the hardest thing in the world to do
Joe Beats is one hell of a producer. I first encountered his work in the form of Non-Prophets, his work complementing Sage Francis' poetic lyricism. Not long ago I sought out some of his solo works, expecting greatness, and I wasn't disappointed. I first heard Indie Rock Blues, which blew me away. I couldn't get enough. It was so seamless, I didn't even realise until recently that it was an album of remixes. So without much effort (practically none), I found I'd stumbled upon a treasure chest of music to explore (like hitting a vein of gold ore, while digging for buried treasure; not what you expect, but it's just as good).
In no particular order:
Neutral Milk Hotel, and June of 44 are bands with which I'm already familiar, so while I was caught off-guard to find their works on this album, I'd already discovered them and didn't need to dig further to know they're awesome and worth checking out.
M. Ward is the singer-songwriter whose "Sad, sad song" serves as the memorable, hummable first track of Indie Rock Blues, and his original version has a totally different appeal that is none the weaker (be sure to hear it on hisspace). The best part of the work I've heard from him so far is the kinda lo-fi grainy, airy vocals (especially when he's using the lower parts of his range), as well as the use of layers for orchestration.
90 Day Men are odd, and their discovery in this way, doubly so. What's odd is that, I'm familiar with one of the band members' works in the form of a solo drone/ambient project called Lichens. The difference between Lichens, 90 Day Men, and Joe beats is great enough to have had me doing double takes. Though the first track 90 Day Men's theirspace didn't really tickle my earbone, the second track certainly did, with its strange dual vocals, non-standard structure, and generally live sounding production. I look forward hearing their work in the context of an album.
I'm quite surprised I'd not heard of (or maybe I had?) or heard anything by DJ Signify before. With a pinch of melancholy and a heaping spoonful of instrumental hip-hop goodness (yum!), a twist of a Bukowski rant or a sprinkle of Aesop Rock (both on hisspace), DJ Signify knows how to cook up a good beat (serve chilled). Apparently his early mixtapes were significant in their time, and with a new album on the way (well, out, actually, if you know where to look), he's certainly worth a gander (or a mallard, what with the recession). edit: oops, yeah, listening to Sleep No More, I realise I'd totally heard him and this album before. Oh well, still good stuff, and now I know about his new album, so all the better.
What? Ugly Casanova has connections to Modest Mouse? And I didn't know this before? I think I'm going to have to check out their album just because. Haven't heard them yet, so I can't comment on their music, and I'm sure I'm just late arriving to this particular party, so I'll let you fill in the blanks regarding the details yourselves. Incidentally, they also share a member with The Black Heart Procession, who've also got a track remixed on Indie Rock Blues (I checked out theirspace, but I was a bit underwhelmed [and over-meh-ed]).
Then there's Andrew Bird whose looping/layering work I'd heard before in collaboration with one Martin Dosh (who appears to be on Anticon, a fact of which I had no idea before). Anyways, Bird's stuff is really beautiful, with its many layers and many instruments, especially when he sticks to instrumentals (that might just be my preference). Quite different from the rest of the stuff here, but just as worthy of checking out (if not more).
Also Dosh (clever guy, managed to get himself on here without a track on the Joe Beats album).
Anyways, those are the main highlights of this discovery, I feel, but despite the other artists remixed on Indie Rock Blues not showing up here, every single track on said album is pure brilliance. Check it out. Seriously. Go.
In no particular order:
Neutral Milk Hotel, and June of 44 are bands with which I'm already familiar, so while I was caught off-guard to find their works on this album, I'd already discovered them and didn't need to dig further to know they're awesome and worth checking out.
M. Ward is the singer-songwriter whose "Sad, sad song" serves as the memorable, hummable first track of Indie Rock Blues, and his original version has a totally different appeal that is none the weaker (be sure to hear it on hisspace). The best part of the work I've heard from him so far is the kinda lo-fi grainy, airy vocals (especially when he's using the lower parts of his range), as well as the use of layers for orchestration.
90 Day Men are odd, and their discovery in this way, doubly so. What's odd is that, I'm familiar with one of the band members' works in the form of a solo drone/ambient project called Lichens. The difference between Lichens, 90 Day Men, and Joe beats is great enough to have had me doing double takes. Though the first track 90 Day Men's theirspace didn't really tickle my earbone, the second track certainly did, with its strange dual vocals, non-standard structure, and generally live sounding production. I look forward hearing their work in the context of an album.
I'm quite surprised I'd not heard of (or maybe I had?) or heard anything by DJ Signify before. With a pinch of melancholy and a heaping spoonful of instrumental hip-hop goodness (yum!), a twist of a Bukowski rant or a sprinkle of Aesop Rock (both on hisspace), DJ Signify knows how to cook up a good beat (serve chilled). Apparently his early mixtapes were significant in their time, and with a new album on the way (well, out, actually, if you know where to look), he's certainly worth a gander (or a mallard, what with the recession). edit: oops, yeah, listening to Sleep No More, I realise I'd totally heard him and this album before. Oh well, still good stuff, and now I know about his new album, so all the better.
What? Ugly Casanova has connections to Modest Mouse? And I didn't know this before? I think I'm going to have to check out their album just because. Haven't heard them yet, so I can't comment on their music, and I'm sure I'm just late arriving to this particular party, so I'll let you fill in the blanks regarding the details yourselves. Incidentally, they also share a member with The Black Heart Procession, who've also got a track remixed on Indie Rock Blues (I checked out theirspace, but I was a bit underwhelmed [and over-meh-ed]).
Then there's Andrew Bird whose looping/layering work I'd heard before in collaboration with one Martin Dosh (who appears to be on Anticon, a fact of which I had no idea before). Anyways, Bird's stuff is really beautiful, with its many layers and many instruments, especially when he sticks to instrumentals (that might just be my preference). Quite different from the rest of the stuff here, but just as worthy of checking out (if not more).
Also Dosh (clever guy, managed to get himself on here without a track on the Joe Beats album).
Anyways, those are the main highlights of this discovery, I feel, but despite the other artists remixed on Indie Rock Blues not showing up here, every single track on said album is pure brilliance. Check it out. Seriously. Go.