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- Review count83
- Helpfulness votes48
- First reviewMarch 2, 2010
- Last reviewFebruary 11, 2017
- Featured reviews1
- Average rating4.1
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Customer Rating
5
Behold the Genius of Daniel Higgs!
on January 25, 2015
Posted by: Parkas4Kids
from Dundalk, MD
"Say God" is a collection of poems and gospel songs recorded by David Andrew Sitek in the Summer of 2009. The songs are sung in praise, thanks, and wonder, sacrificed to the all-pervading Mystery, evidence of which abounds as realities-within-realities, in this, our world, as we find it. The songs attract and repulse, beckon and banish, twist and shout, recklessly spinning in the remote (nearby) wildernesses of the heart-mind. Listen and find. Dare to explore.
Nothing about the songs contained within these two vinyl LPs is simple. They are deep, soulful, boundless, and threaten to reach beyond the threshold of the human psyche. Only three clock in at under ten minutes: "Song for Azariah," "Jewel of the East," and "Tumble Down." And while these eight pieces of music are probably some of the most powerful songs you will ever hear, the musicianship behind them is minimal. With the exception of "Song for Azariah," which was performed with Asa Osbourne of Lungfish and Zomes, the music was composed and performed by Daniel alone.
Be bold. Expand your mind. Buy this album. Listen to it. Listen to it again. Then listen to it once more. If it doesn't change you, buy another copy; the first one was clearly defective.
My Best Buy number: 0953637391
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Posted by: Parkas4Kids
from Dundalk, MD
Fans of Daniel Higgs's work with Lungfish beware: the music on this CD sounds NOTHING like Lungfish. "Atomic Yggdrasil Tarot" is a concept project, a collection of paintings and poetry with a supplementary soundtrack. The music on the soundtrack is predominantly distorted guitar, piano, long-neck banjo, and Jew's harp. While curious to listen to, these aren't exactly recordings that allow the listener to "jam out." In fact, I find them to be rather jarring and a little distracting, much like the contents of the book itself.
This is for die-hard Higgs fans, really. For those looking to investigate Higgs's solo work, don't start with this release. I'm a huge fan of his work--especially the weird stuff--but this is a tough one for those of us well versed in his music. The paintings and poetry, though, are a real treat.
My Best Buy number: 0953637391
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Blow'n Chunks [LP] - VINYL](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/1701/17018834_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
4
Not Your Garden-Variety Punk Rock
on January 25, 2015
Posted by: Parkas4Kids
from Dundalk, MD
Few bands truly embody the ethos of punk rock quite like Flipper. Founded on the same coast as punk and hardcore legends as Black Flag and Suicidal Tendencies, Flipper pioneered a completely different style of punk/hardcore than most--if not all--their contemporaries. Henry Rollins described the Flipper experience: "They were just heavy. Heavier than you. Heavier than anything...when they played they were amazing." As opposed to playing as fast and loud as humanly possible, Flipper played slow, droning, bass-heavy hardcore that was intended to offend each and every concertgoer.
Getting into Flipper's music takes a little time and patience; as I mentioned above, their sound is unlike pretty much every one of their contemporaries, so it's a hard band to a fellow music lover. However, one thing that can't be taken from them is their influence on the West Coast grunge scene of the late '80s/early '90s; they were big influences on the Melvins, Soundgarden, and even Nirvana (Krist Novoselic toured with Flipper from 2006 to 2009). "Blow'n Chunks" is the band's first-ever live album and is probably their most well-rounded up to that point in their career. Originally released on cassette only, it featured only 9 songs recorded in 1983 during the band's Thanksgiving Day concert at CBGB (the 4 "bonus tracks" were also recorded at or around the same time).
If nothing else, this record serves as a unique gateway into Flipper's music. It's difficult to find a concert recorded at CBGB that isn't lacking in audio quality, but this may very well be one of those rare gems. Much like listening to Suicide, it takes several listens before it starts to grow on you, but I really like it. My favorite tracks are "The Lights, the Sound, the Rhythm, the Noise," "Shed No Tears," "Ha Ha Ha," "In Your Arms," "Life Is Cheap," "In Life My Friend," and "Get Away." Listen to it once, though, and you'll agree that no one plays quite like Flipper!
