the of mirror eye

* Muslimgauze: Abu Kaff, Your Guide Around A West Bank Bedouin Shack (6.5 mb) | Kurds Eye View (10.0 mb) | Jar Of Salahuddin (8.0 mb)
From Sarin Israel Nes Ziona : Staalplaat : Muslimlim 031

Muslimgauze (look here) is one of those artists that people either love or hate. Just like his music, there doesn’t seem to be too much middle ground. I posted some tracks over a year ago, but I’ve been listening to him a lot recently, so decided to post some more of his music.

For those who don’t know, Muslimgauze is Mr. Bryn Jones, a Manchester native, Bryn Jones became acutely aware of the Israeli/Palestinian situation and was so inspired to create music to protest what was going on over there. He worked at such a furious pace that even now, 8 years after his untimely passing, albums of new music are still being released.

This album, part of the limited edition subscription series, is absolutely vintage Muslimgauze. Filled with dirty beats, distortion, noise and rough edits, Muslimgauze music is immediately identifiable and wonderful.

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* Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings: (Introduction) (2.0 mb) | Got A Nice Thing On My Mind (4.0 mb) | Pick It Up, Lay It In The Cut (5.0 mb)
From Dap-Dippin’… : Daptone Records : DAP-001

If you haven’t yet experienced the sure fired soul of Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, then you’re in for a rip-snorter of a good time, as it’s nearly impossible to listen to this music and not want to get up and shake your booty-thang. Growing up in both Georgia and New York, Sharon Jones manages to combine both the dirty soul of the south with the edge of New York into one big ball of fire. Her vocals combined with the masterful playing of the Dap-Kings, some of the finest soul musicians around today, make one irresistible sound.

Sharon Jones is the real deal. She’s an atomic bomb of funk that may come in a small package, but when it’s unleashed, no one is left standing. They’d rather dance. and Sharon is always more than happy to lead the way as she takes center stage [in the spotlight] to front the funkiest band this side of the twentieth century. The Dap-Kings have been honing their considerable chops since the other side of the twentieth century. They’ve worked through a few name changes, and the personnel has shifted slightly over the years, but the backbone of the band has always been Gabriel Roth, aka Bosco Mann, co-founder of Desco, and now, Daptone Records. It would be easy for the passerby to label the band a retro act, but the immediacy of the musicianship and the explosive energy of Sharon Jones propel the sound into the here and now. It’s music that undeniably makes you feel good, and the rambunctious Ms. Jones wouldn’t have it any other way. (from Wax Poetics)

So, be prepared, put on those dancin’ shoes, blast these songs on the stereo and prepare to dance the night away.

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p.s. There’s something odd about the track listings, but I’m too lazy to figure it out. According to the packaging, song 9 is called Pick It Up, Lay It In The Cut, but it sounds like it should be the previous song, Ain’t It Hard

* Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy: Love Comes To Me (6.0 mb) | Strange Form Of Life (5.5 mb) | Lay And Love (5.0 mb)
From The Letting Go : Drag City : CD420

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about the bands that I’ve grown up with. Not necessarily the bands that I started listening to when I was in middle school (mostly hair-metal ballads!!), but the musicians that have stayed with me through the ages, through the good times and the bad times. And one artist that definitely falls into this category is Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy. Well, not just Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, but Palace, Palace Music, Palace Songs or whatever else Will Oldham chose to call himself. Ever since discovering his music at the start of college, Will Oldham has been a huge part of my life for 10+ years and my interest in him hasn’t dwindled one bit.

Starting out as an actor, Will Oldham quickly grew disenchanted with the movie industry and left acting in 1989 (he’s since acted in a couple more movies). Retiring to pursue some music, he released the down home, back porch, hillbilly classic, There Is No-One What Will Take Care of You. And since then, he’s been recording under various monikers, eventually settling on Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy.

The Letting Go, his latest album, is another stone-cold classic that grabbed my attention and never let go.

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* The Mountain Goats: Tallahassee (5.5 mb) | No Children (4.0 mb) | Oceanographer’s Choice (5.5 mb)
From Tallahassee : 4AD : CAD2215CD

After 10+ years and countless lo-fi boombox recordings, The Mountain Goats shocked the world over (or maybe just me) by signing to 4AD Records and recording in a proper studio. When I first heard this news, I had immediate thoughts of “sell-out” ringing in my mind. I mean, it’s hard to imagine 4AD, with artists such as The Cocteau Twins, Red House Painters and This Mortal Coil being even remotely interested in the music of John Darnielle (the brain trust behind The Mountain Goats). I’d grown so accustomed to hearing his songs (a fantastic storyteller, brimming with wit and bizarre metaphors) with the requisite tape hiss and recording noises that I couldn’t imagine them without it.

But, upon first listen to Tallahassee, Mr. Darnielle won me over and showed me the errors in my thinking. With this album he manages a complete song-cycle concerning the Alpha’s, a fictional couple that he’s written about on and off since he first started writing songs. He follows their life from first love to a relationship degraded by life. And while the songs sound clearer and have extra instrumentation, the most important part of his songwriting, the lyrics, remain the same.

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* Bruce Springsteen: Nebraska (6.5 mb) | Mansion On The Hill (6.5 mb) | Reason To Believe (6.5 mb)
From Nebraska : Sony Music

Those of you who know me, know that I’m not a huge fan of the popular musics. And this dislike happens to go double for people who call themselves “The Boss”. I’ve never understood really understood his popularity. Sure, some of his songs are catchy and what not, but for the most part, I feel like they’re not that particularly memorable. Nebraska, his 1982 album of demos, on the other hand, is near genius. And, interestingly enough, is very different from his other music.

Back in the day, I’d heard that this album was totally worth hearing, but managed to resist until one of my old roommates lent me his copy. I was pretty impressed, but wasn’t totally convinced. Just recently though, I’ve been listening to it more and more, and I’ve really enjoyed what I’ve heard. This album is full of the dark and bleak of life and is a true folk classic.

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* Cato Salsa Experience and The Thing with Joe McPhee: Sounds Like A Sandwich (3.0 mb) | Whole Lotta Love (10.0 mb)
From Sounds Like A Sandwich : Smalltown Superjazz : STSJ103CD

Well, after a whirlwind two weeks off, I’m back in the saddle again. It’s been a weird two weeks, and even though I’ve on a break from school and this site, I’ve been super busy. I guess moving, unpacking, tearing down walls (literally) and traveling tends to make time fly. Had an awesome trip to the Big Apple which, strangely enough, I’m growing to like more and more. The trip consisted of eating way too much great food, buying too many CDs and hanging out with friends both old and new.

At any rate, before all of this happened, I got a chance to see garage jazz supergroup, The Thing (look here) play, and they blew my ass away. They’re an absolutely amazing group that play with incredible ferocity and energy.

It had been awhile since I’d heard any news about The Thing, so it really surprised me when I saw that they had collaborated with the Cato Salsa Experience and Joe McPhee. I don’t really know too much about Cato Salsa, but I couldn’t imagine how everything would fit together. So, I decided to buy one of their albums. And all I can really say is…WOW!!! These guys manage to seamlessly blend garage rock and fire jazz into one amazing whole.

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p.s. Happy Mothers Day