Election 2008: Despair
My first in a series of posts about Election 2008. Your choice this year: a huge government liberal or a big government conservative—neither of which showed an ounce of leadership skill during the bailout crisis.
Random Thought
Call me crazy, but A-ha’s Take on Me has got to me one of the greatest singles ever. Seriously.
Revisiting Old Music Part (Fu-Go)
Fudge Tunnel – Hate Songs in the Key of E
Grungy metal. Not sure why I own this. All I know is that it isn’t worth putting up for sale on Amazon.
Fugazi – 13 Songs
Stop all that slam dancing you punks. It’s Fugazi! Classic post-punk record(s).
Fugazi – Repeater
Although there are not as many stand alone “hits” as there are on 13 songs, this is perhaps their best record.
Fugazi – Steady Diet of Nothing
There’s something about the attitude of this record that turns me off. Ian Maykaye’s vocals are at his absolute most annoying level on the attrocious track, Long Division. I stopped buying Fugazi albums after this (for a while at least).
Fugazi – In on the Kill Taker
Although the ultra cool opening is quickly squandered by Fugazi sameness, this CD redeemed the band somewhat for me. There are a couple of stinkers, but not bad overall.
The Galaxy Trio – In the Harem
Surf inspired instrumental music, but with a more distorted, 90s edge.
The Galaxy Trio – Saucers Over Vegas
More of the same.
The Giallos Flame – The Giallos Flame
Despite the corny cover, this is a pretty decent CD. The songs are inspired by the music of Gobin, Fabio Frizzi and other Italian Giallo soundtrack motifs. The tone fluctuates between jazzy, funky and synth-rocky (the latter being my favorite).
Girls Against Boys – Cruise Yourself
Groove-centric 90s hard rock. A laid back wall of sound.
Godflesh – Godflesh
Extremely heavy and slow. This is from before they discovered house music.
Godflesh – Streetcleaner
These are slow jamz for the grindcore set. Loud, piercing and slow. The slightly more experimental bonus tracks are better than most of the actual tracks on the LP.
Godflesh –Slavestate
A really great album. The gurgle and grind of the previous albums is honed in with a rhythmic, electronic backdrop. Not dance music, but a far more groovy version of Godflesh indeed.
Godflesh – Pure
This is my favorite Godflesh album. This is almost an industrial music album, but the samples and electronics are only there to color the edges of the mix. Unlike previous feedback heavy Godflesh releases, you can actually hear the instruments and what they are playing–this is a good thing.
Godflesh – Cold World
A nice Pure-era single. These tracks are as good as anything from that CD.
Godflesh – Merciless
How Godflesh lost her groove.
Revisiting Old Music Part (Fa-Fr)
Okay, I’m a bit backlogged with these micro reviews, so let us continue, shall we…
Famous Monsters – Around the World in 80 Bikinis!
Surfy, Cramps-like garage songs with a monster-girl shtick. Drums and guitars and no bass, but still pretty powerful and fun. Featuring the bassist from White Zombie on guitar and vocals.Famous Monsters – In the NightThis one may even be better than its predecessor.
The Fall – The Wonderful and Frightening World of the Fall
The Fall have like 3 dozen or so records. But of all the ones I have heard, this is my favorite. In fact, it might be on my top ten list… maybe, top twenty. But, still, it’s great. Noisy, poppy and arty all at the same time.
Fear – More Beer
Fear’s second LP couldn’t possibly top The Record. This one is hit or miss. I Am A Doctor and Waiting for the Meat make this album worth a listen. The latter features a jungle rhythm/drum circle jam, that is an excuse for a goofy pun.
The Finks – Fill’er Up and Go!
This is one of the definitive records from the (pre-Pulp Fiction) 90s surf revival.
Fireworks – Set the World on Fire
Some raw rock and roll. Really lo-fi and scuzzy… in a good way.
