the of mirror eye

* Carissa’s Wierd: Figure It Out (6.0 mb) | Asleep (Smiths) (4.0 mb) | Gauze (Red Red Meat) (5.0 mb) | Heather Rhodes (remix) (7.0 mb)
From Scrapbook

It’s been a weird couple of weeks recently. It’s strange to learn about the things that affect you, that really shake you up. The problem is that they can be the littlest thing in the world, in areas of your life you thought you had already dealt with, but for whatever reason they sneak up on you and rocks your world a little. It’s during these times that I turn to music and remember why music holds such importance in my life.

At any rate, during this past couple of weeks, I’ve really been listening to two bands, Joanna Newsom (look here and here) and this one, Carissa’s Wierd (look here). For whatever reason, these bands have really offered solace and comfort to me. I have no idea why these bands, at this time, have given me what I needed, I’m just glad that they do. Unfortunately, Carissa’s Wierd is no longer and much of their back catalogue is hard to find or unavailable.

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* Ha-Za-Ma: Wasting Time (16.0 mb)
From Live At Yukotopia : Aug 13th, 2000 : Tokyo, Japan

I remember one of my first experiences seeing Japanese psychedelic band Ghost, live was in Maine, in a little hole-in-the-wall tavern. Ghost, for the tour, consisted of Masaki Batoh (the lead dude) and Michio Kurihara (lead guitar player). They were touring with Damon & Naomi and the whole shebang totally blew me away. But what I remember most is the lead guitar work by Michio Kurihara. He had an incredible sense of guitar style, with this guitar tone that was to die for. He somehow managed to convey that ’60’s-’70’s west coast psychedelic vibe perfectly, while still adding his own flourishes. Here’s his attempt at describing his guitar stylings:

My current guitar style is something which kind of developed naturally. So there’s no point I can say that this is when it began. The first time I heard Cipollina’s guitar was on Quicksilver’s second album, Happy Trails, which I think I bought when I was twenty. The first couple of times I heard it, it didn’t make much of an impression on me, but then the more I listened to it the more I began to see how amazing he was. Then I went out and bought Quicksilver’s first album, and that just totally knocked me out. Just the beauty and the sexuality of his guitar, and his use of space and timing, they’re all superlative. He’s one guitarist who is truly worthy of respect. I think that my current style is made up of elements from Cipollina and all the other great guitarists of the past which I have naturally absorbed and digested. But either way, I think that my playing is still developing. I want to keep on applying myself and studying so that I can play better, get better sounds out of the guitar. (Ptolemaic Terrascope)

Ever since then, I’ve been a huge fan of his, seeking out anything and everything that he’s involved in. So, you can imagine just how excited I was to track down this live recording of one of a group he’s involved with, called Ha-Za-Ma. This is twin guitar, bass, drum music at its best.

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I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving time.

* Joanna Newsom: Flying A Kite (9.5 mb) | The Fray (5.0 mb) | En Gallop! (9.5 mb) | The Book Of Right-On (7.5 mb)
From Walnut Whales

Well, as promised, here’s the second part of her first self released EP, Walnut Whales. Hopefully you’re enjoying this as much as I am.

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* Joanna Newsom: Erin (5.0 mb) | Cassiopeia (5.5 mb) | Peach, Plum, Pear (6.0 mb) | Clam Crab Cockle Cowrie (5.0 mb)
From Walnut Whales

Sometimes I feel like a totally contrarian/fickle music listener. For instance, I’ve long avoided listening to this amazing songstress, Joanna Newsom, simply because there was so much hype about her. After her first album The Milk-Eyed Mender was released, it seemed like everyone and their mother was talking about it. So, my response? To totally ignore everything about her. I knew logically that if I gave her a chance, that I would totally be into her, but I never gave her that chance.

And now I’m kicking myself. Very hard. Because over two years after I first heard about her, I’m finally giving her that chance. And I’ve been totally blown away. Her songwriting is totally killer, playing the harp like no one’s business. She’s also got a totally enchanting voice that sounds equal parts little child and old sage. I started with her latest album, Ys and was enchanted with the storytelling qualities in her songwriting, as well as the orchestration. After much searching, I finally managed to track down her first two self released EPs and was almost more blown away. I mean, from the start her musical vision was fully formed, if not quite as fleshed out as her later songs. Utilizing piano, organ or harp, Joanna Newsom creates a magical wonderworld and invites everyone join her.
At any rate. In the spirit of the Giving of Thanks, I’ve decided to post, over today and friday, the entirety of her first EP, Walnut Whales. Seeing as they’re out of print with no plans on reissuing them, I think everyone should get a chance to hear these amazing songs.

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* Yo La Tengo: Big Day Coming (10.0 mb) | Nowhere Near (8.5 mb) | Big Day Coming (6.0 mb)
From Painful : Matador Records : 92298-2

Despite my obvious penchant for all things noisy and psychedelic, sometimes I like to kick back and do some soft-rockin’ to the old indie standards. And when those urges hit, I usually turn to this band, Yo La Tengo (look here). Together since the early ’80’s, the band only really started to come together in the early ’90’s with the release of this album, Painful.

This album hits the perfect line between the rock and the roll. With the great mellow opening track that’s later reprised as a hard rocker, to everything in between, there’s honestly not a bad song on here. This album, to me, is the epitome of indie-cool. The playing isn’t virtuoso, but that doesn’t matter because they’re playing for the good of the songs.

What I really love about this band though, is their willingness to take chances. They’ve worked with everyone from a who’s who of the improv jazz world, to Jad Fair of Half Japanese. Every year they do a series of hanukkah shows that have become legendary in their own right, featuring tons of great bands and stand-up comics. All in all, this band is a total class act that plays some damn great music.

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So, as you can probably tell, I missed posting last Friday. I’ll try and stick to the schedule of three times/week as much as possible, but I’m probably not going to be able to be as diligent as I was before due to my current schedule.

On a happier note, got to finally see Burning Star Core and it was everything I’d thought it would be, and more. Also got to see Crispin Glover’s movie, What Is It?. Wow, that was a mind bender, and more. Still not quite sure what to think of that one.

* Elite: My Confusion (3.5 mb)
* Outsiders: Summertime Blues (4.5 mb)
* Little Willie & the Adolescents: Get Out Of My Life (3.0 mb)
* Monacles: I Can’t Win (3.5 mb)
From Back From The Grave Part One : Crypt Records : CD-0123

Having so much music, it’s easy to forget what’s available to listen to (I know, whine, whine, poor me). But the other day at a friends house, a couple of great garage/punk rock compilations called Back From The Grave were playing. This reminded me that I hadn’t dug my copies out in a long while, which brings us to this day.

For those who aren’t too familiar with the garage/punk rock music from the ’60’s, then this series is your best intro/middle/thesis. These are seriously some of the best of the genre that you’ll ever hear.

This is PUNK ROCK: - Rock n’ Roll from the fuckin’ suburs & rural areas made by the “LOSERS” and MISFITS that the jocks, preps and “winners” hated in high school. These bands were formed by 12 to 17-year-olds; most of ‘em issued one 45 in their 1 to 3-year life-span, on their own fuckin’ labels in editions of 75 to 500 copies and never saw any media/radio coverage - which is great cos’ MAJOR-LABLES couldn’t exploit and destroy it! (from the liner notes)

Crypt Records has lovingly compiled 8 lps/4 cds worth of this stuff. So, get ready to open your ears up to these raw sounds from the truly desperate. Punk Rock, indeed!

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