Tolkien was one of the great unheralded conservatives of the 20th century. Oh don’t worry, I’m not going to try to score ideological points by saying Tolkien opposed nationalized health care or anything like that (though it is hardly insignificant that one of Tolkien’s dearest friends and closest colleagues was C. S. Lewis).
No, Tolkien’s conservatism was deeper than even the deepest dwarf-mine in the hills of the White Mountains. Tolkien despised modernity and disliked technology.
A man after my own heart, Tolkien despised the French, but not for their brie-spined capitulation during World War II or any of the usual reasons (though he hated French food).
Anyway, I’m always looking for GOOD new bands and albums. List recommendations and I will to listen them, regardless of genre. Enough of what we don’t like or used to like when we were 14. OK, not enough, but, what’s good?
editors – true that. I guess we still must soldier on, with all our beautiful HD pictures, all-you-can eat music and, endless video games. I do it for the ladies.
I sort of agree with Charlie Tuna, in that I whole-heartedly recommend the music of The Hold Steady. They’re the only vaguely current band I listen to now – ‘Almost Killed Me’ is simply a great album, no question. I must caution against ever viewing any moving or still pictures of that band, however, because it takes very little exposure to the 40-year-old lead singer pulling RAWK! faces and striking RAWK! poses to ruin the whole thing for you. Think drunk accountants hamming it up at $2 well drink karaoke/Guitar Hero nite. It’s so much worse.
Still, best songs about the life and times of a pretentious 40-year-old RAWK! douche EVAR.
The Wrens Meadowlands. Best album of the ’00s (the aughts?). The way The Hold Steady write about being fucked up and 17 in Minneapolis, these guys write about being 30-ish and watching it slowly slip away in New Jeresey.
And if you want to feel 14 again, The Fucking Champs are awesome. Crazy instrumental 80s metal riffing with proggy flourishes, yet somehow catchy. It’s hard to hate a band that has songs called “These Glyphs Are Dusty” and “Dale Bozzio.”
I also like this band from D.C. called “Dead Meadow”, their latest is “Old growth”. Not heavy, mellow, and very nice. Unfortunate band name, but they’re not a metal band, more like hard rock.
March 9, 2008 at 3:37 pm
ZOMG!1 How can you forget this one:
March 9, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Tolkien was one of the great unheralded conservatives of the 20th century. Oh don’t worry, I’m not going to try to score ideological points by saying Tolkien opposed nationalized health care or anything like that (though it is hardly insignificant that one of Tolkien’s dearest friends and closest colleagues was C. S. Lewis).
No, Tolkien’s conservatism was deeper than even the deepest dwarf-mine in the hills of the White Mountains. Tolkien despised modernity and disliked technology.
A man after my own heart, Tolkien despised the French, but not for their brie-spined capitulation during World War II or any of the usual reasons (though he hated French food).
March 9, 2008 at 4:31 pm
That last one was awesome.
March 9, 2008 at 5:43 pm
That’s me in the second video, 7:42.
March 9, 2008 at 6:55 pm
that honeydew was fucking delicious!
March 9, 2008 at 7:05 pm
Nice Mustache.
March 9, 2008 at 7:48 pm
Yeah, that’s pretty sweet, too. But there’s stiff competition in this category.
March 9, 2008 at 8:35 pm
That’s just powerful stuff. A give that post four staffs and a chainmail of unending lonely lullabies.
March 9, 2008 at 8:41 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BNPfhZe-nI
March 9, 2008 at 8:45 pm
March 9, 2008 at 8:48 pm
In summary,
March 9, 2008 at 9:10 pm
Anyway, I’m always looking for GOOD new bands and albums. List recommendations and I will to listen them, regardless of genre. Enough of what we don’t like or used to like when we were 14. OK, not enough, but, what’s good?
March 9, 2008 at 9:48 pm
Not exactly new, but definitely all-caps GOOD:
The Hold Steady:
Much more at Youtube and on the web. Go see ‘em when they come to your town; they put on a fun show.
March 9, 2008 at 11:24 pm
Nothing is ever as good as whatever you liked when you were 14.
March 9, 2008 at 11:47 pm
Charlie – Nice
editors – true that. I guess we still must soldier on, with all our beautiful HD pictures, all-you-can eat music and, endless video games. I do it for the ladies.
March 10, 2008 at 4:51 am
Anyway, I’m always looking for GOOD new bands and albums. List recommendations and I will to listen them, regardless of genre.
In no particular order:
Githead
Jesu
Pelican
Dälek
Saul Williams
A Place to Bury Strangers
March 10, 2008 at 5:00 am
And a couple that are not remotely new, but are still putting out great music:
Wire
Billy Bragg
March 10, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Ah, the ladies.
I sort of agree with Charlie Tuna, in that I whole-heartedly recommend the music of The Hold Steady. They’re the only vaguely current band I listen to now – ‘Almost Killed Me’ is simply a great album, no question. I must caution against ever viewing any moving or still pictures of that band, however, because it takes very little exposure to the 40-year-old lead singer pulling RAWK! faces and striking RAWK! poses to ruin the whole thing for you. Think drunk accountants hamming it up at $2 well drink karaoke/Guitar Hero nite. It’s so much worse.
Still, best songs about the life and times of a pretentious 40-year-old RAWK! douche EVAR.
March 10, 2008 at 1:50 pm
The Wrens Meadowlands. Best album of the ’00s (the aughts?). The way The Hold Steady write about being fucked up and 17 in Minneapolis, these guys write about being 30-ish and watching it slowly slip away in New Jeresey.
And if you want to feel 14 again, The Fucking Champs are awesome. Crazy instrumental 80s metal riffing with proggy flourishes, yet somehow catchy. It’s hard to hate a band that has songs called “These Glyphs Are Dusty” and “Dale Bozzio.”
March 10, 2008 at 10:11 pm
Thanks gang. I know about a lot of these bands, and I’ll check out the rest.
March 10, 2008 at 11:27 pm
I also like this band from D.C. called “Dead Meadow”, their latest is “Old growth”. Not heavy, mellow, and very nice. Unfortunate band name, but they’re not a metal band, more like hard rock.
March 11, 2008 at 3:40 pm
MGMT’s Oracular Spectacular cd has been stuck in my player for a few weeks. Like a less weird Flaming Lips + Bowie/Ray Davies/Bee Gees vocals:
March 11, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Also Manchester band Working for a Nuclear Free City’s 2007 Businessmen & Ghosts double cd: