Ever wonder what the Creative Loafing music team listens to on Mondays to get us through the day? Here's this week's selections.
Leilani – Phish, Live Phish 8/13/93 Murat Theatre, Indianapolis, DISC 2
Nothing gets the adrenaline pumping harder than some tasty live Phish; this particular show is full of some great moments, but this disc features a pivotal "Bathtub Gin." Keyboardist Page McConnell incorporates pieces of Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" into his piano solos and fills, and the song is usually a springboard for improvisation due to its leisurely, tumbling tempo and sections of vocal scatting. This particular show is known for being among the first in which the band took the song into sundry and diverse improvisational territory, the scatting of McConnell and guitarist/frontman Trey Anastasio trading off high-pitched "doo-bee-waaannouus" while bassist Mike Gordon drops vocal bass bombs to the effect of "bowwww …bowwww" to such hilarious effect that it makes me laugh out loud every time.
Mike – Local Natives, Warning Sign Gorilla Manor (2010)
Some feel good music for Monday.
– Male Bonding, Nothing Hurts (2010)
Loud, fast, and distorted, with touches of psych-pop harmonies — this UK trio sounds like My Bloody Valentine on methamphetamines. Its relentless pace — 13 songs in less than a half-hour — will leave you with no other choice than to repeat the album just so you can figure out what the fuck is going on. Indie rock lovers and A.D.D. sufferers, this will be your favorite album of 2010.
Taylor – Randy Newman, Good Old Boys (1974)
What can I say? Randy Newman is a piano god, and he writes some of the best lyrics I've ever sung along with. Highlights include "Naked Man" and "Mr. President (Have Pity on the Working Man)."
Shawn – Stephen Malkmus, Pig Lib (2003)
When I listen to this album, I get very angry about the whole Pavement reunion. If not for the Pavement reunion, Stephen Malkmus could be working on another album that might possibly be ready by the end of the year. Supposedly, he has recorded a bunch, and some with Beck, yet all his solo work has been postponed. During this blistering hot summer, nothing beats driving extremely fast to the beach and playing this album, in its entirety, very loud. Now I wish it was my day off.
This article appears in Jun 10-16, 2010.