Saturday, March 21, 2009

Jimmy Smith - Root Down Live! (1972)

Way back when I started playing bass, this record was my first foray into the world of funky jazz music. If you are a fan of the Medeski, Martin and Wood brand of jazz, you'll probably really dig this album. You can almost hear how each member of that group was influenced by all of the members of Jimmy's band. His miraculous organ mastery stands out particularly in this live album with blazing, influential solos all over the place. When one man's uniqueness inspires an entire sub-genre, you know it's serious buisiness. The title track is, by far, my favorite but every other song deserves a chance. Get it...

  1. "Sagg Shootin' His Arrow" — 11:45
  2. "For Everyone Under the Sun" — 5:55
  3. "After Hours" — 7:51
  4. "Root Down (And Get It)" — 12:39
  5. "Let's Stay Together" (Al Green) — 6:627
  6. "Slow Down Sagg" — 10:22
  7. "Root Down (And Get It) (alternative version)" - 12:13
Root Down Live!

Irepress - Samus Octology (2007)

This one goes out to Kenny, wherever he may be. For those of you who aren't too sure who Kenny is, check out the shoutbox thing. He suggested this band to me a while ago and I couldn't be more pleased. This band incorporates so many elements so well and with such consistency. They have the chuggy, badass breakdowns you would expect from a 'post-metal' kind of outfit but they always offset that feeling with some kind of higher pitched 'post-rock' guitar frenzy, making it feel floatier and more ethereal. For me, as a bassist, the relationship between the bassist and the drummer in these songs is probably my favorite aspect. You can really feel them connecting amidst the murky, perplexing time signature breakdowns with every bass drum hit. Their chemistry is baffling and really keeps me in the music. Everything else is almost equally exquisite and between all of the post rock and metal flavors with an added hint of prog, it's definitely a genre-bender worth checking out ASAP.

1. Pah No
2. Samus
3. Pistole
4. Snayk's Tale
5. June Ipper
6. Fiddler, Yee Riding
7. A Frid Ohm/B. Martin Eeek
8. Nonografistole Addendum (Trampled To Death By Love)

Samus Octology

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Kidcrash - Jokes (2007)

Of all the post-hardcore/emo/whatever the hell you want to call it that I listen to, this band has to be my favorite. This album perfectly demonstrates everything that is amazing about their genre and seems to be the culmination of everything they've been trying to do since they began their musical journey. Jokes is, essentially, a perfect album in my eyes. The only problem I can even find with it is the production quality which, if you knew their story, would make sense. They got shafted after they recorded their first album with their own money. After this happened they took matters into their own hands and put up all their albums for free online and urged fans not to buy the first record, New Ruins. If you like this album, please check out the rest of their EPs and splits here and buy them or donate or something. I would also highly recommend the I HAVEN'T HAD A DATE IN 4 YEARS GOLDIE HAWN GOLDIE HAWN GOLDIE HAWN EP. It's really quite amazing how good it all is.

1. Turtlelephant
2. The Ground Eats You
3. Life Was Real, Vital, Urgent, Important
4. Hypothetical Basking Shark
5. Kiss from a Roach on the Grave
6. Parrot's Just Don't Understand
7. Ron Ghousley's Fucked Up Dream
8. A Conduit Rather Than a Vault
9. Swingsets and Frozen Grapes


Jokes