Nothing - Guilty of Everything

So I had this album recommended to me last week by my friend Jackie...  she got around to seeing them at SXSW and suggested I check them out.   When i saw the album cover, I immediately thought of Wire's PINK FLAG album and wondered if they would in turn have a similar sound.

Nothing sounds nothing like Wire, which is neither a good or bad thing.  I would quickly describe their sound as shoegazey, but there's something tempered about the delivery of their sound.  The fuzz never grows louder than a low roar and I would describe their vocal delivery as beautiful and melodic.  In some ways it kinda reminds me of cross between SDRE and Calla with a pinch of other British shoegazer influences... 

It's a pretty solid record.  Here are a pair of suggested tracks:

Artists: Nothing
Album: Guilty of Everything
Producer: Jeff Zeigler
Label: Relapse Records
Recorded: ?

The War On Drugs - Lost in the Dream

With the exception of the new Braid album later this year, there is no album that I have wanted to hear more than "Lost in the Dream" by The War on Drugs.

If you've never heard of the band or the album, may I suggest that you listen to it when your up very, very late at night or just after you get up in the morning.   I've been listening to it exclusively before going to work all week and I'm pretty sure that this is going to be a top 3 album of 2014 for me.   

The songs are so beautifully crafted and the heartache on the album is breathtaking at times.  I want to write more, but can't fight the urge to shut up and listen to it again.   You should drop everything you're doing now and hear it too.

Stand Out Tracks:

Artists: The War On Drugs
Album: Lost in the Dream
Producer: Adam Granduciel 
Label: Secretly Canadian 
Recorded: ?

Le Tigre - Le Tigre

Ever have one of those weeks where it kinda feels like the earth hasn't really settled underneath your feet because you're moving to fast all the time?   I sorta feel that way right now and that may have something to do with the fact that I will be spending yet another weekend away from San Antonio.

I'll be traveling to Seattle tomorrow and while I'm looking forward to finally setting foot in the emerald city...  I'm a getting a little tired of staring into an empty suitcase that is begging to be filled again.

I decided to slip on Le Tigre's self titled debut this afternoon to help me get out of my funk.  I dare you to listen to this album and not crack a smile.  

Not entirely sure why this album isn't on Spotify for streaming, but in some ways I kinda like finding the occasional album that can't be streamed.

Stand Out Tracks:

  • Hot Topic
  • The The Empty
  • Eau d'Bedroom Dancing

Artists: Le Tigre
Album: Le Tigre
Producer: Le Tigre, Chris Stamey
Label: Mr. Lady
Recorded: ?

Cannonball Adderley - Somethin' Else

I'm not entirely sure why it took so long for me to openly appreciate Jazz in life...   I think it may have something to do with me feeling very strong emotions whenever I have it on around me.

Jazz is the only genre of music that I can only stand to listen to when I'm in the mood to listen to Jazz.   If its on and I don't want to hear jazz, I can't leap out of my chair fast enough to turn the dial or ask someone to change the music.

I've been trying to figure out for years why I'm so "trigger' sensitive to the genre...  I guess it speaks to me on a very personal level that I'm not quite ready to contend with.

I am however happy to have a favorite Jazz album.  I don't know what it is about this album and specifically the song "Autumn Leaves" but it's a song that I can never grow tired of.  Shortly after the opening Miles Davis horn blasts, the song transitions into Miles playing what is in my opinion the most beautiful thing ever etched to vinyl.

Stand out tracks:

Artists: Cannonball Adderley
Album: Somethin' Else
Producer: Alfred Lion
Label: Blue Note
Recorded: Van Gelder Studio

Cheap Girls - My Roaring 20's

A couple of years after moving to San Antonio, I made quick friends with a person with a person who wrote for a blog called Sound As Language.   The music blog isn't updated anymore, but I discovered a number of bands through the website, including a band called "Cheap Girls".

Saw them for the first time live a few years ago, when they opened up for the Front Bottoms in San Antonio... and saw them again this evening.  They just opened up for Against Me! and in my opinion they were possibly the highlight of my night.

Learned that My Roaring 20's may possibly be an album that lead singer Ian Graham hates to perform songs from live.   Which bummed me out because it happens to be my favorite album that they've ever put out.

Stand out tracks:

Artists: Cheap Girls
Album: My Roaring 20's
Producer: Rick Johnson, Cheap Girls
Label: Asian Man Records
Recorded: ?

