Built to SpillSo after spending a lovely evening with my friends old man bourner and his beau i have decided to write down what records have been most important to me over the last 10 years. there has been lots of changes in my listening tastes in that time, but i've found many have stood the test of time. no charts here, they are all wonderful records to me. Remember, if you don't agree, don't tell me. Most of these selections have sentimental reasons for being here and i don't want to be upset ;-)
I'm gonna keep updating this until new years days when i should have worked my way through all my favourites.
Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Raise Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven. A masterpiece of a record by the gods of the genre known as post rock. The sheer range of dynamics alone make it great, but couple that with heart wrenching beauty, sublime craftsmanship and the power of a wild buffalo and you can't fail to be blown away.
Shellac - 1000 Hurtz What can you say about this record. When I was introduced to this by my friend Mark I didn't quite get the fuss but once you've lived with it a few years and seen them live, well then it becomes a different story. Albini and the boys grab you by the dangleez and shake them till you can't take no more. A guitar sound many try to imitate but never do and a knack for laying every emotion out there for all to see, wrapped in the most perfectly strange songs. Flawless.
Tarentel - We Move Through Weather I have to say that this is not my favourite Tarentel album, that would go to From Bone To Satelitte, but that was to early for this list. There are however some of my favourite songs of their's on this record and it introduced me to there more experimental side which I have gone on to enjoy with every new release. The album has this wonderfully grittyness to it and the sound of a band thoroughly enjoying the experiment. long may it continue.
Smog - A River Ain't Too Much to Love. Ahh, the ever irrepressible Bill Callahan. I've discussed this with many and no one seems to like this record as much as me, but hey I'm not here to have others confirm what I like. I love the story telling on display here, the classic vocal delivery all set against a wonderfully simple musical back drop. Yes, I love his other records, but 'a river' captures the essence of that simple smog beauty and it's one record that has never left my mp3 player since i got it
Supersilent - 6 Although every Supersilent album is fantastic, 6 just really came together for me. It feels like all the elements are firing in perfect unison, each brain cell connected and working as one. Improvisation at it's best.
Tim Hecker - Harmony in Ultraviolet. Radio Amor or Harmony. I've really struggle to decide which I love more and Harmony wins out in the end. It feels like all of the ideas in 'radio' come together in 'Harmony' to create this harsh, bludgeon of beauty which both scares and lulls you all at once. This is an ambient record, yes, but it was the first time I experienced the beauty of shimmering, reverb drenched digital distortion that can be achieved in the right hands. No one really sounds like Tim Hecker and I'm sure no one ever will.
Keith Fullerton Whitman - Multiples/Playthroughs. I couldn't decide which I love more and why bother. Both very different in approach and sound, but with the same end result. I struggle to write why I like records like these so much, it's easy with song based stuff "oh it's got wonderful lyrics and so on and so on", but not with more experimental albums. Lets just say they are beautiful.
Autechre - Draft 7.30. Okay, yes the early records are pretty and the beats are easier to listen to but my god, you can't fuck with 'Draft'. The programming, experimentation, the beats, the understated melody. For me their best record and a landmark for electronic music. After this it was kind of hard to write a record that could both be that experimental and that listenable on repeat. Killer.
Matmos - The Civil War. Love them or hate them you can't deny Matmos's musical catalogue. Many would kill to be able to write that many great records. I'm not a fan of concept records usually but one based on the American Civil War written by Matmos, are you kidding me it has to be great, and so it was. The beats rock the sampling is beautifully tasteful and the way the elements interweave without once sounding corny and shit is a modern miracle. By rights, this record should be terrible but in the hands of Daniels and Smit it is a wonderful twisted journey.
The Books - Lost and Safe. I have to say that I never really liked the books when i first heard them. It just all sounded abit watered down and wishy washy for my tastes, but there is something so timeless in their songs. They sound hand made, like they've been created with tissue paper and pritt stick if you know what i mean (not in a shit Psapp type way though). Then there is the random, rather intelligent lyrics that half the time i don't understand but sound so perfect. The wonderfully plucked guitars, understated cello, found sound beats and carefully selected video audio samples. my perfect, pretty pop record.
Grand Ulena - Gateway to Dignity. Don't fuck with Grand Ulena because you can't. FULL F'ING STOP.
stay tuned for more
23/12/09.
Funkstörung - Appetite for Disctruction. Some say they are just an Autechre rip off but not me. Appetite is such a wonderful twisted instrumental hip hop album to these old ears and it contains the variety that other DSP drenched artists like edIT never seemed to have. A Bottle, a Box and a Mic is such a sick track, clang clang clang, clatter clatter, boom, boom. 'hell yeah'.
Joanna Newsome - Ys. Okay i have to admit to being a little in love with her as every other man is I'm sure, but that's not the reason for thinking Ys is so good. Incredible composition, beautiful harp playing, soaring string arrangements and that slightly odd lyrical style, that is why it's great. Oh and Bill Callahan croaking in like a bull frog, 17 mins into Only You.
