat album. Shpongle do kick ass in so many ways, and this album shows why. Very useful for chilling to something with a little kick. Verdict - Neu! - Neu! 75 (CD) Krautrock from the German legends Neu!. A more consistent album then their self titled, but missing standout tracks. Still, the mix of the relaxing piano on the first side to the proto punk of the second side is an intriguing combination. Verdict -
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Post by ascoldasice on Jun 22, 2008 23:53:29 GMT -5
*** 23/06/08 Underworld - A Hundred Days Off (CD) Very disappointing, considering it's from Underworld. A mixture of average deep and prog house, only the track "A Hundred Days Off" stands out. Verdict -
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Post by wank_herod on Jun 23, 2008 2:55:34 GMT -5
Shpongle - Tales of the Inexpressible (Digital) Brilliantly strange tribal psychedelic latin world beat album. Shpongle do kick ass in so many ways, and this album shows why. Very useful for chilling to something with a little kick. Verdict - Neu! - Neu! 75 (CD) Krautrock from the German legends Neu!. A more consistent album then their self titled, but missing standout tracks. Still, the mix of the relaxing piano on the first side to the proto punk of the second side is an intriguing combination. Verdict - Shpongle - I've been meaning to listen to this band for a while, but keep forgetting about them. Thanks for the reminder, I'll pick some up this week. I always like to keep a few worldbeat, psytrance and related albums ('EDM' you call it? Suits me!) on the iPod, mainly for when I'm driving. Faves include 'Twisted' and 'In Dub' by Hallucinogen, anything by Astralasia or Eat Static, 'Duniya' by Loop Guru, 'Beyond the Infifnite' by Juno Reactor, 'Maya' by Banco de Gaia, and others, can't remember. Neu! 75 - Superb album. Really, any of their early 70s albums are classics. Have you heard Harmonia or La Dusseldorf? Similar type of Krautrock to Neu!, both great.
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Post by ascoldasice on Jun 23, 2008 10:40:14 GMT -5
Shpongle - Tales of the Inexpressible (Digital) Brilliantly strange tribal psychedelic latin world beat album. Shpongle do kick ass in so many ways, and this album shows why. Very useful for chilling to something with a little kick. Verdict - Neu! - Neu! 75 (CD) Krautrock from the German legends Neu!. A more consistent album then their self titled, but missing standout tracks. Still, the mix of the relaxing piano on the first side to the proto punk of the second side is an intriguing combination. Verdict - Shpongle - I've been meaning to listen to this band for a while, but keep forgetting about them. Thanks for the reminder, I'll pick some up this week. I always like to keep a few worldbeat, psytrance and related albums ('EDM' you call it? Suits me!) on the iPod, mainly for when I'm driving. Faves include 'Twisted' and 'In Dub' by Hallucinogen, anything by Astralasia or Eat Static, 'Duniya' by Loop Guru, 'Beyond the Infifnite' by Juno Reactor, 'Maya' by Banco de Gaia, and others, can't remember. Neu! 75 - Superb album. Really, any of their early 70s albums are classics. Have you heard Harmonia or La Dusseldorf? Similar type of Krautrock to Neu!, both great. Shit, I swear you have the fucking best musical taste ever. I too loved Twisted, Beyond the Infinite and especially Maya, which I scored on CD new for $8 a while ago. Heliopolis is one of my favourite trance songs. Also, with Shpongle, you can't go wrong with Are You Shpongled?, which is as good as Tales, just a little more ambienty. I've heard Deluxe by Harmonia, which I liked, especially the guitar work. Btw, seeing what you like EDM wise, you might like both Northern Exposure and a lot of my top 50 trance songs, both which are mainly classic trance. I'll up both in the next couple of days.
