The Drop
Dollars & cents
By Nick Hrkman, Blogger
September 19, 2007 | 12:13 p.m.
Since I’m still uncertain about the direction of this blog, I’ve settled on a relatively safe approach for my first entry. It’s just a fun little game I like to play when I feel like reveling in my own poverty. I like to call it “All the Wonderful Things I Want but Can’t Afford.”
You start by going to a Web site that lists all the glorious music that’s about to be released or reissued. Billboard is a good starting point. Next, slowly scroll down the very lengthy listing of upcoming releases. Since you’re here at Ohio University, we’re going to assume that you aren’t tremendously wealthy and are unable to afford every album on this list. Now, breathe deeply and allow the simple truth to sink in: you can’t have everything you want.
In fact, you probably don’t even know the majority of the artists on these comprehensive and usually disorganized listings. If you’ve been craving one or two releases for the week, stop and look at how many others there are. Overwhelmed? Good! I’d like to offer my assistance as a humble music fan who likes to keep up with what’s new, fresh and interesting.
I won’t even pretend to know everything – or even a lot – about music. I’m just a fan, a fellow listener who’s always looking to sate his appetite on delicious new tunes. I’ll be learning and listening along with you, dear Internet. There’s a big, scary world of new music out there. Let’s check it out together.
Where do we begin? I’m going to assume that you’re well enough informed to know, and possibly not care, about the Top 40 releases of the week. I’m also going to assume that you have a very limited budget. We’re college students. So, with those two assumptions in mind, we will commence round one of “All the Wonderful Things I Want but Can’t Afford.”
Easily, the top priority on my wish list for this week is Factory’s vinyl reissue of the legendary Joy Division catalogue. A box set collection of Unknown Pleasures, Closer and Still was released on Sept. 11, but they are now available individually, as of this week. Joy Division, as you may or may not know, was a seminal post-punk group in England from 1976-1980. After the suicide of lead singer Ian Curtis, the band reformed as New Order, with which you may (I hope) be more familiar. Several documentaries have been recently released that will detail the band’s history much better than I could hope to. Either way, Joy Division’s influence on much of modern music is nearly ubiquitous. To have these albums available on vinyl format once again is a fantastic opportunity for aspiring collectors of vinyl to pick up several albums that no record collection can safely be called “complete” without.
For those thirsting for some new music, I would heartily recommend checking out Les Savy Fav’s new album, Let’s Stay Friends, Devastation’s Yes, U and múm’s Go Go Smear the Poison Ivy.
Les Savy Fav’s follow-up to their 2004 release refuses to disappoint. Hiatus shmiatus. They’re back, and they’re grabbing rock by its balls. Loud, proud and witty, Let’s Stay Friends thrusts itself into a handful of disparate sounds with reckless abandon. From its raucous ass-kick of an opener, “The Equestrian,” to the almost-danceable “Kiss Kiss is Getting Old,” this album proves that bands with French names can rock with the rest. I tried to turn the volume down for a phone call and my stereo actually slapped my hand. Be forewarned.
If you haven’t heard of Devastations, the only introduction you’ll need to cozy up to these Aussies is the track “Rosa” off their new album Yes, U. Dark, brooding and boasting a healthy dose of bluesy swagger, the album is a perfect fit for fans of Interpol or Dirty Three.
Two albums I haven’t had a chance to listen to this week are múm’s Go Go Smear the Poison Ivy and Songs of Green Pheasant’s Gyllyng Street. múm’s minimalist electronic stylings won me over with their 2001 release Please Smile My Noise Bleed, but subsequent albums haven’t quite lived up to its simple grandeur, in my opinion. I’m holding out hope for the new album. Songs of Green Pheasant’s self-titled 2005 album still makes me feel warm and tingly whenever I think about it. It’s fantastic folk music that just oozes out of the speakers like syrup. I’m expecting much of the same with the new album, so I’m looking forward to hearing it.
Reissues galore! This week features a resurrection of classics from The Police, David Bowie, Elton John, The Cure, Pet Shop Boys, The Bangles, Lynyrd Skynrd, Dire Straights, Slayer, Barry White and a host of others. On one hand, reissues mean a great artist gets another chance to be discovered. On the other hand, you realize that the labels are just trying to milk their cash cows for every penny. Either way, if you love the music and have some spare change, these classics are all safe investments.
I’m trying to listen to more jazz. Jazz is amazing, and I wish I knew more about the genre, but this week in particular features an unusually high number of excellent jazz releases and reissues. If jazz is your bag, boat or cup of tea, I can safely recommend Sonney Rollins’ Sonneymoon, Miles Davis’ Complete On the Corner Sessions, Herbie Hancock’s Tempest in the Colloseum, Charlie Parker’s Jazz at Massey Hall, Chet Baker’s Sessioni in Italia and Charles Mingus’ Stuttgart Meditations and The Sound of Love. These men were all giants of the jazz world who could do no wrong. I believe that everything they made deserves a listen. Money invested in jazz is money well-spent.
That concludes round one of “All the Wonderful Things I Want but Can’t Afford.” I don’t know about you, but I’m already depressed that I can’t own all of this great stuff. Did I cover everything? Hell, no! Like I said before, I’m just another music fan. I tried to pick out, to the best of my knowledge, what I felt was some of the best new music and share it with you folks. I hope that I was of some assistance to the musical masses.
Until next time – crank the volume up and leave it there.
/DJ Starman
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