Dave Douglas "Sanctuary"

Sanctuary is 2 hours of engaging and difficult music. brilliantly executed by Douglas and company. Finding the time to sit and listen to it in its entirety can be difficult but I find it to be a refreshing break from everything. Identical bands of bass, sampler and trumpet on the left and right channels with the center held by drums and clarinet. Filled with edgy improve around a nice rythmic core. This will be a delight for fans of free jazz and improv and difficult for those needing more standard structure.

Destroyer "Destroyer's Rubies"

I don't know what the hell Dan Bejar is talking about 90 percent of the time on Destroyers Rubies and I love that. Regardless, this is a brilliant record. I guess I would describe it as "nuanced". There is a lot going on here. I find it very similar in scope but not in tone to Midlakes "Van Occupanther". This record creates a space then hovers around in it manicly for just under an hour. Mr, Bejar is perhaps better known as a "New Pornographer" and while I love them I think I enjoy "Destroyer" at least as much

seven little words

Greg Browns daughter Pieta "Are You Free".

anxiously waiting the september release of...

Smokey rolls down thunder canyon: Devendra Banhart
The sheperds dog: Iron and Wine

Midlake "The trials of Van Occupanther"

Midlake:Van Occupanther

Hem "home again, home again" / Hope Sandoval "Bavarian Fruit Bread"

Just for this mornings listening

Hem

The part where you let go

Hope Sandoval and the Warm Inventions

Butterfly morning

Gruff Rhys "CANDYLION"

A little music for the lonely ones
Gruff Rhys

Each scar makes it harder for me to hurt again

My buddy Shane and I went to the Avett Brothers concert on saturday. It is a pity that four of the six tickets I had, went to waste. I guess that alot of people just don't get rootsy bluegrass/folk with a punk rock intensity and in your face vibe.

The show however was amazing. The 60 or so people who were there made it sound more like a room of 150 or so.

With more attention to guts than finese, Seth and Scotts vocal harmonies are sort of anti Simon and Garfunkle. They vary, at times sweet and others throaty and coarse. The contrast creates a beautiful tension. It would also be a sin not to mention the yelling and all out screaming. the Avetts kicked sang stomped and hollered their way thru an amazing set. Think of the Femmes on a giant dose of of old-timey-ness.

The Avett Brothers are Seth Avett: Vocals, Acoustic Guitar and high hat stomping; Scott Avett: Banjo strumming and slapping/kick drum stomping and Bob Crawford on acoustic double bass. Joe Kwon sat in as well, adding his amazing cello to the mix.

They were very gracious and appreciative and recieved a great response from the crowd.
I believe they will be playing at Bumbershoot this year...

timesbold "eye eye"

Recomended companions
A solitary summer sunset, A bottle of your favorite red wine and memories.

this should be savored...

TIMESBOLD
Eye Eye: BONE SONG

Words by Whip
Music by Lichtenstein, Merritt, San Marco, Schneider, Sparhawk


if you can catch a star
throw it in the stream
and ride it to the end
when you reach the end
throw it in a hole
and jump into the stream
there you'll find a girl
put her in your hair
and crawl into the hole
there you'll find a bone
put it in her hair
and leave her there alone
and while she is alone
if she can find a star
and throw it in the stream
and ride it to the end
you'll be waiting there
to take the bone from her hair
and throw it in the stream
and ride it to the end
again and again

Angels of Light "We Are Him"

We Are Him the new album by the Angels of Light (Michael Gira of the Swans, with the Akron Family) featuring Black River Song should be purchased from young god records available August 28th.

micah p. hinson and the operah circuit

Feeling somehow, like I've been abandoned in them.

I would like to introduce you to Micah P. Hinson.

He may very well be the next Leonard Cohen.

Jackeyed

Susan Vega "9 Objects Of Desire"

I have recently been revisiting this record, having finaly replaced it after my old copy went missing. A sad casualty of loaning to friends. It is my favorite record by the amazing Susan Vega followed closely by 99.9 farenheight degrees. I genuinely feel there is not a track on this record that is short of amazing. It has a line up of stellar musicians including jazz greats Dave Douglas and Don Byron. It is seductivly soft, jazzy and smooth while concealing a combination of beautiful fire and carefully tender assault. A distinct dissonance lies within a angular and rythmic core hidden in the center covered with sensual and seductive words images. This definitely is a piece of ripe fruit to be savored.

