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| Death and Rebirth |
| Friday, April 10, 2009 |
I have an announcement to make:
My life has experienced quite a number of changes over the last few months. Some are drastic, some are tragic; all of them have had a profound impact on my life. I am not the same person I was a year ago; heck, I'm not the same person I was two months ago. I see life in a different way now; things that once meant a lot to me, they don't hold quite the same excitement and enthusiasm.
That's the case with this particular website. There's a reason I've not updated in quite some time, and part of it has to do with a general unhappiness with the whole concept of what this website was. It started off as an interview-only website, but then it wasn't. The reasons for that, we won't go into. But suffice to say, my affections for what I was doing here have changed. It wasn't intentional; these things just happen.
So that's why I've decided to retire this site. Seems like it's already passed, honestly.
But today's Good Friday, and with the tragedy of the day comes the hope of tomorrow. Apt, this day, because I have not stopped writing. In fact, I just created a brand new site, with a different focus, a different state of mind, and one that represents the common theme that has prevailed through PPR and Mundane Sounds: my profound love of music. This website will go live on Monday, May 4, 2009, and I will announce it that day, and will hope to see you there!I'm excited about it, and I hope you join me for it. It's a different sort of thing, and I think you will like what I am doing.
So please check back here on Monday, May 4, 2009, and I hope you have a wonderful Easter weekend. Thank you for investing your time with me over the past decade. Has it really been that long?
Love,
Joseph Kyle
Editor, Press Play & Record |
posted by joseph kyle @ 5:28 PM  |
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| Monday, March 9, 2009 |
| things are in flux right now...check back regularly for more information as it develops... |
| posted by joseph kyle @ 7:42 PM |
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| Monday, February 16, 2009 |
| PPR is on hiatus until March 2, 2009, as Joseph is dealing with the loss of his mother. Updates will return at that time. |
| posted by joseph kyle @ 5:52 PM |
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| Robbie Fulks 13 Hillbilly Greats |
| Friday, February 6, 2009 |
Recording a record of covers is always a hit-or-miss, but Robbie Fulks really did it right. His 2001 album, 13 Hillbilly Giants, is, as you would imagine, a baker's dozen of mostly obscure songs from Hillbilly and Country & Western artists. Recorded in a slapdash two-day session with Steve Albini, this record is as fresh and as vibrant as many of the original versions. The songs run the gamut, too; some songs are about drinking, about not drinking because of paternal responsibilities, loving one's wife; one song, "Knot Hole," is an ode to the joy of voyeurism! Then there's "Jeannie's Afraid of the Dark," an utterly depressing and totally obscure weepie about a dead child, written by Dolly Parton. I'm also fond of "Family Man," a minor hit for Frankie Miller, about not being a carouser because there are babies at home. It's a nice sentiment, and Fulks has me convinced that it's his song. That's when you know a cover is effective; if you make the listener feel the words deep inside. Good show, sir, good show!
Listen To: Family Man
13 Hillbilly Giants was released with love back in 2001 by Bloodshot RecordsLabels: Bloodshot Records, Friday Flashbacks, reviews f, Robbie Fulks |
| posted by joseph kyle @ 6:00 AM |
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| Bon Iver Blood Bank |
| Thursday, February 5, 2009 |
I'm probably the only person in the world who didn't find Bon Iver's debut For Emma, Forever Ago that impressive. I didn't understand what the fuss was about; I thought the story of Justin Vernon's writing of it wasn't that mythic, especially when the story started to eclipse the actual content of the record. Rule of thumb: details of a creation should never outweigh the finished product. A nice story doth not true talent make.
But I'm a fair individual, and I must admit that my interest was subsequently piqued having heard the title track from the new EP, Blood Bank. It's a pretty interesting country-rocker that doesn't actually rock, but that's okay; it's still a catchy number, and Vernon's singing is both strong and engaging. It's a natural progression, especially since Bon Iver is now a BAND. The next song, "Beach Baby," isn't a cover of First Class, but it is a first class downbeat folk number, even if it fades out too early. "Babys" is minimalist piano playing one chord with some really gorgeous falsetto-ish singing. I like it. A lot. "Woods" is a vocoder-laden acappella song, and it's utterly beautiful; he goes all Beach Boys towards the end, and I'm like WOW, this is amazing stuff!
So for those skeptics about the hype around their debut, Blood Bank is a wonderful little record that shows there's a real talent to be found here. Cynicism be damned.
Listen To: "Blood Bank"
Blood Bank is available now on JagjaguwarLabels: Bon Iver, Jagjaguwar, Reviews b |
| posted by joseph kyle @ 6:00 AM |
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| The International Jetsetters Heart is Black |
| Wednesday, February 4, 2009 |
Say "featuring a member of Jesus and Mary Chain" and you'll pique my interest. Though they may be far gone and away (okay, reunion was two years ago, where's that album if they're 'back'?), they were one of the best bands of the late 20th Century, and I'm going to give the time of day to any project that carries that aforementioned tag. International Jetsetters may not feature a founding JaMC member, Loz Colbert is a collaborator, and vocalist Fi McFall sang with them once--and even this tenuous connection is enough for me!
The comparisons really end there, though; on their debut Heart is Black, the five-piece explores a sound that is dark yet poppy, mellow yet oddly metaphysical. McFall has a beautiful voice, and Mark Crozer does, too; the splitting of vocal duties keeps the music interesting. "Inside Out" and "Inside Yourself" split the difference between bliss-pop and more traditional rock. The rest of the EP is a much mellower affair; the songs are beautiful in a Mazzy Star kind of way. Two versions of "Never Slows Down" appear here; a demo version that features Crozer on vocals, and a full-band version featuring McFall. Both are brilliant, and both are beautiful. I'm also love "Heart is Black," with Crozer sounding both menacing and melancholic. Even though the world may be overwhelmed with too many bands, International Jetsetters are definitely a necessity for this crazy world of ours.
It goes without saying, then, that I'm eagerly awaiting their full-length debut.
Listen To: Inside Out
Heart is Black is out now on Planting Seeds RecordsLabels: International Jetsetters, Planting Seeds Records, Reviews I |
| posted by joseph kyle @ 6:00 AM |
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| The Brethren of the Free Spirit The Wolf Also Shall Dwell with the Lamb |
| Tuesday, February 3, 2009 |
Brethren of the Free Spirit is the duo of instrumentalists James Blackshaw and Jozef an Wissem--two men known for making ancient melodies sound positively futuristic. Okay, so I hadn't heard of van Wissem until this record, but the man built and plays a custom-made Lute, so the assumption is made on solid evidence. Anyway, their debut record, The Wolf Also Shall Dwell with the Lamb, is a collection of four gorgeous, heavenly instrumentals. At times the music is rustic, while other times the music is minimalist, if you're familiar with Blackshaw's work, then you know to expect beautiful experimental guitar picking. There's really no way to further describe this record, unless you want some sort of ethnomusicologist explanation--which I find interesting in general but boring in describing specific records. More important to me is the feel of the music--and I feel utterly relaxed by this record. This is some of the prettiest music I've heard this year.
Listen To:Into the Dust of the Earth
The Wolf Also Shall Dwell with the Lamb is available now on Important RecordsLabels: Brethren of the free spirit, important records, Reviews b |
| posted by joseph kyle @ 6:00 AM |
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