Last Week’s Playlist

Rollins Band

The End of Silence beats Weight, but not by a big margin. I do have a Black Flag video disc back in the Philippines -where Rollins just looked so goddamn eww-sweat-punky- but in retrospect, I do prefer the Rollins Band instrument mastery, though sometimes they do sound like the guys backing up those now-where-are-they solo guitar gods of the 80s-early 90s. Hard and relentless, and no metal-growls.

Rollins Band performing Tearing, from The End of Silence.

Pat Metheny

Before indulging in rock music, I got myself into the more popular versions of jazz, Manila stations offered, and Pat Metheny was a common name. My preferences for jazz eventually matured though, with a preference for more improv-based jazz. It was a delight though that Metheny’s first record was a stripped down three-piece, with Jaco Pastorius on bass, and less of the over-produced later works. Loveliest listen of the week.

Pat Metheny performing Bright Size Life, the magnificent opening track. Richard Bona replaces Pastorius on bass.

Mahavishnu Orchestra

I wanted more rock-tinged-improv-jazz guitar music. A poet-artist friend introduced to me to the Mahavishnu Orchestra in college, whose music I dig, but with a lacking fervor. Re-listening to the stuff now strips off a bit of the hippie-branding it got, and would be easily filed in the more lively instrumentals on the iPod.

John McLaughlin’s Mahavishnu Orchestra performing Noonward Race.

Ben Folds/The Bens

Guilty pleasure? Nah. Ben Folds solo is great, refreshing, though his Ben Folds Five songs seem a wee stronger. And to add to that, there’s The Bens, composed of Ben Lee, Ben Folds and Ben Kweller. Light, affecting pop via their self-titled 2003 EP.

The Bens performing Just Pretend.