Since I feel that The Mountain Goats’ new CD, Heretic Pride, (see my review below), is one of the best CDs of the decade, it is my duty to mention another Mountain Goats masterpiece, ALL HAIL WEST TEXAS. This 2001 CD is a great example of John Darnielle’s signature ‘low-fi’ style of that time.
If one goes through a list of CDs that The Mountain Goats have issued, one will be amazed. This ‘guy with a guitar’ played and wrote faster and deeper than he breathed. A lot of the material went to very independent compilations.
I was introduced to his music, when I happened upon Zopilote Machine in 1994.
By the time ALL HAIL WEST TEXAS came out, I had searched and digested most of his output.
Mr. John Darnielle was also an intelligent and vocal advocate for underground music then. I will not get into details about the songs, except to mention the fact that The Mountain Goats have ‘great heart’ – as seen in the songs: “Color In Your Cheeks”, “The Best Ever Death Metal Band in Denton” and “The Mess Inside”.
Get this CD, and see . . . if you have a great heart.
The Mountain Goats, ALL HAIL WEST TEXAS, copyright 2001, EMPEROR JONES (EJ41CD)
P.S. “The Best Ever Death Metal Band in Denton” has become a cult classic – here are 5 live versions. All are great.
1. The Mountain Goats/YouTube !!
2. The Mountain Goats/YouTube !!
3. The Mountain Goats/YouTube !!
4. The Mountain Goats/YouTube !!
5. The Mountain Goats/YouTube !!
and check out:
– The Mountain Goats/”One Fine Day”YouTube !!
– The Mountain Goats/”Going To Georgia”/YouTube !!
– The Mountain Goats/”Sax Rohmer #1″/YouTube !!
see: The Mountain Goats/official website !!
~The Mountain Goats |
Posted in Indie Music Reviews | By Simon Cerigo | June 16th, 2008, 1:42pm
(Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, 2007/Christopher Wilson/COURTESY: Band of Horses
The second CDs of both Beirut (The Flying Club Cup) and Band of Horses (Cease To Begin) expand on the musical pleasures enjoyed in their debuts – see reviews below.
Since I am always on a quest for that thrill that comes with discovering a “New” great sound, I sometimes miss the follow-up CDs of a great band.
On Beirut’s new CD, Zach Condon’s melodic voice is t stretched to great effect, while the music gets a little tighter in all the right places. On the Band of Horses’ new CD – the sound is more relaxed and not as etched as on their debut. Both groups’ second CD releases flesh out the promise of authenticity that was clearly declared in their first “gems”. It is so refreshing to hear music made by musicians who are enjoying themselves so much. VIVA LA INDEPENDENCE !!
Beirut, The Flying Club Cup, copyright 2007, reproduced by permission of EMI Music Publishing Ltd. London, BA DA BING
Album Photos found in Paris, France (chez Chryde)
Layout and design by KRISTIANNA SMITH & ALEXANDRA KLASINSKI
check out: In The Mausoleum/The Flying Club Cup
check out: The Penalty/The Flying Club Cup
check out: BEIRUT/official website !!
Band of Horses, CEASE To BEGIN, copyright 2007 SUB POP
All photography by CHRISTOPHER WILSON
Designed by DUSTY SUMMERS
check out: The Funeral/LETTERMAN (from 1st CD)
check out: Is There A Ghost (CEASE To BEGIN)/LETTERMAN
check out: BAND OF HORSES/official website !!
~Beirut & Band of Horses |
Posted in Indie Music Reviews | By Simon Cerigo | May 5th, 2008, 8:26am
John Darnielle a.k.a. The Mountain Goats can be called the last “man with guitar standing”. For me, The Mountain Goats represent along with Cat Power, the Palace Brothers, Built to Spill, and the Elephant Six collective of groups, one of the pillars of 90s independent music.
At one point (mid 90s) I made a 90 min. tape of only Mountain Goats songs, that I still blissfully listen to today on a newly purchased antique Walkman. When the Goats signed with 4AD – I pulled back a few years, while Mr. Darnielle relentlessly plowed forward with 5 more CDs.
