52 Albums or Burn!

Late at night, January 2nd, 2004 (4 years, 137 days ago)

A new year is a good time to start doing new things, so I decided to set in motion a rather ambitious project. It's somewhat inspired by Jason Kottke's 52 magazines or bust-project where he has got the bright idea to read a new magazine every week for a variety of reasons.

I quote:

1) I'm hoping magazines will be a welcome change from books and weblogs, 2) I want to explore some new subjects/viewpoints, and 3) why the hell not?

Looks like same reasons to me. But I'm more interested in music than in magazines, so I decided to explore the huge universe of music instead. I'll pick up a new album every Friday for the rest of 2004. Including today. I went for something semi-safe not to overdo it at the first go. So I picked up something I'd heard of, Jim Stärk. It's had two spins in my CD player so far tonight, and so far it's Minor Majority, only even more quiet. Great for lazy days in the hammock. I realized that I've heard a couple of the songs on the radio. So far it doesn't sound like this is my new favourite album. I could probably write a lot about this, but I don't think I'll do that until I've listened to it some more. Maybe it grows on me.

To have some real fun with this project, I need your help. Do you have a favourite band no one has heard of? Or is it some main stream music I don't think I like that I'll love? Maybe you even have a band yourself? Please drop a comment. It doesn't matter if I have to order it from a web shop in Guatemala. As long as they take Visa. And now I can buy stuff like Stacie Orrico and blame it on this project. Sweet! I would've talked to a doctor about that thing in your face, Stacie.

And now for something completely different.

I called someone in Bergen about a job today. You could call it an unofficial phone interview, and I think it went reasonably well. They wanted me to send them my college and university diplomas, and they would call me back on monday for a longer chat. Let's hope I hear something. Bad thing about this job: It's in Bergen, which is not Oslo, and I hardly know anyone there. Good things: Semi-secure and more money. But there is no reason to ponder now.

Tomorrow: Throw away the to huge collection of empty glass bottles and tin cans that are piling up under the sink, yeah, I still recycle, try to find the hidden gym at NRK and do my best to get some good seats for next weekends screening of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. Good luck with that. Then bug someone if I feel like it.

Filed in Movies, Series & Shows, Music, Work.

42 comments

Comments (add yours/reverse sort order)

#1 by ian
January 3rd, 2004 03:27:00 (about 4 hours later)

dutty rock by sean paul. but be warned: when (not if) you end up in a lunatic asylum, i'll deny everything... :P

#2 by Vegard
January 3rd, 2004 10:37:54 (about 11 hours later)

I'll probably end up there anyway. Thanks for the tip. I don't think that Sean Paul is my cup of tea, but some of the point with the project is to broaden my musical horizon, so I'll give it a try.

#3 by Father
January 3rd, 2004 10:47:49 (about 11 hours later)

If you buy Sean Paul you're cut off my son, no family fortune for you

#4 by ian
January 3rd, 2004 12:49:51 (about one day later)

wait! no! i was kidding! veeegaaaard!

on another note, though, it occurred to me that this is a pretty costly game to play. 52 albums at, say, us$15 a pop... that's nearly us$800 for a year.

also, when it seems that not playing means you do inherit the family fortune, any economic rationalist will tell you which is more sensible. :P

#5 by Vegard
January 3rd, 2004 13:28:47 (about one day later)

It's a costly game to play, but I'll play it. Maybe I'll save some of the records labels from going bankrupt.

And when it comes to the family fortune, it's not much to inherit there anyway...

#6 by Arve
January 3rd, 2004 17:33:50 (about one day later)

Shivaree: Rough Dreams
Rudolf Nilsen: På stengrunn
Della Reese: My soul feels better right now
Fire 99: 1100011

#7 by Anonymous Coward
January 3rd, 2004 18:59:27 (about one day later)

Oasis - Anything by Oasis

#8 by allan
January 3rd, 2004 19:10:23 (about one day later)

I don't know how weird you like your music but :

"The Mollusk" by Ween is pretty good, it does tend to leap from genre to genre though.

#9 by Billy Holiday
January 3rd, 2004 19:10:38 (about one day later)

Starflyer 59, best band ever.

#10 by Max
January 3rd, 2004 19:20:05 (about one day later)

In Absentia by Porcupine Tree, absolutely amazing album, one of the best of the last three years.

