Habibi - Habibi

Got tipped off to an incredible record this past week by my friend Sonia.  She saw them featured on LA Remezcala Today and thought I would dig their stuff.

Hobbes digging the artwork

I clicked on the link heard one track and instantly fell in love with the album.  I've been living with the album all week and spent a good part of Saturday listening to it while my niece was over.

She took to it instantly.  A number of the tracks are pretty danceable, so it was great to see my niece dance in place while we listened to it together.

One (or two) of the band members were originally from Detroit, before they moved to nYc where the band formed and began recording music together.  I apparently missed them at SXSW a couple of weeks ago, but hope to catch them the next time they roll into town.

This is one of the best debut albums I've heard in a very long time.  I can't recommend it enough.

Stand out tracks:

Artists: Habibi
Album: Habibi
Producer: Jay  Heiselmann, Eric Cambell
Label: Burger Records
Recorded: Death by Audio

Violent Femmes - Violent Femmes

Ever have one of those random conversations where a song gets referenced in conversation and that causes you to go out of your way to listen to an album you haven't put on in years?

This just happened tonight while exchanging some correspondence with a friend who spent the weekend in Philly. I hand't thought about the Violent Femmes in years...

I think I first heard this album when I was in Jr. High or High School...  I recall instantly loving it and I bought it on cassette.  It was also one of the very first CD's I ever purchased also.  I never quite liked the mix of the album.  I think it got re-released by Rhino about 10 years ago, but I never listened to the new mix.

Of all the college-rock acts of the early 80's, I'm pretty sure that the Femmes are the #1 act I wish I could have caught live in the early 80's. Right above the Replacements, R.E.M. and the Smiths...  

That's a pretty crazy statement to make, but If I got to see them in a small club where they pretty much played every track off this album - at a very young age - I think I would be possibly catching them at an indescribable peak.   The other bands, while great - I think had brighter moments later in the 80's.

Stand out tracks:

Artists: Violent Femmes
Album: Violent Femmes
Producer: Mark Van Hecke
Label: Slash
Recorded: Castle Studios

Belle and Sebastian - Tigermilk

On an unspecific afternoon in 1998, I made it down to Grounds Coffee house at UDMercy, McNichols Campus and struck up a conversation with a fellow college student I never saw again in my life.

My work shift was just like any other work shift...  I showed up for work.  Jaime made all the cups of coffee and I washed all the dishes.  We both liked working there because we had access to a 5 disc changer and we could spin albums and have conversations about music with random strangers.

The clientele was pretty predictable...   There were always a handful of commuter students who passed time between classes or waited for traffic to die down.  The "regulars" consisted of Architecture and Theater Major students who would pay 50 cents for bottomless cups of coffee.

My favorite visitors where the "one and done's"...  people who would come in, strike up incredible conversations and then you'd never see them again.   You never commit their name to memory and you secretly hope they come back.

On an unspecific afternoon, we listened to 89X and an Oasis song played to an empty cafe...  I don't quite recall how the conversation started.   But beautiful young lady had made a comment about the song and told me that she was an anglophile.   Her favorite bands were the Smiths, the Cure and she was head over heals for a band called Belle and Sebastian.   We talked about music for a few hours and we talked about English classes.   We listened to Tigermilk and I floored by what it sounded like.

I didn't see or hear from this person or Belle and Sebastian for years...   infact it wasn't until 2000 when Jaime brought home a copy of Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like a Peasant (my favorite Belle and Sebastian album) from the radio station that it occurred to me that I was listening to the same band I heard and loved a few years before in Grounds.   I picked up all their albums after finally confirming who the fuck they were.

Tigermilk is a perfect album.   It's arguably one of the finest first releases I've ever heard...  it's scary to think how incredible the following album If You're Feeling Sinister album is in comparison too.  It's the perfect jumping point for anyone who has never heard them play before.

Its equal parts intimate and ambiguous.  I haven't listened to this album from beginning to end in a number of years and there are still moments on this record that give me goosebumps. 

Expectations

And the head said "That you always were a queer one from the start"
For careers you say you wanna be remembered for your art
Your obsessions get you known throughout the school for being strange
Making life-size models of the Velvet Underground in clay    
- Belle & Sebastian, 

Stand out tracks:

Artists: Belle and Sebastian
Album: Tigermilk
Producer: Alan Rankins
Label: Electric Honey, Jeepster
Recorded: Ca Va Studios

Everyone Everywhere - Everyone Everywhere (2012)

Roughly a year or so ago, I got around to listening to Everyone Everywhere's second self-titled album and it quickly became one of those records that got completely in my headspace.

At the time, I felt like I was being pulled into a lot of directions...  I had inherited a ton of new responsibilities at work, I found myself in a potential relationship and my family was adjusting to a new-born niece.

Two of these things were inescapable...   I need to work and you can't really get rid of family, so I decided to put my personal life on hold.  I'll never forget the very moment I decided to make that decision.   I was driving back from Houston and it was 8 am.   All I wanted to do was get back home after spending what seemed like 2 weeks away from my apartment.  I got a text from the person I was dating at the time and I lost it.   I tried explaining to her before I left that I wouldn't be able to see her for a couple of weeks because of travel.  When she heard I got back into town early, she suggested plans for me to get home and then drive out to her place for the weekend.  Which in retrospect is a pretty reasonable request to make from a person you're dating. I sometimes wonder what my response would have been if she suggested to come over to my place...   All the anger I had sorta bubbled over and I didn't respond.

