Thursday Random Eight (01/29/2009)

Appendix Out - Many Legged-Boatmen: An album full of sad Scottish ballads from Alasdair Roberts, a folky start to the random eight.

Built to Spill - Kicked it in the Sun: This band had quite the dedicated following in the late 90's, and I think it still pulls out a rusty release and tour every few years. They were notable for playing 8 minute indie/progressing hybrids which seemed to appeal to, not repel, fans of both genres. From Perfect From Now On, I think this was the band at their pinnacle; they never quite captured me after this recording.

Rasputina - Howard Hughes: A three-cellist, one-drummer band that is notable for dark songs about history and general nuttiness. Howard Hughes is an unflattering three-minute biography in one of the faster, distortion heavy songs from the Thanks for the Ether first release from the band.

Sebadoh - Mystery Man: Sensing a late 90's indie trend today from the iPod.

Deerhoof - Queen of the Mole People: Oh, that isn't the stupid song title I've ever wrote about. In other news, Deerhoof's latest Offend Maggie, is very good.

Bill Callahan - Sycamore: I (legally) downloaded this sample track from Callahan's Woke on a Whaleheart at about the point where I finally lost interest in his latest releases. It is pretty decent, but more mellow and straight-forward than the older Smog releases I enjoy.

Knut & Lucas Tamarit/Julien Sauser - Whacked Out (un espirit sain dans un corps sain remix): From an album of remixes, Knut shows that a loud "sound like a bear" band can display a depth of music beyond loud drums and guitars. This is a pretty unique track, degrading into chaotic disarray yet very accessible.

Tom Waits - Tom Traubert's Blues: A sad piano ballad, this is one of Tom's most famous songs (relatively speaking) from the Small Change album. Funny to say (relatively speaking) that a fight broke out in the audience during this quiet tune when we saw Tom in Akron a few years back.