DALEK Absence (Ipecac) cd 17.98
It's been almost three years since we've had a full length release from Dalek, which is WAY too long. It's always refreshing to get some new hip hop in that doesn't follow the formulaic patterns that rigidly rule most hip hop releases. Absence is barely a hip hop album at all. Beginning with a 30 second a cappella from Dalek, we're quickly submerged into a wash of beautifully torrential guitar feedback drone and pounding almost metallic drums. From that point on Absence progresses as an album closer to My Bloody Valentine's Loveless, or early Seefeel than to most hip hop albums. Not only in that Absence is lushly layered with droning feedback, keyboard sweeps and grinding blasts of noise, but Dalek's voice tends to get submerged -- way down in the churning murky mix, making his voice just another strange sound swirling and swooping amidst the chaos, and making this record a truly fucked up sort-of-hip-hop record!
MPEG Stream: "Distorted Prose"
MPEG Stream: "Koner"

DALEK Untitled (Latitudes) cd 14.98
These last few months have finally seen the arrival of the most recent batch of Latitudes releases, some that had been in the pipeline for months, maybe even years, first Gang Gang Dance and Gowns, then Nadja and Mount Eerie, and most recently the Master Musician of Bukkake, and now finally, this sprawling avant hip hop doomscape from Dalek, who already pushes the boundaries with his proper releases, but this one takes it even further, a massive 44 minute untitled sonic sprawl, epic and abstract, dark and ominous, lush and majestic, a slow burning dubbed out bass heavy intro lays the groundwork. Warped and warbly, a shimmery downtempo creep, laced with distant melodies, buried vox, folky guitars, there's some rapping, more like spoken word, but it fades out quickly as the surrounding sounds blossom and expand into a dark swirling dronescape, bits of twang and garbled voices drift on a sea of hiss and hum, of muted melody and crumbling textures, and then things get serious, the sounds is cranked up, the low end thick, the rhythms industrial and grinding, almost like some sort of hip-hopped SUNNO))) / Godspeed hybrid, the vocals buried in the mix, before it all winds down again, and then in come the tablas (!), wrapped in weird backwards swoops and heaving slabs of low end rumble, building again, this time into a lumbering string laden machine like trudge, doomy and dark, almost like a more blissed out Gnaw Their Tongues, orchestral and epic, and after about 27 minutes, a proper hip hop beats swoops in, still wreathed in caustic buzz, and surrounded by all manner of fractures sounds and effects, and suddenly it's like the hardest heaviest hip hop you've never heard, super distorted and blown out, a crushing chunk of post apocalyptic robo funk lope, which eventually fades out, leaving just a long stretch of hushed shimmer, and tangled steel string melody, all blurred and smeared into a hazy expanse of ominous minimal drift, and one final verse, delivered ominously over the tense droning whir beneath. Fucking KILLER.
LIMITED TO 1000 COPIES, the covers the immediately recognizable brown and white origami style Latitudes sleeves, this one with a black and silver cover image glued to the front, and a full color insert inside.
MPEG Stream: "Untitled"

DALEK Untitled (Latitudes) lp 16.98
FINALLY AVAILABLE ON VINYL, this sprawling avant hip hop doomscape from Dalek, who already pushes the boundaries with his proper releases, but this one takes it even further, a massive 44 minute untitled sonic sprawl, epic and abstract, dark and ominous, lush and majestic, a slow burning dubbed out bass heavy intro lays the groundwork. Warped and warbly, a shimmery downtempo creep, laced with distant melodies, buried vox, folky guitars, there's some rapping, more like spoken word, but it fades out quickly as the surrounding sounds blossom and expand into a dark swirling dronescape, bits of twang and garbled voices drift on a sea of hiss and hum, of muted melody and crumbling textures, and then things get serious, the sounds is cranked up, the low end thick, the rhythms industrial and grinding, almost like some sort of hip-hopped SUNNO))) / Godspeed hybrid, the vocals buried in the mix, before it all winds down again, and then in come the tablas (!), wrapped in weird backwards swoops and heaving slabs of low end rumble, building again, this time into a lumbering string laden machine like trudge, doomy and dark, almost like a more blissed out Gnaw Their Tongues, orchestral and epic, and after about 27 minutes, a proper hip hop beats swoops in, still wreathed in caustic buzz, and surrounded by all manner of fractures sounds and effects, and suddenly it's like the hardest heaviest hip hop you've never heard, super distorted and blown out, a crushing chunk of post apocalyptic robo funk lope, which eventually fades out, leaving just a long stretch of hushed shimmer, and tangled steel string melody, all blurred and smeared into a hazy expanse of ominous minimal drift, and one final verse, delivered ominously over the tense droning whir beneath. Fucking KILLER.
LIMITED TO 1000 COPIES!
MPEG Stream: "Untitled"

DALEK I Compass Kumpass (Medical) lp 22.00
After recently making two recent offerings on the Medical Records label into Records Of The Week (Axxess and Lou Champagne System), we figured we oughta review a couple other kick ass Medical releases that somehow slipped under our radar. There's the Guyer's Connection, reviewed elsewhere on this week's list, a collection of lost tracks from a Swiss teenage synth / electro-pop duo, and this one here, another oddly named outfit, called Dalek I, short for Dalek I Love You, a UK duo, whose equally oddly named debut, Compass Kumpass, was originally released in 1980, and is available again on vinyl for the first time in thirty years!
If you need a quick thumbnail of Dalek I's sound, it might be easiest to list the bands that members of Dalek I would go on to play in, most notably, Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark and the Teardrop Explodes.
Dalek I offer up a glorious world of classic new wave and gloomy moody electro pop, dramatic and a little bit gothy, with post punk flourishes here and there, hand clap rhythms, skittery programmed beats, warm fuzzy synths, indie pop guitar jangle some of the tracks here sounding like total classic old school eighties electro pop, like the opener "The World", which sounds like Tears For Fears or Icicle Works, while others do get darker, and more haunting, like the brooding, droney "A Suicide", but for every sonic shadow, there's something bouncy and playful and super melodic, just check out "The Kiss" which is the impossibly peppy track that comes right after "A Suicide". They even do a cool (and pretty far out) cover of the Kinks' "You Really Got Me", with a woozy echo drenched abstract intro, that leads into a super taut angular almost Devo-esque sounding version that we find ourselves playing over and over.
For the most part, this stuff steers well clear of the whole Carpenter / Goblin side of the synth spectrum, in favor of something much poppier, a lot more twee, but at the same time, way catchier. If you dig OMD, Tears For Fears, Icicle Works, Talk Talk and other eighties indie poppers / electro-poppers, definitely give Dalek I a listen...
Pressed on 180 gram hot pink vinyl, housed in super eighties looking new wave jackets, LIMITED TO 1000 COPIES, each one hand numbered, and also includes a flexi-disc single, featuring two B-sides!
MPEG Stream: "The World"
MPEG Stream: "A Suicide"
MPEG Stream: "The Kiss"
MPEG Stream: "You Really Got Me"

DALL, CYNTHIA Sound Restores Young Men (Drag City) cd 14.98

DALL, CYNTHIA Untitled (Drag City) cd 13.98
Relaxed and off-key in all the right ways, Untitled floats her beautiful airy voice over simple, repetitive piano, noisy guitar, and the occasional cello, violin, and viola. There's a stunning, sparse song sung in Russian, and the whole thing was engineered/produced by Jim O'Rourke & Tom Mallon. Bill Callahanof Smog makes a few appearances as well.

