LWA Blog — life without algorithms

This week, the randomizer gave me a box set, so I ran it again and it presented this album, Band of Horses' Everything All the Time. Band of Horses rose up out of the ashes of the great Carissa's Wierd (whom I love love love). Everything All the Time was their first album, which landed in 2006 (this is my copy). I remember when this came out and I first clicked play. It was like an indie-rock explosion in my ears. Expansive widescreen dreams, perfectly balanced...and heartfelt as well. I played the hell outta this album for many years. Of...

This week, the Randomizer gives us 1995's The Bends, by Radiohead. My copy is this 2016 reissue which sounds pretty great to my ears. Man, what can I even say about this album that hasn't already been said? This is a bona fide (I always thought this was one word, btw) classic. Look at that tracklist. Top to bottom bangers. All of 'em. I don't really like rating stuff but, gun to my head, I'd say it's at least a 9.5/10 if not a 10/10 album.  I remember when Creep landed. Cool song, right? Puts Radiohead on the map instantly....

So, a few weeks ago I watched the new Lilith Fair doc that's out there. It's a pretty good, I think Sarah McLachlan produced it. And all throughout, I was wondering why I never went to one of those. I loved pretty much all of the bands that played. (Seriously, I saw Sarah McLachlan and Tori Amos alone SO MANY TIMES in the 90s.) Anyways, the only conclusion I came up with is that I was dumb, extra broke or both. I mean, the same goes for Lollapalooza. That shit is totally in my wheelhouse and I never went even...

This last weekend of October, the Randomizer (I feel like this word should be capitalized) gives us Inventions' Continuous Portrait, which was released in 2020. This band, Inventions, is a collaboration between a couple people; Eluvium's Matthew Cooper and Explosions in the Sky's Mark T. Smith. They are (were?) label-mates (Temporary Residence Limited) and I think Eluvium and EITS toured together early on. Continuous Portrait is their third album. I feel the Eluvium vibes in the record, they are easier to pick up since that's just one person. EITS is essentially a rock band of which Smith is 25% of, and...

My weekend got thrown out of whack, but here I am blessing your feed with vinyl goodness. This week, the randomizer gives us Peter Gabriel's massive 1986 LP, So. This album has been with me from the start, but this particular copy I'm playing was purchased nearly 10 years ago. Half-speed remaster 180g reissue blah blah blah. This thing was everywhere. Sledgehammer. Big Time. Red Rain. Mercy Street. In Your Eyes. Kate Bush makes an appearance for the gorgeous duet, Don't Give Up, and Laurie Anderson turns up as well (This is the Picture (Excellent Birds)).  I still love this...