With just three days left in the year, I feel compelled to address, once and for all and in however brief a manner, all the discs that have piled up for the OC/D tally. Will the list crack 1,000? I think it can, but only if I stop wondering and start typing!
Here's a random batch pulled from the red plastic Tower records (R.I.P.) shopping basket:
1.The GUNSHY – There’s No Love in This War (Latest Flame)
Back in the days when he was touring with the late, great Troubled Hubble , Matt Arbogast, a.k.a. The Gunshy, crashed with them in my basement after a Galaxy Hut show, so naturally, I’m inclined to want to hear what he’s up to. This CD is a sweet departure from his usually highly introspective songs – a collection of letters sent by his grandfather to his grandmother during WWII, set to Guthrie-esque arrangements. Andrew Lanthrum of the Hubble gang guests on bass.
2. The DIG – Good Luck and Games EP (self-released)
There’s a song on this 6-track EP called “Marianne.” It’s a love song that opens with nice strings, and the titular (why does that always sound dirty?) character is a sympathetic object of desire, so I’m happy.
3. DADA – A Friend of Pat Robertson (self-released)
An undervalued trio that keeps putting out good records and playing fine live shows to a happy audience that knows it can rely on them. This 5-track EP is no exception. The title track mixes good politics with taut rock guitar lines.
4. COLBIE CAILLAT – Coco (Universal Republic)
The 21-year-old College Girl loves “Bubbly;” the 17-year-old High School Girl hates it. I don’t feel like it makes a big splash either way. But that reminds me…
5. JUNO – Original soundtrack (Rhino)
We all agree that we adore the film and the music from it, which HSG just purchased with her Christmas iTunes gift card. The simple songs never fall fully over into twee, probably because we are all smitten with the sweet sentiments left over from seeing the movie. We laughed, we cried, we sang along!
6. CAKE – B-Sides and Rarities (Upbeat Records)
I’m not sure anyone but a real completist needs this take on “Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town,” but I always love hearing “Short Skirt, Long Jacket.”
7. AUSTIN LOUNGE LIZARDS – The Drugs I Need (Blue Corn Music)
Comedy country or smartasses who play banjos? The CD includes five songs the band was commissioned to write last year - three for the Consumers Union (the Consumer Reports people) and two for special-interest lobbies. They also address media consolidation ("The Tower"), consumer-preying charge-card companies ("Xmastime for Visa") and global warming ("Toast the Earth with ExxonMobil"). Vocalist/bassist Boo Resnick calls the album closer, "We've been Through Some Crappy Times Before” - "an uplifting rallying cry for poor, downhearted liberals who live in a little blue island in a big red state.” Thanks, I need all the help I can get. As my Bush Countdown Calendar tells me, there’s still 388 days left in this nightmare.
MOSTLY NO COMMENT (that’s not a dis’; I just don’t have much to say)
8. CRUXSHADOWS – Birthday (Dancing Ferret Discs)
9. CHAMPION KICKBOXER – Perforations (54 40 or Fight)
10. ERIC BACHMAN – To The Races (Saddle Creek)
11. HOOTS & HELLMOUTH – S/T (MAD Dragon)
Duplicate; reserviced when the band swung through town again.
12. JOHN FOGARTY – Revival (Concord)
13. FALU – S/T (Monsoon Records)
14. MARCEL KHALIFE – Tagasim (Connecting Cultures)
Not sure where it came from, but intriguing package, a CD in a small book, with liner notes in English, French, Spanish and Arabic – looks like new age touchy-feely, which could go either way.
15. LO-FI SUICIDE – Last Trip to the Golden Gate (self-released)
Intense bald dude with creepy eyes, but a way with song titles – “God Doesn’t Play Fair,” “Alien Tourist,” “Blacking Out is Part of the Fun.”
16. JAVAUGHN – Superstar (Tuff Gong)
Executive producers: Stephen and Damien Marley.
17. JOSHUA JAMES – The Sun is Always Brighter (Intelligent Noise)
“Come on love/Come on drugs/I need the help/Pick me up.” The lyrics to “Tell My Pa” are scrawled on the inside cover and I had to put the song on. It’s soft and sad, and now I’m curious to hear the rest.
18. KATE McGARRY – The Target (Palmetto)
19. MURDER MYSTERY – Are You Ready for the Heartache Cause Here It Comes (self-released)
“Indie rock sockhoppers” Out: January 29th.
20. MOTHER and the ADDICTS – Science Fiction Illustrated (Chemikal Underground Records)
Haven’t had a chance to listen, but PR says it appeals to fans of Jarvis Cocker and Roxy Music (good), The Fall and P.I.L. (not so encouraging).
LOCAL ACTS:
21. JUNIPER LANE – Wake From Yourself (DJ Boy Records)
Quartet with foxy female lead singer.
22. CAROL GAYLOR & BRUCE KATSU – Feels Like Home (self-released)
Acoustic new age folk.
23. The INFLUENCE – S/T (self-released)
2006 debut.
24.The INFLUENCE – Pig Radio (self-released)
Stylishly package in a digi-pack with 12 square art cards featuring the pig radio mascot in various settings.
AND MORE RANDOMIZING...
25., 26., MARAH – Angels of Destruction (Yep Roc)
Two copies, actually. An advance some weeks ago, and the finished version more recently.
Sixth release from the live favorites and first to feature new female keyboard player.
27. TURBONEGRO – Retox (Cooking Vinyl)
Second copy of the “faux-mo-erotic” Norwegian metal band.
28. SISTER HAZEL – Santa’s Playlist (Rock Ridge)
Pleasant enough, but nothing that rocked my socks for this year’s Cool Yule collection.
DVDs
29. The RAMONES – It’s Alive! 1974-1996 (Rhino)
Gabba Gabba Hey! That's all for today!
O/CD YTD Tally: 877
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