DALL, CYNTHIA Untitled (Drag City) lp 8.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Relaxed and off-key in all the right ways, Untitled floats her beautiful airy voice over simple, repetitive piano, noisy guitar, and the occasional cello, violin, and viola. There's a stunning, sparse song sung in Russian, and the whole thing was engineered/produced by Jim O'Rourke & Tom Mallon. Bill Callahan of Smog makes a few appearances as well.

DALT, LUCRECIA Commotus (Human Ear Music) cd 15.98
Commotus is the debut from Spanish songstress/soundscaper Lucrecia Dalt, and definitely positions her amongst some like minded soundmakers we love - Grouper, US Girls, Valet, Chelsea Wolfe. Dalt has the same sort of knack for weaving lustrous dark dreamscapes, mixing the gothic folk of Wolfe with the hazy soft focus psychedelic drift of Grouper, but adding her own twists, in the case of album opener it's a background of layered, pitch shifted voices, which forms the whole of the sonic backdrop, all harnessed to skittery, percolating rhythms, and laced with a surprising blurt of woozy wah guitar and an out of nowhere swell of bleating brass. The overall effect is ghostly, spectral, haunting and darkly lovely, and the rest of the record unfurls similarly. "Excopolamina" almost sounds like an extension of the opener, a bit more hazy and blurred, metallic riffs muted into a churning rhythm, the beats more skittery, the vocals even more ethereal. Then there's the playful synth solo, and what sounds like an old fashioned wurlitzer humming in the background.
There's definitely a woozy, washed out sort of Caretaker vibe to the proceedings here, the sounds and songs faded and worn, transmissions from some mysterious shadowy otherworld, dark ballads that drift ominously, only to collide with tracks that are downright playful ("Conversa"), which almost sound like a slightly darker, gloomier Liminanas, before slipping right back into another sprawl of abstract shimmer, twang flecked, bass-bloop peppered minimal murkiness, or some wispy slo-mo space blues, or some tripped out doomfolk new wave dirgery. But whatever strain of Dalt's dark sonic DNA drifts to the fore, she renders it haunting and heavenly, mysterious and murky, whether it's propulsive and groovy, or blissed out and barely there, it's always dreamlike and otherworldly.
Stick around for the 8+ minute closer "Batholith", which is fast becoming our favorite, a sprawling stretch of minimal country murk, woozy, ethereal, laced with whirring organs, panned sound swooping from speaker to speaker, and some near carnivalesque melodies, all woven into a strangely psychedelic spaced out bit of lysergic dream pop shimmer. So good.
MPEG Stream: "Saltacion"
MPEG Stream: "Escopolamina"
MPEG Stream: "Turmoil"
MPEG Stream: "Conversa"

DALT, LUCRECIA Commotus (Human Ear Music) lp 19.98
Commotus is the debut from Spanish songstress/soundscaper Lucrecia Dalt, and definitely positions her amongst some like minded soundmakers we love - Grouper, US Girls, Valet, Chelsea Wolfe. Dalt has the same sort of knack for weaving lustrous dark dreamscapes, mixing the gothic folk of Wolfe with the hazy soft focus psychedelic drift of Grouper, but adding her own twists, in the case of album opener it's a background of layered, pitch shifted voices, which forms the whole of the sonic backdrop, all harnessed to skittery, percolating rhythms, and laced with a surprising blurt of woozy wah guitar and an out of nowhere swell of bleating brass. The overall effect is ghostly, spectral, haunting and darkly lovely, and the rest of the record unfurls similarly. "Excopolamina" almost sounds like an extension of the opener, a bit more hazy and blurred, metallic riffs muted into a churning rhythm, the beats more skittery, the vocals even more ethereal. Then there's the playful synth solo, and what sounds like an old fashioned wurlitzer humming in the background.
There's definitely a woozy, washed out sort of Caretaker vibe to the proceedings here, the sounds and songs faded and worn, transmissions from some mysterious shadowy otherworld, dark ballads that drift ominously, only to collide with tracks that are downright playful ("Conversa"), which almost sound like a slightly darker, gloomier Liminanas, before slipping right back into another sprawl of abstract shimmer, twang flecked, bass-bloop peppered minimal murkiness, or some wispy slo-mo space blues, or some tripped out doomfolk new wave dirgery. But whatever strain of Dalt's dark sonic DNA drifts to the fore, she renders it haunting and heavenly, mysterious and murky, whether it's propulsive and groovy, or blissed out and barely there, it's always dreamlike and otherworldly.
Stick around for the 8+ minute closer "Batholith", which is fast becoming our favorite, a sprawling stretch of minimal country murk, woozy, ethereal, laced with whirring organs, panned sound swooping from speaker to speaker, and some near carnivalesque melodies, all woven into a strangely psychedelic spaced out bit of lysergic dream pop shimmer. So good.
MPEG Stream: "Saltacion"
MPEG Stream: "Escopolamina"
MPEG Stream: "Turmoil"
MPEG Stream: "Conversa"

DALTON, KAREN In My Own Time (Light In The Attic) cd 14.98
Wow!! It wasn't just but three lists ago when we were lamenting that Karen Dalton's second album (and only other recording), In My Own Time had yet to be reissued, and now here we are reviewing it (thanks Light In the Attic!). And we have to say, it has never sounded better! Recorded in 1971 with a full band at Bearsville studio in Woodstock, In My Own Time has a much different feel then Dalton's spare and smoky first recording, It's So Hard To Tell Who's Going To Love You the Best. Since Dalton had so little recorded output, the differences between the two records has given In My Own Time, an unfairly maligned reputation over the years by folk purists and others due to its more contemporized feel and bluesy folk-rock arrangements. True, In My own Time, doesn't quite meet the folk majesty of It's So Hard To Tell, and there are a couple of song choices, such as the all too familiar "When A Man Loves A Woman", and the saccharine Motown stalwart, "How Sweet It Is", that we could probably do without (however, in Dalton's defense, if we had to hear either of those songs again, we would prefer her versions to anyone else's! Such is the strength of her musical interpretations.). But every other song is purest gold, from the heartbreaking opener by Dino Valenti, "Something's On Your Mind", to the traditional tunes "Katie Cruel" (covered recently both by Bert Jansch and White Magic) and "Same Old Man", where we get to hear her play her mighty 27 fret banjo. Produced by Harvey Brooks, who played bass on her first album, In My Own Time is right up there with the best folk and roots rock albums of the time put out by Dylan, The Band, The Byrds, and Crosby, Stills and Nash. Featuring a 30-page booklet with lots of pictures and extensive liner notes by Lenny Kaye, Nick Cave and Devendra Banhart. Reissue of the year and of course absolutely essential!!!!
MPEG Stream: "Something On Your Mind"
MPEG Stream: "In My Own Dream"
MPEG Stream: "Same Old Man"

