Playlist Week of 12-11-10

* J.S. Bach: Goldberg Variations/Canons (Egarr) (Harmonia Mundi 2CD)†
* J.S. Bach: Suites for Violoncello (ter Linden) (Harmonia Mundi 2CD)†
* J.S. Bach: Violin Sonatas (Manze/Egarr/ter Linden) (Harmonia Mundi 2CD)
* Thelonious Monk: The Complete Blue Note Recordings (d.4) (Blue Note 4CD)
* Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane: At Carnegie Hall (Blue Note CD)
* Thelonious Monk & John Coltrane: The Complete 1957 Riverside Recordings (Riverside 2CD)
* Eric Dolphy Quintet: Outward Bound (New Jazz/OJC CD)
* Eric Dolphy: Out There (Prestige/OJC CD)
* Eric Dolphy: At the Five Spot Vol.1 (Prestige/OJC—Japan CD)
* Eric Dolphy: At the Five Spot Vol.2 (Prestige/OJC—Japan CD)
* Herbie Hancock: Takin’ Off (Blue Note CD)
* Grant Green: Idle Moments (Blue Note CD)†/‡
* Sun Ra: What Planet Is This? (Leo 2CD)
* Sun Ra: The Singles (d.2) (selections) (Evidence 2CD)
* Anthony Braxton Large Ensemble: Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT 12-03-08 (AUD CDR)
* V/A: The Oxford American Southern Music CD No.12 (Alabama) (Oxford American Magazine CD)
* Aretha Franklin: I Never Loved a Man The Way I Love You (Atlantic/Mobile Fidelity CD)
* Grateful Dead: The Spectrum, Philadelphia, PA 8-30-80 (d.2-3) (SBD 3CDR) †/‡
* Grateful Dead: Kaiser Convention Center, Oakland, CA 11-21-85 (SBD 3CDR)
* Big Star: Keep An Eye On the Sky (d.3) (Ardent/Rhino 4CD) †/‡
* The Clash: London Calling (CBS—UK 2LP)
* The Clash: Sandinista! (Epic 3LP)
* The Fall: Hex Enduction Hour (Kamera/Line CD)
* The Fall: Perverted By Language (Rough Trade/Line CD)
* The Fall: The Wonderful and Frightening World of…The Fall (Beggar’s Banquet—UK CD)
* U2: The Unforgettable Fire (Deluxe Edition) (d.1) (Island/Universal 2CD) †/‡
* Sonic Youth: “Anagrama” (SYR-1 EP)
* Sonic Youth: “Slaapkamers Met Slagroom” (SYR-2 EP)
* Sonic Youth/Jim O’Rourke: “Invito Al Ĉielo” (SYR-3 LP)
* Sonic Youth: A Thousand Leaves (Geffen 2LP)
* Robert Pollard: Off to Business (GBV, Inc. LP)
* Robert Pollard: “Weatherman and Skin Goddess” (side B) (GBV, Inc. EP)
* Robert Pollard: Moses On A Snail (GBV, Inc. LP)
* Animal Collective: Merriweather Post Pavilion (Domino CD) †/‡
* Animal Collective: Fall Be Kind (Domino CDEP) †/‡

†=iPod
‡=car

Commentary:

The Oxford American Southern Music Issue arrived in the mailbox this week and, as usual, it’s a feast for the eyes and ears. We’re long-time subscribers and The Oxford American has always lived up to its subtitle, “The Southern Magazine of Good Writing”; it’s always worth reading. But, most of all, we look forward to the annual Southern Music Issue, where the magazine serves as a set of elaborate liner notes for the accompanying compact disc, an always generous selection of fascinating tracks, famous and obscure, old and new. Of course, you don’t have to be a Southerner to appreciate this stuff—all you need is a beating heart—the perceptive writing and sharp graphics will fill you in on everything else you might need to know. This year, the focus is on the music of Alabama (as last year’s was devoted to Arkansas). I’ve barely delved into it, but it’s the usual friendly collision of styles and genres, from hillbilly country blues to New Wave; jump-jazz to R&B soul to hip-hop and beyond—and the respective essays are illuminating and, sometimes, quite touching. The whole thing is obviously a labor of love and well worth the eleven-dollar cover price—if you can find one on the newsstand. Subscriptions are only twenty bucks and ensure that you won’t miss out on all the fun. Would make a great gift! Most highly recommended!