OPO: Favorite Record That No One Heard in 2003

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Something you championed to friends and/or in the press, which by some travesty never caught on the way you'd hoped it would.

My pick: Giddy Motors "Make it Pop" (Fat-Cat). Wicked good fun, especially for a crass punk record.

I want to know what I've missed. And I'm sure there are more threads like this one. If so, send them my way.

― Kate Silver (Kate Silver), Monday, 8 December 2003 00:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Well the new records by Aereogramme (Sleep & Release) and Envy (A Dead Sinking Story) are two of my favourite records ever, but nobody else has heard them.

I feel so alone...

― Stupid (Stupid), Monday, 8 December 2003 00:22 (twenty-one years ago)

http://home.comcast.net/~groovski_1/press.htm

― scott seward, Monday, 8 December 2003 00:31 (twenty-one years ago)

oops, i didn't want a link to the press page. just to the start page.

http://home.comcast.net/~groovski_1/

― scott seward, Monday, 8 December 2003 00:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh god, Bitmap completely! People are weird sometimes.

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Monday, 8 December 2003 00:32 (twenty-one years ago)

The Knife "Deep Cuts"

― Matthew Perpetua (Matthew Perpetua), Monday, 8 December 2003 00:33 (twenty-one years ago)

although this page is really funny.

http://home.comcast.net/~groovski_1/news.htm

― scott seward, Monday, 8 December 2003 00:33 (twenty-one years ago)

The Dagons, Teeth For Pearls

A two-piece setup like oh so many bands these days (although, I'd say they most closely resemble The Kills). Instead of adopting a blues vibe, though, they rock in an early 90s K Records/Kill Rock Stars stylee.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Monday, 8 December 2003 00:41 (twenty-one years ago)

oooh, Groovski sounds awesome! I'll have to compile a list from this thread.

― Kate Silver (Kate Silver), Monday, 8 December 2003 00:50 (twenty-one years ago)

I'll have to compile a list from this thread.

Me too.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Monday, 8 December 2003 00:57 (twenty-one years ago)

norman records says they have sold loads of bitmap records. bitmap is ok, i'd rather have a new salako record.

― keith m (keithmcl), Monday, 8 December 2003 01:19 (twenty-one years ago)

fortdax "folly"
anything by the cranebuilders

― the surface noise (electricsound), Monday, 8 December 2003 01:23 (twenty-one years ago)

rainer maria "long knives drawn"

― the surface noise (electricsound), Monday, 8 December 2003 01:25 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't think I heard ILX talk about the last Powerman 5000 album. I dug it plenty.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Monday, 8 December 2003 01:26 (twenty-one years ago)

Sylvie Courvoisier's "Abaton"

― Nom De Plume (Nom De Plume), Monday, 8 December 2003 01:32 (twenty-one years ago)

nobody has said anything about the new slumberparty album. i haven't heard it myself either though

― the surface noise (electricsound), Monday, 8 December 2003 01:41 (twenty-one years ago)

but it is still your fave record that no one heard.

― keith m (keithmcl), Monday, 8 December 2003 01:45 (twenty-one years ago)

I kind of like when an album you think everyone'd be talking about SOOO isn't. Like that Ryan Adams stuff.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Monday, 8 December 2003 01:46 (twenty-one years ago)

maybe they are huge in new zealand but the tokey tones cd 'caterpillar' is great, the other one 'butterfly' not so much.

― keith m (keithmcl), Monday, 8 December 2003 02:15 (twenty-one years ago)

I didn't even talk about it much but I know it would be the Walkabouts' tribute release to Nina Simone. Oh yeah.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 8 December 2003 02:17 (twenty-one years ago)

Wow, I haven't heard from the Walkabouts in years!

― Kate Silver (Kate Silver), Monday, 8 December 2003 02:19 (twenty-one years ago)

I second The Knife "Deep Cuts"

― kinski (kinski), Monday, 8 December 2003 02:22 (twenty-one years ago)

Wow, I haven't heard from the Walkabouts in years!

They're doing very well! Keep recording, keep releasing, keep touring Europe (not here, tho). Solo projects, collaborations, all sorts of things -- they're one of my most treasured bands ever. http://thewalkabouts.com is where to go.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 8 December 2003 02:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Hey Ned, I've got "Where The Deep Water Goes EP" and dig it. Where should I go next? I checked allmusic.com and I dunno if I trust this Ankeny fella.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Monday, 8 December 2003 02:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Sylvie Courvoisier's "Abaton"

I listened to this earlier today! I nominate Richard Chartier's Archival 1991.

― dleone (dleone), Monday, 8 December 2003 02:40 (twenty-one years ago)

fortdax "folly"

Hey, I'm in the process of downloading this right now, but I've already heard half of it. Strange, beautiful, thematic, slightly glitchy -- all of which are selling points for me. Thanks, esoj.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Monday, 8 December 2003 02:40 (twenty-one years ago)

also search his "at bracken" lp - lots of lovely durutti column-meets-mbv textures there

― the surface noise (electricsound), Monday, 8 December 2003 02:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Hey Ned, I've got "Where The Deep Water Goes EP" and dig it. Where should I go next? I checked allmusic.com and I dunno if I trust this Ankeny fella.

