December 2008

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December 13, 2008

Favorite Records of 2008

---THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A WORK IN PROGRESS--

2008 will stand out as a significant point in my life. It is the year that I fully committed to film and made it my single primary focus. Those of you who know me realize that in order to do so I have regrettably had to overlook a significant passion of mine: music. Luckily, I, like so many others, have always had the tradition of taking this apt time to reflect on the past year and conduct a survey of the art that has inspired and given me a profound sense of purpose.

It has been a blast to spend this past week thinking long and hard about the great music did manage to sneak in on me during the last 12 months. Though, sadly, I have not been as "in it" as I previously was (and whatever other pretensions that entails, good or bad), at least, at this very moment I can stand back and honestly say that the following are records I wholeheartedly recommend.

**As Samuel Macklin aptly noticed, there were are a lot of albums that captured musicians perfecting their craft this year. Or as my boy Joe Biden said, "that's not change, it's more of the same!" Anyways, I'm (for once) not complainin'.**

My favorite records of 2008:

• 20: WIRE - Object 47
  A few words coming soon!


• 19: MAX TUNDRA - Parallax Error Beheads You
  A few words coming soon!


• 18: STEPHEN MALKMUS & THE JICKS - Real Emotional Trash
  Real Emotional Trash is up here or that Amon Düül II Soap Shop Rock homage in Baltimore alone. The rest of the jamz aren't that bad either. Just for the hell of it, I'll end this in the structuralist fashion Malkmus seems to love: asxzcxzvwergxcvdvfdxg
• 17: FUCK BUTTONS Street Horrrsing
  Street Horrrsing is a continuation of the post-Boredoms tradition (which includes NYC's Black Dice). Unlike the latter, Fuck Buttons seems to adhere more to their noise/hardcore roots, though mostly through the use of violent processed vocals which Wolf Eyes brought to prominence again this decade in the art/noise scene like Eye (who would have guessed) did in the late 80s. However this is clearly a secondary element, submitting to the ultra fuzzed out drones that dominate. This is not hardcore/noise. In between these elements is drumming that recalls the Byrne/Eno My Life in the Bush of Ghost sense of live rhythmic drum sampling for transcendence's sake. Ultimately, you get something blissful; if you can believe it.
• 16: THE FUN YEARS - Baby Its Cold Inside
  The turntable and guitar duo, The Fun Years, is quickly becoming the official barometer of ambient/soundscape music. Last year's record suffered from playing it a bit too safe. That they know their craft (and know it exceedingly well) was never a question, but I needed a sense of adventure to distinguish it from the canon. Half the fun of drone music is not knowing if it will stick its landing. This time around, they make great strides in making something that is their own and the results are lovely, lovely, lovely. They are now making music with confidence now and the results are as good as that of the best of them.
• 15: EDDY CURRENT SUPPRESSION RING - Primary Colours
  I am going to go ahead and state it: this is better than their last album. The very fact that *I* am mentioning a (real) punk band when discussing my favorite music goes to show how much I loved that self-titled record. I AM THRILLED PEOPLE ARE TURNING ON TO THIS BAND! It may just be that Eddy Current Suppression Ring is the most charming band of recent memory. I hate to get all weird here but, since 9/11, I haven't had much of a sense of humor for the punk attitude (among many other styles; but I won't insult punk by comparing it to emo, which along with college a capella represents all that is wrong with American culture). However, these Aussies have changed all of that now--though of course it might just have been that all other punk bands suck.
• 14: LOS LLAMARADA - Take The Sky
  You know that nifty MGMT video where the pretty nuveau hippie model boys talk about youth and all that good stuff suits miss out on? Well, THIS IS NOTHING LIKE THAT. Here we get a great survey of everything good about the lo-fi amplified basement/loft rock circuit by way of Mexico. Caustic, yet inviting--if you are up for it--and certainly aware of its scuzzy, bombed-out roots. THIS is the music that makes me long for my fleeting youth. I bet they look good too.
• 13: KEVIN DRUMM - Imperial Distortion
  A few words coming soon!


• 12: KELLEY POLAR - I Need You To Hold On While The Sky Is Falling
  I am willing to bet that I probably regard this album higher than some folks but I don't see the imperfections some do. I put it ahead of other NYC disco album that came out this year from that other label. I will concede the fact that A Dream in Three Parts is a horrible track, but the digital age quickly takes care of it. In a world in which Justin Timberlake and Michael Jackson are gazillionaires (for good reason--to a certain point), that Kelley Polar is not up there does not make sense at all, especially with the blissful Sea of Soundwaves. SERIOUSLY. Listen to that fucker.
• 11: EARTH - The Bees Made Honey In The Lion's Skull
  A few words coming soon!