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Post by ascoldasice on Jun 23, 2008 22:35:05 GMT -5
*** 24/6/08 Robert Wyatt - Rock Bottom (CD) Masterpiece of jazz prog rock. Buy/listen now! Verdict -
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Post by ascoldasice on Jun 25, 2008 22:06:20 GMT -5
*** 26/06/08 Pere Ubu - The Modern Dance (CD) Very inconsistent experimental new wave. The first two songs are absolute classics, and several other songs are good, but there are a few annoying/terrible songs (7 minutes of breaking bottles?!?!). Also, Dave Thomas' voice can be seen as annoying. Verdict -
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Post by ascoldasice on Jun 26, 2008 23:50:13 GMT -5
*** 27/06/08 The Orb - Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld (CD) One of the greatest ambient albums ever. After a great start, Disc 1 gets far too drony and has too much pure ambient for my taste. Disc 2, however, is completely brilliant from start to finish. Verdict -
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Post by ascoldasice on Jun 28, 2008 3:45:11 GMT -5
*** 28/06/08 Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention - Freak Out! (CD) I don't know what to say about this one. I did enjoy all of it, even the 12 minute freak out at the end, The Return of the Son of the Monster Magnet. Verdict - Electric Six - I Shall Restrict Everything Around Me That Stops Me From Becoming the Master (CD) Another great effort from the Electric Six. Dick Valentine is even more funny, and they've added in some acid! Verdict -
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Post by ascoldasice on Jun 28, 2008 22:41:45 GMT -5
*** 29/06/08 Massive Attack - Mezzanine (CD) Still the quintessential trip hop album. Verdict - Frank Zappa - Apostrophe (Digital) A humorous and musically good Zappa album. A good starting point for the uninitiated. Verdict - Van Morrison - Astral Weeks (Digital) Undecided on this folk album. I feel it suffers from having similar sounding songs all the way through. Verdict -
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Post by wank_herod on Jun 29, 2008 17:39:01 GMT -5
You know, I could never get into Zappa's music. I was always a Beefheart man. I always found Zappa's stuff too clever-clever for my tastes. I dunno, something smug about it. The Mothers, yes, everything after, no. It goes without saying that the guy was a fucking genius. He had a mind to stand in awe before, and I loved to see him interviewed, but musically? Not my thing.
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Post by ascoldasice on Jun 29, 2008 20:45:17 GMT -5
You know, I could never get into Zappa's music. I was always a Beefheart man. I always found Zappa's stuff too clever-clever for my tastes. I dunno, something smug about it. The Mothers, yes, everything after, no. It goes without saying that the guy was a fucking genius. He had a mind to stand in awe before, and I loved to see him interviewed, but musically? Not my thing. I hear you dude. I also like Beefheart, but Zappa is so much easier to listen to. The original vinyl of Hot Rats is one of my favourite albums, but I has kinda disappointed with the remastered CD, it added things and emphasised other sounds which I found detrimental as a whole. I'm gonna try to get at least his Mother's stuff in order, so Absolutely Free is next. It is interesting to note that according to his bio, he couldn't play guitar and sing at the same time, yet he could organise a symphony.
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Post by ascoldasice on Jun 30, 2008 0:19:23 GMT -5
Speaking of Zappa... *** 30/6/08 Frank Zappa and the Mother of Invention - Absolutely Free (CD) Needs a relisten. Verdict -
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Post by ascoldasice on Jun 30, 2008 22:39:46 GMT -5
*** 1/07/08 DJ Shadow - Endtroducing (CD) I'll hazard and say this would have to be the greatest hip hop album ever. Verdict - Faith No More - Introduce Yourself (CD) Very, very patchy. Annie's Song, We Care a Lot and Faster Disco are great, the rest go from average to terrible. Chuck Mosely is also the worst singer this side of Lemmy. Verdict - The Red Hot Chili Peppers - Blood Sugar Sex Magik (CD) Still groovely funky. Verdict -
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Post by ascoldasice on Jul 1, 2008 20:38:47 GMT -5
*** 2/07/08 Yes - Close to the Edge (CD) Not too bad, but a little too wank-y for me. Verdict - The Cramps - Flame Job (CD-R) My first introducting into rockabilly. Enjoyable. Verdict -
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Post by ascoldasice on Jul 2, 2008 22:30:44 GMT -5
*** 3/07/08 Mars Volta - Deloused in the Comatorium (CD) Brilliant progressive hard rock. Probably one of the best albums of the last decade. Verdict - The Red Hot Chili Peppers - Freaky Styley (CD) Funky 80's rock. I originally thought it to be the worst RHCP album, but more listens leads me to think it's one of their better ones. Verdict - Chicane - Behind the Sun (CD) Beautiful Ibiza trance. Very calming and relaxing. Includes the haunting track "Saltwater" Verdict -
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Post by ascoldasice on Jul 4, 2008 3:02:15 GMT -5
*** 4/07/08 Slint - Spiderland (CD) Chillingly scary post rock. Also absolutely brilliant in every way. Verdict -
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Post by wank_herod on Jul 4, 2008 18:31:02 GMT -5
*** 4/07/08 Slint - Spiderland (CD) Chillingly scary post rock. Also absolutely brilliant in every way. Verdict - Great album, easily Slint's best. Spine-tingling stuff.
