The Gamer's Quarter

simplicio · . Joined: 03 May 2005 Posts: 1091

They go by the name Muffletoes.

One of them sounds quite a bit like Quasimoto!

GSL · Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2007 5:46 am Post subject:

helicopterp · . Joined: 13 May 2006 Posts: 1435 Location: Philadelphia

Just grabbed the new Arcade Fire cd today. It's called Neon Bible.

It's got a very, very different feel to it than Funeral did, while maintaining the same level of polyphony.

A couple of the tracks are real stand-outs. I guess I'm thinking about "Keep the Car Running" and "Intervention".

I don't know what to say about it all really. Funeral was one of the albums that compelled me to start this thread in the first place, but my initial reaction is that this new one doesn't grab me in the same way. Where Funeral was ecstatic, Neon Bible is measured. There's a still a tension--uneasy strings, menacing drums, Win Butler's ever-crackling voice, and a ghostlier performance from Regine--behind all the music, but it feels much more controlled. It's not as dangerous an album. Nothing quite approaches the wonder and disappointment of "Tunnels" or the rage of "Power Out".

I think I still like it a whole lot, though. I doubt it's going to be as personally resonant for me as their first was, but it's really interesting music.

P.S. Midway through my second listen-through, I'm digging on "Ocean of Noise"
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Joe · . Joined: 27 Nov 2006 Posts: 179

Neon Bible is a really weird album. It thrives off paranoia and uneasiness, and works those emotions in a very subtle manner. It'll grow on you.

"Antichrist Television Blues" is probably the best thing on there.
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dizzyjosh · . Joined: 20 Jun 2006 Posts: 64

my musical stuff lately has been all a mess.

hawkwind, the slits, and diplo's podcast (maddecentradio.com)

the knife and coil, too (basically i put the snow EP on repeat)

does anyone else think the cure's 'a forest' is very psychedelic?

Dracko · . Joined: 10 Oct 2005 Posts: 2613

I want to get into some Psychic TV for some reason. Godstar's been growing on me.

Going to see NIN on Sunday if all goes well.
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Scratchmonkey · . Joined: 02 Mar 2005 Posts: 1439

I'm going to see Twilight Circus Dub Sound System tomorrow. I have absolutely no idea what it's going to be like. I'll make a mini-report out of it.

I saw NIN in 1994 on the Downward Spiral release tour. It was a pretty good show, although the most memorable moments were:

1. Everybody was supremely antsy because NIN were taking a long time to get on stage and this cordon of young goth girls had sort of formed across the front of the stage. When the curtains started moving, these girls swept forward yelling "Trent! Trent!" while this really confused (and quite large) roadie in a trucker hat stood there holding some cables.

2. They did the same thing when they tested the smoke machine, leading us to joke that Trent would pay tribute to his vampire roots by performing in gaseous form.

Nana Komatsu · weak sauce Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 1293

Andrew Michael Toups asks the most important question of our age
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dhex · Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 7:53 am Post subject:

Dracko · . Joined: 10 Oct 2005 Posts: 2613

Isn't Rushkoff a novelist? All I know is he's writing the Vertigo maxi-series Testament for DC.
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extrabastardformula · . Joined: 08 Feb 2007 Posts: 295

Dracko · . Joined: 10 Oct 2005 Posts: 2613

Sounds like an even more interesting sort than Testament let on.

The NIN concert was brilliant, incidentally. They mostly did their older material, which was interesting, as I expected [With_Teeth] era stuff. A lot of good surprises came in the form of Down in it, Heresy, Starfuckers, Inc. and Suck. Low on the visuals, heavy on the brutism. Great first concert experience.

Here's the setlist:

The New Flesh mixed into Pinion
Terrible Lie
You Know What You Are?
Sin
March of the Pigs
The Frail
The Wretched
The Beginning of the End
Heresy
Closer with a breakdown into The Only Time
Burn
Gave Up
Help Me I Am in Hell
Eraser
The Fragile
Wish
Survivalism
Suck
Down in it
Hurt
The Hand That Feeds
Starfuckers, Inc.
Head Like a Hole
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Shapermc · Hot Sake! Joined: 14 Oct 2004 Posts: 6279

Number Girl is pretty great!

Will come back later after I've listened to them more.
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Scratchmonkey · . Joined: 02 Mar 2005 Posts: 1439

dhex · Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 10:51 am Post subject:

standing next to a 19 year old girl doing acid for the first time?
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Scratchmonkey · . Joined: 02 Mar 2005 Posts: 1439

Depending on your level of sympathy for others*, you could always just move to another spot in the club. Your snot-filled head has a tendency to follow you very precisely.

* - Which, to be honest, I have enough of that I would probably impart upon myself the false responsibility of making sure this kid is doing alright, where 'alright' means "unlikely to hurt himself (or possibly others)".

dhex · Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2007 11:00 am Post subject:

ok then, guidos on e? and it's really packed so you can't walk away!
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Nana Komatsu · weak sauce Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 1293

I've been listening to Odelay by Beck at work here today and it just serves as a reminder of what he's capable of and how piss-poor the last few albums (guero and the information) have been.
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aerisdead · . Joined: 03 Dec 2006 Posts: 254 Location: Toronto, Canada

His "Hell Yeah" EP was fairly decent, but in a kind of cynical way.

