New Order share 18-minute Ian Curtis tribute...Joan Baez came to say hello...
Two words: Joy Division. Though their career only spurned two complete records, they sure did leave a mark, especially considering that one of my favorite CD's in high school was "Substance," recordings from 1977-1980. Ian Curtis is one of those enigmatic performers/poets that has been revered and questioned about for years and years, especially concerning his suicide in 1980. My adolescent mind was a little perplexed that the New Order outfit (famous for "Blue Monday") were originally Joy Division, but only because they went from a very particular brand of new wave, punk and poetry...to extreme 80s pop, but that's neither here nor there. Nonetheless, great musicians...
New Order has released the full-length version of "Elegia," a tribute song to the late Ian Curtis. The song runs 18 minutes, and it isn't really a jam-session sort of song, but rather sounds like an intro to an 80s horror flick, or serves as the backing music to an uncomfortable stare-down in the high school parking lot (see Pretty in Pink) Either way, if you are a fan, which I am, it's a nice little departing tune. You can listen below:
LISTENING: It's been kind of slow, but I recently discovered an album I bought a while back and completely forgot about, which is Joan Baez In Concert: Part 1. The live album was released in 1962, and features Baez covering folk, blues, and gospel songs with just her voice and an acoustic guitar. To be honest, I listened to the album while cleaning, so I only got to digest a few tracks, which included "Georgie," and "What Have They Done To The Rain." I think the appeal of Baez, and why she's been granted the title of "Queen of Folk," is her voice. I've never heard one like it, and it just has this resonance that stays with you. To hear for yourself, watch her cover Bob Dylan's "It Ain't Me Babe" below:
That's all. PEACE.
Friday, April 13, 2012
Thursday, April 12, 2012
"The Writing On The Wall"
Axl Rose rebuffs Hall of Fame induction...The 60s and 70s are calling...
Well, many news outlets are a-buzzin today with Axl Rose's announcement that he not only declined Guns N' Roses' induction into the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame, but also submitted a lengthy letter describing his reasons and announcing that he would not attend the event. While Axl gave some good insight into his reasoning, after a while he veers off into random thoughts about pleasing fans, and touring with a new line-up etc., and it got to the point where I was literally saying in my head, "Axl, less is more, buddy." But, if you're interested, you can read the letter on the LA Times website, here.
LISTENING: I spent the better part of last night, diving back into some of my favorite decades of music, the 60s and 70s. I took some time to listen to the self-titled debut album of Silver Apples, which came out in '68. I don't have to reiterate my slight aversion to electronic music, but these guys were not only some of the innovators, they were the master-makers. I have a very selective ear, something I pride myself on, so if something is able to move me or cause a stir, then I acknowledge that it has to be somewhat good. Having said that, Silver Apples has won me over. Not just because they're trippy, psychedelic, and somewhat dark, but because they move within this globe of sound that is all their own, and they move within it so fluidly that it's kind of scary at times. Just taking in the first track, "Oscillations," one is already equipped with that somewhat sinister feeling. You can listen to stand-out track, "Program," below:
Aside from that, I have been listening to some good old-fashioned singer/songwriters from the early 70s, most notably Don McLean and Paul Simon. But, that's only because the radio stations in Corpus Christi are starting to get a little better. I think it's because they realize that summer is coming and a great number of people are going to be doing a lot more driving (to the beach), so they're stepping it up a little to give some good tunes for those nice little getaways. And this little nugget has been stuck in my head all day, enjoy:
That's all. PEACE.
Well, many news outlets are a-buzzin today with Axl Rose's announcement that he not only declined Guns N' Roses' induction into the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame, but also submitted a lengthy letter describing his reasons and announcing that he would not attend the event. While Axl gave some good insight into his reasoning, after a while he veers off into random thoughts about pleasing fans, and touring with a new line-up etc., and it got to the point where I was literally saying in my head, "Axl, less is more, buddy." But, if you're interested, you can read the letter on the LA Times website, here.
