Ty Segall Band share song...The Offspring release new track...Bob Dylan receives high honor...Thoughts on "Blunderbuss"...
I mentioned last week that garage-rock musician Ty Segall is set to release an album this summer under "The Ty Segall Band" moniker, and he's unveiled their first single, a heavy-handed track titled "Wave Goodbye." Listening to Ty Segall has been sparse for me within the past few months, only because there is constantly new music coming out, so it's hard to keep track, especially when this fool is releasing three albums in one year. Ambitious much? Let's just say that this track is a nice tune, full of heavy guitars, and a fairly lo-fi sound. Could you expect anything less? You can listen to the track on Stereogum.
The Offspring...hmm...well, I guess my introduction to them came around the time when they released their album, Americana in 1998. And like most kids my age, "Pretty Fly (For A White Guy)" and "Why Don't You Get A Job?" were constant replays. But that's about as far as my "liking" The Offspring goes. As I got older, their sound just didn't click with me, and I thought Dexter Holland's vocals were extremely annoying. But, I know this band has had a growing fan-base since they first started writing/recording in the early 80s, so I'm sure there are going to be a few upside-down frowns at the release of their new track, "Days Go By" off of their upcoming album, also titled Days Go By. The album comes out on June 25th, but until then, you can hear the track below:
In some pretty exciting news, well exciting for Bob Dylan, he's receiving the Medal of Freedom, which is America's highest civilian honor. He's not only being recognized for his loooong musical career, but more for his activism and self-penned anthems, which include one of my personal favorites "The Times They Are A'Changin," which was written at the height of the Civil Rights Movement. You can view a video of Dylan playing the track live below. Also, Toni Morrison is receiving the award. Morrison is one of the greatest living writers, and if you don't believe me, try reading Jazz or Beloved. Both are excellent novels that fuse poetic ambiance with controversial and dark stories that speak of the plight of African Americans haunted by literal and figurative ghosts. Read them.
The Times They Are A'Changin (1965):
LISTENING: I set aside this morning to finally listen to Blunderbuss, the long-awaited and much-talked about album by Jack White. I've listened to the album in full (twice), while going about my normal work routine. And my first impression of the album is to say that it's cute. Now, I know most "manly" Jack White fans will ask, "WHAT? CUTE?" Well, take into consideration that White has had a long and eventful career. He started off in the mid to late 90s, and has...10?...albums under his belt. Well, 11, if you want to count this one. But, saying that it's "cute" isn't a bad thing at all. I think that in terms of what White is bringing forth, it's a fairly accurate word of what I perceive to be a more mature artist combining elements of his past musical projects and fusing them onto one record. In a sense, I feel like this is his "love letter" to the work that he's done in the past, the people he's met along the way, and to whatever the future is going to bring, which might come pretty soon considering he's been quoted as saying that he already has enough material for a second solo album.
"Sixteen Saltines" harks back to the more free-flow, thrashy side of The White Stripes, while songs like "Hypocritical Kiss" kind of remind me of soft moments of The White Stripes, as seen on "I Wanna Be The Boy to Warm Your Mother's Heart" on Elephant. And then there are a couple of tracks that remind me of The Raconteurs, and maybe one that reminds me of The Dead Weather ("Missing Pieces"). Now, I hate to go into this record, and compare it to his other projects, but it's kind of hard not to. It may be a little presumptuous of me, but I feel like when it comes to Jack White, you kind of know what to expect from his records, no matter what musical project he's in. It's not to say they all sound the same, but they all contain the same basic elements, which in effect, makes them similar. I think the album is good...there's no question about that. The album is more full of whimsical, playful moments rather than relying solely on White's heavy riffs, which I like. So far, my favorite tracks include "Blunderbuss," "Weep Themselves to Sleep," "Hip (Eponymous) Poor Boy," (Which you can hear below) and "Take Me With You When You Go."
That's all. PEACE.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Rollercoasters
Florence and the Machine share "Breath of Life"...Marilyn Manson and Johnny Depp cover Carly Simon (what?)...Neutral Milk Hotel...
Well, let's start this off with Florence Welch...she hit the scene hard with her track, "Dog Days (Are Over)," and like most people on this planet, this is how I became acquainted with her. I remember specifically driving toward downtown Austin for a night of debauchery, and a friend playing this song in the car, and immediately being overcome with her vocals, and asking, "Who is this???" Then, I heard the song EVERYWHERE, saw her fantastic performance at the VMAs, and the rest, as they say, is history. Now, I haven't taken a good-enough listen to her second LP, Ceremonials, so I kind of need to get on that. But remember, one of the running themes of this blog is that I'm constantly trying to catch up, so who knows when I'll get down to listening to the album, maybe in 2021? But, Florence and the Machine have released a song for the movie, Snow White and the Huntsman, starring one of my favorite actresses, Charlize Theron. You can hear the track below:
In other weird news...Marilyn Manson and Johnny Depp recorded a cover of Carly Simon's "You're So Vain." Now, when I read the headline, I thought this was a joke, or a parody track. Which, I'd appreciate Manson more if he did come out and say it's a parody because if he is taking his version seriously...then the man has truly lost his mind. The song is recorded as a supposed bonus track for his upcoming record, A Born Villain. But, you can hear the uncomfortable display of a classic (to some) track below:
LISTENING: Gearing up for a trip to Austin to go see Jeff Mangum play the ACL Live Series, I've spent the better part of my morning listening to On Avery Island, Neutral Milk Hotel's first full-length LP. While it doesn't hold my heart on a platter like In The Aeroplane Over The Sea, this album is phenomenal nonetheless, and if you haven't heard of Neutral Milk Hotel, it's actually understandable. They reached their heyday in the 90s, and now their recycled albums have been passed around indie circuits and hipster cliques; however, the legend behind these guys is legitimate and well-deserved. Until I discovered this band, I had never heard a singer/songwriter like Mangum, and his lyrics basically made me a full-fledged worshiper of this dude's prowess as a writer. You can listen to any song by them to witness that for yourself, but take a listen to this track off of On Avery Island, titled "Gardenhead / Leave Me Alone."
