[TheForge] Have Done this in a While

[Ries Niemi]

Latest toe-tappers in the shop include:

MIA- amazing high energy Sri Lankan girl from London, who 
raps/sings/chants to a loud and infectious techno backbeat

New album by BECK- Que Onda Guero- roughly translated as "Whatcha 
doing, white boy?" reminds me of when I lived in LA.

Anything by America's Favorite SEXY GRANDPA- the EELs, which is 
actually one guy, singing and playing with friends in his basement in 
Silver Lake- I got about 4 CD's of his in heavy rotation.

The lonesome Jewish Cowboy who is big in Europe- Giant Sand, a band 
fronted by New Jersey born Howe Gelb, with cameos from everybody from 
Victoria Williams to PJ Harvey- it rocks, it rolls, it croons, it 
defies description. 2 dozen CD's and counting.

Congotronics- a Belgian label, Crammed Disc, goes to Africa and records 
street bands, with homemade PA's and multiple thumb piano's.

The Blow- one girl, singing to largely laptop beats, with 
vulnerability, sexy styling, and great lyrics. On K records.

Basement Jaxx- english techno band, incredible beats and remixes, cant 
sit still when this is on.

The Pixies version of Warren Zevon's "Aint that Pretty at ALL" , off of 
the new tribute album to Warren. (Enjoy every sandwich)  Yeah, Bob 
Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Adam Sandler, and a bunch of other big names 
cover Warren songs on this CD, but the Pixies nail it, back together 
after all these years- instead of just covering the song, they take it 
over and make it their own.

Gogol Bordello- crazed Ukranian Gypsy band from the Lower East side, 
mixes punk rock energy with traditional instruments- Drink locally, 
Fuck Globally. Eugene Hutz is the new Jim Morrison.

The Wasters- high speed rock and roll with hilarious lyrics from 
Seattle band you never heard of.

ries