quote:

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I started on alto over twenty-five years ago, but switched to tenor a little over ten years ago. I've never owned a soprano, but have fiddled with them over the years. I think they're the easiest of the saxophones to play, but the hardest to play well.

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That could certainly be true. My soprano is a very easy-blowing sax compared to my '33 tenor, but getting the intonation perfect is more challenging, and the tiny mouthpiece takes a lot of getting used to. My tenor was a bit of a challenge itself, particularly playing softly, as the mouthpiece I used (an old Brilhart 5*) was too open even for my sax teacher. The easiest saxes I've played were an old King alto and a beat-to-hell Conn bari whose springs were more like elastic bands than metal; if you shook the horn too hard, the keys would flop open and closed. But it was easy to get a good sound out of it... so long as you didn't move too much.

quote:

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Witness Kenny G.

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I'd rather not, if you don't mind.

Intonation is absolutely the problem with the soprano. It's such a small column of air, getting it moving doesn't take much effort, but the smaller mouthpiece certainly calls for a stronger embrochure. Playing the clarinet helped, though I didn't pick that up until I had been playing saxophone for about ten years. My understanding is flute would serve me better still, but I'm starting to fear it may be late for this old dog to pick up new tricks. I barely find any time to play anymore as is.

In a vain effort to stay somewhat on topic, I picked up the Groundtruther CD Latitude from Thirsty Ear's Blue Series this week. I hope to comment on it in further detail in the Blue Series thread in the Jazz forum later this week, but the first couple of listens put it right up there with Craig Taborn and Dave Douglas as one of my favorite jazz discs of the year.

Now Playing: "138th St." The Walkmen Bows And Arrows (Record Collection)

What I just bought or ordered...and cant wait!

-Landau-Thepicompromise
-Qwel and Maker-The Harvest
-Bobby Birdman-Heart Caves
Great Electronic/pop album.This guy has a great unique voice.
-Deceptikon-Lost Subject
I will post my thoughts in The Merck Section here in a bit.If you care!
-The Blow-Poor Aim:Love Songs
This is probabbly going to be in my top 10 for 04'.Lovely.
-V/A Merck Mix 3
-RJD2- Heres Whats Left 12"
This is for sure one of my favorite songs of all time.For those who may not know the name.It is the secret song on deadringer.It came out a bit before deadringer.Sick!!
-Subtle-F.k.O
Jel and Doseone with others.Cant wait for the full length "A New White" on Lex very soon!
-Sebutones-50/50 Where it counts
Sixtoo na Buck 65 collaboration.What could go bad?Nothing is the answer.I had to buy it again.Kind of a hard find too!!

This week:

Paul Weller: Studio 150
Saturday Looks Good to Me: All Your Summer Songs
Saturday Looks Good to Me: Every Night
Perfect: Once, Twice, Three Times a Maybe
The Thrills: Let's Bottle Bohemia

Despite my misgivings, given that the reviews range from blah to crap, I just ordered "Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned" by the Prodigy.

What can I say? I'm a sucker for late '90s electronica.

kwakerjak

Saturday Looks Good To Me - Every Night

Sorry it's been a while since I last posted. I moved, and I don't have internet hooked up yet at my new place. It might be a little while until I post again. Life without internet sucks!

Kook Keith & Kutmasta Kurt-Diesel Truckers
K-OS-Joyful Rebellion
Buck 65-463 remix ep

Mogwai, Happy Songs For Happy People
Interpol, Turn On the Bright Lights
Morrissey, You Are the Quarry

And tickets to see the following shows:
Deftones, House of Blues, Hollywood, Sept. 29
WILCO, Wiltern, Hollywood, Nov. 18!!!!!!


Hey, kwakerjak, let me know what you think of the Prodigy cd. I'm a sucker for late '90s electronica too, and I'm curious to hear what you think of it.

quote:

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Originally posted by Karen:
WILCO, Wiltern, Hollywood, Nov. 18!!!!!!

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I just saw Wilco a week ago here in the STL and they were great. A nice mix of noisier stuff from the new record (which sounded really good) and an encore of twangier, rootsier stuff (including Uncle Tupelo's "New Madrid"!) A fantastic show...

My recent pickups include

The Clash: London Calling (deluxe edition...WOW!!!)
Elvis Costello and the Imposters: The Delivery Man
Magnet: On Your Side
Robyn Hitchcock: Spooked! (pre-order with extra disc)

pE, will you do us a favor and report back on the Elvis Costello as soon as you've had a chance to digest it a bit?

Thanks!

Now Playing: "Tiger Rag" Art Tatum Piano Starts Here (Columbia)

quote:

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Hey, kwakerjak, let me know what you think of the Prodigy cd. I'm a sucker for late '90s electronica too, and I'm curious to hear what you think of it.

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It's not perfect, but then, Liam Howlett's been out of practice for seven years, so I'll cut him some slack. If you're like me, and you wish it was still 1998, you'll probably like it. Just make sure your speakers have decent bass.

