• Gillian Welch - The Harrow And The Harvest. They're right back into their signature sound, as if that long gap since their last record, "Soul Journey", never happened. Right from the first notes, you know this is a Gillian Welch record, and that they didn't spend the last eight years doing something stupid like developing a new style, or getting really into electronica or whatever - which is great, cause what they do is perfect as it is. The first song, "Scarlet Town", sounds like it could've come from their first record; it's a cold and lonesome minor-key thing, cut from the same cloth as their "Rock Of Ages" and "Caleb Myer". Still, while their basic sound is intact, this album does stand apart from the rest. As a whole, it's much more laid back than previous records. There are a couple of songs that leap out at you ("Scarlet Town", "Tennessee", "Hard Times", and I really like the harmonies on "The Way It Will Be" - reminds me of "Deja Vu"-era CSNY), but most of the songs gently swing by, and can slip past nearly unnoticed, if you're not paying attention. So, it took me a while to really get into this. Now that I have: very nice. No, it's not as attention-grabbing as some of their other records, but flash isn't the only thing that goes into a good record. This is good in a different way. Glad they're back.
  Four raquos: »»»».

• The Budos Band - The Budos Band. This is a big "Afro-beat" band, who play funky 60's-style African soul instrumentals. Very groovy. I don't have a lot of experience with this kind of music, so I'm not exactly sure how to talk about it. But, I do like to listen to it...
  Three raquos: »»»».

• The Pixies - loudQUIETloud. This is a documentary movie about their 2004 reunion tour(s). The live concert footage is great, and I can't wait to see them in November. But it's the backstage/tour-bus stuff that really hits you: they are a crazy bunch of people. It's truly amazing that they managed to put out even one record, let alone as many as they have. And I could have done with fewer shots of Frank Black lounging around in his boxers. Though I do hereby lay claim to the idea for an "I ♥ Fat Frank Black" T-Shirt ( href ).
  Three raquos: »»»».

• A Tribe Called Quest - Beats, Rhymes, Life (album). It's not as thrilling as "Midnight Marauders" or "The Low End Theory", but it has a lot of good stuff. In hindsight, the smoother more soulful feel clearly points to where Q-Tip was going to go with his solo records, which I love. But, as a Tribe record, it's a little soft.
  Three raquos: »»»».

• A Tribe Called Quest - Beats, Rhymes, Life (movie). This is a documentary about the band by comedian, actor, director Michael Rapaport. It covers their entire career, from formation, to success, to decline, to break-up, and then their (inevitable, so it seems with bands these days) reunion shows. Lots of unflattering shots of some tough looking neighborhoods do a great job of conveying the feel of NYC; and the tons of interviews with people who were there, way back then, in the long long ago, in the late 80's/early 90's set up the hip hop scene in which ATCQ came up and thrived.

  While there's almost no explicit conflict in the Pixies' movie because they're all incapable of meaningful direct communication with each other, the Tribe is all about conflict, these days. Probably half the movie is about the conflict between Q-Tip (in-charge and confident, the star of the show) and his childhood friend, and co-founder, Phife (resentful and a bit insecure). Ali, and sometimes-member Jarobi, stand on the side lines shaking their heads in helpless dismay, as the other two bicker and complain. Great band, done in by that which kills all bands, in time: personalities.
  Four raquos: »»»».

See, hear, read anything interesting lately?