From: owner-loud-fans-digest@smoe.org (loud-fans-digest) To: loud-fans-digest@smoe.org Subject: loud-fans-digest V5 #237 Reply-To: loud-fans@smoe.org Sender: owner-loud-fans-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-loud-fans-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk loud-fans-digest Monday, October 17 2005 Volume 05 : Number 237 Today's Subjects: ----------------- [loud-fans] swap CD review [Jeff ] Re: [loud-fans] swap CD review ["Stefaan Hurts" ] Re: [loud-fans] swap CD review [AWeiss4338@aol.com] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 16 Oct 2005 18:05:12 -0500 From: Jeff Subject: [loud-fans] swap CD review In this month's CD swap, Andrea Weiss sent me a CD that she didn't give a title to - but her disc recorder titled it "Disc_092205_2." So shall I. Anyway, here's the track listing: Jim Boggia "Underground" The New Pornographers "Sing Me Spanish Techno" Crooked Fingers "Call to Love" Josh Rouse "Carolina" Moes Haven "I'm So Jealous of Ashton Kutcher (And I Love Liz Phair)" Tracy Bonham "I Was Born Without You" Eels "Things the Grandchildren Should Know" Matisyahu "Without a Crown" Tommi Zender "Something to Hide" Michael Penn "Walter Reed" Dar Williams and Ani DiFranco "Comfortably Numb" Thistle "Water and Rations" Citizen Cope "Bullet and a Target" Sufjan Stevens "Chicago" The Decemberists "16 Military Wives" Sleater-Kinney "Entertain" Le Tigre "TKO" Jefferson Airplane "Greasy Heart" Some comments: The Boggia track is pretty straightforward, catchy pop - even if the lyrics, which for the most part glorify Weather Underground and Bernardine Dohrn, are a bit dubious from my perspective. The Moes Haven track has an amusing title - but that's about all. Probably that's because I don't "get" half of the lyrics, since I'm not pop-culture-obsessed... Matisyahu, as you probably know, is a Hasidic reggae guy - which might sound bizarre at first, but in a way makes perfect sense, given the way Rastafarians borrow much Judaic imagery in their culture. The track's pretty solid, live old-school reggae, and Matisyahu does a good, enthusiastic job on vocals - although I do have to question what a Hasidic Jew from New York is doing with a Jamaican accent. (Minor pet peeve: people who feel accents come with musical styles...) Andrea says Tommi Zender reminds her of Michael Penn: fair enough, and that's not a bad thing. Even less of a bad thing is that (again, per Andrea) the track rocks a bit more than Penn is wont to do lately. The Williams/DiFranco track reminded me what a fine song "Comfortably Numb" is, and I am grateful that DiFranco actually sings as opposed to breathlessly yelping. (For the next week or so, you can download this track from my blog, posted last week.) The Thistle track isn't that much musically, although fairly powerful lyrically - but I notice at the band's website that one of the band members is named "Weiss": any relation, Andrea? I like the Citizen Cope song well enough - but it's still irritating when artists adopt names that other artists have solidly laid claim to (esp. when it's the other artist's real name). There is no Cope but Julian Cope. (And as for that woman calling herself "Lennon" a few years back...sheesh.) Uh - obvious exception is Elvis Costello, only because he has the talent to back up the balls. The Sufjan Stevens track has persuaded me I really have to buy this record. I may not like everything on it, but the tracks I've heard that I do like are good enough that I can't ignore it any longer. Both Sleater-Kinney and Le Tigre have been sorta buzzed about for various degrees of supposedly "selling out" - Sleater-Kinney remains the sort of band that I like well enough while listening to, but then forget completely a few moments after the song ends. The Le Tigre track is pretty meh - it's one step above generic dance-pop. Whatever. Curious that Andrea included the Jeffrerson Airplane track - I'd just recently been listening to them a lot lately, and posted two Slick-written songs a month or so back. Good stuff. And of course, I already had the New Pornographers, Penn, and Decemberists songs. Thanks to Andrea for a very enjoyable mix - even the tracks that didn't thrill me at least didn't annoy me! - -- ...Jeff The Architectural Dance Society http://spanghew.blogspot.com ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 16 Oct 2005 19:55:26 -0400 From: "Stefaan Hurts" Subject: Re: [loud-fans] swap CD review On Sun, 16 Oct 2005 18:05:12 -0500, "Jeff" said: > I like the Citizen Cope song well enough - but it's still irritating > when artists adopt names that other artists have solidly laid claim to > (esp. when it's the other artist's real name). There is no Cope but > Julian Cope. (And as for that woman calling herself "Lennon" a few > years back...sheesh.) Uh - obvious exception is Elvis Costello, only > because he has the talent to back up the balls. No way! Elvis was never as funny as Lou! :) Toodlepip, - -Stef ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 16 Oct 2005 21:58:47 EDT From: AWeiss4338@aol.com Subject: Re: [loud-fans] swap CD review In a message dated 10/16/2005 7:15:36 PM Eastern Standard Time, jeffreyw2fs.j@gmail.com writes: The Boggia track is pretty straightforward, catchy pop - even if the lyrics, which for the most part glorify Weather Underground and Bernardine Dohrn, are a bit dubious from my perspective. And mine too. Lyrically, anyone who praises violence, no matter how good musically, is suspect. The Moes Haven track has an amusing title - but that's about all. Probably that's because I don't "get" half of the lyrics, since I'm not pop-culture-obsessed... What I liked about this song is what they sung about Liz, very funny, and spot on if you've heard Liz Phair the album.The rest is good snideness about Ashton Kutcher and Hillary Duff. Matisyahu, as you probably know, is a Hasidic reggae guy - which might sound bizarre at first, but in a way makes perfect sense, given the way Rastafarians borrow much Judaic imagery in their culture. The track's pretty solid, live old-school reggae, and Matisyahu does a good, enthusiastic job on vocals - although I do have to question what a Hasidic Jew from New York is doing with a Jamaican accent. (Minor pet peeve: people who feel accents come with musical styles...) I agree, and add that it's nice to hear God celebrated from a Jewish perspective, who doesn't really preach. I was a little doubful that he could pull this off as well, and then I heard him. Ditto about accents. Andrea says Tommi Zender reminds her of Michael Penn: fair enough, and that's not a bad thing. Even less of a bad thing is that (again, per Andrea) the track rocks a bit more than Penn is wont to do lately. Yes, Zender is a find. I know him from the Michael penn list, he'd noticed my review of Penn's current album in Tone& Groove, and asked me if I could review his. It's good solid adult rock. He's looking for more reviews from blog or zine folks, if anyone is interested, contact me off list. The Williams/DiFranco track reminded me what a fine song "Comfortably Numb" is, and I am grateful that DiFranco actually sings as opposed to breathlessly yelping. (For the next week or so, you can download this track from my blog, posted last week.) Yep. One of the best things about this cover is Ani, her vocal is perfect for this song. Dar's too, and the lyics change perspective when women sing them, and make them about the US political situation. Thanks for the blog download. The Thistle track isn't that much musically, although fairly powerful lyrically - but I notice at the band's website that one of the band members is named "Weiss": any relation, Andrea? No relation. I like the lyrics. I like the Citizen Cope song well enough - but it's still irritating when artists adopt names that other artists have solidly laid claim to (esp. when it's the other artist's real name). There is no Cope but Julian Cope. (And as for that woman calling herself "Lennon" a few years back...sheesh.) Uh - obvious exception is Elvis Costello, only because he has the talent to back up the balls. I agree, and he must be a real fanatic of J Cope to want to take his name. Espically if you're going to do folk/rap. The Sufjan Stevens track has persuaded me I really have to buy this record. I may not like everything on it, but the tracks I've heard that I do like are good enough that I can't ignore it any longer. This had been the only song I'd heard from the album, and it was good enough to buy it. I've really not heard anything like this, a little folk, a little tin pan alley, a little baroque rock. Both Sleater-Kinney and Le Tigre have been sorta buzzed about for various degrees of supposedly "selling out" - Sleater-Kinney remains the sort of band that I like well enough while listening to, but then forget completely a few moments after the song ends. The Le Tigre track is pretty meh - it's one step above generic dance-pop. Whatever. As much as I admire what kathleen Hanna did surrounding This Island, which is sell out much to the annoyance of the snobs, musically I perfer S-K. Just better music, and their new album The Woods really does rock. Curious that Andrea included the Jeffrerson Airplane track - I'd just recently been listening to them a lot lately, and posted two Slick-written songs a month or so back. Good stuff. I love the Airplane, and really feel their underrated these days. Grace is the best MIA person in rock. And of course, I already had the New Pornographers, Penn, and Decemberists songs. Thanks to Andrea for a very enjoyable mix - even the tracks that didn't thrill me at least didn't annoy me! You're welcome! Andrea ------------------------------ End of loud-fans-digest V5 #237 *******************************