Random Rules: Patrick Carney of The Black Keys
The shuffler: Patrick Carney, half of the blues-soaked duo The Black Keys, whose new album, Magic Potion (Nonesuch), hits stores Sept. 12.
Witch, "Seer"
Patrick Carney: This is J Mascis' new band, Witch. I like it a lot. I like his drumming. The vocals are a little bit strange; it's very mystical. The first concert I ever saw was Dinosaur Jr. in '94, and it was the absolute loudest thing I've ever seen. But I've never seen Witch; I just got a couple songs from my friend to check 'em out. I approve.
Parliament, "Livin' The Life"
PC: I mainly like Parliament just because their record covers look like they were drawn by a baby with a crayon.
Charles Mingus, "Peggy's Blue Skylight"
PC: My girlfriend's obsessed with Charles Mingus, so I'm slowly becoming obsessed too. Jazz is kind of a weird thing for me, because there's so much bad jazz. I guess I've always known that there was good jazz, but I've been embarrassed to listen to it, because it's always felt NPR-ish. Like, I don't know, that feeling of going to church on Sunday as a kid, or maybe even hearing Prairie Home Companion; those are my least favorite things, drinking coffee in a suit on Sunday morning or listening to Prairie Home Companion. And sometimes I equate jazz with that, and it also kind of fits into the doctor's-office scenario. Jazz used to give me a headache. But I'm starting to like it.
Captain Beefheart, "Beetle Bones And Smokin' Stones"
AVC: Okay, which album is that from?