And, frankly, even if it's bit heavy with Nick Drake worship, I can't help but love Sea Change.

Loop it when depressed, and then be surprised when you wake up the next morning and you haven't killed yourself.
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Nana Komatsu · weak sauce Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 1293

Oh I love Sea Change (and Midnight Vultures) though I would say that Guero and The Information (especially) are trying to be Odelay 2.0 and fail miserably.
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dhex · Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 6:07 pm Post subject:

bill laswell is one of the spottiest dudes ever. some truly, truly classic material and then like, weird, overpolished wank. sometimes on the same album.

i really like painkiller though. also dig the mid 90s ambient dub stuff...sometimes.
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helicopterp · . Joined: 13 May 2006 Posts: 1435 Location: Philadelphia

simplicio · . Joined: 03 May 2005 Posts: 1091

dhex, quick!

bill laswell or jah wobble?

dhex · Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 7:28 am Post subject:

i hate to say it but laswell.
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simplicio · . Joined: 03 May 2005 Posts: 1091

see, if Laswell weren't so entrenched in that whole LA world music showboat thing, I could like him more. Listening to Molam Dub vs. the Tabla Beat Science stuff, there's just so much more WANKERY coming from the Laswell side of the equation.

But if you've got seriously great Laswell to recommend, do tell, cause he's certainly talented and all.

dhex · Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 12:38 pm Post subject:

axiom ambient
axiom dub collection (both are mid 90s ambient dub whatever stuff that i really enjoy)
painkiller
some of the material stuff is good
laswell/namlook
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Dracko · . Joined: 10 Oct 2005 Posts: 2613

Jarboe is working on the soundtrack for The Path.
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Nana Komatsu · weak sauce Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 1293

I have received an advanced leak of the new MC Frontalot album and it is more excellent than excellent.
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dizzyjosh · . Joined: 20 Jun 2006 Posts: 64

helicopterp · . Joined: 13 May 2006 Posts: 1435 Location: Philadelphia

I just listened to "David Banner" on that mixtape. As soon as it ended I exclaimed, "Jesus fucking shitness." It's so fucking good.

I am downloading this right now.
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Winged Assassins (1984) · Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 12:05 am Post subject:

A bootleg of Heaven & Hell live!
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Nana Komatsu · weak sauce Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 1293

Okay, so I had an epiphany earlier tonight while being completely floored by oreskaband and asakusa jinta tonight (more on them later).

I need to listen to some ska.

I need recomendations! I already am going to check out The Specials since oreskaband did a cover of one of their songs which I liked, but tell me who to listen to. Who is important and who will change my view on things?
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simplicio · . Joined: 03 May 2005 Posts: 1091

Skatalites, Jackie Mittoo, Roland Alphonso, Maytals.

Scratchmonkey · . Joined: 02 Mar 2005 Posts: 1439

Hey Alice, didn't know you were at that show too. We missed Asakusa Jinta because we were trying to find parking for roughly 30 minutes though.

I'll be honest, I didn't really like Oreskaband. I mean, they were enthusiastic and such, I just don't like much of Third Wave ska, mainly because it starts to sound too similar.

Anyway! Recommendations:

First Wave (mid-60s, Jamaica)
The Skatalites
Desmond Dekker
Lee Perry (yes, that Lee Perry)
Toots and the Maytals

Second Wave (~1980, mostly in England)
The Specials
The Selecter
English Beat
Madness

Third Wave (mostly 90s, all over the place)
Skanking Pickle
Blue Meanies

In terms of stuff that sounds like Oreskaband, try most anything that was put out by Moon Records in the 90s -- I think The Toasters were their big group. There's also the Mighty Mighty Bosstones and Voodoo Glow Skull, who had a bit more of the "punk" distorted guitar sound to them.

Nana Komatsu · weak sauce Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 1293

simplicio · . Joined: 03 May 2005 Posts: 1091

Tip: you can find a track from every one of Scratchmonkey's first wave recommendations (minus Lee Perry) and mine on a compilation called Studio One Ska (Soul Jazz Records) which is a fantastic place to start. Especially since you seem to have come into the genre at the shallow end of the pool with the new stuff.

david · . Joined: 03 Mar 2005 Posts: 170 Location: b, md

What happened with the 19-year-old, dhex.

Tell us.

Also, 36 Chambers of death, 360 degrees of perfected style.
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dhex · Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 7:40 am Post subject:

she was the annoying twin of the retarded drunk guy at the last akron/family show i went to.

"play sparks!" sparks!" after the band specifically said they wouldn't play sparks. at least she shut up eventually. drunk guy had to be threatened.

i had thought she was tripping because she was staring into an empty water bottle like someone would peer through a spyglass; it was later confirmed by the friends who came to pull her away from the edge of jackassery.

the worst thing about low doses of acid is that it makes you think your shoelace colors are significant.

it's a lot like being in grad school.
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Dracko · . Joined: 10 Oct 2005 Posts: 2613

This is why low doses amount to fence-sitting.

