I enjoy vinyl and digital (lately, with recent changes, vinyl actually sounds better than digital to me), BUT given what seems an overall preference for analog/vinyl on A'gon, I'm curious what the non-vinyl "1/2" is listening to. I tried to see if this was a previously posted question. Did not seem so.
This evening for me, it's Genesis (definitive edition remaster) "A Trick of the Tail".
Of course, my posting reminds to "get it back out" as Audiowoman says. So I listen to "Stanley Clarke Trio", I am reminded that they do a cover of "Under The Bridge" by Red Hot Chili Peppers. (Flea) My memory then shifts to Chrtistian McBride's album "Sci-Fi" Where he covers: "Aja" (Steely Dan) "Walking On The Moon" (Sting) "Havona" (Jaco) "Butterfly Dreams" (Stanley Clarke) A great homage to a composer to have others carry it on with their own version with respect. How many times was "Body And Soul" covered? This is why I have always liked Jazz.
Of course, my posting reminds to "get it back out" as Audiowoman says. So I listen to "Stanley Clarke Trio", I am reminded that they do a cover of "Under The Bridge" by Red Hot Chili Peppers. (Flea) My memory then shifts to Chrtistian McBride's album "Sci-Fi" Where he covers: "Aja" (Steely Dan) "Walking On The Moon" (Sting) "Havona" (Jaco) "Butterfly Dreams" (Stanley Clarke) A great homage to a composer to have others carry it on with their own version with respect. How many times was "Body And Soul" covered? This is why I have always loved Jazz.
Tboooe - a few weeks later, I finally pulled out Dulcinea. What great songs and arrangements. It is well produced as well. Read lyrics on Songlyrics while listening. The song "Begin" is (as we used to say) very heavy. Am interested now in sampling some of Glen Phillips' more recent efforts.
I originally read this thread at work! And it motivated me to have some fun this afternoon.
First up was Pinback, blue screen life. I have just discovered them in the last three/four months. I can say this is one of the best records I've heard in years. These guys really have a unique sound with many layers and they are quite introspective. This is also well recorded. I just can't say enough good about this record or band. Check them out.
Next was Sense Field, Building. A great record from 1991. Pretty well recorded and some great music. A real treat as I haven't listened to this one in a while.
Then came Simple Minds and the two-CD compilation "The Best of". Sounds excellent and really takes you back. And of course it has "Don't you forget about me" on it.
Finally, Matthew Sweet - Girlfriend. I have been a very long time fan. This record is still the best he's given us after all these years and is just a wonderful way to spend some time in front of the rig or in the car. A very key purchase in my collection.
I'm really enjoying this thread. I hope that it keeps going.
Hey Pokey - thanks for the recommendations. Sense Field and Pinback are new to me. I'll see what I can find of them on YouTube. Glad you are enjoying the thread. I hope it keeps going too.
PS - have found Pinback (Proceed to Memory) on YouTube. Listening now.
Haven't used CD player on my system in years....I'm a music server kinda guy. On many nights, when I am too tired to choose, I put it on random track play and let it decide what I hear next. I call it "Mapman Radio". Best variety of music I've heard on radio since the glory days of FM. And it's all very hifi and of my choosing....
Pokey - Pinback is kind of interesting to me. Sense Field - not so much. Listened to virtually all of Blue Screen Life last night (full album on YouTube). Unusal meter on track 1, I thought. I will give them another go. Sometimes things I now like the most were not that accessible on first listen. Not sure if that's the case with them but willing to try some more. Well recorded, I will say that.
Rbrowne - listened to a bit of Sunset Mission. I liked the mood they set. Still something sort of creepy about it and them, however. Sorry.
Ghosthouse, so glad you gave Pinback a shot. The first song I ever heard by them was the credit music. I don't remember which movie but that doesn't really matter. I must have watched the credits at least five times. My wife wondered what was wrong. Well, nothing. Just discovered a band that to me is so incredible. The song BTW was Non-photo blue from Summer in Abbadon. I originally thought that Summer in Abbadon was the best of the three records that I purchased but soon learned that Blue Screen Life is the one, for me anyway.
I have certainly had many experiences like yours having purchased a record (CD) and found that is was not very accessible on those first listens. But after repeated listening finally "getting it" and many of those records have stood the test of time for me. Pinback has really given me a new lease on my music life, kinda like the experimental genre with bands like Prefuse 73 that I discovered about ten years ago. I needed something new and stimulating and found it there. It really excited me about music again. I am still the most enthused by that genre.
