Listening Log

This is what my CD collection would look like if it were much, much smaller.

[This is where I log "I'm Just Telling You What I Heard" entries every week, complete with album/EP/single title, format/special features and record label. Why not!?]

[July 28 - Aug. 4, 2011]

Van Morrison – “TB Sheets” LP
Langhorne Slim “When the Sun’s Gone Down” – Narnack Records
Arctic Monkeys – “Whatever People Say I Am, I’m Not” – Domino Records
Odd Nosdam – “Untitled 3″ EP – Anticon Records
WTZ Hearts – “Threads Rope Spells Making Your Bones” LP
Psychobuildings – s/t 12-inch – All Hands Electric Records
Wolves In The Throne Room – “Two Hunters” 2XLP – Southern Lord Records
By The End of Tonight – “Tribute to Tigers” – Temporary Residence
The Robocop Kraus – “They Think They Are the Robocop Kraus”
Unwound – “Tolouse – Dollar Pub” (live set)
Pell Mell – “Star City”
Hella – “Tripper” CD – Sargent House
Grandaddy – “The Sophtware Slump” CD
The Fire Theft – (unreleased Seattle live set from 2002)

[July 24-27, 2011]

Dennis Wilson – “Pacific Ocean Blue” 3XLP
Excepter – “Maze of Death” tape – Dog Daze / Excepter Records (2010)
The Fresh & Onlys – “August in My Mind” EP – Captured Tracks
Tonstartssbandht – “Dick Nights” tape – Does Are / Black Cheeks Records (2009)
Islands – “Return to the Sea” – Rough Trade
Jan Jelinek – “Kosmicher Pitch” – ~scape (2005)
Jennifer Gentle – “Varende” – Sub Pop Records
Mono – “One Step More and You Die” – Music Mine / Temporary Residence Records

[July 19-23, 2011]

Miles Davis – “Round About Midnight” – Columbia (1957)
Count Basie – “The Complete Decca Recordings” – GRP/MCA Records (1992)
Broadcast – “Tender Buttons” – Warp Records (2005)
The Secret Machines – “Ten Silver Drops” – Reprise Records (2006)
Julian Curwin – “The Tango Saloon” – Ipecac Records (2006)
The Hollies – “Super Hits”
The Cure – “Staring at the Sea: The Singles”
Plaid – “Spokes” – Warp Records
Animal Collective – “Spirit They’ve Gone, Spirit They’ve Vanished” – Fatcat Records
Various artists – “Geyser • Anthology Of The Icelandic Independent Music Scene Of The Eighties” – Enigma Records
Esoterica Landscapes – “Hokmah Nistarah” LP – Anomie Records
False Prophets – s/t – Alternative Tentacles Records
Pinback – “Loro” EP – Ace Fu Records
Jel – “Soft Money” – Anticon Records
Make Believe – “Shock of Being” – Flameshovel Records

[July 13-18, 2011]

Antn Hrwk – “Thoroughbred” LP – Life’s Blood Records
Edmond De Deyster – “Selectie Vol. 2″ – Ultra Eczema Records
Ela Orleans – “Lost” LP – La Station Radar Records
This Is A Process Of A Still Life – “Light” – Firefly Sessions (2005)
Born Without Bones / Aerial Constellations – “Tab Cabby” (one-sided 12-inch) – Isolated Now Waves / Thankless Records (2007)
Steve Hillage – “Rainbow Dome Musick” – Virgin Records (1979)
Servile Sect – “Stratospheric Passenger” LP – Ecstatic Peace Records (2007)
Guided By Voices – “Under the Bushes, Under the Stars” 2XLP – Matador Records (1996)
Billy Joel – “An Innocent Man” – Columbia Records (1983)
Captain Beefheart – “Safe As Milk” LP – Buddah Records
Mi Ami – “Mi Ami” LP – Thrill Jockey Records (2011)
Plates Of Cake – s/t – All Hands Electric Records (2010)
Various artists – “It Happened Here” LP+7-inch – St. Ives Records
Æthenor – “En Form For Blå” 2XLP (white) – VHS Records
John Fahey – “The Yellow Princess” LP – Vanguard Records (2010)
Sylvester Anfang – “Satanische Vrede” LP – K-RAA-K Records

