The Ex - S&D

m.

Never been blown away by the records, but the live shows left me in rapture.

Bonus search: "Rararap/Contempt" 7"

it's one of those "in the fishtank" things... it's members of sonic youth, icp, and the ex... icp = instant composers pool... NOT insane clown posse... although, that would be something, wouldn't it?

m.

My single favorite record by them is, um, a single, the long-out-of-print "Stonestamper's Song." There's also a single version of their Muzikas cover "Hidegen Fujnak a Szelek" that's really great.

Chip mentioned their sister band, Dog Faced Hermans (they shared a guitarist & occasionally recorded together)--any chance to mention them is fine with me--they were the best live rock band I've ever seen, I think. I miss them terribly. These days, Marian Coutts is a sculptor in London, & doing pretty well for herself...

sometimes i wonder if the fact that we're not together anymore is a coincidence.

To second the D-Bitch's comments, SEE THEM LIVE! I've caught 'em 2.5 times - .5ish during that Fugazi tour (darn girlfriend dragged her feet & our posse only caught the last 2 songs; man, I was irked), once @ the Knitting Factory w/ Don Caballero opening (I think it was the same tour - they played the same set!) , and (the best best best!) once @ the Middle East w/ Fat Day while touring behind _Dizzy Spells_.

The Cora albums are great (start w/ _Scrabbling..._), the Touch & Go albums are great (start w/ _Dizzy Spells_, tho "Bee Cuz" off of _Starters Alternators_ is probably my fave Ex song), the Ex Orkest is great (and it's a nice Ex primer, as it features Wagnerian interpretations of songs from _Scrabbling..._ and _Dizzy Spells_), Dog Faced Hermans are especially faboo (a collection of their first two releases was just reissued by Loveletter Records - hit up Insound & like-minded outlets, or bug the label), and I would like to add to the pigpile by trumpeting the joys of the first Ex record I heard, _Instant_. It's not a typical Ex record - according to the back of the set (2 CDs), it features "impro-dubbed recordings" by the Ex w/ various guests (including Han Bennink, the only name on the back I recognize). Mostly instrumental stuff, not much G.W. Sok involved at all, but it's (yeah) great.

Essentially, what you'll want to do is clear some space in your collection somewhere between The Embarrassment and The Fall for about 15-20 soon-to-be cherished CDs. Or vinyl, if you swing that way, baby.

they are an incredible live band - they got an encore opening for Unwound last tine they came through.

One of the only better live rock band I can think of, in fact, was the Dog Faced Hermans.

See also for related material: Kletka Red, Roof.

i wish they were coming further south....
m.

The double-disc "Joggers & Smoggers" is a good place to start. I also really like "Tumult".

'catch my shoe' still tight.

"Cold Weather is Back" has been on repeat throughout the year.

Excited for tour next spring.

Saw them last night on their 34 2/5 year anniversary mini-tour. Playing with Chocolat Billy (who were an awesome primal no wave monster), Thurston Moore (who was great. played one (new) song (Detonation) and followed that up by mangling his guitar like he does. invited Terrie Ex to play along for the final minutes of his set), Han Bennink (who was Han Bennink) and Fendika (whom I did not see). The Ex themselves were fantastic, Arnold is a great singer whose guitar playing and singing gives their material a bit of an melancholic edge without sacrificing the impact.

lol, reading upthread makes me want to SB my 2002-self