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[atrailofgoods-blog]

First Wave of Good Byes

barbez "insignificance" Bell Orchestre "Recording a Tape the Colour of the Light" Bluebird "High Atmosphere" Boredoms "Super Roots #9" Can "Anthology" Cornelius "Fantasma" Cut Copy "In Ghost Colors" Dahlia Seed "Please Excuse All the Blood" Dean Blunt "self-titled" Five Style "miniature portraits" Hefner "Breaking God's Heart" Holly Herndon "Platform" Jamie XX "In Colour" Kawabata Makoto "O Si Amos a Sighire a Essere Duas Umbras?" Kevin Drumm "Sheer Hellish Miasma" Kid606 vs Dalek "Ruin It EP" Land of a Thousand Rappers "Fall of the Pillars" Lithops "Ye Viols!" Live Skull "Dusted" Love is All "Nine Times That Same Song" Low and Springheel Jack "Bombscare EP" Neotropic "White Rabbits" Nice Nice "Extra Wow" Original Soundtrack "Pieces of April (Stephen Merritt)" Peals "Walking Field" Pharmakon "Abandon" PJ Harvey "Rid of Me" Primal Scream "Evil Heat" Prince Paul "Psychoanalysis (what is it?)" Purity Ring "Another Eternity" Ride "Tarantula" Runaways UK "Classic Tales (A Journey Through A Hip Hop Fantasy)" Salako "Musicality" Sholi "self-titled" Steffan Basho Junghans "Inside" The Accidental "There Are Wolves" The Advantage "self-titled" The Advantage "elf-titled" The Beach Boys "Surfin' USA" The Drift "Ceiling Sky" The Go Team "Thunder, Lightning, Stirke" The Human League "Octopus" The Notwist "Different Cars and Trains" The Peechees "Life" The Spinanes "Manos" Tone "Solidarity" Tortoise "self-titled" Unstable Ensemble "Embers" UT "Griller" Various Artists "Space is No Place" Various Artists "BBQ Beets.2" Various Artists "Friends of Mute" Various Artists "Space is No Place Volume 2" Various Artists ".bento/box" Various Artists "Happy Birthday to Me" Various Artists "Testament (RRR)" Various Artists "A Tribute to Throbbing Gristle" Wagon Christ "Receiver" Walkmen "Everyone Who Pretended to Like Me is Gone" Youth Lagoon "Wondrous Bughouse" Various Artists "Can Sacrillege" The Knife "Shaking the Habitual (non deluxe)" various Artists "Silver Monk Time a tribute to the Monks" The Oxford Collapse "Bits" annie "anniemal" Van Morrison "What's Wrong With This Picture" Marsh Wong Eubanks "Luggage" The Paper Chase "Now You Are One of Us"

[atrailofgoods-blog]

criterion collection

I love those movies sometimes.

But I need easy reasons to jettison my music collection and move on while not being stupid and buying something again.

So I’m making a list of everything so I’ll remember.

Even that is a lot of work.

I wanted to listen to everything and even tribute it here but yikes that’s freaking long.  

I have other things to do with my life.

That was the whole point.

All this stuff is cluttering up my house and my life.

I feel bad not enjoying it.

It’s not fun anymore having all this crap.  Some of it does tell a story about me.

But it’s a long story.

And it’s distracting me from what I need to do now.

Sometimes I feel like a giant idiot for even caring about all this crap.  

Why am I blogging about this?

It must be kinda the worst.

Privileged dude wants to justify is past actions and prop up some identity he doesn’t even really have as much connection to.

Why do we do this stuff?

And I’m still typing this blog out.

Maybe THIS is what needs to be said.

All this art I supported by buying it... that was a good thing.  That was a kind thing to be there sometimes.  It was.  I was lucky to do it.  (Sometimes being in that room really felt a waste of my time but I was there to be there.)

I continue to be lucky.

All this crap.  It’s been my life blood over time.

Which is again... hilarity ... what dork ass privilege.  

And yet there is something about all this... even with the privilege problem as the main point there is still something critical to supporting each other.

Supporting folks who aren’t destroying has got to count for something in this world.

Keep on supporting art.

Maybe I’ll shut up about this collection thing.

I don’t know.

[atrailofgoods-blog]

I WANT AN EASY REASON TO JUST GET RID OF CRAP AND NOT FEEL BAD ABOUT IT

[atrailofgoods-blog]

WEAK RECORD

Your record was so weak at this point I feel bad writing about it.

Why did I buy it?

Oh, the label was good.

Why do we buy stuff?

The label was good.

You were from a scene I respected.

You know somebody I know.

You slept on my couch.

Touring is hard and you deserved support.

