I'm going to see Ha Ha Tonka at the 7th Street Entry on Wednesday. Anyone else?
Category Archives: Friday Music Day
Friday Music Day: Oct 11, 2013
I mentioned Emot last January, and I'm really digging this EP that the song was from.
Particularly the song "Lifting Off" (#2).
It's about drugs. But just not drugs, there's some nostalgia and regret in there. Country-tinged, psychedelic, moody. Is this what the Grateful Dead sound like to their fans? Except I don't wanna see gummi bears, I wanna watch an epic space anime (with the depth of Voices of a Distant Star) with this as the soundtrack.
They'll have a new album soon, I'm told. I think that the second album is better than the first, and the EP better than the second album, so I'm excited to hear what they come up with.
Friday Music Day: Oct 4, 2013
Peter Tosh's Legalize It. I owe my owning of it to some anti-prohibitionist views held much more strongly in my youth (and The Nice Price discount), but leave aside the first track and you've got eight tracks that are some fantastic reggae, and I've been listening to this a lot more over the past few years than I have anything from Tosh's more famous former bandmate. I think Tosh has more character depth in his voice (tad more "this guy's lived something and really believes these crazy ideas" than "this guy is a good singer"). While his singing is clear enough, but with enough Jamaican patois and nonstandard grammar to make unpacking his lyrics a challenging but not impossible puzzle. (Earlier this week I mentioned to E-6 how I enjoyed parsing Boomhauer's lines on "King of the Hill", this is similar.)
The tracks behind his vox are probably the highlight for me, kindof sounds like the pinnacle of the early 70's reggae sound (is that "Roots Reggae"?). After this point, Bob's records showed some London polish and subtle disco influences leak in. Tosh, too. And there was a rise in groups with a later sound like Black Uhuru, or the American-influenced songs on Darker Than Blue.
(I'm not a reggae historian, this is just the feel I get out of listening to these things now and piecing together a timeline.)
But the tracks on Legalize It really have none of that overt influence, and I'd be happy with just the instrumentals alone. There's a "Legacy Edition" reissue that has a whole disk with "Tosh's Original Jamaican Mix" or something that hits me as even better (thicker drums? grittier bass?). I've basically blind-tested myself, when I have my iPod on shuffle and a track from the album makes me say "Dang!", I look at which version it is, and it's invariably one of the older unreleased mixes.
Anyways, if you're looking for branching out on some reggae past Bob Marley, you've now got my recommendation.
Now leave your random ten.
Friday Music Day: September 27, 2013
1. Ha Ha Tonka has a new album out, which in a major stylistic shift does not feature alliteration in the title. Which is Lessons. I've completely dug the four tracks that were made available on different services before the release, but it's almost like those were the singles, as the other ten tracks are subtler and I just haven't been able to give them my full attention yet. The band is now on tour and you should go see them as they have never disappointed live and I've seen them 13 times now. (I got a complimentary beer coozie at my 12th show.)
Minneapolis: Oct 23, 7th Street Entry. I can buy you a ticket if you want.
Chicago: Nov 30, Lincoln Hall.
No dates for Madison or Buffalo or anywhere else that I know for sure where interested WGOMers may be situated. Check their site for more details.
2. Axel Wilner is about to release his fourth album as The Field, which in a major stylistic shift has a blackish album cover. You can listen to the whole thing here. I'm about halfway in as I type this and it seems... similar.
3. OK, now you can share your random ten list below or talk about other music things or whatever.
4. I typed this on Thursday around noon. If I think of anything else, I'll use more numbers.
Friday Music Day: Sept 20, 2013
I fell asleep listening to the end of the Twins game, so I didn't write anything up for this.
I've been listening to a lot of Peter Tosh and the preview Tracks from Ha Ha Tonka's upcoming Lessons, which I'm quite excited for. Oh, I'm going to see Zola Jesus & the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra on Sunday Night.
Riot Fest Recap
I was suppose to write a Father Knows Best post today but a couple of things are still in flux that I want to include so I promise I'll have one out in the next 2-3 weeks. I hope that doesn't step on anyone's toes. In its place here is a recap of my time at Riot Fest this past weekend. Continue reading Riot Fest Recap
Friday Music Day, Sept 13, 2013
When I first discovered Bonnie "Prince" Billy, I quickly went through his back catalog only with a general idea of the order and timing of the releases. When I heard the title track from Ease Down the Road:
I took her on a simple trip
To see her husband's family
And on the way upon her hip
Was laid my head down gently
Friday Music Day: September 6, 2013.
Despite how put off I was by the radio edit of "The Red Wing", so far I'm less disappointed with the F--- Buttons' Slow Focus than I thought I'd be.
Friday Music Day: Summer’s Over, 2013
Towards my embarassment, I partially answer nibbish's challenge from the Tuesday gamelog:
Stop, drop, KABOOM!, baby time for some victuals.
Some call me Lutefisk, some call me "stink that wiggles".
Far from simple, make ya German friends giggle.
Get 'em under control, with taste that makes your tummy tickle
Jell-O jiggles, My scent makes your nose wrinkle.
But with a little Gjetost, I'll make ya mouth dribble.
I stopped it there because it was getting really lame.
Anyway, please share ten random songs from your music device or service.
Or take the Ludafisk challenge yourself!
Friday Music Day: August 23, 2013
Penultimate FMD of the Summer. Let's make it count, folks!