Friday, April 17, 2009

" 'encykaleidoscopedelic' "



I heard a story on the radio yesterday the proclaimed Procol Harum's "Whiter Shade of Pale" is the song most played in public places in Britain over the last 75 years. I wonder if "I Like Big Butts" by Sir Mix-a-Lot tops that list in the US? It seems to continue to be in rotation everywhere with no sign of abating. Perhaps it is the universality of its message, or the key second line "And I cannot lie." Sir Mix-A-Lot poised as the last honest man, Zarathustra addressing the village before heading to the hills. If only one could in good conscious rhyme fandango with anaconda... you'd have the perfect storm in their coupling. Anyway, the first bit of the first song of this Os Mutantes record "A" E O "Z" (listen) sounded a little like "Whiter Shade of Pale" just from the church organ. Also this album rocks a bit harder than the cover implies.



I have experienced pronounced and unexplained ambivalence about Super Furry Animals over the years, despite knowing souls' attempts to convince me they are right up my alley. Their latest Dark Days/Light Years (listen) segues perfectly with the previous record, the thunder racket of gentle souls trying their best to freak out like spent lizard kings. The fall into a group of bands loosely dubbed "Smoldering Lips": along with Sparklehorse and some others I can't quite remember who have that same encyclopedic/kaleidoscopic/psychedelic/"we like to call it 'encykaleidoscopedelic' " bent as the Flaming Lips, but without being in possession of their knack for grandeur. Maybe it's just hard to accept apocalypse psyche jamz from a band with as cuddly a name as theirs, maybe.

This 9-minute monster "The Trapeze Swinger" from the forthcoming Iron & Wine rarites compilation is fortified will all the essential elements. And the It Hugs Back album (listen) is quickly becoming my favorite record of the year.

No comments:

Post a Comment