What are you listening to right now?

Otis Westinghouse · Post by **Otis Westinghouse** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 9:10 pm

Just when I was trying to curb my Dime-ing (well, I have pretty well filled up my hard disc), that Prince number sounds highly enticing.

Badly Drawn Boy: Silent Sigh. I adore this song. And Pete drums on it.

Haven't dared return to Aerial since the first couple of plays. Overwhelming impression was that Kate has become such a revered institution that she can put out songs that sound dull, unimaginative, lifeless and dated and people will still rave. I can't believe it's the same talent that produced Hounds of Love, but perhaps that's just me. Maybe after four plays I'd get what everyone else seems to be, but same problem I have with most Nick Cave, why put it back in the CD player when there are so many other things?

hollyh · Post by **hollyh** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 3:18 am

I've got to chime in on this Hiatt stuff -- I agree, I like the weathered voice really well, these songs have a lot of texture. "Find You At Last" has a kind of gritty desperation to it that I love; "Cold River" is gravelly and shattering; and "Thunderbird" makes me want to get out in a car and drive all night with the top down. I love Hiatt's songwriting because it 's so honest about the crap that goes down in life, and a voice that sounds like it's had some rough times fits perfectly.

Which is not to say that "Bring the Family" isn't one of the greatest albums ever. My personal favorite Hiatt album is "Crossing Muddy Waters." His voice is starting to get a little, well shall we say bluesy already, but the songs are so souful and rich, it almost annihilates me to listen to this one.

selfmademug · Post by **selfmademug** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 9:43 am

I'm still getting to know Aerial. Definitely different from her more theatrical stuff but I like it a lot. It's pretty and it's personal; almost as different for her as North was for Elvis (I said almost) in that it takes the risk to drop the habits of too-clever-by-half and do something straightforward. The Sensual World was a bit like this and was not well-received but it's got some great beauty on it in places. I'm hoping this is the beginning of phase two for her.

Otis Westinghouse · Post by **Otis Westinghouse** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 9:58 am

Interesting North comparison, but it strikes me as much less interesting/enjoyable. Will report back after 3 or so more playings.

Who Shot Sam? · Post by **Who Shot Sam?** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 12:42 pm

selfmademug · Post by **selfmademug** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 12:53 pm

Well, it's not as *good* as North, no. But North is a great, great record.

I think Aerial is a paean to domesticity, which may or may not be what wants from someone like Kate Bush (as if there's anyone like Kate Bush). The songs are about the fantasies that spin out from a life spent at home, presumably something she knows a lot about (and appreciates) these days. The cover more or less says it all-- what look like exotic and weird rock outcroppings reflected in water are really just the Rorschach-style shapes of sound waves-- soundwaves of a blackbird singing, a theme heard all through the record's two discs that comes to be a reminder that all throughout this, she's at home, and how could you surpass the beauty of that (or of blackbird song)?

As a concept record I think it's great. It may not stand up against your latest catchy Dime download (you downloading slut!

) or even against my radio tune of the moment (latest single off Gorillaz, due to be overdone in about another half a day) but there's a lot to it and I suspect it will linger with me a lot longer, even if only as an idea.

Who Shot Sam? · Post by **Who Shot Sam?** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 1:01 pm

Now...

Top stuff.

miss buenos aires · Post by **miss buenos aires** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 2:10 pm

Ladytron- Light & Magic

Mike Boom · Post by **Mike Boom** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 11:41 pm

If your curbing your Dime addiction Otis you wont want to scoot over there and download the faboulous stripped, bare to the bones, spine tinglingly great, "Hissing Of Summer Lawns Demo's" then will you?

Mr. Average · Post by **Mr. Average** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 12:21 am

"Sufjan Stevens" - [Come on and feel the] Illinoise. Any comments on any other recordings by Sufjan? I thought I read that his "50 State Project" started with "Michigan". If correct, has anyone heard it, care to comment?

noiseradio · Post by **noiseradio** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 12:39 am

He has one other state album, which is the excellent Greeting from Michigan. And you're correct that that was the first state album. He's coy about whether he really intends to make 48 more albums. I think he should release a few singles and EPs to cover the tough ones. After all, no one really expects anyone to come up with a whole album of material on North Dakota.

He's also recorded albums called Seven Swans, Enjoy Your Rabbit, and A Sun Came. I haven't heard those, but I'm betting they're good.