That's all. PEACE.
Well, let's start this off with Florence Welch...she hit the scene hard with her track, "Dog Days (Are Over)," and like most people on this planet, this is how I became acquainted with her. I remember specifically driving toward downtown Austin for a night of debauchery, and a friend playing this song in the car, and immediately being overcome with her vocals, and asking, "Who is this???" Then, I heard the song EVERYWHERE, saw her fantastic performance at the VMAs, and the rest, as they say, is history. Now, I haven't taken a good-enough listen to her second LP, Ceremonials, so I kind of need to get on that. But remember, one of the running themes of this blog is that I'm constantly trying to catch up, so who knows when I'll get down to listening to the album, maybe in 2021? But, Florence and the Machine have released a song for the movie, Snow White and the Huntsman, starring one of my favorite actresses, Charlize Theron. You can hear the track below:
In other weird news...Marilyn Manson and Johnny Depp recorded a cover of Carly Simon's "You're So Vain." Now, when I read the headline, I thought this was a joke, or a parody track. Which, I'd appreciate Manson more if he did come out and say it's a parody because if he is taking his version seriously...then the man has truly lost his mind. The song is recorded as a supposed bonus track for his upcoming record, A Born Villain. But, you can hear the uncomfortable display of a classic (to some) track below:
LISTENING: Gearing up for a trip to Austin to go see Jeff Mangum play the ACL Live Series, I've spent the better part of my morning listening to On Avery Island, Neutral Milk Hotel's first full-length LP. While it doesn't hold my heart on a platter like In The Aeroplane Over The Sea, this album is phenomenal nonetheless, and if you haven't heard of Neutral Milk Hotel, it's actually understandable. They reached their heyday in the 90s, and now their recycled albums have been passed around indie circuits and hipster cliques; however, the legend behind these guys is legitimate and well-deserved. Until I discovered this band, I had never heard a singer/songwriter like Mangum, and his lyrics basically made me a full-fledged worshiper of this dude's prowess as a writer. You can listen to any song by them to witness that for yourself, but take a listen to this track off of On Avery Island, titled "Gardenhead / Leave Me Alone."
That's all. PEACE.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
A Moving Stance
Dntel shares new song...Beirut performs on Jay Leno...Holograms really?...Neil Young and Led Zeppelin...
Well...let's start with Dntel. I first became acquainted with Jimmy Tamborello's music in high school when my group of friends would play Postal Service, his collaboration with Ben Gibbard of Death Cab For Cutie. But, a friend of mine introduced me to his solo work, IE: Figurine, Dntel, etc. Not being an electronic aficionado, I merely listened to them in passing, not taking more than a few stale glances, and not really caring about what they had to offer, until his Dumb Luck album came out, and his collaboration with Jenny Lewis, in the form of the song "Roll On," graced my ears. That's when I thought there was more to Tamborello than meets the ear. I saw him about 9 months ago in Austin, and let's just say that my disappointment was overshadowed by the cheap vodka. If I wanted to see someone play on their computer, I could have done that anywhere else for free. Nonetheless, he's coming out with a new album, titled Aimlessness, and you can hear a track from the album on Stereogum.
Also...Beirut played another track off their latest release, The Rip Tide on Jay Leno the other night. I've only heard the album in full once, so I definitely need to go back and revisit that one, but you can view the performance of the song "Santa Fe" here.
Also...just a bit of a rant here...what the shit is going on with these holograms? First I hear about a hologram of 2pac performing at Coachella, and then I hear that the guy responsible for that fiasco is thinking of having an Elvis hologram perform with Justin Bieber? Forgive me for not being as excited as some other people...but where the fuck did the human element to music and performing go? Must one rely solely on light shows, camera affects and sound manipulation to make a performance enjoyable? Most of the performances that I've seen, some that I consider the best, were intimate, yet lively...human, yet eccentric...collaborative, yet distinctive...you get where I'm going with this? I just don't think that holograms work, much less holograms of dead legends. I do think there is a level of respect that is being breached, and if people want to see Justin Bieber play a show with a hologram Elvis, then so be it...but bear in mind that once you're dead, they just may make a hologram of you...and what if it's more enjoyable than the actual you...makes you think, doesn't it?
LISTENING: I've spent the better part of my morning, obsessing over Fiona Apple's new track. Still? YES...it's fucking brilliant, and her wordplay is the shit...which is one of the many things that I love about her. Aside from that...I've been listening to Neil Young and Led Zeppelin, via Pandora. The only Neil Young album I own is Harvest, and I know that would probably make some of you ask, "What? Not After The Gold Rush?" Well, I'm ADD in most respects, so once I buy one album by an artist, I take some time with it before delving into their other work, unless my brain becomes selectively impressed. either way, here's one of my favorite Neil Young songs, which is the opening track from Harvest. Enjoy...
That's all. PEACE.