While I'm thinking of it, Toy Matinee is a great record from the early 90s and is well recorded. Another one that has stood the test of time for me.
Hello again Pokey (wasn't that Gumby's horse?)...anyway listened to Blue Screen Life all over again last night. Was tired the night before but last night I really picked up on it much more. Also listened to some of Autumn of the Seraphs but that didn't grab me as much. Seemed more repetitive and narrower in scope. I've seen that title "Non-photo Blue" on YouTube. I'll give it a listen. Trying to hear their latest, "Information Retrieved" but only saw Proceed to Memory. That sounded promising but it was late and I was starting to fade. I will also try to listen to Toy Matinee and Prefuse 73. Not sure what kind of music they are or what the "experimental genre" is. Always willing to give something new a try. If you like ambient at all, check out Stars of the Lid. I am enjoying them quite a bit. Something called "Virginia" from the Keharak Incident is beautiful, I think. Check it out. There's an interesting video with it on YouTube.
Yep, Pokey is Gumby's green-horse companion. He's also one of my birds. He is sitting with me now.
Information Retrieved is not as good as the other two I mentioned earlier though it is their most recent offering from 2012.
Toy Matinee is 90s progressive rock. One record only. They were local from LA and got a lot of airplay. Some one here on the gone' mentioned this a number of months back in a different thread and so reminded me that I had it in my collection. Played it on my Oppo 105 and found it sounded quite good sonically. I've always loved that record. I'm sure it is out of print but it may be available on one of the music services or used possibly.
I looked up Stars of the Lid on Amazon but they don't have any clips for that band. Did find on YouTube though and am listening now. Which albums do you like best? And the Keharak (sp?) Incident can't be found on either Amazon or a Google search; at least not by me. Also couldn't find on YouTube. I am planning to get a Sonos in the next few months so I should be able to check them out then and I do look forward to it.
I do like ambient music, quite allot actually. Bands like The Album Leaf, Dntel, Mum, FS Blum, Boards of Canada, Explosions in the Sky, The Books, etc. Some of these I'd file under experimental because they are ambient with blips and clicks and music clips and samples all mixed up. That's where Prefuse 73 fits in. The guy behind the moniker is brilliant and has a quite a body of work over the last decade. He's been quite prolific. The genre also borrows from R&B and even on occasion from Rap. But nearly all this stuff is always just instrumental with no or very few vocals. This is the stuff that has really sparked my interest in the last five years. It's given me so many new avenues to explore and I feel totally invigorated by it.
My other favorite genre is Alternative Country with bands like Uncle Tupelo, Son Volt, Wilco, etc. Most of those records though are not very well recorded. So they are mostly played in the car.
Pokey - Quite a bit of overlap in our listening preferences. I just ordered Blue Screen Life & Information Retrieved
Re SOTL...I own "...and Their Refinement of the Decline" and will order Avec Laudenum soon. The Tired Sounds" and "Music for Nitrous Oxide" can be heard as full recordings on YouTube.
Did try out Prefuse but it was way too dissonant for me. Stumbled on Younger Brother as a result of an earlier post about a Zero -1 sampler. Check out The Last Days of Gravity. Also, if you don't already know him, see if you can find anything by Edgar Varese. He's an American classical ("aleatory") composer...had an LP of short compositions years ago that I did enjoy though I can't really abide John Cage.
W/respect to post-rock (kindred to Explosions in the Sky) try Russian Circles and Mono (Japanese outfit). Recent YouTube discoveries for me though I can't honestly say I enjoy them tremendously.
I'm somewhat familiar with Leaf. Try Tycho's Past is Prologue or Dive.
I do like some alt country. Have most of Wilco's (think their stuff is well-recorded) and one by Son Volt. Jeff Tweedy can get a little "precious" or otherwise annoying at times. Have a high regard for Lucinda Williams.
Well, that's quite the music download. Hopefully not too tedious to you.
Ghosthouse, yes plenty of overlap. I really like Tycho. I've heard Past is Prologue and thought it quite good but could only find it as an mp3 download so I passed. I would really like to have it on CD.
Did you mean Zero 7? I have the CD Simple Things and like it allot.
Thanks for the other suggestions, I've got some work to do this weekend!
PS - Try the record "Extinguished: Outtakes" by Prefuse 73. This is the most accessible CD and I really do think once you've listened a few times you will be hooked. This CD is full of hooks and beautiful harmonies and repetitive wonders.
Audiogoner Theo turned me on to a new group that I had never heard of: Delta Rae "Carry The Fire". Great harmonies and pretty good songwriting. I am enjoying it.
