Know Your Alternatives

I hope you all had a wonderful inter-session except for the people who chose to go to Jamaica, Barbados and what have you. Seriously, are you people that obsessed with creating the illusion of a life defined by an MTV beach party?

Anyway, I feel it is time for a serious music review and this leads me to today’s topic:

* note that these records are in no particular order

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Radiohead - O.K. Computer (Parlophone)

According to the band, they themselves set out to make a straightforward pop record. Thankfully, the final product came out to be one of the most glorious concept records ever made. The underlying theme of this record is that of transportation, physica l and otherwise. Topics ranging from the wonderment of airbags to the spiritual beauty of alien abduction and back to the monotony of computer related society, Radiohead creates a utopia of aural pleasure from the deepest recesses of pop culture oblivion. So why can’t Radiohead be slagged off as simply another angst ridden band? Because they are so damn good. I wish I could say more but words can’t convey the astonishment of this recording. If it wasn’t blasphemous, I would say that O.K. Computer i s a better record than the Beatles’ Revolver.

Spiritualized - Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space (Dedicated)

This album treads the thin line between avante gard and pop, but also throws in hints of gospel and soul. A truly excellent ambient (I’m not sure if this is a dance record) album. Brian Eno would have been proud to work on an album such as this. If the re was any mathematics involved it would be My Bloody Valentine + Stereolab + the Verve’s A Storm in Heaven. Almost impossible to get through one listening but absolute peace once you do.

Belle and Sebastian - If you’re feeling Sinister (Jeepster)

When I first heard this record I immediately wanted to turn it off because it meant that Nick Drake folk had come back into style and the last thing the world needs is suicide folk music. A dark and simple record, it deserves to be listened to at l east once a day. In a nutshell (help I’m in a nutshell!), this is lyrically the second best record of the year and by far and away the best new act of 1997. I find it extremely impossible to walk to class without humming the first single Stars of Track and Field. Belle and Sebastian have also been afforded to be an act that all artists seem to love which does nothing but destroy record sales. As long as frat boys never find this I’ll be happy. Definitely one of the best of ‘97.

A Don Piper Situation - Self Titled EP (Scrimshaw)

The first release from this highly anticipated New York band features five songs and a hidden track. Yeah, I know, technically this isn't an album but musically, there’s more here than most bands have in careers. Using the bare essentials to co nvey a mood, they have probably created what I would like to call David Lynch pop. It doesn’t jump out immediately and say "buy me buy me buy me!" It says, sit down, you’re about to hear "a hitchhiking David Bowie getting pic ked up by the Flaming Lips on their way to a Zombies fan convention so make yourself at home because you will remember this music until you die." This release is available on Scrimshaw Records and will be followed by an unbelievable ful l length album on Capitol Records in the spring.

Apples in Stereo - Tone Soul Revolution (Elephant 6)

If this band existed in the late 60’s or even the 70’s they would have been recognized as rock and roll deities, but alas, it’s 1998 and no one would know good music if Jewel sang it to them 24 hours a day. This record is perfect mod power pop wit h tons of harmonies and melodic candy. They are without a doubt the best indie rock band in America. Listening to this record is 100% pure fun. No other way to describe it. In conclusion, Oasis doesn’t sound like the Beatles, the Apples in Stereo do.

Elliot Smith - Either Or (Kill Rock Stars)

Have you ever been walking alone on an empty suburban street after a nighttime snowfall and been in the mood to contemplate what in the world you were doing with your life and then felt like you were the center of the earth? That’s Elliot Smith. An extremely soft and peaceful record, there is no other record better for lone subway trips with your walkman than Either Or. For those of you who have seen the movie Good Will Hunting, you will recall those beautiful acoustic songs played throughou t the film. What you were listening to is Elliot Smith. If "Angeles" or "say yes" don’t move you to tears, then I don’t know what will. Buy this! Now damnit!

Portishead - Portishead (GOI Beat)

Cinematic, after dark music for a generation that knows more about English lit. than any other school subject. Using only small sprinkles of samples, band leader Geoff Barrow instead decided to record a great deal of the original music onto vinyl i n order to mix them into the album as he wanted. What sets Portishead apart form the rest of the Trip-Hop genre are the heart wrenching vocals of Beth Gibbons which are reminiscent of a really rich man’s Cowboy Junkies. Hip hop scratching and a the remin never sounded so good together

Supergrass - In It For The Money (Parlophone)

Having grown in leaps and bounds since their hit debut, the ‘Grass have, unfortunately, not averted a sophomore sales slump. Fortunately, the quality of this record is in no way mirrored by sales. As opposed to the obvious brit-pop-punk soph moria of their first release (a must buy from 1995), the ‘Grass have chosen instead to lyrically discuss the ridiculousness of the entertainment industry and the bizarre aftermath of their worldwide smash hit single, "Alright." The mathem atics are Supergrass’s I Should Coco + 2 years - naiveté = New ‘Grass. That is some good grass!

Blur - Blur (Food)

"Look inside America, she’s alright." Seems kind of strange to be hearing those words out of the defiantly British Blur but alas it’s true. This isn’t even their second best release in my head so it’s going to be hard for me to justify them a s having one of the top 10 records of the year. So why are they 1 of the top 10? Because they write great songs with great Beatles hooks. Only this time they combine them with the slacker yankee philosophy of Pavement. It halfway works. Though not a cohe sive record, there are many hidden gems all reminiscent of the good old days when British bands gave us loads of melody candy for our purchasing dollars.

Daft Punk - Homework (Virgin)

The only dance record to make my top 10 list. The reason is as follows. You can dance to it. Other "electronica" acts this year didn’t seem to make you want to dance while homework always did. More of a disco record than a techno act, the 70’s soul influences shine through on both their single’s, "Da Funk" and "Around the World." A must buy for any closet dorm room dancer.

The albums that should have been contenders:

Built to Spill ------------ Perfect From Now On (Warner Bros.)

Catherine Wheel-------- Adam and Eve (Mercury)

Erykah Badu ------------ Baduizm (Kedar/ Universal)

Travis--------------------- Good Feeling (Independiente)

Pulsars--------------------- Pulsars (Almo Sounds)

Ocean Colour Scene----- Marchin Already (MCA)

Poptopia------------------- Power Pop of the 70’s (Rhino) -compilation of the year!

Fountains of Wayne ---- Fountains of Wayne (Atlantic)

Mansun ------------------ Attack of the Grey Lantern (Parlophone)

Michael Penn-------------Resigned (Epic)