I will listen to any album you tell me to and post my impres

[Ello Sailor]

Lmao what the hell. They sounded great. Homie even had the Pat Smear mannerisms down.

[Kevin Davis]

I don’t think Draw Breath is his strongest collection, but it has two of his best tracks: Confection and Angel of Angels.

Also his work on Mike Watt’s Contemplating the Engine Room is a career highlight.

Thanks trag!

[Matters]

The Nels Cline 4 - Currents/Constellations

Ok, going in knowing just about nothing other than Cline is a guitar player in Wilco and I only know that because I searched his name.

Furtive: Extended drums to start, jazz? Then bass. This is jazz. Not usually my thing but I like the guitar tones immediately and I’m subtly reminded of the jazz into to Vitalogy.
I like the guitar parts more as the song progresses. It’s jazz but w more rock style guitar playing.

Swing Ghost ‘59: Heavy metal jazz kinda? I really like the clean upright bass playing on these songs. This one feels like Danny Thompson on 5 Leaves Left.
All of a sudden now we’re in almost a Beatles song… then back into the heavy sound from earlier. Some great transitions by what appear to be really talented musicians.

Imperfect 10: The guitar patterns become hypnotic. I think I like this on the best so far.

As Close as That: Beautiful dreamy quality. I like how each song gets more enjoyable for me as it goes on. I imagine the more a listener gets familiar with these songs, the music could be a conveyance into some deep thinking.

[Matters]

Amenette: Back and forth between quick, franticness and then slower more deliberate playing. Jarring by design. I was kinda waiting patiently through this one and then the last 90 seconds or so got me back in. A fun little guitar race at the very end.

Temporarily: More pretty guitar tones kind of wandering about and that nice clean bass jumps out to me again. In the middle this song starts sounding more suspenseful, almost frightening at times.

River Mouth (parts 1 & 2): Wow, the way the guitars come in at the beginning is my new favorite part of the album. About halfway through the song’s attitude changes really effectively into a sound liking of The End by the Doors.
I love the piercing harmonics at the finish. This is the biggest highlight on the album for me.

For Each a Flower: A kind of abbreviated finish to a strong record. Almost felt like what an Afterword is to a novel.


I enjoyed listening to the album pretty much from start to finish which is great because it’s not something I would have sought out. Part of my enjoyment was being in awe of the musical talent on display. The bass and drums never let you forget your listening to a jazz album and the guitars are free to weave in and out somewhere between jazz and rock.

I have a playlist of instrumental songs that I listen to while reading. This album will be a nice addition to that. I’m also looking forward to putting it on during dinner and seeing how my family reacts.

[Kevin Davis]

Glad you liked it, Matters!

[oneway23]

I’ve had “Initiate” for like ten years (on your recommendation!) and “Lovers” and love them both. Any recommendations beyond that?

Nels Cline Singers - Share the Wealth

Nels, Scott Amendola, Trevor Dunn, Cyro Baptista, Skerik, Brian Marsella

Entered the studio for two days with the intention of recording jams to edit Miles/Teo style, but, swam in the magic so deeply that they just recorded and released what they had, as is.

Magic

Additional shouts for both Macroscope & Lovers

[Kevin Davis]

I’ve had “Initiate” for like ten years (on your recommendation!) and “Lovers” and love them both. Any recommendations beyond that?

Nels Cline Singers - Share the Wealth

Nels, Scott Amendola, Trevor Dunn, Cyro Baptista, Skerik, Brian Marsella

Entered the studio for two days with the intention of recording jams to edit Miles/Teo style, but, swam in the magic so deeply that they just recorded and released what they had, as is.

Magic

Additional shouts for both Macroscope & Lovers

I have “Share the Wealth” too! Splendid stuff.

The Nels Cline 4 - Currents/Constellations

I ordered this one and "Share the Wealth" (and a couple other things) through Blue Note a bit ago, in order to bring my order for the new Bill Frisell up to free shipping. They're both so good. I really need to deep-dive his catalog.

[Clem Halibut]

The Bug Club - Green Dream in F#

[Matters]

Under The Big Black Sun - X

As the first song comes tumbling in, here’s what I think I know about X. They're an OG punk band? One of them goes by John Doe and has performed w Pearl Jam. This album is from 1982.

The Hungry Wolf: Nice main riff. The the music is lighter than I anticipated. It swings. Doe’s voice sounds like a nice blend of Marty Balin and Layne Staley and the band feels almost effortless. There’s a female singer too. First song is a hit for me.

Motel Room in My Head: The female on lead vocals now. Prior to Dark Matter I had been listening to female singers almost exclusively for months so this is a nice surprise.
Quick guitar chords scoot through the song. Most of the lyrics I can pick out sound interesting. Heavier guitars in the build up towards the end and cool percussion added for the last 10-15 seconds.

Riding with Mary: I can hear the influence they’ve had on Pearl Jam. This kinda sounds as if Spin the Black Circle hadn’t been sped up. Really digging the 2 vocalists’ interplay and harmonies. Surprised to hear a fade out at the end but it’s a good one.

[Matters]

Come Back to Me: Great throwback vibe here. Doo-Wop. The guitars have an “I Only Have Eyes for You” sound going on. Some really soulful singing from Exene Cervenka (I just looked her up) and now a saxophone? This song is beautiful. I’m really surprised to hear something like this.

Under The Big Black Sun: This was the first miss mostly because the guitar riff isn’t hitting me much. Nothing wrong but it’s not grabbing my interest like the songs before it did.

Because I Do: This is more the type of song I had anticipated hearing with faster drumming and thrashing guitars. It’s more obviously punk. I’d lose interest if all the songs were like this but because the album’s style has been diverse, I’m good hearing it.

[Matters]

Blue Spark: So cool. This is a song that makes you smile while you listen to it. It must be fun as hell to play on guitar. Only 2 minutes long, I would have liked 1 more.

Dancing with Tears in My Eyes: Another song that would have felt like a throwback even in 1982. It appears this song is not an original or maybe wasn’t written by the band. I like the choice to use it because it pairs well in some ways with “Come Back to Me.”
Their music is prettier than I imagined.

Real Child of Hell: Back to the faster tempo. I liked most of the song but didn’t care much for the chorus though I could see warming up to it over time.

How I (Learned My Lesson): I liked this chorus but not really the rest of the song.

The Have Nots: Nice upbeat closer. There’s a live feel to whole the album and this is wrapping up the show. The guitars sound important and fun at the same time and the biggest solo they’ve played is featured. Bit of a jarring fade out though. It took me out of the song for a moment as the album ends.

———-

I honestly enjoyed this album much more than I thought I would. “Come Back to Me” hit the hardest. I’m interested to try another X album from around the same time as this one. I can see why Under The Big Black Sky would be considered a classic because while listening, it felt like finding a piece to a jigsaw puzzle that is the history of rock music.

[coptheriotact]

i just watched the decline of western civilization (1981) which features X. (great documentary)

so I'm listening to under the big black sun now remembering this thread... probably not going to post any impressions though..

[Matters]

Who’s Next?

The Weather Station - Ignorance

[Peeps]

Demon Days


Ill give you a week and i will check back jorge