DALTON, KAREN In My Own Time (Light In The Attic) lp 16.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
NOW ON VINYL!
Wow!! It wasn't that long ago we were lamenting that Karen Dalton's second album (and only other recording), In My Own Time had yet to be reissued, and now here we are reviewing it (thanks Light In the Attic!). And we have to say, it has never sounded better! Recorded in 1971 with a full band at Bearsville studio in Woodstock, In My Own Time has a much different feel then Dalton's spare and smoky first recording, It's So Hard To Tell Who's Going To Love You the Best. Since Dalton had so little recorded output, the differences between the two records has given In My Own Time, an unfairly maligned reputation over the years by folk purists and others due to its more contemporized feel and bluesy folk-rock arrangements. True, In My own Time, doesn't quite meet the folk majesty of It's So Hard To Tell, and there are a couple of song choices, such as the all too familiar "When A Man Loves A Woman", and the saccharine Motown stalwart, "How Sweet It Is", that we could probably do without (however, in Dalton's defense, if we had to hear either of those songs again, we would prefer her versions to anyone else's! Such is the strength of her musical interpretations.). But every other song is purest gold, from the heartbreaking opener by Dino Valenti, "Something's On Your Mind", to the traditional tunes "Katie Cruel" (covered recently both by Bert Jansch and White Magic) and "Same Old Man", where we get to hear her play her mighty 27 fret banjo. Produced by Harvey Brooks, who played bass on her first album, In My Own Time is right up there with the best folk and roots rock albums of the time put out by Dylan, The Band, The Byrds, and Crosby, Stills and Nash.
MPEG Stream: "Something On Your Mind"
MPEG Stream: "In My Own Dream"
MPEG Stream: "Same Old Man"

DALTON, KAREN Something On Your Mind b/w Katie Cruel (Light In The Attic) 7" 6.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Released in conjunction with Karen Dalton's freshly reissued second album, In My Own Time, this 7" single of "Something's On Your Mind" and a previously unreleased alternate take of "Katie Cruel" features two of the best cuts from the album. Her rich sweet voice was made for vinyl, and if you have never heard it before, than this is just the place to start.
MPEG Stream: "Something's On Your Mind"

DAMENBART Impressionen '71 (Psychedelic Pig) cd 15.98
A long lost Krautrock artifact? Perhaps not, as the distributor we got this from nudgingly noted that this had an April 1st release date. Actually the story (which itself may be suspect) is that this is a cd reissue (with 'bonus tracks') of a LP hoax originally perpetrated upon the record collectors of the world in 1989 by members of German experimentalists HNAS. And while the amazing collage cover art looks convincing, did they really think their false beards in the band photos were going to fool anyone? Plus the production doesn't really sound like something recorded back in 1971. But just 'cause it's fake Krautrock (actually, if it's HNAS its technically still is Krautrock in a way...) doesn't mean it's bad. In fact, this is a pretty cool record, full of freaked out sounds -- spacey, scary orgel, synthi, gitarre and effekte. Pretend or authentic, it doesn't really matter, it's still a droning psychedelic bad trip (with some nice droning pretty parts too) that krautheads and those into krautrock's modern equivalents will definitely enjoy. File this with the likes of German Oak, No Neck, Brainticket, Reynols, Sand, Angelblood, Acid Mothers Temple, those suspicious PsiFi "Unknown Deutschland" bands, and Tangerine Dream's "Electronic Meditation"...
MPEG Stream: "Innovative Schwingungen"
MPEG Stream: "Bring Uns Den Frieden"

DAMNED THINGS, THE Ironiclast (Mercury) cd 14.98
Okay, odds are most aQ list readers aren't gonna be interested in this. But in the spirit of aQuarius, and the sort of open mindedness we try to engender here, hopefully a few folks will give this a chance, cuz it's actually pretty great. The math sounds bizarre and it most definitely is, take two parts Fallout Boy, two parts Anthrax, and one part Every Time I Die (literally, it's members of those bands!), and this is what you get, a bombastic blast of super heavy, ultra melodic, catchy as hell classic eighties style hard rocking heaviness. Big riffs, wild leads, pounding drummage, some super epic clean vocals, classic metal guitar harmonies, all wound into super hooky heavy jams that kick tons of ass.
"We've Got A Situation Here" is THEE one here, a pretty much perfect pop song rendered in shades of chug and crunch and wail and blast and pound. The guitars crunchy and heavy, the vocals throaty and what you might expect from the dude from ETID, but with a chorus most bands would kill for, not to mention some seriously heavy breakdowns, one in particular that seriously swings and sounds almost like Pantera or Down. And the rest of the songs are pretty much just as good, born from a shared love of Thin Lizzy, it's got that kind of classic rock vibe, some songs sounding a little like Kiss, others more like Queens Of The Stoneage or Foo Fighters, but the Damned Things, definitely temper their poppiness with some serious heaviness, and some killer songs. Scoff if you must, but some of us (mostly Andee) have been listening to this like crazy!
MPEG Stream: "We've Got A Situation Here"
MPEG Stream: "Handbook For The Recently Deceased"
MPEG Stream: "Bad Blood"

DAMNED, THE Damned Damned Damned: 30th Anniversary Expanded Edition (Castle Music) 3cd 26.00
All the Damned you will ever want or need on 3 cds. Damn!

DAMNED, THE Machine Gun Etiquette (Drastic Plastic) lp 24.00

DAMNED, THE Neat Neat Neat - The Alternative Anthology (Sanctuary) 2cd 25.00

DAMNED, THE The Black Album (Chiswick) 2cd 26.00

DAMO SUZUKI'S NETWORK Seattle (Damo's Net Work) cd 29.00
Recorded live in Seattle, WA, last October near the end of an all too brief west coast tour, this is an artfully packaged double cd of improv conjured by former Can vocalist Damo Suzuki, his former Can-mate Michael Karoli, Mandjau Fati, Thomas Hopf, and Alex Schonert. Additional sounds and textures created by Mark Spybey (Zoviet France, Dead Voices on Air, Download) and Dustin Donaldson (I Am Spoonbender). Nine lengthy tracks including a version of CAN's "Mother Sky".