[July 8 - July 13]

Pantera – “Vulgar Display of Power” LP – (Record Store Day reissue)
Expressway Yo-Yo Dieting – “Bubblethug” 2XLP – Weird Forest Records (2010)
Van Morrison – “Astral Weeks” LP – Warner Bros. Records (1968)
The Chinese Stars – “A Rare Sensation” – Three One G Records
Cypress Hill – “Greatest Hits from the Bong” – Columbia Records
French Quarter – s/t – Life’s Blood Records (2011)
Fela Kuti – “… And His Africe 70″ – Kalakuta Sunrise / Knitting Factory Records (2010)
Excepter – “Maze of Death” tape – Dog Daze Tapes / Excepter Records (2010)
Jackie-O Motherfucker – “Liberation” – Road Cone Records (2001)
Bob Dylan – “New Morning” – CBS Records (1970)
Earth – “Living in the Gleam of an Unsheathed Sword” – Mega Blade Records (2005)

[July 2 - July 7, 2011]
Shellac – “1000 Hurts” – Touch & Go (2000)
Dirty Three – “Cinder” – Touch & Go (2005)
The Clash – “Clash on Broadway” 3XCD – Epic Records (1991)
Ratatat – “Classics” – XL Recordings
Revolting Cocks – “Cocked and Loaded”
Bob Dylan – “Blood on the Tracks” – Columbia
The Fiery Furnaces – “Blueberry Boat” – Rough Trade (2004)
Tortoise & Bonnie “Prince” Billy – “The Brave and the Bold” – Overcoat Recordings (2006)
Television – “Live At The Old Waldorf – San Francisco, 6/29/78″ – Elektra/Rhino Handmade (2011)
Landing – “Brocade”
Dinosaur Jr. – “You’re Living All Over Me” – SST Records (1987)
Liz Janes – “Done Gone Fire” – Asthmatic Kitty Records (2001)
Usurp Synapse – “Disinformation Fix” 2XCD – Alone Records (2004)
The Hidden Cameras – “Awoo” – Arts & Crafts Records
Spires That In The Sunset Rise – “Found Winds the Walker” – Secret Eye Records (2005)
George Harrison – s/t – Dark Horse Records (1979)
Jan Jelinek – “Komischer Pitch” – ~scape Records (2005)

[June 28 - July 1, 2011]
The Impossible Shapes – “Bless The Headless” LP – Luna Music
Sam Cooke – “One Night Stand: Sam Cooke Live at the Harlem Square Club, 1963″ CD
The Silent Type – “Of Writing/Of Violence” CD (label unknown)
Depeche Mode – “101″ 2XCD (Disc 1)
Mogwai – “5 Track Tour Single” – (self-released)
Jane – “Berserker” CD – Paw Tracks (2005)
Frog Eyes – “The Bloody Hand” CD – Absolutely Kosher Records (2006)
Mumbles – “A Book of Human Beats” CD – Mums the Word Records (2005)
Arab On Radar – “Soak the Saddle” LP – Skin Graft Records
Rat Catching – s/t LP (purple) – Fedora Corpse Records
Comoros – “White Flower” LP (white) – Fedora Corpse Records

[June 25-27, 2011]

Johnny Cash – “Songs of Our Soil” – Sony Music (2002)
Life Of Agony – “The River Runs Red” – Roadrunner Records (1993)
Death Cab For Cutie – “Something About Airplanes” – Barsuk (1999)
Jel – “Soft Money” – Anticon (2006)
The Rolling Stones – “England’s Newest Hit Makers” – ABKO (1964)
The Talk – “Sinners of Daughters” – Morisen Records (2005)
Mason Lindhal – “Serrated Man Sound” – Porter Records (2010)
Bell Orchestre – “Recording a Tape the Color of the Light” – Rough Trade (2005)
Bernard Haitink – “Rachmaninov: Piano Concert No. 2, Op. 18 C Minor” (?)
Various artists – “Warp20 Box” 3XLP/6XCD – Warp Records [2009]
Dead To Fall – “The Phoenix Throne” – Victory Records
Various artists – “The R&B Box: 30 Years of Rhythm & Blues” disc 3 – Rhino Records

