OK, here's the rest of June:

Aimee Mann - @#%&*! Smilers
Very listenable, but she's kind of retreading earlier themes (musical and lyrical). Still, if you have nothing by her, this would be a fine place to start.

Sam Phillips - Don't Do Anything
After two very minimal, acoustic CDs, this one adds a few more layers here and there. Her melodies can still be breathtaking, and her songs rarely overstay their welcome.

Martha Wainwright - I Know You're Married But I've Got Feelings Too
Second full CD from Rufus's sister. This one is more melodramatic and expansive than her first. "You Cheated Me" really sticks in your head.

David Yazbek - Evil Monkey Man
Some darker subject matter than usual, which I think is a nice balance to his bouncy melodies and playing.

Teddy Thompson - A Piece Of What You Need
Son to Richard, friend to Rufus. The production is more florid than usual, but his melodies still struggle to achieve memorability. Surprisingly (since he doesn't sell a lot) this is his fourth major-label album.

Robert Pollard - Robert Pollard Is Off To Business
His fullest exploration yet into prog-rock territory, and the songs do rock. Strange for him to have a ten-song album that's as long as some of his earlier twenty-song ones.

Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?
Just catching up with this band. The songs I've heard, and the comments I've read from XTC forumers and others, finally convinced me. I'm hooked! Don't let the bizarre song and album titles fool you: this is pop, in the best way.

St. Vincent - Marry Me
Another artist touted by forumers, amongst others. Beguiling is the word that comes to mind. Kind of like Regina Spektor, with a dash of Laurie Anderson's sensibility thrown in. Lovely singing, melodies, lyrics, arrangements.

Sigur Ros - Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust (With A Buzz In Our Ears We Play Endlessly)
Recorded quite quickly, and it suffers a bit from that. Not all ideas are explored as fully as they could be, but enough to make this worthwhile. A few upbeat tracks, but not as dominant overall as reviews might lead you to believe.

various artists - Big Blue Ball
Essentially Part Three of Peter Gabriel / Karl Wallinger / et al's "Week in the Real World" recordings from the '90s. Holds together well as an album, despite the wide variety of singers and styles. Also features Sinead O'Connor, Joseph Arthur, Marta Sebestyen, and others from around the world. Peter's songs are good, including an earlier, more organic "Burn You Up, Burn You Down" than on the hits collection.

Walter Becker - Circus Money
Pretty solid, with that sly sense of humor intact, and a bit more stylistic variety than on a Donald Fagen solo record. Suspiciously, his singing seems vastly improved this time out (lessons? pitch correction?).

T Bone Burnett - Tooth Of Crime
His best work in quite a while. The last one was a bit too clattery and sarcastic, and "Kill Zone", title aside, is gorgeous. Okay, he's still sarcastic, and one or two tracks meander, but there's much more room to breathe here, and harmonies from Sam Phillips don't hurt either.

I really haven't been buying much lately

various artists - If I Were a Carpenter
I've only ever had this on cassette. One of the best tribute albums ever. Found a CD copy for a couple bucks in a bargain bin.

White Wrench Conservatory - White Wrench Conservatory
I've hyped them here before but had actually never owned the album, til now. It really is very good shoegazer rock type fare, they also like to say they're unpretentious Prog, but a three piece Prog group? that doesn't seem right.

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where you can also listen to the streaming songs.

Beck - Modern Guilt (2008)
check the new thread for review


Haven't been getting CD's but I did go on another DVD buying spree (mostly used)- 3-Iron, Chung King Express, Witness, Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix, What's Up Tiger Lilly?, Futurame: The Beast with a Billion Backs.

For my wedding anniversary, to be played on my upcoming roadtrip to Austin and San Antone (cue Doug Sahm):

ST. VINCENT - Marry Me
(As someone said, a forum fave, but I also think I saw her on TV with Sufjan Stevens and liked her- worth a try)
OF MONTREAL - Sundlandic Twins
(a rebuy for an apparently not to be returned lent CD- he claims I never gave it to him)
BELLE & SEBASTIAN - If You're Feeling Sinister
(while I long though that one B & S CD was enuff, I decided to buy the CD many thought to be superior to Boy With the Arab Strap, which I own and enjoy)

"Over the Sun" by Shannon Wright

If you like "Rid of Me" era PJ Harvey, then I heavily recommend this. It's "recorded" by Steve Albini as well. Really under-rated talent and I'm getting more of her stuff.

