pacificlectic : concert reviews & eclectic music news

Happy 233rd birthday, United States!

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(Sub)consciously prompted by these music blogs, here are my favs of the first half of 2009… it’s all bound to switch around by year’s end:

Artist – Album (label)

1. Dredg – The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion (Ohlone)
2. Masada Quintet + Joe Lovano – Masada Book Two: Book of Angels, Vol. 12 ~ Stolas (Tzadik)
3. OSI – Blood (Inside Out Records)
4. Wussy – Wussy (Shake It Records)
5. Dave Douglas & Brass Ecstasy – Spirit Moves (Green Leaf Music)
6. Wynton Marsalis – He and She (EMI / Blue Note)
7. John Zorn – Alhambra: Love Songs (Tzadik)
8. Regina Spektor – Far (Sire / Warner)
9. Isis – Wavering Radiant (Ipecac)
10. Zu – Carboniferous (Ipecac)
11. Dream Theater – Black Clouds & Silver Linings, really only the instrumental disc (Roadrunner)
12. Jamie Saft – Black Shabbis (Tzadik)
13. Madeleine Peyroux – Bare Bones (Rounder)
14. Secret Chiefs 3 – Le Mani Destre Recise Degli Ultimi Uomini (Web of Mimicry)
15. Ember Swift – Lentic :: 子玉 (Few’ll Ignite Sound)

I didn’t get a few that already came out this year… the new Green Day, U2, Placebo, Eminem, Dave Matthews Band, Fever Ray, Crank 2 soundtrack (by Mike Patton).  I’m waiting for them to be cheaper used, but they may make it to the list at the end of the year.

The 2nd half of 2009 promises to bring some potential great ones, too… John Zorn’s O’o, Medeski Martin & Wood Radiolarians 3, Mike Patton’s Mondo Cane (possibly by November), Secret Chiefs 3 Book of Souls (maybe), a new Sufjan Stevens (just speculating, since it’s been a while), Ani DiFranco always has something coming out, Jon Madof’s CircuitBreaker debut (maybe) & another Rashanim, The Tango Saloon’s Transylvania (stateside release?), new Tristeza, Over the Rhine Live from Nowhere IV, George Hrab ‘s 6th album Trebuchet, Derek Webb‘s Stockholm Syndrome, SFJazz 2009 with Dave Douglas & Joe Lovano and others, A Perfect Circle internet only single releases (as mentioned back here), and a new Tool record (they’ve worked on it some, but I doubt it’ll hit until 2010)… and I’m sure another dozen or more that I’ll dig from Tzadik.

~Dan  – np: Cut Chemist – The Audience’s Listening

again… Happy 233rd birthday, United States!

This July 4th, celebrate Sarah Palin resigning as Alaskan governor!