I'm in a train station in Martinez, California waiting for a delayed train to Sacramento. They have WiFi here. So I thought I'd try and answer one of my frequently asked questions, which is, "What music do you listen to these days?" People expect me to rattle off the names of a couple dozen current punkrock acts. But I don't listen to that much punkrock these days.
However, I'm well pleased because I've been discovering a lot of really cool new bands recently. Many of these bands are even current! This is very cool for me because I'd begun to fear that nobody was making music I enjoyed anymore.
I think there must be a name for this genre. Maybe it's "stoner" music? I'm not really sure. Perhaps somebody can tell me.
I don't know a whole lot about any of these bands, unfortunately. And I've never seen any of them live except OM.
Here goes:
ASSEMBLE HEAD IN SUNBURST SOUND
I just discovered these guys a few days ago! I was in a record store in Arcata, CA and their album cover just leapt out at me. Amazing. Much of their stuff is far mellower and more Pink Floyd-like than this example.
****
NEBULA
Another band whose album cover caught my eye. The blurb sited such influences as Blue Cheer and The Stooges. I checked out their videos, liked what I saw and bought the CD.
****
THE BLACK ANGELS
Yet another band whose album covers I liked. Their music did not disappoint. Their new album Phosphene Dreams is their best, if you ask me. Very Revolver-like. Among their three releases, their second album Invitation to See a Ghost is the runt of the litter, but still has some terrific songs. They only know one chord! Hooray!
****
COMETS ON FIRE
Heavy rock that I heard at a record shop in Dallas. Blue Cathedral is the best album if you ask me. Their new one is still amazing, but not quite as great as Blue Cathedral in my view.
****
THE DEAD MEADOW
I heard this playing over the speakers at a record shop in Atlanta a couple years ago and immediately bought it. I know nothing about the band except that I like them a whole bunch.
****
SUN DIAL
These guys are sadly no longer playing. At least as far as I know. They're a British band that I somehow missed out on when they were active in the early to mid 1990s.
****
THE GREEN PAJAMAS
Another defunct band. But this song is so wonderful! And sleazy too!
****
OM
I saw these guys at the Echo Plex in Silver Lake (Los Angeles) a few years ago and I was totally floored. Who needs guitars when you have a bass player and drummer like this? Nobody, that's who!
