Lavish me with praise and chat about your CDs here.

Ok, so I sent this out via e-mail before realising that perhaps the forum thread would be a more appropriate place (and avoids the problems of forgetting to click 'Reply All' etc.)

Can I just canvas some vague genres from people so I have an idea about what music you like and what you passionately despise? Evidently the purpose of the swap is to share tastes and broaden horizons etc. But! I don't want to send out a CD which neither of you chooses to ever listen to again after the courtesy listening upon arrival.

Is there any sort of music which you just cannot stand?

For your info....

I like pretty much anything, but I do draw the line at:

Rap.
Hip-Hop.
R&B.

I'm open to suggestion if you really think you have hip-hop or r&b music that will blow me away, but try as you might, you won't woo me with rap. Which is not to say you can't include it, just that I don't like it.

Chi...since you sent a song by Boards of Canada on your last swap, that gives you carte blanche to send me whatever you want.

Thanks: those beautiful Canadian Boards will no doubt be gracing the track listings once again.

In the last swap, I told everyone what was on my CD before despatch. This time I'm going to be more secretive... it'll be a surprise! And, taking my lead from the Old Master of Swaps, I have found my Concept.

Hey boys.

I will refrain from putting any R&B or hip-hop on my CD unless absolutely necessary.

As for my taste in music, I like pretty much anything. Choad, you know better than Chi how broad my tastes are.

I give you both freedom to send me whatever you like.

Also, when am I getting your addresses?

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Also, when am I getting your addresses?

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I got them. It was just at an email address I haven't checked in a few weeks. Thanks though.

Is there any particular theme we are going to adhere to or do I have free reign of terror here?

Whatever you like m'dear. I'm going to send out two discs this time around. Disc One should be burned by the end of the weekend, but Disc Two is turning out to be a bitch. Perhaps by the end of the month I'll get them both done.

Well, in the meantime, you can both listen to the cynic's choice: my double-disc-themed-extravaganza is being shipped out today...

Sideswap groupcrash!

I'm nearly ready to post comments on Chi's discs, is it safe to do so or shall I wait another couple of days?

GET OUT OF OUR THREAD, JES! DAMNIT.

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GET OUT OF OUR THREAD, JES! DAMNIT.

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I, uhh, already crashed his thread... he's just repaying like for like.

Have my CDs still not arrived over in yon Rhode Island and Golden State?

Chi--

Got your CD today. I'm listening to track two on Yin and I'm ready to declare this disc a winner. I'll give both discs a listen tomorrow as I'll be driving around quite a bit and will have time.

I got Chi's CDs today as well. I am listening to them now and will review later. The track lists look promising.

PS- I just LOVE getting "Royal Mail". Makes me feel important.

Sideswappery! Reviewed!

Chi - Yin/Yang

Disc 1 - Yin

1. Bob Holroyd - A very mellow start, as you would expect on a disc like this. Reminds me of Harold Budd and of the little known Stalker ambient project.
   
2. Kinobe - A classic! This must be one of the all time great tracks for tension relief.
   
3. Cousteau - I used to cane this track on my radio show when it first came out nearly 6 years ago. Wow, has it been that long? One of my favourite tracks, it never fails to evoke wistful memories of the end of the summer.
   
4. Jack Johnson - Singer/Songwriter-tastic. A little sacchariny for my taste, but then I have very nearly put Ben&Jason onto compilations in a fit of angst.
   
5. Rufus Wainwright - Now this is very Ben & Jason. More singer/songwriter musings, this is a little edgier and speaks to me.
   
6. Clannad - I've always regarded liking Clánnad as being a bit uncool, especially when you're from Ireland, but this track is great. I wish I spoke a bit of Gaelic, but I think not understanding the lyrics makes it a more interesting piece to listen to.
   
7. De-Phazz - Tongue-in-cheek update of the Mambo. I've got a track like this on a CD called Kinky Beats, which is essentially modern beat merchants updating swinging 60's and Spaghetti Western tracks. Swing it.
   
8. Tegan and Sarah - Hints of PJ Harvey and other female artists in here. Doesn't quite get going for me, but we're still in the groove.
   
