Having nothing to do with anything

There is a lot going on right now in the world, with the nuclear situations escalating in both Iran and North Korean, the incident with congressman Foley, the school shootings, Russia and Georgia, etc. But, I just can't focus on it right now. It's all well and good to be public minded and concerned with the happenings of the world. In fact, it's incredibly important, but right now, it's all just too depressing for me, and I'm sick of getting all up in arms about everything that's going on. So, today, you get a good old music review. How boring.

I went out and bought a bunch of music yesterday because I needed to escape from the ugliness of the world for a while. I got Dummy by Portishead, I Am Not Afriad Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass by Yo La Tengo, Goo by Sonic Youth, and Cool To Be You by the Descendents. And now, by a show of hands, we'll find out how many people have heard of any of those bands. Anyone..?? Anyone..?? That's ok. I didn't think so. Maybe Yo La Tengo and Sonic Youth??

Anyway, I've listened through Dummy and I Am Not Afraid Of You.... more than once, so I'm ok with reviewing them. I'll have to let you know later what I thought of the Descendents and Sonic Youth.

So, as far as Portishead goes, I found a song of theirs on iTunes that I really liked. It was downtempo electronica sort of sounding. Very relaxing and soothing. So, I thought I'd pick up the whole disc. Downtempo would be exactly the way I would describe this whole disc. Portishead is a group from Bristol, England that I guess is classified as "trip hop" whatever that means. The vocals are done by Beth Gibbons, while the instrumentals come from Geoff Barrow. The disc is pretty good. Not exciting or catchy, but I guess that's what "trip hop" is supposed to be. The two singles off of this disc, "Glory Box" and "Sour Times" are my favorites (which is kind of sad, because I don't normally go for the singles). They both have kind of a 007, mystery feel to them. In fact this whole disc is kind of mysterious like that. It makes me think of a dangerous woman in a trenchcoat engaged in international espionage, or something like that.

Yo La Tengo's disc "I Am Not Afraid Of You And I Will Beat Your Ass," first off, has the best album title that I've heard in a while. The scope of music that this album encompasses is pretty wide. It goes from 10+ minute feedback infused jam sessions to quick and catchy "Mr. Tough" to beautiful and ethereal "Black Flowers." The thing that strikes me about this whole album is the fact that it is MUSIC. It is instruments and melody and harmony and vocals and lyrics. And it is ORIGINAL. Although I guess that's what Yo La Tengo is known for. YLT uses piano, strings and horns to supplement what are already stellar melodies and lyrics. Some of the longer tracks remind me a little bit of Jefferson Airplane, or other trippy bands from another time, and some of the shorter tracks remind me a little of 70's pop. Neither of which is a bad thing, because YLT makes it beautiful and original.

So, stay tuned to hear about the Descendents, which, I can tell you already is nerdy punk. How that works I don't know, but my current favorite track is called "Mass Nerder." What a shock.

I still haven't listened through all of the Sonic Youth disc yet, but I'll let you know when I do.

And, I'll probably jump back on the current events wagon soon. Don't worry friends, I know you love to hear me rant. I'll get there. But for today, I'm going to hide in my music.