Playlist 9-12-09

* Corelli: Trio Sonatas (English Concert/Pinnock) (Arkiv Produktion CD)
* Veracini: Sonatas (Holloway/ter Linden/Mortensen) (ECM CD)
* LeClair: Sonatas (Holloway/ter Linden/Mortensen) (ECM CD)
* J.S. Bach: Pour clavecin solo (Richard Egarr) (Harmonia Mundi CD)
* Miles Davis: Complete Live at the Plugged Nickel, 1965 (d.1-3) (Columbia 8CD)
* Herbie Hancock, et al.: Blow Up (original soundtrack) (4 Men With Beards LP)
* Sun Ra: Janus (1201 Music CD)
* Sun Ra: The Solar Myth Approach Vols.1&2 (BYG Actuel/Charly 2CD)
* Sun Ra: Electric Circus, New York, NY 1968 (AUD 2CDR)
* The Beatles: Please Please Me (mono) (Apple/EMI CD)
* The Beatles: With the Beatles (mono) (Apple/EMI CD)
* The Beatles: A Hard Day’s Night (mono) (Apple/EMI CD)
* The Beatles: The Beatles For Sale (mono) (Apple/EMI CD)
* The Beatles: Help! (mono) (Apple/EMI CD)
* The Beatles: The Beatles (a/k/a The White Album) (mono) (Apple/EMI 2CD)
* The Beatles: Mono Masters (Apple/EMI 2CD)
* Pink Floyd: Piper at the Gates of Dawn (Deluxe Edition) (d.1&3) (EMI 3CD)
* Van Morrison: Astral Weeks (Warner Bros. LP)
* Van Morrison: Moondance (Warner Bros. LP)
* Grateful Dead: Greek Theatre, Berkeley, CA 7-13-84 (SBD 3CDR)
* Grateful Dead: Road Trips Vol.2, No.1: “MSG September ’90” (GD 3CD)
* Grateful Dead: The Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA 3-18-95 (SBD 2CDR)
* Jerry Garcia Band: Bay Area 1978 (Pure Jerry 2CD)
* The Smiths: The Sound of the Smiths (Warner Bros./Rhino 2CD)
* Yo La Tengo: Popular Songs (Matador CD)
* Robert Pollard: Elephant Jokes (GBV, Inc. LP)
* Jim O’Rourke: The Visitor (Drag City LP)
* Boredoms: Chocolate Synthesizer (Reprise CD)

Commentary:

Question: In their 25-year-long career, has Yo La Tengo ever made a bad (or even mediocre) album? Answer: No. Their new album, Popular Songs, is a sprawling, magnum opus. It feels like a glorious summation of their already polymathic aesthetic, but at the same time adds yet another new element to their sound: tastefully arranged strings which give some of these tracks a cozily, Bacharach-ian panache. Once again, Nashville’s own Roger Moutenot produced. This record has been getting a lot of play at Chateau NuVoid since its release on Tuesday.

The return of Jim O’Rourke from self-imposed exile is also a big event at the record store. The Visitor is a brilliantly executed suite of orchestral pop music full of intricate arrangements and evocative instrumentation. Unlike Eureka (1999) and Insignificance (2002), there is no singing, but that’s OK. O’Rourke plays every single instrument flawlessly and seamlessly, further evidencing the length and breadth of his musical genius. Just beautiful.

It might be after the end of the world, but there sure are some great records being released these days!