I don't pick up the phone and I can't sleep I ain't got no appetite but I still overeat Want peace and quiet but I keep running my mouth My soul is like a hurricane but I'm still filled with self-doubts I hate the way I look and my ego's always bruised I isolate myself, I get some more tattoos I'm always running late so I can't make any plans I'm preaching 'bout things that I don't understand I've been living in the mind of a junkie Thinking my junkie thoughts Putting out my selfish aspirations Mmm, not letting God into my heart Not letting God into my heart Anders Osborne - Mind of a junkie. From the record Black eye galaxy. A very nice listen. Great guitar work. Good vibe, good sound
I decided to listen to all the second quintet studio albums in order. I started this morning with the classic (all those albums are classics nowadays) E.S.P. Music is always hard to describe for me, and this is no exception. The most accurate comment I could write is that it sounds like Miles Davis' second quintet. It might look like a lazy description, but those familiar with this music will understand what I mean. "E.S.P.", "Agitation", "R.J." and "Mood" are true gems that I could revisit all day.
These second quintet records are not easy to assimilate. I've been listening to them for many years and they're still challenging, even though they might sound accessible at first (it's curious, since the process is usually the other way round). Demanding music, but very rewarding.
Robyn Hitchcock A Star for Bram Kikagaku Moyo S/T; Mammatus Clouds; House in the Tall Grass; Forest of Lost Children
Except for the closing track, "Nothing Like You", recorded in 1962 during Miles Davis partnership with Gil Evans (with Shorter on tenor sax), the rest comes from sessions that took place in May, 1967. The albums starts with a gem penned by Shorter: "Prince of Darkness", which features a nice melody that we could associate only to a very cool and hip representation of Beelzebub. "Pee Wee" is a nice unusual ballad written by Tony Williams where Miles does not play at all. "Masqualero", which became a regular live number, is another complex number by Shorter with the trademark abstract quintet sound. The title track is a fantastic dynamic piece written by Hancock. There's a Golden segment where Miles and Wayne interchange phrases over an explosive rhythm section that must be heard. "Limbo", another Shorter number, explores pensive and intense moods (and their in-betweens). "Vonetta", yet another composition by Wayne, is another ballad not without the ever-present dissonant edge. Another triumph by this brilliant ensemble.
Hammers of Misfortune - The August Engine Holy cow, I can't believe I'm just now getting around to hearing this.
The title track is a masterpiece. Miles and Wayne (the composer of the piece) replay a phrase 12 times (yes, I counted them) —eleven of them in a row— while the rhythm section variations get more and more intense with each repeat. There's a magic moment (10th performance of the main phrase) where Miles starts before Wayne, who quickly joins but keeps on playing slightly behind his leader, toying with that time difference and acting like an erratic echo. Simply marvelous. The rhythm section builds up to a frenzy while the horns grow more and more tired (or is it our fatigue after hearing the same melody over and over again?). No solos per se at all, the magic is in the variations of intensity and phrasing. Simply astounding. I'm not going to bore you with further comments, so I just say that the rest of the tracks of the album are awesome. This is the last entirely acoustic album in Miles Davis' discography.
More of my vampire-like, copy cat listening. So, this. Hey, this thread may as well serve a purpose. I have a lot of RT, but really got stuck on Dream Attic for a long time. I haven't listened to Mock Tudor in full in many, many years. I played it more than a few times when it came out.
Neil Young at the Roxy 1973. After just a couple songs, I know this is going to stay in rotation over the summer. It's streaming as of today. Check it out
My favourite unofficial compilation of Beatle solo songs. Maybe even my favourite album right now. The sequence captures something quite unique and special. "Noveliste Rose Cabaret" ( anagram of "Beatles Conservetoir") ...somehow seems a fitting title... Mind Games ( Lennon ) Junk ( McCartney ) Jealous Guy ( Lennon ) Run Of The Mill (Harrison) Give Me Love (Harrison) Imagine ( Lennon ) Beware of Darkness (Harrison) How ? ( Lennon ) The Day The World Gets 'Round (Harrison) #9 Dream ( Lennon ) Old Dirt Road ( Lennon ) ⿻
A turning point in Miles Davis' career, the introduction of electric instruments in his music (electric piano and bass guitar on "Stuff", and electric guitar by guest musician George Benson on "Paraphernalia"). Tracks are longer and mostly based on grooves and vamps, the birth of the fusion atmosphere. This is the last studio album entirely recorded by the quintet, and one of my favorites in Miles' discography. I actually listened to this edition, because I love the way it sounds (another great job by Vic Anesini):
Just streamed the electric version of Marrow on YOB’s Clearing The Path To Ascend that @BurtThomasWard was recommending last week. Really nice long, atmospheric track.
When the Super Deluxe Edition was announced I remember thinking that this stereo downmix was surely going to be a complete waste of space. It isn't, I like it a lot. There is some stereo effects that I find sort of distracting (hi-hat notes going from right to left abruptly that end sounding like clicks, for instance). The transfer, though is really clear and gives the mix more room.
Wilco, A.M., I always have really liked this one, even though getting more ambitious starting with Being There suited them well. Blur, Think Tank, not their best, but some interesting stuff here nonetheless. The lack of Graham Coxon and (I am guessing) Albarn probably being more interested in Gorillaz at the time seem to cast a bit of a pall over the proceedings, but still, Brothers and Sisters and Out of Time and a few others are great tracks, and it's all at least pretty good. Also a couple listens each to my other Album Club members' picks, Tennis, Yours Conditionally, and Asian Dub Foundation, Community Music. The former is not really my bag, but is catchy and well written, and I'm enjoying the latter quite a bit.
I want to correct my post. I guess my memory is failing, because the hi-hat is just fine. It is a guitar chord the one that travels pretty roughly from left to right. It happens during "Electric Funeral". We hear the very initial attack of the notes and suddenly they disappear to materialize in the opposite channel. Not tidy at all. I'm getting extremely picky, ain't I?
