What are you listening to right now?

Otis Westinghouse · Post by **Otis Westinghouse** » Sun Feb 18, 2007 7:46 pm

Friend sent me this (Jim O'Rourke - Insignificance) + Eureka. I'd never heard him or of him. Friend is a big Sonic Youth fan, which is the link. Amazon has these notes:

'Self-described "cheerful misanthrope" Jim O'Rourke was schooled in the trenches of experimentalism and high-headed music theory, making music on computers before it was fashionable to do so. Since the late '90s, he's emerged as an all-star producer and sideman (serving as Sonic Youth's bassist on several tours) as well as a relatively prolific solo artist. Not to say that Jeff Tweedy of Wilco's involvement this time around (O'Rourke produced Wilco's 2002 release, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot) doesn't have anything to do with the sheer pop success/excess of Insignificance. Playing Robert Quine or Richard Lloyd to O'Rourke's warped Lou Reed/Matthew Sweet, Tweedy adds crunchy yet light guitar tones on the radio-ready opener, "All Downhill from Here," which is driven home by "woo-hoos" and a happy-go-lucky climax. Oddly enough, this track is a roots-rock rave-up recalling, at least in spirit, Rick Derringer's hit "Rock & Roll Hoochie Koo" or Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama." Add O'Rourke's formula of juxtaposing pleasant streams and shuffles of crystalline easy-listening with unpleasant lyrics (think of a subtler Elvis Costello or less sentimental Morrissey) and delicate John Fahey-esque guitar interplay (especially on the last track "Life Goes Off"), and what you get is a surprisingly ingratiating yet challenging record. O'Rourke may leave his tongue glued to his cheek so that fans and detractors alike can continue scratching their heads, but on Insignificance, it sounds like he's accepted that cruel lullaby pop is where it's at--at least for now.'

I love this! Inventive, interesting, pretty, pretty miserable, very hard to pin down who features large in his record collection, nicely produced. How nice to find something new from 7-8 years back to get excited about.

(Shame he didn't take over vocal duties on Yankee Hotel Foxtrot too - see Wilco thread! - would have made for a much better record!!)

verbal gymnastics · Post by **verbal gymnastics** » Mon Feb 19, 2007 4:48 am

The Jam - Extras

Otis Westinghouse · Post by **Otis Westinghouse** » Mon Feb 19, 2007 6:33 pm

From the same source as Jim O'Rourke:

Nice soundmeistering. I love the opener Teen Age Riot.

And right now:

http://hypem.com/search/hold%20steady/1/

Hold Steady were being raved about in yesterday's Observer review of live show. And I've seen similar elsewhere. It's kinda obvious sounding, but fun. But hold steady, they ain't Arcade Fire. Very listenable, though, and probably great live. Especially in a small sweaty venue.

Chrille · Post by **Chrille** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 10:28 am

Usually the one that last comes to mind when I decide which of my New Order albums to listen to, but it's certainly great still. Even like it better than Power, Corruption & Lies (which most fans seem to regard very highly)

Otis Westinghouse · Post by **Otis Westinghouse** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 5:54 pm

For me all their LPs are flawed, and all contain greatness, but the consistently strongest is Technique.

Gillibeanz · Post by **Gillibeanz** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 9:29 am

We are having new carpets laid, so furniture had to be moved and cupboards unpacked etc. and I came across some old LPs long forgotten. Am currently playing 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road' and thoroughly enjoying it!!

Next up 'Daltrey' by Roger Daltrey.

Post by **BlueChair** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 9:31 am

Who Shot Sam? · Post by **Who Shot Sam?** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 10:31 am

These three...

mood swung · Post by **mood swung** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 10:33 am

ALL at once?

Couples In Trouble - Robbie Fulks.

Who Shot Sam? · Post by **Who Shot Sam?** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 10:49 am

mood swung wrote:ALL at once?

Well, this week at least.

mood swung · Post by **mood swung** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 11:38 am

well, that's a relief. I remember [boringstoryalert] my two oldest kids standing on either side of me, both talking loudly at once and I had the distinct sensation of my brain trying to separate itself into two ears[/boringstoryalert].

Twangin' - Dave Edmunds

ReadyToHearTheWorst · Post by **ReadyToHearTheWorst** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 6:56 pm

Richard Thompson - (guitar /vocal)

ice nine · Post by **ice nine** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 10:54 pm

Neil Sedaka - Sedaka's Back

Reading the liner notes, I was surprised that Godley & Creme appear on this record.

