Klaxons — Myths of the Near Future

Author: tracysigler | Posted: February 20th, 2008 | | Tags: , , , , , , | No Comments »

Klaxons -- Myths of the Near Future

  • Artist: Klaxons
  • Title: Myths of the Near Future
  • Year: 2007
  • Format: CD
  • Rating (1-10): 7
  • Owner: Tracy
  • Acquired: 2007 – Christmas gift from Mary
  • Keeper: Yes

Psychedelic? Well, that’s what I read about these guys, Klaxons. But it’s a modern psychedelic, not like The Music Machine (original) or Plasticland (neo-psych), or even like the current stoner rock bands. This is more original, although there are moments that remind me of Gaye Bykers on Acid. There are lots of strange sounds and trippy lyrics but absolutely no self-indulgent protracted freak out jam sessions. In fact, most of the songs are pretty rhythmic, even “sing-along” and dance-able. My favorite is “Gravity’s Rainbow.”

I mentioned Klaxons a good while back. And it’s taken me a good while to get into Myths of the Near Future, but now that I’m tuned in and turned on, I’m digging it… man. Just kidding! Nothing retro about Klaxons. Maybe they’re future-psychedelic.

Check ’em out.


The Hives — The Black and White Album

Author: tracysigler | Posted: January 13th, 2008 | | Tags: , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

The Hives -- The Black and White Album

  • Artist: The Hives
  • Title: The Black and White Album
  • Year: 2007
  • Format: Vinyl 12 in.
  • Rating (1-10): 10
  • Owner: All of us
  • Acquired: 2008
  • Keeper: Yes

I want to be in The Hives! The suits alone are enough incentive for me, but the music on The Black and White Album makes the dream of band membership irresistible. I like all their records but this is the best one yet. The Hives have that essence rare that reminds me of The Fleshtones: familiar but fresh, fun but not dumb, and always rocking even when the music is low key. At times this record is more punk than punk rock and more funky than funk. I can’t get enough of it. I’m probably playing it, in its entirety, at least five times a day. It’s hard to pick favorites but one standout is the fast rocking “Won’t Be Long.” It has a glockenspiel riff that is a perfect layer of icing atop a multilayer rock and roll cake, like the recorder solo in “Wild Thing” by The Troggs.

Visit their site, buy their music, watch the videos, see them live. Look for me playing glockenspiel in the back.

Everyone’s a loser in the modern world
Look at all the sad and gloomy little boys and girls
I know all you got is troubles all you got is woes
Shake the chips off your shoulders here’s how it
goes…
Whoooo Hoooo!

“Well All Right!” – The Hives


Wyclef Jean — Carnival II (Memoirs of an Immigrant)

Author: tracysigler | Posted: November 6th, 2007 | | Tags: , , , , , | No Comments »

Wyclef Jean -- Carnival II (Memoirs of an Immigrant)

New Wyclef Jean coming out next month, Carnival II (Memoirs of an Immigrant), December 4 to be precise. This single “Riot” is intense, with more riffs and breaks than most albums. And if you can believe this, it features Serj Tankian (System of a Down)… rapping. Listen to it.

Wyclef.com


PJ Harvey — White Chalk

Author: tracysigler | Posted: October 22nd, 2007 | | Tags: , , , , , , | No Comments »

PJ Harvey -- White Chalk

  • Artist: PJ Harvey
  • Title: White Chalk
  • Year: 2007
  • Format: CD
  • Rating (1-10): 9
  • Owner: Tracy
  • Acquired: Mary got it for me.
  • Keeper: Yes

Here’s some new music…

This is one quiet and dark album. I am huge PJ Harvey fan, and I just got this album. At first I was disappointed how quiet and low key these songs are, all of them. Drums and percussion are virtually non-existent, and no song rocks out the way PJ always seems to, eventually. But there’s a different kind of power here. According to PJ, see the documentary below, she was determined not to repeat herself. I have probably listened to the entire album 10 times in the last 24 hours and each time it gets better.

White Chalk is being release in a limited edition vinyl version, which tragically I do not have. But the CD is packaged in a more earth-friendly way, similar to a real record, with a cardboard jacket and separate liner. Handsome.

White Chalk Documentary Part 1


Double Negative — Double Negative

Author: tracysigler | Posted: October 1st, 2007 | | Tags: , , , , , | No Comments »

Double Negative -- Double Negative

  • Artist: Double Negative
  • Title: Double Negative
  • Year: 2007
  • Format: Vinyl 12 in.
  • Rating (1-10): 8
  • Owner: Tracy
  • Acquired: 2007 – Got it from singer KC at a show.
  • Keeper: Yes

There’s been more hardcore punk in my life this past week than usual, at least for over 20 years. I got to see, and meet, Double Negative at a show last week. Like many hardcore shows it was at a place not really intended for live music. In this case it was Gourmet Perks, a coffee house just down the street from my place. It was a fun show with a small but enthusiastic crowd of “hardcore” fans.

I also happened to finally see the movie American Hardcore in its entirety this weekend. The film is about the birth and evolution of hardcore punk in the years between 1979 and 1986. I was really involved in that scene and found the movie very interesting. If you weren’t, I’m not sure you would agree. To quote from one interview in the film, “normal people didn’t like this music, and we liked it that way.”

This is definitely a good hardcore album, and to be honest it certainly sounds better than most of the music from the original scene. It’s really on an altogether higher level. My favorite song is probably “Stop Growing.”

