Since i’m a lazy bastard and still haven’t gotten around to having a “Now Playing” section over there in our linkbar, I figured I’d drop a post about some new goodies I got. Also, Marcy told me to do it, and she’s pretty much always right.

The most spins have gone to a record I picked up totally on a whim. My boy Kobi is all “Dude, check out disc 1 in the listening station… track 2.” Brazilian Girls is a really eclectic mix of influences. It’s the kind of music I almost wish got labeled world music, because it really pulls in bits and pieces of musical culture from all over. But not in a fake-hippie, new age kind of way. The signer, Sabina, is sensual and full of expression in all of the 5 languages that she sings on the record. The music is varied, from noir-ish riffs with jazz drums and purposeful bass to poppy electro dance. This is a record that forces you to realize the limitations of genres and so on. I’m not nearly literate enough to express myself the way I’d like to, but suffice it to say, this is a record to hear. I fully expect that it’ll end up on my top 10 for 2005.

Next is a record by a band called Muse… the blurb I read compared them to Radiohead circa ‘The Bends’. I’m not sure how much I agree with that, but I guess I hear it in places. It’s a very solid record, with plenty of dynamics from track to track (which may be much of the reason for the radiohead comparison). There’s some soaring, almost operatic songs (Sing for Absolution), right next to pretty shredded rocking (Stockholm Syndrome), all of which are technically well produced and interesting. The record really does sound like it’d fit in around the mid 90’s, which could be a detriment for some folks, but I kinda dig that… it lets me be progressive and retro at the same time, and the music is freaking good, so whatever.

I was gonna write about a third, but it’s getting late so I’ll just mention it and let you check it out for yourselves. The band name is Ratatat, and you can find ‘em on iTunes. It’s intrumental electronic/rock… conceptually kind of like The Fucking Champs, but more digital and substantially less metal. I actually heard them as a transition snippet on Marketplace (NPR, yeah, I know, I’m old and lame) and looked up the name on the MP web site, and then iTunes. It’s not really the most compelling shit to just sit and listen to, but it’s perfect background for coding or writing. The track that hooked me was number 2, El Pico, because it’s kind of evocative of the J. Ralph song “One Million Miles Away”. That’s the track, for those who don’t know, that was featured in the best advertisement of all time, “Big Day” for the 2001 VW Jetta. He’s on iTunes too, if you’re interested.

I guess I ended up writing about it after all. Enjoy, kiddies.

Sunday, March 6th, 2005 @ 11:33 pm Records
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