Over at Emusic comes news the site has added the venerable British indie label, Rough Trade. Although only 26 recordings will be initially available, two of those records will easily rank in my upcoming "Top 30 list of Everything Emusic Has to Offer." Todd Burns, from the Emusic employee blog 17dots highlighted those same two records:
The Libertines – Up the Bracket
Those darn Brits and their debut album. You know, before all the trackmarks and NME covers and “concern” for Pete’s health. Humorously prescient AMG review moment:At this point in their career they’re not as overhyped as many of their contemporaries, so enjoy them while they’re still fresh.
The Moldy Peaches – The Moldy Peaches
The zenith of anti-folk? Adam Green and Kimya Dawson have since gone on to fascinating solo careers of varying success, but this one remains a favorite of mine six years later. “Downloading Porn With Davo,” “Anyone Else But You,” and “Lucky Number Nine” are all pretty great.
He’s not kidding. The Libertines, especially, are a must-download. They combine the druggy, amoral gallows humor of Guns ‘n’ Roses with the versatility, intelligence, and unpredictable song structures of The Clash.
The group actually has a lot in common with the Clash. Two singers with divergent, but somehow complementary styles? Check. Clean, focused guitar playing that mostly eschews reverb? Check. Ragged, catchy-as-fuck half-harmonies that make you want to drink more than humanly possible? Oh. God. Yes. And Mick Jones produced.
Spend your downloads people. Spend ‘em.
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