Since it ain't no music blog without regular "What I'm Listening To Now" posts, I thought I'd list my most recent CD acquisitions here. Many of these were catch-up purchases -- records I'd intended to buy when they were first released, but for various reasons (usually a lack of funds) passed on. Some are from bands I've heard live but never checked out their studio output. Some are "legitimizing" purchases of albums where I've already heard most of the tracks at a friend's apartment, or on Pandora, or through [ahem] "other means." And one was me finally caving to overwhelming peer pressure, online and off -- "No, no, the record's genius, you have to check it out... " See if you can guess which.
If anyone has any particular desire to know what I think of any of these records, let me know in comments. And, yes, I know I'm long overdue for a review of The Cellar Door, but that's an intense and time-consuming project, and I know y'all don't want me to do it half-assed. (Also, I vaguely recall that I'm supposed to be writing music at some point, not just blogging...) But it's coming, I swear.
I also really need to devote some pixels to the Complete Mumbles and Grumbles set, 2005's most overlooked reissue.
"Since it ain't no music blog without regular "What I'm Listening To Now" posts"
Really? Damn, I never do any, maybe I should start.
*Both* Lizz Wright albums? Are they worth it?
While the Kneebody doesn't always gel, IMO, repeated listens increased my appreciation of it.
I have yet to get to Sufjan Stevens and "Semi-Formal" thrilled me on first listen, but I haven't been back for more yet.
Posted by: mwanji | 12 March 2006 at 08:52 AM
yeah- I want to hear what you think of semi-formal... Not that I have a vested interest or anything.
Posted by: ted | 12 March 2006 at 12:37 PM
Mwanji,
My friend, singer Julie Hardy, played Salt for me in its entirely right when it first came out, and I was completely blown away by Lizz's voice and musicianship. As far as I'm concerned, she's the real deal. I haven't had the chance to sit down with Dreaming Wide Awake yet, but I'm very much looking forward to it -- regardless of whether or not I like the choice of material or the way it's produced, I always get a thrill from Lizz's singing.
Also, I should also mention at this point that I've been hired to write some orchestral arrangements for a concert with Lizz and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra next year. This is a project I'm very excited about -- in fact, I pitched the idea to the ASO the day after I first heard Salt, and so it's very satisfying that it's finally come to fruition and I get to be a part of it.
Posted by: DJA | 12 March 2006 at 04:19 PM
Hi Ted!
The short answer is that I think Semi-Formal is totally killing, but I'd be happy to describe the precise contours of its killingness in a later post.
Posted by: DJA | 12 March 2006 at 04:20 PM
heya. from the list. Thanks for introducing me to Claudia Quintet. delicate.
That tortoise album, Slint's spiderland and The mercury program was a soundtrack for good strech of my life. And I have to admit Portishead. What can I do, I am sap for certain type of voice.
Posted by: squashed | 15 March 2006 at 11:04 PM