Dismemberment Plan : Memory Machine

Lead singer Travis Morrison contemplates the fact that if computers can make our life easier, could they someday be connected to us? "If they can make machines to save us labor / Someday they'll do our hearts the very same favor / The wails of ruined lives brought to a halt" but by connecting "Red wire: right temple / Black wire: left temple" could this be washed away? Could human emotions be overruled by logic? Or would it destroy who we really are? Do we know when emotions are controlling us more than when our mind and thinking faculties are? What makes human so vulnerable to brooding over past upsets and not being able to forget? A machine can just delete information that has become irrelevant and move on. Sometimes it would be nice if we could just wipe it clean too. "Someday, I'm telling you / They'll make a memory machine / To wax our hearts to a blinding sheen / To wash away the grief"

The Decemberists :: Picaresque

This album caught me immediately when I heard it. The lead singer Colin Meloy has a distinctive voice (there is a definite Morrissey influence) and an art for story telling. Each songs has a story about sailors, pirates, child princes, and sports heros. Even the slow songs like “Eli, the Barrowboy” are sincerely haunting and atmospheric. But quite a few of the songs are rollicking and upbeat. Overall, a very solid album and a worthwhile listen.

Devendra Banhart :: Rejoicing in the Hands

Two years ago, I would have told you that the only think that came out of the 60s that I liked was Neil Young. Everyone else had died or didn't make it. So, in a sense I dismissed an entire generation of music. Of course now I realize that a lot of the music I listen to is inspired by the 60s garage rock movement and psychedelic. I was reacting against the hippie stereotype and flower power in general. And Beatle mania while I was at it. Of course, it is hard to completely dismiss any music. Some is just more worth my time that other stuff. But since a few of the bands I always like said they were influenced by folk, I was always respected the style. Devandra is probably the closest to an actual folk record I have really liked. If you want to call it folk. It reminds me that the acoustic guitar can be more that just an instrument to play an “soft” version of you loud guitar rockin' hit. With the right vocals and engaging strumming, truly good music can be created. New Weird America, here I come. And “Fall” is my favorite song here.

R.E.M. : Country Feedback

I think I would call this my favorite R.E.M. song. It is sad, brooding, emotional, and has become a live favorite. In fact, live it can run 3 minutes longer as Buck takes opportunity to solo at the close (which may not seem much for most bands, but is quite unusual for this band). Probably R.E.M. at their most Neil Young-ish, and that is a good thing. The album version makes good use of a pedal steel guitar and minimal percussion. Vocals are shared with Stipe, Berry, and guest Kate Pierson. But, Stipe's vocals standout as he tells us "You wear me out" but "I need this".

LCD Soundsystem : Losing My Edge

It's like a hipster's cheatsheet! Where else can you find a list of some of the best overlooked and obscure but influential and important must of the last 40+ years. I have made it project to look up the artist I don't know and find out more about them. James Murphy also shows his musical diversity by namechecking everyone from Captin Beefheart to Daft Punk. And the outro list..."This Heat, Pere Ubu, Outsiders, Nation of Ulysses, Mars, The Trojans, The Black Dice, Todd Terry, the Germs, Section 25, Althea and Donna, Sexual Harrassment, a-ha, Pere Ubu, Dorothy Ashby, PIL, the Fania All-Stars, the Bar-Kays, the Human League, the Normal, Lou Reed, Scott Walker, Monks, Niagra, Joy Division, Lower 48, the Association, Sun Ra, Scientists, Royal Trux, 10cc, Eric B. and Rakim, Index, Basic Channel, Soulsonic Force ("just hit me"!), Juan Atkins, David Axelrod, Electric Prunes, Gil! Scott! Heron!, the Slits, Faust, Mantronix, Pharaoh Sanders and the Fire Engines, the Swans, the Soft Cell, the Sonics, the Sonics, the Sonics, the Sonics." Even forgetting the lyrics, that bassline is lots of fun too.

The White Stripes :: Get Behind Me Satan

I remember reading an interview a while ago where Jack said something like "I am going to concentrate on the guitar and forget the harmonica". What happened Jack? After the garage-blues-rock monster Elephant, it seems like the Stripes could have made another record of primarily guitar/drums songs and completly demolished the competion via another "Seven Nation Army"-style romp. Instead, the Stripes take a left hand turn, and I am very glad for it. The album covers a lot of material stylistically and instrumentally, but retains the themes of sin and betrayal. I immediately loved "My Doorbell" for its simplicity and Jack's weird way of slurring the word "I'vebeenthinkin'bout my doorbell / When ya gonna ring it? / When ya gonna ring it?" The piano definitely works for me, and Jack's vocal styling gets highlighted more than ever. I think the record is engaging and although initially confusing in the amount of ground covered, rewards the listener with anther solid album by the Stripes.

