I got a chip on my shoulder, and a halo on my head

[vovat]

As I indicated in my last post, I bought two CD's at Tower on Tuesday, one actually new that day, and one merely (as NBC in the late nineties might have put it) new to me. Here are a few thoughts on them:

The Ditty Bops, Moon Over the Freeway

This is a really fun album. Unsurprisingly, it's very much in the same vein as their first one, but there's more emphasis on piano and gypsy-style fiddling, which makes it a little more energetic than the self-titled album. I get somewhat of a Hypnotic Clambake vibe from some songs, especially "Aluminum Can" (not that that would be likely to work as a frame of reference for very many people, since the Bops seem to be better known than the Clambake). My three favorite songs on the record are probably "Angel With An Attitude," "In The Meantime," and "Waking Up In The City."

Rilo Kiley, The Execution of All Things

I had actually intended for this to be my first Rilo Kiley CD, since I knew and liked the title track and "A Better Son/Daughter" from mixes. I ended up getting More Adventurous first, though. Anyway, the two songs I mentioned are still my favorites, but I also enjoy "My Slumbing Heart" and the lengthily-titled "Hail To Whatever You Found In The Sunlight That Surrounds You." I like how several of the songs build up to something. It gives them somewhat of an epic quality.

I also happened to notice that there was a James Kochalka album at the store, which surprised me. I looked at the tracklist, and noticed that a lot of the songs were ones I already knew from Don't Trust Whitey. I've never checked out a discography of his or anything, but I have to wonder whether they're the same versions or different ones.

Comments

[countblastula.livejournal.com]

>My three favorite songs on the record are probably "Angel With An Attitude," "In The Meantime," and "Waking Up In The City."

Those are my 3 favorites too. And yeah, the piano is *really* good on the new album, compared to the previous one.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

I don't even remember hearing much piano on the first one, but it's probably there in the background. I guess it's another case of the music being similar, but with higher production values, sort of like with the new Dresden Dolls album.

[countblastula.livejournal.com]

Their first album had people from Elvis Costello's backing back which gave it more of a rock sound. It sounds like the label let them do more of what they wanted to do on the new one and I think that's a good thing.

[rockinlibrarian.livejournal.com]

Huh, what I said earlier about music of yours I might find interesting-- "more emphasis on piano and gypsy-style fiddling"... that sounds just dang cool.

[bethje.livejournal.com]

Tell him to make you a mix CD. He's cool with it. He likes to.

[vovat.livejournal.com]

I'll make sure to include some Ditty Bops stuff on the CD I'm planning on making for you.

[rockinlibrarian.livejournal.com]

:D

[loz]

So do you suggest Rilo Kiley? I'm not sure I've heard any of their music. You have a fair idea of what I like, would I like them?

[vovat.livejournal.com]

Hmm, you might. I'd recommend listening to some of their music before investing in an album, though.

[revme.livejournal.com]

I like that this record has a bit more of the live-show arrangements to the other. Also, a bit more straight-countryness to it, which I dig, too. I endorse it heavily!

[vovat.livejournal.com]

But do you HEARTILY endorse it, like Art Linkletter?

[revme.livejournal.com]

I do! Just put my face on the 100,000 dollar bill in the Game Of Life!