• 10: LUOMO - Convivial
  Sasu Ripatti, under his Luomo moniker, returns to form with a record that can stand-up to his utterly classic Vocalcity, a house masterpiece that rewrote the book of a genre mired by the tepidity that the lifestyle commonly associated with it brings. As much as I would love to discuss that album, let's fast forward to the present where Mr. Ripatti and a slew of special guest singers await with meticulously un-folding, expansive vocal house productions. Aside from the top quality production, what is fascinating is what Ripatti does with convention. The vocals--house vocals (I can't stress this enough)--are always foregrounded, though the lyrics really are never that important since one can say every house track is the same story. However, Ripetti uses the sheer length of the tracks to his advantage and is able to somehow make narratives out the singing, something much harder than it seems considering that this is house music, not exactly singer-songwriter material. Mr. Ripatti is a magician.
• 09: NICK CAVE AND THE BAD SEEDS - Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!
  Funny what growing a mustache can do, huh? Imagine if he goes the route of his guitarist, and Dirty Three founder, Warren Ellis.
  
  It has been a pleasure to watch Nick Cave continuously plow through all the praise that has well-intentionally placed him at the apex of his career throughout these past few years. The truth is the man is still climbing. Cave is a fully realized artist right now: whether he works on a conceptually macho side project (really, who the fuck gets away with that?) or writing the screenplay to one of the finest films of 2005: The Proposition. Seeing an artist at this stage is rare, folks. Savor it.
  
  Here we find the band executing extremely well crafted songs revolving around the journey of the Bible's very own Lazarus as he travels through the United States of America: from L.A. to New Hampshire. Mr. Ellis' cacophonous and discordant guitar playing makes its presence felt more than past albums but, as always, the lyrics are without a doubt where the main focus lies. Cave here is at his acerbic and literate best. Is Cave the finest songwriter alive? I can't think of any better.
• 08: FENNESZ - Black Sea and Transition
  A few words coming soon!


• 07: THE FALL - Imperial Wax Solvent
  It is completely redundant to say this but here goes: Mark E. Smith has made another out-of-left-field stunner. Imperial Wax Solvent is a take no prisoners attack on rock music. This is a heavily studio edited album and, because of this, has a sense of energetic urgency, something I am beginning to suspect Mr. Smith found missing in his previous bands (of which Mouse on Mars is certainly not a guilty party). So, what about the seemingly "free jazz" editing: as some might say, whatever it takes, man, whatever it takes. This album was a huge gamble and it paid off in spades. It almost dares you to take it on. Mark E. Smith is the best that ever was.
• 06: PHILIP JECK - Sand
  A few words coming soon!


• 05: AUTECHRE - Quaristice + Versions
  The kings of electronic music return with an unexpected album that, at first, seems like a concession to their followers who have all but given up on keeping up with them. It is an album equally about quick ideas and textures as it is about grand vision. Calling it a mere sketchpad or a 'non-work' (in lieu of their previous conceptual work) is ignorant since tremendous care is shown throughout. That a cohesive aesthetic is found in the album is secondary and should be left for the listener to decide. To make things even more interesting, the first print includes a bonus album of 'versions' of the tracks on Quarastice. It sheds insight into their creative process through its existence alone. The versions of the tracks here are more drawn out and foreground the edits found in the original album. Take from that what you will and don't ignore the Aphex Twin-isms either. What is most important is that Quaristice simply captures Autechre having fun doing what they were always meant to do, academic or otherwise.
• 04: PORTISHEAD – Third
  What a treat it was to have a new Portishead album after so many years. Even better is the fact that they remain every bit as committed to their music and the art of the dig. How can you go wrong with Italian prog-rock? Well, how can you go wrong with Beth Gibbons for that matter? High School era and 2008 era Fran thank you for not dumbing it down just to cash out.
• 03: THOMAS BRINKMANN - When Horses Die
  One of techno's true masters returns with this formidable beast. Always the adventurer (think of his last two misses), Mr. Brinkmann's work will always pique interest among his followers. This time around he channels his inner Michael Gira (Swans) when he sings to minimal gothic piano pieces. The second half of the record is no happier and it includes the best minimal techno we have heard in years, which should not be surprising since he is one of the godfathers of the current version of the genre. After having to settle on a huge influx of mediocre, and calling the techno dead more times than necessary, it is thrilling to hear it done right again.
• 02: WHEN -- You Are Silent
  The under-appreciated purveyor of modern day psychedelic music storms in with this record that blends 60s era psychedelic vocals with cinematic sound collage and samples and dark and heavy overtones by way of that old reliable: the distortion pedal.
• 01: GANG GANG DANCE – Saint Dymphna
  As much of continuation of God's Money as it is an evolution of it. A remarkable record and one that a culturally anemic New York City (thank you Mayor Bloomberg!) desperately needs to claim as its own.




