Decoy's Listening Station (2-22-06)

[sir mix-a-lot]

So you wanna know what each Decoy contributor is jamming this week? Take a long gander at this week's list and feel free to add what you guys are spinning too.


Brent Will Talk Some Jive Like You've Never Heard While Explaining The Subtle Nuances Of: John Coltrane - A Love Supreme

http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/johncoltrane.jpg

Website: ( http://www.johncoltrane.net/) :: Listen: (http://www.johncoltrane.com)

It's supremely unfortunate that jazz has become an insignificant form of music within the last 20 years. Let's just be honest about it: our generation doesn't give two shits about jazz music, even if we stop to acknowledge its profound influence on forms outside its genre, forms you and I enjoy today. It has become this musical taboo to like it (man, even a social taboo in some circles) or even to give it a chance to like it, and people our age that do enjoy jazz are considered elitists, snobs, know-it-alls...you know the adjectives that get used.

I refuse to preach about how great this album is because if you give it a chance, listen to it, absorb it, really hear how gorgeously Coltrane plays (beyond straight from the heart - he played from some place no jazz musician has ever been; indeed, only Hendrix, who was a God himself and who admired Coltrane immensely, ever came close) well, then you've just broken the aforementioned musical barriers. Yes, you've said "fuck off" to the taboo, and, god-willing, you'll be considered the first dignified elitist on your block. But more importantly than that, you will have exposed yourself not only to the greatest record in jazz, but also to one of the most musically important records ever made.


Chris Dreams Of Aliens While Listening To: Taken - Between Two Unseens

http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/taken.jpg

Website: ( http://www.myspace.com/takenlives) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/takenlives)

One of the spaciest melodic hardcore bands happens to be one of the best hardcore bands I’ve ever heard. With Taken’s newest EP, Between Two Unseens, they display emotional screams, arm-swinging breakdowns, energetic punk beats, and catchy guitar riffs that melt into trance-like space that separate Taken from ordinary hardcore music. With word that they are recording a new LP, I am anticipating that it will blow minds just as this 5-song masterpiece does to mine. It’s a shame that I can’t find a decent link to their website without getting pornography pop ups on my computer. Hopefully they’ll fix that. Though I’m sure most of you would rather settle for the porn.



Kamran Tries To Be As Mysterious As The Bands He Listens To: Witch - Witch

http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/witch.jpg

Website: (http://www.teepeerecords.com/bands/witch) :: Listen: (http://www.teepeerecords.com/bands/witch)

Well, I don’t want to give too much away because I’ve got a review in the works. It’s getting released in March via Tee Pee Records and features Dinosaur Jr.’s J Mascis on drums. But let me just say this: THIS ALBUM SLAYS! SLAAAAYYYYYYYS!


Brandon You-Know-Whats Like A Bunny To: Jenny Lewis and The Watson Twins – Rabbit Fur Coat

http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/jennylewis.jpg

Website: (http://www.jennylewis.com/) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/lewiswithwatsons)

So the latest release from Team Love Records almost slipped by me unnoticed. However, I did grab it the other day just to give it a listen. I have to say that I am so glad that I did. This disc is a beautiful, folksy blend of country, soul, and a gospel sound that leaves you wanting more. After the album came to completion, I was shocked that it was already over. This album is a great disc, whether you're a fan of Rilo Kiley, Bright Eyes, or Tilly and The Wall. So if you haven't yet heard this disc, give it a listen now!


Ben Is Even An Elitist When He Listens To Hardcore: Align - Blue Book Value

http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/align.jpg

Website: (http://www.alignrock.com) :: Listen: (http://www.purevolume.com/align)

There's almost nothing worse than a great band breaking up. Getting stabbed by a best friend probably tops it. But in the less extreme category, the only thing worse is a great band breaking up before it comes anywhere near what it could have been. To top that, though, I guess the band members could splinter off to new groups and one of them could play drums for the worst Jonah Matranga band ever conceived. Like Align did. Dammit. They had a slew of poorly-produced EPs before releasing Some Breaking News… to the befuddled masses. Marketed as a hardcore band, Align sounded nothing like the big hardcore bands of their time, a time when Poison the Well, Drowningman, and Hatebreed were heavy hitters. Perhaps it was the fact that there were no typical tough-guy screams and roars. There were a few screams, but nothing too macho. But the vocals weren't exactly sung either, which, somehow, made Jeremy Jessen's voice one of the most unique in the scene. Blue Book Value was their swansong and it was damned near perfect, as far as any genre of music goes. It was touching, melodic, driving, aggressive, introspective, and poignant, as well as masterfully recorded. This is how you fuse hardcore, emo, and rock n roll, if ever there were a blueprint.