"Reading, Writing & Arithmitic" by The Sundays

I've always wanted this, and now I have it.

"Daydream Nation" by Sonic Youth

I'm now gonna find out what the big deal is.

"Low Spark Of High-Heeled Boys" by Traffic

Have this on vinyl, bought it in a bargain bin at FYE on CD. I love this album.

Bought used at Waterloo Records in Austin, Texas:

THE SUNDAYS - Reading Writing & Arithmetic
Replacement CD to ensure I have all 3, but funny that L Randall also bought it.

THE GO-BETWEENS - Bright Yellow Bright Orange
Their penultimate disc of their second phase - I have their last one. Actually, I just presume they are over because of Grant's death, but I don't know what Robert F. is doing.

THE DIVINE COMEDY - Regeneration
I don't know this band at all, but many forummers seem to like them and Neil Hannon's name keeps on coming up, maybe in Pugwash talk.

PENGUIN CAFE ORCHESTRA - When in Rome...
Another band I don't know but picked up because of forum talk. Serves a niche in my collection.

10,000 MANIACS - In My Tribe (bought used at Half-Price Books in Austin)
I had the tape of this when it came out. I remember playing it at the same time period as Oranges & Lemons. The tape is long gone. I've been looking for the CD for years, but I've been hoping to find one with Peacetrain on it. I've failed in that, so I've purchased a version without Peacetrain. I hate that they removed the song.

I went yard sale shopping-- I'd buy that for a dollar!

Danny Elfman - Music For a Darkened Theatre
I've only ever had this on cassette, selected movements from his different movie scores but the idjits didn't separate the movements from each! Each movie is one track!

Dead Can Dance - A Passage in Time
I think I ripped this onto my computer at some point or have a burned copy and forgot that I did, because I recognize the songs- oops.

The Mountain Goats - Heretic Pride (2008)
"Literate Urban Folk" is what the press says. I like it.

Moby - Last Night (2008)
It's Moby, it's alright, a couple stand-out tracks. A little higher on the Disco feel than other albums.


actually these are both library copies I'm currently listening to but I'l be sure to burn or rip my own copies. and I like to keep track of all the current year albums I listen to for year end lists.

Here's July:

R.E.M. - iTunes Live: From London
Downloaded from iTunes. Solid set from current tour.

Monty Python's "The Meaning of Life" soundtrack
Not just the songs, but actually a condensed version of the entire movie, plus some middling bonus tracks. Great to finally own "Every Sperm Is Sacred" (I can remember people walking out of the theater during that number!).

Ringo Starr - Live 2006
Oh, Ringo, you really need to be careful who you tour with. The audience clearly is not feelin' Richard Marx, and they're tired of Sheila E. Edgar Winter and Billy Squier do surprisingly well, though. "Rock Me Tonite" actually comes alive as a real rock track.

Albert Hammond, Jr. - ¿Como Te Llama?
Second album from the Strokes guitarist is definitely catchy, but not as good as his first. The instrumental feels like padding.

Jason Falkner - Bedtime With The Beatles, Part Two
Biding my time waiting for the US release of his latest. This is pleasant enough. He has a real feel for the gentle heart of the song.

Gilberto Gil - Gilberto Gil
One of two self-titled albums from this Brazilian pioneer, this one from 1969. Quite psychedelic and rocking, fans of Os Mutantes take note (in fact, he covers Mutantes' "2001").

Gilberto Gil - Expresso 2222
A more "Brazilian" album from 1972, newly reissued like the one above.
Excellent and grooving.

Joao Gilberto - Amoroso
Joao Gilberto / Gilberto Gil / Caetano Veloso / Maria Bethania - Brasil
A two-fer CD of albums from 1977 and 1981, respectively. The first album is as smooth as bossa nova gets, but I have to say a bit snoozy for me with all the strings and his oh-so-understated vocals. "Brasil" is utterly charming, and plays to all the vocalists' strengths. Both albums are acknowledged classics.

Wire - Object 47
Not at all Brazilian. Coming less than a year after their latest "Read & Burn" EP, it is shockingly good, definitely an essential addition to the catalog...in fact, it recalls many of their earlier styles. Rather short, though.

Chris Difford - The Last Temptation of Chris
Great title, and, for my money, better than his other solo album, dropping Francis Dunnery as a collaborator in favor of Boo Hewerdine. Unfussy, laid-back, contains a number of great tracks, but one can't help missing the melodic and rhythmic snap of his work with Squeeze.