9. Magnet - Aha! Heard this song on the radio over the last few months. Don't like Dylan but this is an exceptional cover. The tempo is perfect, the lyrics are delivered with an original and sincere style, but the female vocalist (who is she?) makes it for me. Great track.
   
10. Emiliana Torrini - Another, slightly haunting, acoustic guitar number. She's got a lovely voice, a little bit like Beth Hirsch.
    
11. Moby - Not his best track but you can't go wrong with a bit of the old bald techno wizard. Quite an uplifting number, I was feeling pretty good by the ned of the track.
    
12. Coldplay - You can't go wrong with Coldplay either. This is one of my favourite tracks from the new album, good choice.
    
13. 13 Senses - This sounds very familiar, there's a few bands that have this sound that you can hear when listening to any good radio station in the UK. That said, this is a great track and I could listen to this sort of stuff all day; I will be keeping my eyes out for more by this band.
    
14. Chris DeBurgh - OK I really shouldn't like this, but it somehow works. Ah, I know why, it's great background music for playing WoW.
    
15. GSO and Dinu Radu - more superb background music, this time with a quite haunting flavour of the Orient.
    
16. Boards of Canada - Ahh, I will never tire of hearing this song. Probably the best track they've done, although Pete Standing Alone, A Beautiful Place Out in the Country and Music is Math run it close IMHO. New album out imminently!
    
17. Kenji Kawai - Another really atmospheric, track to close the disc, has a little bit of an edge that I rather like, very evocative.
    

Sterling stuff, well chosen, a good mix of flavours. Listening to Chi's swap discs is often better accompanied to doing something else, as it makes a superb soundtrack. That said, some of the tracks jump out at you, particularly the ones I'm more familiar with. Another winner to add to the collection, thanks Chi.

OK, review of the Yang disc to follow (well you can't have one eith out the other can you?)

I've been tied up with work stuff at home, but I've been listening to your CD in my car Chi, and I love them both. I'll post a proper review at some proper time.

I burned disc 1 today. I'm getting sick of disc 2...we'll see in the next couple of days if I have the mindset to finish it. Meanwhile, I'm thinking of artwork and should get this/these out soon.

Disc 1 - Yin

Earthwatching Bob Holroyd - A nice, mellow start. I immediately knew what the mood of the rest of the disc would be.

Slip Into Something More Comfortable Kinobe - Another perfect instrumental.

Last Good Day of the Year Cousteau - Wow, what a great song. It has that somber 60's love movie soundtrack feel to it.

Better Together Jack Johnson - I've never been a fan of Jack Johnson. I don't hate him, I don't know why he doesn't do it for me. Oh well.

Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk Rufus Wainwright - I've got a Rufus Wainwright song on my disc I burned today. He's someone I wished I liked better, but I can only take his wailing for so long before I want to change tracks. This is one of the songs of his I like a lot, though. I finally saw The Aviator a couple weeks ago and when there was the early scene in the Cocanut Grove opening with the crooner, I thought, "This guy sounds really, really gay." Then they showed the singer's face and it was Rufus. What can I say...gaydar is gaydar.

Dulaman Clannad - This sounds like a church choir doing warm up exercises.

Mambo Craze De-Phazz - This is my favourite song on this disc. I had the line, "Space cake break at the Titicaca Lake" going through my head all day when I first heard it. What a great blend of mambo, sampling, and drum track. This sounds like a lot of the songs I put on one of my discs for Swap 5.

My Number Tegan and Sarah - Hooray Lilith Faire!

Lay Lady Lay Magnet - This is a great song, and this is the best cover I've ever heard of it.

Sunny Road Emiliana Torrini - Every time this comes on, I think "I don't remember a Scarborough Faire cover on this disc." I like it, though.

The Rafters Moby - Okay, now that the church choir warmed up with Dulaman, they belt it out on this one. Yeah, this one sounds like it came out of a black gospel choir backed with an electric band. Maybe I wouldn't have grown up an atheist if my parents took me to a church with music like this.

Fix You Coldplay - People either love or hate Coldplay. Next.

Into the Fire 13 Senses - I love the piano and how the intro builds on this track. While it sounds a bit like something you'd hear in the background of a WB teen angst drama, what can I say? I'm a sucker for tracks like that.

