Obsidian Wings

Why I Don't Read Pitchfork

by publius

I suppose it's funny if they're doing it ironically.  If not, then not so much.  Here's the review of Air's new one, if you can bear it:

A half-decade of Balearic/glo-fi/'lude-house has since refined that mellow aesthetic to the point where taste-conscious end-runs around potential irony have become increasingly unnecessary. But while that refinement applied readily to the subtle songcraft of Talkie Walkie and Pocket Symphony, both of which provided ample evidence of Air's vintage pop smarts, they've somehow stumbled their way into a pit of lite-FM treacle on their new album.

In other news, Built to Spill may have finally found their stride again.

Bleg: Austin City Limits Advice

by publius

The schedule for Austin City Limits (a ginormous music festival in early October) is out.  You can see the schedule here.

So here's my bleg -- I need help plotting my listening strategy (which takes months of intense preparation).  There are always several bands playing at once -- and I've never heard of a lot of them.  So if there are any bands (esp. lesser-known bands) that you think are must-sees, I'd be much obliged. 

Also, the most troubling conflict is Girl Talk and Sonic Youth (I've never seen either).  Not sure what I'm supposed to do about that.  The Lily Allen/Andrew Bird conflict is also problematic.

Koko Taylor

by hilzoy

Koko Taylor has died. She was eighty years old, and was an astonishing blues singer. Here she is at nearly eighty. May she rest in peace.

 

Hey Paul Krugman!

by hilzoy

Somehow, this YouTube just seemed appropriate today:

(via Calculated Risk, who also notes Dr. Krugman's answer to a similar question.) 

Open thread.

*** Update: I don't have any idea whether any of you share my interest in utterly weird music -- music that makes you think: someone actually went to some trouble to do this? -- but if you do, and if the idea of companies in the 60s and 70s recording musicals about their products seems at all interesting, you should check out the following links:

(a) American Standards' The Bathrooms Are Coming, about bathroom fixtures. I think the two best are 'It's Revolution! Bathroom Revolution!' and 'My Bathroom Is A Very Private Place'. (b) GE's 'Got To Investigate Silicones'. The standout here is 'Paradox'. (c) More. Enjoy -- if that's the right word. ;)