- Artist: The Decemberists
- Title: The Crane Wife
- Year: 2006
- Format: CD
- Rating (1-10): 8
- Owner: Mary
- Acquired: 2006 – Christmas gift!
- Keeper: Yes
What? What is this? Sometimes The Decemberists remind me of The Zutons, The Shins, and maybe even Cake. Then there’s that second song “The Island: – Come and See – The Landlord’s Daughter – You’ll Not Feel the Drowning.” Yes, that is the title, and it’s befitting since this ditty is over twelve minutes and moves from sounding like a sea shanty to classic progrock a la Yes. What? The Crane Wife opens with a title track, “The Crane Wife, Part 3.” Later in the album there is “The Crane Wife, Parts 1 & 2″ which is also Freedbird-esque in its length. In between there are a number of more accessible, normal format songs, and they are all interesting.
I haven’t figured out the album concept entirely. All the not-of-this-time artwork (much more than shown here) and lyrics make it seem mysterious, and that keeps it interesting. Of course, there’s plenty of mystery in the music itself.
Help me figure it out:
Decemeberists.com
The Decemberists at Wikipedia
- Artist: Beck
- Title: The Information
- Year: 2006
- Format: CD
- Rating (1-10): 10
- Owner: Tracy
- Acquired: 2006 – Christmas gift!
- Keeper: Yes
I haven’t read anything about Beck’s new record, The Information. I’m sure there are tons of intelligent and thoughtful reviews out there, but you won’t find that here. This is an excellent Beck record, with a little bit of everything and a whole lotta awesomeness. The moods and styles are typically eclectic, but there’s a certain laid back darkness to it. I like it.
Even the total package is interesting. The “Beck” label is a sticker on the case. The insert is a blank fold of graph paper. Inside, and pictured below, is a large sheet of stickers. And maybe best of all there is another disk: a DVD with a video for every song on the album! I’d say it looks like most of them were made the same day with about 30 friends, a couple hundred costumes, a rented mansion or palace, and some nutty video mixing.
You can download the album of course, and maybe even the videos, but where are you gonna get those cool stickers if you don’t buy the disk?
My favorite songs are “Cellphone’s Dead” and “We Dance Alone.” How can I not give this one a “10″?
Visit Beck.com.
- Artist: The Magnolias
- Title: For Rent
- Year: 1988
- Format: Vinyl 12 in.
- Rating (1-10): 5
- Owner: Tracy
- Acquired: 1988 – Promo at RIP Records in Norfolk, VA
There’s nothing really wrong with For Rent by The Magnolias. It’s energetic and at times verges on punk, a good thing. I could listen to it all day and it wouldn’t bother me, but it doesn’t do anything for me either. So, this one has gotta go. The process of weeding out continues…
I opine, you decide.
- Artist: Arctic Monkeys
- Title: Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not
- Year: 2006
- Format: CD
- Rating (1-10): 10
- Owner: Mary
- Acquired: May 2006
- Keeper: Yes
Amazon recommended this CD for me, but they also recommended Hilary Duff once. I didn’t buy Hilary’s CD but I did buy the Artic Monkeys and I’m so glad I did.
The tittle of this CD, for me, was reason enough to purchase it.”Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not” is a clue to the band’s attitude and keen observations. The lyrics are brillant. (There are a few explicit lyrics, but the singer’s accent is so thick my kids havn’t noticed them yet). How do people write like that? I’m amazed when song writers can tell a story, to music, (I know that’s obvious, but still impressive) that is witty, smart, down to earth, and makes you want to sing along.
The music is familar, yet not like any band out there. Maybe a little Franz Ferdinand, but tougher. Maybe a little Kaiser Chiefs, but more substantial. They also remind me of Sham 69, and the Ruts. I never get the feeling these guys are trying to be, or sound like something they aren’t.
The track Mardy Bum is what I hear, not often enough, on XM. It’s a slower song and it’s good but the entire CD is packed with great songs: “When the Sun Goes Down”, “Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured”, and “The View From the Afternoon.” A little something for everyone. Check out their web site to view some videos off this CD at ArcticMonkeys.com.
- Artist: Salem 66
- Title: A Ripping Spin
- Year: 1985
- Format: Vinyl 12 in.
- Rating (1-10): 5
- Owner: Mary
- Acquired: Probably when she worked at Plan 9 Records in Richmond, VA.
Live from Hampton, VA. — Uh, well, I tried to like this one. Mary says when she saw Salem 66 play live that the band and the music was exciting. “A Ripping Spin” doesn’t seem that exciting now. It’s not that either of us think it’s bad, they do have an interesting sound. It’s just that considering all the records we have we probably won’t play it again.
