OK, I haven’t had a chance to get much more stuff this week but I have given more of it a little listening time.
The general impression I’m getting is that most of this is either a) not strange enough, b) not dark enough, c) too electronic/too strange in a way I don’t like or d) something I would have liked a couple of years ago but have burnt myself out on that style.
Hey, I told you I was hard to please! Part of the problem is that I’m not sure specifically what direction I want to go into next. I’m burnt out on a lot of sounds, but my basic tastes are what they always have been. And then, of course, there is a difference between what one likes “on paper” vs. what really hits you when you hear it.
Here’s some quick comments on the stuff I’ve had a chance to listen to:
Shivaree - not strange enough, not dark enough. Too poppy at times. The first track is pretty cool, though.
El-P “Fantastic Damage” - Too electronic, annoying to listen to. I can appreciate the fact that it’s got more depth than Nelly, but I can’t get through it without skipping through a lot of it.
Rufus Wainwright “Poses”- Not strange enough, not dark enough. Sounds like easy-listening music.
Clem Snide “The Ghost Of Fashion” - I like their slow songs, but not their mid-paced and especially not their more upbeat ones. Even the slow songs, I kind of feel represent a sound overrepresented in my collection already. Favorite track is “Evil vs. Good.”
Tom Waits “Swordfishtrombones” - There’s just something about Tom Waits’ music that doesn’t jive with me. I mean, he’s creative, he’s got a nice downward vibe, he’s got his own sound and a distinct voice. On paper, it seems like someone I’d love. Yet almost all of his material that I’ve heard doesn’t do it for me. It always makes a decent first impression, but never grows on me like I expect it to. I’m not sure why.
Nico “The End” - (first impression) I’m amazed that this was late 60’s stuff. It reminds me a lot of some of the 90s/00s bands I listen to (like Autumn Tears, Dark Sanctuary, etc.). Unfortunately, I burnt myself out on that style and now most of it seems interchangeable to me. Nico sounds really good at it though, so I’ll explore this one further.
Nico “Chelsea Girl” - Listened to this one a couple times yesterday at work. Starting to like it less, the more I hear it. I think I’m just not that fond of the vocals and I’m too jaded to this sound in general.
Butthole Surfers “Hairway To Steven” - (first impression) The first thing that jumps out to me immediately is how poor the production is. I don’t like the sound. It seems like there’s enough going on to forgive that, so I’ll play this one more and see if it sticks with me. (It’s not like I haven’t gotten over bad production before. You should see how many 80s death metal demos I have on cassette!)
Butthole Surfers “Locust Abortion Technician” - (first impression) Lacks cohesiveness, too punkish for me.
Butthole Surfers “Weird Revolution” - (first impression) Parts of it are annoying, but I’ll give it a couple more spins. Some of it holds promise.
23 Skidoo “The Culling is Coming” - Too industrial for my blood.
Calexico “Black Light” - Fits in with my dark western kick. Probably my favorite out of all the suggestions I’ve had a chance to listen to so far. I wish the vocals were more prominent and stronger, but it’s a minor complaint.
Now, onto new stuff people have mentioned: Nick Drake and Moon Lay Hidden Beneath A Cloud are both artists I’ve tried in the past and didn’t care for enough to get any of their stuff. I’ll give them another chance though. I’ve heard a little Marianne Faithful, but not much. I can’t help but think of Metallica when I hear her name now. I’ll try not to hold that against her.
I have Tom Waits’ “Blood Money,” as well as Rasputina (a bit uneven but I like them), The Handsome Family (too country and not dark enough for me), Aphex Twin (too electronic), Arab Strap (a bit boring, but I have heard from several people that their earlier work was better, so I’ll try “Philophobia”) and Swans (one of the most diverse catalogs of a band I’ve ever heard. “The Great Annihilator” is my favorite one by them).
I haven’t heard the original version of Nancy Sinatra’s “Some Velvet Morning,” but I do have My Dying Bride’s cover of it. Pretty cool song. Their cover of Portishead’s “Roads” is excellent as well, although for me nothing top’s Portishead’s live version of the song.
Someone brought some Kronos Quartet into work one day. Wasn’t bad.
A couple of punk bands have been suggested too, but as a general rule I hate punk. I can’t say I’ve sat down and explored everything that the punk genre has to offer, but most of what I’ve heard isn’t “musical” enough for me. I don’t care for the vocals either. Having said that, I used to sing for a punk band (don’t ask) and we did an Exploited cover that I thought was kind of cool. I’ll check out “Horror Epics.”
As for movie soundtracks, in general I think that’s an overall sound I’m burnt out on. So much of the stuff I used to listen to was in that vein, but I find that usually it’s better for background music. Most of it doesn’t really force me to listen. My favorite is the soundtrack to “Subspecies.”
Another couple of things I’ve discovered recently that encouraged me a little are Miss Murgatroid’s “Myoclyonic Melodies” and a few tracks by Spottiswoode & His Enemies.
