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July 13, 2005
Two things that are hella sweet
Lately, by about noon on most Tuesdays, I find myself saying "I can't believe it's only Tuesday." Still, the second day of the work week is still the awesomest since it's also record release day. And what a record release day yesterday was. The Decemberists' fantastic concept EP, The Tain was reissued by Kill Rock Stars (the original was put out by Spanish micro-indie, Acuarela Discos). Also, MF Doom put out installments 9 & 10 of his Special Herbs series (I have a reliable source that says that Doom smokes drugs). But while there were a few great platters that dropped yesterday, two of them beat the living hell out of the rest, and I don't think abybody should be the least bit surprised by which ones they are.
Xiu Xiu: La Foret - On a first listen, La Foret seems a lot like 2003's A Promise. Like that record, there are a lot of quiet verses that break without warning into anthemic industrial/noise choruses. The way the new record references older work while pushing ahead into new forms of sonic terrorism, you really get the sense that Jamie Stewart is really honing in on something. What are most shocking on this record, however, are the moments that are convetionally beautiful. Previous outings were rife with hyper-intimate frailty, and this one is no different. What is different, though, is the newfound embrace of the use of traditional sounds in traditional ways. This move away from the fringe makes the whole affair more convincing by removing any trace of the "scary for its own sake" aesthetic of their previous records.
Prefuse 73: Reads The Books EP - I wanted so badly for this EP to be called The Lemon of Crunk, but I just don't have that kind of luck. Still, there's a lot to love on this collection of Prefuse collaborations with/remixes of folktronica juggernauts, The Books. Scott Herren did a perfect job of capturing--even enhancing--the joy that explodes from the source material. The EP fully delivers on the promise of "Pagina Dos," Herren's reworking of "The Lemon of Pink (1)" that appeared on his last Prefuse full-length. His facility with The Books' material clearly shows that the two projects' aleatoric kinship is a more than adequate bridge between their external hip-hop and Appalachian folk trappings. Seriously.
Posted by matt at July 13, 2005 09:56 AM
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Comments
The Lemon of Crunk. Now that's some good shit. I'm picturing Nick Zammuto randomly yelling out 'YEEEAAAAHHHH!" and "OKKKKAAAYYYY!" all over the place. And drinking out of a giant bejeweled goblet.
Posted by: RZA at July 13, 2005 12:10 PM
i still don't know why the books cut lil jon's vocals from 'lost & safe' at the last minute. i heard that maybe there was some contractual shit with the east side boyz. or maybe they were feuding over the books' new musique concrete-themed energy drink.
Posted by: matt at July 13, 2005 02:11 PM
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