February 3, 2021 Playlist

"The Ascension" by Glenn Branca (1981)
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
Glenn Branca "The Ascension"  1981 (USA)
Today is Sonic Youth guitarist Lee Ranaldo's 65th birthday (insert joke about Sonic "Youth" being old here). Around the time Sonic Youth formed, Lee was also playing guitar in Glenn Branca's band and appeared on Branca's first full-length album which is our Classic Album this week. After 25 years of Sonic Youth and all those other "noise guitar" bands of more recent decades, the sheer novelty of Branca's music may not be as apparent as it was 40 years ago. Occasionally during the psychedelic era, guitarists would get carried away with the extreme sounds you can make with a highly amplified electric guitar (especially Hendrix), but Branca arranged dissonance, overtones and feedback into compositions. Other than the rock-style bass and drum rhythm section, Branca's music is really more like minimalist modern classical music. But with roaring guitars! Another artist who mined a similar vein at the same time was Rhys Chatham (whom Sonic Youth also has a connection to), but Chatham's guitar orchestrations are more "kraut-like" than the punkish assault of Branca.
(N) = New Release
   
Artist Song Album Year Country
Sonic YouthI Dreamed I DreamSonic Youth1982USA
Blonde Redhead10 Feet HighLa Mia Via Violenta
("My Violent Life")		1995USA/Itay/Japan
SwansThank YouFilth1983USA
CowsBig MickeyEffete & Impudent Snobs1990USA
Dinosaur jr.Don'tBug1988USA
Lee RanaldoAnglesBetween The Times And Tides2012USA
 
 
75 Dollar Bill Little Big Band WZN#3 / verso (live)Live At Tubby's (N)2020 (self released)USA
Sonic YouthHoarfrostA Thousand Leaves1998USA
   
 
Glenn Branca (with Lee Ranaldo)Lesson No. 2The Ascension
 CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK		1981USA
Glenn Branca (with Lee Ranaldo)The Spectacular CommodityThe Ascension
 CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK		1981USA
Glenn Branca (with Lee Ranaldo)StructureThe Ascension
 CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK		1981USA
Sonic Youth (with William Winant & Takehisa Kosugi)Having Never Written A Note For Percussion (James Tenney)SYR 4: Goodbye 20th Century1999USA
   
 
Sonic YouthSlaapkamers Met Slagroom
("Bedrooms With Whipped Cream")		SYR 2 EP1997USA
Lee RanaldoElectric TrimElectric Trim2017USA
Residual EchoesThe Continuing Saga Of Julie PatchouliCalifornia2006USA
   
 
John KlemmerConstant Throb (parts 1 and 2)Constant Throb1972USA
Dave LiebmanThe Iguana's RitualDrum Ode1975USA
Donald ByrdThe DudeElectric Byrd1970USA
Milt JacksonThe Metal MelterOlinga1974USA
   
 
George BensonWhite Rabbit (Jefferson Airplane)White Rabbit1972USA
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