Fills My Ears

Plans for DCFC

2007-09-24T20:20:00.000-07:00

It seems like I'm too old and in too much of an established relationship (uh, marriage) to really appreciate Death Cab For Cutie. But, I do. Plans is good. Not as great as Transatlanticism, but good. The production values are definitely higher. And the choice to leave "Follow You into the Dark" stripped and bare really gives it all the more emotional punch.

Of course I've had no one read this blog other than a spanish spammer, so the point is moot.

Rock or Quiet

2007-09-13T16:47:00.000-07:00

Terje Rypdal is quite bizarre. On many of his ECM albums (especially those with Keitl Bjornstad) he's really in tune with that "ECM" sound of background, spacey, 'chamber-esque' music.

But on a few albums, he completely rocks out. With his cock out.
On Chaser he lets the riffs fly. Many of the power chords on track 5 "omen" sound like they would fit in perfectly with any 80's hair metal band.

That's not a bad thing.

MOTS, but still great.

2007-09-13T16:29:00.000-07:00

Fred Anderson's latest From The River to the Ocean is great. The man is ancient but still shows an intense style of play. And of course, Hamid Drake is the most innovative drummer alive. His sense of rhythm and timing sound like a man not from this earth.

A few of Anderson's themes sound repeated from previous releases, but the captivating rhythms of Drake and cello playing of Bankhead more than make up for it.

Surprising

2007-09-06T20:02:00.001-07:00

Something things on the Tzadik label are hit and miss. Paul Shapiro's Midnight Minyan is pretty good. It's an interesting mix of jazz, jewish music, and who knows what.

Bucket on My Head

2007-09-06T19:47:00.000-07:00

While the idea of a guy playing a guitar while wearing a KFC bucket on his head, is quite ludicrous. The man is a fairly talented musician. Some of his early albums were just raucous shredding. But Bermuda Triangle is more listenable. It focuses too heavily on the electronics and many of the tracks are just short sketches as opposed to full-blown songs.

Charlie Hunter

2007-08-31T21:45:00.000-07:00

I've always been attracted to Charlie Hunter's music. He's definately talented, but none of his releases have really risen up to that level of talent. From his early records where his guitar mostly sounded like a Hammond B-3 organ, to Copperopolis where features more of a harder, rocking sound.

The first track is impressive, but after that it seems like the same themes and riffs are repeated throughout the disc.

It seems like I have that same feeling each time I listen to one of his records. It was good, just not memorable. Sort of like fast food.

Genius Level

2007-08-27T21:23:00.000-07:00

I've always enjoyed Andrew Hill. But his latest, Time Lines just really takes it above and beyond. This is Andrew at his most free he's ever been. Also, finally his sidemen are at his level.
I don't remember hearing Eric McPherson as a drummer on any other sessions, but he's definitely someone to look into.

Heads Singing

2007-08-23T17:14:00.000-07:00

I like the Talking Heads. I never got into them when I was younger. But now that I'm (slightly) older and have more of an appreciation for 'weirder' music. I enjoy them.
Granted, Little Creatures is far from on of their weirdest records.

It's pretty tame, especially when compared to '77 and More Songs.
But it has it's charms.

Who told them they could sing?

2007-08-20T20:45:00.001-07:00

Generally, I like Weather Report. They're pretty under-rated as one of the most pioneering fusion bands out there.

But Domino Theory is pretty horrid. From the opening song (with monotone vocals); which is a song about how they can't find any new sounds. Which is about as interesting as writing about how you have writer's block.

The rest of the album has a few funky spots, but Wayne Shorter's sax sounds too electrified on this recording for me. Several other tracks are filler, featuring Joe Zawinul spacing out. Pretty much the same reason I sold back my 3 disc Miles Davis Complete Silent Way Sessions.

Alas No Axis

2007-08-19T19:11:00.000-07:00

When working out Saturday night I listened to Jim Black's Alas No Axis. It's not jazz by any strict definition of the word. This is more of improvised instrumental rock music. It's not as heavy and rigid as math rock, and it's not as spacey and 'roomy' as most post-rock bands either.

It is highly intense, though. Jim Black's drumming is pounding. The pace of the songs is nicely varied too with short interstitial variations in between the more intense work-outs.

I didn't realize until I checked all music that the guitarist was Hilmar Jensson, whose Dirty Blei album I really enjoyed.

This is one to check out. I'll keep this in my rotation instead of just trashing it after a few listens.

Billy Hart

2007-08-18T18:38:00.000-07:00

I try to listen to at least one new (to me) CD a day. Usually I don't get to on the weekends, because that's family time and I don't have an hour to myself for drive or work time.

So the last thing I listened to on Friday was Billy Hart's Amethyst . I was mainly listening to it because it had David "Fuze" Fiuczynski on guitar. Fuze's work with the headless torsos and his own solo albums was a great mix of being both captivating and avant-garde.

This record didn't really have anything memorable, for me. Hart's drumming was very free but all of the tunes lacked any real depth of structural composition. I'll give it another listen in a few months.

I'll be back on Monday with something else.