Monthlies for December

My self proclaimed hiatus seems to have been declared in haste. Admittedly this has much to do with the matter of my being recently relieved of my scholastic concerns and let loose in those green pastures of leisure time.

And like all things leisurely, such as strolls, it is a constitutional, a blam on the jaded nerves and jangled devices of self defense. Not to put too fine a point on it this is a bit of a mix up more leaning to the classics as would befit a peace of mind.

Enough blather - oh but one thing, before I continue - be sure to take a tab and catch up on your folk's eye candy by checking out the adventures of Quasi. Still un-inspired? Catch the 1967 video for Pierre Henry's Psyché Rock. Astounding enough that it's machine evolution predates Kurzweil and more effective because of it.

One last video, sure how about the entire 1929 movie from Communist Russia Man with Movie Camera. Your grandfather's jaw presumably dropped during the raw 'documenting the world as it is' scene.

Alright enough of that. Lets listen to some music.

---

Hombres - Let it Out (let it all hang out)

Mark Prindle sums it up better than I ever could.
buy

Creaky Boards - Brooklyn

This is, for me, right now, a definitive track. It is also very good and catchy too. They haven't made a big move in the world yet but they seem to have the chops for the pop indie boards and I for one highly anticipate watching their development.
buy

Vampire Weekend - Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa

The Paul Simon afro beat inflected swing in this piece is adds the force necessary to get the song shaking a steady rhythm. I can only wish that I had played it sooner.

Les Problemes - Je ne Vois Rien

This French 60's psych song roughly translates as "I don't See Anything" - included here for the furious francophilia each of us have at heart. I don't have much information of these guys but apparently they got involved with the french peace lovers in the '60s and acquired the ire of the conservative types on the matter of the war.
buy

Olympic Runners - Just Funkin` Around

My soul funk submission for the month (by contractual obligation) is this stand out freak out jazzed up track by the overlooked and underheard UK band.
buy

The Stranglers - Golden Brown

It's the most up tempo song about heroin - Merry Christmas!
buy

New Pornographers - Myriad Harbour

Another modern miracle of catchy tunes about NYC. What luck! And yes it's a track that should have gone up long time back.
buy

Ian Dury - Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll

Here's a little bit of advice, you're quite welcome it is free

Don’t do nothing that is cut-price you'll know what they'll make you be

They will try their tricky device, trap you with the ordinary

Get your teeth into a small slice of the cake of liberty

buy

Loose Salute - Deathclub

Actually much more clean cut than you would think - the outfit is from the UK and is currently on Graveface. It's a high cut of folkpop and worth a visit.
buy

Jimi Hendrix - 1983... (a Merman I Should Turn to be) (podcast cut)

Shortened by half - but needing no introduction.
buy

Pierre Henry - Psyché Rock

Pierre was an exceedingly prolific 20th century composer. This track pairs him with a fellow composer, Michel Colombier, during the annus mirabilis of '67.
original video
buy

Blitzen Trapper - Wild Mountain Nation

The hot shit from PDX. I like to think that in a perfect world these guys would crush the pearly stylings of the Doug Fir
in one awesome sonic histrionic session to kick off their careers and me shaking a busted fist and bloody maw at the front of the audience. But now their 'big time' - maybe now they can make it happen. Shit though that is a long way to go for a Doug Fir show.
video
buy

Bram Tchaikovsky - New York Paranoia

Not "Girl of My Dreams" good but at least it's more earnest.

Look at that face - could you be less earnest about living in the 80s?
buy

Panda Bear - Bros edit

I do hope everyone gets as much of a chilled out kick from this as I did. Damn near walked in to traffic. Damn near didn't care.
buy

Bill Justis - College Man

At the time I had to post this I could only find a mostly instrumental track. It's still got the 'Hate College' bit so I decide to run with it. But don't dismiss Bill. Here is some of the excised lyrics:

I got a real cool chick
That doesn't dig no square
Gets college kicks
With her honey anywhere

For myself, now too old for Teenage Kicks can at least keep satisfied with college kicks.
buy

Chandler Travis Philharmonic - Wireless

To quote their site:

Alternative Dixieland - Puts the 'harm" in "Philharmonic"

Though if cover design is anything I don't think this will go platinum:

man at least throw a lens flare on that thing.
buy

Joe Turner & His Blues Kings - Shake, Rattle & Roll

Yeah it's so damn overplayed that I'm a frickin cliché to play it, right? Hell no - it's still good after the twentyth time round. Now you can pick this up on plenty of comps (and some originals if you invested well in the 90's) but I suggest this one:
buy

Andrew Sisters - Beer Barrel Polka

Curiously it seems that this got good distribution because the Nazis popularized it when they invaded Czechoslovakia.
huh.
Then it got big play from Benny Goodman, and Billie Holiday, and Liberace.
huh.
So the only folks of 'lesser races' who haven't reclaimed this song yet are the gypsies. I feel an online petition for Gogol Bordello coming on.

Caribou - Melody Day

My current favorite doctor of mathematics fronted Canadian band.

The Raveonettes - Christmas Song

Ahh a christmas song that doesn't suck. How nice.

---

Image From: Fun On Mars

Backing tracks:

Quasi at the Quackadero - opening track
Uz Jsme Doma - Cod Liver Oil
Bodies of Water - I Guess I'll Forget the Sound
Bill Justis - Raunchy
Roberto Carlos - Amigo
Quasi at the Quackadero - The ooooh part

---