Well...let's start with Dntel. I first became acquainted with Jimmy Tamborello's music in high school when my group of friends would play Postal Service, his collaboration with Ben Gibbard of Death Cab For Cutie. But, a friend of mine introduced me to his solo work, IE: Figurine, Dntel, etc. Not being an electronic aficionado, I merely listened to them in passing, not taking more than a few stale glances, and not really caring about what they had to offer, until his Dumb Luck album came out, and his collaboration with Jenny Lewis, in the form of the song "Roll On," graced my ears. That's when I thought there was more to Tamborello than meets the ear. I saw him about 9 months ago in Austin, and let's just say that my disappointment was overshadowed by the cheap vodka. If I wanted to see someone play on their computer, I could have done that anywhere else for free. Nonetheless, he's coming out with a new album, titled Aimlessness, and you can hear a track from the album on Stereogum.
Also...Beirut played another track off their latest release, The Rip Tide on Jay Leno the other night. I've only heard the album in full once, so I definitely need to go back and revisit that one, but you can view the performance of the song "Santa Fe" here.
Also...just a bit of a rant here...what the shit is going on with these holograms? First I hear about a hologram of 2pac performing at Coachella, and then I hear that the guy responsible for that fiasco is thinking of having an Elvis hologram perform with Justin Bieber? Forgive me for not being as excited as some other people...but where the fuck did the human element to music and performing go? Must one rely solely on light shows, camera affects and sound manipulation to make a performance enjoyable? Most of the performances that I've seen, some that I consider the best, were intimate, yet lively...human, yet eccentric...collaborative, yet distinctive...you get where I'm going with this? I just don't think that holograms work, much less holograms of dead legends. I do think there is a level of respect that is being breached, and if people want to see Justin Bieber play a show with a hologram Elvis, then so be it...but bear in mind that once you're dead, they just may make a hologram of you...and what if it's more enjoyable than the actual you...makes you think, doesn't it?
LISTENING: I've spent the better part of my morning, obsessing over Fiona Apple's new track. Still? YES...it's fucking brilliant, and her wordplay is the shit...which is one of the many things that I love about her. Aside from that...I've been listening to Neil Young and Led Zeppelin, via Pandora. The only Neil Young album I own is Harvest, and I know that would probably make some of you ask, "What? Not After The Gold Rush?" Well, I'm ADD in most respects, so once I buy one album by an artist, I take some time with it before delving into their other work, unless my brain becomes selectively impressed. either way, here's one of my favorite Neil Young songs, which is the opening track from Harvest. Enjoy...
That's all. PEACE.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
These Thoughts of Mine
Listening Only...
Well, there wasn't anything too fascinating for me to report, and if there was, I missed it. But for those of you who read this blog for the news component...sorry. So, let's just get on with some LISTENING: After prying myself from Fiona Apple's new song "Every Single Night," I took to listening to something a little more grunge-friendly, IE: The Breeders. I know I've written about Title TK before, so I'm not going to delve into it too much, but if you haven't heard it, you might want to get on that. Music reviews share that this may not be the best Breeders output, but the hell with them because I think that it's a fairly strong record. It may not have the pop-friendly hits of Last Splash, or the weird personality of Mountain Battles, but it's a great album nonetheless. Tracks like "Little Fury," "Full on Idle," "Huffer," and "Off You" are great songs that showcase why I love the Breeders. You can listen to "Little Fury" below:
I've also been listening to In Utero by Nirvana. Now, I know that everyone talks so much about Nevermind, which, don't get me wrong, is a great album. But, my heart and soul has always been linked to their last album, pre-Cobain's untimely death. This was the album that not only solidified how much I loved Nirvana, but showed me that there was a level of maturity that came with age, as the band had progressed so much, in my opinion, from Nevermind to this record. This record showed Cobain at his most vulnerable, in terms of songwriting, but at the same time, it was just a bigger, bolder piece of work. Tracks like "Dumb," "Rape Me," "Milk It," and personal favorite, "All Apologies," are just masterpieces to me. You can listen to one of my favorites, "Scentless Apprentice," below:
Besides that, it's been some former top-40 jams on the Oldies station that I'm sure made a mark when they were big songs. Among these is "Knock Three Times," by Tony Orlando and Dawn. Another song that has been in constant rotation here in Corpus is "Don't Bring Me Down" by Electric Light Orchestra. Yeah, it's a great song, but it seems to be getting a rise of popularity in this city. Either that, or some hardcore ELO fans have the oldies station on speed dial, and are requesting it like a motherfucker. You can hear these songs below:
That's all. PEACE.
Well, there wasn't anything too fascinating for me to report, and if there was, I missed it. But for those of you who read this blog for the news component...sorry. So, let's just get on with some LISTENING: After prying myself from Fiona Apple's new song "Every Single Night," I took to listening to something a little more grunge-friendly, IE: The Breeders. I know I've written about Title TK before, so I'm not going to delve into it too much, but if you haven't heard it, you might want to get on that. Music reviews share that this may not be the best Breeders output, but the hell with them because I think that it's a fairly strong record. It may not have the pop-friendly hits of Last Splash, or the weird personality of Mountain Battles, but it's a great album nonetheless. Tracks like "Little Fury," "Full on Idle," "Huffer," and "Off You" are great songs that showcase why I love the Breeders. You can listen to "Little Fury" below:
I've also been listening to In Utero by Nirvana. Now, I know that everyone talks so much about Nevermind, which, don't get me wrong, is a great album. But, my heart and soul has always been linked to their last album, pre-Cobain's untimely death. This was the album that not only solidified how much I loved Nirvana, but showed me that there was a level of maturity that came with age, as the band had progressed so much, in my opinion, from Nevermind to this record. This record showed Cobain at his most vulnerable, in terms of songwriting, but at the same time, it was just a bigger, bolder piece of work. Tracks like "Dumb," "Rape Me," "Milk It," and personal favorite, "All Apologies," are just masterpieces to me. You can listen to one of my favorites, "Scentless Apprentice," below:
Besides that, it's been some former top-40 jams on the Oldies station that I'm sure made a mark when they were big songs. Among these is "Knock Three Times," by Tony Orlando and Dawn. Another song that has been in constant rotation here in Corpus is "Don't Bring Me Down" by Electric Light Orchestra. Yeah, it's a great song, but it seems to be getting a rise of popularity in this city. Either that, or some hardcore ELO fans have the oldies station on speed dial, and are requesting it like a motherfucker. You can hear these songs below:
That's all. PEACE.
Monday, April 23, 2012
"...A Song That Became The World..."
Iggy and Cat Power talk about new albums...Beck does version of "Corrina, Corrina"...Fiona Apple shares "Every Single Night"...St. Vincent shares 7" songs...What listening to Bjork is like...
Well, I got a long one today folks. There's a lot to talk about, so let's jump right into it. Iggy Pop is coming out with a new album, titled Apres, and it's scheduled to come out on May 9th. Iggy described the album as being an album of covers, most of them French, taken from artists Edith Piaf and Serge Gainsbourg. So, be on the lookout for that. Cat Power also announced, via Twitter, that she was finished with her new record and that it is going to be titled Sun. Though, no release date has been announced, so keep your eyes and ears open for that one.
Also, Beck did a cover of the famous, "Corrina, Corrina," which has been covered by many artists since it's 1928 inception. The track was done for a music compilation, put together by Christy Turlington Burns, for Every Mother Counts, which battles unsafe conditions for mothers around the world. You can hear the track and read more about Every Mother Counts at Pitchfork.
Well...this one has been a long-time coming for most. Fiona Apple has shared the first "album-version" track from her new record, The Idler Wheel.... The track, titled "Every Single Night," is pretty good. Her vocals are in top shape, and it has her signature jazzy style, and well...it's an addition to what makes Apple a great singer/songwriter. You can hear the track below:
Now, it's no surprising news that many artists came out with new music, via 7" or album reissues for Record Store Day, and it would be wrong to assume that St. Vincent is any different. Annie Clark graced audiences with the Krokodil 7", which features tracks, "Krokodil" and "Grot." Both tracks threw me for a loop. I know that St. Vincent has the ability and affinity for going extremely heavy on the guitar, and basically thrashing her metal ditties around, but these tracks just show that she's not just another cutesy singer/songwriter, but she actually has some bold darkness to her. You can hear both tracks below:
Krokodil
Grot
LISTENING: Well, this year's Record Store Day proved to be a great shopping endeavor. Always one who loves to spend money on records/cd's, I felt I did great on my budget. Well, not as great as I wanted, but I still feel like I came out on top. I didn't splurge as much as I wanted, but I bought Manifesto by Roxy Music (My first Roxy Music album, which I still haven't gotten into quite yet), a 7" with Willie Nelson and Brenda Lee singing "You're Gonna Love Yourself (In The Morning)," and Biophilia by Bjork.
Now, let me say that I respect Bjork. She's talented, creative, and fucking weird. But, I've never been a huge fan of her music because I just don't understand it. I bought Vespertine when I was in high school, listened to the whole album once, and gave it to a friend because I couldn't quite get it. I just didn't understand what the big deal was with her, but as I heard her music in passing over the years, I've come to understand that she not only has one of the biggest followings, but she's truly innovative in her stylistic changes and her visual representations. Having said that, my mind didn't completely start opening up to Bjork until Volta came out, and maybe that was only because of the Timbaland-produced songs.
But, Biophilia is a whole other monster. Take for instance that listening to Bjork is like being taken to another world, whether that be the forests of Iceland, the plains of Africa, or inside Bjork's computer-twinged psyche, the audience is always an active participant in these adventures. With Biophilia, Bjork takes us to space. I've listened to the whole record twice, and it's interesting to say the least. It has touches of her signature electronic tendencies, but it also has some wickedly vibrant moments, thanks to a choir that Bjork recruited for back-up vocals. My favorite track is "Cosmogony" which tells how the universe came to be, and I also like "Virus," which is a twisted love song between well...a virus and its host. In conclusion, I feel that I understand Bjork better. I feel as though you can't listen to her expecting some clap-hand beats, some bobbing head moments...it's not exactly road-trip material. You just have to listen, take it all in, and let Bjork show you her world, no matter how trippy or peculiar. You can hear "Cosmogony" below:
That's all. PEACE.
Well, I got a long one today folks. There's a lot to talk about, so let's jump right into it. Iggy Pop is coming out with a new album, titled Apres, and it's scheduled to come out on May 9th. Iggy described the album as being an album of covers, most of them French, taken from artists Edith Piaf and Serge Gainsbourg. So, be on the lookout for that. Cat Power also announced, via Twitter, that she was finished with her new record and that it is going to be titled Sun. Though, no release date has been announced, so keep your eyes and ears open for that one.
Also, Beck did a cover of the famous, "Corrina, Corrina," which has been covered by many artists since it's 1928 inception. The track was done for a music compilation, put together by Christy Turlington Burns, for Every Mother Counts, which battles unsafe conditions for mothers around the world. You can hear the track and read more about Every Mother Counts at Pitchfork.
