The Feelies, Crazy Rhythms (4)
John Vanderslice, Romanian Names (7)
Yo La Tengo, Popular Songs
Little Joy, s/t
Iron & Wine, Shepherd's Dog
Harry Nilsson, Nilsson Schmilsson
Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto, Getz/Gilberto
The Jesus Lizard, Shot
Last thing first: I'm the one guy this week who listened to the Jesus Lizard but didn't listen to one of the reissues (though I am itching to get my hands on a couple of them). Instead I pulled out Shot, their major label debut which I haven't heard since around when it first came out. Portions are not as bad as I remember; the last third is actually pretty good. I just wish they'd cut about four or five tracks from the first two thirds altogether. The album as a whole is a little hard to endure.
- The Jesus Lizard: Too Bad about the Fire
First thing last: As you might notice it was my new acquisitions that took up most my listening time this week. After noting that John Vanderslice's "Too Much Time" was one of my favorite downloads of the last few months, I took the plunge with the whole record. It's great! I've heard good things about Vanderslice in the past but have not actually heard anything by him since his first album eight years ago. I get the feeling I was missing out.
Also: the Feelies! One of those bands that were always on my list to check out but I'd never gotten to until now. There was a nice confluence of reading about the reissues, then happening to read Dean Wareham's memoir, Black Postcards, in which he enthusiastically recalls Crazy Rhythms as a seminal album of his teenage years; then hearing from eMusic that they'd added the Feelies' catalogue. I couldn't not pick it up. The record is still sinking in but I'm definitely liking it.
The Feelies are great; I just got into them a couple of weeks ago. Crazy Rhythms is pretty amazing, but I think I like Only Life better...
Posted by: Hugh | October 11, 2009 at 02:11 AM
Okay, you don't like "Shot" yet. Fair enough. But a third of it is pretty good, so at the rate we're going, you'll love the whole album in another 26 years, right? It's still my favorite record I've ever made with any band, but I realized that's a minority opinion. Anyway, thanks for spotlighting "Too Bad About the Fire." This is one of my very favorite Jesus Lizard songs, and it just never got noticed by anybody. David really shines here, both lyrically and with the performance.
The geeky statistical analysis in an earlier post of your music listening is the kind of thing I would do, but haven't yet. Actually was interested in reading about it.
Best regards,
David Wm. Sims
Posted by: David Wm. Sims | October 11, 2009 at 06:43 AM
Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. David Wm. Swims!
Posted by: James | October 11, 2009 at 02:04 PM
Wow - thanks for commenting David! Just for that I'll listen to the first two thirds again.
Posted by: scott pgwp | October 11, 2009 at 10:07 PM
You trying to say that I don't count as a celebrity, Scott?
Posted by: jesse wiedinmyer | October 12, 2009 at 12:08 AM