The Best of Bob Dylan's Theme Time Radio Hour - various
What a great compilation! 52 great old tracks, a few famous (from Carl Perkins, Billie Holiday, Frankie Lymon, Bing Crosby), but lots of undiscovered gems, ranging from the frisky ("Let Me Play With Your Poodle" by Tampa Red & Big Maceo), to the unexpectedly soulful ("The Ball Game" by Sister Wynona Carr), to the downright disturbing ("John the Revelator" by Blind Willie Johnson). There's a second compilation out, too.

South Pacific
Impressions
Gentle Giant - Octopus.
Tunng - Good Arrows
Goodbooks - the Remixes
Best of Stiff part1 & 2
Make Model
LCD Sound system
Pidgeon Detectives
School of language
Marnie Stern
School of Language - Sea From Shore
Joe Jackson - Rain
Billy bragg and The Blokes - England, Half English
Minotaur Shock - Chiff Chaffs and Willow Warblers
MAN - Man Alive
Vampire Weekend
UB40 - Present Arms in Dub
Get Cape Wear cape Fly - the new album
Man - Revalation/2oz plastic
Young Knives - Superabundance
Paul McCarney - Ram
Les Savy Fav - inches
REM - Jukebox
Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid
Rough Trade - Counter Culture
Guillemots - Red
Merz - Moi et Mon Camion
Hanne Huckleburg - Rykestrasse 68
Dub - Original bass culture
Ida maria - Fortress around my heart
Pavement -Westing (By Musket And Sextant)
The Beatles - Help
Gregorian Chants
Merz - Merz
Paul McCartney - Memory Almost Full


The Hives - Your new favourite band

sadly they are not.


lcd soundsystem

loved the second album so bought the first. A great talent.

Gay Black and married - my life with the thrill kill kult

This is seventies dance music with modern sonics. Scissor sisters but with funk, soul and none of that yukky girly stuff






Toolroon knights - mixed by dave spoon

30 assorted dance mixes. you either love this stuff or you dont

Vetiver - Thing of the past

In which a wonderful folk band covers some great songs. L Wainwright and hawkwind for example but all in a folk vein

retrospectable the supertramp anthology

wildly un hip - even noe but they did write some great songs

The very best of India

An esoteric mix of all things india. Lovely for when you get a take away

emiliana Torrini - love in the time of science

discussed on the forum. great chill out music

larrikin love - the freedom spark

Got very excited about this band after hearing one track - bought the album - then found they had split up. oh well

The Housemartins - London 0 Hull 4

Well they got promotion to the premiership - otherwise pure nostalgia. A happy hour of music indeed

Hard candy - Madonna

Why? Well Mrs Tein is a fan

The week that was

From the feild music collective - more genius in a baroque gothic style from a brother Brewis. The two greatest songwriters of the moment


This is alpha beat - alpha beat

keeping the children happy

Mink Lungs - Ill take it

This was a last minute ebay purchase purely cos the cover looked odd. A real rock fuzz experince from an amercian band who only sketchy info exists. This is a fab album

Bright eyes - wide awake - its morning

I love this guy.

Led ZEppelin - The great lost concert

An unrealsed recording of a 1973 concert in southampton that I went to. How incredible is that! What a great band they were live too

fonda 500 ja mapelle stereo

a new m Freeman recomendation. Yet to be played

The Shortwave Set - Replica Sun Machine

Some more exciting modern music

The Zutons - you can do anything

except repeat the greatness of your first album. I should really give up

The following CD's were all bought from Borders bargain box for a £1 each

The Others - Inwards parts

Milburn - Well Well Well

Rooney - Calling The World

Switches - Heart Turned to Dead

Chemical brothers - Singles 93-03

Mercury prize 2007 - album of the year

Embrace - This new year

Early Morning Hush - 17 early sixties folk songs from pentangle and co

Recent puchases:

Soviet Kitsch - Regina Spektor
Better that Begin To Hope. I am in love with the song, "Chemo Limo."


If You're Feeling Sinister - Belle and Sebastian
Really good. It's starting to grow on me.

Split - Lush
Pretty good. A bit spacey, it's growing on me as well.

Absolution - Muse
It's rockin' my socks off!

Now I need to buy new albums by Jenny Lewis, Cold War Kids, Ben Folds.