Jim O’Rourke’s Top 10 Minimalist Records
Originally posted on Jim’s old site, Hoobalaboobala, unknown date
- Arnold Dreyblatt: “Animal Magnetism”
- Earth: “Earth 2”
- Folke Rabe: “Was??”
- David Behrman: “Leapday Night”
- Tony Conrad: “Four Violins”
- Phillip Glass: “Dance no. 2” from “Dances 1-5”
- Michael Nyman: “Images Were Introduced” from “The Kiss”
- Gavin Bryars: “Sinking of the Titanic”
- Miles Davis: “He Loved Him Madly” from “Get Up With It”
- Brian Eno: “Discreet Music”
Unknown Q+A
Originally posted to the Jim O’Rourke Yahoo! mailing list, dated August 2001
Could you tell us a little about your non-musical influences?
Roeg, Bunuel, Godard, Makavejev, Huysmanns, Tati, Groucho Marx, Thomas Bernhard, Michael Snow, Paul McCarthy, Chris Burden, Vito Acconci, Monte Hellman, Ken Russell, Pinter, Mamet, Resnais, Robert Downey Sr., Albert Brooks
What’s worth listening to these days?
Mott the Hoople, pre-1976 Al Stewart, Paul McCartney’s “Ram”, Whitehouse, 10cc, Sparks’ “Propaganda”, Roy Harper, Led Zeppelin’s “Presence”, Bridget St. John, Egg’s “The Polite Force”, and Fleetwood Mac’s “Rumors”
Desert Island Records
Originally published in Blow Up magazine #40, September 2001
Van Dyke Parks “Song Cycle” (Warner Bros 1968)
How can life go on worth living without this? The most perfect musical statement I’ve ever heard. Really the extension of Charles Ives into our century, really the one that truly moves that vision into our time. His greatest song, greatest lyrics, arrangements that can’t be decoded until you arrange yourself into the ground, and an attention to the use of the studio as an arranging element that is still second to none.
Tony Conrad “Outside the Dream Syndicate” (Virgin Caroline 1972)
What can you say? Tony Conrad is the man. Along with Phill Niblock and Arnold Dreyblatt, truly the great minimalist, took the music to its honest conclusion, working for the music and its ability to move us. While I would want all of Tony’s recordings with me, this one has a special place in my heart. How could it not. Also of interest, young Tony on the cover looks exactly like Axel Dorner.
Sparks “Propaganda” (Island 1974)
Oh boy, lyrics that are the best match of misanthropy and angst filled laughs that I’ve heard, incredible songs, amazing arrangements, really words don’t suffice. “Kimono my house” comes a close second, but this one has the best riff break I’ve heard, end of Thanks but no Thanks. I have nearly crashed the car many times during this section. Not recommended for driving, but who drives on a desert island?
Roy Harper “Lifemask” (Harvest 1974)
It’s tough to choose one Roy Harper record. How could I pass up “Valentine”, “Come out fighting…”, “Stormcock”??? Well, I choose “Lifemask” for the B side full lenght The Lord’s prayer, which if I’d heard when I was 12, I woulda learned it note for note instead of learning “Supper’s Ready”. Still my favourite Roy track. The genius can’t be stopped.
Led Zeppelin “Presence” (Swansong 1976)
There’s no argument. I don’t care what people say, THIS is Zeppelin’s best album. Usually people who don’t like this are either confusing it with “In through the out door” (ugh) or “Coda” (nevermind…) or have never heard it. Achilles last stand, c’mon, how can you not lose your head???
Talk Talk “Laughing Stock” (Verve 1991)
Another case of people think I’m talking about their new wave records, which were fine for what they were. But this, wew… One of the best sounding, best written, oh what’s the point, this record is beyond words. If only the organ solo at the end of “Spirit of Eden” album were on this, it’d be absolutely their ultimate statement.
Judee Sill “Judee Sill” (Asylum 1971)
What the hell was in the water in the early 70’s? Why do people bother buying records made now when they can buy David Crosby’s “If Only I Could Remember My Name” for a dollar, or 10cc “How Dare You” for 50 cents?? Why pay 14 bucks ah, whatever, 99% of what comes out now, I’m tellin’ ya, the standards have slipped! Judee’s first record is the best singer songwriter record of the period, bar none.
