Even the Beatles started small...

So last week I was at Amoeba records and, after purchasing a few new releases, headed to one of my favorite sections. There I found a used copy of Faust's debut album paired with their second album So Far for about 8 bucks. What a deal. I bought it figuring it would be the jewel of my catch.
I stuck in the player when I got home and was almost immediately puzzled. Since when does Faust sound like a 70s British progressive rock band? I knew they were on Richard Branson's Virgin label at one point so, after settling into my disappointment with the record, and being too lazy, or absent minded, to pursue the CD I decided it was just the sound of a young band still finding its direction. The Stones played almost exclusively covers in their early days. Radiohead was just as boring as most bands of the time for their first one. We'll forgive Faust.

Yesterday, still puzzled, I decided to read some of the reviews on amazon.

Here is what I found:

Julian Cope wrote, 'There is no group more mythical than Faust'. Both these albums have been very difficult to find for years. Now their first two CD's available on one CD. Their debut 'Faust' was truly a revolutionary step forward in the progress of 'rock music'. Originally released in 1971, it was pressed on clear vinyl, packaged in a clear sleeve, with a clear plastic lyric insert. The black X-ray of a fist on the cover graphically illustrates the hard core music contained in the grooves, electronics, rock tape edits, acoustic guitars, musique concrete and industrial angst. The second from 1972 moves closer to actual song structure, but still remains experimental. Standard jewel case. 2000 release.

Huh? Tape edits? Musique concrete? Electronics? I must have missed those parts.

I listened to the samples and...no surprise...the CD I was given was definitely not Faust.

So I took it back to Amoeba, expecting to get rejected without a receipt.

When I explained the problem to the dude at the front desk he opened it and immediately said, "Jethro Tull." He was nice enough to refund my money which I used to buy a new, slightly more expensive version of the dual CD. In the end, it's a lot better than the Tull record I was originally given, though that's no knock on Tull.

Pop Icon Dies, Takes revolution with him

From a buddy regarding the death of Michael Jackson:  "When I saw it on tv, my first thought was 'so much for anybody paying attention to Iran.'

If the protesting Iranians felt like they weren't getting enough support from the West, see how they feel now that I'm going to spend my time listening to Larry King reflect on his last dinner with Michael Jackson.  On the other hand, it's probably the best thing that ever happened to that crazy bastard governor of South Carolina.

If you've always thought about reading the infinite jest

Here is a great chance to do so.

wedding jam:

thank you to everybody who made it out. we had a blast, hope you all did as well.

now off to europe we go.

20 year old dude working the door at the manhattan last night:

"i know you're, like, 30 or something and you have a cool t-shirt, but i still have to ask for your ID."

i think i've lost my edge. probably a good thing i'm getting married and settling down to be a couch potato.

Recent Listens...

Sonic Youth The Eternal
I'm listening to this right now for like the 2 1/2 time since I picked it up Tuesday, which should tell you a bit of how much it's grabbed me so far. It's not as bad as I thought at first, but I think it's probably a bit unecessary when it comes down to it. In the future I envision record companies employing a machine which reads old records, converts the music into numerical values, and then uses the data to spit out new records by old bands that no longer exist. Some of this sounds like something that would be generated on a bad day by one of those machines: completely generic and more or less uninspiring retreads. One of the more boring Sonic Youth albums from what I can tell so far, though I guess a decent EP could me made out of it. (The bonus LP Live at Battery Park that comes with the pre-orders, on the other hand, is probably the best out of the 3 officially released SY live records where they play songs rather than jams.) I also bought the SYR 7 LP as a consolation prize in anticipation of how much The Eternal was going to suck and found it to be pretty awesome. More so than The Eternal.

UPDATE: 3 1/2 listens in The Eternal is not as yawn inducing as I first thought. Even so, I can think of at least 15 or so SY records I would buy first.

Justice (Cross album)
I missed this one when it came out a year or so ago but picked it up at the public library. Sounds like something a more electronically oriented Tortoise would do if they spent more time in Paris disco clubs and less time in Chicago jazz clubs.

Deerhunter Rainwater Cassette Exchange
Girl groups, Wire, the Strokes with a bit more noise in the background. A nice little EP that ends before you could ever get sick of it.

My favorite all time EPS:

1. Polvo-Celebrate the New Dark Age
2. Pavement-Watery, Domestic (and Pacific Trim)
3. Palace-Gulf Shores
4. Breeders-Safari

Old records I recently purchased that I should have bought long ago...

1. Can-Future Days
2. MF Doom-Operation Doomsday
3. Pink Floyd-Meddle and Wish You Were Here
4. The Stooges-Fun House
5. Richard Hell and the Voidoids-Blank Generation
6. ODB-Return to the 36 Chambers

bret michaels takes one in the grill:

the rock of love magnate had a totally cool reaction to the incident.

Oldham at the Variety

Best show of the season. Hands down.