I avoid imperatives because... well, because I should.
However, I must tell you that you are ORDERED to check out Emma Russack's work, solo and with her comrades in Lola Flash. I was given this order by Xaos, and She was right, and now I am right. If you need points of comparison, Mazzy Star and Cat Power leap to mind. Lola Flash show remarkably catholic tastes, in any case - shockingly for their generation, they don't like anything that's crap at all. Influences aside, you will thank me for this. After all, what self-respecting music nerd doesn't savour the taste of the words "I was into them way before they were cool"?
Straight outta Molvania, allow me to introduce Zladko "Zlad" Vladcik, with his immense, powerful, really, really BIG powerthruster of a sexytime space-disco luv ballad, Electronic Supersonic, which is both electronic and supersonic. More "information" might be obtained at this outlet for Molvaniana.
This, you did not expect. I wouldn't say it is horrifyig, exactly, so much as very perplexing. More specifically, it is Paul Anka covering "Smells Like Teen Spirit" - which, unsurprisingly, it does emphatically not.
So, here's the info. you've been missing: If you aren't aware of Busdriver, you are late to the party, and it's just barely early enough to say you were fashionably late.
Here's one of my playlists over at Project Playlist (others may be found in earlier posts) - it features some tasty chunks of Busdriver, along with a few other non-sucky hip-hop types and some miscelleny that, in context, makes sense to me:
In a shocking change of pace, I would like to point you in the direction of some non-grating, innovative but not avant-garde, listenable gems that have recently caught my ear.
First up, Bat for Lashes, a group of British multi-instrumentalists (tho some animals are clearly more equal than others) offering some atmospheric niceties in a post-Bjork, world-music-aware, dreamy-yet-driving vein. Best check them out directly, rather than waitng for me to explain it.
This video was shot live in a library, which seems suitable to the mood of the group. They start with a brief Nico cover, then move into their excellent song "Trophy". This live version of "Sarah" shows the importance of beating the stage into submission. Their video for "What's a Girl to Do?" makes effective use of animal-headed trick bicyclists. This is not a favorite song, but the video is rather striking. This performance of "Horse & I" features a musical saw, which instrument, I warrant, is full of win.
I picked up this link from Pope Flores' consistently excellent, entertaining, edifying, and educational blog, Quest for Slack.
It is a live performance of "Mona" by the Quicksilver Messenger Service, who should be more prominent in our collective memory of the 60s than they are.
A quick post to alert you to some tremendously powerful footage of one Alan Gillet. Our national security may depend on this information.
First, we have a fan-modified version of his... inimitable take on "All Shook Up" (a.k.a. "Dobbs Version"). Purists may prefer the unadorned original version. If you found that footage persuasive, you may tke equal delight in his rendition of Personality. There is also a... erm. Well, let's just call it a "response".
I know that, as a Californian, I should hate Texas and all things Texan, but the Lone Star State, and Austin in particular, keep dragging the love out of me. So, let's not forget Scratch Acid, Daniel Johnston, the Butthole Surfers, the Mad Dog writers' group, the John Dillinger Died for You Society, Richard Linklater, and, of course, the Church of the SubGenius... The best and the worst seem to be closely related.
(Oh - and cattle mutilations.)
In this delightful video, recorded in Austin before a manifestly illuminated crowd, Hank Williams III does his part to put the "cunt" back in "country" - and sums up succinctly why lovers of country music hate country music.
It's hard being a Sonic Youth fan, because for many people, there is a difficuilt transition that needs to be made between "What is that shit?" and "Wow - that's amazing!" That is, there is Something to be Got, and while some people Get It immediately, for others it takes time to Get It. So the problem is one of technique - how to get people from Don't Get It to Get It before they lose interest or get annoyed.
I have recently found a possible solution - this footage of a German concert they did featuring an outstanding version of "The Diamond Sea" - a favorite of many, including the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, who covered it, and Jason Knuth, at whose funeral it was played.
It's been chopped into three bits, I'm afraid, due to length - if anyone is capable of a German reunification, please let me know! Oh, and... PLAY LOUD!! And if you really can't sit still for the whole thing - check out Part Two, starting at about 4:50 - and see how right I am.
