5 thoughts on “VOLUME 21.2.1”

  1. SM – I think this would have been a cool pairing against Beck. Also reminds me of Ben Folds, and hints of Cake. This artist is new to me. The intro was awesome. I would consider this a bad jam and must seek out more.

    JFTM – another new artist for me. I have no idea what to expect, the image looks like a typical 70’s band group shot. I saw Have a Cigar and immediately thought of Pink Floyd, and sure enough it is, but with this super industrial funk groove. This song is amazing.

  2. “The Hook”/Malkmus. I’d thought of including in my picks for this round one of Malkmus’ many songs about the music industry with Pavement. (“Songs mean a lot / when songs are bought,” et al.) But I didn’t know this one, with its stoner groove and laconic storytelling delivery. The music angle is not readily apparent, unless maybe the whole thing is a parable about working in the music industry, with indie rockers as seafaring brigands? “Hook” not as in the Captain’s prosthetic but as in a tune? In any case, I liked it.

    “Have A Cigar”/ John Foxx and the Maths. Clever idea to make the Floyd’s somewhat machine-y tune lambasting the industry into an even more mechanized track, complete with heavily synth-modded vox. Its impersonality makes it somehow even more menacing than Roger Waters’ sneery yowl. Gets the job done.

  3. Stephen Malkmus – The Hook
    Kinda swampy, even Band-ish. Fun trip. It will be interesting to read why this was submitted. In addition to Bill’s musings, maybe the industry hooks you in.

    John Foxx and the Maths – Have a Cigar
    Welcome to the machine. Very effective. Mesmerizing.

  4. Steven- I had not listened to any of his music in the past including a embarrassing dearth of exposure to Pavement. I enjoyed the laconic, laid back groove that he established here with the various instruments including guitar, lead run and cowbell. He initially struck me as sounding a lot like Lou Reed though later I found him and the entire song similar to something one might hear on a Cake. The quirkiness of the lyrics was a plus.

    Have a Cigar- Yeah, no. This one did not enthrall me. I can be all in on a syth-based tune and even relish a cover of a well-known tune like this. I felt like the synthetic were too forward and too textured for my taste.

  5. My impression is that this is very early midi electronic experimentation. I give this props from a historical perspective if this was innovators jumping into playing around with new technology of the time. My guess would be early 80’s but I am really just guessing. Having said that, by todays standards this sounds very DIY amateurish to my ears but interesting none-the less

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