Mike’s 2002

Albums

1. The Feel Trio (Cecil Taylor) — 2 Ts for a Lovely T. 10 CD set that sold for well over $200 when it came out. I don’t ever do this, but I’ll admit, I burned my copy. Recorded live in the early 80s I think. I’m not going to claim that I know this music inside and out, but I’ve probably played each at least once. Some – 1, 6 and 10 especially – quite often. I like 1 so much that it is hard for me to reach for anything else by Taylor. There’s plenty of the “dense clustering,” the “thunderous ostinatos,” the intense attacks, and the note barrages, but by God, these three are so in sync more often than not. They are in relative sync often enough that you wonder if they are looking at scores (egads!). William Parker’s bass erupts and coalesces with Taylor’s left hand. Oxley’s pitter/patters are constantly surprising and accompany the sometimes raucous, sometimes gentle proceedings to a “T”. There may be better Taylor out there. I’m not an expert. I’ll admit to remaining somewhat partial to the early trio stuff with Niedlinger and Charles and having a tough time with the no holds barred trio stuff on Akisikila and that era. Just so you know where I’m coming from – the more tender side of the Taylor discography. You’ll have a tough time convincing me that it gets any better than this trio for Taylor.

2. Joni Mitchell–Travelogue.

3. Meredith Monk–Mercy. Includes probably my favorite “song” of the year: Core Chant. Featured in True Detective.

4. Songs: Ohia–Didn’t It Rain. About what I am and, in some cases, love. Blue Factory Flame. I strum along to this album every time I play it.

5. Beck–Sea Change.

6. Tim Berne–Science Friction. It seems I’m doing my best to have Berne prominently featured over there in our wordle. I don’t think this is nearly as good as the live versions released the following year as part of “The Sublime And…” but still.

7. Iron and Wine — The Creek Drank the Cradle. I’m not a big fan of his, but it seems to me that he was really on during this time period. Especially: Upward Over the Mountain. Among the top ten songs in terms of times I’ve sung and played. Funny listening to this again, as my version has become so different.

8. Steve Earle — Jerusalem. Includes the great “John Walker’s Blues.” How many people would have the guts to write and release this in 2002. What a songwriter. Lots of other great stuff on this record.

9. Sigur Rós–(). Just so pretty.

10. Roxy Music–Live at the Apollo. I know we don’t usually include live albums, and especially not cash-in reunion albums, but damed if this isn’t close to perfect. In fact, I can’t imagine that this kind of thing has ever been done better. Ordinarily I wouldn’t even think about buying something like this. I didn’t give the VU, Pixies, Genesis, Sex Pistols, Who et al comebacks a second thought, figuring them for lame excuses to make some money on nostalgic oldsters. Some of ’em were probably ok; I guess the Pixies probably summoned some energy and excitement.

So, I’m trying to figure out why I’d have thrown down $20 or so for this. I can’t explain it other than that this band of musicians deserve it. They are so well-suited for each other and so damned earnest, that it just seems impossible for them to do anything wrong when they get together. I’m sure if I gave it any thought at all I’d think of some favorites they missed, but it is hard to complain about the selections: 22 of their greatest cuts, spanning their career. One of the very greatest bands enjoying a little nostalgia, yes, but also getting inside these songs again and recreating the excitement of their initial discovery and blossoming oh so many years ago.

And some songs:

1. Masha Qrella–I Want You to Know (Luck). Another Tim rec from a previous theme that has become a regular listen. Love these songs that I’m sure were all written with an acoustic guitar.

2. Queens of the Stone Age–No One Knows (Songs for the Deaf). Damn good album, especially the first five or so songs, any of which could appear on this list. With the incomparably heavy Dave Grohl on drums. God can he play em.

3. Muffins–Walking the Duck (Bandwidth)

4. Spaceways, Inc.–Back of a Cab (Version Soul)

5. …And you will know us–It Was There That I Saw You (Source Tags and Codes)

6. The Flaming Lips–Do You Realize. I agree with Tim about them, and also love this song. Actually like this whole record quite a lot.

7. Mark Knopfler–Why Aye Man (Ragpicker’s Dream)

8. Archer Prewitt–Tear Me All Away (Three). Another album and song that are dominated by great acoustic guitar licks (see Qrella above for another example).

9. Christina Aguilera–Beautiful. Something about it.

Brent’s 1981

 Day After Day – Pretenders (Pretenders II) – Aside from the absolutely mellow way they “rock out” here Christie Hynde is positively gorgeous in this video.

This Is Radio Clash – The Clash (12” Single) – Captures the cultural mash-up of rock, rap, dance, and even perhaps the avant garde in early 80’s NYC.

