Stuff

These past two days have been pretty awesome.  For the first time in what seems like, ever, I actually have money, and money that I can spend on what I want.  Needless to say I headed straight for the record stores.  Although, I don't actually buy 'records', just plain old CD's, sorry.  I know that some people will probably think that this makes me worse than Mao, but you can't please everyone I guess.

But anyway, back on topic.  Some stuff was just catching up on ridiculously old stuff, 'Meat Is Murder', 'Neu!' and 'Sound Of Silver'.  Then there was just buying some pretty standard, but good, stuff: 'Teen Dream', 'I Will Be', 'Liquid Love', 'The BIg Black & The Blue', 'Magic Chairs' and 'Serena Maneesh 2: Abyss In B Minor.'

Then there was the pretty cool, well I think so anyway: 'Red Black & Blue' which is a collection of some of DJ Mehdi's best remixes.  I really enjoyed the way that it plays like a mix tape or dj set and is completely gapless.  Full of great tunes, but the highlight for me was '21st Century Life' which has the string element from 'Stress'/'Night on Bald Mountain' (Disney really isn't what it used to be) just rumbling away underneath.  Next was the apparently limited edition and exclusive to Rough Trade MEN demo EP and remix EP featuring  'Simultaneously', 'Off Our Backs' and 'Credit Card Babie$' and the remix EP includes Lauren Flax remix, Jeppe's Money Is A Major Issue Remix and Stereogamus Remix of said songs.  That shit be good.

And, in my opinion, saving the best until last is 'JJ No 3' which is the second offering from balearic dream-pop merchants JJ.  But, that's not the best bit.  The good people of Rough Trade were giving away 'JJ No 2' with it for absolutely nada, and apparently it was previously only available on super-expensive import where you probably had to pay for it's seat on the plane, in-flight meal and taxi from the airport, so that was a major bonus.

Not an illuminating post, but I got me's some exams to pass so for the next six weeks I'm probably better served making sure I know Maths than Music, but I'll do my bestest.

Let's Make This The Rockinest Holy Week. Ever.

So, THE biggest week of the year is finally upon us, good Catholic boys like me getting ready to thank Superman for saving mankind by slaying Godzilla by throwing donkeys and wine in his face, before Batman went and grassed him up to the police because he needed some money to buy more dope, in that epic battle over 2000 years ago and after the police caught Superman they took him to Goldfinger, who was a bit clueless really, and decided that it would be best to nail him up and use him as a handy shelf in his office.  Way to drop the ball!  But, then 3 days later Lois Lanewent to get a book only to find them all in a mess on te floor and then Superman came back and said that 'He was cool.'  They hooked up for a bit, but she got too clingy so he thought 'Fuck this' and left to 'go to the shops.'  Well, I'm pretty sure that's what all the fuss is about.  To be honest, I just heard people talk about crosses, donkeys and wine, got bored and decided to make the story a bit more exciting.

How do you think Superman would want us to remember him?  I reckon that he'd want me to talk about noisy Norwegians.  In fact, he told me so last night. 

More precisely, Serena Maneesh, a five piece from said country.  These guys are part of the 4AD crüe, home of The Big Pink, Efterklang, TV On The Radio and Bon Iver to name but a few.  Don't know about you, but I would say that's pretty good company to be in.  Well, these guys are releasing album number 2 'Serena Maneesh 2: Abyss In B Minor.'

'I Just Want To See Your Face' throws together a nice mix of noisy and aggressive guitars and a drum beat that sounds like it should be on a Sonic Youth track.  Wait a minute that's all Sonic Youth stuff, winner!  Except, I would have to say that the vocals are bit more pleasing, no offence Kim. 

'Ayisha Abyss' would probabbly feel pretty comfortable in 1970's Germany with it's fairly repetitive, NOT a criticism just an observation, beat which throws in a few psychedelic and spacey moments, but gradually buids up over the 7 minutes.  'Reprobate' sounds equally impressive too with plenty of the same ingredients, without being boring.




Nice.

Also, Dum Dum Girls have an album out now, or in about 9 hours for those of us in England and who still go to record stores, which is good news.  Get a free download of them covering The Raveonettes here, or somewhere else as well, probably.