DAMON & NAOMI The Sub Pop Years (20/20/20) cd 10.98

MPEG Stream: "Eulogy To Lenny Bruce"
MPEG Stream: "I'm Yours"
MPEG Stream: "Eye Of The Storm"
MPEG Stream: "The Great Wall"

DAMON & NAOMI Song To The Siren: On Tour With Kurihara (Sub Pop) cd+dvd 16.98
This is definitely the week of former Galaxie 500ers, isn't it? Let's take a peek at where two of the three are at these days (for the other third, check out the Luna review this AQ list), shall we? We've not heard from them since their 2000 collaboration album with Japanese psych group Ghost, so although you might be hoping for a new full length, the Damon and Naomi camp instead present this combo live cd and dvd set on which they're accompanied by Ghost's guitarist Michio Kurihara. Just shy of an hour long (59 minutes), the cd features a beautiful concert of 11 songs in San Sebastian. The intimate and moving set is captured remarkably well. You'd barely know it was a live performance if it weren't for the minimal stage banter and applause - almost as if the audience was so completely entranced that they held their breath during each number. As an added bonus, they lovingly cover Tim Buckley's "Song To The Siren" laced with spacious, tremoloed guitar. And just a bit shyer of an hour (54 minutes) is the dvd also named after the Buckley song which includes Naomi Yang's video diary of their time on the road, commentary from the duo, and discographies. Very nice.
RealAudio clip: "Song To The Siren"
RealAudio clip: "Love"

DAMON & NAOMI The Earth Is Blue (20/20/20) cd 13.98
Intimate. Beautiful. Inspired. Damon & Naomi! The Earth Is Blue features 10 tracks, recorded in their home studio with special guest guitarist, Michio Kurihara, of Japan's psych-folk great ones Ghost. Also contributing are Greg Kelley and Bhob Rainey. Eight original tracks feature harmonic delicacies and melodic intricacies. In the same vein, interpretations of George Harrison's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" and Caetano Veloso's "Araca Azul" resound sweetly on this release. Highly recommended!
MPEG Stream: "Beautiful Close Double"
MPEG Stream: "Araca Azul"

DAMON & NAOMI The Earth Is Blue (20/20/20) lp 13.98
Now on vinyl! Intimate. Beautiful. Inspired. Damon & Naomi! The Earth Is Blue features 10 tracks, recorded in their home studio with special guest guitarist, Michio Kurihara, of Japan's psych-folk great ones Ghost. Also contributing are Greg Kelley and Bhob Rainey. Eight original tracks feature harmonic delicacies and melodic intricacies. In the same vein, interpretations of George Harrison's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" and Caetano Veloso's "Araca Azul" resound sweetly on this release.
MPEG Stream: "Beautiful Close Double"
MPEG Stream: "Araca Azul"

DAMON & NAOMI With Ghost (Sub Pop) cd 15.98
The retail/press info sheet for this goes on and on about what a boundary-crossing, genre-defying acid folk milestone this 'inevitable' collaboration between D & N and Japanese space-folk collective Ghost is. Too bad that's so far from the truth. 'Cause maybe if Damon and Naomi's sound wasn't so apparently inalterable and they did indeed plan on *actually* collaborating, this could have really been something amazing. But instead, it's your basic dreamy, reverby, 80's college radio space/folk pop. Truth be told, three tracks into this cd, we barely noticed Ghost's presence at all. It was as if they were...oh never mind. This is basically your standard Damon and Naomi record (essentially, Galaxie 500 with more ethereal vocals and less catchy songs) with Ghost acting as their 'house band'. So if you like Damon and Naomi already, then you will probably need this record. But, if you were waiting for some new Ghost, keep waiting.

DAMON & NAOMI Within These Walls (20/20/20) cd 13.98
Damon & Naomi's seventh full length Within These Walls is deep, dark and languid. They're joined by guests Ghost's Michio Kurihara, Espers' cellist Helena Espvall, and avant garde soprano saxophone player nmperign's Bhob Rainey. With their own impressive pedigree and these luminaries on board, you'd think that this would be a boundary pushing, resonant album, but in fact this rings with an air of '70s adult contemporary (a la Burt Bacharach, Carly Simon, etc). Pleasing, but surprisingly mild. Where they fare best is on the album's closing track "Cruel Queen", the most traditional folk number of the ten. It's an austere beauty that you'll be glad you stuck around for, but we wished there was more of its ilk on the rest of the album.
MPEG Stream: "A Silver Thread"
MPEG Stream: "Cruel Queen"

DAMON, LIZ Orient Express (Rev-Ola) cd 16.98

DAMSEL Distressed (Temporary Residence Ltd.) cd 14.98
Zach Hill (Hella, The Ladies, etc) and Nels Cline (Wilco, Geraldine Fibbers, etc) are probably two of the busiest and most prolific musicians in the 'underground' these days. They've been trying to find time for ages to make a record together, as their talents do seem to speak to a similar ecstatic aesthetic. But finding the time proved to be quite a feat. Luckily when Wilco had a day off in Chicago and Zach was also in Chicago, the two decided to have an improv jam together and Distressed is the result. Hill's trademark frantic drumming moves more towards avant jazz as Cline once again shows why he is such an in demand guitarist. What if in their prime Van Halen were cool enough to cover a Pharaoh Sanders record? Maybe it would sound something like this.
MPEG Stream: "Space Needle"
MPEG Stream: "Fork-Fed"

DAMSELS, THE Dirty Love (Skinny) cd ep 4.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
The debut release from San Francisco's the Damsels contains three jangle pop tunes for our listenin' enjoyment. Gentle, bouncing guitar hooks. Shy boy vocals occasionally a bit shoegazerish. Quite reminiscent of a young Teenage Fanclub circa "Bandwagonesque". Yes, it's time to dig out your fuzzy cardigan again. Clocking in at just over thirteen minutes, here's hoping there'll be more from them soon.
RealAudio clip: "Defy Your Radio"