Philip Glass “Einstein on the Beach” (Tomata 1974)
When I was a teenager, it was easier to find albums of Glass, Reich, etc. than the other bunch. When I was 18 THIS was my Black Sabbath, my Zeppelin. The original recording, played loud, can still send shivers up my spine. Along with “Music in 12 parts” all of Reich’s stuff until 78 (inclusive!) really really made life worth living.
Harumi Hosono “Cochin Moon” (King 1978)
Sadly one of his least known records. I love his Dr. John inspired records like “Hosono House”, or his Van Dyke-ish stuff, but his pre-YMO record is still the record that blows my mind. When I asked him about, it took him a minute to even remember the record, oh it’s a weird world.
Bill Fay “Time of the Last Persecution” (Deram Nova 1972)
While I also love his first record “Bill Fay”, this album somehow taps some sense of serious grave digging that I’ve not heard before on a record. With amazing backing from Ray Russel’s group (Ray himself was involved in some awesome rock record at the time, like the first rock Workshop record, “Running Man”, and his own mind blowing “Secret Asylum”). Really one of the great lost treasure.
(P.S. I think maybe Patto’s The Man is the most perfect rock song I’ve ever heard.)
Jim O’Rourke’s Current Listening
Originally posted on the Domino website, January 30, 2003
Jan Dukes De Gray “Sun Symphony” Conlon Nancarrow “Etude No. 20” Merzbow “Puroland” Michael Schumacher “Room Piece 24” Masayuki Takayanagi “Variations on a Theme of Qahafi”
Some of Jim O’s Favorite Songs:
Something in the Air – Thunderclap Newman Rawhide – Scott Walker Davy the Fatboy – Randy Newman Thank God It’s Not Christmas – Sparks The All Golden – Van Dyke Parks Somewhere in Hollywood – 10cc Half a Chance/Where I Belong – Gerry Rafferty Achilles Last Stand – Led Zeppelin Lifemask – Roy Harper It – Genesis Dancing Queen – ABBA The Kiss – Judee Sill The Man – Patto Laughing – David Crosby I’m So Confused – Mick Softley
Ten Top Tunes Turning on the Turntable of Mr. Jim O’Rourke
Originally posted on the Domino website, June 3, 2003
Cockney Rebel “Cavaliers” Alex Harvey Band “Action Strasse” Jan Garbarek “Blow Away Zone” Jay Ferguson “Thunder Island” Tubeway Army “Listen to the Sirens” Tisziji Munoz “Visiting This Planet” Billy Mernit “I’m Open” Lady June “The Letter” Sweet “Yesterday’s Rain” Whitehouse “You Don’t Have To Say Please”
Jim O’Rourke’s Old Favourites That Get Him Excited to Go to Work…
Originally posted on the Domino website, November 26, 2003
Sparks “Propaganda” Claudio Rocchi “Volo Magico no. 1” Juan Hidalgo “Rrose Selavy” Geino Yamashiro Gumi “Oserezon” Talking Heads “More Songs About Buildings and Food” Roberto Cacciapaglia “Sei Note in Logica” Souled American “Frozen” Supersister “Spiral Staircase” Neil Young “On the Beach” Jackie O Motherfucker “The Magick Fire Music”
Guest Edit: Jim O’Rourke
Originally posted on the Amazon UK website, February 2004 or earlier
It seems like Jim O’Rourke gets everywhere these days–hiding in sleeve notes of some of the best albums in a myriad of genres or up-front performing as the fifth member of Sonic Youth. In the past year there’s been Wilco’s Yankee, Hotel, Foxtrot, Bobby Conn’s fantastic 70s influenced The Golden Age and of course Sonic Youth’s Murray Street. And somewhere admidst all that there was Insignificance, his third solo album to be released in the UK through Domino. But he’s never just been interested in experimental rock. He’s released experimental jazz records (with Derek Bailey) plus worked on many classical, electro-acoustic and krautrock projects. With a musical CV as long as your arm, we just had to ask Jim O’Rourke to talk us through some of his favourite records.
Sparks, Propaganda
In a just and righteous world, this album would be regaled throughout the land–held as a benchmark for all pop progenitors. Instead, we have had to settle for the Stone Roses. Alas, the brothers Mael hold the twin thrones of pop perfection with this, their finest missive.
