Ears to you
The new Giant Robot is on the stands, and it has tons of record reviews in it. But we listened to those CDs months ago! I've already got new favorites, and these are some of the ones shaping up my summer soundtrack:
Dirty Pretty Things - Waterloo to Anywhere. I haven't seen the movie this band is named after, but Lance Hahn says it's good. This group is pretty much the Libertines (the group that made Brit rock fun again?) without famous junkie/model dater Pete Doherty. The style isn't that much different than the old group's sound--sloppy rock 'n' roll with unexpected melodies and rhymes with clever lyrics that aren't afraid to touch on cussing ("You Fucking Love It") or show tunes ("Bang Bang You're Dead"). They don't seem to miss Doherty's songwriting at all. You don't need to be a fan of the Libertines, Babyshambles, etc., to get into this. I got an import with a live DVD, but I think Interscope has picked it up for a summer release in the U.S.
Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped. I happened to be at Lou's Records in Encinitas the day this came out and bought it. Weird, since I didn't get any of the NYC trilogy. But this makes me want to go back and get them because it's so awesome. Not too much noodling, perhaps because the band has returned to its basic four-piece lineup? The songs are primal, somehow mixing the laid back artiness of Daydream Nation with the pop sensibilities of Goo. Those are my favorite SY albums, and this one is right up there. Yes, I believe in rapture, and here it is. The legendary band is currently on tour, which is great. Too bad they're playing in L.A. with Pearl Jam at the cavernous Forum.
Various Artists - 300 Percent Dynamite. This Jamaican music comp isn't new, but it's my first purchase in the series. I've been addicted to the Trojan boxsets as well as anything from Pressure Sounds, and haven't had money to start a new habit. But this one was used at Amoeba last time I went to S.F., and I couldn't help it. There are some classics that I knew but needed in non-mixtape format ("Sister Nancy's "Bam Bam" and Althea & Donna's "Uptown Ranking) and tons of surprises, like Hopeton Lewis' amazing "Take It Easy." Some of the covers I don't need, but how could Randy's Allstars have known that the "Mission Impossible" theme would get blown out? I heard you can't go wrong with this series, and this CD does not disappoint with its choice selections of reggae, rocksteady, and funk.
Dirty Pretty Things - Waterloo to Anywhere. I haven't seen the movie this band is named after, but Lance Hahn says it's good. This group is pretty much the Libertines (the group that made Brit rock fun again?) without famous junkie/model dater Pete Doherty. The style isn't that much different than the old group's sound--sloppy rock 'n' roll with unexpected melodies and rhymes with clever lyrics that aren't afraid to touch on cussing ("You Fucking Love It") or show tunes ("Bang Bang You're Dead"). They don't seem to miss Doherty's songwriting at all. You don't need to be a fan of the Libertines, Babyshambles, etc., to get into this. I got an import with a live DVD, but I think Interscope has picked it up for a summer release in the U.S. 
Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped. I happened to be at Lou's Records in Encinitas the day this came out and bought it. Weird, since I didn't get any of the NYC trilogy. But this makes me want to go back and get them because it's so awesome. Not too much noodling, perhaps because the band has returned to its basic four-piece lineup? The songs are primal, somehow mixing the laid back artiness of Daydream Nation with the pop sensibilities of Goo. Those are my favorite SY albums, and this one is right up there. Yes, I believe in rapture, and here it is. The legendary band is currently on tour, which is great. Too bad they're playing in L.A. with Pearl Jam at the cavernous Forum.
Various Artists - 300 Percent Dynamite. This Jamaican music comp isn't new, but it's my first purchase in the series. I've been addicted to the Trojan boxsets as well as anything from Pressure Sounds, and haven't had money to start a new habit. But this one was used at Amoeba last time I went to S.F., and I couldn't help it. There are some classics that I knew but needed in non-mixtape format ("Sister Nancy's "Bam Bam" and Althea & Donna's "Uptown Ranking) and tons of surprises, like Hopeton Lewis' amazing "Take It Easy." Some of the covers I don't need, but how could Randy's Allstars have known that the "Mission Impossible" theme would get blown out? I heard you can't go wrong with this series, and this CD does not disappoint with its choice selections of reggae, rocksteady, and funk.
posted by gr at
11:43 AM
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