My Best Buy number: 0953637391
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Late Night Tales: MGMT [+CD] [LP] - VINYL](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/2096/20969602_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
5
An Inside Look at What Makes MGMT Tick
on January 25, 2015
Posted by: Parkas4Kids
from Dundalk, MD
It is often very difficult to pinpoint the influences of a band when listening to their music. While some bands wear their influences on their sleeves, others tend to be inspired by their favorite artists while crafting a sound that is completely out of this world. MGMT is very much the latter, something of a new age psychedelic romp in electronic music. It's a bit like dancing through a field of synthesizers while tripping on acid...or so I imagine.
Late Night Tales is a very unique music collections series. Established in 2001, Late Night Tales invites the world's best artists to delve deep into their music collections to create the ultimate "late night" selection. The series features expertly curated mixes by MGMT, Friendly Fires, the Flaming Lips, Metronomy, Groove Armada, the Cinematic Orchestra, Four Tet, Belle & Sebastian, Jamiroquai, Midlake, Arctic Monkeys, and more top artists. Each offering includes an exclusive cover version by the artist and a spoken word story narrated by the likes of Benedict Cumberbatch, Will Self, Bootsy Collins, Brian Blessed, and Patrick Moore. In other words, Late Night Tales is music and stories worth staying up for. More to the point, Late Night Tales is an in-depth look at the artists that have influenced and inspired the music of MGMT.
The vinyl edition provides a slightly altered version of the CD/digital editions, dropping two of the tracks and altering the sequencing in order to fill up both sides of the two 180 gram vinyl records without spilling over onto a third LP. However, a bonus copy of the CD as well as the liner notes are included to provide the full experience. Whether you're at home listening on your turntable, your CD player, or your MP3 player, MGMT's ultimate late night playlist is there fore you to enjoy. Some of my personal favorites from this compilation are Disco Inferno's "Can't See Through It," Suicide's "Cheree," the Velvet Underground's "Ocean," Felt's "Red Indians," Julian Cope's "Laughing Boy," the Durutti Column's "For Belgian Friends," Charlie Feathers's "Mound Of Clay," Martin Rev's "Sparks," Spaceman 3's "Lord Can You Hear Me?", Paulina Anna Storm's "Morning Splendor," and, of course, MGMT's cover of the Bauhaus's "All We Ever Wanted Was Everything."
My Best Buy number: 0953637391
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![The Light On EP [LP] - VINYL](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/2159/21595282_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
5
Hands-Down One of 2013's Best Releases
on January 25, 2015
Posted by: Parkas4Kids
from Dundalk, MD
In 2012, when Cage the Elephant was touring much of the U.S., Bad Cop was asked to travel with and open for the band. Thus began a friendship, a partnership, a collaboration, etc. Two of 2013's releases were the end result of these two bands sharing the road and the open stage: Bad Cop's "The Light On (EP)" and Cage the Elephant's "Melophobia."
Cage the Elephant's Brad Shultz co-producded this record, and it's as close to a masterpiece as Bad Cop has come thus far. The early era fast punk songs are all but gone on this record; in their place are hard-hitting, groovy, danceable rock tunes that are nearly impossible to turn off. Bad Cop's blend of '60s psychedelic rock, '70s southern blues, '80s post-punk, and '90s grunge meld perfectly into the five songs found on this EP (there's a sixth song--"Barbarella Graham"--found only on the vinyl release).
"The Wind" starts the set, quickly building up its strength as it powers through into "Can't Get Enough"--two powerhouse psychedelic blues/rock numbers. Then the doors come off their hinges as "Light On" hits with reckless abandon, a post-punk tune the will get you out of your seat and on to the dancefloor. However, just as soon as the mood shifted, it shifts again as "Post-McDonald's Punks" turns the dancefloor into a veritable mosh pit. That's when "My Dying Days" takes over, a psychedelic post-punk groove that washes all your cares away and leaves you wanting more.
