Eagles of Death Metal - Heart On

The third outing for these guys. A seeming "high desert homage" to the City of Angels. Josh "Baby Duck" Homme and Jesse "Boots Electric" Hughes tear it up yet again! Funky, porch-y, garagey, fun rock! And nobody covers Stealers Wheel & the Stones quite like these cats!

Cocoa Tea - Barack Obama (single)

Reggae tribute to our Commander-In-Chief (before he was elected). Good times with a message! Check it!

Endless Boogie - Focus Level

Holy Hades! Thought I was hearing a 70s band that had slipped under my radar! Modern group with amazing 70s sensibilities! Fans of classic Sabbath or modern stoner rock, do yourself a favor...give this disc (on vinyl or CD) a spin!

tip:

Live, local bands:
Sasquatch, Angus Khan, HDR & Virginia City Revival

Various - Mad Mike Monsters Vol. 1

Also on vinyl LP!

Various - Mad Mike Monsters Vol. 2

Also on Vinyl LP!

Various - Mad Mike Monsters Vol. 3

Also on vinyl LP!

Patti Smith: Dream of Life

Lucinda Williams: Live From Austin, TX '89

Lucinda Williams' very first appearance on Austin City Limits.

Honey West - The Complete Series

4 DVD set of the entire 1965 [and only] season of this great TV detective show starring Anne Francis.

Romantic Residues - Alec Roth; Benjamin Britten; Howard Skempton; Gabriel Faure; Maurice Ravel; Andre Caplet; Camille Saint-Saens; Marcel Tournier

James Gilchrist (tenor); Alison Nicholls (harp); Jaime Martin (flute)

As tenor recitals go, Romantic Residues is very unusual, and not only because it features several world premiere recordings; the novelty here is that instead of the usual piano accompaniment, tenor James Gilchrist is supported by solo harp (and in some tracks also by flute). Gilchrist's voice is like silk, and the selections chosen for the recital couldn't match his sweet tone better. In particular, the haunting "From California," a new piece by Alec Roth that opens the disc, stays with the listener for quite some time -- not only for the beautiful sonorities of Roth's music, but also for Vikram Seth's gorgeous poetry. The rest of the pieces are well chosen. Some are familiar, some are not, but combined they make a terrific effect. In short, this is one of the most original and mesmerizing song recitals to appear on the scene in quite some time.

Orchestral Music - William Alwyn

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra; David Lloyd-Jones (conductor)

While English composer William Alwyn might be best known for his larger-scaled works and film scores, it is in these little orchestral miniatures that the true charm of his music is revealed. There's nothing heavy-handed here (as can sometimes be found in his symphonies), and the general sense one gets when listening to them is of a genius at play. There are seven gems on this delightful CD which range from the rollicking ("Overture to a Masque") to the sublimely pastoral ("Pastoral Fantasia" for viola & strings) to the hauntingly pensive ("Tragic Interlude" - inspired by the 1st world war). David Lloyd-Jones obviously loves this music, and the Royal Liverpool Phil play it for all it's worth. 68 minutes of magic.

Christus, der ist mein Leben - J.S. Bach

Collegium Vocale Gent ; Philippe Herreweghe (conductor)

Herreweghe's survey of Bach's vast output of sacred cantatas continues with this latest volume, which includes BWV 27,84, 95, and 161. None of these are particularly well known, but Herreweghe finds the hidden beauties in these scores like no one else, making each cantata shine like a mini-masterpiece. And why shouldn't they? It boggles the mind that Bach, who had to write one of these every Sunday of the church year, so rarely penned anything unmemorable, with the result that each cantata contains something richly rewarding. As usual the instrumentalists and soloists are top rate, the recorded sound perfect, and the presentation flawless. Do not hesitate to add this to your Bach collection.

