February is Music Writer Exercise Month #MWE • Page 45

Roadside Monument - Beside This Brief Hexagonal. Late 90s Seattle-emo/math rock band reuniting for this year's Furnace Fest that I've never listened to before. About halfway through it and it's very much in the vein of earlier The Appleseed Cast with pretty intense moments of heaviness.

I've not shared my list because it's very, uh, concentrated for the most part on a very certain sound/scene and admittedly lacks the diversity I've aimed for in the past that is like the direct opposite of why most people do this exercise/why I've done it in the past, haha.

 

New music is new music, no need to feel that there's certain quotas or expectations regarding the diversity of any of these lists, or what you choose to spend your time listening to!

 

Oh, I agree, but it's also very much not the vibe I've ever gotten during this exercise in past years as a participant or observer.

 

in the court of the crimson king for me

 

Eddie Palmieri’s Justicia on my docket

 

I've got Bat Out of Hell, which I do think I've heard in passing before, but never really listened to.

First impression: It's bonkers. And a lot of fun!

 

hell yeah

 

Musical theater Springsteen about teenage horniness produced by one of the great weirdo pop geniuses

 

i didn’t realize this album is 90 minutes long lol

 

Tried out Fifth Dimension by The Byrds. It’s a pretty enjoyable piece of early Psychedelic Rock. Have to remember how forward thinking it was at the time because now it sounds standard if you’ve heard enough of that era without context. “Mr Spaceman” was my favorite track that I hadn’t heard before.

 

Fuck, I totally forgot I wanted to do this this year!

I suppose I could count that '99 Guster album for my today listen and spend the rest of today deciding what albums the remaining 27 days should be lol

 

I did make a big list of records but they’re not really in any order or theme. Just gonna take a look at it every day and grab one that I’m feeling in the mood for. It’s 50° and raining today, from what I know about Cocteau Twins it sounds like a good day to hear The Moon and the Melodies for the first time

 

Looking forward to reading your thoughts on it. If you like it, obviously. If you don't, I'll just ignore.

 

It’s fucking awesome. Can’t believe I’d never really listened before now.

 

There’s a “Classic Albums” episode on it that’s a fascinating watch. Especially when Todd Rundgren demonstrates how he got the motorcycle guitar sounds into the solo in one take.

I assume you also saw the E Street members who played on it?

 

Yoko album ruled. It’s 90 minutes so i don’t expect many to check it out, but i highly rec. This song is so good:

 

I did! Though, I knew it was Bittan just by listening to him play.

 

Excited to see what you think of it. I only know Heaven or Las Vegas and even though I love it, I never looked into the rest of their catalogue.

 

Day 1 was American Water by Silver Jews from 1998, and this was great! Reminds me a lot of the first National album, plus a bit of Bright Eyes and (obviously) quite a bit of Pavement too. It's a bluesy-Americana record, done with an indie rock band sense of style. Lyrics that I caught on a first listen were interesting and evocative, with lots of great imagery. Good album, enjoyed it a lot, and a good start to February.

 

I haven't listened to enough Silver Jews. Berman's Purple Mountains record is one of my favourite things of recent years, and he was an amazing lyricist.

Do it. No one's day got any worse with more Cocteau Twins.

 

american water is such an important record to me, glad you enjoyed @George

 

approximately infinite universe is one of my favorite albums of all time, good pick

 

Wall to wall fun. Of the times in the best way. “Faded” is still an absolute blast. @irthesteve you had asked me about this yesterday, think you’d enjoy it! Super charming album

 

Guess it's time to dive deeper then!

 

I haven't. Despite hearing everything the fab four released, I never could bring myself to dig deeper into Yoko aside from her Plastic Ono Band release, which was even a bit much for me