Pseudonymous Bosch–This Book is Not Good For You (2009)

SOUNDTRACK-KATE BUSH-The Dreaming (1982).
This disc focuses Kate’s intensity somewhat.  I was just reading that it was nowhere near as popular as her previous discs in England (where she had been number 1 many times), although, interestingly it made the charts in the US because of college radio airplay.
The disc is still experimental (there’s all kinds [...]

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Lars Brown–North World (2008)

SOUNDTRACK: KATE BUSH-Lionheart (1978).
Something about the late 70s seemed to make artists very prolific (perhaps it was studio pressure to capitalize on an artist’s success, hmmm?) Here’s Kate Bush’s 2nd record in about 10 months.
And, yea, the cover shows off her budding theatricality (the tour that accompanied these albums (which is available on DVD) is [...]

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Rick Spears & Chuck BB–Black Metal (2007)

SOUNDTRACK: POSSESSED-Seven Churches (1985).
Back in high school I was really into heavy metal.  And I got into something of a contest to find the heaviest, scariest metal bands around.  (To counter the guy in class who was into Stryper, naturally).  Well, I think I hit the jackpot with this album.

Larry in Possessed

This is brutally fast [...]

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David Foster Wallace–”/Solomon Silverfish/” (Sonora Review no. 16, Fall 1987)

SOUNDTRACK: TINDERSTICKS-Nénette et Boni [soundtrack] (1996).
After releasing two albums of atmospheric brilliance, Tindersticks were called upon to score the music for the film Nénette et Boni.
And this disc answers the question of whether it is Stuart Staples’ voice that is the driving force behind the band.  And the answer is, indeed not.  This disc is [...]

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McSweeney’s #32

SOUNDTRACK: TINDERSTICKS-Tindersticks [the red one] (1993).
Tindersticks are a fascinating band.  The first distinctive thing about them is Stuart Staples’ voice: a deep rich bass that he uses almost like a whisper.  The second thing you notice is the music.  It’s an orchestral/chamber pop collection of dark rockers with fantastic moodiness to it.  And then you [...]

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David Foster Wallace–[Final thoughts] Infinite Jest (1996)

Okay, now that I’ve had time to digest the book (and to cope with the ending) I wanted to give some final thoughts on the book.  I also wanted to tie up some loose ends by posting my original response to the Salon.com questions as well as my letter to the posted article (keeping all [...]

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David Foster Wallace–[Week 13] Infinite Jest (1996)

SOUNDTRACK: SONIC YOUTH-Sonic Nurse (2004).

After the glorious Murray Street, SY return with an even better disc: Sonic Nurse.  This is probably their most overtly catchy (and therefore in my opinion wonderful) record since the Goo/Dirty period of 1991.  (Can it really be 13 years between these discs?).
This disc features Jim O’Rourke as well.  I’m led [...]

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Maile Meloy–Both Ways is the Only Way I Want It (2009)

SOUNDTRACK: BEN FOLDS-Stems and Seeds (2009).
I enjoyed Way to Normal, although not as much as previous Ben Folds CDs.  I was listening to Pandora Radio at work and I heard a version of one of the songs from Way to Normal, but it listed it as coming from Stems and Seeds, which I hadn’t heard [...]

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Mark Binelli–Sacco & Vanzetti Must Die (2006)

SOUNDTRACK: GREAT NORTHERN-Trading Twilight for Daylight (2007).

A patron donated this disc to our library.  I had never heard of Great Northern, but I gave it a listen, in part because I hoped that the band name came from Twin Peaks (no idea if it does). And wow, I was blown away by this disc.
This is [...]

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Jessica Anthony–The Convalescent (2009)

SOUNDTRACK: SONIC YOUTH-SYR 6 Koncertas Stan Brakhage Prisiminimui (2005).
This CD sees Sonic Youth playing an instrumental background to three silent films from Stan Brakhage.  It reminds me of the Jem Cohen DVD in which A Silver Mt Zion play the music for the silent Cohen film.
Now obviously, we don’t see the films on the CD.  In [...]

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