Music Diary - June

I've begun making a monthly compilation diary of the music I listened to most for that month, and I thought I'd do a similar thing on here. So, my June reccomended compilation is:

The Black Angels - Black Grease

My friend Haimona first got me into the Black Angels, followed by his friend James, but they took a while to sink in. But on a bus to Hamilton recently, I listened to them literally the entire way (and yes, I mean 'literally'). The sound is probably more at home in in the early 2000's, but since I don't give a fuck about such things I've really sunk my teeth into these guys.

Blur - Out of Time

I rediscovered my favourite Blur track last month. It dates to 2003, and always reminds me of the beginning of the Iraq War, when such malicious lies were being absorbed by a sedated public through a flacid media:

"And you've been so busy lately/that you haven't found the time/to open up your mind/and watch the world spinning/gently out of time"

To me, it actually seemed as though everything had frozen and the invasion seemed to foreshadow the end of the world (alongside the growing ecological crisis, turmoil in Indonesia and the growing mindlessly hateful reaction to anything Islamic) an eternity more than 9/11 ever did. I listened to this song a lot during that time, and more or less the continually until Thom Yorke brought out The Eraser in 2006. But during 2003, Out of Time seemed to embody a world of things wrong with the world with Dylanesque charisma... and it still does.

Handsome Furs - Dead + Rural

Coming to our shores in August, and the perfect band to warm and sustain you over the winter. Handsome Furs are 50% Dan Boeckner from Wolf Parade/Atlas Strategic, and 50% his wife Alexei Perry who is.. well, Dan Boeckner's wife. But she's awesome, and Handsome Furs are thus far my band of 09.

The Horrors - Do You Remember

I don't know what the Horrors have done to themselves, but they're making hipster kids gloat and indie kids eat their words. Known more for their fashion than their music, I've always thought of them as a band that never accomplished what they seemed to promise, but hell, their 2009 album Primary Colours gave everyone a shock. It seems they're musicians now, and a day hasn't gone past since I obtained the album that I haven't played Do You Remember. I really, really like this band.

Jeff Mangum - A Baby for Pree/Glow

Best known as the legendary vocalist from Neutral Milk Hotel, Jeff Mangum has a live album floating around called Live at Jittery Joes. It features acoustic versions of iconic NMH songs like Two Headed Boy, Gardenhead, Oh Comely, and Naomi, but my absolute favourite is a Baby for Pree. This is the music I study too most of the time (apart from Mogwai) and isn't just for NMH fans, it's so good it can be enjoyed by anybody.

The Magnetic Fields - The Dreaming Moon

It's no secret I'm an enormous Magnetic Fields fan, and 1995's Get Lost is slowly becoming one of my favourite records of all time. The music is so simple, but on each listen you cut into a new layer and the song gains even deeper significance. I simply never get sick of them.

The Smiths - Barbarism Begins at Home

It was actually this very video that really got me into the Smiths. My happiest moments while in Canada were listening to them while snowshowing through the forest with my uncles two border collies. I've been listening to Meat as Murder (which this track is off) at least once a week since May, and Barbarism Begins at Home relentlessly during June.

Slowdive - Blue Skied an' Clear

My friend Matt introduced me to these guys earlier on in the month and it was so beautiful I could feel my very conscious perspective melting. Make of that what you will... it's just a pretty song.

Liars - The Other Side of Mt. Heart Attack

I will admit I don't really care for the rest of the album of which this song features, Drum's Not Dead. I will also grudgingly admit that I found this album through the advice of Jeph Jacques, the author of everyone's favourite webcomic Questionable Content. But it is a beautiful song, and it accompanied by the last song of my June Music Diary has kept me company along many of my night time wanderings. They do look like nice boys.

and finally...

Radiohead - 4 Minute Warning

This song has been my best friend for the last month. It's from the second CD on In Rainbows which came with the limited edition boxset or something. I listen to this song at least twice every night. It's up alongside I Might Be Wrong and Reckoner as one of my very favourite Radiohead tracks.