90% Matt, 10% Anne!
Roky Erickson and The Aliens – I Think of Demons (CBS)
A superb album from 1980 and the only album in Roky’s career to ever be released on a major label (albeit only in Europe), it’s also probably the most accessible thing he’s ever released, too. Of course, since the lyrics are all horror-themed and with titles like “Two Headed Dog” and “Creature with the Atom Brain”, its commercial potential was limited.
Nevertheless, I’ve been enjoying it a lot recently, even if the title track was (for the first time) correctly listed as “I Think Up Demons” on the 2005 anthology I Have Always Been Here Before. Roky’s incredible voice and gift for melody really shine through on this one.
Roky Erickson – I Have Always Been Here Before (Shout! Factory)
I can’t think of a better starting point for those unfamiliar with Roky Erickson, or for those who hear the new album or who only know “You’re Gonna Miss” me and wanna hear more than this excellent double-disc compilation from 2005. Starting with “We Sell Soul”, a regional hit for his first band THE SPADES, disc 1 covers ten songs from the first two albums by his seminal pysch-rock band THE 13TH FLOOR ELEVATORS and continues with solo career highlights up to the late ’70s. Disc 2 covers the ’80s and ’90s and contains older versions of several songs on his new album.
The Fall – Your Future Our Clutter (Domino)
The first Fall release since 2008’s mediocre Imperial Wax Solvent is, I’m thrilled to say, far better than it or its predecessor Reformation Post-TLC. On initial listens, very few of the individual songs are standouts, but the sound is great and the rhythm section is absolutely pulverizing and MARK E. SMITH thankfully refrains from the self-parody that’s marred his recent work. This is, by far, the best Fall album since 2005’s Fall Heads Roll or maybe even 2004’s The Real New Fall Lp.
Marc Woodworth – Bee Thousand (Continuum, 2006)
My continuing quest to read more books in the 33 1/3 series continues with this guide to GUIDED BY VOICES‘ well-loved breakthrough album. Woodworth is less author here than editor, as essays from a wide variety of sources, including lots of quotes from ROBERT POLLARD himself and others present at the sessions, dominate the proceedings here. Frankly, some of it is quite insufferable, like the lengthy essay by filmmaker LEWIS KLAHR, but most of it is quite good.
New Pornographers – Together (Matador)
On initial listens, I like this album, but am a bit disappointed. They’re clearly continuing on the path laid out by their last album, 2007’s superb Challengers, but this one has even more orchestral pop leanings. This would be well and fine if the songs stood out more, as they have on every other previous album. I’m sure this will grow on me as I’ve liked all of their previous albums up to this point.
Nina Simone – Here Comes the Sun (RCA Victor)
I found this at a tag sale in my neighborhood for $2 last week and what a great album. It’s from 1971 and has version of the title song, BOB DYLAN‘s “Just Like a Woman” and even CHIP TAYLOR‘s “Angel of the Morning”. However, the real show stopper here is her version of “My Way”, which is fast and culminates in a fury of percussion.
Party Down (Starz, Friday)
The most recent episode of the new season hits the same marks as the best of season 1 and we even get another cameo from JOEY LAUREN ADAMS.
Mark Eitzel – Klamath (self-released)
(A guest entry by the Mrs.) How did I miss this? Mark Eitzel’s solo album from October 2009 – and I’ve had it for about 2 weeks. It’s only available from his website http://www.markeitzel.info/, and it’s another excellent collection of honest and emotional songs that, as usual, make me want to reach out and hug the guy. Recommended for people (like me) who like their music full of sad.
John Doe and Exene Cervenka – Tin Angel (Philadelphia, PA) – April 30, 2010
Please see my full review here.
John and Exene – Singing and Playing (self-released)
There are only seven songs on this self-released CD that was recorded less than a month ago and slipped into a plastic sleeve to sell on their current duo tour. As the title indicates, this is JOHN DOE and EXENE CERVENKA singing and playing together in a room and that’s it. The results are stripped-down versions of several X songs (“Because I Do” and “See How We Are”) along with five others. “The Sound of Coming Down” is from Exene’s last solo album Somewhere Gone while “It Just Dawned on Me” is from John’s 2009 record with THE SADIES called Country Club. “Lonesome War” is from Sev7en, the 2006 album credited to EXENE CERVENKA AND THE ORIGINAL SINNERS and several others (“Never Enough” and “Beyond You”) are new and previously unreleased. All in all, this is an excellent disc.