LISTENING: I spent the better part of last night, diving back into some of my favorite decades of music, the 60s and 70s. I took some time to listen to the self-titled debut album of Silver Apples, which came out in '68. I don't have to reiterate my slight aversion to electronic music, but these guys were not only some of the innovators, they were the master-makers. I have a very selective ear, something I pride myself on, so if something is able to move me or cause a stir, then I acknowledge that it has to be somewhat good. Having said that, Silver Apples has won me over. Not just because they're trippy, psychedelic, and somewhat dark, but because they move within this globe of sound that is all their own, and they move within it so fluidly that it's kind of scary at times. Just taking in the first track, "Oscillations," one is already equipped with that somewhat sinister feeling. You can listen to stand-out track, "Program," below:
Aside from that, I have been listening to some good old-fashioned singer/songwriters from the early 70s, most notably Don McLean and Paul Simon. But, that's only because the radio stations in Corpus Christi are starting to get a little better. I think it's because they realize that summer is coming and a great number of people are going to be doing a lot more driving (to the beach), so they're stepping it up a little to give some good tunes for those nice little getaways. And this little nugget has been stuck in my head all day, enjoy:
That's all. PEACE.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
A Tired Villain
Marilyn Manson is still at it?...Lollapalooza 2012 Line-up...Lauryn Hill revisit...
I guess we can start this one off with good ole MM...I was a HUGE Marilyn Manson fan when I was in middle school, and before you judge me, remember that it was middle school, but mind you, it trickled until about sophomore year of high school. I still pull out Mechanical Animals every now and then (as it is their best album, in my humble opinion). But, the last record I heard in full was The Golden Age of Grotesque in 2003. This was basically the moment where Manson started to really suck, and by really suck, I mean REALLY. Not that the band was crazily innovative, but their aesthetic, and the social commentary and religious themes in their music was enough to draw even a faint curiosity. And Manson is an intelligent guy, and looking back on their first four records, they had some clear intentions and gutsy motives to them. It's not like Manson wasn't a calculated person, but for some reason, after 2003, the fucker just lost it and I haven't looked back since.
But, I just read that he's coming out with a new album, titled Born Villain (yawn) on May 1st. The leading single to the album is titled, "No Reflection," but I am not going to post it because I did not like it, nor did I like the video. Like I said, the dude just lost it. But, since I'm on the subject of Manson, I thought I'd share a video for one of my favorite Manson songs from when they were still good, or at least one that didn't make me want to throw my TV out the window...you can listen to "The Fight Song" below:
Moving on...The lineup for the Lollapalooza 2012 music festival is out, and it's making me get in trip-planning mode. There's some good names on there...I, myself, wouldn't be too opposed to seeing The Black Keys or The Red Hot Chili Peppers, or even First Aid Kit, though it'd probably be a "calm" show. I'd like to see The Shins, but I've heard such horror stories about their live performances in festival settings. I'll save them for a venue show. But, you can view the lineup here.
LISTENING: Most of my listening has been put on hold only because I've spent the better part of this week preparing for a phone interview for an internship in New York this summer. The interview was today, so now I can rest a little easier, and get back to my listening roots. I spent the majority of this morning listening to Lauryn Hill's MTV Unplugged album. I use the word album only because it was a performance of all-new material, not just live versions of Mis-Education stuff. But, if you are a Lauryn Hill fan, then you probably have this album, and songs like "I Get Out," "I Gotta Find Peace of Mind" and "Adam Lives in Theory" are already in your repertoire. If not...then you've got some catching up to do. I also saw Lauryn Hill play almost a year ago in Austin, and let's just say the show could have been A LOT better. Either way, you can watch/listen to "I Get Out," below. It's my personal favorite from this album/performance.
That's all. PEACE.
I guess we can start this one off with good ole MM...I was a HUGE Marilyn Manson fan when I was in middle school, and before you judge me, remember that it was middle school, but mind you, it trickled until about sophomore year of high school. I still pull out Mechanical Animals every now and then (as it is their best album, in my humble opinion). But, the last record I heard in full was The Golden Age of Grotesque in 2003. This was basically the moment where Manson started to really suck, and by really suck, I mean REALLY. Not that the band was crazily innovative, but their aesthetic, and the social commentary and religious themes in their music was enough to draw even a faint curiosity. And Manson is an intelligent guy, and looking back on their first four records, they had some clear intentions and gutsy motives to them. It's not like Manson wasn't a calculated person, but for some reason, after 2003, the fucker just lost it and I haven't looked back since.
