2 CD's + 2 CD's + 2 CD's + 2CD's = 9 CD's!

The third iteration of this ever-popular thread has arrived, and there was much rejoicing! List two CD's that you are listening too, two you want to get, two old classics you couldn't live without, and two CD's that you bought, but were completely disappointed with.

I'm listening to Blur: The Best Of, purchased because of Seth's recommendation, and because their song, Song 2, was the intro song for Fifa '98 on the Sega Saturn. Lots of catchy tunes on this CD, more than one song will make it onto my 'Now Playing' playlist.

I'm also listening to Caedomon's Call: The Road Back Home. It's a pretty soft CD, but the songs are excellent, the lyrics are deep and the musicality is great. It makes a great background album for when I'm working. It's been on my 'Now Playing' playlist for the last two months, and won't be moving any time soon.

I want to get Five Iron Frenzy: The End Is Here. It's the last album by my all-time favorite band, who recently decided to call it quits. I also want to get Five Iron Frenzy 2: Electric Boogaloo, FiF's second to last album.

My two classics are permanents on my 'Now Playing' list. The first is Steve Taylor: Now The Truth Can Be Told, an excellent compilation of 30 of Steve's best songs, along with a fat booklet where Steve comments on each song. The second is Five Iron Frenzy: Proof That The Youth Are Revolting. Given Five Iron's tendency to be rather off-the-wall, I believe the word Revolting in the title means icky, nasty, puke, etc, rather than rebellious. This live album is great for playing really loud, especially the first song 'One Girl Army' in which Reece Roper opens with a scream that lasts... and lasts.... and lasts.... There's also a blooper reel on the end, proving that even 'real' musicians make mistakes. :)

I purchased P.O.D. - Payable On Death expecting great things. Their previous albums have all been either great or very good, but this one bottomed out for me. It's actually a great rock album, but I bought it expecting the same gutsy, emotional music as was in the album Southtown, and Snuff The Punk. This album went in a more of a Reggae/Hard Rock direction. Only one song from this album has made it to my 'Now Playing' list, and it's a winner. If the album had gone the direction of this song, titles Asthma, it would have easily, very easily topped their previous records. I listen to POD for hard music, not crumby Reggae attempts.

I bought Coldplay: Parachutes because everyone seems to love them around here. I've only listened to it through twice, but it hasn't lived up to what I was expecting. Coupled with a lack of lyrics in the CD sleeve, this album didn't live up to the hype. Maybe after I listen to it a few more times...

Listening to;

1: Nick Harper: Double Life

This man is phenomenal. I urge any budding guitarist to pick up a copy of this genius' work for further examination and enjoyment. His music simply cannot be translated into words.

2: Matthew Good Band: Beautiful Midnight

After sampling "Everything is Automatic" and "the Future is X-rated" I popped over to Amazon recently and picked it up, and haven't regretted it. An exceptional Album that has opened up a wealth easily accessible of songs to play as well as listen to.

Wanting to Get;

1: Matthew Good: The White Light Rock & Roll Review

If "Alert Status Red" is anything to go by, this should be good.

2: Incubus: A crow left of murder

An album I've been meaning to get for a while. I've always enjoyed Incubus as a more mellow and laid back band. My equivilent of easy-listening.


Couldn't Live Without;

1: The Darkness: Permission to Land

Irregardless of what they may or may not have said about Radiohead, this is one band that provided a seriously needed injection of classic rock (if nothing else) to the ever increasingly stale british rock scene.

2: Led Zeppelin: Volume III

With a fantastic mixture of rock and blues, Zeppelin show thier uncanny ability to make the seamless transition between the two with little effort and make a stonking record in the process.
Whether your on drugs or not, this album is simply stunning.


Disappointed With

1: Megadeth: So far, so good, so what?

The high point of Dave Mustaine's near decade-long drink and drugs binge is illustrated to the full here, resulting in an album that lacks structure or purpose and seems to meander pointlessly to a ultimately unsatisfying thrash metal conclusion.
Although I hate to admit it about Megadeth, this album is in all actuality, crap.

