Also Here...

Writing more long-form reviews here.

Over Here

I've moved!

C'mon

New song - solo acoustic and vocal, recorded to Logic 7/26. Enjoy.

Come On.mp3 - Soft Pyramids

Place Yr Bets

Finally got to putting something else together. Obviously not the best song ever, and there's some flaws, but I'm pretty happy with it...

7-15-08

Finally had a chance to work in this new MacBook a bit. Hopefully there'll be more to come, and hopefully not as much a rip of Tim Hecker next time...

Post 187

So, I'm not going to do a 2007 list. Seems kind of pointless at this juncture, I still like a lot of the albums, and lists are kind of goofy in nature, anyhow. Plus my life is getting busier and more complicated by the minute anyways.

So after 187 posts, I'd like for you to turn your attention to Pinko Flamingo where I'll be doing the majority of posting forthwith. Feel free to check in here, but I'll be writing most my stuff there. Thanks!

-B

Down to 60. Tough stuff. Couple of notes:

First, I forgot how damn good this Feist record is. I mean, it's kind of gotten tons of rubbernecking bloggers backlashing the crap out of it. Be aware -- to discount a record because it's available in Starbucks and in an iPod commercial makes no sense. She's got a beautiful voice, writes great songs and has created a great sense of space in her songs. In no way is this record pedestrian.

Second, the Klaxons. For a bunch of young Brit kids riding a mountain of hype, they put together a pretty great little rock record. Yeah, it's got missteps that any underdeveloped young band might have, but "Golden Skans", "Gravity's Rainbow" and "Atlantis to Interzone" still sound good half a year or so later and hit on a fun wordy and jumpy rock sound. (Not on the list anymore.)

Third, Enon's Grass Geysers...Carbon Clouds is pretty excellent. I missed this band the last couple of years. John Schmersal is a fantastic songwriter. They've stripped all the fancy yet inconsequential electronics focusing on their core guitar-bass-drums line up. Suits them very well. Also good to see that even though they're getting older they still pick up steam and jitter like hottwired teens.

Finally, No Age. Yes, really great.

So, I've whittled the who-gives-a-shit best album list down to 76. I'm trying to get into the 20 range, but that's some tough stuff. I've already eliminated Freeway, Sloan, Jesu and Pig Destroyer -- all who had some great records this year worth your attention. Not sure why I'm even concerned about this though as there's already been 20+ that I've seen for '07 and every one of them has Arcade Fire, Radiohead and/or LCD in the top spot. Whatever. Hopefully it might be entertaining or worth something when it pops up in this space.

Also, some news to come about more frequent writing. Stay tuned...

Prism of Eternal Now

From a post on Wikipedia referencing Adam Forkner's new White Rainbow album, Prism of Eternal Now:

Prism Of Eternal Now is the most recent album by ambient/soundscape artist White Rainbow. Unlike Sky Drips Drifts, this album is not one continuous track, but rather a collection of shorter works that show the more recent loop-based phase of White Rainbow's music. Also, unlike ZOME, the album has no title tracks, extended songs, or words for vocals. The back cover of the disc is not unlike the label of Dr. Bronner's Peppermint soap, inasmuch as it is an almost solid block of text on a pink background (or a white block for some variation). A picture of Adam Forkner appears on the back, tucked away in the bottom right hand corner, which again marks a difference from other albums where Forkner's face never appeared. The text itself is all about the supposed healing powers of the music contained on the disc, and includes instructions on how to use the album as a method of self-healing, the benefits of Prism Of Eternal Now, and exhorts the buyer to not rip it into mp3 due to reduced bitrate. A block of text identifies the gear list (":::::ONLY THE FINEST GRADE:::::"), which includes phasers, guitars, delays, synthesizers, breath, jug, tabla, and a mysterious "etc". Another block has the track listing, and the third block of white has an explanation of the album title and "vibrational energy" contained therein.

Whoever wrote the above paragraph takes this album way too seriously, or found the perfect excuse to wave his dick around.

Gotta love the internet.

We Are Floating In Space...

Ladies and gentlemen, I've been trying to decide where to take this whole backlog and move it into the future (like Steve Miller?). Seems a little unsure at the time. I have time, if I choose to use it: just can't seem to figure what to write about and whether that opinion/criticism is worth adding to the constant babble of the internet. After all, it's hard to disagree with Jess Harvell's points -- am I adding to discourse or just making noise by hitting the repeat button? But maybe we can make this worthwhile after all. For a dude that loves black metal so much, John Darnielle sure is an optimist.

And, for the record, I kind of like "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance", in the same way that I liked Yellow Pills -- a record by perfunctory young adults overwhelmed by the need to make disposable, time-capsuled pop music. (I haven't heard the rest, and am apathetic about it to be honest.)

Also: know what's funny? I don't think anyone remembers In Rainbows and that shit was 3 weeks ago.