I have revised my opinion about the new nine inch nails record, with teeth. It is no longer an “eh”–it’s a “hey, that’s really good except for those two momentum-killing stinkers he saddled it with!” And those would be “every day is exactly the same” and “the line begins to blur.” Both songs’ titles give you some idea of how you feel upon listening to them. I got bored quick, and I’m a person who loved the fragile, which other NIN fans of my acquaintance have referred to as the boring, so that should maybe tell you something. Anyway, I’d recommend it.
Not recommended: Silent Alarm by Bloc Party. If you’re looking for the bigwinner of the “Who Can Most Slavishly Imitate K-Tel’s Classic Post-Punk Hits of the late ’70s and Early ’80s?” contest, here you are. I spent the whole time thinking, “What, do they think we are unable to download Gang of Four albums?” Almost entirely superfluous, and I think the huge wave of critical support they’re earning says a lot about record critics and how happy they are that they finally have something dour, humorless and Important-Sounding to support amidst the Franz Ferdinands and Fischerspooners of this big ’80s revival we find ourselves in. However, as my friend Josiah pointed out to me, his voice does sound an awful lot like Damon Albarn’s more heavily accented moments circa Parklife, and since Damon himself has been unlistenable for the past few years, it does have that to recommend it.
Line of the day: “If I was not me, I would hate me too.” Fischerspooner, “Never Win.”
Supposedly Tori Amos covered “By My Side” from Godspell last night. Holy shit. Ugh, holy moses, I’m getting chills just thinking of it. (I am the biggest Godspell fan this side of the members of the State.)
Hey, doesn’t the State sound like the name of a retro-rock band? Like a group that only plays analog synths and is signed to Sympathy for the Record Industry or something?
David Jones reviews David Bowie! I know Bowie had heretofore pretty much disowned his live albums David Live and Stage, so I’m surprised to see them re-emerge. And I’m thrilled that Stage has been resequenced to represent the playing order of the actual concert; the original album’s songs were rearranged in chronological order of the original songs’ release, an odd and project-defeating choice. On to the Amazon wish list with you!
I would like to take this opportunity to point out that I am a recurring character on my brother-in-law’s podcast, Air Ferg. I feature rather prominently in the latest episode if I’m not mistaken, so download accordingly.
I think that’s everything.