allen is probably listening to, at any given time:

tom waits • uncle tupelo • r.l. burnside • son volt • belle & sebastian • massive attack • g.s.y.b.e. • mogwai • looper • pj harvey • johnny cash • deathcab • pavement • air • bjork • st.etienne • e.b.t.g. • neko case • built to spill • lucinda williams • rufus wainwright • radiohead • henry rollins • the old 97's • rainer maria • aesop rock • dj shadow • the magnetic fields • whiskeytown • kid koala • amon tobin • john coltrane • beth orton • victoria williams • the shins • kasey chambers • bright eyes • modest mouse • jeff buckley • the pixies • the jayhawks • jimmy smith • m83 • sage francis • iron & wine • beastie boys • the decemberists • the weakerthans • prefuse 73 • hem • songs:ohia • boards of canada• rachels • rjd2 • four-tet
...not that that narrows it down much.


Tuesday, July 30, 2002
ouch! good goddamn, that's cold... cold, i tell you. knocks some chinks in my armor, i'll tell you that much. but it's refreshing to see somebody unafraid to tell it like it is.
5:41 PM   {l} {c}


Sunday, July 28, 2002
aesop rock, labor days
granted, hip hop isn't exactly an area of expertise with me, but i know a little about the underground scene, and i know what i like. that being said, this is one of the best hip hop albums i own. aesop rock has a steady flow, intelligible, intelligent lyrics, all on top of some really elegant music - not just beats, but understated, interesting melodies.

blackalicious, broken arrow - some great songs - some sweet samples, and gift of gab is unstoppable - but mixed in is a bit too much of a nu-soul vibe for me.

sage francis, personal journals this is painfully personal stuff, but it's carried off well. sage francis is clearly a gifted mc, with some really impressive delivery. definitely has the anticon thing going, lots of guest mcs and greek chorus-like shouted harmonies.
5:30 AM   {l} {c}