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Post by ascoldasice on Jul 4, 2008 20:48:19 GMT -5
*** 4/07/08 Slint - Spiderland (CD) Chillingly scary post rock. Also absolutely brilliant in every way. Verdict - Great album, easily Slint's best. Spine-tingling stuff. Well, it only has Tweez to compete with, and it easily beats that. Would you know of any more good post rock?
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Post by ascoldasice on Jul 4, 2008 21:56:48 GMT -5
*** 5/07/08 The Scientists - Pissed on Another Planet (CD) Not too bad post punk psychobilly, or something. Automatically put up to awesome because it's from my city of Perth and it's not AC/DC. Verdict -
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Post by wank_herod on Jul 5, 2008 18:18:37 GMT -5
Would you know of any more good post rock? Let's talk about 'post rock'. You know, I'm not even sure what qualifies as post rock, it's a term that I take with a pinch of salt. There's so many bands (and have been for well over 30 years) that use rock instruments to make music that isn't rock music, that I wouldn't know where to begin. I just looked at what wikipedia says about the term (and yeah, I take wikipedia with a pinch of salt too, but it's good for research when used in conjunction with other sources), and when they're putting bands like Slint, Stereolab and Flying Saucer Attack under the post rock banner, then I know that either (a) Wikipedia is once again full of shit, or (b) that 'post rock' is too loose a term to use when defining types of music. Methinks it's a bit of both. Musically, there is nothing that connects Slint, Stereolab and FSA, so why even bother? Anyway, having said all this, I did feel the need to investigate 'post rock' a few years ago and used The Prog Archives top ten post rock list as a starting point. Mostly, I hated it. Explosions In The Sky, Ulver, God Is An Astronaut, all highly rated post rock bands, did nothing for me. These bands all seemed to take what Mogwai were doing inifinitely better years ago ie start quiet and slowly build the music up into colossall, exploding waves of sound, and leech all the goodness out of it, polishing it until it was so slick that it just ended up sounding contrived and hollow. So, recs? Based on what others consider 'post rock', music I have enjoyed to varying degrees over the years are Bark Psychosis - 'Hex', a great album, Mogwai, Godspeed You Black Emperor are good in places, Stereolab have made some nice krautrock/lounge/exotica albums, Sigur Ros. All very different bands, all apparantly post rock... There are probably more, I just file them under a different genre. Experimental Audio Research, formed by Sonic Boom, formerly the main man in legendary psychedelic pioneers Spacemen 3 (one of my favourite bands ever), is apparantly considered post rock, and this is a claim that I spit upon, then fuck to death in a fit of 'post rock rage'. But whatever, EAR are a fucking ace band. Look them up, as well as Sonic Boom's other current project Spectrum. And whilst you're at it, check out Spacemen 3. Your life will be a hollow meaningless farce if you don't.
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Post by wank_herod on Jul 5, 2008 19:05:21 GMT -5
BTW, I'm sure I remember reading a blog written by you a while ago. D'you have the link? I ask because I've just started writing a psychedelic music blog with the intention of sharing rare and deleted vinyl, and I could use with a few likeminded bloggers linking to it.
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Post by ascoldasice on Jul 5, 2008 19:43:44 GMT -5
Cheers for the recs Wank. Just try the link under my posts, and I will increase traffic to your blog by the only one that ever reads my blog - me.
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Post by ascoldasice on Jul 6, 2008 3:15:28 GMT -5
*** 6/07/08 Banco De Gaia - Maya (CD) Nice ambient dub/worldbeat/classic trance. Heliopolis is one of the greatest trance songs ever. Verdict - Hawkwind - Doremi Fasol Latido (CD-R) Not too bad. Lemmy is awesome. Verdict - King Crimson - In the Court of the Crimson King (CD) The very well known and loved start of mainstream prog rock. Very good, asides from the wasteful 10 minute noodling in Moonchild. Verdict - Camel - Rajaz (Digital) I guess you could call it adult contemporary progressive rock. It's something different. Verdict -
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Post by wank_herod on Jul 6, 2008 4:36:31 GMT -5
Just try the link under my posts, and I will increase traffic to your blog by the only one that ever reads my blog - me. Oh. Just you, eh? Wow. And I thought it was a music blog, for some reason. Big fucking help you are.
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Post by ascoldasice on Jul 6, 2008 5:57:44 GMT -5
Just try the link under my posts, and I will increase traffic to your blog by the only one that ever reads my blog - me. Oh. Just you, eh? Wow. And I thought it was a music blog, for some reason. Big fucking help you are. But still, give us the link to your blog, I'll probably want to grab lots of the stuff off of there.
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