DANAVA Hemisphere Of Shadows (Kemado) cd 10.98
It's not really all that much fun writing a review of this new Danava album. What's fun is listening to it, turned up loud... and maybe getting buzzed on a substance of choice whilst doing so. Whoo-hoo! Granted, that's the case with lots of albums, classics like say Deep Purple In Rock or Alice Cooper's Love It To Death. The kind that require, nay inspire, such behavior. Those, though, weren't just released, but this was, so all the more an occasion for drunken loud listening. They don't make 'em like this all that often anymore, so kudos to Kemado for bringing us the real deal (ironic, isn't it). Though its exactly what we've come to expect from Portland psych-prog-stoner rockers Danava, and are happy to hear once again.
Since the time we checked in with these boys, they've undergone some lineup changes. They now rock to the beat of a different drummer, for one thing. And the guy who only played synths is gone now... but in his stead, way better yet, they've added a 2nd guitarist for extra twin axe attackin', so that's a win. The bassist and the singin' lead guitarist are the same, and that's what really matters in this band, those dudes. They slay.
Needless (at this point) to say, this new album is a killer, replete from the very get-go with rollicking, riff-rockin' badassery. These new Danava jams are seriously being kicked, way out. And they're, y'know, real songs too, with real vocals and everythin', like it's back in 1973 or so and they've got something to prove, those twin guitars givin' with the glorious harmonies (think Thin Lizzy, on the song "I Am The Skull" here especially). They sound like old time Pentagram too, but galloping like they wuz in the Preakness. The Preakness of freakness. Danava are doin' it, here. They're gonna out rock, out prog, out psych, out retro-proto-metal all comers. Speedy and sinuous, no doubt a bit of stress on all the wrists and necks involved in the making of this music. And there's still the usual embellishments of spacey synthy FX sprinkled about, even with that one guy gone. It's all almost a bit overwhelming, which is why it's nice that the very last track, the instrumental "Dying Into The Light" winds things up on a calming, eerily pretty note. Whew...
And, it should be noted that they further pay tribute to their '70s forebears by covering a song, "The Last Goodbye", by obscure UK blooze bashers Slowbone, not that you'd think it wasn't one of their own.
So, yep, getting ripped and listening to these guys rip (rollercoaster style, like they do) is of course way better than writing or reading this review. The response should be obvious. We, or well at least one of us anyway, is gonna kick back and crank this right now. You, should buy a copy and do the same as soon as you can.
By the way, all that drink/drug stuff is meant metaphorically, for all we know the guys in Danava, and their intended listening audience, are super straight edge, not stoners, let alone beer drinkers and hell raisers - though we doubt it.
MPEG Stream: "Shoot Straight With A Crooked Gun"
MPEG Stream: "The Last Goodbye"
MPEG Stream: "I Am The Skull"

DANAVA Hemisphere Of Shadows (Kemado) lp 17.98
It's not really all that much fun writing a review of this new Danava album. What's fun is listening to it, turned up loud... and maybe getting buzzed on a substance of choice whilst doing so. Whoo-hoo! Granted, that's the case with lots of albums, classics like say Deep Purple In Rock or Alice Cooper's Love It To Death. The kind that require, nay inspire, such behavior. Those, though, weren't just released, but this was, so all the more an occasion for drunken loud listening. They don't make 'em like this all that often anymore, so kudos to Kemado for bringing us the real deal (ironic, isn't it). Though its exactly what we've come to expect from Portland psych-prog-stoner rockers Danava, and are happy to hear once again.
Since the time we checked in with these boys, they've undergone some lineup changes. They now rock to the beat of a different drummer, for one thing. And the guy who only played synths is gone now... but in his stead, way better yet, they've added a 2nd guitarist for extra twin axe attackin', so that's a win. The bassist and the singin' lead guitarist are the same, and that's what really matters in this band, those dudes. They slay.
Needless (at this point) to say, this new album is a killer, replete from the very get-go with rollicking, riff-rockin' badassery. These new Danava jams are seriously being kicked, way out. And they're, y'know, real songs too, with real vocals and everythin', like it's back in 1973 or so and they've got something to prove, those twin guitars givin' with the glorious harmonies (think Thin Lizzy, on the song "I Am The Skull" here especially). They sound like old time Pentagram too, but galloping like they wuz in the Preakness. The Preakness of freakness. Danava are doin' it, here. They're gonna out rock, out prog, out psych, out retro-proto-metal all comers. Speedy and sinuous, no doubt a bit of stress on all the wrists and necks involved in the making of this music. And there's still the usual embellishments of spacey synthy FX sprinkled about, even with that one guy gone. It's all almost a bit overwhelming, which is why it's nice that the very last track, the instrumental "Dying Into The Light" winds things up on a calming, eerily pretty note. Whew...
And, it should be noted that they further pay tribute to their '70s forebears by covering a song, "The Last Goodbye", by obscure UK blooze bashers Slowbone, not that you'd think it wasn't one of their own.
So, yep, getting ripped and listening to these guys rip (rollercoaster style, like they do) is of course way better than writing or reading this review. The response should be obvious. We, or well at least one of us anyway, is gonna kick back and crank this right now. You, should buy a copy and do the same as soon as you can.
By the way, all that drink/drug stuff is meant metaphorically, for all we know the guys in Danava, and their intended listening audience, are super straight edge, not stoners, let alone beer drinkers and hell raisers - though we doubt it.
MPEG Stream: "Shoot Straight With A Crooked Gun"
MPEG Stream: "The Last Goodbye"
MPEG Stream: "I Am The Skull"

DANAVA Quiet Babies Astray In A Manger (Kemado Records) 12" 5.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
We first heard this Portland stoner-prog-metal combo on the Invaders comp of happenin' heavy psych metal that the Kemado label put out a few months ago. Their track was one of the several highlights there. Went to go see 'em when they played here with Parchman Farm not long ago, too, and the Danava boys SLAYED, shredded, and (incidentally) were all really skinny. Awesome band. Basically a rippin' power trio with extra (and to be honest, seemingly unnecessary) keyboard electronics action. So we're looking forward to their upcoming full length debut due later this year on Kemado, who made the wise decision to sign these guys. As a teaser to that, here's a single-sided limited-edition 12" vinyl release featuring an epic track entitled "Quiet Babies Astray In A Manger".

DANAVA s/t (Kemado) cd 12.98
A few months back, we listed a one-sided, one-song 12" vinyl record that was a teaser for this, the debut album from Portland, Oregon's magnificent Danava, an eagerly awaited release 'round here for sure. And so we'll pretty much recap a bunch of what we said in the review of that 12", which featured their epic tune "Quiet Babies Astray In A Manger", also found on this disc: we first heard this stoner-garage-prog-metal combo on the Invaders comp of happenin' hipster heavy psych metal that the Kemado label released earlier this year. Their track was one of several highlights on that collection. We went to go see 'em when they played in Oakland with Parchman Farm not too long ago, and even more recently in The City when they were supposed to be opening for Witchcraft, and in both instances the Danava boys SLAYED, shredded, and (incidentally to the music) were all really skinny. Awesome band. Basically a rollicking, rippin' power trio with extra psychedelic embellishments from keyboards and electronics. If we were a label, we'd have signed 'em in an instant, and that's what Kemado wisely did some time ago. This resultant product comes close to capturing the excitement of their live show, while revealing other aspects we didn't hear whilst headbanging. It's got a reworking of their killer tune "By The Mark" from the Invaders comp, plus the aforementioned 12" track, and three others that are equally masterful, like "Eyes In Disguise" (hearing a hint of Black Sabbath in the vocal line on that one). When the fleet-fingered guitarist gets goin', and when the drummer and bassist lock in, Danava build to pure, amped up, enthused rocka rolla ecstasy and almost could just as well be a totally instrumental band and get away with it, but they have the bonus of actual decent singing capability and vocal hooks as well. Recommended if you like to rock.
MPEG Stream: "Maudie Shook"
MPEG Stream: "Longdance"

