Song: Glad Girls
Artist: Guided by Voices
Album: Isolation Drills
Also try: Sebadoh, Superchunk, Steven Malkmus, the Hold Steady
Commentary: I don't know what the story is with this video; not sure if they had the technology to make that vid in 2001 (maybe it was cutting-edge!) Anywho, Robert Pollard's a pretty prolific songwriter, so obviously there's some variation in the quality of his contributions. I like this song (and album) pretty well, but go for Bee Thousand for the peak of critical acclaim. A prototypical turn-of-the-decade (90s-00s), lo-fi indie rock song, "Glad Girls"'ll get stuck in your head.
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Friday, May 17, 2013
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
"Song about Stalin" by Esslam Yousobof
Song: Song about Stalin
Artist: Ashoug Esslam Yousobof (or Islam Yusufov) and Essmaeel Alikperoff
Also try: Hmm, I don't know. If you know of anything good in similar musical traditions, let me know.
Commentary: This was probably sung at a time when it was deadly (in what is now Georgia) to criticize Stalin, so I assume it's laudatory. But I'm not posting it because it's about Stalin! Listen to this man kill it with that singing. I love the versatility of the human voice, especially as evidenced by the diversity in world music traditions.
There does appear to be some misinformation on the label: it says "balaban" but I don't hear anything that sounds like a double-reed woodwind. Also, it does seem like it would be some folk instrument, and not a cello or bass viol.
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Artist: Ashoug Esslam Yousobof (or Islam Yusufov) and Essmaeel Alikperoff
Also try: Hmm, I don't know. If you know of anything good in similar musical traditions, let me know.
Commentary: This was probably sung at a time when it was deadly (in what is now Georgia) to criticize Stalin, so I assume it's laudatory. But I'm not posting it because it's about Stalin! Listen to this man kill it with that singing. I love the versatility of the human voice, especially as evidenced by the diversity in world music traditions.
There does appear to be some misinformation on the label: it says "balaban" but I don't hear anything that sounds like a double-reed woodwind. Also, it does seem like it would be some folk instrument, and not a cello or bass viol.
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Monday, May 13, 2013
"World Domination" by Joey Bada$$
Song: World Domination
Artist: Joey Bada$$
Album: 1999
Also try: Pro Era
Commentary: I like the samples here. Joey Bada$$ has some trill rhymes and a chill sound.
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Artist: Joey Bada$$
Album: 1999
Also try: Pro Era
Commentary: I like the samples here. Joey Bada$$ has some trill rhymes and a chill sound.
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Monday, May 6, 2013
"Hrissaido" by Marika Papagika
Song: Χρυσαΐδω
Artist: Μαρίκα Παπαγκίκα
Also try: "а я по лугу" and "Kuk kuger"
Commentary: A prolific Greek Singer of the early 20th century, Marika Papagika has a captivating voice. I discovered her through Jeff Mangum's curation of Yeti 5. So I guess I also can credit to him the opening of "world" folk music traditions for me as well. What a rich and rewarding terrestrial oeuvre has arisen from the revitalization of musics from old 78s, as conveyed by the Internet. Especially after listening to Marika Papagika's funereal, yet angelic, voice, one mourns the Westernizing influences borne on the wings of colonialism.
Also, Tsamiko (Greek: Τσάμικος, Tsamikos) is a traditional Greek folk tune (and accompanying dance), while Χρυσαΐδω is apparently a name.
Artist: Μαρίκα Παπαγκίκα
Also try: "а я по лугу" and "Kuk kuger"
Commentary: A prolific Greek Singer of the early 20th century, Marika Papagika has a captivating voice. I discovered her through Jeff Mangum's curation of Yeti 5. So I guess I also can credit to him the opening of "world" folk music traditions for me as well. What a rich and rewarding terrestrial oeuvre has arisen from the revitalization of musics from old 78s, as conveyed by the Internet. Especially after listening to Marika Papagika's funereal, yet angelic, voice, one mourns the Westernizing influences borne on the wings of colonialism.
Also, Tsamiko (Greek: Τσάμικος, Tsamikos) is a traditional Greek folk tune (and accompanying dance), while Χρυσαΐδω is apparently a name.
Friday, May 3, 2013
"Song for Lula" by Phosphorescent
Song: Song for Lula
Artist: Phosphorescent
Album: Muchacho
Also try: BPB's I See a Darkness, Paleo
Commentary: I've always thought of Phosphorescent as a second-rate Bonnie 'Prince' Billy (who, granted, himself puts out second-rate BPB about half the time). IMO, Phosphorescent's 2013 offering, Muchacho, is a pretty nice folk album with well-written songs (okay, he's had some before) , decent lyrics (if questionable song titles), and interesting electronic touches. Matthew Houck doesn't sound like he's trying to rip off Will Oldham anymore and this album's nice.
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Artist: Phosphorescent
Album: Muchacho
Also try: BPB's I See a Darkness, Paleo
Commentary: I've always thought of Phosphorescent as a second-rate Bonnie 'Prince' Billy (who, granted, himself puts out second-rate BPB about half the time). IMO, Phosphorescent's 2013 offering, Muchacho, is a pretty nice folk album with well-written songs (okay, he's had some before) , decent lyrics (if questionable song titles), and interesting electronic touches. Matthew Houck doesn't sound like he's trying to rip off Will Oldham anymore and this album's nice.
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