Dusting The Stacks #2: Smashing Pumpkins-Pisces Iscariot

My appreciation for the Smashing Pumpkins began in a fairly logical place: Siamese Dream. It was the summer before my first year of college when I picked up the bands seminal classic and immediately upon hearing it I started working my way through the bands other albums, starting with Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, then Adore, Zeitgeist, and Gish. Finding the free download for the the limited vinyl-only release MACHINA II/The Friends And Enemies Of Modern Music proved to be a godsend. Although the album was the last before their (first) retirement and never saw a wide release, it remains one of my favorite releases from the band. But thats not what I'm here to talk about today. Towards the end of my hard-core Pumpkins phase, I purchased the bands b-side album Pisces Iscariot. I listened to the album one time upon purchasing it and then, sadly, moved on without ever giving it a fair chance. Hence, I've decided that the Smashing Pumpkins' 1994 release Pisces Iscariot is the subject of this weeks' episode of Dusting The Stacks.

Pisces Iscariot was released between arguably the bands two best albums, Siamese Dream and Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness and features b-sides, outtakes and demos recorded mostly during the Siamese Dream sessions. Despite being an odds and ends type collection, the album went platinum in the US and now, even a decade and a half after its release, its pretty easy to see why. The album is filled with the wall-of-sound-guitar-guided-missiles that made them famous, while simultaneously highlighting the bands softer side with plenty of beautifully articulated acoustic jams. However, Pisces Iscariot is not without its faults; it is, after all, a b-sides collection. Some of the tracks fall flat, well deserving their classification of what it means to be a b-side/outtake/demo. But lets not forget this is the Smashing Pumpkins and even at their worst, the band maintains a high level of what Bud Light marketing execs might call 'listenability'. The best parts of this album show us a truly great band in their prime taking some bold risks. These experiments may not always pay off, and they might not have fit into the bands other releases, but that doesn't mean that there aren't some really incredible songs. After some intense reconsideration and a number of full listens through the album, I've realized what a horrible mistake I made letting this album get so dusty. Highlights include a beautiful and honest cover of Fleetwood Mac's classic and oft covered single "Landslide" and the 11 minute slow-building epic "Starla". Other tracks like "Frail and Bedazzled" and "Hello Kitty Kat" are just as simultaneously aggressive and melodic as anything the band has ever released. Although I wouldn't recommend this as a starting point for new Pumpkins fans, anyone who has a pre-existing relationship with the band should consider picking this album up if they haven't already. Ultimately, Pisces Iscariot is a worthy and memorable, if not mildly flawed chapter in the Smashing Pumpkins canon.

Listen to the entire album free right here thanks to lala.com

Pisces Iscariot - Smashing Pum...

Beck - Sunday Morning (Velvet Underground Cover)

In the world of covers, its easy to find mediocre musicians covering great musicians. But when one great artist covers another, that is something pretty special. Beck covering The Velvet Underground definitely qualifies as the latter. Although this version isn't radically different from the original, Beck is somehow able to make an extremely chill song even slower and more relaxed. Beck is a notorious sonic-shape shifter, vastly restructuring his sound from album to album so when an isolated song like this pops up, you never know what to expect. This particular track, for instance, wouldn't stand out in the slightest if it had been featured on Beck's 2002 release Sea Change. Covers are always risky, and the more beloved the original, the higher the risk. Thats why I was surprised I liked this as much as I did. The Velvet Underground are one of the most influential and important artists of the past century and they hold a very special place in my heart. Luckily, so does Beck and he shows this legendary song every ounce of respect and reverence it deserves, while still maintaining his own artistic integrity and individuality. Rumor has it Beck is planning on covering the entire Velvet Underground & Nico album. Im intrigued, excited and skeptical.

WTF

I really don't know what to say.

I really like Animal Collective despite/because of this video. I can't decide which. They are sooooooo weird. But sooooooo goood. That is all. I could describe this video, but that wouldn't get me anywhere.

Dusting The Stacks #1: Sonic Youth-Rather Ripped

I've decided to introduce a new segment to MidPoints and depending on the response I get, I may make it a regular feature. I call it Dusting The Stacks and the goal is to put the spotlight on some of my favorite old records that need some attention. For the most part, great albums are continually discussed and revered, and the shitty ones are justifiably forgotten. However, I think there are plenty of albums out there that have fallen short of greatness that are still worth listening to and discussing years after their release. I mean the name, Dusting The Stacks quite literally because a few days ago I was cleaning my room and part of that involved dusting my CD collection and I stumbled upon some albums that I hadnt listened to in a while. My collection of CDs is a source of both great pride and sadness in my life. I have long since lost track of the exact number, but my current estimates have me right around 500. Unfortunately, the entire collection resides (unalphabetized!) on the floor of my room in nine knee-high stacks. Anyhow, the first album I've decided to dig up is Sonic Youth's fantastic 2006 release Rather Ripped.