Mission Road - Juan Bautista Sancho; Manuel de Sumaya; anonymous

Chanticleer

Much of the music sung in the California missions during the Spanish colonial period was not imported from Europe, but written by local composers who lived and worked in the missions themselves. As a genre, this music has been almost entirely forgotten - the San Francisco choral group, Chanticleer, revive it on this CD & DVD package with wonderful success. Who knew that such glorious sounds existed here right in our own backyard, buried in archives, just waiting to be rediscovered? The works that Chanticleer has chosen for the album obviously represent the best of the lot - and these are truly works of genius. Hardly second-rate scribblings produced in a cultural outpost, these pieces rank up there with some of the most glorious liturgical music being produced in the old world at that time, and the native influence gives them their own individual style and sound. The companion DVD included in the set provides interviews which elucidate the history of the music, as well as live performances of some of it, shot before the beautiful background of California's missions. This is a must-have for choral fans.

Memory Takes My Hand - Craig Armstrong

Clio Gould (violin); Lucy Crowe (soprano); Apollo Voices; BBC Symphony Orchestra; Garry Walker (conductor)

Craig Armstrong is best known as a film composer, but the pieces on this disc reveal that he's very successful in the concert hall as well. "Immer," the first work on the disc, is a concerto for violin and orchestra, which begins with a long, flowing, singing line on the violin which remains seemingly static for most of the piece, but which, in actuality, gradually mutates and changes, as its embryonic elements are full born. "One Minute" is a devilishly clever exercise - 15 works for orchestra, all one minute in length. That each of these is also highly memorable is a great credit to the composer. Memory Takes my Hand is an intricate work for soprano, choir and orchestra which, once heard, is not easily forgotten. As a whole, the soloists, choir, orchestra and conductor couldn't make a better case for this fascinating music than they do here. Recommended for those who want to expand their musical horizons.

Explorers Club - Freedom Wind

These guys won't win any awards for originality, but they capture the magic of the Beach Boys pretty convincingly.

Black Moth Super Rainbow - Dandelion Gum

Tripped-out melodic phreakery, very psychedelic while avoiding obvious genre earmarks. Delightfully woozy and synthy. Their other releases are very worthy of exploration as well.

The Millennium - Begin

Classic late sixties pop-psych opus finally available again as a stand-alone CD and non-bootleg LP. Lush harmonies, gorgeous songs, and spacey sonics.

tip: You don't look at "porns" on the "internets" so how can you buy "vinyls?"

Phosphorescent - To Willie

Matthew Houck has created a loving tribute album to the immortal Willie Nelson. Check out other Phosphorescent releases The Weight of Flight EP and the last 2 full lengths, Aw Come Aw Wry & Pride, for more melancholy in your life.

Bonnie "Prince" Billy - Is It The Sea?

The mighty "Prince" Oldham proving yet again why he is "the greatest tender of God's small song." Recorded live in Edinburgh.

Hank Williams - Unreleased Recordings

A great collection of originals and covers of popular country songs of the time. These are songs Hank loved himself and you can tell by his performances. A must have for any fan of "Harm."

Ween - At the Cat's Cradle, 1992

Dean and Gene played the Kennel Club in San Francisco on this tour when I was living there. I was so drunk and stoned I barely remember the show, but Boognish has made it all okay. Includes a DVD you can play with. All praise be to Boognish!

Swervedriver - Raise / Mezcal Head - Remastered

The original issues never did these records any justice. Too American sounding to be considered "shoegazer" and too British to be grunge, Swervedriver landed somewhere in the middle. Fans of ...Priest Driven Flaming Lips and Nirvana will dig these records.

Neko Case - Middle Cyclone

Another gem from Neko Case. I'll be listening on the porch drinkin' some Wild Turkey. Wanna join me?

Foot Village - Anti-Magic

4 Drummers. Don't think tribal. Think drum shredding. Think punk. Don't think. Just buy it and, more importantly, see them live. Josh, Grace, Dan and Brian will totally rule your world. (If you go see them live be sure to bring a drum key. They're always losing them on the road!)

Paul McCartney - Amoeba's Secret

Why? Cause I was there. And it was fuckin' amazing. And he kissed me.

Blancmange - Mange Tout

This was one of my favorite records from the eighties. It sounds like it too. But that's a good thing. "See the Train" and "The Day Before You Came" are sublime.