I HIGHLY recommend Michigan if you like Illinois.

hollyh · Post by **hollyh** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 1:34 am

Just had a number of Randy Newman songs come up on my iTunes -- Real Emotional Girl, Marie, I Miss You, the soulful stuff rather than the satiric things. I don't listen to it all the time but when it shuffles on it hits me.

pophead2k · Post by **pophead2k** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 8:19 am

The first two CDs played in my new car: Punch the Clock (I wanted something bright, brassy and sassy) and Husker Du's 'Warehouse' (a disappointment because the sound quality of this CD is so horrendous and low).

miss buenos aires · Post by **miss buenos aires** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 10:17 am

The Decemberists- Her Majesty

pophead2k · Post by **pophead2k** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 10:41 am

shatterproof wrote:Ryan Adams - 29

Extraordinarily beautiful and sad. Blue Sky Blues and Carolina Rain just kill me. I can listen to it while I'm walking to work because the endorphins balance me out. But at work I have to put it away for fear of getting all weepy. I don't want the boys in the lab making fun of me.

I'm also enjoying this one, although I think Cold Roses is the best of this year's lot. Talk about an artist being able to get into a deep and personal place.....

Chrille · Post by **Chrille** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 11:36 am

noiseradio wrote:I HIGHLY recommend Michigan if you like Illinois.

How similiar is it to Illinois? While I really like Chicago, it almost felt as it was too much of the same. Don't feel like I need another full album of it.

noiseradio · Post by **noiseradio** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 12:54 pm

It's different enough for me to keep coming back to it. Some people claim to like it better than Illinois. You could always check out the sound samples at Amazon.com.

Who Shot Sam? · Post by **Who Shot Sam?** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 1:02 pm

invisible Pole · Post by **invisible Pole** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 7:42 pm

Otis Westinghouse · Post by **Otis Westinghouse** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 8:09 pm

(What's So Funny About) PLU? A colleague at work asked today if I knew it! She was forgetting my well documented penchant for the man that made it famous. It's a standard requirement that the English language courses we publish for teeenagers have to have some famous songs on, and the authors of one book rather impressively asked for PLU to be included, specifying it should be the EC recording. I volunteered to bring it in for her, and so am making a compilation of c. 5 live versions including the original. Quite interesting to study the same song live over a 26 year period.

LessThanZero · Post by **LessThanZero** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 8:12 pm

If you need a friend, don't look to a stranger,
You know in the end, I'll always be there.
And when you're in doubt, and when you're in danger,
Take a look all around, and I'll be there.
I'm sorry, but I'm just thinking of the right words to say.
I know they don't sound the way I planned them to be.
But if you wait around awhile, I'll make you fall for me,
I promise, I promise you I will.
When your day is through, and so is your temper,
You know what to do, I'm gonna always be there.
Sometimes if I shout, it's not what's intended.
These words just come out, with no gripe to bear.
I'm sorry, but I'm just thinking of the right words to say.
I know they don't sound the way I planned them to be.
But if you wait around awhile, I'll make you fall for me,
I promise, I promise you...
I'm sorry, but I'm just thinking of the right words to say.
I know they don't sound the way I planned them to be.
And if I had to walk the world, I'd make you fall for me,
I promise you, I promise you I will.
Gotta tell ya, need to tell ya, gotta tell ya, I've gotta tell ya...
I'm sorry, but I'm just thinking of the right words to say.
I know they don't sound the way I planned them to be.
But if you wait around awhile, I'll make you fall for me,
I promise, I promise you...
I'm sorry, but I'm just thinking of the right words to say.
I know they don't sound the way I planned them to be.
And if I had to walk the world, I'd make you fall for me,
I promise you, I promise you I will. I will. I will.

pophead2k · Post by **pophead2k** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 8:25 pm

Who Shot Sam? wrote:Now...

You rock WSS- Do you have his first two solo albums? Both are excellent.

pophead2k · Post by **pophead2k** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 8:28 pm

These guys are friends of mine. I played in a band for several years with the guy in the middle. Their video for 'Matter of Degrees' was on MTV2 last night- I was so proud! These guys have been doing the garage rawk thing since the early 90s and had a huge influence on the Vines, the Hives, etc. If you like that kind of thing, check it out!

mood swung · Post by **mood swung** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 12:19 pm

yesterday it was Georgia Hard and You Are The Quarry, which kind of left me in a dissociative state yet still wanting to kick somebody's ass, so today I'm keeping it low key...

Who Shot Sam? · Post by **Who Shot Sam?** » Tue Jan 24, 2006 6:52 pm