[Early 2011]

George Harrison – “All Things Must Pass” 3XLP (I get so caught up in the indie zone I forget to throw this in sometimes, and regret it. “Ram,” too.)
Locrian – “Territories” LP [At War With False noise] (I liked “Crystal World” but find it hard to put “Territories” down. That drum sound has really grown on me.)
Smith Westerns – self-titled LP [HoZac Records] (I’m late to the game on this one. I mostly like tracks 7-9 but they’re damn good. And is that T-Rex?)
Amon Duul II – “Yeti” 2XLP (Such weird group-think improv I often forget what I’m listening to while it’s spinning. This is why some groups span time while others merely chew it up.)
Sic Alps / Magik Markers – “split” LP [Yik Yak Records] (Embarrassingly enough, I actually haven’t even listened to this yet. Still in the shrink wrap, but … I’ll get to it.)
These Are Powers – “Terrific Seasons” 200 gram 2XLP [HOSS Records] (Did these guys get lost in the shuffle or break up? Either way not enough attention devoted, at the Grove or otherwise.)
Avey Tare – “Down There” LP [Car Park Records] (Just wonderful, easily addictive as AC proper.)
Beck – “Odelay” special edition 4XLP (I loved ‘Lay back in the day, and the special edish is delish. Super-thick vinyl, lots of extras and an Album As Art sensibility.)

[Late 2010]

Purling Hiss – “Hissteria” LP [Richie Records/TestosterTunes]
Jonsi & Alex – “Riceboy Sleeps” 2XLP [XL Records]
AFCGT – self-titled 10-inch, red vinyl [Dirty Knobby Records]
Radiohead – “In Rainbows” deluxe 45RPM 2XLP + 2CD + book [Xurbia_Xendless Limited]
The Make-Up – “Destination: Love” LP [Dischord Records]
D. Rider – “Mother of Curses” orange LP [Tizona Records]
Servile Sect – “Stratospheric Passenger” 12-inch LP [Ecstatic Peace Records]
Three Mile Pilot – “Another Desert, Another Sea” 2XLP [Head Hunter Records]

[May 24, 2010]

Foreigner – “I Wanna Know What Love Is” 45 RPM single

Various artists – “Tomorrow Will Be Worse 1-4” 3X7”/3X7”/3X7”/LP [Sound Pollution Records] (Found the first in a shop, bought the other three, and now I’m happy. Two of the 7-inch sets are color vinyl, too.)
Hair Police – “Drawn Dead” LP [Weird Forest Records] (Cloudy, cushy but crowded, low-groan shop music for the corroded.)

Tawee – “A Static Rainbow: Green” cassette tape in poly-box [Nightpass Handmad Records] (Just got four Nightpass-stable 3-inch CD-r releases, all are as interesting aesthetically as they are aurally.)

Smegma – “33 1/3″ LP [Important Records] (I was supposed to review this for Skyscraper years ago but I never got a promo. I rectified it at Bart CD Cellar’s’ closing-out sale, finally.)

Under Byen – “Alt Er Tabt” CD/LP [Paper Bag Records] (One of my underdog favorites, for sure. A perfect modern indie-rock band.)

