random summer album #9

Stereolab

Margerine Eclipse

(2004)

This is what you get when you have really talented mature musicians create "cute" music. Rather than a careless mess, it's well crafted pop. Very fun mix of 60's psychedelia, French pop, and krautrock. Great Labor Day party music!

random summer album #8

Fear of Pop

Volume 1

(1998)

Comedy in music is tough to nail, and tougher to have lasting appeal. Ben Folds worked alongside friends and family to make a wacky pop album that is still fun today, even when you know all the gags are coming. Sadly, there was never a volume 2.

Random Summer Album #7

Man or Astro-Man?

Project Infinity

(1995)

Last time I saw Man or Astro-Man?, Star Crunch had this to say before playing a cover song:

"When we first started out, the best we could hope to be is like Shadowy Men on A Shadowy Planet. That was our dream. So when a local paper reviewed our album they said 'basically, Man or Astro-Man? is a poor-man's Shadowy Men on A Shadowy Planet', I went 'YESSSSSSSS!'"

random summer album #6

Kojima Mayumi

CécileのBlues

(1995)

I've been looking for a reason to do a Kojima Mayumi album for a while. She does a lot of swing and lounge. Very fun stuff. Most of singing is just scatting, and there is a lot of variety and color in the sound.

random summer album #5

Shadowy Men on A Shadowy Planet

Savvy Show Stoppers

(1988)

I hesitated on this mini-review, because the news of Tony Sly's death really hit me. Odd since I have't listened to No Use For A Name in nearly a decade. I wanted to dig out my old copy of More Betterness, and do a quick review of that instead. But am in the middle of moving, so it's in a box somewhere... I'm not really sure... anyway, rambling, bummed...

This is "that band from Kids in The Hall" and yes, "that song from Kids in The Hall" is on this one. It's really good chilled out light summer fun music.