Music Response Vol 3: the death of radio

Filia Brazilia: A touch of Cloth

Porn Music is back! Filia has been a fixture in organic downtempo for quite a few years and has a pretty decent following. Instead of producing music with synths, drum machines and loops, they have a live band- a damn good one at that. Great
music to heavy-pet too or just plain good bake music.

Elliot Smith: Either\Or

Something about talented young songwriters and OD'ing on heroin that makes their music more timeless. Elliot Smith's claim to fame was having his song "Miss Misery" featured in the venerable movie "Good Will Hunting". If I had to name one band that has emulated his style it has to be The shins although I feel that they probably have a rosier outlook on life than Elliot did in his last years. This album finds itself oscillating between the outright melancholy dirges to pure acoustic track that on the outside seem more upbeat but on repeated listens will reveal strong undercurrents of Elliot's subtle sadness (ie. Rose Parade). There is certainly a style to his playing and coupled with elliot's almost monotone baritone that can only be described as completely captivating, you can file this album away under rainy-day sunday listening.

Better Than Ezra: Before the Robots

Everyone our age remembers that insipid song "Good" that was played over and over on MTV and z100. Dismissed as candy-coated psuedo-alternative music and/or as a 1 hit wonder by most people, BTE in my opinion is as solid as any band has been since the 90's. Tracks on prior albums like "King of New Orleans", "Desperately Wanting", and "At the stars" will prove my point. Before the Robots as a whole is reminscent of the usual BTE love songs, some upbeat and endearing, the others a bit more reflective and of an acoustic styling. Track highlights are "Special" and "Our last night". Seems BTe is sticking with their recipe for success which in the short term is a good thing for stalwart fans, but might ultimately lead to stagnation and their ultimate commerical demise.

Dj Shadow: Entroducing

Yea i know this album has been out for Eons but I just listened to it OK?! I was reading some article 2 months back about some middle school band who performed the entire album instrumentally in front of the school during a recital. If you've heard the album then'll you know just how impressive this is. Probably one of the most important albums in the electronica/dub genre this is a must listen. To get the full effect you'll probably want to listen to it in order since most of the tracks segway from one to the next. GET IT NOW!

Notable Tracks
Where'd you go- Fort Minor featuring Holly Brook
I listened to this track 6 times in a row and still shivered all the way through

Whiskey and Wine-311
I can relate

Everybody's Changing-Keane
I first heard this song im Amsterdam sitting at the bar by myself for the 4th nite in a row. At the time I thought it was Radiohead but later learned that it was Keane, a band that when Coldplay was becoming big was drawing criticism for sounding like them.