web page hit counter Poison Ninjas: December 2005

Saturday, December 24, 2005



The Cocteau Twins are undoubtedly one of my favorite bands of all time. Elizabeth Fraser’s voice remains to be something that’s simply indescribable and unjustifiable by words alone, and a voice that I have not heard matched by anyone to this day. The band’s output is legendary among shoegazers, goths, ambient heads, and multi-purpose indie kids alike. This past year, 4AD released Lullabies to Violaine, a 4 disc retrospective collecting every single/b-side that the group has ever put out. All Cocteau Twins devotees know that the band often released their best tracks solely in the single format, making this collection so significant as a career retrospective and just so damn enjoyable. Unlike the earlier round of album reissues, the remastering on Lullabies sounds superb. The oft-overlooked post-4AD material sounds great as well, and might I add that many of the later songs double incredibly well as Christmas music.

I’ve posted four songs from the box set here. “The Spangle Maker” and “Aikea-Guinea” are Cocteau classics, and hardly need some meandering intro from me. (Note that the Aikea-Guinea is an alternate version from the original 12” version.) I’ve always felt that “Circling Girl” is one of the group’s most underrated songs; it’s incredibly lush and beautiful, and is as strong as anything else the group released in their final years. Finally, there’s the Cocteau’s take on “Frosty the Snowman” because… well.. tis the season and all. Enjoy~

Cocteau Twins - The Spangle Maker
Cocteau Twins - Aikea-Guinea (alternate version)
Cocteau Twins - Circling Girl
Cocteau Twins - Frosty the Snowman

-David


What if Michael Jackson wasn't out of his mind. What if he were playing the most brilliantly insane joke ever played. How could the same bright-eyed youth that captured our hearts and epitomized the Christmas spirit by singing with such bewilderment and joy be the same crazy that touches little boys in their privates. It defies logic.
What if the Jackson 5 ventured into the avant-garde-experimental-noise scene? That would be some of the craziest stuff ever. Who else sings love songs for Frosty? Seriously Who? Merry Christmas guys.

Jackson 5- Up on the Housetop


Jackson 5- Someday on Christmas

Jackson 5- Frosty the Snowman

Jackson 5- Give Love on Christmas Day

-John

Saturday, December 10, 2005


So the new Mogwai leaked and I can't help feeling a bit dissapointed. The album is nice enough, an above average standard-fare post-rock album, and it's not like I was expecting greatness or anything, but to me it felt like they were just settling. The music fails to challenge or push the sound into any sonic innovation. The album really feels like any other Coldplay album (which is not a good/bad thing), but I may be just going crazy from all this noise I've been hearing lately. The song available for download is actually the only song on the album that sounds like it's not part of the album. Anyway, there are worthwhile songs on this album, and I would probably recommend it to my baby cousin and her nursery, but I'm pretty positive that hipsters/indie-kids will be spinning the shit out of this, and I wouldn't want her to be a part of that mess. But seriously, this is a positive review. I'm just bitter.

Mogwai- I Chose Horses


-John

Monday, December 05, 2005

my top 15 or so.












1. hood- outside closer
2. julien neto- le fumeur de ciel
3. susumu yokota- symbol
4. cocorosie- noah's ark
5. ladytron- witching hour
6. isis- oceanic remixes
7. dj drama and project pat- gangsta grillz
8. m83- before the dawn heals us
9. enslaved- isa
10. johann johannson- dis
11. vitalic- ok cowboy
12. benjamin diamond- out of myself
13. new order- waiting for the siren's call
14. silver jews- tanglewood numbers
15. brian mcbride- when the detail lost its freedom

-John

Saturday, December 03, 2005



Might as well post this. My Favorite Albums of 2005:

1. Ladytron – Witching Hour
2. The Books – Lost & Safe
3. Roisin Murphy – Ruby Blues
4. Jesu – s/t
5. Isolee – We Are Monster
6. Out Hud – Let Us Never Speak of it Again
7. Tujiko Noriko w/ Aoki Takamasa – 28
8. M83 – When the Dawn Heals Us
9. Susumu Yokota - Symbol
10. The National – Alligator

11. Vashti Bunyan – Lookaftering
12. Bloc Party – Silent Alarm
13. The Clientele – Strange Geometry
14. V/A - Kompakt Total 6
15. Stars – Set Yourself On Fire
16. Boards of Canada – Headphase Campfire
17. Serena Maneesh – s/t
18. CocoRosie – Noah’s Ark
19. Sunn O))) – Black One
20. Rachel Stevens – Come and Get It

21. Lali Puna – I Thought I was Over That
22. Sigur Ros – Takk
23. Barbara Morgenstern w/ Robert Lippok – Tesri
24. Saint Etienne – Tales from Turnpike House
25. Jeans Team – Musik Von Oben
26. Keith Whitman Fullerton – Multiples
27. Paavoharju – Yha Hamaara
28. New Pornographers – Twin Cinema
29. Kelley Polar – Love Songs of the Hanging Gardens
30. Montag – Alone, Not Alone

31. Black Dice – Broken Ear Record
32. Jan Jelinek – Kosmischer Pitch
33. Coldplay – X & Y
34. Readymade – All the Plans Resting
35. Broken Social Scene – s/t
36. The Boats – We Made it for You
37. Royksopp – The Understanding
38. Sufjan Stevens – Illinois
39. Broadcast – Tender Buttons
40. Wolf Parade – Apologies to the Queen Mary

41. 13 and God – s/t
42. MIA – Arular
43. Ellen Allien - Thrills
44. Juan Maclean – Less than Human
45. Animal Collective - Feels
46. Antony & the Johnsons – I am a Bird Now
47. Lightning Bolt – Hypermagic Mountain
48. Pelican – The Fire in Our Throats Will Beckon the Thaw
49. L’altra – Different Days
50. Johann Johannsson – Dis

-David

Thursday, December 01, 2005

Keiichi Suzuki takes a synthesized processor and gives it a pulse. Coming from a drum'n'bass influence, Suzuki snares a jackhammer beat to a laden melody creating a volatile, yet haunting harmony.
Keiichi Suzuki- A House on Fire and a Massacre All Over


My favorite song for the past month. I will sing this to my wife.
Isis- Like I Will Love Her Forever (Speedrach Fucking Die Remix)

Think 70's Elton John meets Phil Spector. A perfect pop arrangement drowned within a wall of lush sound.
10cc- I'm Not in Love

-John