Jordan Once Thought He Had This For A Year, But It Turned Out He Was Just Really Bored: Mono - You Are There

http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/mono.jpg

Website: (http://www.age.fm/~sound/mono/e_index.html) :: Listen: (http://www.age.fm/~sound/mono/e_index.html)

Mono's new album sees a release through Temporary Residence on March 1st. As Japan's premier post-rock act, Mono continues carving the path to success with another strong release. You Are There revisits Mono's quiet/loud formula which it's repeatedly utilized over the course of its career to much praise and admiration. There's not a whole lot of new territory covered here, but tracks like "Yearning" and "The Flames Beyond the Cold Mountain" become instant Mono classics. This is an album for returning fans and post-rock enthusiasts in general, but those looking for something youthful and challenging may be disappointed.


Adam Thinks This Album Better Characterizes The Seedy Mafia-Types Than Any Cheesy "Paperthin Filament" Ever Could: Yakuza - Samsara

http://www.decoymusic.com/images/ListeningStation/yakuza.jpg

Website: (http://www.yakuzadojo.com) :: Listen: (http://www.myspace.com/yakuza)

Yakuza is jazz metal. Combining the precision and technicality of a jazz musician with the unrelenting emotion and rage of metal. It's quite brilliant. It's been nearly 4 years since Yakuza's debut album, Way of the Dead, was released on Century Media to great reviews, but marginal success. It is a hard genre to swallow, but once you do, it's engulfing. Their latest offering, Samsara, will be released on Prosthetic in March and is just phenomenal. These guys and Ephel Duath are in a class all their own.

[sir mix-a-lot]

anyone not named adam who can point out every reference in the captions/headers gets a prize.

[ChaosResolved]

I love you

[sir mix-a-lot]

you can't guess either, because i mentioned all of them while we were talking.

[Kamran]

brent, i think you're pretty far off in your assumptions about jazz music. people care about it, but it's people that want to care about it. just like people that want to care about good rock music, seek it out. plus, most people, like myself, when they're introduced to jazz music, it's god awful smooth jazz.

[aaron]

One of the spaciest melodic hardcore bands happens to be one of the best hardcore bands I’ve ever heard. With Taken’s newest EP, Between Two Unseens, they display emotional screams, arm-swinging breakdowns, energetic punk beats, and catchy guitar riffs that melt into trance-like space that separate Taken from ordinary hardcore music. With word that they are recording a new LP, I am anticipating that it will blow minds just as this 5-song masterpiece does to mine. It’s a shame that I can’t find a decent link to their website without getting pornography pop ups on my computer. Hopefully they’ll fix that. Though I’m sure most of you would rather settle for the porn.

they probably wont fix it because they broke up? Mikoto is good also, but this EP was very solid.

[cloudscollide]

they probably wont fix it because they broke up? Mikoto is good also, but this EP was very solid.

That's what my friend said but I thought maybe they weren't cause I heard they are now recording an LP or something. I hope they don't break up.

[Roncag]

Yea I'm pretty sure this Ep/dvd was released post-mortem.

[ChaosResolved]

brent, i think you're pretty far off in your assumptions about jazz music. people care about it, but it's people that want to care about it. just like people that want to care about good rock music, seek it out. plus, most people, like myself, when they're introduced to jazz music, it's god awful smooth jazz.

Yeah...also considering that jazz music has a pretty big influence on instrumental bands as well. Does anyone here read my articles? Or is it just the indie-elitist kids that I bring in offsite?

