Please note that the zip file has a password: Q84
Download files here: http://www.mediafire.com/?va5q1o35i2wlx4t
Q’s Compilations
Volume #84 – June –
July 2012
Greetings
from sweltering New York! I had been warned about the summers here and they
were not joking, at the time of writing we’ve had 14 days of over 32 degrees C
(90 degrees F), apparently the average for the year is 15 days of that
temperature. Yikes. Anyway, here’s some music.
01)
Seapony – Dreaming: I can’t remember where I found this from, I think it might
have been a last.fm recommendation. It is, however, perfect summer pop and the
album, Go With Me, is generally
delightful. “I don't wanna be like
everybody else, I don't wanna be stuck on another shelf”
02)
Mrs Magician – There Is No God: Atheism has never sounded so sunny! My wife and
I have been fighting over who was going to buy their record, even though I
obviously like them better, and heard of them first :o) regardless, it’s a
wonderful debut (Strange Heaven). “There’s no god la la la there’s no god la
la la”
03)
Pond – Dig Brother: I didn’t realise when I bought this record (Beard, Wives, Denim) the other week that
it’s a side-project of Australian band, Tame Impala. I first heard of them
thanks for a compilation that friend, Felix, sent to me recently. The album is
heavily influenced by those old Nuggets-style bands.
04)
Chelsea Light Moving - Burroughs: This is Thurston Moore’s new project sounds
like… Sonic Youth! I had the pleasure of seeing Thurston perform an improvised
set a couple of months ago where he basically abused his guitar, a great watch!
On the basis of this track I’m looking forward to the record. http://chelsealightmoving.blogspot.com/
05)
The Corin Tucker Band – Doubt: Corin Tucker is set to release her second solo
album, which reminded me that I actually needed to hear the first (which is
called 1000 Years)! Corin is of
course, best known for being in Sleater Kinney, and this material is no
departure. She’s playing a couple of shows here in September which I’m tempted
by.
06)
Guided By Voices – No Transmission: I had the pleasure of seeing GBV for free
in Central Park recently and they played a great set (whilst also helping me
tick off seeing one of my favourite bands that I didn’t think I’d ever get to
see). While it was heavy on recent material and very light on classics
(although hearing Game of Pricks, I Am a Scientist
and Echos Myron will forever be
gig-going highlights), new album Class
Clown Spots a UFO is actually rather fine and dandy. As Pollard said at the
gig, “we had to show them how it was done
back then, and we had to come back to show them how to do it again”.
07)
Smashing Pumpkins – Quasar: Another band with a recent return to form, Smashing
Pumpkins seemed to disappear with a bit of a wimper a few years ago, but new
album, Oceania, is an ambitious and
varied record.
08)
Roomrunner – Spinning: I saw Roomrunner’s first ever gig (or at least that’s
what they said, a freebie at Hudson River Rocks) recently and despite a
catalogue of technical problems they played a blistering set, check them out! http://roomrunner.tumblr.com/
09)
Heavy Blanket – Spit in the Eye: This project is basically an excuse for
J.Mascis to guitar solo constantly, which is fine because there are fewer aural
delights than a Mascis guitar solo!
10)
Superchunk – Why Do You Have To Put A Date On Everything (live): Although I
owned the original CD, I love Foolish so
purchased the remastered CD that was released last year. The album comes with a
download code with a raft of bonus material, which includes a concert
recording. I was a bit bummed out recently because they played a free show in
Times Square that I had to miss (it clashed with Guided By Voices, all the more
annoying that they were supposed to play the day before but had to change venue
and day).
11)
Built to Spill – Car: I love Built to Spill, but until recently had never
gotten round to purchasing There’s
Nothing Wrong With Love, which has now been rectified. Car is one of their most well-known songs, of course, but I felt
like throwing it on anyway.
12)
Diiv – Follow: The band have just released their debut album, Oshin, which is a lovely and dreamy
swirl of guitars and this song is pretty representative of the album as a
whole. Planning on catching them in August at one of the Hudson River Rocks
shows.
13)
Blouse – Into Black: From Portland, Oregon, Blouse released a haunting
self-titled debut album last year which is well worth a listen.
14)
Blood Orange – Sutphin Boulevard: Blood Orange is another alias of Devonté Hynes also
known as Lightspeed Champion and
member of the now defunct Test Icicles (I always saw
their name but never checked them out). I have Felix to thank for recommending
this to me.
15)
Fanfarlo – Lenslife: On their second album (debut album Resevoir was very promising) the band seem to have ventured into
Talking Heads territory, not that that’s a bad thing! It seems a less coherent
record (Rooms Filled With Light) but
does have some highlights, this was my favourite.
16)
Chromatics – The River: The band have just released new album, Kill For Love, on their Italians Do It
Better label, all of their music is very reasonably priced (most albums are $5
and they send you a download while you wait for the physical copy). I love the
vibe of this song, so simple but effective. “l Watch The Moon Hang In The Air, l Feel The Cold Breeze Through My
Hair, My Eyes Blind By Headlights Glare, I'm Still Here Waiting For You”
17)
The Flaming Lips – The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face: The Flaming Lips and Heady Fwends was released on CD recently and
is a schizophrenic mishmash of collaborations, this one features Erika Badu and
is a cover version, most famously known as a cover version itself by Roberta
Flack. The Flips’ version features their typical sonic bombast but still
manages to retain a sense of longing for which the song is known. “The first time ever I kissed your mouth,
And felt your heart beat close to mine, Like the trembling heart of a captive
bird, That was there at my command, my love“
18)
Exitmusic – Sparks of Light: I’d heard the name of this band for some time but
never got round to listening to them, I don’t know why but I just assumed they
would sound completely different to this.
And
there you have it!
Until
next time
Peace
and love
Q
