Sunday, February 24, 2013

2.22.13

On February 22nd I listened to LL Cool J Radio, Neutral Milk Hotel In The Aeroplane Over The Sea, and Metric Synthetica.


I was right there in 1985 when LL Cool J appeared in Krush Groove and released his debut album, Radio... at all of 17-years-old. It’s far from a perfect record, but there’s plenty of ground breaking music here! Produced by Rick Rubin, Radio definitely has plenty of“ahhhh shit” moments and still sounds pretty fresh.

The opening track “I Can’t Live Without My Radio,” oozes bravado. Then there’s some crud to wade through. “You Can’t Dance” and “Dear Yvette” are just awful. I can’t remember if I liked them back in the day. Fast forward to “Three The Hard Way,” “Rock The Bells,” and “That’s A Lie,” and then you got a party!

LL took quite an interesting career path, huh?


I’m not embarrassed to say that sometimes “Holland, 1945” makes me cry. I am embarrassed to say that I never bothered to listen to this album until it was out for five years. I was writing up a Decemberists record for some shitty music rag and needed to list a couple bands similar to them for what we called “Recommended If You Like.” I couldn't think of anybody. Finally a co-worker said Neutral Milk Hotel and I was like, “what? Who?”

In The Aeroplane Over The Sea gets to be a little too much for me as a whole thing, but taken in small doses can be quite enjoyable. The title track, “Two Headed Boy,” and “Ghost” are plenty weird, but I like ‘em. And that’s all that matters.


Sadly, I only like one Metric song, “Combat Baby” from their 2003 debut. I really have to spend more time with this band. Emily Haines should be a superstar.

“Youth Without Youth,” “Lost Kitten,” and “The Void” are just three songs that stuck out to me from this listen. “Clone” is a nice little jam too. Then old man Lou Reed pops up on “The Wanderlust” and it’s chilly! Goosebumps! No, I’m just fuckin' with ya... Lou adds nothing. I hope they didn't have to pay him.

Tomorrow I will listen to The Roots Things Fall Apart, Beck Mellow Gold, and Jake Bugg Jake Bugg

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