Ty Segall - "Melted" - Goner Records
Gumshoe’s review of Ty Segall’s Melted [Tiny Mix Tapes]
Ty Segall and Mikal Cronin – “I Wear Black” MP3/download
Gumshoe’s review of Ty Segall’s Horn of Unicorn
Gumshoe’s review of Ty Segall’s Lemons LP/CD
I LOVE me some Ty Segall. Something about Melted is off, though. I think today’s hectic release schedules (especially, seemingly, for Bay Area artists) might have played into the tossed-off nature of this one.
I mentioned Segall’s collaboration with Mikal Cronin as being a much more ideal example of Seg’s work, so I linked “I Wear Black” above; when I thought about it some more I figured I should also link my reviews of Horn of Unicorn and Lemons, both stellar LPs.
Anyway, check out the review. No characters, profanity OR overlong narratives in this one, just pure Gumshoe analysis. Check out this short excerpt:
“It would have been nice to hear Segall take more of the sonic-jolt action of Shark Attack to the bank on latest full-length Melted, but he instead shifts subtly into a mode that, ideally, would let his songs shine more than their fuzzy dressings. I’m not sure it works.”
Badda-boom badda-BING! (Previous word was in no way a reference to that crappy search engine.)
dude, i agree. this is the first Ty Segall album that gave me a bored feeling. it seems stripped of the sweaty energy that makes the music fun. the only thing that interested me is the electronic touches here and there. though, i think anything from the San Fran rock scene right now carries high expectations.
i’m glad you agree, i’ve been such a ty segall junkie that it was only a matter of time before i was disappointed. i mean there’s some good stuff on there but you know what i mean — that self-titled album seems so far away now …
how’s summer in pullman treating you? enjoying the privacy? i used to go full-Hermit June through July when I was there but the people that did stick around always banded together, which was nice.
haha, whenever people back home ask me why the hell i’m in pullman during summer i usually say “its quiet” or “no ones here”. yeah i love this town when a half of it is gone. i would say i’m at ‘semi-hermit’ ready to go ‘full’ this weekend. everyone seems to be headed to Sasquatch, Seattle, or the WHY? show in Portland.
ive been meaning to ask you, where’d you get started writing music? i like your writing a lot. since my school is coming to an end i’ve been writing reviews and what not like crazy. KEXP has posted about 4 things i’ve written on their blog over the past 3-4 months but they are unreliable. the MD at KZUU (evan reyes) and I started and wrote almost everything on the KZUU blog. anyway, just curious what your journey was/is like in this crazy internet age.
first off, music writing isn’t a great way to make a living unless you want to write for one of the Big mags and interview pieces of crap like Blink 182 and Panic At the Disco (in fact someone at a “big” mag told me they now try to emulate the style of those AWFUL MSN home pages because they want 50-year-old ladies to be able to “get into” their content. that had to be the most disappointing development i’ve ever been privy to, by far).
soooo, my journey started a looong time ago, at SFCC in spokane, at “The Communicator”. then spokane’s The Local Planet Weekly (now defunct), then a buddy at TLPW hooked me up with andrew at Skyscraper Magazine. then CW gave me my first and, to this date, only cover story (on The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, who were just starting to get big at that time). Tiny Mix Tapes came after that and I also attempted to start my own magazine, The Gumshoe Revue, with N8 from KZUU and a bunch of freelancers. I made two issues but we never got it printed in the end (though i did put it online for a year).
then i was managing editor at Tiny Mix Tapes until i got too busy and switched to Features Editor. The Signal To Noise thing happened last year when I noticed their Rock columnist was leaving and harassed them about taking it over.
whew! i guess that’s it; started the Grove in 2009 and decided to stop trying to write for a bunch of mags/sites and focus on Tiny Mix Tapes and Signal To Noise …
i tell you what, if there’s one thing in my life — besides my marriage and my daughter, of course — that’s been a reliable source of happiness it’s been my involvement in the whole indie music thing. I think the “scene” is a breeding ground for people that just plain SUCK a lot of the time, but the real, genuine music makers/lovers out there, those who are in it strictly via an obsession with music, are also some of the best people I’ve ever met. it’s a mixed bag. i’m sure you know this because you’ve been at KZUU for so long, haha
wow, long-winded, no?
not at all, thanks for that. i’m always curious how things like this come together. i think your right about the “scene” too.
I actually really like this album. It’s short and sweet and has a nice mix of fuzzed out danceable tunes and more Syd Barrett styled psychness. It’s great dish washing music!
i totally respect that opinion, and yes, it has that nice steady beat that can keep a day rollin’. guess i just wanted more craziness …