I am now listening to "Memphis" from Boz Scaggs. Every time I listen to this album, I'm just blown away! It's EXCELLENT. My vote for the best album of 2013.
Had a great listening session yesterday. I started out with Mum Finally We Are No One. This is not their best effort, but pretty fun nonetheless. They are a bit like Sigur Ros so that may give you some reference.
After the mellowness that is Mum, I was ready to turn up the volume a bit. So I moved on to Pinback Blue Screen Life. They are a fairly recent discovery for me and I just cant listen to this one enough. Very unique sound with an excellent singer as well. Excellent recording. I actually listed to about four of the tracks again because I didnt want this to be over!
Next was Jason Falkner Bliss Descending. I have a very high regard for Jasons style of progressive rock. After a song or two on Bliss, I just wanted to move on to his masterpiece, presenting Author Unknown though. Not that Bliss wasnt recorded well, because it was, but Author Unknown is such a great listen and of course I didnt have unlimited time, so I just advanced to this brilliant record and thoroughly enjoyed myself.
Wanting to stay on a progressive track, I pulled out Owsleys self-entitled disc from 1999. Better recording quality than I had remembered and though I couldnt find it written plainly on the disc, Gracenote says it is an HDCD. Unfortunately that disc would end the session. But I guess that listening to four and portion of a fifth disc isnt too bad for some quality listening time.
*So today I am online sampling some of the records that Ghosthouse has so graciously recommended. I first listened to Stars of the Lid Virginia and Kahanek Incident 3 and then back to SoTL and Their Refinement of the Decline. Refinement was clearly my favorite out of these three ambient pieces.
Then I moved on to Younger Brother The Last Days of Gravity. I really liked this one and it is now on my Wish List at Am*zon.
I did also listed to some Russian Circles, but not really new and different enough to keep my interest.
Also checked out Mono. Much closer to my likings and will go back to listed to a few other pieces.
Finally, I am now currently listening to Edgar Varese - Amériques. I think this is my favorite of the day. So many thanks to Ghosthouse for this recommendation especially. If you have not heard Edgar Varese, go to YouTube and check his stuff out. Very creative and enveloping. It is worth the listen.
Hey Mofi...thanks the music recommendations. Listened to Memphis samples on Amazon. As one of the reviewers commented, can certainly hear Al Green in some of the tracks. I liked "Cadillac Walk" (Willy DeVille). Going to check out Delta Rae too. Pokey - I'll give Prefuse another try w/Extinguished: Outakes.
OK...I'm trying but I don't know if Prefuse is ever gonna happen for me. A few things work - or at least moments in them - like Robot Snares, Golden Pavilion Temple, For Some But Not.... but mostly too much sonic gravel toothbrush. To quote the man, "For some but not for me".
Likin' this 'tho... [url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=letuN0Dlliw[/url]
Pokey - gratifying that you took time to listen to all those suggestions. Especially pleased Varese clicked for you. Thanks also for your suggestions. You are providing me with a new window on music.
BTW - going back to Prefuse led indirectly to (re) finding St Germain. I'd heard some tracks on Pandora but didn't remember the name correctly. Couldn't locate it again. Check out St Germian's Boulevard (also Tourist). Either "deep house" or trip hop depending on who you believe. Either way, works for me.
Ghosthouse it is gratifying that you took time to make to all those suggestions, really. The Varese stuff is pretty ground-breaking to say the least. And I have to say that it reminds me of Prefuse 73 some. I like all the different layers and instruments. It is very cool. I put Ionisation / Ameriques on my wish list. From the reviews Ive read, Pierre Boulez has the right take on Varese compositions. And I sure liked what I heard on Am*zon.
Im listening to St. Germain right now, Boulevard. Also listed to other tracks last night and really like them too. Great background music and nice for reading or just relaxing to. The Tourist album is more Jazzy than Boulevards for sure and I think I like Boulevard better. Ill be digging around some more on St. Germain in the future.
In honor of John Coltrane's birthday, today it is an all-JC day. Starting with Dakar (not originally released as a Coltrane issue, but reissued as such in 1963 by Prestige to take advantage of JC's burgeoning popularity) and going through as many as the day will allow.
Tboooe...thanks for the reminder of KT Tunstall. I have that loaded into MOG, but haven't listened to it yet.
I did listen last night to Alela Diane "About Farewell". It got a pretty good review in the new issue of TAS and I had never heard of her. I really liked it! Highly recommended.
