Not Complaining, Honest!

at least not about the free music.

As the second month of my commitment to chronicle Every New CD That Comes Into The House takes root, it seems I'm already (hopelessly?) behind. And, as my mother used to scold her whining child, "may that be the worst thing you ever have to complain about."

So, I'm not complaining, but explaining - I'm going to revert to simply listing some CDs. While I really do intend to check out every album, at least four or five songs, at least once, not every one elicits a cogent reponse on first listen. Unless something really grabs me or really ticks me off, the blog could become a string of "it's nice....maybe it'll grow on me..." Blah. Though some music can be decoded quickly and filed away for better or worse, the real keepers need to grow on you.

Therefore, for now, we'll move to a simple, chronolocial, day-by-day listing.
If I have something to say, I'll add it on.

Eventually, I'll get the hang of this - and maybe even figure out why I'm doing it.
Honest.

Thursday, Feb. 10
purchased:
Thrift stores are so much fun, especially for the obsessive music collector. It's all I can do to stop myself from buying up dozens of LPs. My local thrift store - where I dump all the outdated clothes, toys and CD samples that no one else wants - usually has a great selection - obscure titles in good shape, perhaps with ebay resale-ability. But I held back, giving in only for:
1. PRINCE - Batman soundtrack (1989, Warner Bros.)
On vinyl! Sure, I have the CD, and a special "Batman in a Can" version, too. But the music is so good, the cover graphic is one of the best logos ever, and I can tell myself that one day someone on ebay will quintuple my 50 cent investment.
2. IT BITES - Eat Me in Saint Louis (1987, Geffen Records)
On cassette! I still have a working cassette player (and a working turntable. There's even an 8-track player I could use if I hooked up all the wires). And this cassette has a great song, "Calling All the Heroes" that I don't have in any other form. 50 cents for a song - cheaper than iTunes! Terrible band name, though. Also terrible album title.
3. DAVID SEDARIS - Live at Carnegie Hall (Time Warner Audio Books)
One day I'd like to write some memoir-ish essays, and I'd like to think I would have a small touch of that sly, Sedarisian style - without the homosexual references (not that there's anything wrong with that!). But as good as reading him is, hearing him is even better - sweeter still at $1.50.

Sent:
4. JOHN DOE - Forever Hasn't Happened Yet (Yep Roc)
The man demands respect. And he's coming to town. I don't have to interview people to write the Post previews, but I'll try to talk to John Doe, 'cause he's a hero.
5. THE IGUANAS - Plastic Silver 9 Volt Heart (Yep Roc)
A duplicate, sent in the same package as Doe. probably because the publicist is so happy with the preview I wrote of the band's appearance at the Barns of Wolf Trap. (photos and links to come)
6. SHURMAN JUBILEE - S/T (Vanguard)
"With musical influences that range from Tom Petty to the Clash to Willie Nelson, REM and on to AC/DC..." If they had lived up to that introduction, I'd be a happy clam indeed. Instead, I hear them as more of a twangy Counting Crows and, while I like Adam Duritz and Co, just fine, I don't need a southern rock variation on the theme. (Out April 12)
7. SUEDE - Live at Scullers Jazz Club (DVD)
Not the fey British smoothies, but a chanteuse based in the Mid-Atlantic region who successfully won a lawsuit against the guys across the pond, who had to tour America as the "U.K. Suede" to avoid confusion. Pitching a show at the Birchmere on March 5th.

Wednesday. Feb. 9
Sent:
8. DES ARK - Loose Lips Sink Ships (Bifocal Media)
A man and a woman and a loosey-goosey collection of material that sounds less like songs than linked sketches of songs. No, this duo is not the Fiery Furnaces, but a little more raw. After all, they were produced by Dinosaur Jr.'s J. Mascis. Not sure I would count this 8-track release as a "full-length" as the bio says, nor do I get the comparisons to PJ Harvey.

Tuesday, Feb.8
iTunes purchase:
9. POSTAL SERVICE - We Will Become Silhouettes
If I could walk down to a local music store and buy this 4-track EP in "hard copy" version, I would. I still like the look and feel of actual jewel cases (prefer digi-packs, actually) and will read the liner notes and credits an all that arcane info. Call me old school. Emma (the 19-year-old college freshman) and I argue over who told who first about Postal Service. It's a nice thing to debate. But I got to Wilco and Magnetic Fields first, so there!