Then again, I've ever done acid once, in a particularly safe and private environment, and I'm not sure I'd like to try it again any time soon. Not an unpleasant experience, but still.

Ecstasy is pretty piss, though.
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Swimmy · . Joined: 16 Sep 2005 Posts: 990 Location: Fairfax, VA

Scratchmonkey · . Joined: 02 Mar 2005 Posts: 1439

Just got back from the Secret Chiefs 3/Sleepytime Gorilla Museum show. I had no idea that the latter were from Oakland. It was a pretty damn good show that started out with a guy coming into the bathroom right as I was leaving and in the confusion of trying to get out of each other's way, he high-fived me and screamed "Fucking metal!!!" In other crowd-related news, a guy flat passed out about 4 feet away from me in the middle of the Secret Chiefs set and had to be carried out by his friends.

Then Secret Chiefs were great, including an amazing cover of John Carpenter's Theme from Halloween as well as pulling off the first time that I've seen an opener leave the stage and then come back for an encore (the video show was nice too). Going along with that, Sleepytime played an "encore" without have to leave the stage and being cajoled back on. Their set was pretty damn good and involved some of the least retarded between-song chatter I'd heard in a while. The show culminated in both bands getting together on stage to perform Funkadelic's "Everybody's Going to Make It This Time".

I'm going to go so Secret Chiefs again on Monday in a small club in Petaluma, which will be the first time that I've seen a band twice in such a short period of time (they'll also be playing with Estradasphere, whom I've seen loads since my stint at UC Santa Cruz lined up with half of the band's, including the guitar player, who was in a series of Electronic Music courses with me and also happened to be the bass player for the Secret Chiefs tonight, small world, etc.). We'll see how it goes.

Shit, after reading Swimmy's thing, Slow Gherkin were actually the local Santa Cruz Third Wave ska band in the same basic period of time. And I saw The Rudiments back in '95 back when they were still punk-ska.

Scratchmonkey · . Joined: 02 Mar 2005 Posts: 1439

Scratchmonkey · . Joined: 02 Mar 2005 Posts: 1439

It actually turned out to be food poisoning.

And although I didn't get to go see SC3 again, I just got back from the symphony. Yeah, the symphony, fuckers. They were playing a "tone poem" from some modern Finnish dude, a Mozart piano concerto and Sibelius' First Symphony.

We were late, so we missed the tone poem, which was too bad. There were tubular bells that just sat out there unused for the rest of the program. Mozart was very pretty, which gets boring to me after a couple minutes. Luckily our seats were on the terrace directly behind the orchestra, so we could check out the musicians and their idiosyncracies.

The Sibelius was awesome. I really dig his shit and his early stuff in particular, when he was still boozin' it up and getting in bar fights with Poles, as opposed to his drinking himself slowly to death phase. Lots of cymbals, timpani and smashing crashing tempo changes. Yes, my favorite orchestral composers are Sibelius, Stravinsky and Shostakovich.

As an added bonus, we got to walk past a giant "Electro, Techno and Disco" show at the Bill Graham. I didn't know there were still that many ravers, or that pacifers and painting yourself up like a "scary clown" were still in vogue. The first time past them I screamed "Oh God I'm covered in plurrrrrr!" and the second time we reflected on the fact that we were old and wanted to slap around 15-year-olds while yelling "Put some pants on! Your father would be ashamed of you!"

simplicio · . Joined: 03 May 2005 Posts: 1091

I've been listening to nothing at all. My computer's died, taking my entire collection with it (I don't even own a CD player anymore), and I discovered thereafter that I have no idea where I left the charger for my DAP. This is all most unfortunate.

dhex · Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 10:37 am Post subject:

that's why i still buy cds. well that and like, it's nice to buy stuff.

been hitting the peel session of lightning bolt (i think its an ATP recording) and it's uh, insanely good. there's some actual separation so the recording is quite nice.

also blasting this secret chiefs set from earlier this year. shaper told me he didn't like secret chiefs. i now fear for his immortal soul.
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Joe · . Joined: 27 Nov 2006 Posts: 179

I didn't know they did a Peel Session. I think I'm going to hunt this down. If it's anything like the Melt Banana Peel Session (which is miles better than any of their recorded material) I expect to be blown away.
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Joe · . Joined: 27 Nov 2006 Posts: 179

Oh, wow. Holy shit. Hey, dhex, something just came out that you might be interested in:

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simplicio · . Joined: 03 May 2005 Posts: 1091

dhex · Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2007 9:39 am Post subject:

dump your girlfriend!

does she like fennesz's endless summer at least?

otherwise it's time to have "the talk."
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Joe · . Joined: 27 Nov 2006 Posts: 179

Import, sir. Though, I just downloaded it. I refuse to pay stupid high import CD prices. I'll buy it if Vice picks it up, though! It's really quite lovely.
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