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JEFF SALAMON
Title:
Arts Editor/XLent Editor
Hometown:
Queens, N.Y., and Rye Brook, N.Y.
Number of years in Austin:
6+
Favorite musicians:
Ornette Coleman, John Prine, Neil Young, Parliament-Funkadelic, Captain Beefheart, Al Green, Lee Morgan, Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, Cecil Taylor, Talking Heads, Elvis Costello, John Coltrane, Anthony Braxton, Louis Armstrong, The Pixies, Public Enemy, De La Soul, 4Hero, Autechre, Sonny Rollins, Randy Weston, David Murray, Tito Puente, the Neptunes, Joni Mitchell, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday.
Favorite Local Chinese Restaurant:
T&S Seafood
Favorite Local Bar:
Opal Divine's
Hobbies:
Listening to music, chilling with my dog, reading dense sociological treatises.
Top 10 Records You Didn't Hear in 2002:
1. Raoul Björkenheim/Ingebright Haker Flaten/Paal Nilssen-Love, "Scorch Trio" (Rune Grammofon): Scandinavian power trio led by virtuosic guitarist resurrects the ghost of Miles Davis' early-'70s bands, proves trumpet was unnecessary.
2. Dredg, "El Cielo" (Interscope): Metal for anyone who treasures his old Slowdive records.
3. "Frederic Galliano and The African Divas" (F Communications/Pias America): French electronica producer visits Mother Continent, doesn't make fool of himself.
4. Jean Grae, "Attack of the Attacking Things" (Third Earth Music): Way more interesting than Halle Berry's version of Storm, this X-Men-inspired hip-hop MC slashes like Wolverine on the mic.
5. Isis, "Oceanic" (Ipecac): Metal for anyone who treasures her copy of King Crimson's "Red."
6. Lemon Jelly, "Lost Horizons" (XL Recordings): The pastoral legacy of England's 1960s Canterbury scene (e.g., Caravan, Soft Machine) held a strong grip on early British rave culture (e.g., Ultramarine, Steve Hillage's work with The Orb) — and, apparently, on more recent Brit rave culture, as this album of countryside techno suggests.
7. Out Hud, "S.T.R.E.E.T. D.A.D." (Kranky): Famous drone label goes beat-crazy with Brooklyn-based dub-postpunk-dance band. Happiness ensues.
8. Josh Ritter, "Golden Age of Radio" (Signature Sounds): This Idaho singer-songwriter name-checks Townes Van Zandt early on this debut, and earns the comparison all the way through.
9. Omar Sosa, "Sentir" (Ota Records): Cuban jazz pianist moves to Oakland, heads off to Morocco, settles in Spain and spills out every rhythm he learned along the way. Oughta ditch that rapper, though.
10. Various artists, "Big Men: Rai Meets Reggae" (Virgin France import): Actually released in 2001, but I didn't hear it till this year, and you didn't hear it at all, so back off: This meeting of Jamaican reggae singers and Algerian Rai vocalists (not all of them men, title notwithstanding) is a relentlessly entertaining bit of cross-cultural fusion.
* Five recent pieces:
Jan. 26, 2003, Sunday, L&A, p.1
Dec. 5, 2002, Thursday, XL Ent; Pg. 15
Nov. 3, 2002, Sunday, Lifestyle; Pg. K1
Sept. 27, 2002, Friday, Movies and More; Pg. E5
Sept. 14, 2002, Saturday, Lifestyle; Pg. D1
Sept. 9, 2002, Monday, Lifestyle; Pg. E1
* Has also written for: Rolling Stone, Spin, Blender, Details, Artforum, New York Times, Village Voice, Texas Monthly