Another added bonus to getting this EP on vinyl is the wicked-cool etching on the B side--a psychedelic tie-in to the cover of Bad Cop's last single, "Chicago Lady." How this release didn't reach the top of everyone's "Best of 2013" lists is beyond me, but Bad Cop is still a relatively underground band, and there are a lot of people who still don't know who they are. If you're a Cage the Elephant fan, though, these guys need to be on your radar; it was this record right here that inspired their new sound on "Melophobia," yet another excellent album released in 2013.
My Best Buy number: 0953637391
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Civilized [CD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/9368/9368409_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
4
Stellastarr's Swan Song or Belly Flop?
on January 25, 2015
Posted by: Parkas4Kids
from Dundalk, MD
It's rare for me to fall in love with a band the very first time I hear them, but Stellastarr* are one of those bands. Back in 2003, one of my co-workers brought in the band's self-titled debut to work and played it in the store, and I was absolutely enthralled with that album from beginning to end. That very same day, I went out and bought my own copy of the album and was instantly a fan.
2005's "Harmonies for the Haunted" took a different, darker turn in the band's sound. While a solid album, it didn't live up to the hype of Stellastarr*'s debut. Granted, after time, I grew to love it almost as much as the debut, but it marked a change in the band's sound, and it made me anxious to hear where the band was going next.
By the time 2009's "Civilized" hit, I was REALLY anxious to hear what the new album sounded like. I eagerly downloaded the first single, "Graffiti Eyes," when it hit iTunes...and I wasn't sure what to think. It sounded something like their debut, something like "Harmonies...," and something altogether its own. Finally, I bought "Civilized," and I must admit I was initially disappointed. I listened to it a few times and found myself scratching my head wondering, "Where are these guys going with their sound?" There wasn't a whole lot of cohesion amongst the three albums they'd managed to release over the last nine years (at the time), and I dismissed the album altogether.
Fast forward to early this year (2013) when I decided to give "Civilized" another chance. It's 50% their self-titled debut and 50% "Harmonies..." part two. The S/T-sounding tracks, in my opinion, are "Tokyo Sky" (which I love), "Graffiti Eyes" (which goes back and forth between album sounds), "Prom Zombie," and "Move On" (which is more "Harmonies...," really). The remainder of the albums tracks float somewhere in that realm of "Harmonies...," sounding somewhat dark but not as dark as "Harmonies..." itself. Shawn's voice isn't as strong as it had been on the band's previous albums, and the band as a whole aren't playing with the same energy as they have before. "Robot" and "Freak Out" sound almost phoned-in, and I felt "Numbers" to be a relatively weak song overall. It's not until the open chords of "Tokyo Sky" that this album starts to take flight.
In conclusion, does this album live up to the canon of Stellastarr*'s body of work? Yes, it does, though I fear the band will never be able to reclaim the power and glory that was their debut. Sadly, the band has been on indefinite hiatus since sometime after the release of this album, so we may never know what a follow-up might sound like.
My Best Buy number: 0953637391
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Seconds Late For the Brighton Line [CD]](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/1880/18809589_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
5
An Album That Will Take You Where You've Feared
on January 25, 2015
Posted by: Parkas4Kids
from Dundalk, MD
What is there to say about the Legendary Pink Dots? They're about as un-rock and un-commercial as you can get. They're horrendously prolific (well over 20 albums since 1980 more than counts as "prolific"). They're not for the casual music listener at all. Not even a little. Their music is more than a little strange. Their Wikipedia page lists their music under the following genres: Avant-Garde rock, Experimental, Neo-Psychedelia, Ambient, Post-Punk, Industrial, Noise, Synthpop, Industrial rock, and Noise rock. Chances are they'd decline being aligned with any of those terms.
I'm a big, big fan of the music released by New York indie label ROIR, and I jumped at the chance to buy this album at a mere $5 in May 2011. Did I have any idea as to what I was getting myself into? Heavens, no! Did I care? Not a bit! I'm someone who constantly craves new music, and I got more than I bargained for when I bought 'Seconds Late for the Brighton Line'. Lots more.
