Year of the Rat Music Project

(For those of you new to the site, I decided to spend a year studying music for my New Year’s resolution; for my Chinese New Years resolution I’ve decided to blog about my project to add an analytical element to it. You can read more about my project here.)

It’s been a bit over a month and already I feel like my knowledge of music has expanded in unforeseen ways: the business of market music, the workings of the inner ear and the way we feel music with our sense of touch. My awareness of sound has increased, specifically has I write this on the train I’m aware of the squeal of the brakes, the whoosh of the air conditioning, the rustle of newspapers being read, conversations taking place all around the car, and the vibration of the train on the tracks shaking my legs and pen. In a very real way, I’ve stepped through the looking glass and uncovered another world on top of the world in which I’ve existed.
I did have have a bit of a break, which is why there was a week with no blog post. I think I’ve reached my limit in terms of my rate to absorb new music. Plus, when I latch onto an album I really like, like Bob Dylan’s Bringing It All Back or Girl Talk’s Night Ripper, it becomes difficult to find the time to listen to a new, untested record. My advice, no more than one new album or artist a day, plus, mix it up the medium and genre with live music, documentaries and listening with friends.

What I’ve Been Into:

New Music (for me at least)

Al Green Lay it On Me

Billy Bragg and Wilco Mermaid Avenue

Beck Mellow Gold

Beck Odelay

Beach Boys Pet Sounds

The Beastie Boys The Mix Up

Girl Talk Night Ripper

The Go! Team Thunder Lightning Strike

Kid Rock Rock ‘n’ Roll Jesus

The Klaxons Xan Valley

Panda Bear Personal Pitch

Tony Ragazzo I Got Picked Up Last Night

Robert Johnson The Complete Collection

The Shivers *This band was playing in the 14th St. orange line subway station, I was totally arrested by their sound, it was like something out of Once*

We versus the Shark Ruin Everything!

Wilco Summer Teeth

On My Nightstand

Rock On by Dan Kennedy

This is Your Brain on Music by Daniel Levitin

Docs

I am Trying to Break Your Heart

Kill Your Idols

No Direction Home

Touch the Sound

On the Net:

New Scientist Five Great Auditory Illusions *I highly recommend this*

From NPR’s SXSW coverage-

Shout Out Louds live

Art Brut live w/ interview