Brent’s 1994 Better Late Than Never

Apologies for the tardy post! Busy time of year for me. Let’s keep this going!

Albums

1)  Boredoms – Super Roots 3

– Crystal clear, concise, to the point. Yes, it’s ½ hour of hardcore riffing. Again…crystal clear, concise, to the point.

2)  Kyuss – Welcome To Sky Valley

– Like taking a hit off an exhaust pipe. Opens with this “suite” for god’s sake…Gardenia, Asteroid, Supa Scoopa And Mighty Scoop.

3)  Melvins – Stoner Witch

– The first 3 minutes of Magic Pig Detective changed how I listen to music. No Kidding. No Hyperbole. No B.S. A transformative moment. I remember the location, room, chair I was sitting in, who I was with, the time of day, the volume, and my jaw dropping. Also Revolve, Sweet Willy Rollbar.

4)  Frank Black – Teenager of the Year

– I recall hearing Kim Deal disparage this at the time. She was/is wrong. Speedy Marie, Freedom Rock.

5)  Die Like A Dog Quartet – Fragments Of Music, Life and Death of Albert Ayler

– I may have “heard” Brotzmann prior to this…but I’m pretty sure I never “HEARD” him till this.

6)  Altered States (Feat Otomo Yoshihide) – Lithuania & Estonia Live

– Improvised Rock is no light task. Otomo Yoshihide and company knock it down here. They were doing this in 1994. Visionary. Chain Reaction.

7) Bill Dixon with Barry Guy, Tony Oxley, William Parker – Vade Mecum

– Astounding. Spaces.

8)  Paul Haines – Darn It!

– Poet Haines assembled some of my favorite artists to create this beautiful tapestry.  Check out the credits – HERE

9)  Jeff Buckley – Grace

– Pretty sure one those things we all can agree is pretty fantastic.

10)  Ween – Chocolate & Cheese

– I don’t think things get any catchier than this.  Stylistically all over the map, coherent at the same time. Freedom of ’76, What Deaner Was Talking About, Mister Would You Please Help My Pony.

Songs

1)  Kew.Rhone – John Greaves – Songs

– Robert Wyatt does great justice lending vocals this remake of the ‘77 Greaves/Blegvad/Herman tune.

2)  Over the River Club/Grief – Henry Threadgill – Song Of My Trees

– Myra Melford plays some beautiful piano here. Threadgill compositions can be somewhat “cold”. Not so here.

3)  A Hundred Years – Mule – If I Don’t Six

– Something sets PW Long and company apart from contemporaries like Shellac, JSBE, or Jesus Lizard. Soul.

4)  Shit Soup – Sebahoh – Bakesale

– Bakesale is one of those Lp’s in my collection I feel I should appreciate more than I do, could become a favorite with the right listen. This track always lays me out though.

5)  Work from Smoke – Gastr Del Sol – Crookt, Crackt, or Fly

– O’Rourke & Grubbs were working alongside Red Krayola at this time and it shows here.  Who knew what these two would accomplish over the next decades?

6)  Hot Freaks – Guided By Voices – Bee Thousand

– Like most of my favorite GBV tracks this comes off as more of an idea for a song, a whisper of something greater. More perfect kept in its adolescent form.

7)  Vroom/Thrak – King Crimson – Vroom

– Only Crimson return from a ten year hiatus this fit, muscular, retooled.

8)  Become One/The Born One – Keiji Haino – A Challenge To Fate

– Soft/Loud….no not the “pixies” sense.

9)  Blasters (feat Eddie Hazel) – Booty’s New Rubber Band – Blasters of the Universe

– Built up around an old Eddie Hazel guitar track. This is the sort of thing that never works. Except here.

10)  Superbird – Fu Manchu – No One Rides For Free

– SOLID! Love a good shitkicker!

Mike’s 2013

1. Jason Isbell—Southeastern. Just about every song is strong, and one as good as it gets: Elephant.
2. Tim Berne’s Snakeoil—Shadow Man. Strong second to BB’s rec. Instantly became one of my favorite ECM recordings. God, what a band.
3. Son Volt—Honky Tonk. Quite possibly their best album yet. Try Angel of the Blues.
4. Yoko Ono Plastic Ono Band—Take Me to the Land of Hell. New Yoko always cause for celebration, a hell of a lot of fun to listen to for a while and funky as hell. Try Moonbeams.
5. Myra Melford—Life Carries Me This Way. Surprisingly, Melford’s first solo recording. Just started listening to this, but as she’s never put out a bad record there’s no reason to think this won’t become a favorite for the year. Attic

Reissues: Jimi Hendrix—People, Hell and Angels.

Mike’s Streaks

Sorry folks, been traveling for a few weeks and did a pretty good job of limiting the tech so this is very late. I won’t repeat other’s selections, but will indicate agreement in their posts.

Albert Ayler (1965-1968): Spiritual Unity, Spirits Rejoice, Lorrach/Paris 1966, in Greenwich Village, Love Cry.

Tim Berne (1987-2002): Fulton Street Maul, Sanctified Dreams, Fractured Fairy Tales, Pace Yourself, Diminutive Mysteries, Nice View, Bloodcount (all 6 or so), and can’t restrict myself to five, going to have to keep going to include the first couple Paraphrase albums, the duos, Open Coma, Shell Game, Science Friction.

Genesis (1971-1976): Nursery Cryme, Foxtrot, Selling England by the Pound, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway, A Trick of the Tail.

Al Green (1971-1973): Gets Next to You, Let’s Stay Together, I’m Still in Love with You, Call Me, Livin’ for You.

Andrew Hill (1964-1966): Black Fire, Judgement!, Point of Departure, Compulsion, Smokestack

Waylon Jennings (1973-1975):Lonsome, On’ry and Mean, Honky Tonk Heroes, This Time, The Ramblin’ Man, Dreaming My Dreams.

The Kinks (1966-1970): Face to Face, Something Else, Are the Village Green Preservation Society, Arthur or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire, Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneyground.

Myra Melford (1992-1999): Now & Now, Alive in the House of the Saints, Even the Sounds Shine, The Same River, Twice, Above Blue.

Joni Mitchell (1974-1977): Court and Spark, Miles of Aisles, The Hissing of Summer Lawns, Hejira, Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter.

Van Morrison (1968-1972): Astral Weeks, Moondance, His Band and the Street Choir, Tupelo Honey, Saint Dominic’s Preview.

Roxy Music (1972-1974): Roxy Music, For Your Pleasure, Stranded, Country Life, Siren.

Steely Dan (1972-1977): Can’t Buy a Thrill, Countdown to Ecstasy, Pretzel Logic, Katy Lied, The Royal Scam.

Talking Heads (1977-1980): 77, More Songs About Buildings and Food, Fear of Music, Remain in Light, The Name of This Band Is Talking Heads.

King Crimson (1973-1982): Larks’ Tongues in Aspic, Starless and Bible Black, Red, Discipline, Beat.

Miles Davis (1968-1971): Nefertiti, Filles de Kilimanjaro, In a Silent Way, Bitches Brew, A Tribute to Jack Johnson.

Thin Lizzy (1976-1979): Jailbreak, Johnny the Fox, Bad Reputation, Live and Dangerous, Black Rose

Velvet Underground (1967-1970): Not five but close and an entire career deserves note here: The Velvet Underground and Nico, White Light/White Heat, The Velvet Underground, Loaded.