This is what I'm listening to

[davy]

Believe it or not, my favorite musicians in the universe right now, during my third cup of coffee on the morning of January 8, 2009, are the Ozark Mountain Daredevils.

This band is so hot and cold it's ridiculous, but if you gather up enough material and cut out the shit, you've got pure Americana gold.

[kyle]

Astronautalis - Pomegranate

This was released back in September, and I've had a little interaction with it in that time. I'm borrowing a car for the week and this cd was in there and I've listened to it probably a dozen times in that week. Really catchy, but weirdo hip hop that has songs all over the place. Some nearing piano-driven folk, other more close to techno, some even resembling hip hop.

[narlus]

Believe it or not, my favorite musicians in the universe right now, during my third cup of coffee on the morning of January 8, 2009, are the Ozark Mountain Daredevils.

This band is so hot and cold it's ridiculous, but if you gather up enough material and cut out the shit, you've got pure Americana gold.

i always get them confused w/ Black Oak Arkansas (they did 'Jackie Blue' right?)

[narlus]

np: The Damned - So, Who's Paranoid?

the leadoff track ("A Nation Fit For Heroes") is so fucking good!

[Andrew_TSKS]

Believe it or not, my favorite musicians in the universe right now, during my third cup of coffee on the morning of January 8, 2009, are the Ozark Mountain Daredevils.

This band is so hot and cold it's ridiculous, but if you gather up enough material and cut out the shit, you've got pure Americana gold.

i always get them confused w/ Black Oak Arkansas (they did 'Jackie Blue' right?)

Yes, they did, while Black Oak Arkansas did "Jim Dandy" (which was also the name of their singer).

[davy]

Ha ha, that's hilarious. I can't blame you, though. Ozark Mountain Daredevils at their best were still associated with some pretty terrible bands (The Eagles, Poco, etc). My point is that about half of each of their records is AM-gold-style soft rock--just horrible stuff ("Jackie Blue" is probably the least-painful example)--while the other half features really solid (and often bizarre) country rock songs, along the lines of early Nitty Gritty Dirt Band or even Sweetheart of the Rodeo-era Byrds. Songs like Chicken Train.

I mean, seriously, they couldn't even put together one consistently great album before veering off into awfulness. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, for example, put out 2 or 3 great records before becoming a joke, and they were able to do that because they stuck with one style and played to their strengths for a while. But OZD couldn't settle on a style at all, not even for a year or two. They stubbornly mixed their strengths with their weaknesses, so all you can do is cherry-pick the albums for the good stuff. Which is what I did this morning (thankfully, their latest best-of comp leaned heavily on the country-rock side).

[Babar]

the flow is kinda monotonous sometimes and some of the beat-picks aren't so interesting, but he can really write good lyrics. all the song titles begin with "The" and there are seinfeld dialogues spread across the mixtape and the intro uses the theme song, fun stuff.

[RavingLunatic]

Finally listening to that She & Him album. The first song leaves me unimpressed.

[RavingLunatic]

OK, that She & Him album is definitely not for me.

[Killdozersnakeboy]

Boredoms - Super æ
Super Shine is so damn beautiful it nearly brings me to tears every time. And on occasion actually does.

[Killdozersnakeboy]

[Thermofusion]

KDSB, what older Jay Reatard stuff would you recommend to someone who's only heard Blood Visions and the Matador Singles comp? I get the impression there is a shitload of material and not of all it is eminently available.

[Killdozersnakeboy]

There is a shit-load. I dumped a bunch of MP3's on a Reatard thread a while back but the links may be dead by now. To give you some idea how much stuff there is here's the current discography according to wiki.

I've not even got half this stuff but I have a fair chunk of cool shit. I've boldedsome of my favourite pre Blood Visions and made BIG the pure awesomeness.

apologies for the size of the quote.