I believe in what you’re doing (even when I don’t care for the aesthetics or you need to get better at what you release because releases and live shows are two different energies...)

The guy was the drummer for a band we love.

They’re cute.

The packaging was awesome.

The cd was bargain bin cheap.

We heard a track.  It was good.  We want more.

It wasn’t available online.  It was only in some obscure format.

It was the only cd of yours we didn’t have.

We wanted the weird cover.

We wanted the alternate version of something.

The physical copy means something to my memory or how I consume a thing.

I was on a splurging high in the record store and went for it on a hunch.

We bought it by mistake.

We were replacing something we lost.  Or something we sold.  Or something our exes took in the break up.

I thought this was the band with the lady from Olympia.

Somebody we trust told us this was the next thing.

Or that this is what we should own to confirm that we’re in on it.

It makes us young and alive.

It proves we’re above the daily consumption of the masses, or at least apart from it.  Free from it.

Or owning stuff proves we know stuff.

Knowing stuff proves we’re awesome.

Why aren’t we awesome to begin with?

Why aren’t we awesome to begin with?

And so returning full circle, why isn’t your record awesome anymore?

I think that’s probably it right?

There was a time when your dance beats synth jam thing on a good label from a hip scene was enough to mean “buy this record”... “enjoy this music”... but now 15 years later:

I’ve aged and changed and need that particular identity validation less.

It’s easier to see that your shows were probably totally fun but this record kinda ends up being flat.

The personal connections have dried up.

Your cd is taking up space in my house.

I can stream it anytime I want and yet I doubt I will but I can “add it to my library”.

So it’s not really that your record sucks, it’s that the reasons I wanted it and valued it are no longer true.  

Santa Claus is ... it’s a long story.  But these gifts we share with each other, this mutual thing we have, it’s mutated.  It’s mutating.

[atrailofgoods-blog]

BOREDOMS “SUPER ROOT #9″

Ecstacy

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Ecstacy

[atrailofgoods-blog]

Wrekmeister Harmonies “Vol 1″

With a guestlist a mile long of avant weirdos, metal dudes, howler monkeys, antediluvian scholars, and peach waffles it’s pretty much impossible to imagine that this recording of a live performance would suck and it doesn’t.

Fantastically ambient.  Meant to challenge and cooperate in a space.  Sound art you might ignore or embrace.

It’s like a cat that is mostly going to ignore you but if you should choose to engage with it you’ll find out it’s a lovable, suffering psychopath and that’s ok.

That is more than ok.

That’s the stuff.

[atrailofgoods-blog]

Runaways UK “Classic Tales”

Insane turntablism vs. classical vs jazz music that really blew my mind 20 years ago.  (and continues to do so.)

It’s funny to me how the first track “Levitation” is essentially an outtake from Closer by Joy Division.  I mean, it’s not, but it could be.  What a statement to make via music!!

But this sampling of “Peter and the Wolf” in “Finders Kreepers” is just absolutely fantastic.  The first time I heard this I was stunned.  One of my absolute favorite turntable hip hop records ever.  I know others got a lot more cred for their live show and that’s awesome, there’s so much depth here.

The reissued cd’s got other tracks and is a different beast.  Not masterpiece the vinyl record was.  It’s still amazing, but it is it’s own thing.  It’s got more vocal work and that’s great but I really liked the instrumental better.  “Classic Tales” (original) vs. “Classic Tales (A Journey Through A Hip Hop Fantasy)” (reissue). Like I said, I appreciate the new direction but 

Some of the tracks are vs jazz recordings and those are every bit as amazing.  Just fantastic.  

[atrailofgoods-blog]

IQU “Chotto Matte a Moment”

In the heat of turntablism before so much simplicity came from a revolution of software and device was music like IQU’s.

I saw them open for Unwound on UF’s campus and our minds were blown.  Turntables, upright basses, and theremins.

oh my.

some vague collection of retro and future and culture smash that might fit in pretty well with the hyper/post-modernism of today where things are to the 10th degree and four shots over meta.

disney without the disney.  twee joy in electronics.

i think this track will show you

i love K records founder Calvin Johnson singing “it’s been a hard day’s night” at the end.  because really.  the beat less beatles power mop was overdue for a little moaning imitation.

truly love this record.  truly love the energy of IQU when it’s boundless.  

some of the more down tempo numbers feel flat.  “whistle” specifically. 

idk.

IDK.

idk.

i guess there’s something to diversity.  can’t all be hyper.

and i don’t even know if hyper is what’s up here.

but dancing.

dancing is up.

when this came out, dancing was sorely needed in the indie scene.

praise that. 

praise that:

[atrailofgoods-blog]

Cut Copy “In Ghost Colours”

A giant crowd of people jumped in unison when they played P’fork years back on the second stage.  It was insane.