Love is All - A Hundred Things Keep Me Up At Night

This CD reminds me of the time I crashed this party in the 80's, there was a huge line to the keg and these girls got up and started singing and playing. They were jumping around and kicking shit over and I loved them. I jumped around and moshed so much I got shin splints and a fat lip, just like what happened when I listened to this record. Love is All are from Sweden which makes me like them more. Cause who doesn't like Sweden? (The Danish of course! But screw the Danish.)

Alela Diane - The Pirate's Gospel

This CD is for the hammock and kissing. It's chill folk music with a beautiful female singer. It's an older release but I just found it. It's hard to keep track.

Cool Kids - Bake Sale

Phat beats and super old skool sound. It won't leave my CD playa. For realzzz.

Metalocalypse Season 2

Metal animation? Yes and it's dark and funny. Had this been around when I was a kid I would've FLIPPED OUT. My walls would've been covered in Dethklok posters instead of Duran Duran! Murderface is my favorite. What this says about me I have no idea. Get Season 1 while you're at it.

tip: So you've come to Amoeba and you're a bit overwhelmed. This is understandable. There are thousands and thousands of CD's released per year; how do you make sense of it all? My tips for finding music you like:
1. Pay attention to record labels. The artists you already have are on labels that hopefully have a good roster of stuff you might also like. So look for them when digging around.
2. Find a source that reviews the music you listen to. It might be a blog, a magazine, a newspaper or a website like Amoeba.com. What's important is that the source reviews music you actually listen to. They'll include stuff of the same character.
3. Ask your friends and if you hear something, ask! Most people are flattered that you want to check out something they're listening to.
4. GO TO SHOWS. Go to shows and invest in your music community. PAY THE COVER. DON'T BE A BABY. Seriously, music gets better when it is supported. 

The Dark Knight

Beautifully shot and organized. A captivating and dynamic movie, reminiscent of the Batman movies from the 80s, but with better special effects. I'm pretty sure everyone's seen this by now, and there's a reason.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains

Finally! Finally! Finally! No more crappy bootlegs.... After you watch this movie, you'll realize where the White Stripes got their name and their look (it wasn't even a little original). Diane Lane's (Corrine Burns') teenage punk rock attitude is awesomely portrayed, making you want to join her band (gang), kick every grown-up's ass, and punch every dude. Not only do the Stains illustrate the ultimate rise/fall/rise to the top, but this movie even rivals the movie Foxes to me. With an uncanny Go-Go's portrayal of a chick band, I highly recommend this cult movie favorite to anyone who likes music.

Satyricon - The Age of Nero

The Stabbin Cabin has not been able to shake this album...not only is it Black Metally, but it's got every other type of metal and hard rock elements ground into it. Don't judge a Black Metal band by its cover! You could be passing by an awesome metal album. Catchy hooks, riffs, vocals, and lyrics, all make for a quality album from Satyricon.

Ancestors - Neptune With Fire

Only because Robbie from Pitchfork said it so well: "The album consists of just two songs-- 'Orcus' Avarice' is over 16 minutes, the title track is more than 20-- and both serve as launching pads for extended jams. But the soloing is supported by some serious riffs. 'Orcus' Avarice' evokes CoC, with an urgency that brings to mind 'Heaven's Not Overflowing' and a pace reminiscent of 'Albatross.' It's the kind of lumbering meganess that easily turns on a dime. So by the time the drums have reeled in, and the guitars ascend into outer-space, it's hard to recall the tumult that came only moments before. Ancestors, able to do more than whip up a simple fervor, spend a good six minutes inspecting the same guitar scale and a slippery blues bassline that gradually builds to climax, like creatine Pink Floyd." - Robbie Mackey, October 7, 2008

Iron Man

I like Robert Downey Jr. I have liked him since he had that crusty mouth in Less Than Zero. Now that he's cleaned up, well, I didn't think I'd like him, but he rules! Iron Man is full of action, not too much mushy stuff, and the effects are amazing. All hail Jon Favreau! (you had me at Elf.)