But, I just read that he's coming out with a new album, titled Born Villain (yawn) on May 1st. The leading single to the album is titled, "No Reflection," but I am not going to post it because I did not like it, nor did I like the video. Like I said, the dude just lost it. But, since I'm on the subject of Manson, I thought I'd share a video for one of my favorite Manson songs from when they were still good, or at least one that didn't make me want to throw my TV out the window...you can listen to "The Fight Song" below:
Moving on...The lineup for the Lollapalooza 2012 music festival is out, and it's making me get in trip-planning mode. There's some good names on there...I, myself, wouldn't be too opposed to seeing The Black Keys or The Red Hot Chili Peppers, or even First Aid Kit, though it'd probably be a "calm" show. I'd like to see The Shins, but I've heard such horror stories about their live performances in festival settings. I'll save them for a venue show. But, you can view the lineup here.
LISTENING: Most of my listening has been put on hold only because I've spent the better part of this week preparing for a phone interview for an internship in New York this summer. The interview was today, so now I can rest a little easier, and get back to my listening roots. I spent the majority of this morning listening to Lauryn Hill's MTV Unplugged album. I use the word album only because it was a performance of all-new material, not just live versions of Mis-Education stuff. But, if you are a Lauryn Hill fan, then you probably have this album, and songs like "I Get Out," "I Gotta Find Peace of Mind" and "Adam Lives in Theory" are already in your repertoire. If not...then you've got some catching up to do. I also saw Lauryn Hill play almost a year ago in Austin, and let's just say the show could have been A LOT better. Either way, you can watch/listen to "I Get Out," below. It's my personal favorite from this album/performance.
That's all. PEACE.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
"Anything We Want"
Tennis does Letterman...Fiona and Oldies...
Well, let's start this off with some news...shall we? Tennis is an adorable, dreamy, indie-pop duo that I heard of a couple of years ago. I'm not too crazy about them, but I like their easy-listening vibe, and their ethereal qualities. But, aside from that, I don't think they're groundbreaking enough to make any "best of.." lists, but a little pop distraction every now and then is good for the soul, no? All motherfuckery aside, you can view below to see them playing their track, "It All Feels The Same," on David Letterman below:
LISTENING: I've fallen into a familiar tailspin. When I hear that a band or artist I admire is coming out with a new record, I start revisiting their old stuff, and become crazily obsessed to the point where I don't listen to anything else. So, after hearing about Fiona Apple's upcoming release, and repeatedly listening to her performance of new song, "Anything We Want," I have constantly been reading old interviews, watching old music videos, and repeatedly listening to Extraordinary Machine, When The Pawn..., and Tidal, and in that order. Each album is a telling story of where Fiona was at those specific times in her life, and though they each are linked in her style, which contains notes of jazz, some trip-hop and weird beats, and her contralto voice, it just doesn't get old. The woman is a genius, but some people just don't and will never understand. I could go on and on, but I'll save you the trouble. You can hear my favorite Apple track below:
Also, last night I tuned in for my good friend's radio show, which broadcasts on Pratt Institute's radio station. My friend has the 8 - 9 p.m. slot (eastern time) on Monday nights. (You can tune in on Monday nights here.) Last night was a great show in that she played what I often refer to as "my love in music," which is the golden oldies and motown era good shit. It's what I grew up listening to...it's what I turn to when life turns down a shitty road, and it's the best to me. Again, I could go on and on, but it would take days. But, here's one of my all-time favorite songs... enjoy.
That's all. PEACE.
Well, let's start this off with some news...shall we? Tennis is an adorable, dreamy, indie-pop duo that I heard of a couple of years ago. I'm not too crazy about them, but I like their easy-listening vibe, and their ethereal qualities. But, aside from that, I don't think they're groundbreaking enough to make any "best of.." lists, but a little pop distraction every now and then is good for the soul, no? All motherfuckery aside, you can view below to see them playing their track, "It All Feels The Same," on David Letterman below:
LISTENING: I've fallen into a familiar tailspin. When I hear that a band or artist I admire is coming out with a new record, I start revisiting their old stuff, and become crazily obsessed to the point where I don't listen to anything else. So, after hearing about Fiona Apple's upcoming release, and repeatedly listening to her performance of new song, "Anything We Want," I have constantly been reading old interviews, watching old music videos, and repeatedly listening to Extraordinary Machine, When The Pawn..., and Tidal, and in that order. Each album is a telling story of where Fiona was at those specific times in her life, and though they each are linked in her style, which contains notes of jazz, some trip-hop and weird beats, and her contralto voice, it just doesn't get old. The woman is a genius, but some people just don't and will never understand. I could go on and on, but I'll save you the trouble. You can hear my favorite Apple track below:
Also, last night I tuned in for my good friend's radio show, which broadcasts on Pratt Institute's radio station. My friend has the 8 - 9 p.m. slot (eastern time) on Monday nights. (You can tune in on Monday nights here.) Last night was a great show in that she played what I often refer to as "my love in music," which is the golden oldies and motown era good shit. It's what I grew up listening to...it's what I turn to when life turns down a shitty road, and it's the best to me. Again, I could go on and on, but it would take days. But, here's one of my all-time favorite songs... enjoy.
