Music Library: Devin Davis, Devo, Dexateens, Dexter Gordon, Dictators, Dim Stars
Devin Davis - Lonely People of the World, Unite!. Top-notch pop-rock album from a one-man band. This came out in 2005. Shame he hasn't done anything since.
Devo - Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!. Asked and answered!
The Dexateens - Teenager EP, The Dexateens, Red Dust Rising, Hardwire Healing, Lost and Found, and Singlewide. The Dexateens are the best damn thing to come out of Alabama since peanut butter. Which seems unfair now that I've written it, because The Dexateens aren't a fucking great Alabama band; they're a fucking great band. Since their first singles came out in 2000 (I actually only have four of those, which are included on the European release Teenager), they've gone from being a decent punk band to a downright inspired alt-country act with a pure pop heart. Their self-titled album had the band in transition from one to the other. There's a lot of fun in their Stooges-on-the-turnip-truck style of the time, but the solid big-guitar rock of the last four albums is a treat that keeps getting better.
Dexter Gordon - Our Man In Paris, Homecoming: Live at the Village Vanguard, and Sophisticated Giant. Bud Powell kills on the first of these, a document of the state of bebop circa 1963. The latter two were recorded in the late 70s, but they sound like 1957. Sophisticated Giant is a recording of Gordon with a big band that sweetens its retro feel with some lovely Ellingtonia.
The Dictators - Go Girl Crazy!. The missing link of proto-punk between Detroit and NYC, the Dictators were loud, silly, and absolutely brilliant.
Dim Stars - Dim Stars & Dim Stars EP. Remember? Me and you talking 'bout Dick Hell, remember? Sorry, meant to say that this "supergroup" featured Richard Hell, Thurston Moore and Steve Shelley of Sonic Youth, and producer Don Fleming. Bob Quine plays on some tracks, too. The album Dim Stars and EP Dim Stars are entirely separate affairs. And Hell sounds great, which is, well, great.
Devo - Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!. Asked and answered!
The Dexateens - Teenager EP, The Dexateens, Red Dust Rising, Hardwire Healing, Lost and Found, and Singlewide. The Dexateens are the best damn thing to come out of Alabama since peanut butter. Which seems unfair now that I've written it, because The Dexateens aren't a fucking great Alabama band; they're a fucking great band. Since their first singles came out in 2000 (I actually only have four of those, which are included on the European release Teenager), they've gone from being a decent punk band to a downright inspired alt-country act with a pure pop heart. Their self-titled album had the band in transition from one to the other. There's a lot of fun in their Stooges-on-the-turnip-truck style of the time, but the solid big-guitar rock of the last four albums is a treat that keeps getting better.
Dexter Gordon - Our Man In Paris, Homecoming: Live at the Village Vanguard, and Sophisticated Giant. Bud Powell kills on the first of these, a document of the state of bebop circa 1963. The latter two were recorded in the late 70s, but they sound like 1957. Sophisticated Giant is a recording of Gordon with a big band that sweetens its retro feel with some lovely Ellingtonia.
The Dictators - Go Girl Crazy!. The missing link of proto-punk between Detroit and NYC, the Dictators were loud, silly, and absolutely brilliant.
Dim Stars - Dim Stars & Dim Stars EP. Remember? Me and you talking 'bout Dick Hell, remember? Sorry, meant to say that this "supergroup" featured Richard Hell, Thurston Moore and Steve Shelley of Sonic Youth, and producer Don Fleming. Bob Quine plays on some tracks, too. The album Dim Stars and EP Dim Stars are entirely separate affairs. And Hell sounds great, which is, well, great.
5 comments:
You need more Dexter Gordon. All his Sixties Blue Note albums are terrific, but my personal favorites are Go!, Dexter Calling..., A Swingin' Affair, and Clubhouse (the latter a semi-lost session which wasn't released on its own until after Blue Note did a complete-sessions box which is unfortunately out of print). Also recommended, the 1950s album Dexter Blows Hot and Cool.
Thanks for the recommendations, Phil! I'll search those down. An old friend of mine used to play One Flight Up all the time, which is why I started listening to Gordon in the first place.
absolutely right about devin davis. i've purchased his CD about 7 times and given all but 2 away. one remains unopened behind my desk. it is a little gem of a record. he did a small tour and came to atlanta performing an intense, high energy show. i had the chance to meet him, and found him to be an incredibly nice guy. really, he was just humbled by the number of folks who were supporting him.
the only other recording i've been able to find is "when the angles lift their eyelids in the morning". it's from a compilation record. search amazon for it. it's worth it.
if anyone knows anything about is whereabouts, please post.
My pal Jon Bernhardt told me that he'd seen Davis around the Boston area a few times recently, and there's another album in the works. Good news!
wow. boston? that's great. he was out of chicago but if he's playing that's huge.
thanks for the update.
m
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