SOUNDTRACK: MOGWAI-Rock Action (2001).
After all of Mogwai’s releases over the years (and all the various compilations and imports and whatnot, it’s hard to believe that Rock Action was only their third proper full length release.
I just recently learned that the song “Dial: Revenge” has vocals by Gruff Rhys from the Super Furry Animals (the lyrics are in Welsh, apparently so that it would sound like gibberish to most of the English-speaking audience (SFA released a wonderful album sung entirely in Welsh, called Mwng). This song is a very delicate piece which reminds me in some ways of later Mercury Rev (Rock Action was produced by Dave Fridmann who produces Mercury Rev). It’s got a soaring “chorus” and strings.
“Sine Wave” opens the disc with some heavily distorted noises that seem to be fighting with some echoed guitar notes. The song feels different from other Mogwai songs but it doesn’t really sound different–it’s clearly Mogwai. “Take Me Somewhere Nice” is perhaps the most conventional song Mogwai have done. It has a verse/chorus structure and even has whispered vocals–that follow a melody. The biggest surprise has to be the strings that overlay the top–they’re a bit disconcerting at first, but it quickly shows how well the band can pull this off. It’s followed by something of a continuation of that song with the 59 second “O I Sleep,” a simple piano track with Stuart’s whispered vocals over the top.
“You Don’t Know Jesus” falls into more typical Mogwai territory. It’s a 9-minute epic which somehow build and builds even though it feels like it’s all crescendo–until the last few moments trail off into quiet notes.
The one minute “Robot Chant” is more noise, but it leads into the surprisingly upbeat “2 Rights Make 1 Wrong.” This is a faster track, which builds for over 9 minutes. The middle part slows down so you can really hear the synthesized voice over the proceeding. You can eventually hear the banjo as well.
The disc ends with the pretty ballad, “Secret Pint.” It’s a simple piano based song (with lyrics). The recording is very clear (you can hear all of the dynamics of that opening cymbal). While it could never be a hit, it easy certainly their most accessible track.
Rock Action is a different kind of Mogwai album: slower, more deliberate, with conventional music structures but which is in no way a commercial record. It’s also less dramatic than albums (or EPs) past. If you want soaring epic Mogwai, this is not your album (even the 2 nine-minute songs aren’t as dramatic as previous songs), but it’s a welcome addition to Mogwai’s repertoire.
[READ: May 27, 2011] “M&M World”
I didn’t know that there really is a M&M’s World in Times Square, but apparently there is. And it sounds like a nightmare!
Anyhow, the story begins with Ginny agreeing to finally take her kids to M&M’s World. Her girls are Olivia and Maggie and they have been dying to go to M&M’s World forever. The kids march down the street, looking in all the shop windows until they finally reach the destination.
Walbert describes the store in all of its bustling glory–and given her details I’ve no doubt it’s exactly as she describes: busy, crowded, noisy, overstimulating. (more…)
SOUNDTRACK: DANGER MOUSE AND SPARKLEHORSE present: Dark Night of the Soul (2010).
Seems like most things that Danger Mouse touches involve lawsuits. I’m not entirely sure why this disc had such a hard time seeing the light of day. But it is due for a proper release in July. Although by now, surely everyone has obtained a copy of the music, so why would anyone give EMI any money for the disc (since they hid it away in the first place).
SOUNDTRACK: SONIC YOUTH-SYR 7: J’accuse Ted Hughes/Agnès B Musique (2008).
SOUNDTRACK: GRUFF RHYS-Candylion (2006).
I’ve mentioned before that I really like Super Furry Animals. This is the lead singer’s solo album. It sounds very similar to an SFA album, although it’s a little less bizarre, a little less indulgent (which somehow seems odd for a solo album, but whatever.) Overall, it sounds somewhat more mellow, but it’s not exactly a mellow affair. The title song is a pretty little ballad. However, the album also has some great, if not rocking, then certainly rollicking songs that are great to sing along to like “Cycle of Violence” and “Now That the Feeling is Gone.” There’s lots of la la’s and Whooos! to add to the exictemnet.
SOUNDTRACK: SUPER FURRY ANIMALS-Hey Venus! (2007).
I’ve been a fan of Super Furry Animals for years. Their early stuff is really wacky and psychedelic Britpop (even if they are from Wales). They sang songs about hamsters and they drove around on tanks, and their B-Sides collection was package like a big rubber, well, rubber, with a reservoir tip and all!. And yet even with Gruff Rhys’ peculiar accent, the songs were catchy as all get out, and they rocked pretty hard.
SOUNDTRACK: STEELY DAN-Can’t Buy a Thrill (1972) & Countdown to Ecstasy (1973) & Pretzel Logic (1974) & Katy Lied (1975) & The Royal Scam (1976) & Aja (1977) & Gaucho (1980).
My theory about Steely Dan is that they are the definition of Adult music. No one under the age of 25 should listen to them. I hated Steely Dan all through high school and college, and then sometime around the age of 30, I suddenly liked them. So, it’s something about the style, and the sound, and Donald Fagan’s voice, and Walter Becker’s whatever, that should be utterly anathema to anyone under 25. 
I Just Read About That... 