The 'Dots are a band that grow on you over time. If at first you don't like their music, try, try again! The secret is to shed all expectations when pressing "play"; they neither have nor ever will play the music you want them to play. My personal favorite tracks are "Russian Roulette," "Leap of Faith," "Radiation Day," "No Star Too Far," "Ascension" and the vinyl-and-digital-only bonus track "Torchsong/Cubic Caesar (Live in Germany 2009)," but for a variety of reasons. Some of it is the intricate keyboard work, some of it is Edward Ka-Spel's lyrics, some of it is just the groove of the song. It's all in how it moves you, y'know?
If I were to personally categorize the music of the 'Dots, I would definitely consider them as Industrial, Experimental/Avant-Garde, Psychedelic, and Ambient, but that really doesn't even begin to describe the band's sound. The Legendary Pink Dots sound like the Legendary Pink Dots, period. Ka-Spel's lyrics are often filled with premonitions, prophecy, and paranoia (see 2002's 'All the King's Men' where he all but predicts the Sept. 11th tragedy in lyrics written prior to the actual event). And after you buy this album, buy their latest release, 'The Gethsemane Option'. Then go to their Bandcamp site and buy a bunch of those albums, too. Better yet? Buy 'em all!
My Best Buy number: 0953637391
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Trouble Is a Lonesome Town [LP] - VINYL](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/2151/21515233_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
5
Truly a Masterpiece! Lee Hazlewood's Debut Reborn!
on January 25, 2015
Posted by: Parkas4Kids
from Dundalk, MD
Lee Hazlewood isn't a name people utter too much anymore. He began working in the music industry as a DJ in Arizona after discharged from the Army after serving in the Korean War. He worked mainly as a songwriter, scoring a number of hits in the '50s and the '60s--his biggest hit is "These Boots Are Made for Walking" as made famous by Nancy Sinatra--but he also worked as a solo artist on the side. In 1963, he recorded what was to become his solo debut, 'Trouble is a Lonesome Town', which is one of the first-ever concept albums (pre-dating the Mothers of Invention's 'Freak Out!' by about 3 years) about a sleepy little town by the name of Trouble.
Mercury Records released the album, but what they released wasn't a polished record but instead the demos Lee had recorded. Though ambitious, the album flopped commercially and, over time, fell away from the lexicon of American music. That is until Charles Normal found a copy at a yard sale while living in Europe. He listened to it over and over and over again, and it created a longing for that old-time America that Lee sang about, each song steeped heavily in '60s-era Americana. And thus Thriftstore Masterpiece was created.
Where the Lee Hazlewood release was a rough outline of a story untold, Thriftstore Masterpiece's version is fully fleshed-out in all of its alt. country glory. A revolving door of guest vocalists help to give the album a more complex narrative as each song is about a different member/family in Trouble. Frank Black shoulders the brunt of the songs, appearing on "Long Black Train," "Son of a Gun," and "Run Boy Run." Charles Normal/Thriftstore Masterpiece's brother Larry Norman appears on two songs: "Ugly Brown" and "Trouble is a Lonesome Town," and the remainder of the songs are sung by the likes of Kristin Blix ("We All Make the Flowers Grow"), "Pete Yorn ("Six Feet of Chain"), Isaac Brock ("The Railroad"), Courtney Taylor-Taylor of the Dandy Warhols ("Look at That Woman"), and Eddie Argos ("Peculiar Guy").
My favorite songs are "Long Black Train," "Run Boy Run," "Six Feet of Chain," "Look at That Woman," and "Peculiar Guy." All-in-all, this album truly is a masterpiece as it takes a 50-year-old forgotten relic and breathes new life into it. What is gained is a look into what Lee's original album may have sounded like, and none of his quirky sense of humor is lost. You see, while each of these songs is about that sleepy little town called Trouble, what you might not realize is that we all live in Trouble, and these songs are universal. Though they may be 50 years old, these songs still hold true today, and that's part of what makes this thrift store find such a masterpiece.
