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Dusted Features
Every Friday, Dusted Magazine publishes a series of music-related lists compiled by our favorite artists. This week: Pittsburgh behemoths Midnite Snake and San Diego folkies Mountain Home.
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Listed: Midnite Snake + Mountain Home
Midnite Snake
Guitarist Alexei Plotnicov, bassist Jim Lingo, and drummer Paul Quattrone make up one of the loudest bands in America. Midnite Snake come from the perpetually underappreciated Pittsburgh scene, where they’ve been grinding away for the last five years. These big, burly brahs play two-ton psych, often extending out into quarter-hour jams. Plotnicov also plays in the Karl Hendricks Rock Band, Lingo straps on the guitar for Centipede E’est, and Quattrone’s had the biggest underground splash with The Modey Lemon. The Snake released their second album earlier this year, Shaving the Angel, and it lives up to its title. All three of ‘em took part in this week’s Listed.
Alexei Plotnicov:
1. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Cosmo's Factory
You really can't go wrong with any of the CCR albums between Bayou Country and Pendulum. These recordings never get old and they make for the best driving music I've ever found. It's become a tradition to always have them on the car stereo when crossing the Mississippi. They literally fit a whole lifetime's worth of amazing recordings into a four-year period. For me, John Fogerty is the voice of American rock and roll, covering so many styles with so much warmth and heart. He may also be one of the most underrated lead guitarists to boot. RAMBLE Fuckin' TAMBLE.
2. Neil Young and Crazy Horse - Live at the Fillmore East
Neil, if you happen to read this, I just want to thank you for finally starting to release your archived recordings, and particularly this one! Now how about letting Time Fades Away back into circulation? Whatever. But this is the shit. This line-up only got to make one studio album before Whitten died. And there has never been a band before or since who could play off each other in this style so tightly. So it's a real pleasure to hear more from them now.
3. ZZ Top - Tres Hombres
I know with the CCR, Neil and ZZ I have a lot of guitar favorites, but I also think Frank Beard is a totally underrated drummer up until the ’80s. Then it's like Hill, Gibbons, and a drum machine!? Anyway these songs are deceptive in their simple appearance, but are truly works of fine craftsmanship. Plus they proclaim themselves Beer drinkers and Hell raisers, and we like to party and drink beer. So.... Fuck yeah!
4. American Primitive Vol. 1 - Pre-war Gospel
If you can listen to this album and not be profoundly moved by it, you may not have a soul. Not only do these recordings contain heavy emotional weight, but there are also all kinds of rhythms and unique musical stylings that you'd be hard pressed to find elsewhere. The 22nd track, “Good Lord (Run Old Jeremiah),” by Austin Coleman (with Joe Washington Brown and Group), is so different you'd think it was from another world. Usually if something that magical happens and you try to capture it, the tape recorder breaks or something spooky like that... I don't think another recording like it exists in the world. Washington Phillips and Blind Willie Johnson would go well in this comp but they're not on it. Get their whole albums and you won't regret it.
Jim Lingo:
5. John Fahey - Red Cross
Last one before he left us. Dark 'n sparse and from the heart. It's like he knew this was it. Contains a version of "Summertime" that's possibly the most beautiful song ever recorded.
6. Tinariwen - Aman Iman
Some powerful shit. If you don't dig this then you are a bad person. Nomads w/ serious roots.
7. Sun City Girls - 330,003 Crossdressers From Beyond the Big Veda
A sprawling double album that shows these fellas in all their glory. The Ghost of Goucher will visit when this plays.
Paul Quattrone:
8. Can - Ege Bamyasi
What else can you say about CAN? Maybe they're from outer space, I don't know. What I do know is that this was recorded in '71 and these motherfuckers are STILL ahead of the game.
9. Music from the Morning of the World
My favorite of the Nonesuch Explorer Series. A sampler of Bali music, field recording style. Layers of beautiful, intense and hypnotic melodies and rhythms banged out on gongs and other metallic instruments, as well as the mind-blowing, 200-strong Ketjak vocal chants (aka 'monkey chant'). This music commands your full attention, so don't play this if you have anything important to do (which you don't).
10. Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath
Why do I feel like I'm 15 years old when I listen to Black Sabbath? BECAUSE HOLY SHIT DUDE THEY'RE FUCKING AWESOME AM I RIGHT BRAH FUCK YEAH MY DUDE HIGH FIVE THIS SHIT RULES SO HARD. Seriously. Every Sabbath album with Ozzy is great of course (even Technical Ecstasy and Never Say Die), but I'll take the first one over the others any day. Best riffs, best production, best vocals, best creepy cover, plus they jaaaaammmmm on this one. The only metal band that can "swing." And the song "Black Sabbath" can still scare the shit out of most people (including myself), despite the fact that it's almost 40 years old.
11. Although Just Farr a Laugh by Failed Pilot is a comedy CD and not a musical album, we would like to give honorable mention to it as an endless source of entertainment and comic relief on road trips.
Mountain Home
San Diego, CA’s Mountain Home is releasing their eponymous debut CD on Language of Stone, the Philadephia-based label run by Greg and Jessica Weeks (members of Espers and Woodwose respectively). The album was recorded and mixed to entirely analog formats at Greg’s Hexham Head studio with Weeks producing. Guest musicians include Fern Knight’s Margie Weink Greg and a guest singer. Mountain Home is released September 25 on Language of Stone, distributed by Drag City Records.
1. Areskie and Bridgitte Fontaine - L’Incendie
Sparse and fluid, this is a beautifully constructed record. Combines elements of free jazz and French pop, a rare dichotomy.
2. The Birthday Party - The Missing Link Record
This was a record that Ilya and myself listened to often when we started playing together nearly 10 years ago. It remains a favorite to this day.
3. Berkeley Guitarist - s/t
Three way solo guitar split – marvelous.
4. Genesis - Nursery Cryme
A forgotten classic, the only progressive record you truly "need.” opening track "The Musical Box" was hugely inspirational while I was writing Battle, We Were.
5. Comus - s/t
I like that there are very few electric instruments used on this album.
6. Shirley Collins - Anything
In my opinion, she is the greatest singer of the British folk revival. If i had to pick, I would be inclined to say "No Roses.” Although all her work has been hugely influential for myself and many other members of Mountain Home.
7. Sun City Girls - Dulce Soundtrack
Very different than their other releases, it's worth a listen whether or not you’re a fan.
8. The Band - The Last Waltz
An epic undertaking, underlines our views on what it means to be great songwriters.
9. LaMonte Young - The Black Record
10. Skip James - Devil's Got My Woman
Skip James is a national treasure and should be heralded as such.
By Dusted Magazine
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