Thursday Random Eight (01/15/2009)

Tchaikovsky - Dance of the Reeds (from The Nutcracker): "Hey, sucker," said the iPod, "I bet you wish it was still the holidays...I bet it must really stink having to go to work everyday, not having any parties to go to, and having just an endless winter ahead of you. Well, don't mind me, I'm just going to play music all day."

Material Issue - International Pop Overthrow: Although one could make the argument that it all sounds the same, I'm not sure Material Issue ever found quite the same energy from IPO, their first full length CD. This is certainly more fun than the later tracks the iPod has chosen lately.

Howard Hello - Way to Go: Another novel track from this peculiar band; they seem to be wanting to end an indie-movie with this positive, fading track.

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan / Michael Brook - Longing: A fairly ambient track from the collaboration using Ali Khan's voice as an accompanying instrument.

Carter USM - Prince in a Pauper's Grave: A non-bouncy, near thoughtful song from Carter that sounds suspiciously like a John Waters song about the end of the world or similar delightful situation.

Genesis - White Mountain: From Trespass, the first "we're a creepy prog band" album from these dinosaurs, with Peter Gabriel reciting a story about an one-eye fox or some such thing. It is probably the weakest song on Trespass which, released within a few years of when I was born, still brings me a lot of enjoyment to listen to.

Flaming Lips - Unconsciously Screamin': Crazy song from the equally nuts In a Priest Driven Ambulance album.

Sonic Youth - Hoarfrost: A Thousand Leaves is certainly a release that takes some listening to in order to appreciate. I saw SY tour with this album before I had actually heard it, and I went home confused as to whether or not I had actually even seen Sonic Youth; the show was so dismal and static that I might have even fallen asleep through it. I bought the CD and promptly stored it away, not liking it at all. But lately, I've been giving it a number of listens and find myself growing fond of it, especially the lenghty "Snare, Girl" near the end. I guess ten years is a reasonable amount of time to have a recording grow on you.