One Fine Selection No. 13

Lucky number 13 is "What A Drag" from Bear Hands.  Enjoy.

Lula Divinia. Shiner.

The townhouse album feature returns with one from Shiner, one of the giants of 90's underground alternative. Grit, grunge, distortion, interesting time signatures, a healthy nod to the infinite beyond, trippy lyrics, and strained vocals are all sounds of the 90's underground scene.  Shiner was at the forefront of that sound and Lula Divinia is a prime example of what it was all about.  In Lula, the band explores both the heavier side of 90's push-the-envelope-alternative rock with "Third Gear Scratch" and "Shelf Life", and the more atmospheric tendencies of the era with "Pinned".  Lula Divinia holds a special place in my heart as one of the first albums that developed my mature taste in music, where I found what I liked, and wanted more of it. It was a milestone of my listening journey. It's definitely worth a listen.  Enjoy.

One Fine Selection No. 12

"Grey Market" from Nerve featuring the otherworldly Jojo Mayer on drums.  It's groovy, technical, and has a massive ending.  Enjoy.

Forgot Dosh

In the Townhouse drum extravaganza I forgot Martin Dosh.  It was a great disservice to humanity. His drumming ability is superb, and his songs are excellent, so here's a little taste of Martin Dosh. Let this post be only a starting point, though, because it's well worth exploring the full body of his work. Enjoy.

One Fine Selection No. 11

What's hardcore music?  Youth of Today will show you.  Enjoy.

Elegant Simplicity

Ok, maybe elegant isn't the right word.  Maybe brutal is more accurate, but either way, "Wild International" by One Day as A Lion is another example of the supreme power of simplicity.  It's easy to create something that hides behind bells and whistles.  But the ability to create something that will hold up once the novelty wears off, listen after listen, and that is completely stripped down to its essential elements, that is the mark of true skill.  De la Rocha (Rage Against the Machine) and Jon Theodore (Queens of the Stone Age) combine their skill to produce a song that doesn't need complex structure, intricate fills, or even more than two instruments.  It's drums, a distorted keyboard, a voice, and raw power.