DANAVA s/t (Kemado) lp 11.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Now On Vinyl! Here is what we said about this album upon its cd release last year:
A few months back, we listed a one-sided, one-song 12" vinyl record that was a teaser for this, the debut album from Portland, Oregon's magnificent Danava, an eagerly awaited release 'round here for sure. And so we'll pretty much recap a bunch of what we said in the review of that 12", which featured their epic tune "Quiet Babies Astray In A Manger", also found on this disc: we first heard this stoner-garage-prog-metal combo on the Invaders comp of happenin' hipster heavy psych metal that the Kemado label released earlier this year. Their track was one of several highlights on that collection. We went to go see 'em when they played in Oakland with Parchman Farm not too long ago, and even more recently in The City when they were supposed to be opening for Witchcraft, and in both instances the Danava boys SLAYED, shredded, and (incidentally to the music) were all really skinny. Awesome band. Basically a rollicking, rippin' power trio with extra psychedelic embellishments from keyboards and electronics. If we were a label, we'd have signed 'em in an instant, and that's what Kemado wisely did some time ago. This resultant product comes close to capturing the excitement of their live show, while revealing other aspects we didn't hear whilst headbanging. It's got a reworking of their killer tune "By The Mark" from the Invaders comp, plus the aforementioned 12" track, and three others that are equally masterful, like "Eyes In Disguise" (hearing a hint of Black Sabbath in the vocal line on that one). When the fleet-fingered guitarist gets goin', and when the drummer and bassist lock in, Danava build to pure, amped up, enthused rocka rolla ecstasy and almost could just as well be a totally instrumental band and get away with it, but they have the bonus of actual decent singing capability and vocal hooks as well. Recommended if you like to rock.
MPEG Stream: "Maudie Shook"
MPEG Stream: "Longdance"

DANAVA Unonou (Kemado) cd 14.98
A rockin' return (of course!) from Portland's finest, the mighty Danava. Retro stoner rock melodic metallic garage prog psych heaviness. Whew that's a mouthful. What did we say about 'em when reviewing their recent 7"? "A band whose ripping '70s style metallic power trio action is augmented by a dusting of trippy space rock synthesizer soundz from fourth member Rockwell."
The deal with Danava is that, bottom line, they rip. Metal or indie or retro or hipster or whatever, we don't really care, we just know that they obviously love the same sort of '70s prog excess we dig (a la Sabbath's Sabotage), with flamboyant keyboard flourishes (check out the last minute of "Where Beauty And Terror Dance" ferinstance), write actual songs, sing 'em too, and totally kick ass live. Maybe that's not much to ask from a band, but these days, such real deal rock n' roll acts are few and far between. Likewise with kick ass albums like this one. Who else might we cite? Birds Of Avalon are one of 'em. Also recent Danava tour mates Witchcraft. And Oakland's Drunk Horse (imagine them in cahoots with SF's Crime In Choir perhaps, to approach the boogie prog shred you get with Danava).
Unonou brings fans another seven songs sprung from the bulging collective Danava forehead, in the manner to which we have become accustomed. Which means, they feature virtuosic guitar (and bass) solo action, frenzied drumming, Ozzish vocals (very much so, up to and including some snippets of the lyrics), and the aforementioned eccentric electronic embellishments. Plus, this time 'round, there's a frickin' horn section throwing down in several songs! The album ends with the 13+ minute "Mind Gone Separate Ways", wherein the band manage to kick out the jams whilst making melodic space rock fusion, wow. Yep Unonou has got its share of sinister moodiness and spaceouts but consists mostly of REALLY energetic rollercoaster, uh, rippage (to use that term once more). Danava's '70s era references/influences would seem to include proggy Black Sabbath, early Blue Oyster Cult, lashings of Gobin (like the disco-ish groove that starts off "The Emerald Snow Of Sleep"), very early Alice Cooper, maybe even Jobraith... If that sounds good to you, get this, and definitely don't miss 'em live whenever that chance presents itself.
MPEG Stream: "Where Beauty And Terror Dance"
MPEG Stream: "Spinning Temple Shifting"

DANAVA Unonou (Kemado) 2lp 21.00
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
NOW ON VINYL TOO!
A rockin' return (of course!) from Portland's finest, the mighty Danava. Retro stoner rock melodic metallic garage prog psych heaviness. Whew that's a mouthful. What did we say about 'em when reviewing their recent 7"? "A band whose ripping '70s style metallic power trio action is augmented by a dusting of trippy space rock synthesizer soundz from fourth member Rockwell."
The deal with Danava is that, bottom line, they rip. Metal or indie or retro or hipster or whatever, we don't really care, we just know that they obviously love the same sort of '70s prog excess we dig (a la Sabbath's Sabotage), with flamboyant keyboard flourishes (check out the last minute of "Where Beauty And Terror Dance" ferinstance), write actual songs, sing 'em too, and totally kick ass live. Maybe that's not much to ask from a band, but these days, such real deal rock n' roll acts are few and far between. Likewise with kick ass albums like this one. Who else might we cite? Birds Of Avalon are one of 'em. Also recent Danava tour mates Witchcraft. And Oakland's Drunk Horse (imagine them in cahoots with SF's Crime In Choir perhaps, to approach the boogie prog shred you get with Danava).
Unonou brings fans another seven songs sprung from the bulging collective Danava forehead, in the manner to which we have become accustomed. Which means, they feature virtuosic guitar (and bass) solo action, frenzied drumming, Ozzish vocals (very much so, up to and including some snippets of the lyrics), and the aforementioned eccentric electronic embellishments. Plus, this time 'round, there's a frickin' horn section throwing down in several songs! The album ends with the 13+ minute "Mind Gone Separate Ways", wherein the band manage to kick out the jams whilst making melodic space rock fusion, wow. Yep Unonou has got its share of sinister moodiness and spaceouts but consists mostly of REALLY energetic rollercoaster, uh, rippage (to use that term once more). Danava's '70s era references/influences would seem to include proggy Black Sabbath, early Blue Oyster Cult, lashings of Gobin (like the disco-ish groove that starts off "The Emerald Snow Of Sleep"), very early Alice Cooper, maybe even Jobraith... If that sounds good to you, get this, and definitely don't miss 'em live whenever that chance presents itself.
MPEG Stream: "Where Beauty And Terror Dance"
MPEG Stream: "Spinning Temple Shifting"

DANAVA Where Beauty & Terror Dance (Kemado) 7" 3.98
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
Yay, two new songs from Portland's finest melodic heavy psych rockers Danava, a band whose ripping '70s style metallic power trio action is augmented by a dusting of trippy space rock synthesizer soundz from fourth member Rockwell... Just saw 'em recently opening for Witchcraft, one of the only bands around that's capable of giving us as much of a rock n' roll thrill as these guys.
On this seven inch (which includes a coupon enabling a free download of mp3 versions of these tracks) you get the title cut "Where Beauty & Terror Dance", and on the flip, their cover of "Jericho" by fuzzblasted English psychedelic proto-metallers Stray, originally from that band's 1971 album Suicide. All right!