The sound on his latest CD Heretic Pride has been pumped up a notch without sacrificing any of the authenticity that he is so well known for. The title song, “Heretic Pride” is a masterpiece that highlights the many talents of Mr. “All Hail West Texas”.
One of the things that impressed me regarding his comments on his early CDs was that he was a “reader” – and proud of it. Being an audiophile, I also agree with his view that one’s playback system is a must for rich interior life. Don’t think twice about getting Heretic Pride – and if so inclined, go back and listen to the previous 11 CDs. Check out The Mountain Goats on YouTube and die happy.
ART DIRECTION AND DESIGN: VAUGHAN OLIVER / V23
PHOTOGRAPHY: MARC ATKINS / PANOPTIKA.NET
The Mountain Goats, Heretic Pride, P & C 2008 4AD LTD
check out: YouTube/”The Best Ever Death Metal Band in Denton”
check out: YouTube/”Woke Up New”
check out: YouTube/”No Children”
check out: YouTube/”Sax Rohmer”/HERETIC PRIDE
see: The Mountain Goats/official website
~The Mountain Goats |
Posted in Indie Music Reviews | By Simon Cerigo | April 21st, 2008, 6:56am
Here comes another great CD, OPEN FIELD, in English by a group from Sweden. This time it’s Victoria Bergsman and her solo project band, TAKEN BY TREES.
From 1995 to 2006 she was a founding member and lead singer of that well-established pop collective – the Concretes. She was also the female vocalist on the Peter Bjorn and John hit, “Young Folks”.
The vocals on this CD remind me of the Brazilian singer and bassist Isabel Monteiro of the cool 90’s British group, Drugstore, and also Mazzy Star – while the music has its own unique relaxed tempo as a result of the many (19) different musicians, and their instruments.
There is also a Chinese music influence in “Cedar Trees†which is really interesting. This lovely, and deceptively simply, and quiet, music made by this new collective – will make even the hard-hearted swoon.
GRAPHIC DESIGN BY OLOV SUNDSTROM
TAKEN BY TREES, OPEN FIELDS, copyright 2007 ROUGH TRADE RECORDS LTD
watch !!: VICTORIA BERGSMAN sing “Chosen One” – with the Concretes
sample the music: TAKEN BY TREES/myspace
visit: ‘HAVE YOU BEEN TAKEN’ – their official website
~Taken By Trees |
Posted in Indie Music Reviews | By Simon Cerigo | April 14th, 2008, 11:20am
The Shins’ third full-length CD, Wincing The Night Away (2007), is truly a wonder to behold.
The band, based in Albuquerque, New Mexico and led by songwriter and guitarist James Russell Mercer,
have really evolved from their 2001 debut CD – Oh, Inverted World.
That first CD got a lot of attention for Mr. Mercer’s talents as a songwriter.
Musically the first CD leaned impeccably and beautifully towards the Alternative-folk part of the music landscape.
Their latest effort sees them laying down disciplined music that is beyond words. One should listen to this CD all the way through, in the recorded order and loud. Don’t sweat the details and just buy it, you won’t regret it.
Design and illustration by Robert Mercer
THE SHINS, WINCING THE NIGHT AWAY, 2007 Sub Pop Records
sample the songs: here !! on myspace
~The Shins |
Posted in Indie Music Reviews | By Simon Cerigo | March 13th, 2008, 11:57am
THE SHINS – WINCING THE NIGHT AWAY – THEIR 3RD CD.
SIMON CERIGO WILL POST A REVIEW TOMORROW – THURS MARCH 13/2PM
for now all he will say is:
with rock & roll – the rule of thumb is: THE 3RD ALBUM/CD IS USUALLY THE BEST.
SEE THE REVIEW TOMORROW – TO SEE IF THIS IS THE CASE – HERE.
OBVIOUSLY, IT IS.
