This week's used CDs

[tikistitch]

Since nobody reads this blog for CD reviews (actually, nobody reads this blog period, but that's another issue), in the interest of increased randomness in the universe, Tiki Labs LLC proudly presents, What We Found in the Used Bins at Cellophane Square Last Week:

Wilco - Sky Blue Sky. It was probably a bad sign when the first place we saw this CD was at the counter at Starbucks. We never thought we would speak these terrible words, but we agree with Pitchfork Media! Dang, Jeff, we're so glad you're happy and not puking your guts up in the men's room any more, but maybe in the interest of your music, could you go get a headache or something? Bleh.

Sloan - Never Hear the End of It. It's so pink! And, and, the songs aren't much longer than 2 minutes. And there's THIRTY SONGS! We mean, you're bound to find something you like, right? Sloan for president.

Arctic Monkeys - Favorite Worst Nightmare. Sorry, we still don't get it.

Laura Veirs - Saltbreakers. She's so adorable. We really wish we actually could connect with her music. We're gonna mail this one to a rock critic so they can adore it.

Noisettes - What's the Time Mr. Wolf? This CD lacks the sheer dizzying value you get from Sloan (see above) as there are only 10 songs, but definitely dishes out more than your share of happy mindless bouncitation. Maybe the lead singer could hang out with Laura Veirs and Jeff Tweedy for a couple days and remind them about "fun" and suchlike. Scratch your name into the fabric of this world before you go!

Dave Alvin - West of the West. Kind of Dave's version of "sings the standards," which everyone seems to be doing these days. Dave does a good job, as he's got a theme (California!) and picks a couple of obscure tracks. But, this lacks the thing we buy Dave Alvin for, which is Dave Alvin songs. Go write some more stuff, pardner!

Graham Parker - Don't Tell Columbus. OK, remember the cranky guy from the 80s, with Howling Wind and Heat Treament? Well, he's back, and he's not only cranky, he's old!!! It's kind of awesome. And, he even kinda looks like Hunter Thompson on the CD cover. Biting lyrics and equally biting music - the kind of stuff Elvis Costello used to do in his sleep before he decided he was a lounge singer or WTF. This is the one we've been playing over and over and over and annoying our officemates.

Comments

[twotone]

I have no idea who any of the above people are. I FEEL SO OLDDDDD

[mmymoon.livejournal.com]

Don't worry, sweetie, I only know about the Arctic Monkeys because I happened to read about them one day I was bored and on BBCnews -- they're a British thing -- and Wilco's Sky Blue Sky is, in fact, for sale at Starbucks.

All us young people HATES the music at Starbucks, precious, we hates it. It's inevitable that when we're dragging through the middle of the day and need some pep, there will be come hideous whiny downbeat groove thing, and then when we're trying to relax on break comes the FIVE MINUTE TROMBONE SOLO audshdfgudhfuhasuasuhasuhdsudshadsui... *twitches*

[tikistitch.livejournal.com]

Sneak in a Noisettes CD. They're my new favorite thing, just so kooky wonderful. Plus it'll clear the store, and you'll get a longer break!

[tikistitch.livejournal.com]

I could answer one of two ways:

Join the club! I was watching some kind of music awards this year, and realized with horror that I knew James Blunt, I knew Justin Timberlake--and that was IT!

or...

Graham Parker is probably best known for Squeezing out Sparks, 80's era. Dave Alvin is from the Blasters, 80s-era too. If you don't know them, maybe you should feel YOUNG!!

[twotone]

Hmmm. I do not know them, but I didn't own or listen to any music of my own until approximately 1988, maybe 1989. Whichever year it is that the New Kids on the Block album "Hanging Tough" came out. Until then, my musical education was informed by whatever my parents had on the radio.

[mmymoon.livejournal.com]

*pants, recovers from her outburst* Tiks, you've been a regular longer than I've been working there -- I've always loved me some Starbucks, but my town just got one because the world is insane -- is Starbucks music EVER GOOD?

I mean, I'm one of our best Happy Shiny Customer Care people, and I sell the hell out of our pastries, because I myself am a pastry addict, and it's easy for me to gush about the deliciousness of Key Lime Cake or Black Bottomed Cupcakes or whatnot.

But I have to lie through my teeth whenever anyone asks if I like the music. What demographic is it targeted to, exactly? O_o

[tikistitch.livejournal.com]

is Starbucks music EVER GOOD?

Well, in the case of Wilco, one of my favorites EVAR--no.

*sighs*

I Am Trying to Break Your Heart is just one of my favorite things in the universe. Sky Blue Sky is just, blah. Like it was written to make people feel not upset while they buy double tall skinny lattes or something.