moth wranglers
Never Better
Here we are at the end of 2004. (2003 is back here.) Time to give you all the answer you know you've been asking yourself. No, not “Do you think I should get this rash checked?” but “Brad, what have you been listening to this past year?” If for some reason you don’t have a CD listed, you can do your part to support the artists and buy one!
The tracks are only in order of how I want to convey them to you. This isn’t a countdown of how much I like them. They’re all #1! Oh.. and yes. The list is completely biased. That’s what makes them my favorites.
Click on the album art to buy it. Click on the song title to listen to a sample. Some are mp3, some are Windows Media. Try your luck.
If you know anything about me at all, you'd know this is an obvious choice for many reasons. All that stuff aside, this really is my absolutely favorite song from 2004. Dudley Klute drapes a velvet vocal atop of LD’s already lush sound (contrasted nicely via production). Jeff Potts joins Chris Xefos on providing the groove on drums and Wurlitzer electric piano, respectively. Also present are melodica, cello, and even a theramin help this song slink along. Absolutely beautiful.
I had the pleasure of seeing PJ Harvey this year. Let’s just say that there is a very good reason she is in my top 5 favorite solo artists of all time. This song in particular showcases her voice nicely.
Wes is just great. He always delivers interesting lyrics and pleasing melodies. I guess you could call him the British Elvis Costello.
25 Suaves are having an identity crisis - and I love it. They've gone from no wave noise to balls-out rock and now full-on heavy metal. Pete still delivers more wattage out of his guitar than anyone I've ever heard. Fumie, a petite flower of a Japanese girl, pounds the skins like she's using sledge hammers. Now a 3-piece, they are joined by ex-Melvins (who HASN’T been in The Melvins?) bassist Dave Sahijdak.
I was a little weary of this record when I bought it. I was getting a little bored with his songs as of recent, but this one takes him a step further into the noise category and I’m all for that!
Here’s my exception for the year. This song came out in July of 2003, but too bad. You need to hear it now if you didn’t then. As much as I wish this was a cover of Petula Clark, it isn’t - but it is still every bit as wonderful. Mahi Mahi hail from Providence and encompass everything I like about electronic music. The influences of Devo and The Residents are evident. In typical Providence fashion, they are a two-piece consisting of drums and keys, and apparently, the singer is constantly drowning. You’ll understand when you listen.
If I was even a tiny bit more insane than I am, I would quit my job and follow Björk around and listen to every single sound she makes. I fall in love with her more and more every time I hear her. The perfect combination of vocals, electronics and noise. Be still my beating eardrums.
I honestly thought this was an Add N To (X) song when I heard it (up to the human vocals). Mission Of Burma has managed to pick up right where they left off (hence “ONoffON”). No one delivers a solo like Roger Miller. All hail Mission Of Burma. (As a side-note, my spell checker suggested “monotone” for ONoffOn. tee hee)
Sorry no picture or link to buy as it isn't available for sale. My folk/country/gospel/whatever pick of the year. Ahh.. the magical bitter concoction of tears and beer.
Musical mastermind, Doug Hilsinger has broken down Brian Eno’s “Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)” and reconstructed it in an absolutely beautiful way. Caroleen Beatty adds to the beauty byb lending her voice to the project. While you listen, keep in mind that Doug did this in his spare time just for fun. Can you say obsessive-compulsive?
Tortoise has produced a gorgeous record. Jazz mixed with the oerfect amount of electronics. Nice on a lazy Sunday morning.
I’ve been a Skinny Puppy fan since I first heard “Assimilate” all those years ago. Mark Walk has replaced the late, great Dwane Goettel and it shows. Finally, my dream has come true. My favorite producer (Walk) joins my favorite electronic musician (key) and one of my favorite vocalists/noise-makers (Ogre). But, guys... enough with the theatrics, already. ok? If I want drama, I’ll watch TNT.
Admittedly, I don’t know much about this song. I can’t even remember where I got it, but I really like it. Maybe it’s my middle-eastern ancestory coming out, but I feel drawn to it.
One of the greatest things that happened to me personally in music this year was the release of Garage Band from Apple. Bundled with their other fantastic software in the iLife package, you can now make the songs you’ve been hearing in your head. So for $49 (iLife) and a USB keyboard ($99), you’ve got all you need. Oh, yeah.. you need a Mac, as well.
A frightening aural scrapbook of countless loops and clips from television news casts, telephone conversations and radio broadcasts related to a midwestern 16 year old's murderous rampage resulting in the slaying of his entire family with an axe. The alleged catalyst for the brutal killings? Negativland's "Christianity Is Stupid" off their 1987 release "Escape From Noise." The band found themselves unable to tour, held captive by the drama surrounding the case. Their connection to the murders was later revealed as a hoax — effortlessly perpetuated by mass media hysteria and fact-checking negligence. Sadly more relevant now than the original release, the reissue contains updated artwork and details of how the story unfolded. Buy two. Send one to Dan Rather.