But to get back on topic, I recently acquired (through the wonders of eBay) the following CDs:

Joy Electric - Hello, Mannequin
Radiohead - "Knives Out" (Single)

Now the only thing between me and musical juiciness is the USPS. I hate waiting.

kwakerjak

quote:

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Originally posted by LinnTate:
pE, will you do us a favor and report back on the Elvis Costello as soon as you've had a chance to digest it a bit?

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After spending some time with it, I have to admit that I'm not overly impressed with the new one. There are some nice songs on it ("Country Darkness" which sounds like it should have been on Almost Blue and "The Delivery Man") but some of the others (including the single "Monkey to Man") just don't do it for me. The whole album has a southern r and b feel which, particularly the really bluesy stuff, isn't my cuppa sweet tea. The song with Lucinda Williams isn't that great ("There's a Story in Your Voice") but the first song with Emmylou Harris ("Nothing Clings Like Ivy") is a classic Elvis piano ballad, and her voice makes a nice counterpoint to his. "Heart Shaped Bruise," another slow one, also features Emmylou and John McPhee on pedal steel, and it's a nice little ballad.

All in all, it's a little spotty but, as with most Elvis records, I think repeated listening will bear fruit. Sometimes, it takes a while for his words to sink in.

HOWEVER, one new one that has hit me hard on the first listen is Robyn Hitchcock's new one Spooked which is out next month on Yep Roc. Oddly similar to Elvis in several ways (elder statesmen of British punk and pop songwriting, both recording albums in the American south with notable American roots songwriters), Hitchcock's new one was recorded in Nashville (Costello's was recorded in Oxford, MS) with Gillian Welch and David Rawlings and it's a mostly acoustic set, bringing to mind a folksier version of Eye or I Often Dream of Trains. Quite good, on a few spins...

As I mentioned in the Rock thread, I was excited enough to stop on my way to teaching today to pick up SMiLE, the "middle age symphony to God" by Brian Wilson. I also grabbed:

Antics: Interpol
Couture, Couture, Couture: Frausdots

Very impressed with both the new interpol and thrills albums. Neither of which a dissapointment in any way, but Interpol is outstanding! Anyone who didn't pick it up today needs to do so.

Antics - Interpol

this is a great follow up record to Bright Lights and I highly recommend it to anyone who kinda dug that record. It totally met my lofty expectations.

quote:

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Originally posted by philosopherEric:


_Antics_: Interpol
_Couture, Couture, Couture_: Frausdots

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I agree with those who have recommended the new Interpol...it did not disappoint me. But I was SHOCKED by how much I dug the Frausdots record. They are a spin-off of the late, lamented Beechwood Sparks, but this record SCREAMS 1983. It's a new wave-y, poppy record that is loaded with hooks...I'm not sure I'll get to listen to Interpol...I can't get the Frausdots out of my player!!!!

My most recent acquisitions:

Longview: Mercury (2003 release from widescreen Brit poppers)
The Mood Elevator: Listen Up! (2000 release from Detroit garage power-poppers)
The Mekons: Heaven and Hell (double best-of)
R.E.M.: Around the Sun
The Only Ones: Why Don't You Kill Yourself? The CBS Recordings (two disc comp of three Only Ones records)

OK, now I'm gonna complain. The R.E.M. suffers from AWFUL packaging. It's a digipak, which is fine, but it has a lyric sheet insert (which is also fine) and NO INNER SLEEVE!!!! This means that the lyric sheet just sits inside the pak, waiting to fall out. C'mon, guys. You can do better than that...and I'm not buying the overpriced special edition...

Q and not U - Power

i believe pitchfork said that q/u different damaged "Different Damage." That's a pretty brilliant way to word it, especially because it is right on the money. And just like Different damage was great, so is Power. Again, they pull of an incredible opener and close out the album on a great 4 song set. And the middle ain't to be sneezed at either! But the whole thing is just great, another awesome progression for an awesome band. I can't wait to see them live again, they ABSOLUTELY DESTROYED Coachella.

Th' Legendary Shack*Shakers - Believe

Holy freaking crap. I just got this one in the mail today, and I've listened to it straight through four times already, and before the day is done, that number will probably be up around six or seven. That's NEVER happened before--even on my favorite albums, I usually end up skipping a few songs by the third listen. These guys are good.

kwakerjak

Well, I bought Camper Van Beethoven's "New Roman Times", and I'm listening to it for the first time right now. I'm only on Track 7, and some of the early instrumentals sound a little-more progressive than I remember, but the last three songs are great: "That Gum You Like is Back in Style", which immediately goes to my best song of the year list, "Might Makes Right", which reminds me of CVB's unique brand of Eastern-European-influenced ska, and "Militia Song", which sounds like as pumped-up an Appalachian downhomer you ever heard. Oops, I took to long to type, so the next song, "R 'n' R Uzbekistan" is a ska band trapped in a fun house, and now the title song is on and sounds like another candidate for year-end accolades. Oh well, it's half-over, and I'd say glad to have you back together, guys. Amazing how much Wilco may have borrowed from these guys!

As far as the Soundtrack of Our Lives new album "Origin 1", I think it's only released in Europe now, but I found I can get it over the internet for $16 with free shipping, and it should arrive within 10 days, so I'm doing that.