Seeing Double Negative live last week and playing the album a lot since then, along with watching American Hardcore has made me think quite a bit about what punk was, and is. Maybe it’s just because I’m older, but I can’t help wondering what is it all about now, this hardcore punk scene? In the movie a couple guys from Flipper make a point of saying “punk is dead, it’s over.” Well, after seeing last week’s show and listening to this record there’s no way I can agree with that. It may not be the D-I-Y music revolution it was decades ago, that can only happen once. But the spirit, attitude and principles of hardcore punk live on with new, younger fans and bands like Double Negative.

Double Negative
American Hardcore


The Good, The Bad and The Queen — The Good, The Bad and The Queen

Author: tracysigler | Posted: September 10th, 2007 | | Tags: , , , , | No Comments »

The Good, The Bad and The Queen -- The Good, The Bad and The Queen

  • Artist: The Good, The Bad and The Queen
  • Title: The Good, The Bad and The Queen
  • Year: 2007
  • Format: CD
  • Rating (1-10): 8
  • Owner: Mary
  • Acquired: 2007
  • Keeper: Yes

Today’s selection is The Good, The Bad and The Queen by the band that allegedly has no name. But everyone seems to call them GBQ so I’m filing it under “G.” The music is very different than Damon Albarn’s other project, Gorillaz. It’s mostly chilled out. The songs sound like they are from another time, but not dated. There are at least a couple moments that make me think of the Beach Boys. To be honest, I didn’t pay much attention to this album for a while after Mary bought it. Then, I saw them perform on Henry Rollins’ show on IFC and it was so strange that I had to check it out. I’m glad I did.

Their site, and a Wikipedia article if you want more info.


Klarcnova — Klarcnova

Author: tracysigler | Posted: August 26th, 2007 | | Tags: , , , , , , , | 3 Comments »

Klarcnova -- Klarcnova

  • Artist: Klarcnova
  • Title: Klarcnova
  • Year: 2007
  • Format: CD
  • Rating (1-10): 10
  • Owner: All of us
  • Acquired: Andy gave it to Mars earlier this year.
  • Keeper: Yes

It’s K day! OK, I know, it’s been K day for over a week. But this one is worth waiting for. Klarcnova is an Asheville trio that includes Andy John, our kids’ guitar teacher. Yes, Andy is the guitarist in the band. I just got around to listening to this album about a week ago and it’s all I’ve been playing since. I love the whole thing, including the sweet “naked” production, the excellent playing, and tasty songs. My favorite is probably “Thumbprint.” It’s a spicy Latin jazz number, complete with a fast-tempo jazz odyssey in the middle. Klarcnova is a very eclectic and excellent album. This is one for you Jazzy G.

Check out the Klarcnova MySpace page.

Andy is currently on the road playing with The Lithuanian Empire in Canada.


Rodrigo y Gabriela — Rodrigo y Gabriela

Author: tracysigler | Posted: April 10th, 2007 | | Tags: , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Rodrigo y Gabriela -- Rodrigo y Gabriela

  • Artist: Rodrigo y Gabriela
  • Title: Rodrigo y Gabriela
  • Year: 2007
  • Format: CD
  • Rating (1-10): 10
  • Owner: Tracy
  • Acquired: 2007 – Barnes & Noble in Asheville, NC
  • Keeper: Yes

I was in the local Barnes & Noble the other day when I heard a great acoustic version of Metallica’s “Orion.” I headed straight to the music section where a woman in front of me was already asking about it. The clerk grabbed a copy of Rodrigo y Gabriela and I snatched up the last one. I’ve probably played it 20 times in the last few days. I bought it because of “Orion” but my favorites are the originals, especially “Diablo Rojo.”

This was the first I had heard of Rodrigo y Gabriela, but it turns they’ve been on Letterman, Leno, etc. earlier this year. This record came out late last year in the US. They’re from Mexico City, but have been in Europe for a while. They’re already popular there.

I told a friend yesterday that this album was “the greatest thing ever!” I don’t know if he agrees, but I’m sure he too thinks it’s slamming. They have few, if any stylistic rules, and they have some roots in thrash metal. (Gabriela apparently tired of the “testosteronic” vibe of the metal scene.) So how would I describe it? It’s not Flamenco, but it is rhythmic and energetic. It’s not jazz, they play structured songs. Other than “greatest thing ever” and “slamming” I’ll just add that it’s two people playing acoustic guitars and there is a tasty Latin flavor.

There’s a DVD included with some great live performances where the crowds are going nuts and raising the horns. Also included are interviews, a photo gallery, and a great tutorial where they step through the techniques they use so you can play just like them. Ha!


Satellite (Perry Farrell) — Wish Upon a Dog Star

Author: tracysigler | Posted: February 6th, 2007 | | Tags: , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Satellite (Perry Farrell) -- Wish Upon a Dog Star

I don’t know much about this project other than it’s a concept album that “features a wildly diverse group of artists, including The Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea and John Frusciante, New Order/ Joy Division Bassist Peter Hook, Thievery Corporation, Black Eyed Pea’s Fergie, Hybrid, Film Composer Harry Gregson-Williams, as well as an unreleased Jim Morrison vocal track.” There are a bunch of other heavies involved including guitar hero Nuno Bettencourt in the core band. (That note is for you GT.) And, word is that Perry Farrell and friends are currently working closely with Stop Global Warming and Global Cool.

I like the first single “Wish Upon a Dog Star” which has a fresh sound, without being too far from solid pop. You might be able to hear it here, and some other songs here. The full album, Ultra Payloaded Satellite Party, comes out May 15. You can join the party.