Something perfect about the sound and feelings.

Altogether now.

“EVEN IF IT BREAKS YOUR HEART.”

oh, my heart was broken.

actually was thinking about how much i’d rather have seen new order at the same point in their career and yet i was a child.

and yet

and yet

it was amazing.

this record’s highs are so super high.  it’s lesser points are that much dimmer because of their neighbors but that was true of new order also.

i’m a terrible person.

love you guys.

[atrailofgoods-blog]

Kevin Drumm “Sheer Hellish Miasma”

I keep asking myself, “What it would be like if this was on Top 40 radio?”

An amazing piece of early 00s noise.  Classic stuff really.

and yet:

when I listen to this cherished cd of mine I think that maybe this is the kind of anger we felt when W was president.  This was the catharsis we needed.  This was the technical savior.  A future where at least there was a future.  This tech stuff might still save us.

And so we blew things apart.

And really it’s kind of exciting and yet also kind of boring at length.  15 years later will do that.  I still rage at the past and yet find myself confounded at the present.

The myth about slowly raising the temperature of a cooking pot killing off a frog... hell becoming pat and cliche after a time... blast beats arranged like a tapestry satisfy a thirst... racism and capitalism and the death of a mutually reasonable objective and virtuous truth slowly cratering our culture and planet... in some ways, this record is about blowing every trace of you down and yet leaving you alive, leaving a part of you that doesn’t get blown down by the blast wall and the hurricane...  the conventional parts are dispatched and what’s left is a you that likes noise.  Or isn’t afraid of this.  Is willing to stand on the other side of a kind of death.

Granted, you might run.  You might be totally blown away with nothing left to appreciate.  Total annihilation.  And I could understand.  “Seek sound shelter” might be wise advice.

The last track “Cloudy” is a free floating vapor above the fire.  Something floating away.

What’s left of you has nothing to do with this record afterwards.

That’s the power of consumption.  

[atrailofgoods-blog]

They Might Be Giants “Apollo 18″

Seeing TMBG perform Fingertips was a major highlight a few years back:

That blew my teenage mind and yet I think the real boon of that whole record was a giant lesson in not taking myself so seriously.

And it’s amazing how this works.

You’re with your friends and they’re serious so you’re serious.

But with Apollo 18 all was forgiven.  A squid and a whale could hug it out in the cold infinite vacuum that man had aspired to conquer and as insane as that was, it was our kind of insane.  

“I don’t understand you.

I just don’t understand you.”

DANCE AND SING!

Teenagers singing.  That was not common during the grunge thing.

All that and still this music sought to explain the universe.  “mammal” ... “glass of milk standing in between extinction in the cold and explosive radiating growth”.

They might just be giants.

Maybe.

Bananas.

I’m reminded that “The Guitar” needs to be on a mix tape about songs about the guitar.

[atrailofgoods-blog]

Amen Dunes “Love”

Freedom is in shorter supply these days with basic entry into our country being denied to people.  That it’s a country created by people mostly seeking refuge and a new start seems completely lost on the new powers.  Where is the freedom to just be?   

And yet look at that record cover and listen to its tunes:

I have a confession to start with:  my music sounds a lot like this on occasion.  I’m not the poster boy for rock freedom by any means but I prefer the naked boomerang cave in spark hello angel to arrangements and counts and so on.  So this record is lacking chains.  

But it’s also got talent and wonder.  (lol, which i might lack but don’t really care either way.  i bang. i bang.)

The clanging and banging and howling thank the Earth for the ability to be made by a guy so full of love and so full of energy to carve up moods and dreams and howls.

I could also definitely imagine some folks just not taking to this at all.  It’s too free.  It’s too raw.  “What’s he even saying?”

Some people are so thinly wrapped around every moment and every decision.  They are slaves in their own hell where everything falls demonically short.  Every lick has to be denoted.  Every cookie counted.

I find that at odds with the fundamental structure of the universe.

Granted, it is amazing to watch a talented musician guide their instrument in a way that professes the Tower of Babel might be legit.  And yet we know where that goes.

Modernism sure is pretty.

I think what we forget is that freedom is bigger than childish luck.  (and hey, I love childish luck too.)

And this freedom, though unsafe to some ears, is maybe even closer to the rub between two warm bodies than a lot of “great, pedigreed literature”.

where is the eagle?

where is freedom?

The refugee knows.

The rest of us are busy binding ourselves to our new country.  

Where is love?

You’ll have to walk to find out and you’ll probably have to leave where you are.

