AJ Morocco: August 29, 2010

1. Gauge – 153 (Shakefork)

   153 is an hour long documentary about Gauge, a band from Downer’s Grove, Illinois. Gauge began on New Years Day 1991, and played post hardcore inspired by the Dischord / Sammich scene of the late 80’s in Washington DC. They released several records and broke up in 1994, which was right around the same time that all the younger bands in that scene (Capt Jazz, Joan of Arc and Braid) started signing lucrative record contracts. The movie is a combination of reunion show footage and interviews, and is incredibly well put together by director & editor Matt Golin. A must see for fans.

2. Black Sleep of Kali – Our Slow Decay (Small Stone)

   Denver’s premier stoner rock / doom band, with singer and guitarist Taylor Williams (Lifeless, Glacial) doing his best to permanently injure your hearing. The record has lots of buried harmonies and intricate time signatures, and might be the bastard child of Quicksand and Sleep.

3. Government Issue reunion

   December 11th at the Black Cat in Washington is the first Government Issue show since 1989. GI started off playing half-a-minute hardcore songs in Washington DC and evolved into a post punk band who toured and recorded relentlessly. The show will feature the final (and best) lineup of the band, with Tom Lyle, J. Robbins, Pete Moffett and of course the one and only John Stabb. The show is a benefit for Stephen McPherson of Brace, a life-long GI fan with an big pile of medical bills. Also playing are The Goons and Set To Explode. Tickets are only $15, if you can make it, don’t miss them.

4. Denver Modernism Show

   Part art show, part flea market, part design expo this weekend at National Western Complex. The show features mid-century furniture, a tiki lounge, hula hooping, classic electronic gear, records, a Beatles tribute band (it’s the anniversary week of their Red Rocks show in 1964) and a Barbarella stripper. Whatever that is. And on Sunday they are having an atomic age car show. For more info: denvermodernism.com

5. The Vaselines – Sex With an X 7” (Sub Pop)

   Just like Pee-Wee Herman and DYS, a lot of things from the eighties are resurfacing. I didn’t expect this to be good, but I was wrong. These two songs pretty much continue the sound they helped forge, and with more records on the way it’ll be interesting to see what they do.

6. Cymbals Eat Guitars – mixtape (self released)

   It’s hard to argue with free music. This 7 song download was “inspired by summertime vibes, traffic jams, and friends old and new.” Available for free here

7. Deerhunter – Revivial / Primitive 3D Single (4AD)

   see 8/22

8. The Intelligence – Males (In The Red)

   Smart and energetic garage rock with thick choruses that doesn’t get bogged down in the lo-fi trappings of some of their younger peers. Lots of interesting guitar work and an excellent rhythm section.

9. Roger Waters interview with Jim Ladd

   Speaking as a Floyd fan, this 90 minute interview doesn’t really break any new ground. But Roger Waters is incredibly well spoken and discusses which aspects of The Wall were autobiographical, and which were culled from other people. That segment alone makes this worth hearing, correcting all of those assumptions we’ve made as listeners is crucial to understanding their work. His analysis of “Young Lust” was great, it’s still so completely misinterpreted and he is able to just kind of laugh it off. This was the first time in Pink Floyd’s career that Roger Waters was interviewed by American radio, and was taped in 1980 before the disastrous sessions for The Final Cut had begun. Available here

10. Hoover – The Lurid Traversal Of Route 7 (Dischord)

    Re-mastered classic from Dischord Records, now back in print and on green vinyl. Hoover played post hardcore that was challenging and inspiring, taking cues from jazz and noise instead of Sham 69 and The Damned.