THE MARRIAGE OF TRUE MINDS BY MATMOS

The Marriage Of True Minds By Matmos

A missed opportunity—if there even was an opportunity, that is.  There's so much creativity and ambition here.  And you know something? That is awesome and we need to encourage some of the most talented artists to take a lesson from Matmos's uncompromisingly, inventive artistry.  We do—we really, really do.  Unfortunately, if Matmos has any talent, they aren't showing a lot of it on The Marriage Of True Minds.  

It wouldn't kill them to write a song or two.  Or, maybe it would.  Maybe their songwriting capabilities are so inept that this blend of club music, which sounds like it was recorded in rainforest in outer space, is the only kind of art they are capable of making.  If so, they definitely have a future in crafting unbelievable productions for seriously talented artists.  However, if Marriage is the only sort of thing they intend on making, it isn't very compelling music.  At its best, it sounds supremely incandescent.  At worst, it sounds like a teenager is experimenting with layering beats, effects and voice transformers in Garageband while reciting some very pitiful poetry.
 

Maybe I'm being too hard on this duo.  After all, they're not trying to be Neil Diamond.  But, I'll say it again, it wouldn't kill them to write a song or two.  If they attempted to make a few "songs" a bit more direct, it might make their pretentious monologues about triangles feel a bit less infuriating and a bit more interesting.

But, again, maybe I'm being too hard on this duo.  After all, this is one of those special albums where there is no rule book.  I have no problem with those kind of artists—if they're really good.  But, there are plenty of more talented rule breakers who you should listen to before Matmos.

Despite some very exciting moments—and there are a few here and there—The Marriage Of True Minds feels too bland too much of the time.  So, I can't recommend it.  But, a lot of critics do.  So, take a listen and let me know what's up.  

The Marriage Of True Minds By Matmos

RISING SONS FEATURING TAJ MAHAL AND RY COODER

Rising Sons Featuring Taj Mahal And Ry Cooder

The title almost says it all.  Rising Sons also included future member of The Byrds and The Rolling Thunder Revue Kevin Kelley, as well as veteran session drummer Ed Cassidy of Spirit—he was in his mid 40's here and he sounds like he loves playing with a bunch of kids!

But let's face it, if you're looking at this page, you came because you're wondering if a collaboration between two guitar legends, Taj Mahal and Ry Cooder, is worth listening to.  I have good news for you.  Rising Sons Featuring Taj Mahal And Ry Cooder is not simply worth listening to.  Rather, if those two names mean anything to you, it's essential listening.

The guitar interplay is fantastic and is what you would expect from two virtuosos.  But, this recording, which combines 22 tracks recorded between 1965 and 1966, is more than a guitar showcase.  There are a lot of worthy cuts on here, which are treated with both plenty of integrity and originality.  

Recommended tracks include: "If The River Was Whiskey," "Let The Good Times Roll," "11th Street Overcrossing," "Tulsa Country," "The Girl With Green Eyes" and "Take A Giant Step"—the latter two would have fit perfectly onto Workingman's Dead by Grateful Dead.

According to Richie Unterburger of the All Music Guide, "this archival release has value above and beyond historical interest." 

True. 

Rising Sons Featuring Taj Mahal And Ry Cooder 

SINGLES GOING STEADY: "TAURUS" BY SPIRIT

Spirit

Spirit is one of those bands you should know.  It was fronted Randy California, who as a young teenaged prodigy  had a band called The Blue Flames that would tear it up at the historic Cafe Wha? in the Greenwich Village.  The Blue Flames also featured a dude you might have heard of named Jimi Hendrix.  California, whose real last name was Wolfe, was supposed to join the Jimi Hendrix Experience, but since he was only 15, I guess he was too young to go to England.   In hindsight, I'm sure he regretted that move.  When Spirit broke up some of the remaining members found continued success with a band called Jo Jo Gunne and later with a Country Rock band called Firefall, which put out both a gold and platinum album.

Anyway, let's talk about "Taurus."  It's vocal-less, but it contains a riff which pretty much all guitarists learn a variation of at some point.  The more famous riff is by Led Zeppelin.  As you will hear, a good 90% of it came from the band Spirit first.  

Will you be able to tell which Led Zeppelin song I'm talking about? 

"Taurus" by Spirit

This is a great album