FAVORITE COMPILATIONS OR REISSUES FROM 2008:

• 01: GAS - Nah Und Fern
  


• 02: JAMES ZITRO - Zitro
  


• 03: THOMAS LEER - Contradictions
  


• 04: PAVEMENT - Brighten The Corners: Nicene Creedence Edition
  


• 05: JOE HIGGS - Life of Contradiction
  


• 06: DENNIS WILSON - Pacific Ocean Blue
  


• 07: DAMON AND NAOMI - More Sad Hits
  


• 08: VARIOUS - Soul Jazz Records Presents An England Story
  


• 09: VARIOUS - Sublime Frequencies Presents Radio Myanmar
  


• 10: VARIOUS - Honest Jons Records Presents Wareika Hill Sounds
  


• 11: VARIOUS - Nigeria 70: Lagos Jump
  


• 12: KAREN DALTON - In My Own Time
  


• 13: WOODEN SHJIPS - Volume 1
  


• 14: SIC ALPS - A Long Way Around to a Shortcut
  


• 
  OTHER RECOMMENDED RECORDINGS:

  
  POCAHAUNTED & TOVAH OLSON - Tovahaunted 12"
  OREN AMBARCHI - Destinationless Desire 12"
  SHACKLETON - Death Is Not Final 12"
  RICARDO VILLALOBOS - Vasco 12"
  EZEKIEL HONIG - Surfaces Of A Broken Marching Band
  JUANA MOLINA - Un Día
  RAPHAEL SAADIQ - The Way I See It
  SIC ALPS - U.S. Ez
  EVANGELISTA - Hello Voyager
  DÚMBALA CANALLA - M'enfango
  
  

• 
  SPECIAL THANKS: LISBON

  The best dance party I attended this year took place in Lisbon, at a place called Bacalhoeiro, and was MC'ed by a terrific girl known there as Selecta Alice. The story of how I came upon the HQ of said art collective (of whom I and my straggler friends are happily card bearing members of) is quite amusing (at least to me) and is in itself a journey through Western Europe's musical culture (kind of).

  Lux Fragil

  Faro

  Bacalhoeiro

  To state the obvious, I danced like a giddy madman all night to an amazing selection of Balkan psych, beats, and grooves; Klezmer; Romani (Gypsy) music; hip-hop; CRAZY hand-clapping breakdowns; screams of '(a)opa!"; and everything else in that melange of pure culture. Again: thank you, thank you, thank you!!

  Before I go, I'd like to give a shout out to my peeps in Barcelona. You certainly showed me a lot about the formidable Catalán folk music as well. Tradicionàrius was a blast. Also, I still have that list!

  I am so happy we did you guys proud this time.

Posted by Fran at 7:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

December 12, 2008

STATE OF THE UNION 2008

JAZZHAMMER. PRESENTS:
THE STATE OF THE UNION 2008
67M 42S

Happy holidays my friends!

Can you believe the events that transpired in 2008? Phew, I'm tired.
Before we get to work let's ring in the new year with some pop music, we deserve it.

01 MAX TUNDRA - Orphaned
02 THOMAS FUNCTION - Can't Say No
03 STEPHEN MALKMUS & THE JICKS - Cold Son
04 BEACH HOUSE - Wedding Bell
05 SIGUR ROS - Goobledigook
06 EDDY CURRENT SUPPRESSION RING - Which Way To Go
07 THE NEW YEAR - X Off Days
08 ENDLESS BOOGIE - Figs In The Yard
09 NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS - Midnight Man
10 PORTISHEAD - The Rip
11 WIRE - One Of Us
12 HERCULES & LOVE AFFAIR - Time Will
13 KELLEY POLAR - Sea Of Sine Waves
14 LIL WAYNE - Lolipop
15 NEON NEON - Raquel
16 AMADOU & MARIAM - Sabali

State Of The Union 2008
192 KBPS | 92.1 MB
(right click save as)

Posted by Fran at 11:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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