That's all. PEACE.
Monday, April 9, 2012
"Floating Toward The Ground"
Feist shares new video...The White Stripes coming out with new DVD...The Shins don't disappoint...
So...coming off of my Easter high, today has been a slow descent toward a mundane Monday, but music-wise, things are starting to look up a little. To start, Feist has come out with a new music video for the track, "Bittersweet Melodies," off of her album, Metals, which I've reviewed on this blog, and in case you didn't read it, it's a great album. But, the video is basically a slide show comprising photos from a series by Irina Werning. I "stumbled upon" Werning's website a few months ago, so I'm already familiar with the photos, but they go nicely with Feist's track. You can view the video here.
In other news, the White Stripes are coming out with a new DVD, called Under New Zealand Lights, which is basically concert footage of some shows they did in New Zealand, but what has me excited is that it's footage from their first international tour, so it's from when they were still younger, grittier, and more ballsy in my opinion. Very much looking forward to that.
LISTENING: I've been diving into The Shins' newest endeavor, Port of Morrow. The album is pretty good. I won't go so far as to say that it's great, but I won't completely knock it. It has some good moments, some okay moments, and some moments that I probably won't remember, but tracks like "Simple Song," "It's Only Life," "September," and the title track are constantly being replayed today. I can't help but want to hear these specific tracks again and again, but I'm sure that they'll start to wane, and I'll focus more on other songs, but until then...you can hear the track, "It's Only Life," below:
That's all. PEACE.
So...coming off of my Easter high, today has been a slow descent toward a mundane Monday, but music-wise, things are starting to look up a little. To start, Feist has come out with a new music video for the track, "Bittersweet Melodies," off of her album, Metals, which I've reviewed on this blog, and in case you didn't read it, it's a great album. But, the video is basically a slide show comprising photos from a series by Irina Werning. I "stumbled upon" Werning's website a few months ago, so I'm already familiar with the photos, but they go nicely with Feist's track. You can view the video here.
In other news, the White Stripes are coming out with a new DVD, called Under New Zealand Lights, which is basically concert footage of some shows they did in New Zealand, but what has me excited is that it's footage from their first international tour, so it's from when they were still younger, grittier, and more ballsy in my opinion. Very much looking forward to that.
LISTENING: I've been diving into The Shins' newest endeavor, Port of Morrow. The album is pretty good. I won't go so far as to say that it's great, but I won't completely knock it. It has some good moments, some okay moments, and some moments that I probably won't remember, but tracks like "Simple Song," "It's Only Life," "September," and the title track are constantly being replayed today. I can't help but want to hear these specific tracks again and again, but I'm sure that they'll start to wane, and I'll focus more on other songs, but until then...you can hear the track, "It's Only Life," below:
That's all. PEACE.
Friday, April 6, 2012
"It's a damn good good!"
Kanye shares new track...Kevin Shields hints at new MBV material...Mudhoney stays with me...
The title of this blog entry is a nod to friend/burlesque performer/singer/songwriter/extraordinaire, Jolie Goodnight. I can't remember the exact context of why she said this, but I just remember laughing, and it's stuck with me ever since. You can get info on her upcoming album, etc. here.
So...Kanye has come out with a new song, after releasing the track "Theraflu" earlier this week. The new track is titled "Mercy." I was expecting something a little more...I can't come up with a suitable adjective, but let's just say the track bored me. Knowing Kanye's affinity for being sample-heavy, yet creative with his choices, I guess that I just thought this would be more along the lines of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, but mostly got what seems to be a continuation of Watch The Throne, which wasn't bad, just not what I was expecting. Either way, you can hear the track below:
In other HAPPY news, Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine shared some words with Pitchfork about some late-night recording he's been up to, and hinted that it might be new MBV material, which, if it's true, is crazy exciting. I, like a million other people, fell in love with Loveless, and their noise-rock tendencies won me over instantly, reminding me of The Jesus and Mary Chain, whom I also appreciate. You can view the video to my favorite song by them, "When You Sleep," below. And...you can read what Shields had to say here.