Leave The Capitol – The Fall

Armagh – Au Pairs – Could be applied just as appropriately in the US during the later Bush years. Included here because it rips…not as a political statement.

Family Treet – Raincoats

Dislocated – League Of Gentlemen

Our Lips Are Sealed – GoGo’s – Teenage alienation and isolation underneath this pop masterpiece…“There’s a weapon that we can use…”

Stand And Deliver – Adam & The Ants

Unchained – Van Halen – Eddie’s opening hooks are so heavy, so melodic, so good at the same time.

Nothing’s Going To Happen – Tall Dwarfs – Jeff Magnum an the Elephant 6 folks surely were hip to this.

Lp’s

Minor Threat – Minor Threat – Fully realized debut…right out of the gate.

Damaged – Black Flag

Kangaroo? – The Red Crayola and Art & Language – Mayo Thompson merges with British art collective and produces RIO classic.

Memory Serves – Material – See Radio Clash above and swap rap with avant garde.

Discipline – King Crimson

Dolmen Music – Meredith Monk

Wild Gift – X

Deceit – This Heat

Lounge Lizards – Lounge Lizards – Seems I include Arto Lindsey in this blog a lot…much more than I would expect. Not sure if that makes him overrated or underrated in my mind although this is clearly John Lurie’s vehicle. Had the opportunity to catch Roy Nathanson with Russ Johnson’s “Still Out To Lunch” project last week…what a great and inventive artist!

Milk Of Amnesia – Einstein’s Riceboys (Taung Child) – The LP is much better than the few offerings on youtube…you can find it (in Milwaukee)…buy it!

Mike’s 1981

What a glorious year in music. I’ve heard it said that the music we listen to in high school is the music we listen to the rest of our lives. At the very least, the music that shapes our lives in our formative years isn’t easily shaken. How lucky to have been introduced to many of these gems then that are now part of my DNA.

Songs

Laurie Anderson–“Born, Never Asked”

The Police–“Invisible Sun”

REM–“Radio Free Europe”

The Specials–“Friday Night and Saturday Morning”

Rickie Lee Jones–“We Belong Together” (I’ll say it. Maybe my favorite song of all-time.)

Penguin Cafe Orchestra–“Air a Danser”

Meredith Monk–“Dolmen Music” (Cheating…)

This Heat–“A New Kind of Water” (Deceit probably makes my album list as I become more familiar with it.)

X–“White Girl”

Brian Eno and David Byrne–“Regiment”

Albums

Rickie Lee Jones–Pirates (“Skeletons“, “Living It Up“)

Penguin Cafe Orchestra–Penguin Cafe Orchestra (“Cutting Branches for a Temporary Shelter“, “Telephone and Rubber Band“)

King Crimson–Discipline. It’s one thing to develop a truly unique sound for your individual instrument, and rare. Each member of this band accomplished that. Combined they devised an entirely new music that might be as shocking in its originality today as it was in 1981.  (“Sheltering Sky“, “Elephant Talk“)

Siouxsie and the Banshees–Juju. (“Monitor“, “Night Shift“)

David Thomas and the Pedestrians—The Sound of the Sand. Richard Thompson doesn’t dominate the proceedings here as much as he would on the followup. Completely zany, and, like the King Crimson, completely original. As experimental as the contemporary Pere Ubu albums (Art of Walking, Song of the Bailing Man), but infinitely more listenable and pleasurable. (“The Birds Are a Good Idea“–the only song on youtube)

Bill Evans–You Must Believe in Spring. Feel a little guilty about listing this as it was recorded in ’77, released in ’81. I always liked this a lot, but it has grown on me over the years. I now think it is as lovely as anything he ever did. (“The Peacocks“, “We Will Meet Again“)

Martha and the Muffins–This Is the Ice Age. This group seems to be pretty obscure in spite of their having a couple minor hits. Those aren’t on this album which mixes early Roxy Music Eno atmospherics with Fripp-influenced lead guitar work, but sounds very much of its era. There are enough progressive undercurrents and dynamics throughout to keep this from sounding too much like other typical early 80s electronic stuff….but that is too negative a take. This is consistently amazing! (“Swimming“, “Three Hundred Years/Chemistry“, “Jets Seem Slower in London’s Skies”)

Material–Memory Serves. A lot of people were interested in extending the range of what consituted dance music in the early 80s. I wish I could have been on a dance floor when this came on. (“Upriver“, “Memory Serves“)

Genesis–Abacab. I don’t know what to say about this. I just think it’s great! Every song!