(December 2020) Episode 306 is RHBAND and BLOGGS, two projects of the California-based mysterious genius Ralph Haxton. These recordings, some exceedingly rare, are improvisational collages of acoustic sound textures using a variety of instruments and things. I enjoyed this more than the last time I listened, which was years ago.
Favorite album: First Tone
Favorite song: Eagle Rock 28/12/1997
Compared to expectations: ↑
(June 2020) Episode 271 is JOHN FAHEY. Fingerpicked guitar is so wholesome. If you love it like I do then John Fahey is essential. He didn’t invent the technique (that was southern blues players) but he made it its own art form, often called American primitive guitar (a label I don’t like because it connects him to Windham Hill-type New Age music, a connection he rejected). Amidst his personal eccentricities, Fahey tried several styles including Dixieland jazz, sound collage, and Christmas covers. But he’s at his best when his right hand goes full speed on folk and blues numbers.
Favorite album: The Dance of Death & Other Plantation Favorites
Favorite song: Jaya Shiva Shankara
Best song that Leo Kottke did a little better: The Last Steam Engine Train
Compared to expectations: same
(February 2020) Episode 254 is KARLHEINZ STOCKHAUSEN. You won’t hear his music at dinner parties, but he’s one of the most important composers and musical theorists of the late 20th century. There is a lot to absorb here: integration of electronic composition, theatricality, mystical themes, and that’s not even counting his theoretical writings. I was particularly impressed by the ambition of his cycles: “Licht (Light),” cosmic operas on the days of the week, and “Klang (Sound),” expressing a color for each hour of the day. If I ever have time, I might like to devote myself to a deep study of 20th century musical theory.
Favorite piece: Mittwochs Gruss(“overture” from Wednesday from Light)
Favorite opera: Freitag aus Licht (Friday from Light)
Favorite chamber piece: Adieu
Favorite choral piece: Unsichtbare Chöre
Compared to expectations: same
(January 2020) Episode 245 is OH SEES (also known as OCS and Thee Oh Sees). One of my favorite bands of the ’10s; a good representation of the music I’ve been into in recent years, although its style is hard to describe. Their initial lo-fi experimentalism is not so interesting, but they hit the gas around 2010 with psychedelic garage-rock freakouts. The evolution to space- and prog-rock in the recent albums is excellent.
Favorite song: The Dream
Favorite album: Floating Coffin
Compared to expectations: ↑
(August 2019) Episode 226 is JOHN CAGE. You’ll never see his compositions on standard repertoires or hear them at the dentist office. But after this episode I am convinced he is the most important composer of the 20th century, and arguably of all time, for forcing us to question whether there is a difference between music and sound, between directed sound and undirected sound. Why should we value the vibrations of a violin strong over those made by water sloshing through a conch shell? The emphasis of chance in certain work (perhaps his most controversial aspect) ensures that certain pieces can never be played the same twice. Technically, this episode is not complete, as one of his pieces is currently being played on an organ in Germany and not scheduled to end until the year 2640.
Favorite piece: Seventy Four
Favorite period: “numbers” period (last 5 years of his life)
Favorite prepared piano piece: Three Dances
Favorite string piece: Quartets I-VIII
Favorite piece with woodwinds: Eight
Favorite percussive piece: First Construction (in metal)
Favorite use of household items: Water Walk
Compared to expectations: same
(May 2019) Episode 217 of my “opus project” is LOU REED. The frontman (born 1942) of an influential and innovative 1960s band leaves the group to pursue a solo career. He records many albums over the decades; most are pop/rock oriented, a few are collaborations, and he dabbles in experimentalism. However, the solo output never reaches the magic he made with that 1960s group. Am I taking about Paul and the Beatles or Lou and the Velvet Underground? Even among the weak releases, it’s interesting to track his recordings with the windings of his personal and artistic life. At his best when it’s just his deadpan voice over a spare piano or guitar (nothing tops “Pale Blue Eyes” with the VU).
Favorite album: Transformer
Favorite song: Perfect Day
Best experimental work: Metal Machine Music (most will hate it but I love beautiful noise)
Best collaboration: Songs for Drella (with John Cale, a tribute to Andy Warhol)
Compared to expectations: ↓
(April 2019) I have completed episode 212 of my “opus project.” This edition: FOXYGEN. It’s exceedingly difficult to characterize their music, so here goes: Imagine Olivia Tremor Control reincarnated as a duo in Los Angeles as the love child of Ty Segall and Lou Reed, mixed with early Beck, mid-period Kinks, Satanic-era Stones, Oh Sees, late Beck, and a sprinkling of ELO and Zappa. That might be Foxygen, for now, because their next sound could be completely different. Fun fact: their latest album came out yesterday, setting the OP record for quickest incorporation of a new release.
Favorite album: We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic
Favorite song: San Francisco
Compared to expectations: same
(November 2015) I have completed episode 66 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to an artist’s full discography in chronological order. This episode; BJÖRK, with a bit of SUGARCUBES. She’s always doing something interesting.
Favorite album: Vespertine
Favorite song: Earth Intruders
Favorite period: 2001-2007
Compared to expectations: same
(October 2015) I have completed episode 63 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s full discography from start to finish. this episode: SWANS. If you prefer conventional song structure, then this artist may not be for you. But if you like beautiful noise, give Swans a try. The 1980s albums are severely experimental, the 1990s more accessible and song-oriented, and the 2010s richly sonic.
Favorite album: The Seer
Favorite song: The Sound
Favorite period: 2010-2014
Compared to expectations: same
(May 2015) I have completed phase 55 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to a band’s entre discography from start to finish. This episode: CAN. Because Krautrock! How to describe their music? The best answer is from my college roommate who introduced them to me a decade ago, who said: “I can’t. Just go listen to the album” (Tago Mago).
Favorite album: Tago Mago
Favorite song: Halleluhwah
Least favorite album: Can (an attempt to be disco-relevant)
Compared to expectations: same
Opus Project 