My New Favorite Instrumental of All Time....

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...is "Streets of Calcutta" by Ananda Shankar. Someone just sent me a mix-cd of different stuff (there's even a Momus track on it), and "Streets of Calcutta" cooks like a hotplate of Vindaloo, baby! Sort've a mix of classic Bollywood multi-instrumentalism and paisley underground powerpop. Seek it out.

Other tracks on this mix-cd, just for posterity....

1. "You Suck" by Consolidated w/ the Yeastie Girls
2. "Even if It's Wrong" by BR5-49
3. "Playboy Scout" by Radiah
4. "The Way It's Gonna Be" by the Pandoras
5. "Mais Pas Chez Moi (Radio Edit)" by A.S. Dragon
6. "Goodbye Mama" by Teddy Powell & His Orchestra
7. "Streets of Calcutta" by Ananda Shankar
8. "Insensatez" by Robert Wyatt
9. "Plaything" by Roy Budd
10. "`Til I Get it Right" by Tammy Wynette
11. "Superfreak" by Kahimi Karie
12. "Feed'em in the Morning Blues" by Tennesee Ernie Ford
13. "Radiant Night" by Momus
14. "Like a Thief in the Night" by Robert Longo
15. "Dark in My Heart" by Lee Hazelwood
16. "Organic in the Park" by the Fur Ones
17. "French Rock'n'Roll Star" by Black Box Recorder
18. "Bunny Rabbits, Satan, Cheese and Milk" by Stark Effects
19. "Ca Alors" by Pascal Parisot
20. "Too Bad about Your Girl" by the Donnas
21. "1,2,3" by Camille
22. "Peut-Etre" by Keren Ann Zeidel

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 11 December 2003 15:54 (twenty-one years ago)

I can't choose between "Crackman" by Scream or "Pokey the Little Puppy" by Dave Grohl. It's a hard choice. :(

― Aja (aja), Thursday, 11 December 2003 15:59 (twenty-one years ago)

No unsolicted Dave Grohl allusions on my thread, please.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 11 December 2003 16:00 (twenty-one years ago)

But that's really my answer. I'm not putting it on here just to put it on here. You got what you asked for Alex.

― Aja (aja), Thursday, 11 December 2003 16:01 (twenty-one years ago)

I didn't ask for it. I merely cited my own favorite instrumental.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 11 December 2003 16:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Then what's the point of this thread?

― Aja (aja), Thursday, 11 December 2003 16:05 (twenty-one years ago)

To express my joy.

My point, Aja, is that you need to get over your Dave Grohl fixation. He's a great drummer, and has played for a couple of great bands, but he's not the messiah.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 11 December 2003 16:06 (twenty-one years ago)

I kown he's not messiah, but come on Alex. Do you want me to tell you you need a new favorite song? Huh?!

― Aja (aja), Thursday, 11 December 2003 16:08 (twenty-one years ago)

You need to expand your palette and listen to music that Grohl has no part of. That's what I'm saying.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 11 December 2003 16:09 (twenty-one years ago)

I do. You don't know everything about me Alex. How come "Bloodsport" isn't your favorite instrumental?

― Aja (aja), Thursday, 11 December 2003 16:10 (twenty-one years ago)

How come "Bloodsport" isn't your favorite instrumental?

Because after hearing it for twenty-five years, I've realized it's just a cheap appropriation of Neu! It's good, but there are better instrumentals out there.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 11 December 2003 16:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah like "Crackman" and "Pokey the Little Puppy."

― Aja (aja), Thursday, 11 December 2003 16:12 (twenty-one years ago)

We are done for the day, Aja.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 11 December 2003 16:14 (twenty-one years ago)

No we're not.

― Aja (aja), Thursday, 11 December 2003 16:15 (twenty-one years ago)

Chinese music always sets me free, angular banjoes sound good to me..

― Baaderist (Fabfunk), Thursday, 11 December 2003 16:17 (twenty-one years ago)

C'mon Alex, like this thread wasn't going to be used to talk about other instrumentals.