As is the case with most bands of the 'noise rock' persuasion, Sonic Youth is an acquired taste. I initially found their music too abrasive and inaccessible even for me. I appreciated their classic albums like Daydream Nation and Dirty, but I never really figured out the appeal. Until the summer of 2006 when the band released Rather Ripped. Hardcore fans of the band were quick to denounce the album as a departure from the true Sonic Youth style. It wasn't that Rather Ripped was that different from their previous material, it was just that the band had changed producers and paradigms for the 2006 release. Before making the record the band apparently came to the realization that noise rock isn't very much fun for everyone who isn't in the band. They opted to make a relatively 'noise' free album and the result was an increased level of melodic, instrumental and lyrical clarity. After nearly a quarter of a century of music with noise at the forefront, Sonic Youth finally started using it as garnish; complimenting, rather than burying the core elements of the song. The end result is a beautiful and concise record from one of indie cultures most beloved acts. My favorite songs on the album are "Reena", "Do You Believe In Rapture" and "Pink Steam". Check it out, you can listen to the entire album here for FREE thanks to the good people at lala.com. I hate to sound like I'm just advertising for another website, but everyone should definitely check out lala.com. They have a huge selection of music and you can listen to every song for free one time. You can then buy the albums for online listening or mp3 at pretty cheap prices. Good way to preview albums before purchasing them.

Rather Ripped - Sonic Youth

Summer Bands: The White Stripes 101

Legos and The White Stripes in HD. What more could you want?

I spent most of my summers before college hundreds of miles from civilization in Galena, IL, a small resort/retirement community. The Galena economy was fueled exclusively by knick-knacks and golf and there was absolutely nothing for me to do. So, I sat around reading and burning through as many CDs I as I could get my hands on. One of the my favorite summer bands is the White Stripes. They released albums in the summers of 2001 (White Blood Cells), 2003 (Elephant), 2005 (Get Behind Me Satan), and 2007 (Icky Thump). Well now its summer 2009 and sadly there are no indications of any new White Stripes material being released in the near future. In honor of this Detroit based duet, I give you The White Stripes 101. The White Stripes doesn't have a Greatest Hits album, but if they asked me to make one this is what it would look like. I know it doesn't include their first two albums. Deal. It starts with there more fast paced singles and then delves into some of the weirder deep cuts. Here we go:

THE WHITE STRIPES 101

1. Blue Orchid (Get Behind Me Satan-2008)

2. Fell In Love With A Girl (White Blood Cells-2001)

3. Theres No Home For You Here (Elephant-2003)

4. The Denial Twist (Get Behind Me Satan-2005)

5. Rag & Bone (Icky Thump-2007)

6. Little Room (White Blood Cells-2001)

7. Girl You Have No Faith In Medicine (Elephant-2003)

8. Take, Take, Take (Get Behind Me Satan-2005)

9. Conquest (Icky Thump-2007)

10. Seven Nation Army (Elephant-2003)

11. Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground (White Blood Cells-2001)

12. Instinct Blues (Get Behind Me Satan-2005)

13. Icky Thump (Icky Thump-2007)

14. I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself (Elephant-2003)

15. You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do As You're Told) (Icky Thump-2007)

16. The Air Near My Fingers (Elephant-2003)

17. My Doorbell (Get Behind Me Satan-2005)

18. Passive Manipulation (Get Behind Me Satan-2005)

19. I Want To Be The Boy (Elephant-2003)

20. Prickly Thorn, But Sweetly Worn (Icky Thump-2007)

21. St. Andrew (This Battle Is In The Air) (Icky Thump-2007)

22. Little Ghost (Get Behind Me Satan-2005)

23. In The Cold Cold Night (Elephant-2003)

24. We're Going to Be Friends (White Blood Cells-2001)

25. Effect & Cause (Icky Thump-2007)

26. This Protector (White Blood Cells-2001)

Hot damn! 26 great tracks in only 77 minutes. Happy summer 2009 folk!

15 Step-Live From The 2009 Grammys

Todays release of In Rainbows Disk 2 has me in quite the Radiohead mood. In the interest of preserving that mood and at the request of Mr. Saeed Jones, I have tracked down a high quality mp3 of Radiohead's live performance of "15 Step" with the USC marching band from this years Grammys. Enjoy!

15 Step - Live at the 2009 Grammys

Radiohead - In Rainbows Disk 2

Ok, so this isn't exactly a new release but its new to everyone who didn't buy the deluxe version of Radiohead's 2007 release In Rainbows. For the first time, In Rainbows Disk 2 is available as a digital download exclusively from the band's online W.A.S.T.E. store. I was hoping that this would be a free download like In Rainbows, but unfortunately Radiohead decided to sell out and charge us a whole £6 (9.78760 USD).

I've listened to the whole album all the way through and even though its only 27 minutes long, it's a pretty damn good 27 minutes. The album sounds exactly like what you would expect a companion piece to In Rainbows to sound like. Recorded during the same sessions as In Rainbows, the follow up disk has a similar sonic aesthetic as the original; stripped down piano, guitar and drums highlight the musicianship and songwriting prowess the band. Ultimately, like any other Radiohead release, In Rainbows Disk 2 is filled with moments of breath taking beauty and mind bending weirdness, but all pulled off in a way that is incredibly honest and satisfying. My favorites are the slowly building (and aptly titled) "Go Slowly" and the expansive orchestral "Down Is The New Up". At the end of the day, In Rainbows Disk 2 is great. It's everything I want Radiohead release to be, with its brevity being the only shortcoming. Literal or otherwise.