DANDY WARHOLS Odditorium (Capitol) cd 17.98

DANGER MOUSE & DANIELE LUPPI Rome (Capitol) cd 16.98

DANGER MOUSE & SPARKLEHORSE Dark Night Of The Soul (Capitol / Lex) cd 16.98
After all the hype, the drama, the "is it coming out or isn't it?", the beautiful book packaged with the blank cd-r so you could download this record illegally, we sort of expected to be blown away, but at first it was just the opposite, we were actively bummed out, not just disappointed, but appalled. Mostly because this was the last recorded music we'd hear from two of our favorite songwriters EVER, Mark Linkous from Sparklehorse and Vic Chesnutt, both of whom took their own lives. And frankly it kind of sucked. But we've listened to it a few times now, and it's not nearly as bad as we first thought. It seems more like a case of too many cooks, there's no way a record featuring so many guest stars and contributors could be cohesive, or at least the chances are pretty slim. Especially when you look at the list: Black Francis, Julian Casablancas, Vic Chesnutt, The Flaming Lips, David Lynch, Jason Lytle of Grandaddy, James Mercer of The Shins, Nina Persson of the Cardigans, Iggy Pop, Suzanne Vega and Gruff Rhys of Super Furry Animals. And the record sounds exactly like you'd expect from that list, like a crazy mish mash of styles and personalities, of sounds and approaches, none of which really work at all with each other. The real question is WHY all of those people? Some sort of friend rock situation? Strip away all the bullshit and all the guest vocals and probably hidden in there is a really good Sparklehorse record. But instead, it's more like a compilation, and not an especially cohesive one, which is maybe fine, but some of the songs, the more rocking ones specifically, are stinkers, and definitely disrupt the flow. Chesnutt's track is pretty great, his voice always so intense, tortured and emotional, perfectly complimented by Linkous's gorgeous hazy production. Which in places does sound incredible, the guest-less Linkous tracks are pretty good, or the ones where the guests try to fit themselves into Linkous' sound instead of the other way around, but even then, for the most part there are no rough edges at all, which was always the best part, the crackle and buzz, the glitch and hum, the happy accidents, but throughout, the production slick and glossy, a little TOO slick. How we would have preferred some sort of super intimate DIY Linkous / Chesnutt collaboration, but alas, it's never to be. So best we just take what we can from this mostly disappointing collection. We'll probably end up picking 4 or 5 songs, to load on to the iPod, and then just forget all about the rest...
MPEG Stream: "Revenge (Feat. The Flaming Lips)"
MPEG Stream: "Grim Augury (Feat. Vic Chesnutt)"
MPEG Stream: "Star Eyes (I Can't Catch It) (Feat. David Lynch)"
MPEG Stream: "Pain (Feat. Iggy Pop)"

DANGER MOUSE & SPARKLEHORSE Dark Night Of The Soul (Capitol / Lex) 2lp 21.00
After all the hype, the drama, the "is it coming out or isn't it?", the beautiful book packaged with the blank cd-r so you could download this record illegally, we sort of expected to be blown away, but at first it was just the opposite, we were actively bummed out, not just disappointed, but appalled. Mostly because this was the last recorded music we'd hear from two of our favorite songwriters EVER, Mark Linkous from Sparklehorse and Vic Chesnutt, both of whom took their own lives. And frankly it kind of sucked. But we've listened to it a few times now, and it's not nearly as bad as we first thought. It seems more like a case of too many cooks, there's no way a record featuring so many guest stars and contributors could be cohesive, or at least the chances are pretty slim. Especially when you look at the list: Black Francis, Julian Casablancas, Vic Chesnutt, The Flaming Lips, David Lynch, Jason Lytle of Grandaddy, James Mercer of The Shins, Nina Persson of the Cardigans, Iggy Pop, Suzanne Vega and Gruff Rhys of Super Furry Animals. And the record sounds exactly like you'd expect from that list, like a crazy mish mash of styles and personalities, of sounds and approaches, none of which really work at all with each other. The real question is WHY all of those people? Some sort of friend rock situation? Strip away all the bullshit and all the guest vocals and probably hidden in there is a really good Sparklehorse record. But instead, it's more like a compilation, and not an especially cohesive one, which is maybe fine, but some of the songs, the more rocking ones specifically, are stinkers, and definitely disrupt the flow. Chesnutt's track is pretty great, his voice always so intense, tortured and emotional, perfectly complimented by Linkous's gorgeous hazy production. Which in places does sound incredible, the guest-less Linkous tracks are pretty good, or the ones where the guests try to fit themselves into Linkous' sound instead of the other way around, but even then, for the most part there are no rough edges at all, which was always the best part, the crackle and buzz, the glitch and hum, the happy accidents, but throughout, the production slick and glossy, a little TOO slick. How we would have preferred some sort of super intimate DIY Linkous / Chesnutt collaboration, but alas, it's never to be. So best we just take what we can from this mostly disappointing collection. We'll probably end up picking 4 or 5 songs, to load on to the iPod, and then just forget all about the rest...
MPEG Stream: "Revenge (Feat. The Flaming Lips)"
MPEG Stream: "Grim Augury (Feat. Vic Chesnutt)"
MPEG Stream: "Star Eyes (I Can't Catch It) (Feat. David Lynch)"
MPEG Stream: "Pain (Feat. Iggy Pop)"

DANIELS, WALTER, THE OBLIVIANS, & MONSIEUR JEFFREY EVANS Melissa's Garage Revisited (Sympathy for the Record Industry) cd 11.98
Some of the grittiest garage rock from the Oblivians is found on this collection of the recordings done at Melissa's garage in Memphis, with Walter Daniels (Jack-O-Fire) and Monsieur Jeffery Evans (Gibson Brothers and '68 Comeback) sharing the vocal duties. Half of these recordings were released on a very hard to find bootleg 10", with the other half released as a '68 Comeback single.