Anyway, it always seems like such a weird distinction to make to me anyway, since probably 85% of the music I listen to is instrumental.

― Jordan (Jordan), Thursday, 11 December 2003 16:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Instumentals are the best!

― Aja (aja), Thursday, 11 December 2003 16:21 (twenty-one years ago)

I think it's just karmic retribution that Aja can't stop bringing up Dave Grohl on my threads, after I polluted every other thread with Killing Joke for the last three years.

I got in a big debate about the concept of "instrumental" versus "song" on the Firewater list after so many complained about how many instrumentals there were on The Man on the Burning Tightrope. To some people's minds, it ain't proper music if it ain't got vocals....which I cannot understand at all.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 11 December 2003 16:22 (twenty-one years ago)

I think it's just karmic retribution that Aja can't stop bringing up Dave Grohl on my threads, after I polluted every other thread with Killing Joke for the last three years.

What's that supposed to mean?

― Aja (aja), Thursday, 11 December 2003 16:24 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.kreienbuehl.ch/lat/latein/sisyphus.gif

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 11 December 2003 16:26 (twenty-one years ago)

What?

― Aja (aja), Thursday, 11 December 2003 16:27 (twenty-one years ago)

that's Progmetheus, possibly

― t\'\'t (t\'\'t), Thursday, 11 December 2003 16:29 (twenty-one years ago)

http://home.earthlink.net/~schuessler/images/school_animated_icon.gif

― Aja (aja), Thursday, 11 December 2003 16:39 (twenty-one years ago)

haha

― Jordan (Jordan), Thursday, 11 December 2003 16:39 (twenty-one years ago)

Why?

― Aja (aja), Thursday, 11 December 2003 16:40 (twenty-one years ago)

here is a link to a 14.2 megabyte animated gif file, if you're interested

[Please do not post very large images, many people are on dialup, thank you, the moderators.]

― Aja (aja), Thursday, 11 December 2003 16:45 (twenty-one years ago)

Gosh, thanks for killing another thread, Aja.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 11 December 2003 16:45 (twenty-one years ago)

How about some more.

http://www.mtv.com/news/images/f/foo980319.gif

― Aja (aja), Thursday, 11 December 2003 16:48 (twenty-one years ago)

You didn't want any discussion on it anyway!

― Jordan (Jordan), Thursday, 11 December 2003 16:48 (twenty-one years ago)

No, I didn't want another gratuitous discussion of Dave Grohl, but c'est la guerre.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 11 December 2003 16:49 (twenty-one years ago)

Aja, try using some of the online dictionary and reference sites - it's a bit tiresome to keep having to explain words and phrases you don't understand.

To answer the thread: the insturmental version of "Ride into the Sun" by the Velvet Underground is the most beautiful thing ever.

― Markelby (Mark C), Thursday, 11 December 2003 16:49 (twenty-one years ago)

hey aja, what d'you think of this probot band grohl's drumming for. i heard the new single today and it's tearin'!

― nebbesh (nebbesh), Thursday, 11 December 2003 16:50 (twenty-one years ago)

enforcer - dam tuff

― charltonlido (gareth), Thursday, 11 December 2003 16:51 (twenty-one years ago)

hey aja, what d'you think of this probot band grohl's drumming for. i heard the new single today and it's tearin'!

I don't have it.

Aja, try using some of the online dictionary and reference sites - it's a bit tiresome to keep having to explain words and phrases you don't understand.

I do sometimes. It's easier if you do it.

― Aja (aja), Thursday, 11 December 2003 16:53 (twenty-one years ago)

oh yeah, staying on thread, geiger counter - bel

― nebbesh (nebbesh), Thursday, 11 December 2003 16:53 (twenty-one years ago)

oh yeah, staying on thread, geiger counter - bel

What?

― Aja (aja), Thursday, 11 December 2003 16:55 (twenty-one years ago)

alan braxe and fred falke - lovelost. though i dont think alex is goign to like this one.