[Feb. 27, 2010]

The Beatles – “The Ballad of John & Yoko / Old Brown Shoe” seven-inch [Apple Records] (Found this -incher at an old antique shop deep in the woods of upstate New York; kind of an odd song coupling)

Various artists – “Dengue Fever Presents: Electric Cambodia” cream-colored LP [Minky Records] (“Electric Cambodia” is a game-changer, turning heads like “3 EPs”)
Cadaver In Drag – “Church Burner” spraypainted cassette [Husk Records] (Heavy, brain-draining mulch-noise to strip a carcass clean to; out of control)
Modest Mouse – “This is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think About” CD [Up Records] (This is easily their best record, almost perfect and ready to be whipped out at any time; click the link to find out why)
Various Artists – “Tunes from Films and Shows” seven-inch [Lyntone Recordings] (wavers from ironically cool to just-not-good to decent)
White Shit – “Sculpted Beef” LP [Post Present Medium Records] (Almost-almost-almost bought that 10-inch of theirs; will)
Thee Oh Sees – “Quadrospazzed” 12-inch LP [Castle Face Records] (The etching on Side B is one of the best I’ve seen, even better than the Robert Delaney Radio Show seven-inch)
The Brian Jonestown Massacre – “Smoking Acid” neon-green/-pink 2XLP [a Records] (Steep price, stunning art, one LP doesn’t even have MUSIC on it for fuck’s sake)

[Feb. 9, 2010]

The Monkees – “Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd.”LP reissue [Sundazed Records] (I can’t believe how hard some of the country-rock on this album HITS, like alt-Byrds with attitude … then you have “Pleasant Valley Sunday”; yum)
Enon – “Grass Geysers … Carbon Clouds” LP [Touch & Go Records] (Didn’t like “Hocus Pocus” and I’m not sold on this one to be honest)
Begushkin – “Nightly Things” LP [Locust Records] (Original folk-influenced Americana on heavy-ass wax)
Wilderness – “Vessel States” LP [Jagjaguwar Records] (Missed out on the self-titled debut but nabbed this for $4.50)
Red Hot Chili Peppers – “Californiacation” CD (what can I say, it’s still good)
The Starlite Desperation – “Violate a Sundae” LP [Cold Sweat Records] (nice EP from a rarely mentioned band)
The Fresh & Onlys – “Bomb Wombs” cassette tape [Fuck It Tapes] (Glad I got a copy of this one; the perfect post-modern, post-BJM band)
Raekwon – “Only Built for Cuban Linx II” 2XLP [Ice/H2O Records] (Wu-Tang will always be a part of my life; a prominent one)

[Jan. 7, 2010]
Jimmie Spheeris – “Isle of View” / “The Original Tap Dancing Kid” LPs [Columbia Records] (The early ’70s sound like an endless folk/coke party; also, Spheeris’ sister Penelope directed “Black Sheep” starring Chris Farley)
Split Enz – “Time and Tide” LP [Mushroom Records] (First New Zealanders to break big in U.S.)
Vampire Weekend – “Contra” / “Vampire Weekend,” digital download / LP [XL Records] (The latter so thoroughly superior to the former)
Abe Vigoda – “Skeletons” cassette tape [Not Not Fun Records] (Perhaps my favorite band right now; click link to buy yr own copy before it’s OOP)
Various Artists – “Hometapes sampler” red cassette tape [Hometapes Records] (click the link to download this beauty, track-by-track, for free!)
Prong – “Rude Awakening” CD [Sony] (looking for this on vinyl on the cheap)
Oneida – “Rated O” 3XLP [Brah Records] (many loved this, many slept on it; don’t)
Masta Killah – “Made in Brooklyn” 2XLP [Nature Sounds Records] (aka “Noodles” aka “High Chief” spits fine solo joint)

[Dec. 14, 2009]
Blood, Sweat & Tears – “Child is Father to the Man” LP [Columbia Records] (B. Hyland + B. Vee + Poni Tails = A fucking party)
Doom – “Born Like This” 2XLP [Lex Records] (Minor Doom still spells Doom)
Def Leppard – “Hysteria” clear cassette tape [Mercury Records] (Self-important rock never sounded so … actually important regardless of actually importance)
Ear Pwr – “Super Animal Brothers III” CD (not great, but fun)
The Brian Jonestown Massacre – “Thank God for Mental Illness” LP [Bomp! Records] (you heard it here first: mental illness is good!)
Leadbelly – “Goodnight Irene” CD (I’ll see you in my dreams)
Life Of Agony – “River Runs Red” CD [Roadrunner Records] (another era, but fun to hearken back to)
Battles – “Mirrored” CD [Warp Records] (one of the only undefinable records released the last few years)