When Winter Comes Chris DeBurgh - A nice bridge, and it blends so seamlessly into the next track I thought they were one song.

Dark Side of the Sun GSO and Dinu Radu - I'm surprised it took you this long to put something which sounded Asian on the disc.

Aquarius Boards of Canada - I am so glad BoC has finally released a new disc. I almost put this song on another swap CD. It always confuses me that this song is not the one called Sixtyten on that CD.

Nightstalker Kenji Kawai - Jes was right, a lot of this disc sounds like a soundtrack, especially this and Dark Side of the Sun. Maybe its because I only hear music like these two tracks in Asian movie soundtracks. Either way, I like them.

As I've told you in IRC, Chi, well done! I like both discs quite a bit and I'll post a review of the Yang tracks within the next week.

Chi, I won't go through your discs song by song, but just know that I thought they were both A++ with my favorite tunes being "Last Good Day of the Year" by Cousteau(it's just a really chill song) and while Muse is one of my favorite bands, the Aphex Twin(another fav band of mine) wins on the second disc.

I made my disc and will be mailing them sometime this week.

"Yang" - Disc 2 of Chi's CDs

Quick review:

Great track as an intro, is it from a film? Wait, I just Googled it - Matrix:Revolutions.
The UNKLE track was brilliant, loved the "Equilibrium" reference. Good choice of Prodigy track, I feel ashamed they are originally from a town 6 miles from my flat and I've never once put one of their tracks on a swap CD. We continue with more moody breakbeat and I even like the Evanescence and J-pop track. Also good to hear a J-M J track I hadn't heard before. Favourite track has to be "Bathtime in Clerkenwell". Good finish to the disc.

So in short, another great piece of fiery swap action which balances disc 1 perfectly. Cheers.

I was a good girl and mailed my CD today.

Track list to follow your first listen.

Marvellous!

Both CDs are now burned...I haven't thought of artwork yet, so give me until next weekend to finally wrap this up.

I'm going to Hong Kong tomorrow for a week, so if either of your CDs arrive in the interrim you'll have to grant me a short reprieve to have a chance to listen to them when I get back.

Have fun! Don't get SARS!

Chi,

Your CD got returned to me.

Email me your full address again when you get back.

PhCh.

I am back, apparently unSARSed and without any trace of bird flu (which, alas, means back to work on Monday).

I've e-mailed you my full address, it's rather odd that it was returned on the first attempt...

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I am back, apparently unSARSed and without any trace of bird flu (which, alas, means back to work on Monday).

I've e-mailed you my full address, it's rather odd that it was returned on the first attempt...

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Okay, CD's are in the envelopes and should go out Monday. Thanks for your patience.

Your CDs arrived today, choad - I'll give them a good listening to before giving some feedback. Thanks!

I'll post a track list for the first disc. The other one has tracks that I don't even know who the artists are or the titles, but I may slap one together for that as well.

The idea behind this one was to counter-balance all the fun, happy discs I've thrown together for prior swaps. Sorry you all had to endure this, but when I first thought of it, I was going to send it out along with my last disc, which was funk-inspired.

Is This It - The Strokes.
Pretty - Reno
Pablo Picasso - Modern Lovers
No More Lonely Nights - The Heads (with Malin Annetag)
Roads Must Roll - BoomBip
Kids With Guns - Gorillaz
Nobody But You - John Cale / Lou Reed
Breaking the Choke Hold - Mike Watt
Mango Di Bango - Tosca
The Origin Of Love - Rufus Wainwright
Star Me Kitten - William S. Burroughs
Backroads - fIREHOSE
Trip Along - Tripping Daisy
Kota - Bonobo
Exquisitely Bored - Pete Townshend
Somewhere Down The Crazy River - Robbie Robertson
The Same Thing You Thought Hard About Is The Same Part I Can Live Without - Evan Dando
It's Over - Roy Orbison

I really enjoyed this disc, especially The Heads track, which surprised me as I remember the album getting completely panned when it came out.

Both of Choad's CDs got stuck in my car's CD player. I had to pry them out with a tweezers and brute force.

Good CDs though!!

Chi -

Did you get mine?

PhCh.

Phreaky: I've not received yours. I don't know if this is to do with Christmas post and such, but considering when you posted them it does seem to have taken a rather long time...