― charltonlido (gareth), Thursday, 11 December 2003 16:56 (twenty-one years ago)

keep going aja :-)

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Thursday, 11 December 2003 16:57 (twenty-one years ago)

How?

― Aja (aja), Thursday, 11 December 2003 16:58 (twenty-one years ago)

Side with Julio and you embrace all that dishonors the fire, btw.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 11 December 2003 16:58 (twenty-one years ago)

well, you just put it in your Oakland, aja

― charltonlido (gareth), Thursday, 11 December 2003 16:59 (twenty-one years ago)

''How?''

exactly!

(though its actually 'what?')

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Thursday, 11 December 2003 16:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Side with Julio and you embrace all that dishonors the fire, btw.

No I won't.

well, you just put it in your Oakland, aja

SHUT UP ABOUT OAKLAND ALREADY!!!!!

― Aja (aja), Thursday, 11 December 2003 17:01 (twenty-one years ago)

I haven't heard anything that beats king crimson's "Red" yet.

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Thursday, 11 December 2003 17:01 (twenty-one years ago)

SHUT UP ABOUT OAKLAND ALREADY!!!!!

what?

― charltonlido (gareth), Thursday, 11 December 2003 17:02 (twenty-one years ago)

DON'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT OAKLAND!!!!!

― Aja (aja), Thursday, 11 December 2003 17:03 (twenty-one years ago)

I had an aunt and uncle who lived in Oakland.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 11 December 2003 17:04 (twenty-one years ago)

Really?

― Aja (aja), Thursday, 11 December 2003 17:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Are there any online truency officers we can contact?

― oops (Oops), Thursday, 11 December 2003 17:09 (twenty-one years ago)

ned, tell us about your aunt. whereabouts is she in oakland? what is her kitchen like?

― charltonlido (gareth), Thursday, 11 December 2003 17:11 (twenty-one years ago)

She is no longer in Oakland. It is dead to her.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 11 December 2003 17:19 (twenty-one years ago)

so sayeth Sir Too Short:

"The city of dope, some called it Oak. Couldn't be saved by John the Pope."

― Matt Helgeson (Matt Helgeson), Thursday, 11 December 2003 17:21 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.artistdirect.com/Images/Sources/AMGPORTRAITS/music/portrait200/drp000/p054/p05495m6m76.jpg

Better Alex?

― Aja (aja), Thursday, 11 December 2003 17:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Seeing the Yeastie Girls on that mix CD reminds me why I can't take Peaches seriously. You Suck's pretty rubbish in retrospect but it's still better than anything on Fatherfucker.

― Shangri-La (Shangri-La), Thursday, 11 December 2003 17:39 (twenty-one years ago)

"Streets of Calcutta" is the jump off banger. That whole Ananda Shankar and His Music album is a heater. It's a rare and expensive LP. Ananda is called the "Indian Jimi Hendrix" by some. I have "Streets of Calcutta" on the the Blue Note France 3LP compilation called Look into the Flower. It's basically psych jazz from the Blue Note catalog, but Ananda is there with Georges Garvarentz, Lord Sitar, and Donald Byrd. I'm looking for the Ananda Shankar and His Music CD, but it's pretty hard to find too.

"Ritual" by Nico Gomez and "Apache" by the Incredible Bongo Band are some instrumental bangers too.

― Star Hustler, Thursday, 11 December 2003 18:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Thanks, Star! I actually went looking for some Ananda Shankar stuff, but could only find select tracks on compilations (not that there's anything wrong with compilations, but I'm curious to hear more work from the same album/era/etc. as "Streets of Calcutta") Cheers!

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 11 December 2003 18:22 (twenty-one years ago)

The Yeastie Girls track is awful, by the way, and despite its promising title, "Bunny Rabbits, Satan, Cheese & Milk" by Stark Effects is yawnsome.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 11 December 2003 18:27 (twenty-one years ago)

I like "Calcutta" by Lawrence Welk. That's a good instrumental. I've never heard Ananda.

― Broheems (diamond), Thursday, 11 December 2003 18:30 (twenty-one years ago)

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