Fishbone – Fishbone
A wild, booty shakin’ classic. Fishbone never topped this. It’s short, sweet and doesn’t drift off into the soul/metal travesty that they evolved into years later.
Fishbone – Bonin’ in the Boneyard
An EP from the Truth and Soul years. A couple of remixes and a throwaways and but still Fishbone in their prime.
Fishbone – Sunless Saturday
A CD single. I really did not like this album from whence this song came. A lot of folks really liked their new direction. I didn’t.
Flour – Fourth and Final
More Illinois-soundin’ Touch and Go stuff. This record get pretty pop at times and sounds almost like the Pixies.
Klaus Flouride – Because I Say So
Dead Kennedy’s bassist noodling around in a studio. Not bad, but not what any young Dead Kennedys fan would really want to hear.
Klaus Flouride – The Light Is Flickering
I think I bought this for like $4. Again, way too mellow and derivative for someone from perhaps the greatest American hardcore band.
Front 242 – Geography
A very light and New-Romantic, almost Kraftwerk-sounding record. I actually like this CD better than their more defined industrial sound. I am a sucker for analog synths.
Front 242 – Official Version
This one is more aggressive and pounding. The blue print for late 80s electronic music.
Front 242 – Front by Front
Even more polished and refined industrial beats. This was back when dance music was played at 120 beats per minute (close to frequency of a heart beat) , and didn’t try to be all glitch’d up and bloopy. If you know what I mean?
Okay I’m just rambling now. Until next time, rock on!
RSS Migration
I am trying to automate my RSS feed using Feed43.com. Up until now I have been hand coding my RSS using FeedSpring. However, FeedSpring is starting to crap out as my feed gets longer and longer. So please, update your RSS aggregator (Google Reader is the best) with the new URL: http://www.feed43.com/5185026116140505.xml
Revisiting Old Music Part (Do-Es)
D.O.A. – Bloodied But Unbowed
Straightforward Canadian punk rock.
D.O.A. – True (North) Strong & Free
Slightly less punk, and a bit more cheesy bar band sounding. Dull.
D.O.A. – Murder
Again, not the most innovative band around. Slightly better than the previous CD listed here.
Thomas Dolby – The Golden Age of Wireless
She Blinded Me with Science is so over-played that I can’t enjoy it anymore. Thankfully, many of the other songs are worthwhile on this CD: Europa and the Pirate Twins and Windpower stand out for me.
Thomas Dolby – The Flat Earth
Veers a bit into adult contemporary territory, but there’s enough new wave-ishness here to keep it interesting.
Dollface – Corvette Summer
The finest band to ever come out of Peoria, Illinois. Every song is a gem here.
Dollface – Lights the Pilot
Geez, this band was good. Shoulda been bigger.
Drop Acid – Making God Smile
Kevin Seconds’s post 7 Seconds band. Very 90’s sounding. I saw this band open for Superchunk in Champaign, IL the night Magic Johnson revealed he had AIDS.
Drums & Tuba – Flatheads and Spoonies
Really they are drums, tuba and noodly guitar. Bought this on a whim after seeing them live. Different, but the songs get old pretty fast.
El Vez – How Great Thou Art
A certain amount of pop-music literacy may be required to really appreciate El Vez. Funny, but there’s much more going on to really discount him as a “joke” band.
El Vez – Merry MeX-Mas
El Vez’s first Christmas album. His cover of Feliz Navidad/Public Image is a classic. Highly recommended listening.
El Vez – Boxing With God
Religion-inspired rock from El Vez. His amazing skill as an arranger is in full play here.
El Vez – Sno Way Jose
More Christmas (and Hanukah) greatness.
Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP
Okay, Wika bought this one. She got it at Wal-Mart so it is edited and bleeped. It’s almost worth a listen just to hear how much this is cut up. Even if we could hear the bad words, this album still would suck as much as it already does.
Esquivel – Space Age Bachelor Pad Music
Wonderful, off-the-wall big band arrangements from the 50’s and 60’s from this musical genius.