Gerry Rafferty, Can I Have My Money Back
In this same just and righteous world, there would be a special place in the heart of all citizens for those wandering tunesmiths, their lonesome wails greeted daily by the offerings of fresh fruit, or mead. But, alas we drink life savers soda. But back in the day when his humblebums started to shake their stuff, Gerry Rafferty was like a beautiful mix of early Al Stewart, Roy Harper, early 70s Mick Softley and Emmit Rhodes. Those were the days.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
The once lush field are barren, when we gather the nerve to inspect the grounds, those gardeners these days are just no damn good. And to think Graeme Revell was one SPK. The mind boggles. America seems to be sinking all these fine fellows down to their knees, and it’s a shame we don’t wear knickers, cause the cold water might wake them up a bit. With Michael Small’s scores for Klute and The Parallax generally unavailable, and Nitsche’s masterpiece score Greaser’s Palace but a footnote for the devoted few, let’s turn our ears instead to the beauty of understatement and conflict. Who needs Phil Spector?
Derek Bailey, Mirakle
If you look through the trees, you might see a small group of people around a campfire, an odd collective, the wizened sage sits on a tree stump, the tree cut down to build his “axe” (and this is why we have the term) while a tour bus stands nearby, wheels flat, on a standstill from its journey to “funkytown”, or whatever the hell Lipss Inc was goin. How come that name was never hailed much? It’s brilliant. Anyways, oh yes, Derek Bailey, Jamaladeen Tacuma and Calvin Weston get down to some serious abstract funk. As Mike Varney from Guitar Player magazine would say “this one shreds!”
Colin Blunstone, One Year
Blunstone took a year away from music after leaving the Zombies. This resulted. People should take breaks more often. Oh wait, it hasn’t helped David Bowie.
Groundhogs, Split
This one is easy. Need to have your ass kicked? Yes, you do. I have Tony Mcphee send me sailing everyday. Brutal, slashing, soulful, explosive, and that’s just the cover.
Bill Fay, Time of the Last Persecution
Why is it I’m always comin’ back to 70 or so?? Not only was Deram Nova doing a lot of special things at the time, free-rockin super skree guitarist Ray Russell was jumping with both feet. While some may only remember him from “rock follies” or his freedom-jazz riffage, he was also quite the man backing others. Here his whole group support brilliantly self-defeatist Bill Fay. He made Nick Drake seem quite cheerful, and hooray for him (and yes, Mr. Drake, of course…). His first album, also included here, was more of an orchestrated/Michael Gibbs pop explosion. America had “endless summer”, here was the endless bummer.
The Taking of Pelham
Seems films were more considerate then as well. This comedy thriller, which knew when to laugh and when to jolt, was filled with actors who looked like people, real people. But the score, oh my, the score, which so accurately reflected the tone shifts in the film, and enthrals on its own. A kind of Stan Kenton-esque discordant big band funk, an incredible, sound stage ambience to the recording, incredibly funky, yet bent, and not as in fabric. A real all-time favourite. Get the film while yer at it.
Genesis, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway
I hear the kids really like this Internet thing. Here’s some advice, what the old fogies call “prog rock”? Don’t trust them. Now if yer reading this in England and you’ve seen Rick Wakeman on Nevermind the Buzzcocks , I understand, but that was “Yes”, this is “Gene-sis” and this was their finest moment. Yes, there are some keyboard excercises here and there, but that’s alright, what do you think that techno stuff is?? Still the benchmark for what a double album can be (for those under 20, albums are those things your parents have). One of my all time favourites, I recall having it on a C-90, and the last song cut out at the end of the tape, oh woe the fate that befell me.
Van Dyke Parks, Song Cycle
I thought for once I’d keep this off a list, but, I’m a good boy, so it’s time to do penance at the altar of the greatest album ever made. Yes. EVER. No, I still haven’t changed my mind. This is still so ahead of it’s time, it’ll be some work for some folks, and that’s cool and all. Everyone I know who loves this, myself included, finds a new association, a new layer, a new lyrical twist every time. A richer album you can not find. And it’s probably only 10 bucks! If there’s an Edsel CD, get that one, they did a better job transferring the tape. Shame on you Warner Bros!