DeScribe

Do you like alt-country? Not twangtwang-I-crashed-my-pickup-truck Nashville crap: I mean stuff like Wilco, Bright Eyes, Calexico, Iron & Wine...the good stuff.

Yes? Then let me introduce Bon Iver's For Emma, Forever Ago. I can't get enough of this. It's spare, melancholic and just gorgeous.

Link: http://www.myspace.com/boniver

When I went to buy this, I couldn't remember the guy's name (not his real name [Justin Vernon], the Bon Iver bit). So I ask the JB bloke in the Elizabeth St store - you know, in that little alcove halfway up the shop - "I'm looking for this alt-country artist, Bon somebody. The second word's got a 'v' in it...I think it's like four letters."

He gives me this level look and goes, "I think you're looking for Jon Bon Jovi."

I'm horrified and cracking up laughing at the same time...I mean, I'm dressed like an arts student for God's sake. What the hell would I want with Bon Jovi, and even if I did, would I ask a scenester working at JB to direct me to him? Anyway, we had a bit of a crack at the store computer and found what I was after. He actually looked happy I didn't mean Bon Jovi.

In hindsight, though, I gave the JB guy the perfect set-up. Can't really blame him for taking the bait. I would have.

ps You could say I was almost shot down in a blaze of glory. Boom-tish.

Ooh, very nice. I really had no idea other people knew of Iron and Wine. And then we got an entry based on 'The Trapeze Singer' and now I'm all happy and stuff.

This guy sounds more folk than alt-country though, especially The Wolves Act I and II.

Here's a test - has anyone here heard of King Crimson's 'Elephant Talk'?
I like, I like.
Some of their earlier stuff is fairly decent too. '21st Century Schizoid Man' is a favourite.

Yeah, part of me can never admit to listening to folk of any form, so I just pretend it's another genre. Animal Collective? Alt-chant. Augie March? Literary rock. Joanna Newsom? Alt-prog. With harp.

I used to work with a guy who loved King Crimson, but I never listened to them based on the fact he was a dead-set prick. But I've heard their name a few times, so I'll have a gander.

Currently listening to: Battles, Wire, Beta Band, Fuck Buttons & Apostle of Hustle.

Definitely look into King Crimson. I'm not a dead-set prick and I love them, so now it's even...even though you didn't work with me...

I'm getting stuck into Ween, Talking Heads, Klaus Nomi and TISM...mostly old favourites that I've revived and fallen in love with all over again.

I almost started an "I really couldn't give a stuff about Radiohead" rant, but I'll give it a miss for now.

King Crimson's "In the Court of the Crimson King" is one of the greatest albums ever, ever ... and it was their first album, how's that for a pedestal? Much like Nas' "Illmatic", his first album, one of the greatest albums ever, and on of the greatest hip-hop albums. When talking about music these days, I tend to look at albums.

My recent purchases were:
Ivens' "Sounds to Expire to" - which is pure noir genius - a dark soundscape with haunting, dense lyrics!
El-P "I'll Sleep When Your Dead" - one of the richest and diverse hip-hop releases, indie fans will even like this release; features The Mars Volta on a track. Some political tracks, and some absurd but unique stories.
Percee P "Perseverance" - this underground rapper has been in the scene for twenty years, and this is his first album! Incredible flow, some sleeper tracks due to production but a very lyrical release.

All time favorite albums:
- Nas "Illmatic"
- The Notorious B.I.G. "Ready to Die"
- King Crimson "In the Court of the Crimson King"
- Aesop Rock "None Shall Pass"
- Eminem "Infinite" < hard to come by, but genius!
- Jurassic 5 "Quality Control"
- Hilltop Hoods "The Calling"
- The Roots "Do You Want More?!?!"
- Tool "Lateralus"
- Delta "The Lostralian"
- Pink Floyd "Dark Side of the Moon" < gratuitous fave, love it!
- Bliss n Eso "Fying Colours" <yes, already!
- The Mars Volta "De-Loused in the Comatorium"
- Ivens "Sounds to Expire to" <yes, already!

And a heap more but that's off the top of the head!

By the way was anybody else really dissapointed with The Mars Volta's "The Bedlam in Goliath"? I really didn't like that album, like 1 or 2 tracks, the rest just sounded recyced and monotonous.

The Bedlam in Goliath was pretty bad, but not as bad as most people are saying it is. Rolling Stone's 1 1/2 stars was a tad steep. I've always preferred Frances the Mute to De-Loused as well.

People who say Dark Side of the Moon is over-rated are turds. It's an experience sitting through that album...which is why you should only do it once a month, and turn off the radio if one of the songs comes on.

yeah i can't listen to just one track off of Darkside, I need to listen to the whole thing. I wouldn't give Bedlam 1 1/2, 2 stars maybe, possibly 2 1/2, eally didn't ike it that much.

Has anyone heard of the groups Godspeed You! Black Emperor or A Silver Mt Zion??

amberg wrote:Has anyone heard of the groups Godspeed You! Black Emperor

Hell yeahs...godspeed are about half the reason I love 28 Days Later so much. The other half is fast zombies with added scream.

'East Hastings' is superb. I've got Lift Your Skinny Fists..., but I haven't listened to it enough yet. I have to cook more. If I cook more, I'll listen to more music.