M.Doughty- Skittish (1105 hits)
Category: Sound & MusicRating: 1.4 on 14 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by wing_nut (View user info) at 2003-10-09 10:13:08 EDT
M.Doughty, you probably do not know who this is. He was in a band called Soul Coughing. They had very little mainstream success, but pioneered a sound that has grown to become very common place today. Doughty, is a poet, more so than most singer\song writers, using a very deadpan monotone delivery, and "beat-style" flow, incorporating not only the meaning of words but the noise they make. Soul Coughing was something of an anomaly, in both instrument choice, and arrangement. They used a stand-up bass, which gave even more credibility to Doughty's beat nick delivery, a drummer that although very hip-hop savvy, excelled at half beats and smooth tempo changes, they also featured a keyboard\sample-ist. He brought a sometimes surreal, sometimes in your face element to the mix, with "borrowed" sounds that were tweaked jut enough so that weren't sure if you recognized them or not. Doughty would pick up a guitar from time to time, but not as a lead, more often to help highlight the rhythm. Soul Coughing released three albums, all of which more than stand the test of time and if heard for the first time today are just as impressive.
Unfortunately, they decided to call it quits. They have since all gone their separate ways including Doughty. Doughty has put out an album of what he calls "small rock", and although a big departure from the genre he seemed so comfortable with Soul Coughing, is just as impressive. The album is called Skittish, and is a very intimate, acoustic album. He wrote and independently released it, selling it on his website, and at shows. This has to be one of the best albums I have the good fortune to come across.
While listening to Skittish you are taken through random thoughts, caring stories about lost loves, and urban life, which seems to be the under lying back drop for the entire album.
I know that there are a lot of Audio-philes on here, and if you know of Soul Coughing, I hope you will agree with my description of them. If you have not heard Doughty, look him up, download it, buy it, I don't think you will be disappointed.
User Reviews
Submitted by kansaslawdog77 (user info) at 2003-10-09 15:58:31 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Skittish is a great album. I got it shortly after I saw M. Doughty at the Double Door maybe 3 years ago. Back then you could only get it off his website. Do they sell it in stores now? It was a fun show too. He played pretty much all of skittish including that Jodey Wately cover Real Love. I think it was Jodey Wately. Not sure. If you get a chance to see him I would highly recommend it. He didn't have a band when I saw him. Just Doughty and his guitar. The only thing I didn't like was that he uses the same few chords a lot and I saw the show before I got skittish so I didn't recognize the music and it all sounded pretty similar. Good stuff though. www.superspecialquestions.com - That's your website if you want to take a look.
Submitted by wing_nut74 at 2003-10-09 15:49:09 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Do you have to get nasty?
hmm not sure i get that.
He has released a new EP, i have yet to hear it though.
Submitted by female (user info) at 2003-10-09 15:40:27 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
No. I went out today and bought it all on your recommendation. Do you feel fabulous?
My brother gave it to me last year. Do you have to get nasty?
Submitted by wing_nut at 2003-10-09 15:26:11 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Female, did you have it before this post?
Submitted by female (user info) at 2003-10-09 15:24:15 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I resent the way you make me like myself...Track 12 is absolutely beautiful. I love this album.
Submitted by streetpunk (user info) at 2003-10-09 11:33:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Yeah and the bass that Morphine's bass player played on was actually built by him out of household products. I can't remeber what he used but it always made me laugh to think about it!! Ha, that's funny. I did not know that he taught the POTUSA's bass player to play.
Submitted by wing_nut74 at 2003-10-09 11:16:56 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
A full Mike Doughty U.S. tour for November has been confirmed; dates
are below, details are at http://www.superspecialquestions.com as always.
Mike will unveil his new band with electric pianist Thomas Bartlett,
bassist John Munson and drummer Andy Thompson -- aptly named Mike
Doughty's Band -- on three dates: November 13 in Chicago; Nov. 14 in Madison,
Wisc.; and Nov. 15 in Minneapolis. All other dates are Mike solo.
Mike Doughty Fall 2003 Tour Dates
OCTOBER
9 - Farmingdale, NY - The Downtown
10 - Winooski, VT - Higher Ground
11 - Northampton, MA - Pearl Street
17 - Baltimore, MD - Fletcher's
18 - Frederick, MD - The Cultural Arts Center
24 - Bridgeport, CT - Acoustic Cafe
NOVEMBER
8 - Hoboken, NJ - Maxwell's
9 - Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club
11 - Rochester, NY - Milestones
12 - Bowling Green, OH - Howards Club
13 - Chicago, IL - Double Door *
14 - Madison, WI - The Annex *
15 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue *
18 - Seattle - The Crocodile
19 - Los Angeles - Largo
20 - Santa Barbara - Absinthe
21 - San Francisco, CA - Cafe Du Nord
22 - San Francisco, CA - Cafe Du Nord
23 - Los Angeles - Spaceland
* with Mike Doughty's Band
Submitted by wing_nut74 <7474745> at 2003-10-09 11:14:36 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
No Comment
Submitted by wing-nut74 (user info) at 2003-10-09 10:46:34 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
DJ, the BT song was very well done, Sould coughing also did a song with Roni size on the Spawn Soundtrack, which is ok but not sure that i like Roni all that well.
Street,
Morphine was the best, "Like Swimming" is INCREDIBLE!
i was very bummed when he died, they were starting to create quite a buzz.
the bass player played a two string bass, and taught the guy in Presidents of the United States of America to play.
wow, i need help. LOL
Submitted by streetpunk (user info) at 2003-10-09 10:39:53 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Sounds cool Wing Nut. I remember soul coughing. There is another band that reminds me of them, somewhat. They were on rykodisc. Their name was Morphine and they had a dark but mellow rock sound. The singer died of a heart attack a few years ago. If you can find any of their stuff, I recommend checking it out.
Submitted by DJMattB241 (user info) at 2003-10-09 10:37:19 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
AND SHE'S NEEEVVER GONNA COME BACK DOWWWWWWNNN!!!
------
I DONT NEED TO
WALK AROUND IN CIRCLES
WALK AROUND IN CIRCLES
WALK AROUND IN
------
Doughty rules. (yes, i know, the first one was by BT. he rules too)
Submitted by wing-nut74 (user info) at 2003-10-09 10:31:25 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Insane, El Oso, is the album you have, and indeed it is great, but thier first album is just sick it is called Ruby Vroom, chexk out the song called ScreenWritters Blues!
potatojack, Looks, where have you gone, and he does a cool remake of real love from toni brackston
Submitted by potatomanjack (user info) at 2003-10-09 10:23:08 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I've heard of Soul Coughing but I have to say that I don't really know their stuff. I like the way that you describe their music, and the Doughty guy doesn't sound half bad either. Can you recommend a song for download so I can get a feel for them before I go out and buy?
Submitted by Insanethemind (user info) at 2003-10-09 10:17:51 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Thanks for the reccomendation. I have that one album by Soul Coughing, can't recall the name with that song "Circles" or something like that.
Great album, have not listened to it in a while.
Your description sounds right on target too.
(Ok, so I don't sound like a huge fan, I wasn't. I did like their sound a lot though.)