Review: Grey

First of all, my dear choad, I am flattered that you chose to spell "grey" properly on your CD cover. Whether this was just my CD (thereby making it a special limited UK-only edition) or not, I don't know - but I liked the touch. Secondly, this CD is excellent. I have had it in my car for the past three weeks and it gets heavy use; with one exception (noted below) I adore every track.

Is This It - The Strokes

Great start, mellow and chilled I felt. This is now the track I associate with "ahh, we've come full circle, time to listen to Grey again".

Pretty - Reno

"I wish every would BE" - there's something about the way she says "BE" that really appeals. Very good.

Pablo Picasso - Modern Lovers

This guy's voice sounds like someone I met in San Diego. I liked the constant refrain of "Pablo Picasso never got called an arsehole".

No More Lonely Nights - The Heads (with Malin Annetag)

A very different kind of song to what I was expecting from the title (I think I had Paul McCartney in mind for some reason). Just one question, though - does she squeeze Superman the goldfish to death during her chocolate gorging session? I can never be quite sure each time I hear it.

Roads Must Roll - BoomBip

Far and away my most favourite track on this compilation. I really like the beat, the sound, the overall melody... it's just great! They sound a tiny bit like Boards of Canada (I'm thinking Campfire Headphase). Do they have other similar tracks like this (or even an album) that you'd recommend?

Kids With Guns - Gorillaz

The first (of only two) tracks that I already knew. Good choice.

Nobody But You - John Cale / Lou Reed

This song seems so simple and laid back - right up until the last line. When I first heard it, I had a good old chortle. The ambiguity of "nobody" is appealing.

Breaking the Choke Hold - Mike Watt

Melancholic joy, I have no idea what the "choke hold" is, but I like the song all the same!

Mango Di Bango - Tosca

Another favourite, soft notes followed by a strong beat; reminiscent (once again) of those boarding types across the border. Other music by Tosca that you'd recommend...?

The Origin Of Love - Rufus Wainwright

Good old Rufus - nice piece of soft rock, and I think Rufus is probably one of the few singer/songwriters who could get away with using Greek (and Norse?) mythology in a love song.

Star Me Kitten - William S. Burroughs

I'm afraid this was the compilation's low point. I'm not a big fan of the "talk over a melody and call it music" genre. Shatner pulls it off because it's just amusing, but I'm not keen on this Burroughs fellow. I find his accent/dialect really grates, too. Sorry, choad - this one's just not for me.

Backroads - fIREHOSE

Very agreeable, reminds me of the sort of music you might find in a movie during a (non-cheesey) montage sequence. I like it.

Trip Along - Tripping Daisy

Good rocky stuff, very Stone Temple Pilots (and therefore very good).

Kota - Bonobo

Excellent. You're probably realising by now that I'm a complete sucker for these kinds of instrumental/ambient pieces. They're very introspective. Agan, further recommendations for Bonobo music would be appreciated.

Exquisitely Bored - Pete Townshend

When I first heard this song I hadn't read the album listing, and I thought he was singing "exquisitely born in California" which sounded somewhat egotistical. Now I know what he's actually singing, it makes more sense: but either way, it's a good tune.

Somewhere Down The Crazy River - Robbie Robertson

The backing music sounds very mellow 80s, whilst the singing puts me in a much more 70s frame of mind. Pleasant sounds.

The Same Thing You Thought Hard About Is The Same Part I Can Live Without - Evan Dando

Nice bit of rock, am particularly fond of the singing sequences with the gentle drumming in the background.

It's Over - Roy Orbison

This one surprised me, as I didn't think you'd be the Orbison type. However, I think it makes a great ending to the compilation, and I liked it.

Overall, thoroughly enjoyable - the very fact that I was able to write this review without even listening to the CD as I wrote it probably shows how much I liked it.

In the loop of moving and such, I discovered your returned CD amongst my belongings.

I suck.

I will mail this week.

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Roads Must Roll - BoomBip

Do they have other similar tracks like this (or even an album) that you'd recommend?

Mango Di Bango - Tosca

Other music by Tosca that you'd recommend...?

Kota - Bonobo

Agan, further recommendations for Bonobo music would be appreciated.

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