This is a mix that I’ve put together, in an order that I feel is suiting, from the music that I have recently been listening to. All the album links go to the Discogs website for information.
1. “Untitled” by Interpol from Turn On the Bright Lights
This is from one of my favorite albums. Each individual song seems to grow with each listen. Interpol’s a band that is clearly based in simplistic, riff-centered rock; however, they often delve off into sound experiments between all of their instruments. This track is an excellent example of this and offers a calm beginning to the album.
2. “Sweet Love for Planet Earth” by the Fuck Buttons from Street Horrrsing
I’ve been listening to this track from off their MySpace Page and am thoroughly impressed. The track is lengthy, but sonically very rich. The subdued and distorted screaming even falls into place. From what I’ve heard, they use toy keyboards and gameboys among their instruments.
3. “Graveyard Girl” by M83 from Saturdays = Youth
I love the song, but I could really do with out the bland monologue in the center of it. It’s a nice departure from M83s previous dwelling in complete ambience. It’s nice to have songs with a bit of direction, yet retaining the overwhelming sonic intensity using the synths.
4. “Destroy Everything You Touch (Hot Chip Remix)” by Ladytron from the Destroy Everything You Touch Single
An excellent remix of an already great song. Hot Chip adds their chirps, bells, and claps to Ladytron’s heavy synths.
5. “Sometimes” by My Bloody Valentine from Loveless
The layered guitar effect in this song is simply beautiful. The voice works as another soothing instrument. One of the best songs from the late 1980s/early 1990s.
6. “Playhouses” by TV on the Radio from Return to Cookie Mountain
This song is from a great album released in 2006 from TV on the Radio. This song in particular offers ambient guitars over diverse beats and voices. I particularly enjoy the change in the singer’s voice from a very dead pan singing to high octave harmonies.
7. “Just Like Honey” by The Jesus and Mary Chain from Psychocandy
Like the My Bloody Valentine song, this was also featured on the Lost in Translation Soundtrack. This track, while less dreamy than “Sometimes,” elicits peaceful feelings.
8. “Spring Hall Convert” by Deerhunter from Cryptograms
I really don’t have too much to say about this track, other than I find it rather interesting. It seems to decay from dynamic to ambient by the end, which is quite cool.
9. “Turnstile Blues” by Autolux from Future Perfect
The complex drums that start the song off are key and do well to contrast the light vocals and guitars. I love the blending of the voices during the chorus.
10. “Everyday” by The Field from From Here We Go Sublime
As it stands, this is a very minimalist techno/dance track, but this also seems to be its strength. I’ve found that I’ve had this song stuck in my head frequently while walking around. Roughly at this 2:30, the initial beat changes into a beautiful sound environment.
11. “Cocceesville” by Cex from Exotical Privates
Cex is a very distinct artist, sampling many things including sex sound effects from pornography (not in this track though). This track starts out with a jungle/tribal feel and slowly draws in strings to give it an epic quality, while retaining the original base.
It snowed up in Door County this past weekend, although it’s clear into April. I spent the weekend walking and getting lost between the trees and the snow. I also managed to read In the City of the Disappeared by Tom Hazuka. It was about a Peace Corps volunteer teaching baseball to kids in Santiago, Chile during the Pinochet era. I enjoyed it quite a bit, especially the tension between the Peace Corps volunteers and the overall environment.
On a different note, Charles Baxter, a well-known short story author, is coming to Lawrence this week to talk and read from his latest novel (interestingly enough). We read A Relative Stranger for Creative Writing, and I enjoyed his portrayals of suburban life. I ordered a first edition of The Feast of Love, which has won some prestigious awards, and am getting it signed. It should be a good week, save trying to fill out JET stuff for being an Alternate and putting together my Spanish major portfolio.
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I love Wisconsin weather for the most part and I especially adore the cooler weather, but I really just don’t feel like it today. It’s been a long winter…there is a place I’d rather be right now…
I’m currently reading Tolstoy’s “War and Peace” for a class on Russian texts. We’ve had to read about 100pgs for each class period. Our professor asked us: “Is it worth losing sleep and meals over?” So far I haven’t done either, well maybe a bit of sleep, but it isn’t anywhere near as painful as imagined and I quite enjoy it. The other day, I just sat on a stationary cycle for an hour and read.
