Oneida

Have you ever listened to these guys, Hayden? Papa Crazee, who's no longer with them, is married to my bro-in-law's little sister. Nice guy. I think he's leading a country band now, although that may be on hiatus (not sure if he's done rehabbing from a serious injury.)

David, I have some questions for you in the books thread. Thanks in advance for your answers. Got my copy of LITG yesterday. I don't know if I'm the only one whose copy was kind of eccentrically packaged, but it showed up in a big square of cardboard, maybe 2'x2', flat except for the book. What's up with that?

I've only heard their split EP with the Liars and a p-sychedelic track that a friend put on a mix. All good.

No copy of LITG yet, though.

Just added this to the Goth(ish) video tape. You have to admire a record label owner who puts together his own superstar cover band just to do his favorite tunes. I mean - that's what I'd do if I had a record label.

I loved 4AD, when it was around. More than any other label since, what, Chess? You always knew what you were going to get with them, and it was always going to be good.

And Elizabeth Fraser's voice just makes me melt. Well, my heart melts. Other parts of me do . . . . other things. Things which could easily be described as diametrically opposed to melting.

But the sexiest female voice, like, ever? Early Annie Lennox.

I've just acquired a copy of Miles Davis - Live at Fillmore East March 7, 1970: It's About That Time, which is the most insanely great live album I've ever heard. This band, which apparently only existed for a very brief time (besides Miles, there's Wayne Shorter on sax [4 days before leaving to form the kinda lame Weather Report], Chick Corea on Rhodes [distorted so much that I thought he was John McLaughlin on guitar at first], Dave Holland on bass, Jack DeJohnette on drums, and Airto Moreira on percussion) is so incredibly in tune with each other, you'd think they were sextuplets. In particular, I'm amazed by the start-stop synchronicity at random times in "Masqualero" and "Bitches Brew." But there's no point where anyone is just showing off -- the music is as passionate and wild and emotional as live music can possibly be.

What's up with that?

I have no idea. Still waiting for my copies.

Is it a bootleg, Hayden, or an official release? Is McLaughlin on it? Wait... "sextuplets," I guess no Johnny Mac. If you wanted to send me a copy I wouldn't object or anything. And I promise I'll finally get RT at the Bayou and EDO burned & send them to you. (Actually that phrasing's pretty funny given the band's proclivities. Eliot: "This song, like all our songs, is a true story and a love song." Yanni: "And it's about drugs." Eliot: "This song, like all our songs, is a true story and a love song. And it's about drugs.")

I love Dave Holland. His playing on "Mademoiselle Mabry" is one of my favorite things. And the interplay with Tony Williams... there is a God!

"I'm not a good person to ask about Miles," Holland replied. "Because every time he played his horn, even only one note, magic happened for me. It didn't matter what was under or over it."

Is it a bootleg, Hayden, or an official release?

It's official, Joe. And I would guess you'd love the hell out of it. It's after Bitches Brew was recorded, but before it was released. No Zawinul, no Johnny Mac. It churns like Jack Johnson, but Miles & Shorter are playing clean - no distortion or effects. And it's the best I've ever heard Wayne Shorter. He sounds like late Quartet era Coltrane, but, y'know, with funk. I've already built it up a lot, so I'll shut up, but it took me completely by surprise.

Edit - Oh, and Holland sounds the best I've ever heard him, too.

Hayden, you would LOVE We Shall All Be Healed, the latest Mountain Goats release. "Your Belgian Things" on that CD kicks off my best-of mix, still under construction, and I just listened to "Home Again Garden Grove." Darnelle's something of a Buckner vibe, but more maybe Buckner mixed with Garcia Marquez and minus a whole bunch of minor chords.

Here's some of the lyric to "Home Again" --

I can remember when we were in high school
Our dreams were like fugitive warlords
Plotting triumphant returns to the city
Keeping Tec-9s tucked under the floorboards, ah-ah!

There's something about the way he takes a slightly off-center metaphor and just runs with it there that's tremendously compelling. And the tune is catchy!

More on the Goats from Scott Rosenberg at Salon:

[link] [link]

Now my iTunes is playing "Quito," which is another of my favorites off this album.

Just added this to the Goth(ish) video tape

screams

I had no idea that This Mortal Coil ever did videos.

I always thought this was a response to the personification of a demanding audience, and a statement on the very idea of audience, not about a specific woman.

Yep, that's what I always thought. Besides, "Crowds" hasn't ever struck me as a song you would listen to over and over and over in your darkened room until your roommates stage an intervention and confiscate the cd.

I, too, once owned Disintegration and now do not. Even if I did own it, I'd never be able to listen to it--just reading the lyrics is painful, as cheesy as that might sound. Does that mean I can keep my Goth Card?

Yes. Oh my goodness, yes. You get to keep your Goth Card.