Mm, where to start. That's a very early release and much has changed since then (in the sense of one strength to another). Scavenger is the album that single came from but I'd go for the one after it, New West Motel, which is a fucking barnburner of an album -- "Grand Theft Auto," a vicious post-mortem-while-it-happened of early nineties Seattle, and "Jack Candy" are the dark jewels there. Satisfied Mind, the first of their tribute records, is what got me into the group -- focusing mostly on country and country-inspired sources but that's not all of what goes into the band, by any means. The covers of Nick Cave's "Loom of the Land" and Charlie Rich's "Feel Like Going Home" are just beautiful. Devil's Road was the European breakthrough album -- "The Light Will Stay On" their biggest hit single, and well deserved. The Train Leaves at Eight is their 'European' covers release, from all over the continent, while Ended Up A Stranger, the most recent full studio album, is mysterious, evocative, deft and beautiful.

Just a great band, all the way through. And nobody besides a very, very scattered few here in the States seem to care. Everyone else's loss.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 8 December 2003 02:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Is that Courvoisier anything like Passaggio? Is it solo piano?

Head Phone Over Tone - Solar Sails. Gorgeous rich dense drones from Hamilton, sometimes warm and enveloping, sometimes eerie, sometimes noisy and damaged. Guitars, strings, voices, piano, bells, chimes, drum, bass all melted into one mass.

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Monday, 8 December 2003 02:47 (twenty-one years ago)

"Abaton" has a more introspective feel than "Passagio", with more of an emphasis on her composition. It definitely grows increasingly rewarding with each listen -- good winter music, as well, now that snows are hitting the northeast USA. It's a trio recording with Mark Feldman (violin) and Erik Friedlander (cello).

Must check out that Chartier and Head Phone Over Tone -- this is turning out to be an informative thread.

― Nom De Plume (Nom De Plume), Monday, 8 December 2003 03:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Thanks, Ned!

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Monday, 8 December 2003 03:22 (twenty-one years ago)

haha I first got interested in them when they were being all sarcastic in the documentary Hype!. Chris notes that albums started appearing in other countries in the 90s with stickers that said "SEATTLE" on them, like it was 100% USDA Approved Beef.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Monday, 8 December 2003 03:23 (twenty-one years ago)

oh, and that Gaby Kerpal album too!! more people have to hear that. it's making my top ten for sure. it's so friggin' wonderful.he is partly responsible for de la guarda which is a performance thing that i haven't seen but that i've heard great things about.

― scott seward, Monday, 8 December 2003 03:29 (twenty-one years ago)

two australian albums people should consider checking out:

heligoland shift these thoughts - lovely, slow, long, blissy. mazzy star through the eyes of martin hannett perhaps?

the beautiful few metal for melbourne and other stories. a stunning, ambitious record. everything the paradise motel promised but failed to deliver.

― the surface noise (electricsound), Monday, 8 December 2003 03:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Sketch Show - 'Loophole' (the ex-YMO fellas)

― Patrick South (Patrick South), Monday, 8 December 2003 04:00 (twenty-one years ago)

armpit - butta daze. i love new zealand and the a man named suga jon.

― brock (brock), Monday, 8 December 2003 06:41 (twenty-one years ago)

typo. weee.

― brock (brock), Monday, 8 December 2003 06:43 (twenty-one years ago)

ESOJ, Long Knives Drawn was barely noticed. I tried to do my part, with caveats.

Otherwise, there was an album by Califone/Red Red Meat spinoffs Sin Ropas, which deserved much more attention. Fucked up and beautiful, really.

I'll leave it there, even though there are plenty more...

― David A. (Davant), Monday, 8 December 2003 06:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Aw, how could I forget Fiel Garvie!!!???

(Yes, I write like I keep my home [and my life in general] -- messy, spontaneous, warm, heartfelt and bewildered, ha.)

― David A. (Davant), Monday, 8 December 2003 07:19 (twenty-one years ago)

the fiel garvie record is ace. the rainer maria one is one of my favourite records of this decade so far

― the surface noise (electricsound), Monday, 8 December 2003 07:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, reading over what I wrote then, I was probably too hard on the Rainer Maria one. I like it better now than I did when I first heard it earlier this year.

And, yeah, Fiel Garvie should feel the love of a specific section of ILM at the very least. I mean, what's not to love about them?

― David A. (Davant), Monday, 8 December 2003 08:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Plus, you got me interested in Heligoland. Hannett doing Mazzy Star? Mmmm.

― David A. (Davant), Monday, 8 December 2003 09:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Alphabetically:

Aspera, Oh Fantastica , Jagjagwuar
Bobby Birdman, Born Free Forever, Hush
Bobby Birdman, Heart Caves EP, States Rights
Curse Ov Dialect, Lost In The Real Sky, Mush
Frankennixon, Depth Perception, Bi-Fi
Liarbird, Superba Menura, self-released
Thanksgiving, Nothing, Marriage
(((VVRSSNN))), (((VVRSSNN))), K

― Kevin Erickson, Monday, 8 December 2003 10:06 (twenty-one years ago)

i'm guessing whitman.edu is in portland, OR?