My Best Buy number: 0953637391
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![Clairaudience Fellowship [LP] - VINYL](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/1878/18786963_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
4
Not for the Average Music Listener
on January 25, 2015
Posted by: Parkas4Kids
from Dundalk, MD
If you're a fan of Reptile House, Lungfish, or the Pupils--all of which are/were Daniel Higgs-fronted bands--be advised that this album is NOTHING like those bands. Or any band, really. Daniel Higgs is a...unique individual, and he writes a great deal of poetry on top of writing and composing music. This album is a collection of Higgs's poems set to the background of Twig Harper's electronic music/soundscapes.
To say this album is "weird" would be an understatement, but, if you can get past its weirdness, it has charm. In this way, it's similar to Higgs's 2010 solo release, 'Say God', though the background music is vastly different (in 'Say God', Higgs himself and with the assistance of fellow Lungfish bandmate Asa Osborne performs the music that accompanies his poetry). This album, though, is not for the casual music listener whatsoever; if you think bands like Sonic Youth are nothing but noise, don't bother sampling these songs. However, if you're looking to broaden your sonic palette, then by all means check this record out. It may even blow your mind!
My Best Buy number: 0953637391
I would recommend this to a friend!
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![The Blow-Up [LP] - VINYL](https://pisces.bbystatic.com/image2/BestBuy_US/images/products/1747/17472049_sa.jpg)
Customer Rating
2
Live at CeeB GeeB's
on January 25, 2015
Posted by: Parkas4Kids
from Dundalk, MD
Sometimes it's hard to capture a band's true potential in the often-sterile environment of a recording studio. New York City's Television is a band who's managed to achieve both dynamite and dynamic studio albums as well as live shows. However, the band has limited recorded output, which makes it difficult to pinpoint specific examples unless you're talking to someone who's also seen the band perform live. Fortunately, in 1982, ROIR released this double-album, "The Blow-Up," to help showcase Television's raw potential.
A lot works in this album's favor, most notably the pure talent of guitarists Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd. Their guitar work is art, pure and simple, and they push the boundaries of rhythm and lead guitar well beyond the breaking point. Unfortunately, what works the most against the band is the venue itself: CBGB's. Though one of the happenin'est places to see some of the hippest bands, the acoustics of the rather small club caused the music, more often than not, to suffer. Sides 1 and 2 sound like you're listening to Television with your fingers so far in your ears that you're inches from scratching your brain. The guitar overpowers and almost drowns out the vocals, rendering Tom's singing either inaudible or indecipherable. Don't get me wrong, the songs are good--really good--but the listening experience is...unbalanced at best.
Sides 1 and 2 are the "throwaway" sides and feature the shorter songs of this particular collection. The stand-out tracks are "Prove It," "I Don't Care," and "Ain't That Nothin'." However, sides 3 and 4 are what make this album so worthwhile. The 15-plus minute renditions of "Little Johnny Jewel" and "Marquee Moon" will blow your mind. "Friction" and the band's cover of "Satisfaction" are just icing on this particular slice of the cake. And to make things even better, the sound quality issues on sides 1 and 2 aren't nearly as prevalent on sides 3 and 4. Bonus!
Whether or not you're a fan of Television, you owe it to yourself to own this album. Yes, the sound quality is lacking for the better part of this album. It does, in my opinion, hang something of a dark cloud over these songs as a whole, but Television's guitar work shines through regardless. Let Tom and Richard weave their guitars and take you back to 1978, just be sure to enjoy the ride.
However, with all that said, do yourself a favor and get either the CD or digital version of this album. I ordered my copy directly from the record label--ROIR--and it skips and jumps as if that's what records are meant to do. Roughly the first half of side 1 skips around, most of side 2 doesn't skip at all, but sides 3 and 4 are practically unlistenable because it jumps around so much. The music is high quality, there are just too many flaws in the physical package. A shame, really.
My Best Buy number: 0953637391
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
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