ALSO: LOOK OUT FOR THE UP-COMING REVIEW HERE, NEXT, OF:
OPEN FIELD is the name of the album – the band is TAKEN BY TREES –
featuring VICTORIA BERGSMAN – the lead singer of THE CONCRETES,
another Swedish group that came out a few years ago.
VICTORIA BERGSMAN more recently made waves as the female vocal on the now famous . . .
PETER BJORN & JOHN – WRITER’S BLOCK song:
‘YOUNG FOLKS’.
hear it on: YouTube !!
it’s already scored over 6 MILLION views !!!
it’s also extremely – cool – visually – it’s animated !!
~The Shins & VICTORIA BERGSMAN |
Posted in Indie Music Reviews | By Simon Cerigo | March 12th, 2008, 9:33pm
Jens Lekman’s excellent current CD, Night Falls Over Kortedala, although not a failure – his words !! – is certainly a little overwrought. His previous two CD’s:
1) “When I said I Wanted To Be Your Dog” (2004), and 2) Oh you’re so silent Jens (2005) – both contain the key elements of his magic – but with more, air.
‘Tram #7 to heaven’, the first song on the DOG CD is so unhinged and epic – that it is a contender for Best Song of the DECADE.
The “girl songs” – ‘Silvia’ and ‘Julie’ – are also great testaments to this troubadour’s talents as a lover, and a songsmith.
On the silent Jens CD, the two versions of ‘Maple Leaves’, the sad/funny ‘Sky Phenomenon’ and the incredible ‘Black Cab’ are obvious gems – while other treats await you in the darker corners of this musical landscape.
There are some speedbumps, but once past them – it’s smooth sailing into ecstasy.
My thanks to Secretly Canadian for living up to what an “Independent Label” is all about.
CHECK OUT: Simon’s first post on – Night Falls Over Kortedala !!
(don’t miss the PAUL SIMON/CHEVY CHASE – ‘You Can Call Me, Al’ – link !!)
JENS LEKMAN, “When I Said I Wanted To Be Your Dog” – copyright 2004
JENS LEKMAN & SECRETLY CANADIAN
Written, performed and recorded by Jens Lekman
Mastered by Jacob Stalhammar
Design by Rasmus Hagg
above illustrations: 1-2
JENS LEKMAN, Oh you’re so silent Jens – copyright 2005 – JENS LEKMAN & SECRETLY CANADIAN
Written, produced, performed and recorded by Jens Lekman
Mastering by Jacob Stalhammar
Artwork & Design by Rasmus Hagg
above illustrations 3-5
check out: JENS LEKMAN – official website
check out: JENS LEKMAN – myspace
check out: SECRETLY CANADIAN
~Jens Lekman |
Posted in Indie Music Reviews | By Simon Cerigo | February 6th, 2008, 11:25am
Though I’ve been a luke-warm fan of SONIC YOUTH over the last couple of decades, I have to hand it to Lee Renaldo for producing one of the best CDs of 2007 – the new MAGIK MARKERS CD titled: BOSS.
Here he has taken a group known for their energetic, frenetic and unpredictable noise adventure live shows, and produced a record that for its depth of feeling and quest for new sounds, is hard to beat.
This record combines the intense hard driving sound of THE BIRTHDAY PARTY’S amazing second album, JUNKYARD – with the haunting delivery of MAZZY STAR. The slower songs, like ‘Bad Dream/Hartford’s Beat Suite’, are what I call Bob Dylan in reverse, in that Dylan went from an acoustic sound to an electric sound, while the MAGIK MARKERS went from an extreme electric sound to a melodic sound !
Loyal fans of the MAGIK MARKERS’ earlier CDs should not be disappointed, since a lot of those great extreme sounds, remain. Bob Dylan changed his sound and tone because of the influence of the Beatles’ great TWIST AND SHOUT, it was a natural evolution and the results were amazing. This MARKERS CD shows Lee Renaldo’s influence, and the result is likewise a natural evolution, and awesome. The lyrics are great, so play this music loud and often – and check out their live videos, including the early ones, on YouTube.
