The Los Angeles Times has a tad bit more journalistic integrity than I do, so you’re more likely to trust their opinion than you are mine. The reviewer on hand at the Walt Disney Concert Hall was far less impressed than I was with “Paradise Lost.” But I wasn’t there trying to imagine the concert as a future full-on Broadway production. I was just there to hear a chorus of 300 voices singing compositions by Eric Whitacre. That was enough for me, and it blew my mind. Plot? Lyrics? Whatever. Give me some of the most colorful sounds imaginable — tone clusters, cross-rhythms, his wife’s insane soprano — and I’m a happy listener. I’ve never really experienced a live music event quite like what I saw and heard last night. To put it bluntly, it was really cool!
RULES for uninitiated noobs: I give birth to a weekly Mix Tape to be deposited on your iPods or Zunes or Kingklangs or whatever the industry is currently pushing on you. Sometimes there will be themes that link all the songs together, other times I’ll just throw songs at a wall (not literally) and see what sticks.This week I am continuing to feature songs from some of the best albums of 2011 so far. Friday’s post included cuts from some of my ten favorites released between January 1st and this week. Today I’ve got another half dozen or so tracks to share from honorable mention candidates. There’s also some weirdness and goodness from older albums as well. The goal of this endeavor, as always, is to pique your interest in these artists so you’ll support the artists and buy their albums.
Sunday Mix Tape – Number 223
Part Of Why I Hate You
01. Earth – Old Black – No doubt the new Earth record is one of the twenty best albums I’ve heard so far this year. Then again, in my eyes Dylan Carlson and Co. can do no wrong. I’ve loved where this band has been going ever since Hex: Or Printing In The Infernal Method came out a half-decade ago. (buy from Amazon.com)
02. Hoover – Cuts Like Drugs – I’ve been listening a lot to Abilene and Hoover lately, and although I’m still more of an Abilene fan I’m finding more songs on this record that I can enjoy on nearly the same level. This is one of ’em. (buy from Amazon.com)
03. Six Organs Of Admittance – Brilliant Blue Sea Between Us – The first of two Six Organs cuts on this mix tape. Another artist who has been so consistent for so long I will throw my support behind pretty much anything they release (see: Earth, Mogwai, Shellac…). (buy from Amazon.com)
04. Vetiver – Hard To Break – I still think of all the modern “indie” acts, Andy from Vetiver has the best voice. It first perfectly with the style of music he crafts and I love trying to imitate him when I sing along to his songs. Although I haven’t seen them live in a few years, they put on a really entertaining show. Then again, when a band releases four or five albums that contain little-to-no filler, you can pretty much expect to see a great show on any tour of theirs. (buy from Amazon.com)
05. Pelt – Tolling Slow – I miss Jack Rose. Like, a lot. (Eclipse Records, 2006)
06. Townes Van Zandt – Brand New Companion – The beginning blues riff is all Lightnin’ Hopkins, and as usual the lyrics are spot on. Townes was a great wordsmith. I wish more people around me listened to him so I’d have someone with whom I could geek-out about him. (buy from Amazon.com)
07. PJ Harvey – Let England Shake – Here you go, person who berated me for not including Polly Jean on my top ten albums of the year so far. It’s one of the 15 or 20 best, it just hasn’t moved me enough to crack the top ten yet. There was an awesome interview with her in a recent issue of Mojo that I devoured. That definitely helped me appreciate this album more, and it inspired me to go back through her catalog and re-listen to the classics. She’s aged amazingly well. (buy from Amazon.com)
08. Mist – Mist House – Goldberg and Elliott. Elliott and Goldberg. What an electronic powerhouse duo these guys are. This is as good as anything they’ve recorded either solo or with others. It’s on par with last year’s Emeralds release that I so loved (Does It Look Like I’m Here?) which means the more I listen to it the more likely it is to crack the top ten. (buy from Amazon.com)
09. Hodgy Beats – Memorex CDs – With Earl out of the picture does that make Hodgy the best rapper associated with the Odd Future gang? Debate. No, don’t debate. Watch the video for MellowHype’s 64 and I think you’ll find your answer. (2010, OFWGKTA)
10. Jefre Cantu-Ledesma – Where I End & You Begin – He’s got a new one out this year that’s really good, but I keep going back to Love Is A Stream. The new one is called Shining Skull Breath and it’s out on Students of Decay. In a totally unrelated story, someday I want to have my own label as finely run as Root Strata. (buy from Amazon.com)
11. Marissa Nadler – The Sun Always Reminds Me Of You – I love Marissa. I’ve got a major boner for her. I’m sure that’s the last thing this little folky girl wants to hear, but it’s true. Although maybe she’s not totally turned off by that type of comment — I mean, she contributes to Xasthur, doesn’t she? She’s gotta be somewhat a freak! Sorry. Weird tangent. Even though I used to make fun of Marissa because I saw her live a few times in 2005 and 2006 and she’d always complain about the sound guy, there was no denying her talent. I think her new one is right up there with Songs III as my favorite release of hers. (buy from Amazon.com)
12. Thai Elephant Orchestra – Teak Forest Mist – Is it possible that one this year’s best albums was made by non-humans!? Sure! The Thai Elephant Orchestra (literally the heaviest band on the planet, I think) has a new album out this year called Water Music and it’s all kinds of awesome. If you’ve never heard an orchestra of elephants playing music before, now’s your chance. (buy from Amazon.com)
13. Six Organs Of Admittance – Somewhere Between – The second SOOA (that’s a new shorthand I just made up!) cut on this week’s mix. I figured if I was going to share one from his new album I’d go ahead and post a cut from a 7″ he released over a decade a go to show how he’s still got whatever unique quality it was that drew me to him oh so many years ago. If you’ve never heard the three-song Somewhere Between Her Shoulder And God 7″ (limited to 200), track down the other two MP3s. Great stuff. (Warm Freedom Of Tongue, 2000)
14. Laddio Bolocko – In Search Of Bolocko – All that talk about the Psychic Paramount record the other day put me in a Laddio Bolocko mood. The compilation released by No Quarter that Ilya introduced me to is still one of the coolest albums you’ll ever hear. I might still have one of my “Strange Warmings Of Laddio Bolocko” albums (limited to two pressings of 1000). I might have sold it. I’ve never seen a second copy before, so you know it’s rare. Fuck this is so good. (buy from Amazon.com)
15. Eric Whitacre – A Boy And A Girl – And lastly, because I’m still reeling (in a good way!) from the concert last night, here’s some Eric Whitacre for you from his new-ish (2010) album Light & Gold. If you’ve heard and liked other MP3s of posted, like “Sleep” and “Water Night” and “Leonardo Dreams Of His Flying Machine,” you’ll probably enjoy the versions included on this CD. If not, fuck you. (buy from Amazon.com)