Whatever happened to Elton's Rocket Record Company?

Mr. Average · Post by **Mr. Average** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 11:58 pm

"Briefcase Full of Blues" - The Blues Brothers. More than a novelty

strangerinthehouse · Post by **strangerinthehouse** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 7:18 am

verbal gymnastics · Post by **verbal gymnastics** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 8:35 am

The Magic Numbers - Live At The Forum 10th February 2007.

Post by **BlueChair** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 9:00 am

Roy Buchanan - "Sweet Dreams"

Ever since finally seeing The Departed a week ago, I've had this instrumental gem (a 1972 cover of the Don Gibson/Patsy Cline classic) that played over the closing credits stuck in my head. What a great guitar player... apparently he was something of a mentor to Robbie Robertson, his predecessor as guitarist for The Hawks. Not familiar with any of his other work, but am eager to check it all out.

mood swung · Post by **mood swung** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 11:02 am

Mr. Average · Post by **Mr. Average** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 11:08 am

I saw Lonesome Dave and the crew many years ago and it remains one of the best rock and roll shows ever. I still love the intensity of the album "Energized", and the seminal "Rock and Roll".

Meanwhile, I am listening to:

I am not sure it really ever gets any better than this 30 minutes of absolute bliss...musically speaking.

Boy With A Problem · Post by **Boy With A Problem** » Fri Feb 23, 2007 11:38 am

johnfoyle · Post by **johnfoyle** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 1:32 pm

Johnny Hartman/ John Coltrane......so good!

Like many others I discovered Johnny via Clint Eastwood's use of his songs in The Bridges of Madison County. Clint intelligently used some of Johnny's last recordings since they were most appropriate , though anachronistic , for the 1960's setting. Once In Every Life and This One's For Tedi , recorded in two one day sessions a few weeks apart in August 1980, are , in a way , tragic recordings. Recorded for tiny labels in limited time his voice never sounded better, with a real 'lived' in quality that brings out the meaning of the lyrics. However , lifelong cigarette smoking is a huge factor in that voice and would kill him three years later. I got Once In Every Life on vinyl just this week - it sounds awesome.

One of my 'fantasy projects' ( if, say , I won the lottery) would be to research and write about Johnny's life . However , what with most of his contempoarys dying and all that it seems like a unlikely prospect. For instance, he claimed to have recorded in England in the 1950's but no evidence of them seems available.

ReadyToHearTheWorst · Post by **ReadyToHearTheWorst** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 6:59 pm

Ry Cooder @ 60 - BBC Radio2 Documentary

Otis Westinghouse · Post by **Otis Westinghouse** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 4:38 am

Must find that on Listen Again. Observer Music Monthly gave the new LP a 5-star review, alongside Neon Bible. sounds great. I've loved most of his recent stuff, and think he's a great figure in music.

Jackson Monk · Post by **Jackson Monk** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 5:43 am

Ipod selection this morning

Aimee Mann - Calling it Quits
Trashcan Sinatras - Trouble Sleeping
Pogues - The Band Played Waltzing Matilda
Roddy Frame - The Coast
Graham Parker - Little Miss Understanding
Tom Waits - Cemetary Polka
The Streets - Such a Twat
Cloudbusting - Kate Bush
When She Woke - Ether
Accidents Will Happen - EC
From the Morning - Nick Drake
Wonderful Remark - Van
The Weight of my Words - Kings of Convenience
Don't try to stop it -Roman Holiday
Carnival 2000 - Prefab Sprout

Otis Westinghouse · Post by **Otis Westinghouse** » Mon Feb 26, 2007 7:24 am

I'm loving Regina Spektor's Begin To Hope. Love her voice.

http://hypem.com/search/fidelity%20regina/1/

Check out the way on Fidelity she sings 'better', or rather 'be'er', several times over to a climax two minutes in. I keep having to isolate the moment for my kids. We can't get enough. Funny and lovely at the same time. Wish I'd seen here when she played here not long back.

Also nice to see her do it solo at the piano (as she did on Radio 4's Loose Ends here the other week) here on Conan O'Brien (who is incredibly tall, you realise at the end).

http://youtube.com/watch?v=5aI-NB4pEtc