thePULSEStay warm by the stereo
December 2004 – Music is a great gift to receive, but what should you ask for this holiday season? Or harder yet, what should you choose to give to your friends and family? Here are a few suggestions for your own wish list — and for that hard-to-buy-for person in your life.
Various Artists, Future Soundtrack of America
(MoveOn.org/ Barsuk Records)
MoveOn.org, the voter education and political issue advocacy organization, has teamed up with artists of varying musical and political persuasions to offer a pro-active discussion on the present political climate.
From Blink-182 to Tom Waits, this timely compilation provides songs of hope, dirges of mourning and anthems of protest and personal conviction. Covers, such as They Might Be Giants’ wry “Tippecanoe and Tyler Too” and Laura Cantrell’s pleading “Sam Stone,” remind the listener that this isn’t the first time the country has been torn apart by a harrowing war. Don’t miss M. Doughty’s (Soul Coughing) “Move On” or R.E.M.’s sincere “Final Straw.”
The compilation is ideal for those who want more than sex and drugs in their rock and roll, as well as those who need to be consoled or inspired to move on and improve their community and country during these complicated times.
Nancy Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra
(Sanctuary)
Although Nancy Sinatra has released relatively few albums in her career, she has always been hip — whether as a liberated Nancy declaring “These Boots are Made for Walking,” as an over-the-top, sensual chanteuse reminding James Bond that “You Only Live Twice” or as a haunting confessor on “Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down),” which was deftly used in Kill Bill.
On this stunning self-titled comeback, Sinatra has teamed up with a dream list of talented songwriters and musicians who have, in one form or another, been inspired by her moody pop music. The album starts with the southwestern soul of the Calexico-penned “Burnin’ Down the Spark,” and quickly shifts to a sultry duet with Jon Spencer on “Ain’t No Easy Way.” The album rolls along, turning dark, stormy, sexy and unforgettable with collaborations with Thurston Moore, Morrisey, Bono and others.
This album truly has something for everyone — perfect to mix-up the seasonal soundtrack.
De La Soul, The Grind Date
(Sanctuary)
De La Soul’s The Grind Date is a refreshing reminder of the innovation, influence and humble mastery that comes from the 15-year veterans’ tight beats, samples, ideas and lyrics.
Working with a range of producers, DJs, and MCs, the album’s train of old and new beats, hypnotic rhymes and clear philosophies doesn’t stall for even a moment. Whether contemplating the art and commerce of hip-hop with Common (“Days of Our Lives”) or spitting the call-and-response style with Flava Flav (“Come on Down”), each track can easily be listened to, and indulged in, over and over again.
If you are looking for a contemporary hip-hop masterpiece or you want to turn a friend on to the genre, make a date with this relevant group and their unbeatable record. As Flava Flav proclaims, “De La Soul is now back on the map/ Good rap music is now back on the map/ We ain’t goin’ nowhere/ Old school is here to stay/ Boooy!”
Various Artists, Matador at 15
(Matador)
Matador has been zealously introducing countless independent acts to a larger audience for 15 years. If you’ve heard of Belle and Sebastian, Interpol, Pavement, or Liz Phair, it‘s because of Matador’s tireless loyalty to it’s evolving artists.
This compilation (2 CDs, 1 DVD) showcases releases and rarities from 1999 to 2004. Whether the post-punk dance anthems of Pretty Girls Make Graves (“This is Our Emergency”) shake you or you look forward to Yo La Tengo’s melancholic pop (“Don’t Be So Sad”) or you choose to be blown away by the post-rock onslaught of Mogwai (“Haunted By a Freak”), you will listen to this mile-marker for years to come. And the collection of videos is a tasty bonus.
This is a great gift for the indie rock aficionado or for the uninitiated who crave challenging and fresh sounds. Indie rock isn’t only for the snobby and stylish record collector — as Cat Power chants on “Free,” “Don’t be in love with the autograph/ Just be in love when you scream that song.”
This tasteful tapestry of songs would be a great gift for the folks, or a sign of belief in an aspiring friend’s singing talents. This album will fill you with awe, surprise and warmth this winter.