Well...this one has been a long-time coming for most. Fiona Apple has shared the first "album-version" track from her new record, The Idler Wheel.... The track, titled "Every Single Night," is pretty good. Her vocals are in top shape, and it has her signature jazzy style, and well...it's an addition to what makes Apple a great singer/songwriter. You can hear the track below:
Now, it's no surprising news that many artists came out with new music, via 7" or album reissues for Record Store Day, and it would be wrong to assume that St. Vincent is any different. Annie Clark graced audiences with the Krokodil 7", which features tracks, "Krokodil" and "Grot." Both tracks threw me for a loop. I know that St. Vincent has the ability and affinity for going extremely heavy on the guitar, and basically thrashing her metal ditties around, but these tracks just show that she's not just another cutesy singer/songwriter, but she actually has some bold darkness to her. You can hear both tracks below:
Krokodil
Grot
LISTENING: Well, this year's Record Store Day proved to be a great shopping endeavor. Always one who loves to spend money on records/cd's, I felt I did great on my budget. Well, not as great as I wanted, but I still feel like I came out on top. I didn't splurge as much as I wanted, but I bought Manifesto by Roxy Music (My first Roxy Music album, which I still haven't gotten into quite yet), a 7" with Willie Nelson and Brenda Lee singing "You're Gonna Love Yourself (In The Morning)," and Biophilia by Bjork.
Now, let me say that I respect Bjork. She's talented, creative, and fucking weird. But, I've never been a huge fan of her music because I just don't understand it. I bought Vespertine when I was in high school, listened to the whole album once, and gave it to a friend because I couldn't quite get it. I just didn't understand what the big deal was with her, but as I heard her music in passing over the years, I've come to understand that she not only has one of the biggest followings, but she's truly innovative in her stylistic changes and her visual representations. Having said that, my mind didn't completely start opening up to Bjork until Volta came out, and maybe that was only because of the Timbaland-produced songs.
But, Biophilia is a whole other monster. Take for instance that listening to Bjork is like being taken to another world, whether that be the forests of Iceland, the plains of Africa, or inside Bjork's computer-twinged psyche, the audience is always an active participant in these adventures. With Biophilia, Bjork takes us to space. I've listened to the whole record twice, and it's interesting to say the least. It has touches of her signature electronic tendencies, but it also has some wickedly vibrant moments, thanks to a choir that Bjork recruited for back-up vocals. My favorite track is "Cosmogony" which tells how the universe came to be, and I also like "Virus," which is a twisted love song between well...a virus and its host. In conclusion, I feel that I understand Bjork better. I feel as though you can't listen to her expecting some clap-hand beats, some bobbing head moments...it's not exactly road-trip material. You just have to listen, take it all in, and let Bjork show you her world, no matter how trippy or peculiar. You can hear "Cosmogony" below:
That's all. PEACE.
Friday, April 20, 2012
All Apologetic...
Dave Grohl teams up with Butch Vig and Krist Novoselic again...Jack White performs on German television show..."Girls Girls Girls"...
It made news last year when Dave Grohl teamed up with former Nirvana bandmate Krist Novoselic and Nevermind producer Butch Vig (also of Garbage) for the Foo Fighters latest album, titled Wasting Light. And now, Grohl has teamed up with them again for the soundtrack to a documentary he's working on about Sound City Studios where the aforementioned and legendary Nirvana album was recorded. Many famous musicians have recorded at Sound City, including Jenny Lewis (who recorded Acid Tongue in the same room where Nirvana recorded their record), among many others. You can read more about this here.
In other news, Jack White took the stage on Die Herald Schmidt Show, which broadcasts in Germany. White played two cuts from his much-anticipated album, Blunderbuss, which comes out this coming Tuesday. He played "Sixteen Saltines," and "Freedom at 21." You can view the performance below:
LISTENING: This morning, I listened to Father, Son, Holy Ghost by Girls. I know that I wrote about their performance yesterday, but being an uneducated asshole, I downloaded (sorry!) their album last night. My first reaction to the album was something along the lines of "how the fuck did I wait this long?" I've only listened to the first half, and already I know that I'm gonna love this. It's melodic, it's soulful, and it's fairly impressive. Now, I can understand why they've made so many 2011 "best of..." lists. Tracks like "Alex," "My Ma," and "Magic," are well...magical? My current favorite is "Alex," which you can hear below:
Aside from that, I've been having a "shuffle" therapy, and Pandora is playing the likes of Modest Mouse, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Joanna Newsom, M. Ward, Bessie Smith, and The Kills. Good job, Pandora.
That's all. PEACE.
It made news last year when Dave Grohl teamed up with former Nirvana bandmate Krist Novoselic and Nevermind producer Butch Vig (also of Garbage) for the Foo Fighters latest album, titled Wasting Light. And now, Grohl has teamed up with them again for the soundtrack to a documentary he's working on about Sound City Studios where the aforementioned and legendary Nirvana album was recorded. Many famous musicians have recorded at Sound City, including Jenny Lewis (who recorded Acid Tongue in the same room where Nirvana recorded their record), among many others. You can read more about this here.
