What is your snowmageddon soundtrack? now playing RAGNAROK edition

[auto-da-fey]

somewhere, Julian Cope sits at the center of a stone circle, sniffling "it's cool, we can still be friends." 

i'm a little curious about Giant Sand, having heard very little of their work, but right now I have this large backlog of Grifters and Strapping Fieldhands albums still awaiting my listening, so another time.

unless someone were inclined to make a mix . . .

[auto-da-fey]

and now suddenly I'm listening to Peggy Suicide for the first time in years, I guess one never knows

[davy]

Yesssssssssssssssssss.

[davy]

I mean, I'm allowed to move on, after a year, right? The Arch Drude was 2010, Howe Gelb is 2011.

Besides, Julian Cope still rules my last.fm account with an iron fist. I'll be listening to a lot of Giant Sand in the future, and it's true they've climbed up to the #2 spot, but they've got a ways to go before things get serious.



Julian need not worry. He's gone down in history. I doubt I'll ever have another musical obsession that intensely concentrated.

[YojimboMonkey]

I regret to inform you that you should never listen to another Danzig song, at least not where it can be counted by last.fm

[davy]

I've managed to hold it there for more than a month...

[fishjim]

A friend just pointed me to this Danzig (or Misfits?) cover as a potential End Times Weekend track:

"Last Caress" by Papa M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z12EZ0IjNrM

Probably won't make my cut, but I'm glad it made his. I was a reluctant Danzig fan.

[davy]

Misfits by way of Metallica, really. Their initial cover is what made that song famous.

[fishjim]

Ah, thanks davy - makes sense. Same friend just turned me on to this Danzig video, and uh-oh. Think I could easily slip into a midlife Danzig phase:

"I'm the One"

Yojimbo, help me!

[davy]

The "midlife Danzig phase" has been one of the highlights of my own personal "midlife," I'll tell you that.

[Nick Ink]

Andy Stott - Passed Me By

Andy sounds like he's breaking out from labelmate Claro Intelecto's shadow here. KDSB, you might be into some of this, it's pretty deep.

[davy]

The "midlife Danzig phase" has been one of the highlights of my own personal "midlife," I'll tell you that.

Also, it seems to be recurring.

[davy]

unless someone were inclined to make a mix . . .

I am inclined! Very much so...but I'm still missing their mid/late 90s stuff, and part of the joy of all this is waiting on the next batch of reissues to come out. I mean, it's like I have this new favorite band which releases 3 new albums a month. It's fantastic.

I could maybe do an "early years" thing. But really, I think the best thing to do -- if you want to get into Giant Sand, or merely decide whether or not they're your thing -- is find a copy of Chore of Enchantment and listen to it a billion times. Of the 12 albums I've heard so far, I love at least 6, but what really knocked me out and sealed the deal was Chore of Enchantment.

[Good Intentions]

The coming of winter to Auckland brings with it its characteristic signs: non-committal rain for days on end; blustering wind haphazardly piling dead leaves around storm drains, leafless trees presiding over grassy lawns turning into black-brown mud; me playing Weakling's Dead As Dreams over and over.

[Killdozersnakeboy]

Andy Stott - Passed Me By

Andy sounds like he's breaking out from labelmate Claro Intelecto's shadow here. KDSB, you might be into some of this, it's pretty deep.

Thanks Nick. I've not heard this at all yet but the Pitchfork review certainly made it sound like my bag. Will have to search it out.


np: The Scientists - Swampland
I've become quite obsessed with this band in recent times. If your unfamiliar with them and are fan of say Birthday Party, Cramps or even Jesus Lizard you should really check them out ASAP.

[Nick Ink]

I saw the Scientists when I was about 17! - they were supporting Siouxsie & The Banshees.

[Killdozersnakeboy]

I saw the Scientists when I was about 17! - they were supporting Siouxsie & The Banshees.

That's awesome. Kim Salmon has a done a couple of shows here in recent months - including one that was pretty much the Scientists but I missed them sadly.

I listened to that Andy Stott thing. That's some pretty ridiculous bass action there. Great stuff. I'll have to go find the vinyl. It's also inspired me to put on Actress's Splazsh album which is a good thing.

[fishjim]

I do love Calexico. And I suspect I'll love Giant Sand. Pointers on where to start?

Here's some art a friend of mine, Hugh D'Andrade, did for a Calexico show at the Fillmore in '06:



I'll say here that "A History of Lovers" off the Calexico / Iron & Wine collaboration, In The Reins, is one of the best song's either act's recorded, IMHO. 

[davy]

Start here, in the middle:



Chore of Enchantment (2000)

[Killdozersnakeboy]

I looked into Giant Sand a few years ago but nothing really grabbed me. I was listening to a lot of Calexico at the time. What's the link between the two? They've worked together right?

np: Pantha Du Prince - This Bliss
No sure why haven't owned this until today. Perfect listening for early evening on a cold grey Sunday when I've a scotch in hand.

[Andrew_TSKS]

Calexico is a Tucson, Arizona-based Americana/Alternative country band. The band's two main members, Joey Burns and John Convertino, first played together in Los Angeles as part of the group Giant Sand.

Giant Sand is an American rock band, based in Tucson, Arizona, USA. The name is shortened from the original Giant Sandworms, a reference to the creatures in the Dune books. Overseen by singer-songwriter Howe Gelb, its membership has shifted over the years—at times with each album. For a long while the band's rhythm section consisted of John Convertino and Joey Burns who left the band when their side project, Calexico, grew more widely known than Giant Sand and, as Gelb characterized it in 2004, Calexico "began to work against Giant Sand and eat away at what the band was".

[Killdozersnakeboy]

Thankyou Andrew.

np:


This has been getting a shitload of play round my way recently. Any Will Oldham fan who doesn't have this in their collection is missing out on some true greatness. Many here probably picked up on this years ago but I only came across him in the last 8 months or so. I'm still floored.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MO6vAIUTGiA

[narlus]

I looked into Giant Sand a few years ago but nothing really grabbed me. I was listening to a lot of Calexico at the time. What's the link between the two? They've worked together right?

stylistically, Calexico is more straightforward...Giant Sand is more prone to sudden swerves, and Howe doesn't care if you spill your beer.

Both are worthy of your time.


i think it was a fairly bitter split. Convertino had worked w/ Gelb for some years before Burns joined, and I'm sure that Howe didn't take that defection lightly. on one of the GS authorized boots there's a song called "The Calexico audition and failing it." not sure if they've patched things up or not.

[peacocks]

saw this band woolly bushmen last night and am now listening to their soundcloud. It's a three piece and they are all like 19 or something. So good:

http://soundcloud.com/the-woolly-bushmen

[Black Amnesia of Heaven]

listening to buffalo tom's "larry" until i can't

h/t andrew because i only ever checked this band out because of his writing