(TV) What are we listening to?

[Phil Obbard <pobbard@yahoo.com>]

Since I have enough free time to buy music these days (semi-regular
trips to LA have helped -- the only major record store in Fresno,
Tower Records, is going out of business here as it is everywhere),
I've been able to pick-up quite a few new things. 

Here's what I've been listening to lately:

Denim / Go-Kart Mozart. I think I mentioned Denim on the list a few
months ago, the successor band to Felt. Unlike Felt, which is firmly
in Television/VU territory, Denim and GKM are both closer to
electronica and Britpop. Moreover, unlike Felt's inward-facing
lyrics, Denim and GKM records are increasingly sarcastic, cynical,
clever, and self-referential. I've managed to track down almost
everything by both bands, with a few holes here and there.
Recommended and in-print are BACK IN DENIM (1992) (amazing) and
TEARING UP THE ALBUM CHARTS (2005) (very good). Neither sound
anything like Television, though.

Bryan Ferry, THESE FOOLISH THINGS. I've spent over a decade trying to
get into early Roxy Music, without much success. I like Bowie, I like
T. Rex, I like solo Eno. But Roxy Music (at least 3 of the first 4
albums) have never done too much for me. So I bought this Ferry album
on a whim, and -- surprise -- I really like it. His voice is great
for this campy approach, even when he can't really follow the melody,
and some of the re-arrangements are inventive.

John Phillips, THE WOLFKING OF LA. I heard the single from this
record, "Mississippi", on a Mamas & Papas compilation many years ago,
but waited for the album to be reissued this fall to pursue it. Very
beautiful, well-produced and arranged country/pop record with a
number of strong, memorable songs. Often lumped together with Gene
Clark's NO OTHER, but not quite as consistent. Still very worthwhile.
The reissue adds a slew of bonus tracks (almost all unfinished tracks
that do not appear on the LP in any form) but I haven't spent much
time on these.

Ray Davis, OTHER PEOPLE'S LIVES. I ignored this when it came out this
year, but recently got around to picking it up. It's very strong,
much stronger than later (1980-onwards) Kinks records. Maybe Davies
has been saving up all of his good material for 25 years? Anyways,
it's no stylistic departure from his previous efforts, but still
quite enjoyable for fans of his style.

Bob Dylan, MODERN TIMES. Still playing this quite a bit.

Ultravox. First two albums. I have had the debut for years, but
picked-up the reissues of both of the first two albums a few weeks
ago. There is some fun, late-70s New Wave sound going on here while
John Foxx was still on-board. Not every track stands by itself, but
as a whole both albums are good.

Boomtown Rats. Just picked-up a best-of last week. One of those bands
I've never heard beyond standard compilation inclusions.

The Doors. When I listen to the Doors, it's always the summer of
1991. When I moved to CD in the mid 90s, I only bothered to replace 2
Doors albums on CD, but I picked-up Rhino's ABSOLUTE BEST compilation
last year and have been listening to it quite a bit lately. 

Also picked-up Patti Smith's LAND, a compilation of Subway Sect
singles, a Chuck Berry compilation... still working my way through
everything.

What is everyone else listening to?

--Phil
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