Sons of Shiva Sons of Shiva (Track)
A collaboration between Hugh Cornwell and poet John W. Sexton (on the album he uses the name Sex W. Johnston),
Sons of Shiva is one of the best things, and easily the most experimental record, that Cornwell has done since leaving Stranglers in 1990. Cornwell provides the music, which is dark, infused with electronic sounds and synthetic drums and features angular, and off-kilter guitar playing that’s light on major chords. Johnston talks/sings primarily about nature and all its sticky unsanitized truths in an era when the lifeless, but seemingly alive, computer screen helps distract us from those realities. He sings about nether-bettles, butterflies, ravens, fish, bees, wasps and ants as a way to examine the nature of our fleeting existence. This could easily not work, but somehow Cornwell and Johnston pull it off. This record is hard to find, but it looks like
Overstock.com has it in stock now.
Brian Eno – Thursday Afternoon (Astralwerks)
Lately a permanent fixture in my CD player. True ambience.
Death Cab for Cutie – Plans (Atlantic)
Cohesive, remarkably personal and powerful: “Love is watching someone die…...So who’s going to watch you die?” The songs are dripping with sincerity and conviction. A very graceful transition to a major label.
Rob Dickinson – Fresh Wine for the Horses (Sanctuary)
Fantastic solo outing by the former Catherine Wheel lead singer. Be sure to check out one of his upcoming dates including a March 1st show at the Mercury Lounge on March 1st in Manhattan and a gig at Southpaw in Brooklyn on March 10th.
Pat Metheny Travels (Universal Japan)
This live double disk is worth having for the stunning version of “Are You Going With Me?” If you don’t want to splurge for the whole album you can buy the 9 minute and 20 second masterpiece on iTunes for 99 cents.
Spirit 12 Dreams of Dr. Sardonicus (Sony)
An eclectic range of sounds and styles makes Sardonicus a winner. Interestingly, when this album was made in 1970 it was hard to find bald musicians. But one of them was here in the form of drummer Ed Cassidy.
Roxy Music Country Life (Virgin)
Roxy Music at its best in my opinion. Although Avalon is a triumph on its own majestic wavelength, Country Life is much more ambitious, dramatic, varied and ahead of its time.
Buzzcocks Spiral Scratch (Mute)
It’s hard to believe but the songs on this legendary EP were recorded 30 years ago!
Bad Religion Stranger than Fiction (Atlantic)
A great album but not necessarily one of the band’s very best. Still, there is plenty to recommend here including stellar musicianship, song writing and singing by Greg Graffin as well as incisive lyrics (from “Inner Logic”: There is an inner logic, and we’re taught to stay far from it. It is simple and elegant, but it’s cruel and antithetic and there’s no effort to reveal it. Graduated mentors stroll in marbled brick porticos. In sagacious dialog they despise their average ways. Displaying pomp and discipline, they mold their institution where they practice exclusion on the masses every day.
Air Talkie Walkie (Astralwerks)
Surprisingly good. Tuneful electro-pop with real feeling.