Built to Spill - Perfect From Now On. Unfortunately they maybe weren't from here on, 'perfect' that is, but my god they were when they wrote this. All technical and clever, but perfectly formed and so catchy and easy to listen to. It shows what a proper song writer is when they can write such a clever record and make it so accessible.
I'm gonna keep updating this until new years days when i should have worked my way through all my favourites.
Godspeed You! Black Emperor - Raise Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven. A masterpiece of a record by the gods of the genre known as post rock. The sheer range of dynamics alone make it great, but couple that with heart wrenching beauty, sublime craftsmanship and the power of a wild buffalo and you can't fail to be blown away.
Shellac - 1000 Hurtz What can you say about this record. When I was introduced to this by my friend Mark I didn't quite get the fuss but once you've lived with it a few years and seen them live, well then it becomes a different story. Albini and the boys grab you by the dangleez and shake them till you can't take no more. A guitar sound many try to imitate but never do and a knack for laying every emotion out there for all to see, wrapped in the most perfectly strange songs. Flawless.
Tarentel - We Move Through Weather I have to say that this is not my favourite Tarentel album, that would go to From Bone To Satelitte, but that was to early for this list. There are however some of my favourite songs of their's on this record and it introduced me to there more experimental side which I have gone on to enjoy with every new release. The album has this wonderfully grittyness to it and the sound of a band thoroughly enjoying the experiment. long may it continue.
Smog - A River Ain't Too Much to Love. Ahh, the ever irrepressible Bill Callahan. I've discussed this with many and no one seems to like this record as much as me, but hey I'm not here to have others confirm what I like. I love the story telling on display here, the classic vocal delivery all set against a wonderfully simple musical back drop. Yes, I love his other records, but 'a river' captures the essence of that simple smog beauty and it's one record that has never left my mp3 player since i got it
Supersilent - 6 Although every Supersilent album is fantastic, 6 just really came together for me. It feels like all the elements are firing in perfect unison, each brain cell connected and working as one. Improvisation at it's best.
Tim Hecker - Harmony in Ultraviolet. Radio Amor or Harmony. I've really struggle to decide which I love more and Harmony wins out in the end. It feels like all of the ideas in 'radio' come together in 'Harmony' to create this harsh, bludgeon of beauty which both scares and lulls you all at once. This is an ambient record, yes, but it was the first time I experienced the beauty of shimmering, reverb drenched digital distortion that can be achieved in the right hands. No one really sounds like Tim Hecker and I'm sure no one ever will.
Keith Fullerton Whitman - Multiples/Playthroughs. I couldn't decide which I love more and why bother. Both very different in approach and sound, but with the same end result. I struggle to write why I like records like these so much, it's easy with song based stuff "oh it's got wonderful lyrics and so on and so on", but not with more experimental albums. Lets just say they are beautiful.
Autechre - Draft 7.30. Okay, yes the early records are pretty and the beats are easier to listen to but my god, you can't fuck with 'Draft'. The programming, experimentation, the beats, the understated melody. For me their best record and a landmark for electronic music. After this it was kind of hard to write a record that could both be that experimental and that listenable on repeat. Killer.
Matmos - The Civil War. Love them or hate them you can't deny Matmos's musical catalogue. Many would kill to be able to write that many great records. I'm not a fan of concept records usually but one based on the American Civil War written by Matmos, are you kidding me it has to be great, and so it was. The beats rock the sampling is beautifully tasteful and the way the elements interweave without once sounding corny and shit is a modern miracle. By rights, this record should be terrible but in the hands of Daniels and Smit it is a wonderful twisted journey.
The Books - Lost and Safe. I have to say that I never really liked the books when i first heard them. It just all sounded abit watered down and wishy washy for my tastes, but there is something so timeless in their songs. They sound hand made, like they've been created with tissue paper and pritt stick if you know what i mean (not in a shit Psapp type way though). Then there is the random, rather intelligent lyrics that half the time i don't understand but sound so perfect. The wonderfully plucked guitars, understated cello, found sound beats and carefully selected video audio samples. my perfect, pretty pop record.
Grand Ulena - Gateway to Dignity. Don't fuck with Grand Ulena because you can't. FULL F'ING STOP.
stay tuned for more
23/12/09.
Funkstörung - Appetite for Disctruction. Some say they are just an Autechre rip off but not me. Appetite is such a wonderful twisted instrumental hip hop album to these old ears and it contains the variety that other DSP drenched artists like edIT never seemed to have. A Bottle, a Box and a Mic is such a sick track, clang clang clang, clatter clatter, boom, boom. 'hell yeah'.
Joanna Newsome - Ys. Okay i have to admit to being a little in love with her as every other man is I'm sure, but that's not the reason for thinking Ys is so good. Incredible composition, beautiful harp playing, soaring string arrangements and that slightly odd lyrical style, that is why it's great. Oh and Bill Callahan croaking in like a bull frog, 17 mins into Only You.
Built to Spill - Perfect From Now On. Unfortunately they maybe weren't from here on, 'perfect' that is, but my god they were when they wrote this. All technical and clever, but perfectly formed and so catchy and easy to listen to. It shows what a proper song writer is when they can write such a clever record and make it so accessible.
