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Friday Random Ten, June 16
- The Stills, "In the Beginning". I accidentally downloaded this from Salon this morning. I know absolutely nothing about the band.
- Planet X, "Digital Vertigo". PlanetX is quite a strange group. All instrumental, something like a cross between bebop and heavy metal. Great group, highly recommended.
- Darol Anger and the Republic of Strings, "Ouditarus Rez". Darol is one of my favorite musicians. He's a violinist who at different times has played everything from classical to jazz to bluegrass to rock; he's performed with everyone from Emmylou Harris to Bela Fleck to Joshua Bell. The Republic of Strings is one of his recent ventures; and they do a range of styles from old-time fiddle tunes, to full-of-fire country fiddling, to jazz vocal tunes.
- Flook, "Larry Get Out of the Bin / Elzic's Farewell". Flook is the greatest instrumental Irish band in the known universe. 4 people, all accousting: probably the worlds best tinwhistle player, an great alto flute(!)/accordion player, one of the greatest bodhran player's I've ever heard, and a really amazing rythym guitarist. Do not miss an opportunity to hear these guys live; even if you think you don't like Irish music, go hear them, they'll change your mind.
- Oregon, "Prelude". Oregon is trio playing interesting bop jazz. Sometimes atonal, sometimes downright ugly, sometimes amazing. Led by an Oboe/English horn player who used to do a lot of touring with Bela Fleck before Bela hooked up with Jeff Coughin. (Who is a truly horrible player in my opinion; I don't know what Bela sees in Jeff; the guy's loud, repetitive, loud, dull, loud, non-creative, loud, gimmicky, and loud.)
- Suzanne Vega, "Straight Lines". Great tune off of my favorite Suzanne Vega album. I really like her very sparse old stuff.
- Solas, "The Wiggly Jigs". More trad Irish.
- Porcupine Tree, "Prodigal". PT is one of my favorite neo-progressive bands. They've got a really great sound, blending almost bizzarely smooth vocals with dense distorted guitar.
- Dream Theater, "Stream of Consciousness". Dream Theater is neo-progressive heavy metal. Great if you like that kind of thing, which I definitely do.
- Lunasa, "The Cullyback Hop". And one more trad Irish band. Lunasa is a very traditional instrumental Irish band. Very up-tempo, a bit too much so at times, but full of amazing energy, traditional instrumentation, and a very trad style. Melody lead is generally flute and Uillean bagpipes, with guitar and bass backing. It's damned hard to sit through a Lunasa album without wanting to get up and dance. The ultimate Irish concert experience would be a double billing of Flook and Lunasa.
I love that Suzanne Vega album as well.
If you like Planet X, check out their "Live From Oz". It's simply INCREDIBLE!