Ladyhawk "Ladyhawk"

Ladyhawk "Ladyhawk" came in at #3 in my top ten for 2006 and I thought I might finaly tell you why. Partialy because I wasn't really sure why I love this record I just new I did. But this morning it finally hit me. Apart from being emotionaly honest. This record is reminiscent of Bob Mould (including Sugar) at his best. This is a classic record that contains 10 uncluttered rock songs. Clean and needing no gussying up. Personal favorites include The Dugout, The bouncy My Old Jacknife, The bluesy Long Til The Morning, The marching Came In Brave, The stuttering Advice, The melancholy Sad Eyes/Blue Eyes, and The tangle of Drunk Eyes.

WILDERNESS "VESSEL STATES"

Wilderness is/are currently one of my favorite bands. cerebral, artsy, spiritual and psychic. This is a lame attempt at classifying a record that is truly outside my ability to describe. howled vocals, pummeling "lead" drums embracing melodic pop... I will stop now because physics states that measuring and cataloging something changes it. This is an amazing recording.

LANd oF ThiN DiMES "LANd oF ThiN DiMES"

Land of Thin Dimes only recording, (So far. Rumor has it they are in the studio as we speak and will be coming back soon as Dimesland) is 1999's self titled. A lovely record that is an odd mix of math and metal. A general all around quirkiness surrounds this recording. Think of the Residents and David Lynch having a pudding fight at the oral surgeons. (nitrous anyone?) At times both melodicly painful and beautifully humorous, this music is perhaps too disjointed for the casual listener. I don't know why but I think this music is "smart". I find it most appealing for those times when my mind is as disjointed as the music. Then it makes much more sense and I feel all is right with the world

The Avett Brother introduce EMOTIONALISM

The Avett brothers have given us another delightful recording... This is I believe something like #10 now. On EMOTIONALISM the Avett Brothers take tradition by the neck and single handedly drag it into 2007. Don't get me wrong, Slipping between the Avett Brothers brilliantly fractured harmonies, there are some beautiful moments, as well as some angst filled, humorous and sad moments. A veritable rollercoaster of emotionalism.
Opening the 14 tracks of Emotionalism is the sweet Die Die Die that slides gently into the somewhat humorous Shame in which a man laments his shamefull past while discovering and admiting his imperfections. They ramble on into Paranoia In B flat Major pounding out the bridge before descending into the finishing humorous falsetto. The Weight Of Lies is a beautiful is an indictment of pride and lies. They rock into Will You Return with its delightful harmonies and its infectious bounce and the first appearance of Joe Kwon's amazing cello. The Ballad Of Love And Hate is a delicious track, The longest on the record at 5:20. Salina has a intensity before becomeing a sedate and beautiful piece, filled with piano and cello. Pretty Girl From Chile brings us to the first of two songs in the ongoing "Pretty Girl" series. Jangling along to the latin flavored mid section butted up against Gabriella's answering machine bridge before rocking hard on its way to a close. The sedate All My Mistake rolls gently by. Living Of Love is a soulful plea for love. I Would Be Sad is a back porch lament for lost love. Pretty Girl From San Diego rollicks along up tempo and blissfull with an almost calypso feel. Go To Sleep feels like a stomping backyard singalong. Hand-Me-Down Time closes the record out and I am left wanting more.
With just 2/3 of the year having past us by I believe this record has a strong lead to be my choice for #1 in my top ten of 2007. I do understand the year is still middle aged but it will take a strong effort to top this one since its only defect is the inability to convey the intensity of their live performance.

Blonde Redhead "23"

Kazu Makino's etherial voice floating over the music is all the reason you need to buy this record.

here is a sample that is light on her vocal before you run out and buy it... yes I know, she comes in at about 2:50

Publisher

O.k. so maybe not a shining example of "her" voice so how about

23

Over the Rhine "The Trumpet Child"

This album actually streets on August 21 so you still have time to pre order directly from the band. Having hit everything from rock to country with amazing talent and finese, it was perhaps time for another shift of musical direction for this one. From the opening horns of "I dont want to waste your time", I knew this record was going to get into the guts of me. Moving into the dark and sensual "Trouble" and its wonderful piano line. "I'm on a Roll" makes me want to stomp on the summer porch with friends. I love the fact that I cant stop sliding into the beautiful melancholy that is "Nothing is Innocent" WOW. The thing that rides consistently thru the music of Over the Rhine is the voice of Karen Berquist. Like she wraps herself in the song and then wraps you in her words. She becomes the song and your ears/emotions become her puppet.

Shins "Chutes too narrow"

The clear and bright,beautiful melodic pop from our friends the Shins that is found on "chutes too narrow" is a grand continuation of the brilliance hinted at on "Oh, inverted world" that left me wanting more. In contrast, I love every song on this record. Favorites are "Mine's not a high horse" and "Pink Bullets"

Son Volt "the Search"

I am going to keep this one short and just say that I like it.