nateterepka says:
Monthly Music part II
First, I’d like to announce that my band from school, Verbs, just “released” our first record, called Living Room. We did some serious outsourcing to New Neighbors: Dana mixed and mastered it, so it sounds great, and Chris built us a website, so you can download the whole thing for free. If you are so inclined you can get it at www.verbstheband.com, and if you are SO inclined, you can let me know what you think by emailing me at nterepka@gmail.com.
This past month I’ve been diving into a lot of new music. Most unexpected was my discovery of Moondog, a blind poet and composer—homeless by choice, and known to many as “The Viking of 6th avenue”. I discovered his music when I had the strange inclination to be a “moon dog” for Halloween, and did a google search to try to figure out what that might look like. I’ve been listening to his self-titled sophomore release from 1956. The first half is full of whimsical, slippery orchestrations that for me conjure something along the lines of Fantasia happening in a smoky bar. The rhythms and time signatures are odd and compelling, and he incorporates found sounds and spoken word poetry. The result completely captures my imagination. The second half of the record consists of arrangements for male (presumably Moondog himself) and female voice. These pieces, rounds-of-sorts, often repeat positive messages over an enticing rhythmic bed. I can’t wait to get my hands on some of his other recordings; this album has been setting a great tone for many a bike ride or walk around town.
After a few listens to the new Why? record, Eskimo Snow, I’ve found that only one or two tracks blow me away in the way 5 or 6 songs on Alopecia do. I certainly recommend giving it a listen regardless, but I admit I was a little disappointed. Luckily, I discovered cLOUDDEAD, an earlier project of Yoni Wolf’s (of Why?). It is a bizarre collaboration with fellow experimental rapper Doseone. Their record, Ten, has been giving me my fill of the risky, spontaneous edge I was missing with Eskimo Snow and then some. The music is comprised of diverse samples and loops rather than an actual band, and the writing is, simply, weirder. It lacks some of the direct emotional content I love in Why?, but has a fantastically adventurous quality that draws me in.
To avoid overstaying my welcome, a brief list of other records that have defined September 16-October 19 for me:
Hemispheres by Doseone: Also released on Anticon records, home of Why? and cLOUDDEAD, this album is much more recognizable as hip hop, albeit peculiar and hyper intellectual.
Endless Summer by The Beach Boys: This is a throwback from childhood, but I have been compelled to throw it on daily in the last few weeks. I can’t describe the melodies and vocal arrangements/performances in any other way than “perfect”. The whole record makes me nostalgic for some idealized 1960’s high school experience I never had.
Paul’s Boutique by The Beastie Boys: Becks’s Odelay is one of my favorite records of all time, and I love listening to this earlier work from the Dust Brothers production team.
Is This It by The Strokes: Last spring I played this record over and over until it felt like a classic. It’s nice to revisit classics. Plus, the title track features one of my favorite bass lines of all time.
My Aim is True by Elvis Costello: Educational listening…I know this is a well-respected classic, one that has been influential to many an artist that have been influential to me. I love his voice, and my goal is to play it enough that it finds the place in my consciousness it deserves.
That’s it for now! Be well.