LISTENING: I spent the majority of this morning in a more grungy, who gives a shit mood, so I decided to listen to Superfuzz Bigmuff, the first album by one of my favorite grunge bands, Mudhoney. I first heard of Mudhoney while watching the movie Black Sleep (starring Chris Farley and David Spade), when they play at the "rock the vote" benefit. The second I heard their sound, I was like, "who the fuck are these guys?" and let's just say I've been somewhat of a fan ever since. The album is great, it's when they are their dirtiest, grimiest, purest, and sickest selves. Tracks like "Touch Me I'm Sick," "Burn It Clean," and "In N' Out of Grace," are excellent. If you haven't heard this album yet, what's stopping you? You can hear the track, "Touch Me, I'm Sick" below. Though most of you who were in your formative years in the late 80's probably remember this one.
That's all. PEACE.
The title of this blog entry is a nod to friend/burlesque performer/singer/songwriter/extraordinaire, Jolie Goodnight. I can't remember the exact context of why she said this, but I just remember laughing, and it's stuck with me ever since. You can get info on her upcoming album, etc. here.
So...Kanye has come out with a new song, after releasing the track "Theraflu" earlier this week. The new track is titled "Mercy." I was expecting something a little more...I can't come up with a suitable adjective, but let's just say the track bored me. Knowing Kanye's affinity for being sample-heavy, yet creative with his choices, I guess that I just thought this would be more along the lines of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, but mostly got what seems to be a continuation of Watch The Throne, which wasn't bad, just not what I was expecting. Either way, you can hear the track below:
In other HAPPY news, Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine shared some words with Pitchfork about some late-night recording he's been up to, and hinted that it might be new MBV material, which, if it's true, is crazy exciting. I, like a million other people, fell in love with Loveless, and their noise-rock tendencies won me over instantly, reminding me of The Jesus and Mary Chain, whom I also appreciate. You can view the video to my favorite song by them, "When You Sleep," below. And...you can read what Shields had to say here.
LISTENING: I spent the majority of this morning in a more grungy, who gives a shit mood, so I decided to listen to Superfuzz Bigmuff, the first album by one of my favorite grunge bands, Mudhoney. I first heard of Mudhoney while watching the movie Black Sleep (starring Chris Farley and David Spade), when they play at the "rock the vote" benefit. The second I heard their sound, I was like, "who the fuck are these guys?" and let's just say I've been somewhat of a fan ever since. The album is great, it's when they are their dirtiest, grimiest, purest, and sickest selves. Tracks like "Touch Me I'm Sick," "Burn It Clean," and "In N' Out of Grace," are excellent. If you haven't heard this album yet, what's stopping you? You can hear the track, "Touch Me, I'm Sick" below. Though most of you who were in your formative years in the late 80's probably remember this one.
That's all. PEACE.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Saltines and Screams
Gossip and Jack White share new videos...Erratic listening...
Well, not much that I want to get into today...other than a few blurbs...According to NME, Adele's 21 is 2012's best-selling album so far, so it's looking like that album just doesn't wanna quit, and people are still infected by her take on love gained and love lost. Good for her.
Aside from that, there's some new visual aids for those who are digging new music. Firstly, there's Gossip. I first heard of this band a few years ago, when I heard the song "Standing In The Way of Control" playing at a record shop and inquired as to what band was playing. The sales girl looked at me with a "where have you been?" kind of look and informed me that they were this awesome disco-punk band called Gossip and asked if I wanted to buy their record. I didn't buy it, but I started giving them a further hearing, and I liked their style, I liked Beth Ditto's vocals, and I liked that they weren't afraid to be poppy, with a cool edge to it. They've retained their style, with (the aforementioned disco-punk homage), and it works for them. The song is catchy, the video is dark at first, but colorful towards the end, and their new album, A Joyful Noise is scheduled to drop on May 22nd. You can see the video for "Perfect World" below:
In other video news, Jack White has released the video for his second single, "Sixteen Saltines." The track is more thrashier, and in the style of his previous bands, ie: The White Stripes and The Raconteurs, than his first single. The single comes off his highly anticipated solo debut, titled Blunderbuss, which hits stores on April 24th, so mark your calendars. The video is kind of trippy, showing some old-fashioned teenage rebellion X 1000. You can view that below:
LISTENING: My listening has been a little erratic and obsessive. I've been listening to LCD Soundsystem's This Is Happening, though in a more background kind of way in that I'm not really taking note of each song. I'm just in a spacey mood. Aside from that, I've been diving into Primal Scream's Screamadelica pretty hardcore lately, and it's brilliant. I think since it was recorded in 1991, it carries traces of 80's synth pop, but it has some 90s house and techno thrown in there. And of course, they have several nods to The Rolling Stones, which you can hear in the opening track, "Movin' On Up," which kind of reminds me of "Sympathy For The Devil." Some other key tracks include "Don't Fight It, Feel It," "Loaded," and "I'm Coming Down." You can hear "Don't Fight It, Feel It" below:
That's all. PEACE.
