Things I’m listening to right now
Over the past few nights as I’ve lain in bed, writing in my journal before switching off the light, I’ve had the speakers set against the window and I’ve been listening to the music. Nothing groundbreaking.
Right now, I’m listening to Beulah’s The Coast Is Never Clear.
Last night, I was listening to Sufjan Stevens’ Illinois.
The previous night I was admiring the guitar stylings of Elliott Smith on Either/Or. What a great record that is. I really enjoy the way his guitar playing is part of the song structure. Not sure if that makes sense. But he doesn’t play a lead per se. The twists of his acoustic guitar are the chord progression and the melody at the same time. It’s a shame that he’s gone.
Sunday night I was listening to Drum’s Not Dead by Liars. Just like Princeton could use a guy like Joel, the world could use a band like Liars. Everything sounds underground. Everything sounds like its from another planet. But they still have a very real soul. Alebit a strange one. But a real one nonetheless.
Also I picked up Ryan Adams’ Jacksonville City Nights which is supposed to be the best record of the glut that he released last year.
And I picked up the new Walkmen, You and Me. They sound like Basement Tapes-era Dylan. I enjoy the grating howl of Hamilton Leithauser. They are some six degrees of separation or something away from some scenes I’ve briefly been a part of.
Also, I put I’ve been wearing out my vinyl copy of Jim Carroll’s Catholic Boy. A time capsule. All the people who died. Well they’re all my friends. And they died. New York. Punk. You know what I mean? I once gave Jim a ride to Virginia Beach to read in a poetry festival but that’s a story for another time. He’s a good man.
Also, I really think the new Kanye single ‘Love Lockdown’ is brilliant. I realize he’s using some tired sounds but, like fashion, he’s making the old new. It works for me. I like those Brazilian drum sounds. They are groovy.
Tags: music review
