Episode 99: Separate Torso from the Spine

Brian Eno, c. 1977

Apart from a couple friends, I just don’t hear many people discussing important bands like Sonic Youth, Velvet Underground or Joy Division. Even folks who pride themselves on listening to stuff outside the mainstream (Fleet Foxes, Sufjan Stevens, Sam Bean, etc.) don’t seem to have or desire a sense of musical history. I’m not asking that everyone be a musical savant like me, but it would be nice to see folks do their research and not dismiss some music simply because it sounds old.

This point in probably best illustrated in discussing the work of Brian Eno. The dude is responsible for so much huge, mega-popular music, but folks don’t seem to pay attention to him. It’s difficult to overstate his influence on bands like U2, Talking Heads, Roxy Music, David Bowie and Devo. (If you’re reading this blog, I assume you already have  an unhealthy amount these bands’ music on your harddrive.) Yet rarely do I ever hear anyone talk about Eno’s solo work.

I don’t think it takes particularly artsy person to appreciate (most of) his work. I just think it takes an inquisitive person who wants to discover the source for a favorite band’s inspiration. Alright, enough proselytizing.

Enjoy the show.

1. “Kurt’s Rejoinder” – Brian Eno (Before and After Science/Polydor/1977)
2. “Vamos Companeros” – Harmonia & Eno ’76 (Tracks and Traces/Gronland/2009)
3. “Dem Wanderer” – Cluster (Sowiesoso/Sky/1976)
4. “What Lies Before” – Highspire (Aquatic/Reverse Reverse/2010)
5. “While the Cold Winter Waiting” – Trentemøller (The Last Resort/Poker Flat/2006)
6. “Soul Love” – David Bowie (Stage/RCA/1978)

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1415312/99radiofreeraytown.mp3″

Radio Free Raytown – Episode #99 (2/18/12)

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Small Craft on a Milk Sea

In addition to the recently-announced Orange Juice box set, we have more cool news today. Warp Records just announced news about the new Brian Eno record. Although I probably won’t be able to afford any of these fancy formats, I’m excited to hear that Eno’s working with guys like Jon Hopkins. (They worked together on the last Coldplay record.)

This will be a great autumn.

Episode 20: Decay

I’ve decided to go with the theme of decay for episode 20 that  Joel Atkinson suggested over two weeks ago.  In only 24 minutes, I’ve attempted to explore the topic through sound and lyric.  I hope the results are not too heavy and philosophical.  Enjoy!

1. “Quartz” – Brian Eno (Music for Films/EG/1978)
2. “Two Statues” – Robert Deeble (Earthside Down/Jackson Rubio/1998)
3. “Losing Touch With Everyone” – Joy Electric (Unelectric/BEC Recordings/2000)
4. “Snowstorm” – Galaxie 500 (On Fire/Rough Trade/1989)
5. “I Fall Apart” – Company (Company/Metro One/2002)

Radio Free Raytown – Episode #20 (12/4/09)

By the way, I have compiled episodes 11-16 into a zip file.  You may download it here.

Episode #18

Sam Billen, doing his Sam Bean impersonation

Our sixth anniversary was last weekend, and we spent last Friday night in Topeka to celebrate.  While there, we went to Sam Billen‘s release/listening party at a bohemian furniture store Friday night and hung out with his brother, Dan, and family on Saturday (stopping at a sweet Mexican joint and a thrift store).

Sam released a couple solo albums while the band he formed with his brother, The Billions, was alive and kicking.  Now that the band is finished (playing its final concert earlier this year), he’s continued doing solo work with this new release on The Record Machine.

Anyway, enjoy the show.

1. Sam Billen – The Garden (Headphones and Cellphones 2009)
2. David Byrne & Brian Eno – Strange Overtones (Everything That Happens will Happen Today 2008)
3. TV on the Radio – Golden Age (Dear Science 2008)
4. Autolux – Sugarless (Future Perfect 2004)

Radio Free Raytown – Episode #18 (11/6/09)