In other news, Jack White took the stage on Die Herald Schmidt Show, which broadcasts in Germany. White played two cuts from his much-anticipated album, Blunderbuss, which comes out this coming Tuesday. He played "Sixteen Saltines," and "Freedom at 21." You can view the performance below:
LISTENING: This morning, I listened to Father, Son, Holy Ghost by Girls. I know that I wrote about their performance yesterday, but being an uneducated asshole, I downloaded (sorry!) their album last night. My first reaction to the album was something along the lines of "how the fuck did I wait this long?" I've only listened to the first half, and already I know that I'm gonna love this. It's melodic, it's soulful, and it's fairly impressive. Now, I can understand why they've made so many 2011 "best of..." lists. Tracks like "Alex," "My Ma," and "Magic," are well...magical? My current favorite is "Alex," which you can hear below:
Aside from that, I've been having a "shuffle" therapy, and Pandora is playing the likes of Modest Mouse, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Joanna Newsom, M. Ward, Bessie Smith, and The Kills. Good job, Pandora.
That's all. PEACE.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
We Don't Say Goodbye
See you later, Dick Clark...Bon Iver performs on Ellen D...Girls perform on Conan...Thee Oh Sees...
Well, let's start this off by acknowledging the elephant on the web. Yesterday morning, we lost one of America's most loved and most respected TV hosts/personalities. As a child, I only remember faint traces of Dick Clark every New Years Eve, and hearing talks about the glory days of American Bandstand. However, after informally auditing a friend's "History of Rock N' Roll" class, I started to understand more of his significance and the presence he brought to living rooms across the world. So...we say "see you later" Dick, and may the journey be filled with rock n' roll, and may you always remain the oldest teenager to have left this earth.
Moving along...Bon Iver played Ellen Degeneres' talk show. Now, I'm not too much of an Ellen watcher, mostly because I try not to watch so much television, but after seeing this performance of their song, "Towers," it's making me want to invest some time into their second LP, Bon Iver. I've only become acquainted with their first album, For Emma, Forever Ago, and I liked the quiet, sparse, yet melodic stylings of Mr. Vernon's songwriting. From reviews I've read, and snippets I've heard, I may have dumbly and rudely overlooked his second work. But, you can view the performance below:
Girls...well, they are a weird conundrum to me. Extremely talented, this band seems to have come out of nowhere. Having only been a band for...what...five years now? Not sure, I'm too lazy to look up facts. But, after seeing a performance by this band on Jimmy Fallon, I took to listening to some stuff from their first album, and I like their sound. I like the somewhat muted vocals, the garage/soul/indie melodies, which blend so oddly together, that it's kind of weird in a way. Either way...before I get too ahead of myself, you can view their performance of the track "Love Like a River" on Conan, here
LISTENING: This morning, I was in somewhat of a psych-garage mood, so I opted for listening to Thee Oh Sees' The Master's Bedroom is Worth Spending a Night In. It's a great album, not only because it has many "that's my jam" worthy songs for myself, but also because it reminds me of the first time I listened to The Cramps. They're not afraid to be dark, and they're not afraid to be experimental on some songs. Listen to tracks like "Block of Ice," "Two Drummers Disappear," and "Adult Acid." You can listen to "Two Drummers Disappear" below:
That's all. PEACE.
Well, let's start this off by acknowledging the elephant on the web. Yesterday morning, we lost one of America's most loved and most respected TV hosts/personalities. As a child, I only remember faint traces of Dick Clark every New Years Eve, and hearing talks about the glory days of American Bandstand. However, after informally auditing a friend's "History of Rock N' Roll" class, I started to understand more of his significance and the presence he brought to living rooms across the world. So...we say "see you later" Dick, and may the journey be filled with rock n' roll, and may you always remain the oldest teenager to have left this earth.
Moving along...Bon Iver played Ellen Degeneres' talk show. Now, I'm not too much of an Ellen watcher, mostly because I try not to watch so much television, but after seeing this performance of their song, "Towers," it's making me want to invest some time into their second LP, Bon Iver. I've only become acquainted with their first album, For Emma, Forever Ago, and I liked the quiet, sparse, yet melodic stylings of Mr. Vernon's songwriting. From reviews I've read, and snippets I've heard, I may have dumbly and rudely overlooked his second work. But, you can view the performance below:
Girls...well, they are a weird conundrum to me. Extremely talented, this band seems to have come out of nowhere. Having only been a band for...what...five years now? Not sure, I'm too lazy to look up facts. But, after seeing a performance by this band on Jimmy Fallon, I took to listening to some stuff from their first album, and I like their sound. I like the somewhat muted vocals, the garage/soul/indie melodies, which blend so oddly together, that it's kind of weird in a way. Either way...before I get too ahead of myself, you can view their performance of the track "Love Like a River" on Conan, here
LISTENING: This morning, I was in somewhat of a psych-garage mood, so I opted for listening to Thee Oh Sees' The Master's Bedroom is Worth Spending a Night In. It's a great album, not only because it has many "that's my jam" worthy songs for myself, but also because it reminds me of the first time I listened to The Cramps. They're not afraid to be dark, and they're not afraid to be experimental on some songs. Listen to tracks like "Block of Ice," "Two Drummers Disappear," and "Adult Acid." You can listen to "Two Drummers Disappear" below:
That's all. PEACE.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
"...On The Black Sand"
Resonant Frequency by Mark Richardson...Ty Segall Band plan to release album...Jenny Lewis and more...
Well, let's start this off with some good writing about music. Let me first say that I'm not too familiar with Mark Richardson's work, but for some reason, I decided to read this article he wrote for Pitchfork that highlights writing about music, listening to music, and how both have changed within the technological landscape. In the article, he addresses that as a music writer, one finds themselves enjoying writing about music more than listening to it in some cases (he also highlights Nicki Minaj in this portion of the article). I think it's an interesting article in that he provides an emphasis on context, about not just listening to music, but why people listen to certain things and what it means to them. Before I butcher this synopsis any further, you should check the article out on Pitchfork.