I drove to a liquor store, picked up a case of beer and made a decision to silence my phone.  As soon as I got to the apartment, I began to drink beers and listen to music the entire day.  I didn't return a call or text...  I drank 19 beers and purposely put myself into a place where I couldn't be asked to drive anywhere.

What I remember most about that day was listening to this album in a consistent loop.   It matched how I felt on the inside and that's something that doesn't happen with any regularity.  It's one of the few records in my collection that I make it a point to not listen to with any regularity when I have time to think or drink.   It's a catalyst for trouble....

Stand out tracks:  Every song on the album.   

Artists: Everyone Everywhere
Album: Everyone Everywhere
Producer: Mike Bardzik, Everyone Everywhere
Label: Everyone Everywhere Records
Recorded: ?

The Beatles - Help!

Today's album of the day entry is a little special because it also happens to fall on my Mom's birthday.  While driving into the office today, I thought long and hard about albums that we both like and it occurred to me that we didn't really have a lot of those in common.

We did however have one musical artist in common, the Beatles.   She prefers their earlier work, while I prefer their later stuff...   I think the line in the sand is Rubber Soul.  I do however have a very soft spot for the album Help! tho'.

It's my favorite "early" Beatles album and if you ever get to hear the song "Help!" through a pair of earphones you'll instantly become a believer in all things George Martin.

There's truly nothing new I can say about the album Help! that hasn't already been said before... and that's kinda nice for a change.   I do however a short story to share regarding my copy of the album.

In my 20's, I knew I needed to add the Beatles discography to my collection, but I didn't know if I should add them in on CD or Vinyl.   I settled on CD, but before I made my purchase - I ran across a strange set of imports.   I picked them up at Switched on CD's in Farmington Hills, Michigan.   Glen (owner of the store) informed me that they were imported from Russia...  which makes sense, the album has all kinds of Russian writing on the back of the CD.  

Glen told me that if you want to sell an album in Russia, you have to press the album in Russia...  I figured if I was going to have the albums, should get them from the USSR.

Stand out Tracks:

  • Help!
  • You've Got to Hide Your Love Away
  • Yesterday

Artists: The Beatles
Album: Help!
Producer: George Martin
Label: Parlophone
Recorded: EMI Studios


RIP - Dave Brockie (Oderus Urungus)

Felt an incredible bit of sadness this morning when I read that Dave Brockie - AKA Oder Urungus, lead singer of GWAR was found dead this morning at age 50.

If I have to explain this, you'll never understand...

I had the privilege of seeing GWAR perform at a Hell-o-Wicked performance in Detroit on Devils night at Harpos.   They opened up for ICP and quite possibly scarred the living shit out of everyone in attendance.  I recall going to the show and trying to explain to Tony Weakland that ICP were going to be blown off the stage by GWAR.   

See there's throwing Faygo (Detroit soda) on people and then there's having gallons of fake blood and seamen douse every single person in attendance.   GWAR did things on stage that I can't even begin to describe on this blog...  they were simply one of the most creative and entertaining bands to catch live in the 90's.   

I feel so incredibly fortunate to say that I saw them and their insane rubber monster show.

My favorite GWAR song:

Gwar – Fishfuck

You gotta also see this Billy Ocean cover that they did for AV Club.   It pays off at the 4 minute 30 second mark

Kevin Drew - Darlings

Saw this album on the shelves last week and nearly picked it up because it's a solo effort from the founder of the Broken Social Scene...

I opted to not do this because I was actually hoping to find a copy of the new War On Drugs album...   In some ways - this album by Kevin Drew, can be compared to the new War on Drugs album.  Both albums chart similar personal territories thru their lyrics and the music in some respects sorta visit similar sonic terrains.

This album however falls a little short of what War on Drugs put out...   but it's still got a few good tracks nonetheless.

It sorta hit a spot for me this evening as I attempted to wrap up some work well into the evening...   I'm now currently typing this entry from bed and I'm struggling to keep my eyes open because the album is freakishly soothing to hear.

Highly recommended to those who love Broken Social Scene.

Stand out Tracks:

Artists: Kevin Drew
Album: Darlings
Producer: Dave Hamelin, Graham Lessard, Kevin Drew
Label: Arts & Crafts
Recorded: Baniff Center for the Arts, The Barthouse, Giant Studios

The Strokes - Comedown Machine

I think one of the most overlooked albums of 2013 albums was the Strokes COMEDOWN MACHINE.   A meticulously recorded and over produced record that will likely garner praise as the years roll by.

There's a chance that the album may get lost in the shuffle because 2013 had a lot of incredible records by new artists.  The Strokes in some ways were a band with tremendous promise that sorta squandered their opportunity to be something bigger.

Every time I hear this record, I can't help but think that this would have been an incredible album to have heard live.  The band recorded and released the album rather quietly... and unlike other albums - they didn't really have an extended hiatus between efforts.

The internet sorta had a song drop on their lap called "One Way Trigger" and it didn't sound anything like the Strokes.   This was refreshing for me... but in all the commotion I think everyone forgot to acknowledge it was good.  It almost felt like the discussion steered too much in the direction that it was "different".   I mean, of all the bands in the world, isn't it the Strokes that we kinda want to sound different?

I think this album really would have found a place had the band toured in support of it.   While I haven't actively gone out of my way to see the Strokes live since they first formed, I will definitely go out of my way to see them the next time they tour in hopes of hearing a number of these songs live.

Standout Tracks:

Artists: The Strokes
Album: Comedown Machine
Producer: Gus Oberg
Label: RCA
Recorded: Electric Lady Studios, One Way Studios