#11 by patty
January 3rd, 2004 19:35:09 (about one day later)

the Wallflowers - Red Letter Days
Sarah Slean - Night Bugs
Hawksley Workman - For him and girls

#12 by lindsay
January 3rd, 2004 20:03:40 (about one day later)

Chinatown -- The Be Good Tanyas
In The Belly Of A Whale -- Danny Michel
Blue -- Joni Mitchell
Left & Leaving -- The Weakerthans
Alone At The Microphone -- Royal City

#13 by Anonymous Coward
January 3rd, 2004 20:07:34 (about one day later)

Perhaps it would be more interesting to buy an album that was released that week - would perhaps make it easier to broaden your 'musical horizons' or something.

#14 by Paul
January 3rd, 2004 20:08:47 (about one day later)

You can't go wrong with anything by Modest Mouse (artsy indie rock) or Built to Spill (less artsy indie rock) or Talib Kweli (hip hop) or Spiritualized (space/heroin rock) or The Shins (indie pop)

#15 by paul
January 3rd, 2004 22:46:02 (about one day later)

some bands i enjoy that not enough people have heard of:

ted leo and the pharmacists
spoon
and you will know us by the trail of dead
bishop allen
broken social scene
kings of leon
decemberists
stellarstar_
the black keys
raised fist
the kills
the postal service
von bondies
dirtbombs
tangiers
ok go
lamb
ladytron

hmm... that's all i can think of for now. i usually listen to 3 or 4 new albums a week. good times :)

#16 by david
January 3rd, 2004 23:20:16 (about one day later)

Sufjan Stevens' album Michigan was pretty amazing this year, and is unique.

When the holidays roll around again, Merry MeXmas by El Vez is underrated.

#17 by Shmuel
January 4th, 2004 00:26:22 (about one day later)

Some people you've never heard of:
http://www.ralstonbowles.com/
http://www.garrettwall.net/

#18 by Harley
January 4th, 2004 03:03:34 (about one day later)

I say anything by The Frames, although Set List (live album) is a pretty good place to start - they rock live.

#19 by Jonas!
January 4th, 2004 05:34:27 (about one day later)

r. crumb's latest comp of world music.
sigridur nielsdottir

that's all i want to promote, for now.

#20 by fluffy
January 4th, 2004 05:58:32 (about one day later)

If you want to be exposed to LOTS of new music, check out Songfight; musicians have one week to record their interpretation of one or two titles (and the number of titles is likely to grow again soon) and then all of the songs are posted in a huge orgy of sonic goodness (with some badness mixed in). At the moment it's basically the equivalent of 3-4 new albums' worth of music a week. All for free.

#21 by rheiser
January 4th, 2004 09:42:13 (about one day later)

My favorite album is still Joe Henry's Shuffletown, even after almost ten years. Lazy hot summer day singer/songwriter stuff, so defer the purchase until July or so. Mazzy Star's She Hangs Brighty wouldn't be a bad choice then either.

#22 by Vegard
January 4th, 2004 11:07:32 (about 2 days later)

A lot of great suggestions. I think I'll just start at the bottom and work my way up. But keep 'em comming.

Thanks a lot!

#23 by Pete
January 4th, 2004 13:14:18 (about 2 days later)

The following are essential:

Slint
Explosions in the Sky
cLOUDDEAD (despite the dodgy capitalisation)
Godspeed You! Black Emperor (despite the dodgy punctuation)
Aaaand... If you're feeling very crazy, 90 Day Men - (It(Is)It) Critical Band.

#24 by toro
January 4th, 2004 14:05:15 (about 2 days later)

midnight choir - Selected Songs

#25 by Freon
January 4th, 2004 20:15:32 (about 2 days later)

You should check out Molotov's Donde Jugaran Las Niñas?, a Mexican rap-rock group. Think of Molotov's Dónde as Mexico City's answer to Public Enemy's It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back

#26 by justin
January 5th, 2004 02:31:13 (about 2 days later)

"a promise" or "knife play" by xiu xiu (i guess, whichever title strikes your fancy more, i can't recommend one over the other)

and to the person who recommend hawksley workman, good call!!

#27 by NotAnyRon
January 5th, 2004 16:44:58 (about 3 days later)

Bands I like that not many people have heard:

Call And Response
NorthernState
Papas Fritas

Have fun!

