The White Album, etc....

This was from April....

The White Album- need I say more? Ok, I will. Absolutely amazing. I hadn't heard of a lot of these songs, but this double-ep is stellar. I especially like the first disc, with Dear Prudence, ob la di ob la da, Glass Onion, Blackbird, and others, but disc two is great as well, with Mother Nature's Son and Revolution 1, and lots of other fun stuff. THe Goodnight song is a blast as well. HOw, I say, how did they do it? I don't think anything will ever compare to the Beatles.

"Matador at Fifteen"-a good compilation of music by the label that brought us Interpol, Yo La Tengo, and Steven Malkmus.

Starflyer 59- picked up their rerelease editions of their first two albums, which both include rare ep's. "Silver" and "Gold." This is classic mid-90's shoegazer alternative rock. Also picked up their second to most recent album, their worst yet- "I Am the Portuguese Blues," but it was a demo for a buck 25 so who can complain?

Stavesacre "Collective"- another cheap demo. Stavesacre was/is a good band when you're in the mood for something a bit heavier.

Paul Simon "On My Way, Don't Know Where I'm Going"- good stuff here- pretty much hits highlights through Paul's post-S&G days. Lots of good songs. "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" is really funny. Also includes a disk of rare live recordings, including a very different Graceland-ish version of "Mrs Robinson."

James Taylor "October Road". Christine got me into James Taylor ;)

Smashing Pumpkins "thirty-three" ep- I'm really rediscovering this classic band of the 90's. Not quite as good as the "Tonight Tonight" ep, but another good bit of late pumpkins. I missed a lot of their stuff the first time around (ie back when they were still around)

The "Downtempo" station on Rhapsody radio- I can't get enough downtempo.

Viva Voce- So I bought a cd by this obscure Christian band back in the mid-late 90's and really liked it (album was Hooray for Now), but never heard anything about them again. Last week I was at the Barsuk site downloading some free Deathcab, when I noticed that Viva Voce not only still exists but is signed with Barsuk apparently. Since I last heard anything about them, they've released two LP's, one of which I listened to on Rhapsody. So that was cool. THeir sound has changed a bit from their edgier, more experimental earlier sound to a polished sort of Yo La Tengo/Ivy-esque sound. Good stuff!