Radiohead : How to Disappear Completely

Initially, I didn't like this song that much. After all the excitement generated by "The National Anthem" it seemed like a let down. But over time, I have grown to love this track for many reasons. I like the backstory that goes with the song. Supposedly, R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe told Thom Yorke repeat to himself "I'm not here and this isn't happening" when he was upset. It also references a gig where the equipment went haywire ("Strobe lights and blown speakers"), showing that Radiohead are perfectionists, which I think makes their music better overall. They refuse to release substandard work and continue pushing themselves to make better music. Plus, Yorke makes the best use of his falsetto on this song, along with some more horns and Ondes Martenot (which sounds like the sad ending of all the hysteria in the previous track). This justifies once again why Radiohead is such an important band.

Elvis Costello : Watching the Detectives

When I like a really like a song, I want to like the artists entire catalog of work. Unfortunately, that is not the case with Elvis Costello. Everything from My Aim is True and This Year's Model is stellar, but his latter day material is harder for me to appreciate. Needless to say, this song makes up for it in my book because it is so good. The simple arrangement, especially the drum and keyboard work, make the song memorable. Costello delivers the lyrics in a biting manner, my favorite of which is "It only took my little fingers to blow you away". Maybe it's my love for ska/reagee beats that makes me like this song so much. But, if Costello can make a song like this that I love so much, I will continue to investigate his later material because I am sure there is something there I will like too.

TV On the Radio :: Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes

I remember my first radio. My grandparents bought it for me. It had one speaker and a bright pink "Record" button the top. The microphone was a really cool feature, and I used that to record myself and others. Sometimes I would try to make a tape from the radio by taping songs. And some channels near the 88.1 end always confused me. They were always talking and had loud commercials. They were actually TV programs being broadcast on the FM dial. Often I heard soap operas, so I never really listened. I still wonder what the point of that was. Anyway, I immediately thought of that when I heard about this band. And in some ways it does sound like the dial is caught between a few different stations at once, picking up post-punk/art-rock guitar lines, vintage drum machines, and doo-wop vocals mixed together. But it works. I really love the song "Staring at the Sun." I think that the sounds created here are a lot different than what is typically in my record collection. Being unexpected can be very good at times.

Hella :: The Devil Isn't Red

After hearing "Hello Great Architects of the Universe" about a year ago on WVKR, I really wanted to hear the rest of this disc. The aesthetic reminds of free-jazz improv applied to a guitar and a drum. I wouldn’t say this is disc to put on all the time, but is does induce me to jump around spastically in the room. And not feel guilty for it.

The Pixies : In Heaven (Lady in the Radiator Song)

There is a certain noise that can issue from a human's throat that immediately makes me like a song. Frank Black/Black Francis yowl/yell/shout on this song makes it for me. Even with simplistic lyrics consisting of "In Heaven / Everything is fine / You got a your good thing / And you've got mine" this song is still special. It represents well why the Pixies are so important to me. (This song a B-side on the Gigantic single)

The Smiths : Rubber Ring

This song was one of my favorites even when I was young. I remember liking the end a lot "You are sleeping / you do not want to believe" The guitar line is amazing, and I like what the Moz has to say here to. Essentially, don't forget your old favorites. I think this was later in their career when some of the old fans began dismissing them. I like to think I will never outgrow a song. If that happens, I never truly liked anyway. (This song a B-side on The Boy With The Thorn In His Side single and Louder Than Bombs LP)

The Arcade Fire :: Funeral

Justin had this disc since February when I went to Oregon, and even though my favorite music sities gave it stellar reviews, I never borrowed it. But final before I headed to PA the other weekend, I ripped it off of him. I listen to the first few tracks and said "in-ter-est-ing". But it took a full album listen to really excite me. I like how the band has quite a few different speeds, and uses male/female vocals. There is so much material here, but the disc still remains focused. The strings are not verbose, but add a lot to the mix. When Win sings, it reminds me of my new favorite music word: urgency. Anyway, it my favorite disc as of late.

Hmmm...

Well, I am hoping this allows me to analyse my new noise acciqusition a litter better, and share ideas, list, links, etc. We'll see...