Well, not much that I want to get into today...other than a few blurbs...According to NME, Adele's 21 is 2012's best-selling album so far, so it's looking like that album just doesn't wanna quit, and people are still infected by her take on love gained and love lost. Good for her.
Aside from that, there's some new visual aids for those who are digging new music. Firstly, there's Gossip. I first heard of this band a few years ago, when I heard the song "Standing In The Way of Control" playing at a record shop and inquired as to what band was playing. The sales girl looked at me with a "where have you been?" kind of look and informed me that they were this awesome disco-punk band called Gossip and asked if I wanted to buy their record. I didn't buy it, but I started giving them a further hearing, and I liked their style, I liked Beth Ditto's vocals, and I liked that they weren't afraid to be poppy, with a cool edge to it. They've retained their style, with (the aforementioned disco-punk homage), and it works for them. The song is catchy, the video is dark at first, but colorful towards the end, and their new album, A Joyful Noise is scheduled to drop on May 22nd. You can see the video for "Perfect World" below:
In other video news, Jack White has released the video for his second single, "Sixteen Saltines." The track is more thrashier, and in the style of his previous bands, ie: The White Stripes and The Raconteurs, than his first single. The single comes off his highly anticipated solo debut, titled Blunderbuss, which hits stores on April 24th, so mark your calendars. The video is kind of trippy, showing some old-fashioned teenage rebellion X 1000. You can view that below:
LISTENING: My listening has been a little erratic and obsessive. I've been listening to LCD Soundsystem's This Is Happening, though in a more background kind of way in that I'm not really taking note of each song. I'm just in a spacey mood. Aside from that, I've been diving into Primal Scream's Screamadelica pretty hardcore lately, and it's brilliant. I think since it was recorded in 1991, it carries traces of 80's synth pop, but it has some 90s house and techno thrown in there. And of course, they have several nods to The Rolling Stones, which you can hear in the opening track, "Movin' On Up," which kind of reminds me of "Sympathy For The Devil." Some other key tracks include "Don't Fight It, Feel It," "Loaded," and "I'm Coming Down." You can hear "Don't Fight It, Feel It" below:
That's all. PEACE.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
"It Feels So 80s...Or Early 90s...To Be Political"
Fiona Apple shares album info...Listening requires thought...
Well, let's start this off with Ms. Apple. I've already posted the title of her album, as well as a video of one of her new tracks, "Anything We Want," but the music blogs are going haywire today with the release of information about the album, titled The Idler Wheel is Wiser than the Driver of the Screw, and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More than Ropes Will Ever Do. Apple has released the cover-art, tracklist, and release date (June 25th). You can view that information here.
LISTENING: Maybe it's a sign of the times, but the fact that so many events that are triggering chain reactions are happening, it's making me visit some political artists that I've come to know and love, among them Le Tigre and Dead Kennedys. Yesterday, I took to listening to Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables by Dead Kennedys, and if you haven't heard it, please do. Not only is it a quintessential punk album, but it's rife with good riffs, memorable lines, and political puns. Some good tracks to check out are "California Uber Alles," "Kill The Poor," and "Let's Lynch The Landlord," which you can hear below:
Also, I've been listening to Le Tigre, which sadly disbanded a couple of years ago, but not before leaving us with This Island, a fantastic record in my opinion. Sure, they're feminist, and former riot grrl Kathleen Hanna has been known to be somewhat of an activist and beacon for female empowerment. But, they don't just sing about feminine issues, no, they take their inspiration from all sorts of injustices that aren't centered on gender. Among these is racial profiling, which is displayed in their track, "Bang! Bang!" which was written in the aftermath of the 1999 shooting of an unarmed African man, who had immigrated to the US, named Amadou Diallo. Diallo was shot 41 times by four police officers, and he was only reaching for his wallet. You can hear the track below:
The situation with the Trayvon Martin shooting in Florida has got me thinking about the idea of justice, and how it's a formidable concept, but the hurdles one goes through to reach it are unbelievable in most cases. And I guess my dissatisfaction with the outcome of that shooting, as well as my affinity for music with a message, it's sort of been reflected in my tastes for the moment. It's important to educate through reading, through music, and through film. These mediums are not just meant to entertain, so take advantage of these materials.
