By David Thomas
December 21, 2004
Dec. 8
I’m in the middle of watching the opening set of WALKING CONCERT (for headliners EAGLES OF DEATH METAL) at the Empty Bottle in my adopted hometown of Chicago when it hits me: “Shit, I forgot to write my Poop Shoot column! I swear that I’ll get that done for next week.”
Dec. 15.
Are you kidding me? Man, I need a reminder for this column lately. I think getting out of the rhythm of writing it over the last month definitely has thrown me off. I better sift through this stack of CDs that’s burying my desk in clutter.
Dec. 17
It’s my birthday and my fiancée gets me the perfect gift, the NIRVANA box set, With The Lights Out. I hadn’t heard much about it, intentionally waiting for my birthday or Christmas and some astute family member buying it for me since reviewers rarely get box sets as freebies. Just glancing at the songs on the four discs, I’m pretty surprised at how many completely new to me songs there are on here. I know there are probably some NIRVANA aficionados that have had these in some form for a long time but for me, this is terrific. Now when am I going to have the time to listen to all these?
Dec. 18
Weekend is here and I have some time to sit down with headphones and my CDs. I’ve been listening to this new Mike Patton project KAADA/PATTON titled Romances for a few months now. The final artwork arrived and it’s cool but otherwise it just sounds like a more musical FANTOMAS project. OK Mike, bring back TOMAHAWK already, I’m getting tired of all this crap. Sorry.
Next up is the latest from Chicago area act OWEN called I Perceive. It feels like just days ago I reviewed his last EP appropriately titled “The EP.” This full length isn’t bad, minus the really bad cover. It’s dreamy and sleepy enough to put on as mood music but won’t get you moving and grooving. Great to listen to when you’re writing.
Dec. 19
A while back I got this live CD by NEKO CASE called The Tigers Have Spoken. Case is joined by THE SADIES for the tour/disc that was partly recorded just down the street from my office at Schuba’s Tavern. I’m not a “fan” of Case in particular but it’s easy to appreciate the clear songwriting style, powerful and heartfelt voice along with terrific sound quality. I dig live recordings and this one has me interested in getting Case’s next album.
Dec. 20
Finally getting to listen to the NIRVANA set. The first disc is interesting. It’s the earliest of the early and we find Nirvana are big Led Zeppelin fans with two covers popping up. The end of the first disc with a number of pretty clear demos I’d never heard is excellent. The second disc has a lot more familiar stuff that fans will notice. Here the demos are actually a bit more grating and give away the sound Butch Vig would clean up on Nevermind.
It’s time to write my column and I have a disc or two left. The latest from MARIANNE FAITHFULL is here. Before The Poison features songs written by PJ Harvey, Damon Albarn and Nick Cave and they all sound like it. Harvey’s sound better with the aging Faithfull’s whispers but Cave’s are eerily fitting as well. Let me just put it out there that I find people my age who say they’re big fans of artists like Faithfull full of crap. You didn’t own an album until you saw her picture next to some cool member of the WHITE STRIPES. So here she is in this trendy setting. Luckily she is talented and we can’t fault her for her equally talented friends.
I'm not going to wrap up the year with a top ten since I've been so sporadic as of late. But I will announce my Artist of the Year and it might surprise you.
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