Now Chris Jones Will Be Happy

That is, Chris Jones will be happy that I'm posting on my blog, since he has a link to mine on his and it bothers him that he is linking to an inactive blog. So there. Of course the real significance here is the new look to my blog- I decided to get with the program and "upgrade." I do like the changes so far, especially how your blog is connected to the rest of your google services- that makes login simpler (which was always annoying in blogger).

And of course there is the new layout (which Chris Jones should like as well, I think, at least somewhat, especially the brown tiled background).

So I'm going to try and start posting more frequently again.

Right now I'm listening to an album I just acquired on eMusic- "If You're Feeling Sinister" by Belle & Sebastian. It is good of course. This is one of their more legendary (in a very limited sense ;) early albums, and I figured it was essential for my collection. I've heard it before. What can I say? I love indie pop. This was the album that brought them recognition in the US (they are a Scottish band), after which point their very limited release album (Tigermilk) became quite popular and very rare. I think I've said it before, but one reason I like Belle & Sebastian is the 60s pop influences. Though even then, the cause and effect is difficult to discern- which did I like first? The 60's or B&S? I remember the first time I heard "She's Not There," by the Zombies (from the mid-60's), I thought it was Belle & Sebastian. And the real point was that I liked it.

Here's what else I downloaded today at eMusic:

Doolittle, by the Pixies (1989). This is one of the essentials of an era/genre of music I've only just been getting into in the past several months- the early "indie" of the late 80s and early 90s. Naturally, it is pretty raucous and noisy (though the tempos are actually quite "poppy"), and like everything the Pixies did, just rather strange! The singer, Black Francis, has this really interesting Spanish accent. But all of those random facts aside, I like the music. This album, like many others of its time just has this infectious energy and raw creativity.

A Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out, by Yo La Tengo (2000). I love Yo La Tengo and this is supposed to be one of their best albums- I still haven't even had a chance to fully listen to it yet (these downloads are FRESH, people!). Generally speaking, it is low-fi indie rock/pop. (as I continue to listen to this, I definitely like it- it's pretty mellow and atmospheric actually. A lot of great hushed songs.)

And finally, I also downloaded a rather interesting rendition of a Steve Reich composition ("Pendulum Music") done by Sonic Youth. You have to be in an "avante-garde" mood to listen to it though- I haven't heard the original to be able to compare. As you would expect, it's minimalistc music that gradually changes over time. In theory I like it, though I wasn't a big fan of this track- it was a bit too noisy and high pitched. But I give plenty of "cachet" (I'm going to start using that word extensively in this blog, just because I like it so much) to Sonic Youth just for trying something like this. This track comes from their album "Goodbye 20th Century", which is an album of covers of various post-modern and avant-garde compositions (just as "Six" by John Cage).

Well there you have it, I've finally updated...