March 2011

Build a Rocket Boys – Elbow

I have a strange relationship with this album. My first play I loved it – thought I had uncovered a rare and subtle genius of a band. My second play I couldn’t believe I could put up with this sappy crap – thought I must have mistaken what I listened to the first time. Subsequent plays have seen me warming to it once again with some genuine “wow” moments as its complex threads roll out.

For some reason I lump them in with Field Music (from Sunderland). No I’m going to steer clear of what they sound like or justifying my comparisons.

It got me delving into their back catalogue with The Seldom Seen Kid playing in the background now.

Collapse into Now – R.E.M.

I didn’t realise this was in the works until release day. And what a nice surprise. By the time I discovered R.E.M. in my university days I don’t think it was very cool to listen to them anymore, and cool was where it was at. I could never really work out how they were one of the originators of the “grunge” scene, but even now I can still hear the roots of Husker Du and I bet Bob Mould is quietly jealous of them still having a band to ring out (wring out?) such material. Ultimately it’s just a collection of pop songs but it was a nice surprise and is a rare thing that both my wife and I enjoy listening to.

Passive Me Aggressive You – The Naked And Famous

I guess I was waiting for this to hit the Zune site before I committed, but now I’ve bought it  I’m a happy customer.  I always suspected I would be since I saw them head-hunted by Trent Reznor to support NiN on their NZ tour last year (?).  I never saw that (sigh) but I’m sure it kicked ass.

Songs for Christchurch

10 albums of much goodness all for a donation over $5 to support the Christchurch Earthquake.  Still wading through it, but a great selection of kiwi artists (mainly electronicky in what I’ve heard so far) and a few overseas notables (e.g. Amanda Palmer).

http://musichype.com/songs-for-christchurch-donation/

Another World – John Patitucci

Don’t know how I ever missed this one – I’ve had most of his other albums for ages and this one dates back to 1993.  Sounds gorgeous, features all the things I loved about his 1987 debut but with none of that horrid Braziliana singing stuff.

65daysofstatic – Heavy Sky

I always find it immensely satisfying listening to “instrumental rock”.  From anything by Explosions in the Sky to Mogwai’s latest “Hardcore Will Never Die But You Will” I’m quite taken by bands who don’t need to return to a hooky chorus to carry a tune.  And hey – I like Mogwai’s album despite all the knockers out there.  Yes it’s “just another Mogwai album” but what did you expect?  You’d complain if it was anything else.

That’ll do for now.  I’ll get better at documenting this next month!