Epitonic Newsletter: Vol. 4, No. 11 'The Epitonic Hall of Fame'
03/22/02
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Last night in Cleveland, Tom Petty, Talking Heads, Isaac Hayes,
Brenda Lee, Gene Pitney, and the Ramones got inducted into the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Dee Dee Ramone provided a truly
priceless moment by thanking himself, congratulating himself,
offering himself a pat on the back, and telling himself he was
wonderful. Talking Heads also performed together for the first
time in nearly two decades.
Epitonic loves all these artists and believes them to be worthy
inductees (even though the whole concept of a Rock and Roll
HOF -- in Cleveland, no less! -- does seem rather silly). So
in the spirit of the Rock Hall, we're going to induct some of
our very specialest artists into the highly exclusive Epitonic
Hall of Fame. The criteria are loosely defined, but basically
these are artists who have been with us a long time, who are
favorites of ours, and whose presence on the site has meant
a great deal to the growth and development of Epitonic.com.
Their names can be found below.
P.S. Meanwhile the Oscars are next week (preparations around the
new Kodak Theater are causing nasty traffic problems in Hollywood).
Gosh, if awards ceremonies continue their rate of proliferation
over the next few decades it seems reasonable to predict that
by the year 2222 prime time TV will be devoted to nothing but
awards shows. Which might not be such a bad thing in the minds of
those poor unfortunate souls who've been victimized by FOX's new
Celebrity Boxing programming.
"In Particular"
by
Blonde Redhead
These New York-based art rockers continue to create hypnotizing, ambiguous compositions that are at once darkly beautiful and sublimely unsettling. Their dense spider webs of sound conjure the moment after you've emerged from the shadowy, terrifying landscape of a dream, when the adrenaline still flows like fire through your body and you can't yet recall how the world works.
"Angel's Lawn"
by
Antioch Arrow
An indescribable burst of staggering art hardcore via San Diego, Antioch Arrow takes you on lurching one-minute carnival rides that will change your life.
"He's A Mighty Good Leader"
by
Beck
Unless you've been living in a hole in the ground for the past few years, you've already heard the genre-hopping, mind-altering sounds of the Andy Warhol of the 21st century. But have you ever heard him sound like this?
"Rooster Mountain"
by
The Court and Spark
The Court and Spark combine plaintive and beautiful vocals with just the right amount of shuffle and twang to create music that is uniquely their own.
"68"
by
Jawbox
This once-was Dischord post-punk band (who later moved to Atlantic before spinning out on DeSoto) brings you a compilation of B-sides, last recordings, Peel sessions, and other forget-me-nots. These veterans will leave you craving for more, but fear not: they have more releases than a cat has lives.
"Horses"
by
Rovo
Forget what you thought instruments were supposed to sound like. Forget what you thought music was supposed to sound like. Coming straight out of the Tokyo underground, Rovo will blow you away with their amazing fusion of breakbeats, experimental improvisation, gonzo electronics, tribal percussion workouts, and spacey psych.
"Four Ton Mantis"
by
Amon Tobin
Brazilian-born Amon Tobin has released music under the Cujo pseudonym for Ninebar and under his own name for Ninja Tune. Tobin brings hip hop, funk, jazz, and blues up to date with his distinct drum and bass twist.
"Definition of Ill"
by
Peanut Butter Wolf
Check out these excerpts from the recent dissertation by San Francisco's most accredited hip hop historian, Peanut Butter Wolf. If only all DJs gave back this much to the sample pool. Listen up, there will be a midterm on this.
"Fingerprints"
by
DJ Tee Bee
DJ Tee Bee's compositions are at once dance floor-friendly, beautifully lush, and intricately cerebral. His style of music directly reflects the attitude he expresses when he says, "I see everyone stepping to the right and I make myself jump to the left." Look at a scan of Tee Bee's brain and you'll see a blueprint for the future of drum and bass.
"Popul Vuh"
by
Tarentel
Between lush ambient soundscapes and dramatic bursts of noise, Tarentel runs the gamut of musical expression, evoking a multitude of both urban and pastoral images.
"Stopwatch Static"
by
I Am Spoonbender
A tribute to Uri Geller (famous spoonbending freak from the 70's), I Am Spoonbender manages to take a lot of old influences and warp them into something new. Original and creative, catchy yet abrasive at times, it's hard to put a finger on a band that at one moment sounds poppy and hip and the next is a maelstrom of percussion.
"Bill Gates Must Die"
by
John Vanderslice
Though John Vanderslice is a known prankster (as evidenced by his media-fooling hype surrounding the provocatively titled "Bill Gates Must Die"), this is no joke band. Clever lyrics and soaring melodies combine to create catchy, thought-provoking music. Pop fans of the world unite!
"New Mate"
by
Figurine
Channeling the sugar sweet melodies and
catchy songwriting of '80s New Wave icons
OMD, Pet Shop Boys, and Depeche Mode, the
L.A.-via-San Francisco-via-Northampton,
Massachusetts trio Figurine hook you into a
singalong with every electronic bleep, boing,
and blip.
"On The Bottom"
by
Technicolor
Kind and gentle electronic sounds guide the hand of a mighty bass in the digital world of Technicolor. These selections are taken from #16 in the Darla Records Bliss Out series and the One Touch Test Strip album released on Fuzzy Box Records.
"The Novel Sound"
by
Llorca
Hailed as the next St. Germain, Llorca's soulful jazz-influenced house is deep and funky in equal measures. He runs the Brique Rouge label with David Duriez and has licensed his productions to an array of labels, including France's premier imprint, F Communications.
"Leave Me Now"
by
Herbert
As Wishmountain, Doctor Rockit, and Radio Boy, Matthew Herbert has been a pioneering force in electronic music since the mid '90s. His creative work has been the mainstay of an endless list of labels, including Warp, Universal Language, and Phonography, as well as his own Soundslike, Lifelike, and Accidental imprints.
"Sun On 5 At 152"
by
Matmos
John Fahey meets Aphex Twin? Autechre at a banjo contest? These are just two of the images that jump to mind upon hearing Matmos's beautifully perverse digital reconstructions of acoustic music.
"Verandi"
by
Bjork
In her decade-long career since parting ways with the Sugarcubes, this famous Icelandic diva has changed the way we think about pop and electronic music. And with her every move, she keeps on surprising us.
"The Seasons (Summer)"
by
John Cage
John Cage forever altered the world of music through his revolutionary thoughts and compositions. These two pieces for piano and prepared piano are taken from works created by Cage in the 1940s. Download a piece of history.
"The Cooler"
by
The Vandermark 5
The Vandermark 5 is the primary project of the avant-jazz icon and MacArthur Genius
Fellow Ken Vandermark. This quintet takes time and melody to the brink of destruction
by mixing avant-garde and traditional jazz with experimental rock in unprecedented and unexpected ways.
