J-Ship January 15th, 2007
Davis, Miles
The best trumpet player, ever. That’s not in question. Kind of Blue? Perfection. Bitches Brew? Astounding. Birth of the Cool, Porgy and Bess, Sketches of Spain? Amazing. He worked with the greats – Charlie Parker, Cannonball Adderly, J.J. Johnson, Dizzie Gillespie, John Coletrane. He’s the greatest, Miles is. I wouldn’t have told him that though. He would have said, “Shut the fuck up, cracker,” and smashed a bottle on my head.
Deadboy and the Elephantmen
Wow, what a weird collection of musicians. For one thing, the leader of the group is dead (Deadboy)! And who knew that people with elephantiasis could carry a tune so well! Listen to their album, We Are the Night Sky, and be mesmerized by the fact that the musicians are either dead or inflicted with a disease that causes a thickening of the skin and underlying tissues, especially in the legs and genitals.
Continue Reading »
Chad Headrub January 12th, 2007
The following top 10 was pulled directly off Chad Headrub’s USOUNDS application. Please help us welcome Chad to the USOUNDS staff and stay tuned for Headrub’s stunning review of R.E.M.’s And I Feel Fine..The Best of I.R.S. Years 1982-1987 later today!
1. “Ghostbusters 2″ Soundtrack
Continue Reading »
J-Ship January 6th, 2007
“CAN’T GET YOU OUT OF MY HEAD,” by Kylie Minogue
You’re right, Kylie, I can’t get that horrific song of yours out of my head. “Won’t you stay/Won’t you lay/Stay forever and ever and ever/La la la/La la la la la.” The song is atrocious and I’m at wit’s end. I write this in my car, in the garage, engine running, garage door closed. Farewell, cruel world.
CONCH SHELLS
They sound terrible when played but who cares, you’re playing a conch shell! How often can you play a sea-dwelling mollusk anyway? It’s a crude bugle – it’s a marine gastropod! It’s in the 1939 symphony “La Noche de Los Mayas” – it’s in the sea grass in warm tropical waters!
Continue Reading »
William Cremin December 31st, 2006
William Cremin really loves Raisinets. Maybe he’ll marry them in 2007.
1. Midlake - The Trials of Van Occupanther
My year-end top ten is not based on what I think is the best as much
as it is a list of my personal favorite records. This one was the most
important to me by far. I really love the quaintness of the lyrics,
and the songwriting blows me away on every listen.
2. The Pipettes - We Are The Pipettes
This is one of those albums where it’s physically impossible to be
surly while in its presence. I found myself reaching for it in a
similar way that I go after Raisinets: frequently and with reckless
abandon.
3. My Brightest Diamond - Bring Me The Workhorse
I saw her play with Sufjan Stevens, and I was instantly smitten. Her
moodiness and staggering proficiency sort of remind me of Jeff
Buckley.
Continue Reading »
J-Ship December 31st, 2006
Ray LaMontagne - Till the Sun Turns Black
Album Leaf - Into the Blue Again
Regina Spektor - Begin to Hope
Hem - Funnel Cloud
Decemberists - Crane Wife
Angels & Airwaves - We Don’t Need to Whisper
Kaki King - Until We Felt Red
KT Tunstall - Eye to the Telescope
Eels - With Strings: Live at Town Hall
Beck - The Information
Kenny Ball December 31st, 2006
It seems to me that every year I find myself less and less interested with new music and more and more buried into the endless catacomb of 70’s rock and 80’s New York City art/rock shit. This year some new talent—as well as some of music’s staple recording artists—have shown up on the billboard charts. The most exciting part of it all for me is that there were so many young artists making interesting music this year, music that challenged traditional themes and genres. So, without further ado, here are my top ten albums for 2006…
Continue Reading »
Lily Cutler December 31st, 2006
Best afro of ‘06
1. TV on the Radio – Return to Cookie Mountain
Once again, TVOTR is un-pidgeon-hole-able
2. The Rapture - Pieces of the People We Love
I liked them before, I love them now.
3. Thom Yorke - The Eraser
Doesn’t make me think “aww…good for him going solo, but he should’ve
kept the band.”
Continue Reading »
King Simon December 31st, 2006
“As true as thunder crashes, Itty Bitty Kitty,” Cat King bellowed, “you will be safe with me tonight.”
Continue Reading »
Shrie Bradford December 29th, 2006
If you give a raccoon a block of sugar, it will take the block of sugar to the nearest source of water and wash it until it completely dissolves.
(in no particular order)
The Knife – Silent Shout
This album has a delicious dark frenzied feel to it that just grabs me. I picture aliens, dark railroad crossings, arson and gleaming sweaty bodies.
Junior Boys – So This is Goodbye
This is just a kickin’ electronic album. It’s low key enough to listen to while simply hanging out, and catchy enough to drive and sing along to. I highly enjoy In The Morning.
Continue Reading »
terrence american buddhist December 27th, 2006
Greetings, friends and associates from across the globe. It is with great pleasure that I present this list of the top albums I used to mediate and attempt to shed desire with this year. As usual, your gifts of sweet and sticky buds and hashes has made this year one to remember, or not remember, depending on how high I was at the time and at what hour the Satori descended upon my soul.
Actually, instead of writing out all ten albums, I wanted to let you know about the one which really blew my mind in the most incredible way.
Continue Reading »