[Dec. 6, 2009]

Various Artists – “Sessions: Senior Prom” 4LP [Warner Special Products] (B. Hyland + B. Vee + Poni Tails = A fucking party)
Neil Young – “On the Beach” LP [(Warner Bros] (The memories make my throat swell)
Black Moth Super Rainbow + The Octopus Project – “The House of Apples and Eyeballs” blue splatter LP [Graveface Records] (better than I thought upon its release)
Sufjan Stevens – “X-mas box” 5CD (I can’t shut up about this thing, truly)
Animal Collective – “Here Comes the Indian” LP [Paw Tracks] (if you’re surprised, well, you … you’re dumb)
Gordon Lightfoot – “Sundown” LP [Reprise Records] (Gordon’s only no. 1 record)
Circulatory System – “Signal Morning” CD [Cloud Recordings] (incredible, reviewable; why am I so lazy?)
Tina Turner – “Live” VHS (the thong is NOT a recent invention, people)

[Nov. 30 - Dec. 5]

Sylvester Anfang – “Satanische Vrede” LP [(K-RAA-K) Records] (Du Hast Mich?)
Quinn Walker – “Lion Land / Laughter’s An Asshole” 2CD [Voodoo Eros Records] (Banhart-goofy, Emp. X on roofies)
Yardbirds/The Kinks – “Greatest Hits” split cassette (the shape of things to come on two fronts, truly)
Avarus – “Ruskeatimantti” 2CD [Tumult Records] (shakers, noise makers, puritans, quakers)
Titus Andronicus – “Airing of Grievances” LP [Troubleman Unlimited] (still good, still worth the hype)
Anti-Pop Consortium – “Fluorescent Black” 2XLP [Big Dada Records] (still can barely believe this happened; big ups)
Little Girls – “Concepts” CD [Paper Bag Records] (retains attention well)
Aphex Twin – “Drukqs” 2CD [Warp Records] (RJ invents drum-’n'-bass, scores another triumph)

[Nov. 23 - 29]

Dead At 24 – “Blast Off Motherfucker” LP [Ride the Snake Records] (a grower, like … a lot of people around here)
The Four Tops – “Gold” cassette [Motown] (too important to go into here)
Dead Texan – s/t CD [Kranky] (I haven’t forgotten you)
The Monks – “Black Monk Time” 2XLP [Light in the Attic Records] (great story, good-to-great tunes)
Neil Norman & His Cosmic Orchestra – “Greatest Science Fiction Hits” LP [GNP/Crescendo records] (“Star Trek” theme + disco = sheer terror)
V/A – “A Prae-Kraut Pandaemonium: Volume 11″ LP [Lost Continence Records] (my instincts did not fail me on this one; bliss)
The Beets – “Spit In the Face …” – CD [Captured Tracks] (typical but tantalizing)

[Nov. 16 - 22 2009]

Oneida – Happy New Year LP (prog-funk with a swirl? believe dat)
Excepter – Black Beach LP/DVD, clear (special features steal show)
Excepter – “Vacation / Forget Me” LP, orange (bump-chugga-chugga)
Sufjan Stevens – Illinois – 2XLP (“Niagara Falls” … Jesus CHRIST)
Johnny Cash – Original Golden Hits Vol. 2 – Sun LP (“Rosie,” oh Rosie …)
Bear In Heaven – Beast Rest Forth Mouth – Hometapes CD
The Holy Mountain – “Wrath” – No Idea 7-inch, gray marble

[Nov. 9 - Nov. 15]

Matmos – Supreme Balloon
Goofballs
Lucifer Wong – “Mammals” 7-inch
The Red Scare – “Jet Set” 7-inch
The Beets -
Red Scare / True North split 7-inch
Brujeria – “¡Machetazos!” 7-inch
Geggy Tah – (?)
Oh Brother, Where Art Thou soundtrack
The Reigning Sound – Love & Curses