Photographs by: E. Jason Wambsgans
Artwork by: Jill Storthz and Elisa Ambrogio
MAGIK MARKERS, BOSS copyright 2007 Ecstatic Peace!
SAMPLE: Bad Dreams/Hartford’s Beat Suite’ – here !!
(scroll down mid-way – left side/for link)
CHECK OUT CLIPS ON: YouTube, here !!
MAGIK MARKERS on: myspace
VISIT: ECSTATIC PEACE!
~Magik Markers |
Posted in Indie Music Reviews | By Simon Cerigo | November 13th, 2007, 3:37pm
I first saw JAPANTHER during an opening in front of DEITCH PROJECTS a few years ago. They played this really frenetic set, out of the back of a small truck, which I coined as “Hard-Core Sing-Along” – since a lot of the kids in the audience sang along … I don’t remember the art show they played at, (it was Swoon), – but I’ll never forget their rock-on, fuck-on performance. The songs were short, fast, catchy, and full of NICK CAVE guttural screams .. into … their signature, handmade microphones-manipulated-from-old telephone handsets.
All this is caught seamlessly on their newly released CD – Skuffed Up My Huffy. My favorite songs are the johnny rebel ones, like: Challenge, River Phoenix, and Tender…. but, all of the songs have a low-fi hard-core charm that is undeniable.
So, all you never-die teenagers, grab this CD, a case of beer, and have a wild, arms akimbo party,
. . . singing . . . Fuck-ON!, JAPANTHER.
Artwork: by JAPANTHER / IAN VANEK (drums & vocals) & MATT REILLY (guitar & vocals)
. . .”we are an in-house art directed band” – I.V.
JAPANTHER, Skuffed Up My Huffy/MENLO PARK RECORDINGS RELEASE/SEPT 11/2007
www.Japanther.com
www.myspace.com/official Japanther page
artlovers archival photo/IAN VANEK/2004
artlovers archival photos: IAN VANEK & MATT REILLY at AU BAR/SPRING 2005
(you can see a red telephone handset/microphone, just above IAN VANEK’S head
in this 2005 photo of him, at the drums, at Au BAR, in the WEST VILLAGE.)
~Japanther |
Posted in Indie Music Reviews | By Simon Cerigo | October 9th, 2007, 5:05pm
After reviewing Feels, the Animal Collective’s second CD for this column, a few years ago, I went out and bought, (on the strength of the cover art!), one of the first of Panda Bear’s early singles – as a present for my then teenage daughter, Kate.
She in turn, made a point of getting tickets for Panda Bear’s recent NYC concert, this past June 2007. Musically the concert was great, and included Panda Bear’s own streaming video collages, projected behind him.
The next week, I went to my favorite music store, OTHER MUSIC, and bought the new Panda Bear CD, Person Pitch. The CD is amazing – and has all the songs from the live show reproduced perfectly.
I have to admit that this CD is the most dynamic, deeply felt, and exhilarating music, with new sounds, that I have heard in some time. It puts to shame that other electronica & voice band, The Knife, and their recent third CD Silent Shout. On the other hand, The Knife’s first CD, Deep Cuts, from 3 years ago, is a great CD which added low-fi creativity and emotion to the usually boring, (except for dancing), electronica format. Their Pass It On video from the Deep Cuts CD is one of the most watched videos on YouTube, and rightly so, whereas Silent Shout is so musically and visually pretentious, as to be unlistenable.
If you want to hear great new music – where the musicians transcend their complicated electronic gadgets, get Panda Bear’s Person Pitch and The Knife’s Deep Cuts – and stay away from Silent Shout.
Panda Bear is a one man band – who also performs as one third of Animal Collective.
Artwork by: AGNES MONTGOMERY
Panda Bear, Person Pitch, C & P PAW TRACKS 2007
www.paw-tracks.com
~Panda Bear |
Posted in Indie Music Reviews | By Simon Cerigo | August 28th, 2007, 10:32am
