My friend David bemoans the dying art of the verbose but insightful music review that actually tries to tell you something about the album in question. I don't feel sufficiently gifted to be able to properly explain why I like a lot of the music I like, it's usually just a massive intertwingled mess of coincidence, feelings and memories. Nevertheless, here's a few bands that I feel I ought to mention.
Since the above paragraph was written, I've tried to write a bit more about stuff I like, mostly centered on my recent purchases. You'll find it over yonder.
The Church - they've been an inspiration over the years, and it's sometimes hard to believe they're Australian.
The Go Betweens - I'm torn between Robert Forster or Grant McLennan ? I guess I like more of Robert's stuff across the board but on the other hand, Grant pulls out the occasional utter gem like Bachelor Kisses, and he seems like such a nice normal guy in his jeans and cool t-shirts compared to suited-up Mr "showman" Forster. A good pair.
Stephen Cummings - One of our country's long-running talents, if becoming a little forgotten these days. But he soldiers on, and he's still worth keeping up with.
Ed Kuepper - Is Ed, Is Good. He's experimented a lot in recent years, for the most part successfully. For an example of purity, though, there's no going past Today Wonder.
Paul Kelly - The people's poet, surely.
Luna - he said i'd hate to be you / when the big day comes / the look on your face / will be priceless.
Yo La Tengo - achingly beautiful music for a slow evening, but if you go back a little, you'll discover they had other phases too.
The Fall - There can only be one Mark E. Smith. Stumbling visionary or drunken lout ? It's all true.
Skinny Puppy - Industrial samplemasters.
Muslimgauze - I can't help but admire Bryn Jones' passion that drove him to put out so many interesting releases at an alarming rate until his untimely death. Everyone ought to have one Muslimgauze CD. I'm just not sure which one...
Severed Heads - Tape loop madness which turned into more accessible electronica. Doing Australia proud.
Guided By Voices - I love the instant lo-fi pop madness, although maybe Mr McDonald has a point.
The Auteurs - so everybody loved the overblown angst of that first Black Box Recorder CD, but it's worth digging into the lyrical legend of Luke Haines, there's much better stuff there.
The Blackeyed Susans - one of Australia's many unsung legends, led by Rob Snarski's heavenly voice.
Hank Williams Sr - Dead at 29, he'd already written more than anybody's fair share of songs about heartbreak, despair and redemption.
Joe Pernice - sad, poetic and beautiful.
Suede - I'm a bit late, I know. But now I understand.
The Mekons - "a band without a wish to kill anyone" (sic.).
American Music Club (and Mark Eitzel's subsequent solo work) - a man who's shown us just how lonely lonely can be.
Created a long time ago at mike's request. Updated every now and then. In no particular order.
Mercury, by American Music Club. Mark Eitzel really knows how to plumb the depths of human despair and longing, and it's hard to better this album. He's also a wonderful showman.
Seamonsters, by The Wedding Present. Starting with the previous album's single Brassneck Steve Albini draws out a dark, loud, soul-filling wonder from the Leeds jangly guitar band. By the time Octopussy reaches the speakers, you're too drained to move. What an epic.
Today Wonder, by Ed Kuepper. I love the simple, enveloping sounds of this album. Who needs the world when you've got a guitar and a drumkit (and a cardboard box, apparently) ?
Dedicated to the ones we love, by The Blackeyed Susans. There's a small amount of guilt in choosing a band's album of cover versions over their other work, but this one just feels so good I can't help myself.
This Nation's Saving Grace, by The Fall.
It's a tie between Overcome by Happiness, by the Pernice Brothers and The Early Year, by the Scud Mountain Boys (there's also another site). Songs of malaise, so good it hurts.
After Murder Park, by The Auteurs.
vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot, by Sparklehorse.
Skeleton Key, by Stephen Cummings. It's a good summary of his styles (well, most of them).
Honky Tonkin', by The Mekons.
I used to have a list of shops here, once upon a time. Since then, David's taken up the task, so I'll just direct you to his effort.