#28 by aircrash
January 5th, 2004 18:16:51 (about 3 days later)

the constanines - shine a light
the shins - chutes too narrow
the postal service - give up
decemberists - (both of their excellent albums) Her Majesty, and Castaways and Cutouts

#29 by Jerel
January 5th, 2004 19:58:27 (about 3 days later)

Constantines - Shine a Light
Erase Errata - At Crystal Palace
The Blood Brothers - ...Burn, Piano Island, Burn!
Ova Looven - 58:34
The Party of Helicopters - Please Believe It
The Mars Volta - De-Loused in the Comatorium
Mono - One More Step and You Die
The Rapture - Echoes
Spoon - Kill The Moonlight
Low - Trust
Jazzanova - Remixed
Cat Power - You are Free
The Postal Service - Give up
Ex Models - Other Mathematics
John Zorn/Naked City - Radio
Shellac - At Action Park
Ruins - Hyderomastgroningem
Silkworm - Libertine
Liars - They Threw Us All in a Trench and Stuck a Monument on Top

#30 by ethan
January 6th, 2004 00:34:30 (about 3 days later)

well. there's certainly no shortage of indie rock recommendations here, is there? I'd like to second the Call and Response and Built To Spill recommendations.

but my personal favorite artist, for the last couple years now, is The Kingsbury Manx. Check out their latest (and third) album Aztec Discipline (review)

#31 by greenwood
January 6th, 2004 10:22:53 (about 3 days later)

John Otway The Set Remains The Same

#32 by ian
January 6th, 2004 12:36:51 (about 4 days later)

i was told of three groups the other day, and instructed to investigate them. since i'm too damn lazy to do so, i thought i'd see if i could pass the buck to you! :P

andrometer
disturbed
epicure

#33 by Halvard Halvorsen
January 6th, 2004 14:37:17 (about 4 days later)

Check out my top ten for 2003 -
(4 US, 3 UK, 3 Norwegian):

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club: Take Them On, On Your Own.
Johnny Cash: American IV
Gillian Welch: Soul Journey
The White Stripes: Elephant
John Foxx & Louis Gordon: Crash And Burn
Goldfrapp: Black Cherry
Mogwai: Happy Songs For Happy People
Flunk: For Sleepyheads Only
Supersilent: Supersilent 6
Erlend Øye: Unrest

The same Top Ten 2003 with comments at http://www.halvorsen.org/arts/music/styles/rock/othree
and pointers to three good albums available in full online (Flunk, Øye and Faultline) at
http://www.halvorsen.org/arts/music/styles/rock/electronica/triotron

Hal

#34 by Kristoffer
January 8th, 2004 14:30:12 (about 6 days later)

If u can get Billy Cobham: A funky thide of Sings (the atlantic "original sound" version) i think u'll be happy.

Also try early 70'ties Genesis and King Crimson.

And don't forget the Beatles! "Revolver" and "Sgt. Pepper" are still impressive today.

And Deep Purples "Machine Head".

And...etc

#35 by matt
January 9th, 2004 15:04:25 (about one week later)

four tet - rounds
it's the most beautiful album

#36 by deadman
February 10th, 2004 04:14:56

(apologise for the non norwegian keyboard i have. so there will bee a few dobbel aa's but anyway.)

i recommend
jygeri - by Gaate,
Outrospective - by faithless,
toxicity - by system of a down,
poodle hat - by weird al yankovic (real funny)
book of secrets - by loreena mckennitt

enjoy. they are all very good.

take your time leave mine alone!!!

PS i recommend you should read Oryx and crake by margaret atwood aswel...

#37 by Anonymous Coward
March 5th, 2004 13:52:03

U're religion preaching sucks! Doing a browser test just in order to flame msie?!? get a life, and try a nice hot cup of tolerance in the morning!... :D

#38 by Vegard
March 5th, 2004 14:41:11

Context, my man, context!

#39 by Nikki
August 15th, 2004 15:37:22

Are you still keeping up with your project? eight months in hows your muscial outlook? i would recommend Formica Blues by Mono, im not sure exactly what it is, but its great. Quite relaxing and chilled. fabulous!

#40 by Vegard
August 15th, 2004 18:16:15

Um... The project kind of stranded early. I've bought a few albums this year, but far from the number I should've bought.

Anyway, I'll have a look at your recommendation.

#41 by Mrbtb
September 7th, 2004 10:06:52

How about the band "Wool" and the album "Budspawn"

#42 by Meeric
December 7th, 2004 04:50:50

Both of these are off Scenestars . . . Lasse Lindh, no body has heard of him in Canada, I wonder if he is a little bigger closer to his homeland. And: Spouse Links to both of these bands can be found at: http://scenestars.net/

52 Albums or Burn!

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