What Are You Listening To March Madness Version
Bart Ehrmann- Christianity from Jesus to Constantine- this is my third lecture series on the history of Christianity, and this one focuses less on the historical Jesus and his apocalypticism and more on the evolution of the early church, the battles over the canon, and the origins of the bureaucratic hierarchy. Highly recommended- go here www.teachco.com to buy, or bring over some Belgians and we'll fight about faith. Always a pleasant experience.

Pere Ubu- Dub Housing- back when PUNK ROCK meant anything goes, and that meant crude attempts at new aural art. Avoid if a fat man in a beret whelping and hiccuping and shouting, "I have desires" makes you uncomfortable, but I'm digging it.

LiveFastDie-weirdo punk of the modern school that delivers the hooks and cleverly hate-filled lyrics. Favorite tangential War on Terrorism party anthem song title: Getting Bombed Over SixPackistan.

Steve Earle- El Corazon and I'll Be Alright- I don't know why I like this guy- maybe I'm just my kind of hypocrite. Never perfect, as he always seems to ruin at least one song with something overly cheeseball, but plenty of bar rock that actually works.

Angry Angles- singles- Jay Reatard and new girlfriend show that Jay Reatard with almost any chick (or even with the guys!) can do almost no wrong, though I was never a big Lost Sounds fan. More arty punk,, and a pattern appears to be emerging. I'm going hat shopping.

Mind Controls- s/t- new BBQ punk rock effort is just OK- reeks of throwoff, as just not enough hooky hooks to hook ya. Not bad, though.

Brother JT- new one (can't remember title)- again, we get one perfect song, "Cool is the New Warm" and a bunch of damn decent psych pop. JT rules, fool, so shove that close-minded cynicism back into your Swedish cockrock pipe and smoke a bowl of the best Bethlehem, PA has to offer.

Wire- Chairs Missing- finally, the genius of Wire is revealing itself to me. That's right, sucker, more ART PUNK DAMAGE but with major league gazombo hooks. Hooks. Got it? Like, easily digestible. Pop. But not quite. God I'm annoying.


Persuaders- st- finally got these guys this week, too, as something just clicked and all of a sudden the skies opened and the Lord revealed to me alone that these are the most hate-laden blasts of minimalist trash (next to the Reatards) still being delivered for reuniion gigs at a festival near you. "Heart of Chrome" is perfect.

Dwarves- Lick It- if you haven't heard the first incarnation of the Dwarves, you are really missing something EVIL. They may be the best 80s band doing sixties trash, because unlike those mimics in the bowl doos and striped pants playing the note-for-note, these guys made it wicked. Fantastic collection that will make Satan your rightful master again, complacent stock quote checker.