February 2005

Yeah, I've pretty much surrendered...

Filed under: Imported

...to this Antony and the Johnsons album, irritating Devandra Banhart cameo and all. "My Lady Story" is especially full o' soul.

Posted by Dylan Hicks at February 28, 2005 12:04 PM

The new Kings of Leon album...

Filed under: Imported

Posted by Dylan Hicks at February 25, 2005 12:13 AM

On Fred Hersch's new "Leaves of Grass" album

Filed under: Imported

Posted by Dylan Hicks at February 24, 2005 10:57 AM

Metal Not Up Your Ass Or Elsewhere

Filed under: Imported

In the fourth edition of the Rolling Stone Album Guide, released last year in time for the holidays, there is no entry for Metallica! The slight will not go unpunished.  Dbs fans are quietly stewing as well, but have plannned no direct actions.

Postcript: M. Matos of the Seattle Weekly notes that Kate Silver's review in said paper of the Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th edition) makes note of 'Tallicagate. Scooped again! I guess I'll still proceed with the book burning, but in general I haven't managed to get people too up in arms about this whole thing.

Posted by Dylan Hicks at February 21, 2005 8:23 AM

Early 2005 Favorites

Filed under: Imported

Here's a survey of the recorded music I've been enjoying during 2005. More explanations to follow. All rankings are subject to change until Jan. 1, 2006.

Albums

1. M.I.A., Arular
2. Mannie Fresh, The Mind of Mannie Fresh
3. Busdriver, Fear of a Black Tangent
4. Antony and the Johnsons, I Am a Bird Now
5. Happy Apple, The Peace Between Our Companies

(Somewhat) Honorable Mentions (In order of preference. I've gotten various degrees of enjoyment out of all of these, here and there. None are wholeheartedly recommended, but all include some very good music.) 

• Rahsaan Peterson, After Hours
• Dalek, Absence
• Jeff Parker, The Relatives
• Kathleen Edwards, Back To Me
• Clem Snide, End of Love
• Ol' Dirty Bastard, Osirus, the Official Mixtape (faves: "Pop Shots," "Dirty Dirty")
• John Legend, Get Lifted (Apex: "Number One." Nadir: "Ordinary People")
• The Chris Stamey Experience, A Question of Temperature

Singles

1. Interpol, "Evil"
2. 50 Cent, "Disco Inferno"
3. Akon, "Lonely"  
4. T.I., "Bring Em Out"
5. Fantasia, "Baby Mama"  
6. Usher, "Caught Up"

Honorable Mentions

Collections/Reissues

• Various Artists, World Psychedelic Classics 3: Love's a Real Thing--The Funky Fuzzy Sounds of West Africa
• Clifton Chenier, Louisiana Blues and Zydeco (debut album with some previously unreleased stuff)

I�m inclined to endorse (mildy, enthusiastically, it depends), but should spend more time with:

• The Letters Organize, Dead Rhythm Machine
• Sleater-Kinney, The Woods
• various artists, Run the Road

Notable album cuts from iffy (or worse) albums:

Thievery Corporation, "The Heart's a Lonely Hunter" and a few others from the rarely out-of-this-world The Cosmic Game

Brazilian Girls, "Pussy," and a few others from the enjoyable enough but problematic Brazilian Girls

Mark Geary, "Beautiful" from the othewise not terribly haunting Ghosts

2004 Albums I didn�t hear or fully appreciate until 2005
(A few late 2004 releases are included in categories above, mostly stuff that didn't arrive in my mailbox until January '05.)

• Dave Douglas/Loius Sclavis/Peggy Lee/Dylan van der Schyff, Bow River Falls
• Mos Def, The New Danger 
  

Posted by Dylan Hicks at February 20, 2005 9:40 AM

D-I-V-O-R-C-E

Filed under: Imported

Posted by Dylan Hicks at February 12, 2005 11:17 AM

Still not blogging

Filed under: Imported

And you can't make me.

Posted by Dylan Hicks at February 11, 2005 8:23 AM

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