[atrailofgoods-blog]

Shudder to Think “Pony Express Record”

The story went something like this:  My old friend Jay went to see Shudder to Think play live once.  Before the band went on he was hanging out around the show and started talking to a random guy.  The guy was like, “who are you here to see?”  and Jay goes, “I’m here to see Shudder to Think.  Some of the punks give them a hard time because they’re gay but that’s stupid.  They’re awesome.”  They rambled on a bit further but the guy had to go.  Jay found a good spot to watch.  Moments later Shudder to Think comes on stage and the guy he was talking to is in the band and says into the mic, “This one’s for Jay.”  and proceeded straight into the kind of amazing set they’d always play.

They were phenomenal.

That was their thing.

Complex changes.  Falsetto crooning.  Angular everything.  And openly gay at a time when that was still not what it should be.  (I know there’s more to go but really, punk rock in the early 90s was not always a great place for LGBT.)

This band was a band people could plant their flag for and the band planted back.  

[atrailofgoods-blog]

Chris Knox “Seizure”

I think the video for Face of Fashion says it better than I might:

Chris Knox

Chris Knox

Chris Knox

Chris Knox and his ilk birthed a lot of who I am as a music maker.

Chris Knox

Chris Knox

Chris Knox

Chris Knox

I’m amused that “Not Given Lightly” might be used to sell bread.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Knox#Career

Stripped bare humanity.

True bee punk.

Wholesome wilderness being.

Reminds me of the 20th Century Women article on p’fork.  

Fundamentally comfortable with itself.

Chris Knox

Howler monkeys like bananas and I like this fruit, whatever it’s called.

Island culture has a way of isolating and evolving from internal pressure.

A great reminder that while cultural exchange is fantastic, sometimes we need to celebrate and reward the singular.

Chris Knox

The singular has a way of beating out a personal transformation that’s not consumable by others.  That work is fundamental.  Consumable transformation is more like nail polish than muscle tone.  Nail polish is great, but won’t help you get out of bed.

Simultaneously, it seems as if creating consumable transformation stories and reaching others is the other side of that coin.  I’m so glad for this record and it’s breath in my ear causing me to flinch.  

When we singularly transform next to each other, it creates brotherhood.

Chris Knox

Even though I’m no Kiwi and I’m marooned on my own island I’m grateful for how records like this put a pulse on our edges.

Go forth in your canoe.  You can do it.

Chris Knox

Chris Knox

Chris Knox

Chris Knox

[atrailofgoods-blog]

The Advantage self-titled

Long before video game soundtracks were a widely available thing alongside games on platforms like steam The Advantage took advantage of their love of Nintendo to record this record of classic VG songs with a full band.

Epic cuteness/kitsch.  A fine time when there was gaping possibility in music.

Faves include:

Super Mario Bros 3 Underworld:  

https://theadvantage1985.bandcamp.com/track/super-mario-bros-3-underworld-2

Goonies 2 Warp World

https://theadvantage1985.bandcamp.com/track/goonies-ii-warp-zone

(which features some Cindy Lauper melody action)

Legend of Zelda Dungeon

https://theadvantage1985.bandcamp.com/track/legend-of-zelda-dungeon

Contra Boss

https://theadvantage1985.bandcamp.com/track/contra-boss

[atrailofgoods-blog]

Can “Anthology”

Believe it or not but there was a time when finding a Can record or cd was impossible in some parts of the country.  I remember a record store in FL that actually rented rare records by groups like Can because they were nowhere to be found.

And so I remember buying this cd and was truly psyched because HERE IT WAS.

Even though it’s a collection it’s fantastic from one end to the other.

Heavy beat bashing motorik tracks like Halleluhah:

Crazy disco break downs like I Want More which I’m surprised aren’t huge amongst old wave dance djs:

Brilliantly free jazz insanity doving into perfect “somebody love you” boogie drunk boogie like TV SPOT:

Fantastic.

For a while I had a cassette with big chunks of this on one side and a “best of” Versus on the other.  What a mix.

[atrailofgoods-blog]

Unrest “imperial f.f.r.r”

So classic for me it’s hard to imagine not owning this.  The upbeat tracks are my favorite but even the slow stuff is so meticulously arranged it’s a masterpiece of 90s indiepop.

Teenbeat 4 LIFE.

blow out your wrists playing along to Suki:

slow hypnotic empires of “imperial”:

I think I got turned onto this one from SPIN’s classic yearly feature “10 best records of the year you never heard”.

But soon after it was “EVERYTHING ON TEENBEAT RECORDS IS THE BEST”.

Mark Robinson’s taste in both sound and image is impeccable:

http://www.teenbeatrecords.com/