December 2002

Grandpa on Music: What I listened to, but didn't buy

Note: On December 9th, 2002, Mary Hansen from Stereolab died. She played no small part in making Stereolab one of the best sounding bands in the world. She will be missed here at Evil Robots

The theme of this past year in music for me has been Internet Radio. The story has had many parts to it. First, from Lounge Radio to Dublab to BBC Radio 1, I have listened to more new and exciting music than in any previous year. Second is internet connections. When the year started, I could almost always connect with Lounge Radio by noon and listen all day long. But now, even with it's triumphant return to the web, Lounge Radio is impossible to connect with from my office (But, of course, my inability to hear my favorite stations drove me to find another resource for brilliant music. What I found was BBC's Radio 1.). The same thing goes for Dublab. It's a shame, for while I enjoy listening to Radio 1, I miss the adventure and energy of Lounge Radio and Dublab's music. Third, as you may recall from previous columns, the daring king's of dub and chill music on the web made me very happy, and their possible demise at the hands of bad legislation makes me sad. I am a mess of emotions. Only by contributing to your favorite internet radio station as well as writing your representatives in congress can you help keep independent internet radio alive and well.

(The lesson of the past year or so: The recording industry does not want you to use the internet to find good music. They want you to buy Nelly and Eminem and Justin Timberlake. And if they cannot get you to buy the crap they have put their money and muscle into, they will write legislation for congress to pass that will limit your access to music on the internet or from your friends. If you don't believe me, ask the 100 Midshipmen at the US Naval Academy who lost their computers because they share music with others. Was it an honor code violation, or a few rich men pushing the government in the direction they want?)

Where was I? Oh…Because Radio 1 is pretty much a government entity and not a corporate creation, I do not feel like a tool for enjoying it. Of course, they do play a fair bit of Nelly and Eminem during the day, which makes me feel like a jerk for listening, but I don't listen to the day-time fare that much - I tune into the evening shows. The five hour time difference make it possible for me to hear the 8pm and later shows on BBC while at work. Radio 1's Evening Session with Steve Lamaqc is a cornucopia of new and terrific music. Paired with (the legendary) John Peel's later show, I can be sure to get a healthy dose of good music while I wallow in my chair at work. (Another note: Just when I was beginning to enjoy Radio 1, they remove Steve Lamaqc from the Evening Session. It's a pisser! I only hope that the new evening DJ will play a similar amount of good 'alternative' rock and roll.)

With the help of Radio 1, and my friends at Dub Lab and Lounge Radio, I am able to compile a list of music that was great in 2002. Unfortunately, I have not purchased all of that music, so this is not only a list of music I like, but also a wish list for post-Christmas and birthday catch-up.

Best of 2002 - Albums I think I'd love, but don't yet own:

• Queens of the Stone Age, "Songs for the Deaf" - I have heard most of the tracks from this album both on the radio and in live gigs replayed on Radio 1. The Queens rock very hard, I must say. I heard the single, "No One Knows" on the radio not knowing it was the Queens. I was amazed. The more I heard, the more I liked. This is definitely a album worth buying, if not stealing (on principle, of course.)
• Liam Lynch, "Fake Songs" - Liam Lynch's song, "The United States of Whatever" may be the only song worth listening to on the entire album, but I don't care. "Whatever" is short, sweet and delightful. After hearing it for the 25th time, I declared that to be my favorite song of all time! You may not be impressed, but it takes no small song to unseat "Dr. Wu". Anyone who has not bought that album by the end of January, 2003 should be clubbed on the head.
  

Albums I love AND own:

• Blackalicious, "Blazing Arrow" - Godzilla hooked me up with this one. Damn! This is some serious hip-hop, not some make-believe gangster or over-produced mumbler.
  Jurassic 5, "Power in Numbers" - Godzilla hooked me up with this one, too. I saw the J5 on MTV2's 2 Dollar Bill recently and they were even better live.
• Beth Orton, "Daybreaker" - I loved this album. I reviewed it earlier this year, go back and read about it yourself.
  
• Beck, "Sea Change" - Totally caught me off-guard with this one. I got this for my wife for her birthday as a 'gag' gift. I wanted to hear it, but I don't know that I would have bought it otherwise. That would have been my mistake. It's a terrific album.
  
• The Flaming Lips "Yoshimi vs. The Pink Robots" - This one caught me totally by surprise. One day I was listening to Radio 1 and some strange song about a girl fighting evil robots was on. I nearly spit up!
  
• The Polyphonic Spree "The Beginning Stages of…" - Another Radio 1 find! I think this record was released in 2001, but I don't care. This group is totally off the wall awesome! I can't explain what it is that they are doing or what they could do next, but I am positive that they are the best live show on the planet! I am going to see them live in 2003! (It will be the best show since Tenacious D at the 9:30 back in '99.)