Monday, Feb. 7
10. JESSE MALIN - The Heat (Artemis)
I wrote up a brief interview/preview with Jesse about a year ago. I enjoyed talking with/listening to him then and the same goes now, with this new album (actually, from last year, but he's on tour and the publicist is "reservicing," as they say). A pal of Ryan Adams' and possessor of a similar rock-with-country-accents style, Jesse has none of the ex-Whiskeytown man's diva baggage. He makes music, he makes it well, and he's coming to town this weekend, so maybe I can finally see him live.
11. THE EXIES - Head for the Door (Virgin)
Here's the full version of an album I received in simple cardboard sleeve edition last year. I liked the band's first album fine, but the second left me cold. And the tiebreaker goes to....I'll let you know when I finally listen. In the meantime, this press mailing came with actual swag! - a one-inch wide "exies" button. That's what passes for press bribery these days. But I'll take it - I've a corkboard packed with rock buttons, and the more the merrier!
12. BLACKFIELD - eponymous (Koch)
Coming to town - IOTA.
13. LIANNA - From Here (Sweet Petunia Music)
14.THE ARTS AND SCIENCES - Hopeful Monsters (Daemon)
Cute cover, good first impression. More later.
15. THE RARE BACHARACH: 53 Elusive Songs and Versions, 1956-1978 (Raven)
At first, I thought this was a bootleg, but there's a credit in the comprehensive liner notes to EMI Music, Australia. This 2-disc set was sent to me by an associate, GA, who trades me imported CDs for press kits I don't want. It's recycling at its best and, after I send him my want lists (usually compiled from the weekly emailings of Collectors Shop import specialists and/or scannings of the British music mags), I never know what's in a GA puffy bag when it arrives. But it's always something cool that I asked for. This one isn't quite what I imagined from its Collectors Shop summary - most of these song titles are alien to me, but the artist list - Little Peggy March, Richard Chamberlain (!!), Gene Pitney, Maxine Brown, the Hollies with Peter Sellers (doing the theme from "After the Fox"!!) and Mavis Staples - promises a few fun discoveries.
One gripe, though - as a person who loves words, and thus lyrics, I'm tired of Hal David getting the short end of the tribute stick. His words literally make the music sing, but he rarely gets above-title credit in the seeminlgy endless stream of Bacharach hosannas. Same - and even more so - for Bernie Taupin. I've long been of the belief that Elton John has two songs - his slow one and his fast one - and it's Taupin's lyrics that give the songs their real hooks.

Saturday, Feb. 5:
16. DOWNTOWN - S/T (Coup De Grace)
As much as I love the word "eponymous," it looks popmous when repeated frequently, so we'll move to the simpler appellation (another good word!) "S/T," as in self-titled.

Friday, Feb. 4:
17. VANILLA FUDGE - Then and Now (Fuel 2000)
I sent a note to the publicist (she handles a band I previewed recently) and said I'd like to hear it. Yes, I requested Vanilla Fudge! The band hit its peak (rather rapidly and fell just as quickly) as I was coming of age on Long Island (I still get the accent when I'm excited) and that big, dumb, "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" wicked-style version of "You Keep Me Hanging On" was all over the FM radio of my impressionable youth. Alas, these are re-recordings of the original "classics," which is a bummer ("Take Me For a Little While" was a personal favorite unrequited love song). There's a pretty funny version of an 'N Sync tune ("Tearin' Up My Heart") and a really funny version of one from the Backstreet Boys ("I Want It That Way"). Which proves that you can drench just about anything in Fudge and, though it'll be fun for a moment, you'll feel VERY guilty afterwards.
18. SOUL REBELS - Rebelution (Barn Burner Music)
As with the Fudge, I asked a PR person to send this, based on a description in an emailed press release.
19. DERVISH - Spirit (Compass Records)

Thursday, Feb. 3:
19. CHELY WRIGHT - The Metopolitan Hotel (Dualtone Music)
While I loved the premise of the song, "Back of the Bottom Drawer" - the place where she keeps her mementos of previous loves gone awry (custom-made sentiment for a pack-rat like me), I'm not a fan of country drawlin' like Chely's, and the lines about losing her virginity ("so I gave in/Yeah, we went too far/in his daddy's car") had me giggling. Then followed "I Got Him Ready for You," in which our lady takes credit for taming the beast ("I fell like I did all the fixin' him up/But you moved into our house of love"). The capper was "The Bumper of My S.U.V., " a Blue State-baiter of a song in which some liberal bitch gives Chely the finger 'cause of her Marine sticker and she goes all Red State righteous. Anger begats anger and nobody wins and I need to find my Zen self again.

20. 3 DOORS DOWN - Seventeen Days (Republic/Universal)
21. BEENIE MAN - King of the Dancehall (Virgin)

That's eight days in my music week.
And the hits just keep on coming...I hope.