Moving along...last month I wrote about Ty Segall releasing two albums, one under his own name, and one with White Fence. Well, apparently, two albums for 2012 wasn't enough, as he is planning on releasing a third album on June 26th, with his touring band. The album, titled Slaughterhouse is said to be "a lot harder and louder." Definitely, be on the look-out for that one.
LISTENING: For the better part of my morning, I've been letting my Pandora "shuffle" me along to various musicians/stations that are in my profile. However, this is a big step for me because I don't "shuffle" songs. I generally have more or less an idea of what I want to hear, and when it comes to music listening, I rarely leave things to chance. Ask anyone...I'm usually the first person to approach a jukebox at a bar, and put a dollar in, because I want to have semi-control of what's going to be played around me. Having said that, Pandora has been doing pretty well without my help, playing the likes of The Sonics, Heartless Bastards, The Kills, Bertha "Chippie" Hill, Otis Redding, Joanna Newsom, The Breeders, and much more.
But, regaining control, I decided to opt for listening to Acid Tongue by Jenny Lewis. I know I've talked about this album before, but let me reiterate how great this album is. I've recommended it to several friends, only to hear affirmations on this album's excellency. Tracks like "The Next Messiah," "Godspeed," or "Jack Killed Mom" highlight her daring territory. It's odd to me that she would go from making a more blue-grass, gospel, folk album like Rabbit Fur Coat, and then come out with this. While it's not too far away from its predecessor, it's louder, meaner, and probably the best thing she's ever done in my opinion. Let me just say right now that I don't like Rilo Kiley...at all. Maybe a couple of songs, but they just don't do anything for me, so I strongly recommend that Jenny Lewis should just stick to her solo work. It's done wonders for her so far. You can hear the title track ("Acid Tongue") below:
That's all. PEACE.
Well, let's start this off with some good writing about music. Let me first say that I'm not too familiar with Mark Richardson's work, but for some reason, I decided to read this article he wrote for Pitchfork that highlights writing about music, listening to music, and how both have changed within the technological landscape. In the article, he addresses that as a music writer, one finds themselves enjoying writing about music more than listening to it in some cases (he also highlights Nicki Minaj in this portion of the article). I think it's an interesting article in that he provides an emphasis on context, about not just listening to music, but why people listen to certain things and what it means to them. Before I butcher this synopsis any further, you should check the article out on Pitchfork.
Moving along...last month I wrote about Ty Segall releasing two albums, one under his own name, and one with White Fence. Well, apparently, two albums for 2012 wasn't enough, as he is planning on releasing a third album on June 26th, with his touring band. The album, titled Slaughterhouse is said to be "a lot harder and louder." Definitely, be on the look-out for that one.
LISTENING: For the better part of my morning, I've been letting my Pandora "shuffle" me along to various musicians/stations that are in my profile. However, this is a big step for me because I don't "shuffle" songs. I generally have more or less an idea of what I want to hear, and when it comes to music listening, I rarely leave things to chance. Ask anyone...I'm usually the first person to approach a jukebox at a bar, and put a dollar in, because I want to have semi-control of what's going to be played around me. Having said that, Pandora has been doing pretty well without my help, playing the likes of The Sonics, Heartless Bastards, The Kills, Bertha "Chippie" Hill, Otis Redding, Joanna Newsom, The Breeders, and much more.
But, regaining control, I decided to opt for listening to Acid Tongue by Jenny Lewis. I know I've talked about this album before, but let me reiterate how great this album is. I've recommended it to several friends, only to hear affirmations on this album's excellency. Tracks like "The Next Messiah," "Godspeed," or "Jack Killed Mom" highlight her daring territory. It's odd to me that she would go from making a more blue-grass, gospel, folk album like Rabbit Fur Coat, and then come out with this. While it's not too far away from its predecessor, it's louder, meaner, and probably the best thing she's ever done in my opinion. Let me just say right now that I don't like Rilo Kiley...at all. Maybe a couple of songs, but they just don't do anything for me, so I strongly recommend that Jenny Lewis should just stick to her solo work. It's done wonders for her so far. You can hear the title track ("Acid Tongue") below:
That's all. PEACE.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
"Come on...Come on...Come on..."
Dandy Warhols stream new record on NME...The Sonics please...
Not much to talk about today...at least not much I'm interested in talking about. BUT...The Dandy Warhols are streaming their new album on NME, and having taken only a faint listen to the first 8 tracks, I like what I've heard thus far. Their new record, titled This Machine, is scheduled to be released April 24th. I first became acquainted with these dandies when I purchased their record, Welcome To The Monkey House some time in middle school? It was bought on a whim, and I liked a few tracks, but mostly couldn't get over their over-use of synths and weird sounds, as my mind wasn't open enough to handle that noise at the time. Since then, I've always held an appreciation for them, and yes, I know after seeing DIG!, the famous Brian Jonestown Massacre/Dandy Warhols documentary that played in many hipster havens and served as a background video to some parties I've gone to, many people always compare the bands and say that BJM is better. I'm not arguing that. I agree, but that's not the point. You can hear the album, in its entirety, here. So far, the highlights for me are "Sad Vacation," "Well They're Gone," and "16 Tons."
