Travis – McDonald & Giles – “Birdman – The Workshop” – King Crimson alum duo project from around the same time as the band began, proving they are bringing some weird in their own right. It sounds a little thin, production wise. Though throwing out a lot of intriguing ideas, it lacks a little warmth. I enjoy King Crimson but often feel that cerebral coldness, I rarely connect with the vocals and usually I home into the epicness and experimental vibrancy. I appreciate KC more than love the music, and this does fall into a similar category.
Nawi – Avenged Sevenfold – “Mattel” – I think I hate this, and the guys voice. Nawi led off with not particularly knowing this song, or wether or not it is a great example of the band but he had been listening to a variety of music at work and this band he didn’t hate. But I do. It also goes on too long and even has too many visits to the chorus:
“Now I know this might sound crazy,
But I’ve smelled the plastic daisies,
And it seems we’ve found ourselves in hell”
Bart does enjoy the video and makes a connection to the new Barbie film. I will stick with Zappa’s “Plastic People” for my musical commentary on this subject. The group has been popular for a while, as I recall them from my Disc-Go-Round days.
Bart – Jaimie Branch – “Fly or Die Fly or Die Fly or Die ( ( world war ) )” – Bart offering a sort of epitaph for Jaimie and using her latest album to do that. He is a champion of the International Anthem label (see the song link!) and a huge fan of Jaimie. Travis too, who I believe also knew her a bit. We have had a previous Seshjawn play, at least a song with her on it, if not from her own album. I am still mostly unfamiliar with her music – which is sad to say after her passing. This has a great energy about it, maybe sounding a little receded in the mix to me. But it still conveys her vibrant energy which is one of the things people seem to love about her music.
Dan – Tom Ze – “Xiquexique” – A later, but amazing Tom Ze album and it brings lots of weird. This track has a really deep, and subtle, use of the accordion. It shifts and changes a relatively simple groove in a variety of ways. The intro/outro mouth sounds bother Bart, but for me turn the song on its ear. There are also incredible layers throughout, particularly the background vocals that arrive late in the song. I feel it must have been a fun song to construct.
Travis – Lifetime – “outtake” – Travis flings a surprise extra, and a surprise because Lifetime’s discography often feels unfinished and incomplete – never truly finding its final evolution? So live material, of which it looks like there is more of, is a treasure. It’s poorly mixed, particularly detrimental to Larry Young, but what a weird and cool song.
Found Sounds 