With The Reatards

[edit] Albums

    * Teenage Hate LP/CD (1998; Goner)
    * Grown Up, Fucked Up LP/CD (1999; Empty)
    * Live LP (2004; Goner)
    * Bedroom Disasters LP/CD (2004; Empty)
    * Not Fucked Enough LP/CD/CD-R (2005; Empty/Shattered)

[edit] 45s/EPs

    * Get Real Stupid 7" (1998; Goner)
    * Get Out Of Our Way 7" (1999; Blahll!)
    * Your So Lewd 7" (1999; Empty)
    * Untitled 7" (2002; SSLD)
    * Monster Child 7" (2004; Zaxxon)
    * Plastic Surgery 7" (2005; Shattered)
    * Totally Shattered Euro Tour 7" (2005; Split with Angry Angles and Tokyo Electron; Kenrock)
    * I Lie Too 7" (2006; Zaxxon Virile Action)

[edit] With The Lost Sounds

[edit] Albums

    * Memphis Is Dead LP/CD (2001; Big Neck!)
    * Black-Wave 2xLP/CD (2001; Empty)
    * Rats Brains & Microchips LP/CD (2002; Empty)
    * Lost Sounds LP/CD (2004; In the Red)

[edit] 45s/EPs

    * Plastic Skin 7" (2000; Solid Sex Lovie Doll)
    * 1 + 1 = Nothing 7" (2001; Empty)
    * Split 7" with The Vanishing (2003; Cochon)
    * Ice Age 7" (2004; Holy Cobra Society)
    * Future Touch 12"EP/CDEP (2004; In the Red)

[edit] Compilations

    * Outtakes & Demos Vol. 1 CD-R (2001; Contaminated)
    * Outtakes & Demos Vol. 1 LP (2002; Hate)
    * Recent Transmissions: Demos & Outtakes Vol. 2 CD (2002; Contaminated)
    * Demos II CD (2003; On/On Switch)
    * Demos & Outtakes Vol. 2 3x7" (2004; Rockin' Bones)

[edit] With Bad Times

    * Bad Times LP (2001; Goner/Therapeutic)
    * Bad Times (Re-Release) CD (2002; Sympathy For The Record Industry)

[edit] With The Final Solutions

[edit] Albums

    * Disco Eraser LP/CD (2003; Misprint)
    * Songs by Solutions LP/CD (2007; Goner)

[edit] 45s/EPs

    * Eat Shit 7" (2002; Therapeutic)
    * Eye Don't Like You 7" (2005; Shit Sandwich)
    * My Love Is Disappointing 7" (2005; Shattered)
    * Return To The Motherland 7" (2006; Frick & Frack)
    * FS/DF 7" (2007; Jethrow)

[edit] With Nervous Patterns

[edit] Albums

    * Nervous Patterns CD-R/CD/LP (2003/2004; Contaminated/Cochon)

[edit] 45s/EPs

    * You Can't Change 7" (2005; Zaxxon)

[edit] With Angry Angles

    * Things Are Moving 7" (2005; Shattered)
    * Crowds 7" (2005; P. Trash)
    * Totally Shattered Euro Tour 7" (2005; Split with Angry Angles and Tokyo Electron; Kenrock)
    * Split 7" (2006; Split with Digital Leather; Shattered)
    * Apparent-Transparent 7" (2006; Plastic Idol)

[edit] As Terror Visions

    * World of Shit LP/CD (2007; FDH)
    * Endless Tunnel EP
    * Blood in America 7" (Disordered)

[edit] With Destruction Unit

    * Self-Destruction of a Man LP/CD (2004; Empty)
    * Death to the Old Flesh LP/CD (2006; Empty)

[edit] As Jay Reatard

[edit] Albums

    * Blood Visions LP/CD (2006; In the Red)

[edit] 45s/EPs

    * Hammer I Miss You 7" (2006; Goner)
    * Night of Broken Glass 12" (2007; In the Red)
    * Split with the Boston Chinks 7" (2007; P. Trash)
    * In the Dark 7"/6" (2007; Squoodge)
    * I Know a Place 7" (2007; Goner)
    * Blood Demo 7" (2008; Stained Circles)
    * See/Saw 7" (2008; Matador)
    * Painted Shut 7" (2008; Matador)
    * Always Wanting More 7" (2008; Matador)
    * Fluorescent Grey 7" (2008; Matador)
    * Trapped Here 7" (2008; Matador)
    * No Time 7" (2008; Matador)

Sadly I've passed my internets broadband cap this month so any uploading will cost $$. But I can work a comp for people in a few days if they're interested.

