It was 7 years ago when Bloodclot bought me my first Tortoise album, A Million Now Living Will Never Die. We proceed to cruise the Pacific Coast Highway at approximately 60 miles per hour along the Huntington/Newport Coast. The opening sang off this album is roughly 25 minutes long and was the only song listened to for this particular drive. My life was expanded into an entirely different universe since then. I had no idea music like this existed; electronic in a way but way more organic in nature. The music which is at the heart of the post-rock genre. Over the course of the next two years, I became obsessed with all post rock bands: Tortoise, Slint, Isotope 217, Godspeed!, Trans Am, etc. I have more than 20 albums in which John McEntire plays drums/produced. Frequently, I would play a Tortoise album in my car and end up getting lost on my way home from falling into the K hole that is their sound frequency.

About two years ago, me and about 6 of you were able to see Tortoise live for the first time at the El Rey. I am very excited to be afforded the pleasure of seeing them again for the tour of their new album, Beacons of Ancestorship, due out June 23rd.

Two Drummers plus Jeff Parker on Guitar……lots of energy and fun. And also you know Johnny Mc is the greatest drummer ever in my humble opinion.

Ten Tickets @ $29 a piece.

1. Capt AKAK
2. Capt Shabbin
3. Willum
4. mRoyed
5. Hello Kitty
6. ebee
7. Angel
8. WB Records Friend
9. MartotheLyn
10. ??

+ = Sonic Embryo of Sound

As reported by Pitchfork

“After endless touring, semi-solo albums from leaders Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning, and a boatload of records from friends and associates, the amorphous indie rock entity known as Broken Social Scene are getting back to the business of being Broken Social Scene. They’re currently recording album number four at Soma Electronic Music Studio in Chicago with post-rock sonic mastermind John McEntire (Tortoise, the Sea and Cake), according to a message from Drew on the band’s site.”

Tortoise also has a new album due out soon….Beacons of Ancestorship. Plus many of you will be seeing Tortoise play at the Troubadour with me on July 11th…..

Exciting times.

This is the final output of much internal deliberation. There are many things that went into picking my top ten albums that were outside the scope of actual music such as how groundbreaking the album was for its time or what it did when as far as changing my taste of music. I am sure that many readers would disaggree with all my picks, but it is hard to debate the facts of my ears.

1. Pavement – Slanted and Enchanted: Luxe and Redux Edition
2. Brian Eno – Another Green World
3. Akron Family – Akron Family and Angels of Light s/t
4. Elliott Smith – Roman Candles
5. Tortoise – Standards
6. Modest Mouse – Lonesome Crowded West
7. Built to Spill – Perfect from Now on
8. Man Man – The Man in a Blue Turban with a Face
9. Can – Tago Mago
10. Seth Olinsky – Sparrow Trout Heart Sprout

~ Capt. AKAK

PS If you really do disagree with my picks, let me give you some suggestions: Buy some headphones, shut your pie hole, go out into nature and listen again.