via//chicago

via//chicago@random

iTunes. shuffle. five songs. a few thoughts.

Sebadoh - "Kath" (taken from III)
Sweet and simple (by Sebadoh standards anyway) little Lou Barlow song off the recently reissued landmark III LP. This was apparently recorded all by Lou's lonesome at the bedside of his sleeping girlfriend. Awww.

Gui Boratto - "Xilo" (taken from Chromophobia)
What it would sound like if Kompakt provided the soundtrack to the next James Bond flick, cinematic string swells and the spy-theme guitar line flavor this track from Boratto's 2007 album. You can almost picture Daniel Craig flying down the nighttime Paris streets in his ultra-sleek Mercedes, chasing down the bad guys.

Dabrye - "In Water" (taken from Two/Three)
Bridging the gap between hip-hop and electronica with whip cracks and a muddy bassline, this brief track proves why the Ann Arbor based producer is so well respected by musicians in both circles.

Robert Pollard - "The Accidental Texas Who" (taken from Normal Happiness)
Another trademark Pollard hook, this from one of his more recent solo albums, helping to prove that the old man hasn't lost a step since disbanding Guided by Voices.

Witch - "Black Saint" (taken from Witch)
Witch, in which J Mascis returns to his metal drumming roots. Pure Sabbath sludge worship/homage, but there ain't nothing wrong with that. I love the guitar tones all over this album, especially the ones on display during these solos. I also love the crazy tempo switch three-quarters of the way through.