Tag: 2000s
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Erykah Badu, Worldwide Underground, 2003 on Motown
This was Badu’s third album, following Baduizm (1997) and Mama’s Gun (2000). It was produced by Freakquency (Badu along with Rashad Smith, James Poyser, and RC Williams) and features dead prez (Stic Man and M1) on “The Grind.” Lenny Kravitz guests on guitar, Roy Hargrove on trumpet and vocals, and Queen Latifah, Angie Stone, and…
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Eels, Hombre Lobo (12 Songs of Desire), 2009 on E Works Records
Seventh full length from Mark Oliver Everett (aka “E”) and Eels. Hombre Lobo as you might guess is Spanish for Werewolf. The MySpace Transmissions EP of live tracks was released to promote this release. Everything they do is just interesting and cool. There’s also a documentary called Tremendous Dynamite: Making Hombre Loco if you buy…
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Willie Nelson, Milk Cow Blues, 2000 on Island Records
Originally released in 2000, but issued on vinyl for the first time in 2023, this is Willie singing the blues, with guests including Francine Reed, Keb’ Mo’, Jonny Lang, Dr. John, Susan Tedeschi, B.B. King, and Kenny Wayne Shepherd (doing a mean “Texas Flood”). Mix of Wilie’s own songs plus covers (“The Thrill is Gone.”…
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Doomtree, False Hopes, 2007 on Doomtree Records
Doomtree are a hip-hop collective (and record label) from Minneapolis, including Dessa, Cecil Otter, P.O.S., Sims, Mike Mictian, Paper Tiger, and Lazerbeak. False Hopes came out (on CD) before their “debut” album, self-titled Doomtree, in 2008. There were many other “False Hopes” CDs of individual artists. The bandcamp for this release claims “This is the…
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Eels, The Myspace Transmissions / Transmission Session 2009, 2009 on E Works
I’m a huge fan of Mark Oliver Everett (aka E) and Eels so was super excited to find this record at Down in the Valley in Golden Valley MN. These were made available for streaming and download at www.myspace.com/transmissions/ though I don’t think they are there anymore. Great version of Dylan’s “Girl From the North…
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Killers, Hot Fuss, 2004 on Island / UMe
Originally released on Lizard King Records / The Control Group in 2004 – my copy is a more recent (2023) reissue on Island / UMe, but the music remains the same. Hot Fuss was Killers’ debut album and included the massive hits “Mr. Brightside” and “Somebody Told Me” as well as the bonus track “Glamorous…
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The Decemberists, Castaways and Cutouts, 2002 on Hush / Jealous Butcher
The last in a series of records I was happy to pick up from the merch table at the Decemberists show in Boston earlier this year. Originally released in 2002 on Hush Records, then reissued in 2003 by Kill Rock Stars, then released on vinyl in 2005 by Jealous Butcher. My copy is a later…
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The Decemberists, The Tain / 5 Songs, 2004 on Jealous Butcher Records & Hush Records
Two EPs released in 2004 as a single LP – 5 Songs was originally self-released (not on a label) in 2001 and The Tain on Acuarela Discos (an independent Spanish label) in 2003 . Although The Tain is broken up into five parts, it’s really one single 18 minute song, named after an Irish epic…
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The Decemberists, Her Majesty, 2003 on Kill Rock Stars & Jealous Butcher
This was the first Decemberists album on Kill Rock Stars, after Castaways and Cutouts came out on Hush Records. Recorded at Jackpot! and Type Foundry in Portland OR and produced by The Decemberists, Adam Selzer, and Larry Crane. Only Colin Meloy could get away with lyrics like this: The bosun calls upon the quay /…
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The Decemberists, Picaresque, 2005 on Kill Rock Stars
The Decemberists may be my single most favorite band of the new millenium. Colin Meloy’s lyricism can seem cloying or pretentious to some but I love it – perhaps having spent the 1990s in grad school myself prepared me well. Picaresque was their third studio album and the last on Kill Rock Stars before moving…
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Maria McKee, Peddlin’ Dreams, 2005 on Cooking Vinyl / Eleven Thirty
McKee was the front woman for Lone Justice, who put out two albums in the 80s, but has gone on to a solo career that has resurged in the new millenium. This is a really great and surprising record, including a cover of Neil Young’s “Barstool Blues” and “(You Don’t Know) How Glad I Am”…
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Aqualung, Aqualung, 2002 on B-Unique Records
The first decade of the 2000 is not well represented in my vinyl collection. I was fresh out of grad school and not buying much vinyl, nor even really following much in the way of contemporary music. But Aqualung I could not miss – I loved this CD and Matt’s Hales’ appearances on shows like…
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Jeff Tweedy, Chelsea Walls (Soundtrack), 2002 on Rykodisc / 2022 on Omnivore
Wonderful soundtrack featuring Jeff Tweedy collaborating with Glenn Kotche, around the time of supergroup Loose Fur just before Kotche become Wilco’s drummer. There’s also two great covers: Jimmy Scott doing a somewhat unhinged but wonderful version of John Lennon’s “Jealous Guy” and Robert Sean Leonard doing Wilco’s “Promising” (a bonus track that was in the…
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M. Ward, The End of Amnesia, 2001 on Future Farmer Recordings
M. Ward’s sophomore album, following up Duet for Guitars #2 – and what a wonderful album it is. My copy is a 20th anniversary reissue on vinyl from Jealous Butcher Records which sounds amazing. Future Farmer did release a vinyl edition in 2009 but this one is remastered by Adam Gonsalves at Telegraph Mastering. Liner…
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Various Artists, 89.3 The Current, 2005 on Minnesota Public Radio (MPR 116)
Great compilation of recordings made in the studios of Minnesota Public Radio. The Current is the branded name for KCMP, 89.3, and was created when MPR bought WCAL-FM, the college station at St. Olaf, in 2004. So I guess this release was partially celebrating the roll out of The Current. Lots of great things here,…
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The Magnetic Fields, i, 2004 on Nonesuch
All the songs on the album start with the letter i, a very Stephin Merritt thing to do. (Is this also related to the “i” in his first name?). The front page of the insert lyrics and credits sheet, which shows through the die cut “i” in the cover, is Fred Tomaselli’s Gravity in Four…
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Steve Earle, Townes: The Basics, 2021 on New West
As the back cover explains, the album Townes (a collection of Townes Van Zandt covers) was released in 2009 – but this LP collects the solo guitar and vocal tracks Earle originally recorded. This was issued as a bonus CD – The Basics – along with the CD release of Townes, but then issued for…
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Santigold, Santigold, 2008 on Downtown / Lizard King
My copy is the recent Vinyl Me Please reissue on “gold nugget” vinyl. This is a 15th anniversary edition with an “art print” by Isabelle Lumpkin (Narcissister) who designed the original cover. Originally released as a self-titled album by Santogold, she later changed her name to Santigold based on legal action – so the later…