That's all. PEACE.
Well, let's start this off with Ms. Apple. I've already posted the title of her album, as well as a video of one of her new tracks, "Anything We Want," but the music blogs are going haywire today with the release of information about the album, titled The Idler Wheel is Wiser than the Driver of the Screw, and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More than Ropes Will Ever Do. Apple has released the cover-art, tracklist, and release date (June 25th). You can view that information here.
LISTENING: Maybe it's a sign of the times, but the fact that so many events that are triggering chain reactions are happening, it's making me visit some political artists that I've come to know and love, among them Le Tigre and Dead Kennedys. Yesterday, I took to listening to Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables by Dead Kennedys, and if you haven't heard it, please do. Not only is it a quintessential punk album, but it's rife with good riffs, memorable lines, and political puns. Some good tracks to check out are "California Uber Alles," "Kill The Poor," and "Let's Lynch The Landlord," which you can hear below:
Also, I've been listening to Le Tigre, which sadly disbanded a couple of years ago, but not before leaving us with This Island, a fantastic record in my opinion. Sure, they're feminist, and former riot grrl Kathleen Hanna has been known to be somewhat of an activist and beacon for female empowerment. But, they don't just sing about feminine issues, no, they take their inspiration from all sorts of injustices that aren't centered on gender. Among these is racial profiling, which is displayed in their track, "Bang! Bang!" which was written in the aftermath of the 1999 shooting of an unarmed African man, who had immigrated to the US, named Amadou Diallo. Diallo was shot 41 times by four police officers, and he was only reaching for his wallet. You can hear the track below:
The situation with the Trayvon Martin shooting in Florida has got me thinking about the idea of justice, and how it's a formidable concept, but the hurdles one goes through to reach it are unbelievable in most cases. And I guess my dissatisfaction with the outcome of that shooting, as well as my affinity for music with a message, it's sort of been reflected in my tastes for the moment. It's important to educate through reading, through music, and through film. These mediums are not just meant to entertain, so take advantage of these materials.
That's all. PEACE.
Monday, April 2, 2012
It's A Banga!
Patti Smith gearing up for new album release...and Islands makes a return to my speakers
I first came across Patti Smith when I was a young, angsty high school kid, and was watching Natural Born Killers, and heard "Rock N' Roll Nigger" for the first time. That song just had a resonance, not because of the racial slur, (which has no racial context when looking at the theme of the song) but because it was so ballsy. I researched Smith, and as the years have gone by, I've become a major fan, but mostly of her earlier work from the seventies, with the albums Horses, Easter, and Wave. Not to say that this is her best work, as I cannot judge that in reference to the fact that I've not heard a lot of her recent work, except for the cover she did of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" for her album, Twelve in 2007.
BUT...Smith has announced that she will be releasing a new album, titled Banga, and it's scheduled to be released on June 4th. I'm pretty excited about this record, among many others that are coming out this year, if I haven't already made that clear with my past few blog entries. But, aside from this, I really don't have much to report on. You can view her video for "Smells Like Teen Spirit" below:
LISTENING: For the past couple of nights, I've been listening to A Sleep & A Forgetting by Islands before going to bed. The first track, "In A Dream It Seemed Real," immediately grabs you. I've already blogged about this album, so I won't spend too much time on it, just know that it's a great record. Aside from that, I've been indulging in more top-40 action at work, which includes Gotye's "Somebody That I Used To Know" playing EVERYWHERE, and it's getting to be too much. I think I blogged about that song somewhere around 7-8 months ago, and it's getting huge hype now, and not saying it's a bad song, it's a great song...it's just getting some massive overplay. Oh well...that's how shit is.
That's all. PEACE.
