Thought I'd send something for you kids to read, as I've just been too busy
to write an actual letter to you!
All these and more can be found @ The Kinda Muzik You Like
(http://www.kindamuzik.net).
Reactions are most welcome!
Alex
LEE HAZLEWOOD: 13
Smells Like Records
Depending on who you ask, Lee Hazlewood is either a bonafide musical genius
or a washed-up, sub-par Neil Diamond wannabe. Last year, after a handful of
re-releases of hard-to-come-by albums on Smells Like Records (owned by Sonic
Youth's Steve Shelley), Hazlewood took to the stage for the annual Meltdown
festival in London, performing to an array of guests, including most of
Belle and Sebastian and Jarvis Cocker. Hazlewood is cult.
Best known as the songwriter who penned classics such as 'Sand', 'These
Boots Were Made For Walkin'', and 'Some Velvet Morning', Hazlewood also
discovered and produced artists such as Gram Parsons, Duane Eddy, and Nancy
Sinatra. Freeing himself from the constraints of the American music
business, he settled in Sweden in the early 1970s and proceeded to release a
string of solo recordings on his own LHI label and the Swedish label Viking.
'13', originally released on Viking in 1972, is the fifth Hazlewood release
on Smells Like Records, and it marks a departure from the sound of his
previous work. Clocking in at a mere 25 minutes, '13' is drenched in a
boozy, after-hours bar mood, as you find yourself coming down from that last
double Scotch. An exuberant and joyful, yet laid-back, horn section frames
nine song vignettes with texts reminiscent of the finest cheap pulp novellas
you'll ever have the pleasure of finding. Titles such as 'Tulsa Sunday'
allude to the smooth and melancholia-tinged stories Hazlewood tells: stories
of disenfranchised losers, their loves, and their demons, while the music
brings Hazlewood's dark tales from the open and lonely road into the blazing
lights of the nightclub circuit.
'13' is an ideal starting-off point for the uninitiated listener and a sheer
beauty to listen to.
__________________________________________________________________________
SONIC YOUTH: SYR 4: GOODBYE 20TH CENTURY
Sonic Youth Recordings
After about ten minutes into the first track of this double-disc collection,
Kim Gordon softly moans, "... And I just got up, and I just bolted. You
know, it just wasn't cool to stay around." After about ten minutes into
the first track of this double-disc collection, this is exactly what my cat
decided to do. No, it definitely just wasn't cool to stay around.
There are those out there who claim that Sonic Youth are past their sell-by
date, washed up and sucking the cock of major-label commerce. In short:
They've gone soft. Well, to those nay-sayers and unbelievers, I can
recommend you buy this record. 'Goodbye 20th Century' is a 2-CD helping of
avant-noise by such composers as John Cage, Steve Reich, and the ever-lovely
Yoko Ono. This record makes Japanese noise terrorists Merzbow sound like S
Club 7; it makes having your fingernails slowly and painfully extracted a
viable option for a quiet and peaceful Sunday afternoon.
Personally, I have a hard time reviewing a record such as this. Is it
genius, or is it just pants? Are they taking artistic liberties, or are
they just taking the piss? It's a tough call, but suffice it to say that
Sonic Youth - along with a caliber of guests including Jim O'Rourke - do
what they do well. Clocking in at over 100 minutes, this fourth release on
the band's own label is well thought-out and nothing if not thorough. Song
titles such as '+-', 'Having Never Written A Note For Percussion', and
'Piano Piece #13 (Carpenter�s Piece) For Nam June Paik' give you a rough
idea of the territory you'll be venturing into. This last piece is also
included as a video on the first CD, and the whole composition entailed
hammering all the keys on a piano down with nails.
Sell-outs? Ha!
__________________________________________________________________________
SAVATH+SAVALAS
FOLK SONGS FOR TRAINS, TREES AND HONEY
Hefty Records
Savath+Savalas are not a duo. Savath+Savalas is the alter ego of another
electronic project called Delarosa+Asora, which is - yes, you guessed it -
also not a duo. Savath+Savalas is Scott Herren, one man with a unique and
refined sound.
Recorded in various bedrooms in the Atlanta area and in Brooklyn, 'Folk
Songs for Trains, Trees and Honey' is a mellifluous trip into sound
experience. Electronic, yet full of soul, it was Herren's desire to create
a record "simplistic and organic without a heavy reliance on computers and
machines."
Most of the nine tracks were played live, and everything flows simply,
subtly, and smoothly like a wide and dark river into the pleasant realm of
anticipation. At times reminiscent of Boards of Canada's 'Music Has the
Right to Children', 'Folk Songs for Trains, Trees and Honey' - even the
title is not cold, but reassuringly warm - is as progressive as it is
retrospective, with elements of R&B, Soul, and Hip Hop underpinning the main
structure.
A beautiful album, full of burbling bleeps and babbling brooks.
__________________________________________________________________________
THE ALUMINUM GROUP
INTRODUCING...
Marina Recordings
Charles Eames' chairs are renowned the world over for their sleekness and
stylishness, providing a welcome hint of yesteryear nostalgia while
maintaining a comfy and familiar feel. Taking their name from one of Eames'
most famous chair designs, the Aluminum Group couldn't have picked a better
moniker to describe their luscious and tr�s-hip sounds.
The Chicago band, formed around brothers Frank and John Navin, have released
three albums to date: 'Wonder Boy Plus', 'Plano', and 'Pedals'.
'Introducing...', on the excellent German label Marina, is the group's first
release outside of the US, and it's a welcome introduction at that.
Culling the dreamiest, choicest tracks from each album, 'Introducing...' is
a perfect acquaintance with the Aluminum Group. The brothers Navin were
raised on a musical diet of Burt Bacharach, Jimmy Webb, the Carpenters, and
the Association. Wearing their influences on their sleeve with pride, they
present twelve effortlessly cool, smooth, and quite beautiful pocket
symphonies of sheer bliss. This compilation is a pure melange of shimmering
acoustic guitars, sweeping string arrangements, and gentle horn parts,
topped off with recklessly soulful and heartfelt vocals.
Sit back while songs of stunning beauty such as 'Byzantium', 'The Mattachine
Society', and 'Chocolates' melt languorously on your tongue. Featuring
contributions by Jim O'Rourke, Sean O'Hagan of the High Llamas, and Doug
McCombs of Tortoise, 'Introducing...' is the first perfect album of this
new-born Spring. Avant-pop made in heaven.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+-------------------- new york, london, paris, tokyo ----------------+
+------------------ everybody talk about... popjourno! -------------+
+------------------- http://www.pulped.co.uk/popjourno --------------+
+--------- to send a message to the list, please address it to ------+
+----------------------- [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------+
+--------- declarations of love, presents, and otherwise saucy ------+
+-------- e-correspondence should be sent directly to the list ------+
+------------------- mummy at [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------+
+------------- popjourno currently has over 150 subscribers ---------+
+------------------------ (most of them lurkers). -------------------+
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
