Top 5 - Kerwin So
1) Mogwai, Kicking a Dead Pig + Mogwai Fear Satan Remixes (Jet Set). The vanguard of the new Scottish music scene, Mogwai, have acquired a reputation for expanding the boundaries of conventional rock by molding minimalist arrangements into new forms both accessible and emotional. Taking their vision a step further, Mogwai enlisted the help of a stable of currently hot producers (including Alec Empire, Third Eye Foundation, and the perennially MIA Kevin Shields) to remix a choice catalog of their 'hits.' The results somehow manage to maintain the spirit of the originals - futuristic, pensive, simmering with tension - while creating new moods all their own. Highlights include Kid Loco's brilliant dancing-on-the-moon reworking of "Tracy" and the remixes of "Mogwai Fear Satan" by My Bloody Valentine's Kevin Shields and the band itself - truly breathtaking, beautiful stuff. Bonus: this release is actually a double-CD package sold for the price of one.
2) Seam, The Pace is Glacial (Touch & Go). 1998 was a comeback year of sorts in the tiny little world of indie rock. Among the heroes returning to the stage were Blake Schwarzenbach (ex- of Jawbreaker, current Jets to Brazil frontman) and emocore founding fathers Sunny Day Real Estate. Unfortunately, not much attention was given to the return of indie rock veterans Seam with their first album in over three years, The Pace is Glacial - and that's a shame. For years, Seam has built a small but intensely loyal following by way of songs that build and shudder, not through power-chord hacks and throaty shouts, but elegantly layered songwriting and intense whispers. The Pace is Glacial adds 11 new songs to singer-songwriter Sooyoung Park's canon of modern rock masterpieces, and is as good an introduction to the band as you might find. See if you don't catch yourself picking up their other records too.
3) Faye Wong, Sing & Play (EMI Import). Hong Kong's reigning queen of Cantopop has returned with a surprisingly versatile and enjoyable new album on EMI, this time singing in Mandarin. You won't find any stereotypically overwrought ballads here - Faye Wong's vocal talents (backed by superb production from John Lin, John Tang, and Tommy Chui) justify her international superstar status. (You may also remember Faye from her role in Wong Kar-Wai's 1994 movie Chungking Express.) While I couldn't really tell you exactly what she's singing about, Faye's pipes (easily handling parts alternately whispery and operatic) coaxed me into feeling what she was feeling through a set of tunes containing everything from tasteful piano and guitar textures to murky trip-hop beats. Think of Faye Wong as Hong Kong's equivalent to the Cocteau Twins (with whom Faye is good friends) or Bjork - not difficult, considering the cover shot on the new CD. While there is no English written on the cover for Sing & Play, you should still be able to find this album in the international pop section of your local record store or just by asking around. It's well worth a bit of investigation, particularly since Sing & Play also contains a bonus disc with three remix tracks.
4) Hieroglyphics, Third Eye Vision (Hieroglyphics Imperium). "Let's see how many rappers can go the length!" challenge the nine-man rhyming crew Hieroglyphics from Oakland, California on their debut album Third Eye Vision. It seems that all too many hip-hop and rap records these days bog down once you get past the hit radio single, but The Hieros rock the mic strong for over 70 minutes through an unthinkable 22 tracks. The single, "You Never Knew," is already an unabashed hit on college radio stations nationwide ('World renowned, we ground breakin'), but this whole record is a testament to the creativity and vibrancy of the underground hip-hop movement in general and the Bay Area in particular (notwithstanding the current hoopla surrounding turntablism and DJ-specific productions). The Hieroglyphics' mastery of lyrical flow and bumpin production skills back up the numerous testaments to their own prowess: 'If ya ain't got a skill or trade, then shut the hell up!' Give this record a spin and see if it doesn't make you shout, "It's like that and uh, the Hieroglyphics yeah!" If you can't find it in your local record store, order Third Eye Vision from the Hieroglyphics' official website, http://www.hieroglyphics.com .
5) Tugboat Annie, Separation Songs EP (Big Top). If there were such a thing as emo-grunge, Tugboat Annie's latest 5-song EP Separation Songs would be it. Now before you hit the scroll down button, let me just say this: a soaring guitar crunch. Grippingly powerful and raspy vocals. Catchy-sweet guitar lines that stick in your heart and in your head. A friend buried a dub of this EP at the end of a tape he made me - I found myself rewinding it and listening to it over and over. Don't condemn yourself to my fate: buy it on CD for yourself. Think of Tugboat Annie as Buffalo Tom gone overboard. Separation Songs is great driving music, great rainy day music, and a fitting soundtrack to those times you swear you are going out of your mind.