2: Norah Jones: Feels Like Home

As soon as Dolly Parton drops in on the second half of what was a fairly entertaining party, the albums does what her tits will do in later life . . .go south.
After listening to her first offering, Ms Jones was one to be looked out for,for all the right reasons of course, however 'feels like home' fell so short of expectations for the most part, I might not pick up another item from Norah's catalogue anytime soon.

Me no like music. Me go bash rocks because me unintelligent neanderthal incapable of expressing self.

Raaaaaaagh!

Listening:

Interpol - Turn on the Bright Lights. Destined to grow beyond the appeal of its "NYC rock" roots to become an alt-rock classic. Expect amazing things from the upcoming sophomore release from these boys.

Radiohead - Com Lag. Useful idiot.

Wanting:

MG - White Light Rock and Roll Review. MG returns with another dose of his middle finger for the right-wing in Canada and abroad. Not recommended for the Jesus Crew.

Modest Mouse - Good News for People who Love Bad News. We are ready to float on.

Essentials:

Radiohead - Kid A. Throw me in the fire. Throw me in the fire. Throw me in the.

Radiohead - Amnesiac. The sound of being in the fire.

I Will Murder Your Families:

The Darkness - Permission To Land. Listened to it. Still think they are @#%$ horrible. This is the sort of trendy @#%$ that corrupts children and then they end up listening to anything with a guitar solo.

As well as basically everything else in contemporary music. Horrible, just horrible. All of it.

I was waiting for that last bit.

My day is complete now.

Darkness = Bad.

This much is certain.

Listening to: Nothing at the moment.

Wanting to get: I hear there's a new Bowie out, greatest hits. I probably won't get it since I already have every other CD; hence, every hit.

Actually, I probably will get it anyway.

Can't live without: David Bowie's Hunky Dory. Which I actually am living without since my brother scratched the @#%$ out of it.

Listening:

Einstuerzende Neubauten - "Perpetuum Mobile" - The latest album from this avant garde German band. They've been around for 20 years and are still going strong with their abstract lyrics, percussive instruments, and found sounds.

Matthew Good Band - "Last of the Ghetto Astronauts" - Early MG that is pretty raw and goes for the throat. Good listen that leads to their next album, "Underdogs."

Wanting:

Matthew Good - "White Lite Rock and Roll Review" - Heard a few tracks from the website and looking forward to having this to complete my entire collection.

Stereolab - "Emperor Tomato Ketchup" - Laetitia Sadier's voice is gorgeous and reminiscent of Beth Gibbons of Portishead. Her voice weaves in and out of Tim Gane's and the rest of the bands incredible melodies. It's hard to pick a best song on the album from some listens, since it is one of those rare albums where every track is great. 'Percolator' is the quintessential French pop song. 'Les Yper-Sound,' 'The Noise of Carpet,' and 'Motoroller Scalatron' all will make you bob your head to the funky beats. Need to get this when I get paid.

Essentials:

Radiohead - "OK Computer" - This entire cd has a very organic, emotional feel to it. Each song is a mini-epic in its own right, filled with a large variety of somber melodies and dissenting, augmented chords. Really, this band is full of true dynamic musicianship--all the band members are truly talented. Naturally, Thom Yorke's vocals are the real standout, with their wide range and ethereal quality. Some impressive standouts include "Airbag", "Karma Police" and "Paranoid Android."

The Chameleons - "Strange Times" - Strange Times is a classic. End of story. Why do British bands always burn out at their peak? If anyone was listening in the 80's (and apparently U2 was) they would have realized that this band was going into previously uncharted territory. The Chameleons broke several boundaries and really, in my mind refuse classification other than that they are a band deserving of their legendary status. Strange Times is the swan song of the 80's. Listen to this album and the others and you'll realize just how influential these guys were without getting much credit. They created the reverb, ethereal guitar sound emulated by such greats as The Chrurch, U2, The Fixx, and in many ways the Police. At times, they are incredibly powerful and delicately eerie. The lyrical content is simply amazing as it walks the fine line through British surrealism and wrenching emotional confusion.

Disappointing:

Everything on corperate radio. Usually, some gems are found on college radio, but you need to dig deep.