DANIELSON Ships (Secretly Canadian) cd 14.98
Conceived as a giant group hug with everyone Daniel Smith (aka Danielson Family, Tri-Danielson and Br. Danielson) has collaborated with or has wanted to collaborate with, this Moby Dick of a record cannot be completely contained on just one cd, so a series of 7 inches will follow with different collaborators, producers and labels. While the cd features appearances from Deerhoof, Sufjan Stevens, Serena Maneesh and Why?, among others, these sunny and ecstatic pop exuberances have become so embedded in the Danielson mythos, that it is sometimes hard to tell where the collaboration lies. But that's no matter, if you love the uplifting and heartfelt indie-pop of Polyphonic Spree, Flaming Lips or the Elephant 6 collective, you will definitely want to book a spot on this cruise.
MPEG Stream: "Bloodbook on the Half Shell"
MPEG Stream: "Did I Step On Your Trumpet"

DANIELSON Ships (Secretly Canadian) lp 13.98
Conceived as a giant group hug with everyone Daniel Smith (aka Danielson Family, Tri-Danielson and Br. Danielson) has collaborated with or has wanted to collaborate with, this Moby Dick of a record cannot be completely contained on just one cd, so a series of 7 inches will follow with different collaborators, producers and labels. While the cd features appearances from Deerhoof, Sufjan Stevens, Serena Maneesh and Why?, among others, these sunny and ecstatic pop exuberances have become so embedded in the Danielson mythos, that it is sometimes hard to tell where the collaboration lies. But that's no matter, if you love the uplifting and heartfelt indie-pop of Polyphonic Spree, Flaming Lips or the Elephant 6 collective, you will definitely want to book a spot on this cruise.
MPEG Stream: "Bloodbook on the Half Shell"
MPEG Stream: "Did I Step On Your Trumpet"

DANIELSON Tri-Danielson (Alpha) (Secretly Canadian) cd 13.98
Completely original vision put forth by the Smith family, headed by Daniel, complete with medical uniforms and synchronized dancing. A mix of twang, falsetto, female harmonies, and heart-tuggingly sweet lyrics. Has been described as sort of a more accessible Half-Japanese. We also carry Danielson's first couple of albums, which are amazing! Ask!

DANIELSON FAMILE A Prayer For Every Hour (Secretly Canadian) 2cd 15.98
The totally original oddity that is Danielson sees their very first album (1995) reissued. A double disc set, this has 24 inspirational songs that're meant to be played at the top of every hour over the course of one day. Amazing, amazing band. All six members are indeed kids from the same Northern New Jersey family (except the keyboardist who's been a family friend since grade school), they're hardcore shiny happy Christians who sing about God's love and stuff, they dress in handmade white doctors and nurses uniforms. Weird huh? They also have this super sweet visual aesthetic going on with handmade quilts with songlyrics embroidered on them and hand-drawn pictures and stuff. They even designed a Danielson Famile loafer for Fluevog Shoes.
Their sound? Daniel, the lead singer and guitarist, yowls in a whiny falsetto that has a punchy punk energy to it, while his sisters Rachel and Megan cavort on flute and xylophone and accompany Daniel's vocals with the prettiest call-and-response backup harmonies and, best of all, choreographed dances and hand gestures. You cannot take your eyes off the girls -- they're like the Supremes, narrating the entirety of each song with their hands and bodies in perfect unison. It's like the Supremes mixed with the angular savage songwriting chops of the Pixies mixed with the precision vocal stop-start antics of Heavy Vegetable. Uh huh!
This deluxe double disc reissue features 4 quicktime clips you can play on your computer! There's one short film explaining how to listen to the album, a video for one of the songs, and two live performances (the historic live debut of the Famile!) at head of the Famile Daniel Smith's Rutgers BFA thesis show. Note, it looks to me like they weren't just playing his thesis show, it looks like the Danielson Famile in all its glory actually *is* his thesis.
RealAudio clip: "Nice of Me"

DANIELSON FAMILE Tri-Danielson (Omega) (Secretly Canadian) cd 13.98

DANIELSON FAMILE, THE Fetch the Compass Kids (Secretly Canadian) cd 13.98
Seeing the Danielson Famile recently open for Low at the Great American Music Hall was a thing of beauty -- the audience, who were mostly there for Low, was gloriously converted to the totally original oddity that is Danielson. Long story short: all six members are indeed kids from the same Northern New Jersey family (except the keyboardist who's been a family friend since grade school), they're hardcore shiny happy Christians who sing about God's love and stuff, they dress in handmade white doctors and nurses uniforms. Weird huh? They also have this super sweet visual aesthetic going on with handmade quilts with songlyrics embroidered on them and hand-drawn pictures and stuff. They even designed their own shoes for Fluevog Shoes.
Anyway, this is one band who truly must be seen live in order to "get it." They are UNBELIEVABLE. Daniel, the lead singer and guitarist, yowls in a whiny falsetto that has a punchy punk energy to it, while his sisters Rachel and Megan cavort on flute and xylophone and accompany Daniel's vocals with the prettiest call-and-response backup harmonies and, best of all, choreographed dances and hand gestures. You cannot take your eyes off the girls -- they're like the Supremes, narrating the entirety of each song with their hands and bodies in perfect unison. It's like the Supremes mixed with the angular savage songwriting chops of the Pixies mixed with the precision vocal stop-start antics of Heavy Vegetable. Uh huh! Now it must be said that they're not as good on record as they are live (and it sort of doesn't help that a customer of ours who is gay engaged one of the Danielsons in coversation and had to hear that the Bible says homosexuality is wrong), but anyone who's seen them live may want a cd or two to keep them company between Danielson concerts. Try this one on for size (or any of their previous albums which were all reissued recently.)
RealAudio clip: "We Don't Say Shut Up"

DANIELSON FAMILE, THE Flip Flop Flim Flam (Fluevog) cd ep 4.50
THIS IS CURRENTLY OUT OF PRINT OR OTHERWISE UNAVAILABLE TO US AT THE MOMENT, SO PLEASE DO NOT ORDER IT. SORRY.
A li'l single cd containing just one song, which was commissioned by powerhouse shoe maker John Fluevog, who I guess is a big Danielson fan. The Famile also designed a lovely shoe for the line, a heavy white loafer with a big red leather heart on top (where shoelaces go). We wish the shoes came with the single, but alas. There is a picture of it here, though. And of course this is a *limited* release.
RealAudio clip: "Flip Flop Flim Flam"

DANIELSON FAMILY Tell Another Joke at the Ol' Choppin' Block (Secretly Canadian) cd 13.98

DANIELSON: A FAMILY MOVIE (A DOCUMENTARY MUSICAL BY JL ARONSON) (Image Entertainment) dvd 27.00
Friends, relatives and fans of Daniel Smith and co. (aka Danielson aka the Danielson Family aka Danielson Famile aka Br. Danielson aka...), here's something you'll want to add to your beloved distinctly non-secular pop band's keepsake box. Heck, you probably already intimately know almost all of the stories revealed in this intimate documentary. Well, nothin' like a little reminiscing, right? Actually you might encounter a few surprise revelations along the way. Filmmaker JL Aronson has crafted a pleasure to watch for fans and newcomers alike, an artful work that combines live footage, animation, archival clips and stories galore. Of course, you also get a heap of bonus material too: deleted scenes, commentary, music vids, etc!