Episode 5 & 6 of Late Night Conversations - UP

Finally got around to re-recording the 5th episode of Late Night Conversations this afternoon...  The lapse between shows was a result of me being busy with work / me fully recovering from a terrible cough / me trying to find a new way to record and post the show.

I think I've figured out a much more efficient way to record the shows and the audio glitches are all but gone.  I hope to crank these out with a little more ease...

UPDATE :  so easy that I recorded and posted the 6th Episode ALSO.

the Pogues - Rum, Sodomy & the Lash

While driving back home from Houston this morning, I got around to thinking about St. Patricks Day, what album I should listen to and thought a lot about how I used to look incredibly forward to St. Patricks day every year...   

My appreciation for St. Patricks Day really took off in college when I got to take part in a number of St. Paddy day celebrations and parades.   One of my favorite things to do on the 17th was head down to the Gaelic League in downtown Detroit and have many brew-ha-ha's with complete strangers.

St. Patricks Day in San Antonio/Texas really is pretty tame when compared to ones I had in Chicago and Detroit.   Come to think of it... I haven't been too impressed by Cinco De Mayo ones either.  Anyhoo... I started to think about what albums I could listen to this morning and the Pogues were on my shortlist. 

Please don't message me with reminders that the band is British...  I simply selected this album because of its Irish folk song sound.

Much to my surprise, I didn't have Rum, Sodomy & the Lash in my personal collection.  I could have sworn to have owned the CD at some point...  but the more and more I thought about it - I'm pretty sure I never got around to buying it in my 20's.   

I came around to them a lot later than I should have...   what amazed me about the Pogues (especially this album) was how fucking anthemic the songs were amongst my friends or strangers when it got played at bars.   If there's a feeling I don't wish on anyone...  its the one of being surrounded by Pogues fans singing along as one while you sit around obviously not knowing the lyrics.

Remedy that shit quickly please.

Stand out tracks:

Artists: The Pogues
Album: Rum, Sodomy & the Lash 
Producer: Elvis Costello, Phillip Cheveron (Dirty Old Town)
Label: MCA
Recorded: Elephant Studios

Eagulls - Eagulls

Been listening to this Eagulls album for nearly 2 weeks now and have determined that I really like it.   I listened to it all the way through for the first time this evening...  its one of those albums you have on and for whatever reason, a distraction occurs without fail.

I would sorta describe their sound as the Cure.  Think early "Cure" but a little more aggressive.   I actually really like a lot of the tracks on the first half of the album.  That however may have more to do with me being a little more familiar with the first half of the album tho'.

I still haven't fully committed to adding this album to my personal collection tho'.   I'm not entirely sure why I feel so uncommitted to it...  I think it may be that the album feels very repetitive. 

Anyhoo...  highly recommend it if you like the Cure or the Killing Joke.

Stand Out Tracks:

Artists: Eagulls
Album: Eagulls
Producer: Eagulls, Matt Peel
Label: Partisan Records
Recorded: Cottage Road Studios

The Promise Ring - 30 Degrees Everywhere

Not entirely sure what possessed me to listen to 30 Degrees Everywhere today while driving around Houston, Texas...  It was drizzly and grey out so I guess I wanted to hear something to match the feeling of trudging around H-Town.

But enough about that, the Promise Ring.  So I discovered the Promise Ring after they released "Nothing Feels Good" - so I sorta have a preference for some of their later stuff.  30 Degrees has always struck me as an incredible album that is in dire need of being remastered and mixed again.

Updated : my copy of 30 degrees everywhere

While driving around town, it occurred to me that some of the songs sound as if they were recorded playing a basement show beneath your house - but you can sorta clearly hear them practicing with ease.

Take Scenes from France for example...  do you know how many times I've been at a bar and overheard a band play on another level of the venue and mistake it for this song?  

I need to figure out a way to canvas all my friends and have them write me back with detailed thoughts on their relationship to this record.   I'm curious to hear how many of them still hear this record on any occasion.   I know almost all of them will point to A Picture Postcard as being their favorite moment on the record (Note - Bob Nana from BRAID has a song writing credit on that track).  Maybe with the exception of Emo V.  Both her and I love the song Everywhere Denver.

Artists: The Promise Ring
Album: 30 Degrees Everywhere
Producer: Casey Rice, Damon Locks, Joe Ferguson
Label: Jade Tree
Recorded: Idful Music Co.

Real Estate - Atlas

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