thanks, jebus19!

Upgrading an earlier disc that featured the band's first two John Peel sessions only, this ten-track compilation rounds up all of the Slits' BBC recordings, with the most crucial of their three sessions, the previously unreleased October 1981 airing, added in to remind listeners that the group's early reputation as a slipshod blur of punk-oid energy was only the first of the faces they turned to the world. In terms of classic punk energy, sessions dating from September 1977 and May 1978 are unbeatable, the sound of the unsigned, untutored, and -- in the eyes of many people -- unlistenable Slits crashing defiantly through distinctly formative renditions of songs that would not reach fruition for another year, and the completion of their debut album. "Vindictive" alone was not realigned for that disc; of the other six songs, all underwent sufficient reinvention to create starry-eyed converts of even the most disdainful of early witnesses. Famously, at the band's first BBC session, an anguished technician crept out to retune their instruments while the quartet was busy elsewhere. It doesn't affect their performance.

By the time the Slits returned to the BBC in 1981, their original vision had become totally skewed -- along with much of their early optimism. The Return of the Giant Slits, their long-awaited second album, had arrived to absolute incomprehension, and the band's future was already in doubt. The music they were playing, however, was the future. No longer the adrenalined D.I.Y. disaster that had clattered so alluringly across the early sessions, nor the dubbed-out hybrid of Cut, the Slits were now embracing a tribal thud that, while wholly anticipating the later fashion for world music, was so far out on a limb that even Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush had yet to clamber out to join them.

Lengthy throbs through "In the Beginning There Was Rhythm," the so-haunting mantra "Earthbeat," and (the aptly titled) "Difficult Fun" are readily superior to their vinyl counterparts, tasting much the same as the band's period live performances, but imbibed, too, with a questing tenderness that reveals just what a fabulous vocalist Ari Up was; her post-Slits recordings with the New Age Steppers caught many people by surprise, but the Peel rendition of "Earthbeat," in particular, proves there was no need for that.

Sometime during the mid-'90s, John Peel rated the first two Slits broadcasts among his all-time favorite sessions -- one reason why many first-time purchasers chose to overlook the repackaged Peel Sessions altogether. In terms of illustrating all that the Slits were truly capable of, however, the third session is even better than either.

And the Frightened Rabbit album is fucking atrocious. Awful, awful shit. Sorry.

God damn do I love Johnny Cash. I was a little hesitant about the Personal File posthumous thing, but it's really a wonderful set.

what the hell is "proto-indie"?

I have no idea, I just made that up awhile back to describe early 1980's American rock that was influenced by Brit post-punk and set the stage for the later "indie" bands of the decade. Lame, but whatever.

Now, this Futureheads album just rules, see? Fantastic band, damnit. "Burnt" is such a cool song, as is pretty much every other song on here. Less "gayness" doesn't mean less "goodness"! Awesome.

The first few songs are so good, but the rest is SO bad. I can't imagine another album this year will have a wider chasm between best/worst tracks.

And no thanks for that shitty Frightened Rabbit album. I still can't get over its shittiness. Glad you enjoy it so I don't have to.

And the Pipettes album rules. I didn't think I would like it as much as I do. It's great. Shit.

Crooked Fingers: Thanks Simakos -- I digs a whole lot.

The Foundry Field Recordings – Prompts/Miscues



this is really great stuff... RIYL: grandaddy or sprawling heartland indie rock goodness

thanks Bobzilla!