tip: Don't knock it 'till you've tried it

David Byrne & Brian Eno - Everything That Happens Will Happen Today

First off, let me tell you that this album is nothing like Byrne & Eno's previous collaborative release My Life in the Bush of Ghosts [a nice recording though, some 20 years ago]. I hate to put it to you this way but I would have to say that Everything That Happens Will Happen Today lives more in the world of, dare I say, "adult contemporary wonder pop." I would also like to make the disclaimer that the world of adult contemporary music is something I shy away from whereas this album I warm up to frequently and is one of the best things I heard in the whole of last year! It is simple, spiritual, strange and subtle. Layered with acoustics, electrics and Byrne's signature soft-toned wail. All the things that make my musical aura glow with an intense repetitive blinking of "beep, beep, beep" [and that's before any Chai intake]. To punctuate my adoration of this album further I must tell you that I attended a concert for this album's tour at the Greek Theater on October 3rd of 2008. In a word, "amazing." In two words, "really amazing." It had to be in the top five concert going experiences of my life. As a matter of fact I would refer to it as more of a performance than a concert. Everyone dressed in white from head to toe, Byrne, backup singers, band, all of them, pretty as a picket fence. They play, they sing. We like it. Two songs in, still liking it. Third song of the evening hits our senses and the modern dancers hit the stage. Two girls, one boy, all modern, very dancery. And yes, they too were adhering to the white dress code. By the end of the number not just the dancers in all their modernity were cutting a rug. Now Byrne, backup singers and dancers were all joined in the execution of a greater choreography [a performance] by songs end. There I was taking all of this delight in when nothing short of happy gratitude shot through me for having been present. Apparently, I was not the only one grateful for this moment because no sooner had the song ended than the entire audience simultaneously jumped to their feet and gave a very energetic standing ovation. Byrne, pleased by this response, smiled and thanked us. However, the applause didn't stop there. We kept "ovating." Thanks to the giant video screens to the left and right of the stage we could see the look on Byrne's face as mild bewilderment struck him. He mentioned something in surprise about "L.A. being jaded." Clearly we were showing him the counter example. It's nice to know that someone as seasoned as David Byrne can still be taken by surprise by a sea of fans at this point in his career. So I guess both Byrne and L.A. are not "so jaded." Pretty much we were glued to him with audio adhesive for the rest of the evening. Byrne, in turn, surprised us with no less than three encores. Each one greeted with as much warmth as the one before it. The tour didn't just encompass this newest release it covered multiple Byrne & Eno co-authored materials spanning solo endeavors and select works from the Talking Heads catalog as well. Also released this year from David Byrne was Big Love Hymnal. This is a soundtrack recording to the television series Big Love. Apparently D.B. referenced the subject matter of the show and made "fake hymns" to work this album out. Kinda nutty, kinda neat. I'd attend The First Church Of Byrne [F.C.B.] for sure.

HEAR THESE SOUNDS!!! - [a list I made for you, the listener]

Pantha Du Prince: This Bliss, Black Moth Super Rainbow; Junior Boys: So This Is Goodbye; Morgan Geist: Double Night Time; Matmos: Supreme Balloon; Ratatat: LP3; Peter Gabriel; Roisin Murphy: Overpowered; Slagsmalsklubben: Boss For Leader; No Kids: Come Into My House; Lykke Li: Youth Novels; Bruce Haack; Philip Glass: Glass Box; Casino Versus Japan: Whole Numbers Play The Basics; Muslim Gauze: Suns Of Arqua Mixes; David Holmes: The Holy Pictures; Fabric 13; Brazilian Girls: New York City; Crystal Castles; Fredrik: Na Na Ni; Hercules And Love Affair; Midnight Juggernauts: Dystopia; Of Montreal: Skeletal Lamping.

tip: 1> Make sure to take time to listen to the sounds that fill up your daily life. There are entire symphonies swirling around our ears every moment of every day. Take a moment and hear them out. They might just tell you something you need to hear.

2> Support your local artists. They are doing their thing so give them some support and encouragement. It will do wonders for them and for you!!!

3> Also, if you like experimental film you should check out the REDCAT Theatre's experimental film night on Mondays. It's located on the lower opposite side of the Disney Concert Hall. Go to redcat.org for further details. I have viewed some very interesting sights there and will most likely continue to do so. Try it out.