Episode 42: The Force of a Javelin Hit

An obscure album compiling tracks by artists like Jai Agnish, Half-Handed Cloud and Jetenderpaul, this may be the only scan of cover to the Purse-Proud Shabby-Genteel Compliation on the internet.

I approach music with the same interest and intensity that I do with meeting people. I feel just as there can be good people of all walks, I’m bound to find a great artist in every genre. Occasionally, there are styles I’m not as fond of and there are styles that are just downright bad. (Watered-down classical music with drum machines and curly-haired boy singers aimed at soccer moms will never be good.)

I search for good stuff everywhere, and I find much to like in rap. Yes, I know it’s always extremely musical. Much good rap is mostly about rhythm and rhyme–it’s performance art. I’m not going to be that suburban white guy who defends hip-hop as cultural enlightenment and certainly won’t defend the (c)rap on all the hot Clear Channel stations. There’s not enough space here, and, frankly I don’t need to die on that hill. I just think there are many people who’d like hip-hop if they had exposure to someone else besides Lil’ Wayne and Rhianna.

This week’s show probably best reflects my listening patterns of late: listen to one style, get fed up with it, play another, get fed up again and then play something else. Enjoy.

1. “Clockwork” – Blackalicious (A2G/Quannum/1999)
2. “Movin’ On” – Deep Thinkers and Approach (Necks Move/Datura/2005)
3. “Exploding View” – Animal Town (A Purse-Proud Shabby-Genteel Compilation/Vainglorious Home Recordings/2001)
4. “Leave House” – Caribou (Swim/Merge/2010)
5. “Bear Vs.” – Cowboy Indian Bear (Each Other All The Time/The Record Machine/2010)

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1415312/42radiofreeraytown.mp3″

Radio Free Raytown – Episode #42 (5/28/10)

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Miscellany

Nothing well-organized here, just some stuff you need to know about.

• Dennis Coffey, wah guitarist extraordinaire, has recorded a podcast in two parts. They follow his (mostly session) work through the years and feature some nice storytelling. Trust me, this dude’s important.
• Sam Billen has recorded an EP of covers, and The Record Machine has made it available for free.
• My band, My Science Fiction Twin, is playing The Main Street Coffee House in downtown Independence on May 15. It will be a full-band experience.
• I’ve really been digging the new album by The Radio Dept., Clinging To A Scheme. It’s more subtle than Lesser Matters, my favorite, but still very moody and melodic. The band seems to be taking its time, and it works well.
• Cowboy Indian Bear and The Noise FM are playing a CD release show at The Granada (both are releasing CDs) with Ghosty and Muscle Worship. Doors open at 8:00, it’s $5 and all ages.

Episode 29: Fading Thoughts and Early Happenings

The Merbabies in 1998

There have been few inspire me more than C. Charles Bowden. His trajectory was certainly a strange one, starting with drumming in the hardcore punk band, Focused. Then he formed The Merbabies, a collision of country music and J.Mascis. After The Merbabies’ breakup, he formed an countryish outfit, Other Desert Cities. He’s also a photographer.

I listened to The Merbabies’ EP, Indio, literally a zillion times in college. It’s amazing how great it still sounds. Sometimes I grab it before I pull Green Mind of my shelf.

1. “Sovereignty” – The Merbabies (Indio/Jackson Rubio/1998)
2. “Something Took Me Over” – Brilliant Geographers (Waving From a Ship/independent/2008)
3. “Snowing in Sydney” – Cowboy Indian Bear (Cowboy Indian Bear/independent/2009)
4. “Dick, Dale, Rick and Ricky” – Compulsion (Comforter/Interscope/1994)
5. “Radio Free Europe” – R.E.M. (Murmur Deluxe Edition, Disc Two: Live in Toronto, September 7, 1983/I.R.S./2008)

Oh yeah, I’m taking suggestions for the next episode’s theme. Leave any ideas in the comments section of this post. I will have Episode 30 ready in two weeks. For now, enjoy this week’s show.

Radio Free Raytown – Episode 29 (2/12/10)

Podcast #2

I want to thank Brandon Briscoe for his mention of Radio Free Raytown on his blog, A Pilgrim’s Porridge.  It’s nice to receive kind words when I’m still entrenched in a job search.

Before I tell you about the next installment of Radio Free Raytown, know that I am tagging these podcasts so you can easily search for the old episodes. After I get to my fifth show, I will compile them in zip files, if you feel the need to quickly catch up.

Anyway, without further adew, here is my second podcast.  And again, it’s short, concise and digestable.

1. Happy Apple – Go (Base 13)
2. Dogs Die in Hot Cars – Apples and Oranges
3. Cowboy Indian Bear – Snowing in Sydney
4. Belle and Sebastian – I Love My Car
5. Mazzy Star – Flowers In December
6. The Meeting Places – Until It’s Gone

Enjoy!

Happy Apple – Go (Base 13)

Dogs Die in Hot Cars – Apples and Oranges

Cowboy Indian Bear – Snowing in Sydney

Belle and Sebastian – I Love My Car

Mazzy Star – Flowers In December

The Meeting Places – Until It’s Gone

Radio Free Raytown Episode #2 – 7/9/09