[Killdozersnakeboy]

Fuckit. Not a comp, but one song (which I've posted already).
Jay Reatard - Wounded
http://www.sendspace.com/file/qi34is
This is a demo from around the same time he did Blood Visions. As far as I know it's not been released yet. When I heard this I realised he could actually become "big" rather than being just the king dick of termbo fan'd garage punk. Awesome song.

[Killdozersnakeboy]

Dead C - Children
As in "of the revolution". Most Fucked & perfect cover of any song by anyone. Ever.

Being the Dead C you know it's part of some drug addled jam and Morley's all of a sudden thinkin' "dude, i can totally start singin' some T-Rex here". Bitchin.

[Killdozersnakeboy]

[narlus]

Dead C - Children
As in "of the revolution". Most Fucked & perfect cover of any song by anyone. Ever.

Being the Dead C you know it's part of some drug addled jam and Morley's all of a sudden thinkin' "dude, i can totally start singin' some T-Rex here". Bitchin.

 

that's a good one.

i asked michael morley about the sleeve photo of _Eusa Kills_, as it's one of my all-time favorite covers.  he told me he found that photo on a bus.

[Thermofusion]

Fuckit. Not a comp, but one song (which I've posted already).
Jay Reatard - Wounded
http://www.sendspace.com/file/qi34is
This is a demo from around the same time he did Blood Visions. As far as I know it's not been released yet. When I heard this I realised he could actually become "big" rather than being just the king dick of termbo fan'd garage punk. Awesome song.

Wow that's a great little song. Thanks! I swear Reatard has better ears for eccentric pop than the vast majority of these syrupy indie bands.

Anyway I'll check out Teenage Hate first and report back.

[ellaguru]

The Gourds - Haymaker.

Pretty good.

[ellaguru]

Actually, better than pretty good.

Now onto Hayes Carll, which is also better than pretty good.

[davy]

Actually, better than pretty good.

Yeah, at first I thought it was pleasantly predictable and simplistic, but it's getting better with each listen.

[davy]

"Remedy" by The Black Crowes is an impossibly good song.

[ellaguru]

Actually, better than pretty good.

Yeah, at first I thought it was pleasantly predictable and simplistic, but it's getting better with each listen.

Only listened to it the once so far, but about 1/3 of it sounded predictable and simplistic, but the other 2/3 sounds really strong.

[RavingLunatic]

Popmatters says it's the Gourds' best album. I have a hard time getting into music that is this exuberant though. It just doesn't resonate with me. About the only exception I can think of is Devin Davis. That dude's music is as really exuberant and I like it. I have no idea why.

[davy]

Popmatters says it's the Gourds' best album. I have a hard time getting into music that is this exuberant though. It just doesn't resonate with me. About the only exception I can think of is Devin Davis. That dude's music is as really exuberant and I like it. I have no idea why.

Can I make you a Gourds mix via drop.io? I will totes show you their softer side.

Just say the word.

I fucking LOVE these guys, and while Haymaker! is better than Noble Creatures (which was a curious record in that on one hand, I thought it was too somber, but on the other hand, the best tracks were the most somber), I definitely wouldn't say it's their best. Maybe 4th best, behind Ghost of Hallelujah, Bolsa de Agua, and Heavy Ornamentals. I'd put it on a level with Cow Fish Fowl or Pig, maybe. But it's still early, and as Popmatters points out, this one is a grower.

I hope the enthusiasm of that review carries over to the best-of lists at the end of the year. The Gourds never get no r-e-s-p-e-c-t.

Man. If I could only express how incredible and--yes, exuberant!--their live show is. I put a lot of energy into anticipating their concerts, and they never let me down.