The Music Issue

            Ok, enough is enough.  It’s time to take a break from republican bashing (hard to do) and pithy social commentary (hard to do).  It’s time for me to return to my roots, take a dip in the fountain of pretentiousness.  Yes, this is The Music Issue.

First of all, I do think that it’s important to let all of you out there know that
A) I don’t own a TV and therefore don’t watch MTV and
2) I don’t listen to the radio

So, where do I get my fabulous new music?  Two main sources, aside from recommendations from people.  The first is The Princeton Record Exchange.  Cheap, random CD purchases has a lot going for it and I highly recommend it: Completely untainted by mainstream demand; hit and miss at low, low prices; and the topper is if you find a gem you’ve got the instant gratification of knowing someone else passed over it.  You’re better than someone else after just one good find!  Brilliant!  A couple of incredible hits that have been or can be found at PRX:

            White Mud Freeway

Electronica tinged folk.  Great flowing stuff.

            Mylab

Hip-hop tinged jazz.  Think Ocean’s 11 soundtrack, but real music.

            Cry Baby Cry

Imagine the power of ancient Egyptian gods.  This band wielded such power.  They are a fallen testament to a grand and eternal empire.  At any time they could reach out and bring punk to a new level of spirituality and civilization, but fall because of internal struggle.  This is one of the best punk bands ever, with a disturbingly perfect grasp of form, lyrics and appeal.  A true one album powerhouse.

The other source of music is 3Voor12, and these are recommendations from there.  Nay, commandments.  Mitzvoth.  Truth.

La Breeze by Simian

The video itself is enough to stun with it’s indy simplicity and irony.  The music is simple, evoking a structure that’s been likened to John Lennon.  Oddly enough, when I heard this I thought of Sean Lennon and his explorations.  There’s a fun, sinister force at work here.  Like anger or angst actually aimed in a creative direction.  Very fun.

            Canada by Low

Smooth and sweet to the ears, this is oddly one of Low’s harder tracks.  It’s one of those tunes that tickles you inside like you’ve heard it before, even if you haven’t.

Everybody Knows and Tumble and Fall by Johan

Kick Out the Chairs by Munk

            This starts to get into the angry realm.  Ridiculous video.  Possibly meaningless music.  Worth putting in your head

                        Dance With Me by Adam Green

            The ultimate in post-ironic rock.

                        Voor Ik Vergeet by Spinvis

            Might depress the hell out of you, but it’s beautiful.

                        Come With You by Millionaire

            The video is the pinnacle in sexual rock achievement.

                        Bloc Party and The Subways are a great place to look at the upcoming direction of artistic punkish rock.

                        Trance by Festina Lente is where to go for some screaming metal that doesn’t suck!

                        Oh My Love by Sophia

I Said Pig on Friday by Eastern Lane

The Shy Retirer by The Arab Strap

Club Foot by Kasabian

            Just a few more top picks to pick up around the net.  Honestly, this stuff is great.  You might not like all of it, but there’s bound to be something in there for you so try them.  And besides simply being better to what you’re going to hear elsewhere, this shit is flat out capital.  It’s not just better than what you have, it’s what you should have been listening to all along.