― gygax! (gygax!), Monday, 8 December 2003 14:49 (twenty-one years ago)

Andrew Vincent & the Pirates - I Love the Modern Way (Kelp)

― Huckleberry Mann (Horace Mann), Monday, 8 December 2003 14:58 (twenty-one years ago)

the fiel garvie record is ace.

Very ace!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 8 December 2003 16:43 (twenty-one years ago)

Wait, there's no strings on HPOT but someone is credited with "ignition", which I guess means electronics.

np: Head Phone Over Tone - Solar Sails

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Monday, 8 December 2003 16:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Rank Strangers - I Only Fear That We Are Modern:

Midwestern Mpls Replacements rock band continues to abandon their roots and become a strange mix of post-punk wierd, garage hooks, goofy production and the utterly unique personality and lyrics of Mike Wisti....17 songs, alot of them under 2 minutes....

order from Veto Records 27 W. 35th St., Minneapolis, MN 55408

This is a great record that nobody outside of Minneapolis will probaby buy this year.

http://www.tt.net/trg/rank/

That's their website, but they never update it.

― Matt Helgeson (Matt Helgeson), Monday, 8 December 2003 17:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Fiel Garvie wasn't as darkly magical as I had hoped based on a couple of their earlier songs. And the singer's hushed delivery wears thin fast. It has some good songs, I just found the performance dismal.

― Curt (cgould), Monday, 8 December 2003 20:16 (twenty-one years ago)

The In Out, Il Dito & Other Gestures
I think I've decided I like it even more than their last one, and it's probably the most "rock" album I've liked this year. And no one (besides maybe Douglas W.) seems to have heard it.

― andrew m. (andrewmorgan), Monday, 8 December 2003 20:27 (twenty-one years ago)

kelley stoltz, antique glow. probably unheard outside of sanfrancisco (and australia, for some reason)

― anthony kyle monday (akmonday), Monday, 8 December 2003 20:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Matt, I don't think enough people within Minneapolis have bought it either.

― Kate Silver (Kate Silver), Monday, 8 December 2003 20:34 (twenty-one years ago)

Didn't see a review of this anyplace:

Sogar, Apikal.Blend. On 12k. Ultra-minimal electronic stuff. Lots of hiss and high-pitched tones. No rhythm, no melody. Very nice. You can hear clips of two songs here.

― Phil Freeman (Phil Freeman), Monday, 8 December 2003 20:35 (twenty-one years ago)

Matt Elliot: The Mess We Made.

A few reviews, but very little mention on ILM.

― David A. (Davant), Monday, 8 December 2003 20:58 (twenty-one years ago)

colette No. 5

― gygax! (gygax!), Monday, 8 December 2003 21:02 (twenty-one years ago)

disc 2, the dfa mix (although the attempt to mix black dice/eYe mix on the muzik dance to the underground comp was pretty bold).

― gygax! (gygax!), Monday, 8 December 2003 21:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Magic Dirt's Tough Love is probably big in Australia, but not getting much press in the US that I can see. It's really great, though fairly mainstream guitar rawk (not as mainstream as their previous album).

― dlp9001, Monday, 8 December 2003 21:17 (twenty-one years ago)

magic dirt had a little bit of college radio exposure 96-97 (and their first(?) US tour).

― gygax! (gygax!), Monday, 8 December 2003 21:19 (twenty-one years ago)

(Lexington's own) The Middle Fork Bucket of Truth; Zappariffic IDM'd up goth funk baritone sax laden awesomeness. How can you not love a CD with a song titled "UpDownUpDownLeftRightLeftRightBABAStart"?

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Monday, 8 December 2003 21:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, Magic Dirt were actually signed to Warner Bros. in the US in '96, but were quickly dropped and shipped back to Australia, leaving billions of copies of their utterly fantastic Friends In Danger CD to rot in bargain bins all over America. Since then, I don't think any of their albums have had a US release.

― dlp9001, Monday, 8 December 2003 21:54 (twenty-one years ago)

I was wondering what Magic Dirt was up to. I've only heard the first two records (both of which have moments of greatness mixed with moments of mediocrity) and saw them open a show for Archers of Loaf in 1996. Crazy loud live set.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Monday, 8 December 2003 21:56 (twenty-one years ago)

they now sound like the grunge Pretenders

― the surface noise (electricsound), Monday, 8 December 2003 22:00 (twenty-one years ago)

You know, I kind of agree with that, but I still love the new album.

― dlp9001, Monday, 8 December 2003 22:04 (twenty-one years ago)

i was drunk and watching rage and saw the magic dirt single (its in the charts!) and it RAAAWKS in a poppy way.

― gaz (gaz), Monday, 8 December 2003 22:12 (twenty-one years ago)

yeah i quite like it - "watch out boys" innit?

― the surface noise (electricsound), Monday, 8 December 2003 22:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Dunno. I didn't hear it :-)

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Monday, 8 December 2003 22:17 (twenty-one years ago)

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