February 22, 2004

Various | The Girls in the Garage Vol 9 Oriental Special |Romulan | Various Countries

Lost in Translation and The Girls in the Garage Vol. 9 both view Asians through the filter of Western culture and divide them into two groups: hipsters who get it "right" and (much preferred!) amusing folks who don't. In either case, the Westerner is really looking at himself--whether it's the flattery of good imitation or a funhouse mirror. Does this make the film or CD racist?

February 09, 2004

Dengue Fever | Dengue Fever |Mimicry | Cambodia

buy it
Technically this is an American band, but how am I not going to review my favorite album of 2003? If you're checking out a site like this one, there's a decent chance you already have this CD. If you don't, you should--it's magic. A tight band fronted by a sublime vocalist, Dengue Fever has created a beautifully produced debut album of 60's/70's era Cambodian pop.

February 05, 2004

Various | Tokyo Calling |King Street | Japan

buy it
Some may say I've had a grudge against dance music ever since I caught dengue fever (not the band) at the full moon party on Ko Phangan. I categorically deny it. You might think I'm the kind of guy who sneers at the beautiful people. Not true! I love the beautiful people. Some of my best friends are beautiful! It's just... Why do beautiful people have to dance to such vapid music?

February 01, 2004

Group Gapura | Sangkala |Ikon | Indonesia

Sangkala is a seminal Indonesian album that is unfortunately out of print in the U.S. This is strange when one considers that half-assed recordings of the Monkey Dance and thrown-together gamelan collections can always be found in the tiny Asian ghetto of the American music chain. Add in the facts that, unlike the aforementioned releases, Sangkala is a) supremely listenable and b) popular with Indonesians themselves, and this recording's MIA status seems baffling.