- New Order - Power, Corruption and Lies. I'd always avoided New Order because I only knew them from their big shiny hits that I couldn't avoid in 1988 (Blue Monday, True Faith, Bizarre Love Triangle, etc.). I thought they were just a synthpop band, like a sunnier Depeche Mode. But, I recently saw some old footage from a live show they did in 83 or something and was kinda blown away. Also, I was kinda like "Oh, so The Cure aren't sui generis. Hmm!" So I picked this up. It's from 1983, their second album as New Order, and still has a lot of the dark and minimal Joy Division sound (but with better vocals). And to that, it adds synthpop, and actual joy, something that Joy Division was a little short on. 5 eggplants.
- Parquet Courts - Human Performance. My favorite new band. Today, anyway. They're clearly fans of so many of my favorite old bands, all those smart punks of yesteryear: Pavement, VU, Modern Lovers, Devo. And with that as their base, they write songs with noisy snarling droning barking guitars, clever deadpan vocals and metronomic rhythms. This one is a more fleshed-out and varied than 2012's Light Up Gold (the only other album I have from them). But it's still scrappy and gritty and smart and very NYC. 4 eggplants.
Parquet Courts - Dust (Official Video)
- Kendrick Lamar - good kid, m.A.A.d city. My quest to find rap that I like but which didn't come out in 1993 continues. And this will probably be among my favorites. Lamar's lyrics are impressively clever and perceptive, and the tracks mostly avoid the modern hiphop cliche of minor key strings stretched over big fat dance beats. Sometimes a little too much boasting for my taste (something that's unavoidable even with the best rappers), but otherwise it's very good. I hear he has a new record out. I should look into it. 4 eggplants.
Kendrick Lamar - Backseat Freestyle (Explicit)
Plus, booty.
U?
Where do I start?
Well, it’s a great time to be a Radiohead fan. Two beautiful – and very different – new tracks, both with great videos (Burn the Witch! Trumpton vs. The Wicker Man) ***and an album due in 48 hours. I may just explode.***
And I’ve “discovered” LCD Soundsystem! Just how I got this far probably means I should listen to more radio. Anyway I purchased all three studio albums a few weeks ago and love them all with “Sound of Silver” my current favourite. Just awesome.
The new PJ Harvey record rocks so give it a go. She’s come in for some criticism for some of the observations and I’ll admit some of the lyrics are a tad confused but it’s an excellent set of tunes.
I’ve also dived into Tame Impala. “Lonerism” is so good it hurts although it wasn’t love at first listen. The more recent record “Currents” is all synthy and requires more effort but it is worth it.
Got into some Beck too, as I was missing “Sea Change” in my collection. Now I see where “Morning Phase” came from. LOL.
New Order eh? Good man. Low Life has to be next Cleek. It’s terrific.
I also hear good things about Parquet Courts and it’s on the list.
LCD Soundsystem. yeah, good band. i only have “This Is Happening”, but it’s a lot of fun.
i’ve been rockin Tame Impala’s “Innerspeaker” for a few weeks on my phone. recently saw them on TV doing some German festival – most impressed that they can get that sound right outside the studio.
haven’t heard the new Radiohead stuff yet. i’ll do that now…