I first came across Patti Smith when I was a young, angsty high school kid, and was watching Natural Born Killers, and heard "Rock N' Roll Nigger" for the first time. That song just had a resonance, not because of the racial slur, (which has no racial context when looking at the theme of the song) but because it was so ballsy. I researched Smith, and as the years have gone by, I've become a major fan, but mostly of her earlier work from the seventies, with the albums Horses, Easter, and Wave. Not to say that this is her best work, as I cannot judge that in reference to the fact that I've not heard a lot of her recent work, except for the cover she did of Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" for her album, Twelve in 2007.
BUT...Smith has announced that she will be releasing a new album, titled Banga, and it's scheduled to be released on June 4th. I'm pretty excited about this record, among many others that are coming out this year, if I haven't already made that clear with my past few blog entries. But, aside from this, I really don't have much to report on. You can view her video for "Smells Like Teen Spirit" below:
LISTENING: For the past couple of nights, I've been listening to A Sleep & A Forgetting by Islands before going to bed. The first track, "In A Dream It Seemed Real," immediately grabs you. I've already blogged about this album, so I won't spend too much time on it, just know that it's a great record. Aside from that, I've been indulging in more top-40 action at work, which includes Gotye's "Somebody That I Used To Know" playing EVERYWHERE, and it's getting to be too much. I think I blogged about that song somewhere around 7-8 months ago, and it's getting huge hype now, and not saying it's a bad song, it's a great song...it's just getting some massive overplay. Oh well...that's how shit is.
That's all. PEACE.
Sunday, April 1, 2012
It's All The Same...
The Brian Jonestown Massacre new album...and where the fuck was I?
Well, no April fools jokes today...at least not yet. Except for the fact that I didn't even know that the Brian Jonestown were coming out with a new record. The album, titled Aufheben is set to be released on May 1st. So, I still have some time to dig out those old records and give them a listen again. I first heard of the Brian Jonestown Massacre when I was in high school and stumbled on a party where a bunch of druggies were watching Dig! by Ondi Timoner.
I became more fascinated by The Brian Jonestown Massacre, not for their weird antics, their crazy obsession with drugs/craft, or Anton Newcombe's "crazy genius" persona, but for their sound. Taking a cue from the Stones and other 60s psychedelic and garage acts, they have a sound that has remained consistent, but still fresh every step of the way. Everything I've heard from them has been golden. From "Monster" on Take It From The Man! to "The Ballad of Jim Jones" on Thank God For Mental Illness. Bear in mind that these are the only two records of theirs that I own, but it's enough to make someone a full-fledged fan. I don't know much about their new record, but I know that I'm excited for it.
This entry is also coming off of my sadness that I am not going to be able to see them in Austin on the 29th because I'm seeing Jeff Mangum (who is performing on the same night). But, I've seen the Massacre before at Emo's a couple of years ago, and they played a sprawling 2-hour set, and they didn't omit my favorite song, which made the entire experience life-changing. So, I give you my favorite BJM song, and bid you a nice April 1st.
That's all. PEACE.
Well, no April fools jokes today...at least not yet. Except for the fact that I didn't even know that the Brian Jonestown were coming out with a new record. The album, titled Aufheben is set to be released on May 1st. So, I still have some time to dig out those old records and give them a listen again. I first heard of the Brian Jonestown Massacre when I was in high school and stumbled on a party where a bunch of druggies were watching Dig! by Ondi Timoner.
I became more fascinated by The Brian Jonestown Massacre, not for their weird antics, their crazy obsession with drugs/craft, or Anton Newcombe's "crazy genius" persona, but for their sound. Taking a cue from the Stones and other 60s psychedelic and garage acts, they have a sound that has remained consistent, but still fresh every step of the way. Everything I've heard from them has been golden. From "Monster" on Take It From The Man! to "The Ballad of Jim Jones" on Thank God For Mental Illness. Bear in mind that these are the only two records of theirs that I own, but it's enough to make someone a full-fledged fan. I don't know much about their new record, but I know that I'm excited for it.
This entry is also coming off of my sadness that I am not going to be able to see them in Austin on the 29th because I'm seeing Jeff Mangum (who is performing on the same night). But, I've seen the Massacre before at Emo's a couple of years ago, and they played a sprawling 2-hour set, and they didn't omit my favorite song, which made the entire experience life-changing. So, I give you my favorite BJM song, and bid you a nice April 1st.
That's all. PEACE.
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