Updated Art Gallery
I’m doing some under the hood updates of this site (click the Quick Links title bar. Magical, right?). The first major change is an updated portfolio page. No, no new art—just a fancy new thumbnail browser.
Martian Law CDs Are Now Free to Download
For those of you who don’t know, I like to make music with my computer and have done so in one form or another since the days of The Music Construction Set on my old Apple ][+. In the mid-Nineties I began compiling my solo musical output under the moniker, Martian Law. The first record I produced was actually a cassette tape that I gave away as a bonus to people who bought one of my wood engravings. In hindsight, this tape is pretty embarrassing, but it did contain a few numbers that I still can appreciate.
In 1999 I followed my debut with my first full-length CD release, The Exciting Sounds of a Compaq P133. This disc was comprised of my first purely digital (no more cassette 4-track recording!) musical compositions. The sound is a little rough due to the primitive, non-pro software I used, but I am more-or-less happy with the way it turned out. I have now converted the CD audio tracks into super high quality MP3’s and have made them free for you to download and add to your digital library. In addition, I have taken the songs that I composed in the years after P133 and assembled them into their own proper release, Upgrade Downgrade. This four song EP is sonically superior and is, I think, my finest work to date. Download and enjoy, and please let me know what you think.
- Martian Law – The Exciting Sounds of a Compaq P133
- Martian Law – Upgrade Downgrade
These files are available through the file hosting service Drop.io. Each MP3 can be previewed and then downloaded to you local machine using the “download” links throughout the page. The preview versions are a lower quality MP3 than the actual download you will receive.
UPDATE: You missed your chance. No longer free to download, but super cheap on Bandcamp.
Neil Hamburger Pays Tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales
My tribute to Planet Pimp Records has expanded! I finally got my hands on a copy of Neil Hamburger Pays Tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales. Read my insightful commentary and make sure to listen to the audio clip from side B. Prepare to shed yet another tear for Our Fallen Angel.
Revisiting Old Music Part (De-Di)
Devo – Now it Can Be Told
Despite being recorded during the waning years of Devo, this live album is actually pretty great. They even make the bad Total Devo tracks seem almost good.
Devo – Smooth Noodle Maps
Devo’s last release is okay. I bit more consistant than Total Devo. But still nothing close to their glory days. The cover fo the Greatful Dead’s Morning Dew is the best track on the CD.
Devo – Post Post Modern Man (single)
A CD single from Smooth Noodle Maps. Nothing remarkable here.
Devo – EZ Listening Disk
Devo covers devo.
Devo – Hardcore Devo Vol. 1
Lacks the electronic polish of their best work, but most of this CD is essential Devo.
Devo – Hardcore Devo Vol. 2
Same as above, just more.Devo – Greatest HitsMost of my Devo collection is in the form of cassettes, so I bought this so I would have a CD version of their best stuff.
Dianogah – As Seen From Above
Two basses and a drummer. My friend Jay’s band revived my waning interest in indy-rock in the early 00’s with this CD.
Dianogah – Battle Champions
My favorite Dianogah album.
Dianogah – Millions of Brazillians
Not their best work. I think I was wanting more from their sound when this CD came out. I still like it quite a bit.
Dick Dale – Tribal Thunder
Dick Dale’s awesome comeback album. Totally insane. Dick Dale was signed as a witness on my organ donor card for years.
Dick Dale – The Best of Dick Dale and his Del-Tones
More great Dick Dale – the self-proclaimed inventor of heavy metal(?!)
Didjits – Hornet Piñata
Champaign band. They were a great act to see live, but in hindsight, their music is kinda lame.
Didjits – Full Nelson Reilly
Same as above.The Dirty HowlersGreat garage rawk from Chicago.
The Dirty Howlers – Behold!
Another batch of raw rockers from the Howlers. They broke up immediately after they released this CD.