Adventures In Stereo

Greetings … 

… It’s been near enough 4 months since I last posted and there’s been so much that I’ve failed to comment on.

So what’s been going on?  I’m assuming that everyone who is interested will know that The Gutter Twins have issued a 7″ of God’s Children, which includes a great (new) track, titled Spanish Doors (which happens to be a door without a handle).  They also released Adorata (a ‘digital release’ of outtakes and the likes) through iTunes.

Speaking of iTunes, I aint a big fan ‘digital music outlets’.  I have never been inclined to buy MP3’s and although much of the music I buy ends up on the MP3 player, I like the ‘hard copy’.  The whole package (whether it be CD or record) is a necessity and I hope that Adorata eventually makes it on to such a format.

I figure that it’d be a good time to look over the year so far and also look at what’s ahead. 

The Gutter Twins, Saturnalia
The finest album this year?  So far anyhoo.  It’s powerful and is exactly what we were all looking for from Mark Lanegan and Greg Dulli.  We haven’t been disappointed.

Earth, The Bees Made Honey in the Lion’s Skull
Another brilliant release from Dylan Carlson’s Earth.  Similar to HEX in its gothic soundscape and a title that refers to the story of Samson, this is one of the finest albums to have been released this year.

Shawn Smith, The Diamond Hand
Another great release from Shawn Smith (Pigeonhed, Brad, Satchel, Twilight Singers).  This has been a mainstay of my stereo since I purchased it.  It’s also worth noting that his previous albums have been re-issued.  Nice one.

Brian Wilson, That Lucky Old Sun
The demos floating around the information superhighway gave us all a taste of what was to come and there’s no denying that Mr. Wilson is back on form (the star studded ’Gettin’ In Over My Head’ was a little hit and miss, while the Christmas album wasn’t so inspiring either).

Other albums worth mentioning:
Nas, N; Calexico, Carried to Dust; Giant Sand, ProVISIONS; Kings of Leon, Only By The Night; Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!; Lil Wayne, Tha Carter III; MGMT, Oracular Spectacular and Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan, Sunday at Devil Dirt.

Stone Temple Pilots:
together and touring, Scott Weiland, the De Leo’s and Eric Kretz look as though they are back for good. It’s been too long.

Jane’s Addiction:
a stunning performance at the NME awards in L.A. reminded everyone just how incredible this band were prior to Strays.  Sadly it looks like it was just a one off … but with Perry Farrell’s Satellite Party falling apart at the seams and Dave Navarro’s The Panic Channell being the most musically redundant project he or Mr. Perkins have been involved in, maybe there’s hope that they’ll decide to get back in the studio.

What’s on the horizon?