silence is a rhythm too

Thursday 10/31
RIP Jam Master Jay | RIP Paul Wellstone

Tuesday 10/29
I picked up the new SIMIAN album We Are Your Friends today.One spin and I'm impressed.Where the last album was a dark and brooding blend of electronics and psychedelic rock and Brit pop,this one has gone all bright and shiny filled with one catchy pop tune after another.There are some very r'n'b/hip hop flavored beats and lots of squelchy electronica bits.I have to admit my jaw dropped on first listen because it really sounds very different from it's predecessor,and it wasn't the direction I expected.I think I'm going to like this one a lot!


Sunday 10/27
Matador Records have reissued PAVEMENT's debut Slanted & Enchanted as a remastered 2 disc set,subtitled Luxe & Reduxe.Along with the original classic you get some tracks from the Slanted sessions,2 John Peel sessions,the Watery Domestic EP and tracks from those sessions,and a full live set recorded in 1992 at London's Brixton Academy.There is a nice booklet full of art and musings.This is one of the great albums of the '90's,and is one everyone should own!

MEAT BEAT MANIFESTO are back with a new album called RUOK?.Jack Dangers is a true pioneer of the electronic scene,having been around for the last 20 years,and IMO is one of the most under-rated artists around.The new record is full of his trademark phat beats and dubby basslines,and also features the considerable turntable skills of DJ Z-Trip and some help from Alex Patterson of The Orb.My copy of it also came with a cool little CD3",with a little movie on it and 3 bonus cuts.


Wednesday 10/23
LEMONJELLY's Lost Horizons has had a few spins now and is a great little package,starting out with the sharp cover art,which is similar in style to their previous release.Musically it's not a huge shift from the .KY set.Quirky,lush,eccentric,funky,phat and funny are all applicable here.These guys really have a unique approach to electronica/dance music that I find very refreshing,going from dubby downtempo to jazzy uptempo,and filled with wacky samples.
Gotta say that I'm also really digging One By One,the new FOO FIGHTERS disc.Tight,catchy raging rock tunes.Dude.

Tuesday 10/22
More Massive Attack news HERE.The new record is due in January,and they've apparently gone back into the studio to work on a follow up due out later in the year.

Some new stuff out today that has really caught my ear...LEMONJELLY's Lost Horizons,SAINT ETIENNE's Finisterre and the new mixed compilaton from TIM'LOVE'LEE called It's All Good.


Monday 10/21
AMON TOBIN's new record Out From Out Where is a good record,full of the dark rhythmic turmoil he does so well.I have to say that it's a much more electronic sounding record than the previous ones,especially the beats.I don't know,but I kind of miss the more organic feel his music has had.Also,there are moments on here that sound a bit retread-y...a co-worker of mine commented today during one of tracks "This could be Deo Part 2",and he was right.So,thumbs up,but not really a huge leap or improvement on Supermodified.
*New music is up at Sample The Goods


Saturday 10/19
I had a little too much fun at a wedding reception last night.I'm too hung over to sit here and do my usual Saturday updating.I'm listening to Anna by ANNA WARONKER.She used to be in That Dog,who I really liked.She's got a great voice,and she rocks.I liked this from the first listen.
The latest Back To Mine is out,compiled by NEW ORDER.It starts off with Captain Beefheart,and features VU,Doves,Roxy Music,and The Groundhogs.In between it all are dance classics from Primal Scream,Mantronix,Joey Beltram,and Cat Stevens' Was Dog A Doughnut?.Much like it's compilers,it's a nice mix of rock and dance.


Thursday 10/17
A co-worker of mine had a box of records to sell,so I had a quick rummage and came out 38 records richer than I was.Some really great shit too,like Meat Beat Manifesto's 'Armed Audio Warfare',a couple of old Brian Eno albums,The Selecter's 'Celebrate The Bullet',The B-52's Whammy!,a David Sylvian double LP,and some other stuff by Madness,X,The Untouchables,David Bowie,ATribeCalledQuest and then a bunch more.50 cents a piece.Wow,what a deal.I'm in vinyl heaven.


Monday 10/14
Tomorrow's big releases are Röyksopp & Amon Tobin.
I'd also like to recommend CASSIUS' Au Reve,a fun record.I've read a few disparaging reviews,bit I like it.It's the funky French house/party thing,and features guest vocals from Wu-Tang's Ghostface Killah.Crazy.
Hearing the sample of DEVO's Mongoloid on Layo&Bushwacka!'s 'Love Story' made me want to hear digital clarity over scratchy vinyl,so I picked up the latest Devo greatest-hits-package CD THE ESSENTIALS.What a great band and great songs.When I played this at work everybody was feeling it!


Saturday 10/12
I saw CLINIC & Apples In Stereo last night.The Apples made a raucous,joyful noise,and clearly looked like they were enjoying themselves.Their new album is a short,sharp burst of power punk pop,and so was the live show.Kept me smiling the whole way.CLINIC were pretty much what I'd thought they'd be.Dressed in their scrubs & masks,they attacked their set with tight precision.No chit chat between songs,just the titles.They sounded pretty amazing,and for such a minimal combo they could make quite a racket.The whole thing was kind of spooky,but that's kind of why I dig 'em.


Thursday 10/10
Next week sees the US release of the RÖYKSOPP album Melody AM,almost a full year after it's European release.Astralwerks is issuing it as a 2 disc set,with the second disc being four remixes and a couple of videos.For those of you who don't know,this is,IMO,the best electronic record of 2001.It doesn't really sound like anyone else,and it covers all styles,from spacy downtempo to funky electro and house.Go buy this record.


Wednesday 10/9
I'm going to see CLINIC on Friday,and APPLES IN STEREO are the openers.Their new album Velocity Of Sound jumped right out of the speakers at me.Gone is the shiny polish of the last couple of records,and in it's place is a loud,scratchy punk record.Now,the tweeness they do so well is still there,it's just bathed in angry noise instead of whimsical psychedelia.I'm digging it,and it bodes well for the show.

I also picked up TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS' The Last DJ,and on a couple of plays I'd have to say that I really like it.There are some scathing lyrics aimed at the music biz,some pretty catchy songs (the title track),and plenty of Beatle-esque moments,and the production is really nice and clean.

*New Wave Photos*