Real Estate - Atlas

Rollie Agado March 14, 2014

Posted a small review for the album Atlas on the morning of March 14th and took it down so that the review can run on Bearded Gentlemen Music. I had to option of keeping the original post on this website or running it exclusively on BeardedGent and I opted for the latter.

It occurred to me last night that I don't really "review" albums here anyways... it try to share stories about how I added the album to my collection.

While attending SXSW last night, I stopped into Waterloo Records and scored a copy of the record. Domino Records really went all out with the print production of the record. The record has been shipped in a protective record sleeve and the printed copy of the record contains a postcard sized image providing more details on the sleeve art of the album.

I've been streaming the album for weeks now and have only one personal complaint. Despite repetitive listens... I have no idea what the album is about. It's pleasant to listen to but I truly don't know what the narrative theme is. Lyrically, there may be some songs that could be classified as "sad" but I don't necessarily feel that when I hear the record.

It's simply a great album to have on while doing things like - work or reading. Which puts it in league with albums such as: Miles Davis - Sketches of Spain and The Weakerthans – Reconstruction Site. Two albums I can simply have on and still devote my attention to a task without interruption.

I'm really curious to hear what others do while listening to the album tho'.

Stand out tracks:

Artists: Real Estate
Album: Atlas
Producer: Tom Schick
Label: Domino Records
Recorded: The Magic Shop

Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not

Rollie Agado February 9, 2014

Penning today's entry from the work desk... came into the office after the Market Meeting to get some additional things done on an ERP project we launch in 86 days.

Reached for a trusty album to give me the urgency I needed throughout the day.

Whatever People Say I AM, That's What I'm Not came at a time in my life when I didn't go out of my way to listen to a lot of music. I was in between residencies really... I had relocated all of my music to Texas by way of Detroit and when I moved from the valley to San Antonio, it took several months before I even displayed and catalogued my stuff.

My entire collection was kept in boxes and I didn't want to unbox any of it until I got proper shelving. This in turn, lowered my interest to buy anything that was coming out. I would occasionally make a few exceptions and did so when my friend Heather insisted I check them out.

I'm not sure how someone doesn't immediately fall in love with their blistery delivery... Take for example the song "Still Take You Home". If you listen closely, you can imagine seeing them performing this live and feeling the floor underneath you give way.

I can't stress how fucking brilliant the lyrics are on this album. One of my favorite lyrics can be heard on "Riot Van" - involving an exchange between an officer and Alex Turner.

Anyhoo... the entire album is amazing. Here are my favorite tracks:

Artist: Arctic Monkeys
Album: Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Producer: Jim Abbiss, Alan Smyth
Label: Domino
Recorded: Chapel Studios, 2 Fly Studio, Telestar Studio

Clinic - Internal Wrangler

Rollie Agado January 5, 2014

I don't know what possessed me to spin Clinic's debut album - Internal Wrangler - this morning... I sorta saw the album cover and got excited to spin it on the turntable.

I've had this album for nearly 15 years and its still as haunting as ever.

Musically, the songs sorta build, bend and break awkwardly... they're all carefully produced and just when you get comfortable with it being on in the background the song Distortions comes on.

It's saved me once too often
You'll never know her often
I've pictured you in coffins
My baby in a coffin
But I'll love it when you blink your eyes
Oh I'd

I want to know my body
I want this out not in me
I want no other leakage
I want to know no secrets yet
I'll leave
Oh I'll leave
No I'll leave care

Free of distortions
Free of distortions
Free of distortions

I saw them perform once when I lived in Detroit in support of the album Walking With Thee and was surprised to seem them perform in scrubs and surgical masks. I don't seem to recollect all from the show other than seeing them at the Shelter (the Basement of St. Andrews Hall) and them being pretty energetic...

I just learned that they've put out a number of other albums, but I've never listened to any of them. May check a few of them out to see if their sound changed at all.