LISTENING: I've spent the majority of today listening to The Sonics at work. The Sonics were gloriously introduced to me when I met two crazy Colombian sisters in high school, and their famous cover of "Don't You Just Know It," was constantly played at parties, or in car-rides on the way to said parties. I could easily go into my adoration for this band, how they were precursors and innovators of punk and garage, but everyone should know that, and if they don't, then it's time to learn a thing or two. These natives of Tacoma, Washington were mainly famous in the early to mid 60s, but their sound hasn't lost its edge. You can hear their break-out single, "The Witch" below:
That's all. PEACE.
Not much to talk about today...at least not much I'm interested in talking about. BUT...The Dandy Warhols are streaming their new album on NME, and having taken only a faint listen to the first 8 tracks, I like what I've heard thus far. Their new record, titled This Machine, is scheduled to be released April 24th. I first became acquainted with these dandies when I purchased their record, Welcome To The Monkey House some time in middle school? It was bought on a whim, and I liked a few tracks, but mostly couldn't get over their over-use of synths and weird sounds, as my mind wasn't open enough to handle that noise at the time. Since then, I've always held an appreciation for them, and yes, I know after seeing DIG!, the famous Brian Jonestown Massacre/Dandy Warhols documentary that played in many hipster havens and served as a background video to some parties I've gone to, many people always compare the bands and say that BJM is better. I'm not arguing that. I agree, but that's not the point. You can hear the album, in its entirety, here. So far, the highlights for me are "Sad Vacation," "Well They're Gone," and "16 Tons."
LISTENING: I've spent the majority of today listening to The Sonics at work. The Sonics were gloriously introduced to me when I met two crazy Colombian sisters in high school, and their famous cover of "Don't You Just Know It," was constantly played at parties, or in car-rides on the way to said parties. I could easily go into my adoration for this band, how they were precursors and innovators of punk and garage, but everyone should know that, and if they don't, then it's time to learn a thing or two. These natives of Tacoma, Washington were mainly famous in the early to mid 60s, but their sound hasn't lost its edge. You can hear their break-out single, "The Witch" below:
That's all. PEACE.
Monday, April 16, 2012
"OH, America! OH, England!"
Sex Pistols will re-release "God Save The Queen"...Hole re-unite for a show...St. Vincent and David Byrne create album together...Stephen Merritt plays on CBS News...PJ and Beck may never go away...
Well...let's start this off with some punk icons, right? I got into The Sex Pistols some time in high school when I went through my "punk" phase, listening to nothing but this band, The Ramones, The Adicts, The Stooges, Patti Smith, etc. It was a great time for me, and a great time because the music was un-polished, un-tainted, and just un-like a lot of stuff that was playing all around me. But, "God Save The Queen" didn't really sink in until about my junior year of college, and even then, it's a wonder that it did, because you can look at these guys and see that they may not be insanely talented, but they were controversial rabble-rousers fighting an establishment and perhaps fighting with themselves, but their plans to re-release the album may just be the healthy dose of "anarchy" that people need nowadays. It's set to come out on May 28th, so be on the lookout for that.
In other news, Eric Erlandson and Courtney Love, as well as the rest of the mid-90s lineup of Hole took the stage in Williamsburg to play two songs, among those is "Miss World." All I can say is that I'd have loved to be there, as how Hole was one of my favorite grunge bands of the 90s. Love is a train-wreck, but in this video, she shows what a great frontwoman she can be when she's not twittering about everything under the sun. Check it out below:
Moving along...St. Vincent has recently wrapped up a collaborative album with Talking Heads' David Byrne. The album has been in progress for the last two years, but having recently wrapped up the recording, it should be auditory for public consumption this fall. You can read more about the album and thoughts about it from St. Vincent, via Pitchfork, here.
Lastly, Stephen Merritt, mostly famous for his project, The Magnetic Fields, recently performed his song, "Andrew In Drag," on CBS News, using nothing but his deep voice and a ukulele. If you haven't heard of The Magnetic Fields, I'd give their album, The Charm of the Highway Strip, a listen, STAT!
Well...let's start this off with some punk icons, right? I got into The Sex Pistols some time in high school when I went through my "punk" phase, listening to nothing but this band, The Ramones, The Adicts, The Stooges, Patti Smith, etc. It was a great time for me, and a great time because the music was un-polished, un-tainted, and just un-like a lot of stuff that was playing all around me. But, "God Save The Queen" didn't really sink in until about my junior year of college, and even then, it's a wonder that it did, because you can look at these guys and see that they may not be insanely talented, but they were controversial rabble-rousers fighting an establishment and perhaps fighting with themselves, but their plans to re-release the album may just be the healthy dose of "anarchy" that people need nowadays. It's set to come out on May 28th, so be on the lookout for that.
In other news, Eric Erlandson and Courtney Love, as well as the rest of the mid-90s lineup of Hole took the stage in Williamsburg to play two songs, among those is "Miss World." All I can say is that I'd have loved to be there, as how Hole was one of my favorite grunge bands of the 90s. Love is a train-wreck, but in this video, she shows what a great frontwoman she can be when she's not twittering about everything under the sun. Check it out below:
Moving along...St. Vincent has recently wrapped up a collaborative album with Talking Heads' David Byrne. The album has been in progress for the last two years, but having recently wrapped up the recording, it should be auditory for public consumption this fall. You can read more about the album and thoughts about it from St. Vincent, via Pitchfork, here.
Lastly, Stephen Merritt, mostly famous for his project, The Magnetic Fields, recently performed his song, "Andrew In Drag," on CBS News, using nothing but his deep voice and a ukulele. If you haven't heard of The Magnetic Fields, I'd give their album, The Charm of the Highway Strip, a listen, STAT!
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