ALL MY FAVORITE MUSIC!!!

August 2002

"One of the things I love about music is that sometimes it teaches you something emotionally that you then have to catch up to intellectually. But your emotions have learned it first." -- Stuart Dybek

Welcome! Music plays a key role in my life, contributing to my sense of home and self as much as snapshots of friends, or furniture around my apartment. One of the few things I truly regret in my life was selling my substantial record collection in 1990, before moving across the country -- I've amassed quite a number of CDs in its place, but some things on vinyl are simply not replacable. What was I thinking? But I'm always amazed by how many great bands there are out there, and want to do what I can to spread the word.

This material used to be in the middle of my main home page, but it started taking up too much space, so I thought I'd better move it to its own little spot. If I ever get the spare time, perhaps I'll try to add some descriptions or band reviews -- but if you have any questions about any of this stuff, or have suggestions of other things I should check out, please write me & let me know!

THE BIG TAKEOVER | LOCAL FAVORITES & FRIENDS | EVERYONE ELSE GREAT
BEST VENUES | GREAT STORES | MY TOP TEN ALBUMS

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The Big Takeover

First of all, for the coolest info on the indie music scene around, check out The Big Takeover -- an independently run music 'zine (which I copyedit). Jack Rabid, the founder (and enormously sweet guy), definitely has Spin and Rolling Stone beat, hands down. The magazine is packed with fantastic interviews, an overwhelming number of record reviews, and Jack's always-fascinating editorials and Top-40 lists. Look for the magazine at your favorite record store, or go to the web page to find out how to subscribe -- you won't be sorry!

Local Favorites & Friends

It used to seem like half of my friends were in various bands, but as we all crept into our 30s, the numbers dropped off seriously. You should still look for ANYTHING by Engine 88 -- they put out three fantastic albums, called Snowman, Clean Your Room (both on Caroline Records), and Flies and Death 'N Stuff (Wingnut Records), and kept a whole slew of San Franciscans ( and others!) thoroughly entertained with their incredible shows for several years, plus they're some of the most wonderful guys I know!!!

In addition, several friends also have gone solo, still producing fantastic music but at a much smaller scale than their previous bands. Keep your eyes open for anything by Tom Barnes (formerly of Engine 88) or Nancy Hess (formerly of Seven Day Diary) -- I don't think Tom has actually released anything yet (although he keeps recording stuff), but Nancy has a CD out, called Away, which you can order by sending her email.

A few other local favorites still making music include Mark Eitzel, Paula Frazer, Richard Buckner, The Court and Spark, The Mr. T Experience, Map of Wyoming, and Chris Von Sneidern. These folks/bands are all terrific -- if you live anywhere near a place they're playing, go check them out at once!!!

Everyone Else

In addition, there are some bands I'm most fond of that are a bit more well known. My absolute, hands-down, all-time favorite band was Throwing Muses -- they continually produced wonderful, weird, creative, *rockin'* stuff, until financial reality finally forced them to call it quits in 1997. Fortunately, singer/songwriter/guitarist Kristin Hersh, continues to put out FANTASTIC solo work with intimate, odd, fascinating songs. Plus the music company she and her husband have formed, Throwing Music, has a really cool fan-oriented interactive-esque community-like website -- definitely worth a visit or two.

Other current and long-time favorites (in more or less alphabetical order) you really should check out include:

Just to name a few!

Best Venues

The absolute best places in SF to see bands, in my opinion, are The Great American Music Hall and Bottom of the Hill. When they get shows, the Noe Valley Ministry is a truly wonderful place to hear music, as it's a big echoing church with wonderful acoustics. The Hotel Utah also gets some pretty great shows, although it's also incredibly small; The Makeout Room can be on the noisy side but had the advantage of just being a few blocks from my old house. Slim's is not my favorite spot, but their booker seems to be getting the best shows lately. In addition, if you're into jazzy stuff or swing music, or if you're just looking for a good cocktail & an excellent plate of roasted potatoes, go to Cafe Du Nord. And OF COURSE there's the legendary Fillmore, which is truly amazing.

Great Record Shops

If you're looking to buy some new music, I highly suggest you frequent independently-owned record stores, in particular Mod Lang (University Ave. near Oxford in Berkeley), which somehow miraculously always has stuff I can't find anywhere else -- they specialize in alternative/indie rock, as well as ambient/trance/techno stuff, which I know nothing about, but there it is. If you can't get over to Berkeley, check out Aquarius (Valencia and 21st in SF), which is apparently the oldest independent record shop in SF (their web site lists them as "the store that's old enough to drink"). They have been known to occasionally exhibit a bit much of an indier-than-thou attitude, but are still better than Tower by a long shot. Also good in SF is The Record Finder (Noe at Market) -- friendly and usually a great selection of used CDs and LPs. Streetlight (Market at Noe, or 24th St. near Noe) is a little less reliable, but good in a pinch, plus you can get tickets for certain venues there. And for more selection than you could possibly know what to do with, go to Amoeba in either SF or Berkeley -- and whatever you do, avoid Rasputins at all costs! (I worked there in my youth -- shudder.)

My Top Ten Of All Time

I suppose nearly everyone has seen those "Desert Island Disks" lists, where one picks the ten albums you'd NEED with you if you were stranded on a desert island, just for mere survival. Honestly, I'm not sure I WOULD survive with only ten? While my favorites change somewhat according to mood or which albums I'd just recently bought (& am therefore obsessed with), here's my best attempt to come up with such a list, limiting myself to one album per artist/band (and in no particular order, and as of August 2002):

And if I were allowed to stow away an extra ten, here's what they would be: And then would sneak The Magnetic Fields' 69 Love Songs (1999) and a Led Zeppelin album or two in for good measure.
So, what do you think this list says about me? Hmmm....

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