put your body next to mine and dream on

Got a good batch of varied music for you this week. Enjoy. 

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The Beijing Instrumental Ensemble "Ancient Music From the Dynasties"

Unlike other traditional instrument ensemble recordings I've listened to lately, I was pleased to find all of the selections on this record are in fact traditional, that is to say, very old, tunes and not modern compositions. The size of the ensemble seems perfect for each track, not too big, not too small. I recognized the tune behind "Moonlight Dancing Song" from a track on another CD labelled "Dance of the Yao People" so this one sticks out in my head. The only set back with this CD is the lack of quick and to the point 3-minute singles like we are used to in the West, with most tracks clocking in between 7 and 10 minutes, but for fans of traditional Chinese music, this is a great recording.

Sara Bareilles "Kaleidoscope Heart"

This record is definitely more pop and mainstream oriented than "Little Voice," but it's still good stuff. Only a few times while listening did I stop and think, "Wait, this sounds too much like pop radio for me to like," but it is a fleeting feeling and some songs are more poppy than others. Not a CD that I'll put in my car on repeat, but it's got good moments. My favorite track is probably "King of Anything." Recommended for fans of pop piano and melodic/easy-to-listen-to pop that does not require a fuzzy synthesizer in every song.

David Byrne "Big Love: Hymnal (Music Written For the HBO Series Plus Other Recent Compositions)"

I hope it costs David Byrne absolutely nothing to produce records because the amount of them he has put out is kind of staggering. In any case, this one is a little different--or a lot. Written as snippets of soundtrack for the HBO TV Series "Big Love," Byrne flexes more of his classical music muscles than usual while also bringing a pop element to some of them (not all). The interest is in the themes themselves and in the choice of instrumentation. Apparently Byrne did his homework on Mormon sacred music and used that as a departure point for his composition. With that said, it's not really something you put in your car stereo. I don't know if it's even worth producing a CD of it to be honest. I'm sure some of them will find homes in amateur YouTube videos, as the camera operator slowly pans over the Grand Canyon. Good for light listening, not a required purchase.

Devo "Duty Now For the Future/New Traditionalists"

Listening to the first five tracks of "Duty Now For the Future" will make you feel like you're going crazy. They couldn't possibly be all on the same album, but they are. "Clockout" is a punk rock tune low on the wackiness. "Timing X" will satisfy your prog rock tendencies, as an asymmetrical melody that grows but never changes. "Wiggly World" as you might guess brings a bigger dose of Devo wackiness. "Blockhead" is an interesting amalgam of the odd time signatures, punk rock aesthetic, and a palm muted harbinger of the grunge era. The second half of this CD is the original 1981 album "New Traditionalists" where Devo undergoes a notable change in sound. Darker, a little less freakout, but WAY more 80's. Synths, synths and more synths. Guitars are background or for color and synths are the main driving instrument (reversed from nowadays). The songs are a bit more straightforward in structure and people with an ear for 80's pop will feel more at home here. I will not overlook the synth sounds though! These were a big deal at the time, and actually a ton of them pretty much sound like presets on the digital MicroKorg, so thank you Devo for giving us plasticine tone, now and forever.

Traveling Wilburys "The Traveling Wilburys Collection"

The supergroup that's got more than just a collection of famous names (although they are: Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Roy Orbison and Jeff Lynne (of ELO)), the Traveling Wilburys compile two CD's worth of music, a DVD and a few bonus tracks onto this set. Rock 'n' roll, country, folk, singer/songwriter, always with a groove and sweet thick group harmonies. Some sound like hits more than others, but the quality of the tracks is nonetheless high even at the low points of these albums. Some may tire of the never-changing drum beats, chord progressions that loop forever, and maybe--for the more picky--a particular grainy voice or two, but I think any blues, rock, classic rock, and guitar-pickin' fan needs to hear the Wilburys and see for themselves.

Barenaked Ladies "Stunt"

"Stunt" is the perfect example of the transition from 90's rock to 00's pop. Starting with the 90's classic "One Week," we have some good slices of what life sounded like in 1998. Solid songs, poppy, rocky, listenable. Some tracks though are stepping on the 00's mainstream side of the tracks, and personally I find these tracks lacking substance, filled with mostly predictable guitar chords and corny lyrics ("Call and Answer"). A little bit of everything, it still beats All in Good Time by a long shot.

Menomena "Mines"

Um. Rarely have I found myself with no opinion about a piece of music. No opinion--that is to say, no strong inclination one way or the other. Confusion. Nothing obvious. I could tell you that this album is good because there is nothing in it that is inherently bad. And I could also tell you that this album is bad for the reason that there is nothing in it that strikes me as notably good. This is indie rock for the most indie among us, a little bit esoteric, a little bit familiar, tons of overdubs, unexpected song structure. You couldn't categorize the music by genre either because of the difference between the tracks. I will make a recommendation to fans of TV on the Radio and My Morning Jacket. This is definitely one for a second & third listen.

Lady Gaga "The Remix"

I'm not usually a fan of remix albums. They always seem to take away whatever elements I really liked about the track and add in completely unnecessary and incongruous dancehall elements. Therefore I was not surprised at the first track on here, the remix of "Just Dance." However, the next track, "Poker Face," was more in line with what I was looking for: taking the basic song, retaining the structure overall (not just sampling and making a completely new thing out of it--I think this is another activity altogether, not "remixing") and adding some details, usually different drum beats. "LoveGame" with added vocals by Marilyn Manson is interesting, didn't like the remix of "Eh, Eh," but then "Paparazzi" was ok. My favorite remix was of "Bad Romance" by Starsmith. It's a grab bag, and most remix albums are. I think everyone can agree that Lady Gaga has milked these tunes for all their worth--now on to new music.

Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti "Before Today"

If you listen to this album, I guarantee you will check and re-check the copyright year listed on the back cover. Let me help you out: it's 2010, even though it sounds like late 70's to early 80's. Alternatively, it sounds like a cassette tape transfer to CD that was original from vinyl. It's not just the sound quality that is reminiscent: the style is definitely a throwback to many styles of bygone years: classic punk, new wave, 80's ballads ("Round and Round" seems like a perfect genre parody for the likes of Flight of the Conchords), and classic rock. Is it just me or is there a chunk of "Can't Hear Me Eyes" that is the same as a chunk of "Who's Crying Now" by Journey? Oh ok, it's not just me. I don't know, I don't think this album is really saying anything new, so to get accolades like #15 album of 2010 or 9/10 rating from Pitchfork, is ridiculous. But if you feel like taking a fictitious trip down retro lane, check this out; you will be convinced.