[brent white]

Yeah...also considering that jazz music has a pretty big influence on instrumental bands as well. Does anyone here read my articles? Or is it just the indie-elitist kids that I bring in offsite?
my point is that the people in our generation are few and far between, and indeed nothing compared to 20-somethings 50 or even 40 years ago. you like jazz? good for you. but i'd be willing to bet you're 1 out of 500 20-somethings. you're the exception to the expection, and the exception is fluff jazz.

[jared]

Where's mine!? Ben, I know I might have sent it late, but can you add it?

[InPieces]

Yah, Taken is quits. Has been for about a year now

[iamnotyourbroom]

there are a surprising amount of under 20 somethings listening to jazz as well...and an even more surprising amount of them playing it....i was eating at a restraunt the other day and there was really good quintet rockin out and only one of them was over 20....they were doing sax and guitar improvs on alot of classic piano jazz peices....i was shocked

[SketchesOfSpain]

Jazz, america's first original art form, hasn't been the same popularity wise since swing/big bands lost out to smaller jazz combos and the invention of rock'n'roll. Truth is, if you compare anything you listen to now, you'll be able to find it in jazz somewhere. You like fast metal guitar solos? Groving reggae/hip hop basslines? Crazy harmonic progressions? Everything in today's music was first created in some style of jazz. You just gotta find the right albums to get people to understand where jazz is coming from. Download 'freedom jazz dance' by miles davis and try telling me that ain't some hip, head bopping shit.

[brent white]

Jazz, america's first original art form, hasn't been the same popularity wise since swing/big bands lost out to smaller jazz combos and the invention of rock'n'roll. Truth is, if you compare anything you listen to now, you'll be able to find it in jazz somewhere. You like fast metal guitar solos? Groving reggae/hip hop basslines? Crazy harmonic progressions? Everything in today's music was first created in some style of jazz. You just gotta find the right albums to get people to understand where jazz is coming from. Download 'freedom jazz dance' by miles davis and try telling me that ain't some hip, head bopping shit.
spoken like a man who teaches music for a living.

[tim]

i think more kids right now like jazz than they did in the 80s or 90s, the same way kids today are all about old school rap and classic rock. it's cool to be into retro shit these days, and i'm not complaining.

also, jazz was not 'america's first original art form'. that's purely opinion. what about bluegrass? country? folk? they've been around way longer, and a lot of those songs are just as detailed and 'artistic' as the early jazz material. i'm not saying jazz isn't an exceptional genre, because it definitely is. i'm just pointing out that jazz started about 30-40 years later than country and bluegrass did.

[brent white]

i think more kids right now like jazz than they did in the 80s or 90s, the same way kids today are all about old school rap and classic rock. it's cool to be into retro shit these days, and i'm not complaining.

also, jazz was not 'america's first original art form'. that's purely opinion. what about bluegrass? country? folk? they've been around way longer, and a lot of those songs are just as detailed and 'artistic' as the early jazz material. i'm not saying jazz isn't an exceptional genre, because it definitely is. i'm just pointing out that jazz started about 30-40 years later than country and bluegrass did.
you're right and you're wrong.

bluegrass and some elements of country had been around longer before jazz. jazz itself didn't start forming until the turn of the 20th century with styles like ragtime. and actually, blues had been around longer than jazz too, but its origins are rooted in africa. thus, jazz wasn't the first form of american music.

but i agree with the other guy. jazz was the first truly unique form of music, and its affects on american culture were profound. plus, it evovled and mutated so much, whereas (for the most part) bluegrass and country didnt.

[SketchesOfSpain]

What I originally meant to say was that jazz should have more fans/support because it is so unique to america (not anymore of course, europe is where its at) that it should be embraced by its own culture.

Sure you can go see it in the clubs, and maybe theres one radio station that plays it, but the closest jazz has gotten to the mainstream recently is norah jones (not my idea of jazz). With more legends of jazz dying every year (who's even left? Herbie Hancock, Sonny Rollins, Wayne Shorter....) there hasn't been enough newcomers that have been able to breakthrough and get any sort of attention outside the jazz world which is what it greatly needs.

[Kamran]

so anyways, i listen to Witch.