Ghosthouse - I am familiar with Ulrich Schnauss. I have A Strangely Isolated Place from 2003. It has tracks of similar style to those you linked to above. I like the "A Long Way to Fall" track the best (of the links you provided)
Ghosthouse as for Prefuse 73, check out this YouTube of an awesome track http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlGhG20BkWw. It is melodic and really grabs you. -Ive noticed through cruising YouTube that some people also refer to this music as Glitch or Glitch Hop. Pretty appropriate name that I had forgotten. I will also note that I do not endorse the occasional cursing/expletives on a few Prefuse 73 tracks from various records. But I really like his sensibility and vibe. Prefuse is Scott Herren. Other monikers are Delarosa & Asora, Savath & Savalas, Ahmad Szabo, and Piano Overlord (more melodic, less glitch). Here is a very glitch track, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odAni_-Ftf4, and maybe what you may not like? But if you can get a hold of the underlying rhythm starting around :33 seconds, it will pull you in! Ill try to lay off the Prefuse comments but hoping that you can give it a real college try. I know that for me, Prefuse is what brought me back to a real love of music. And Im really thankful for that for sure.
For the age of this young guy (Prefuse), he is very prolific. He is the first Experimental (glitch hop) act I heard and still my favorite after more than ten years. Vernon Reid from Living Color also made an album that is a bit glitchy called Mistaken Identity and has some great guitar and samples. Im also a huge Living Color fan by the way.
Hey Pokey - OK...so I gave a listen to Prefuse again. Have to say I DID like "Storm Returns". Had an excellent feel and groove to it. Something you'd almost like to have running as a continuous loop. I ordered a bunch of music lately (used very good or like new CDs whenever possible). Got Blue Screen Life and Information Retrieved. Pinback is funny...you think you hear it or heard it but you listen again later and it's almost like you never really heard the song before because something else catches your ear. They are worth going back to again. Also got that St Germain "Boulevard". It is very very good. Street Scene gives a taste but there's more to it than that. Some of it is like that Prefuse Storm Returns. Gonna check out your other link now. Haven't heard about Vernon Reid in a long time. I did admire his guitar work on that first Living Color album. Good reminder. I'll see what I can find of him on YouTube.
PS - Found this by way of one of the thumbnails while listening to that second Prefuse link you had. Like this one very much...more like the Storm Returns...it's called Love You Bring.
Mental - Yup...I'd probably have to agree w/"Then Play On" being one of FW Mac's best. Recently got into the very early stuff by them with Peter Green. It is amazingly good for how old. Mick and John were a great rhythm section. Then add Peter & Jeremy on guitars. The music is really engaging.
Fallout Boy "Save Rock and Roll". I've never been a fan of Fallout Boy, but this new album ROCKS! I really like it for some reason. Has some excellent tunes on it.
Hey Mental. I'm not a big Willie fan but there is something really pure about "Red Headed Stranger". Used to have that LP (or maybe my sis did) a long time ago.
I also really like "Red Headed Stranger". Willie has a new album coming out on October 15th that I just happened to get a promo pre-lease of: "To All The Girls". It has duets will some pretty amazing women. Here is the track listing:
1. Dolly Parton - From Here To The Moon And Back
2. Miranda Lambert - She Was No Good For Me
3. Secret Sisters - It Won't Be Very Long
4. Rosanne Cash - Please Don't Tell Me
5. Sheryl Crow Far Away Places
6. Wynonna Judd - Bloody Mary Morning
7. Carrie Underwood - Always On My Mind
8. Loretta Lynn - Somewhere Between
9. Alison Krauss - No Mas Amor
10. Melonie Cannon - Back On Earth
11. Mavis Staples - Grandma's Hands
12. Norah Jones - Walkin'
13. Shelby Lynne - Til The End Of The World
14. Lily Meola - Will You Remember Mine
15. Emmylou Harris - Dry Lightning
16. Brandi Carlile - Making Believe
17. Paula Nelson - Have You Ever Seen The Rain
18. Tina Rose - After The Fire Is Gone
It really, really good and very well recorded. Look for it when it comes out. Highly recommended!!!
Mofi- You lucky bastard. That's quite a guest list. I'll keep my ears open for that. One great memory I have of my mother-in-law who died last December @ 94 was my wife and I taking her to see Willie; probably 25 or 30 years ago @ Foxwoods Casino a short while after it opened. She didn't know his name, recognized a couple of songs, and the three of us had a great time. Of course, she missed the significance when Willie introduced a guest guitarist named Keith....Richards that is.
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