Bob Mould - "Wishing Well"
In various interviews this spring Bob Mould mentioned how he thought his new album Life and Times was a successor to his 1989 solo debut Workbook. I didn't fully grasp how right he was until seeing him perform at Irving Plaza Thursday night. He did three Life and Times songs followed by three from Workbook, and hearing all of them back to back made the lyrical and sonic connections clear. And "Wishing Well" stood high above the rest, with Mould delivering what was the best performance of the song I've seen in the 18 years I've been going to his shows. Watch the intensity below.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Thursday, October 08, 2009
Song of the Week 10/2/09
Phoenix - "1901"
I didn't see as much music at this year's Austin City Limits Music Festival as I have in the past three editions. (Stupid drought-ending rain.) Out of the acts I had never watched before, Phoenix were by far the best. Who knew a bunch of Frenchman could be so entertaining? And when the band played the opening notes of "1901," the crowd (which was an extremely impressive size for a Friday afternoon at ACL) went nuts. (See an example below.) The band fed off that energy all afternoon, and were genuinely moved by the amount of people who had decided to check them out on a beautiful day in Zilker Park.
I didn't see as much music at this year's Austin City Limits Music Festival as I have in the past three editions. (Stupid drought-ending rain.) Out of the acts I had never watched before, Phoenix were by far the best. Who knew a bunch of Frenchman could be so entertaining? And when the band played the opening notes of "1901," the crowd (which was an extremely impressive size for a Friday afternoon at ACL) went nuts. (See an example below.) The band fed off that energy all afternoon, and were genuinely moved by the amount of people who had decided to check them out on a beautiful day in Zilker Park.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Song of the Week 9/25/09
The Avett Brothers - "I And Love and You"
Two months ago I heard this song on WFUV. It stopped me in my tracks when I heard this line:
"Brooklyn, Brooklyn, let me in/Are you aware the shape I'm in/My hands they shake, my head it spins/Brooklyn, Brooklyn, let me in."
I was instantly sold. I downloaded the song as soon as I got into work and have listened to it at various times in my home borough. Last week the full Avett Brothers album showed up in the mail, and I was surprised that the entire disc lives up to the immense promise of its title track. Rick Rubin, you've done it again. (But please stop the Chili Peppers from making any more albums.)
Two months ago I heard this song on WFUV. It stopped me in my tracks when I heard this line:
"Brooklyn, Brooklyn, let me in/Are you aware the shape I'm in/My hands they shake, my head it spins/Brooklyn, Brooklyn, let me in."
I was instantly sold. I downloaded the song as soon as I got into work and have listened to it at various times in my home borough. Last week the full Avett Brothers album showed up in the mail, and I was surprised that the entire disc lives up to the immense promise of its title track. Rick Rubin, you've done it again. (But please stop the Chili Peppers from making any more albums.)
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Song of the Week 9/18/09
The Gravel Pit - "Closer to the Wall"
This new Pit track (their first in five years) comes from the deluxe iTunes version of Ciao My Shining Star: The Songs of Mark Mulcahy, a fantastic tribute album that includes Thom Yorke, Michael Stipe and a ton of other great acts. Proceeds from the album will go to the former Miracle Legion and Polaris frontman, who lost his wife suddenly last year and is raising their young twins by himself. It's a very worthy cause, so I encourage everyone to check out the deluxe iTunes version and buy a track or 41. And I highly encourage you to purchase "Closer to the Wall," which features everything I love about the Gravel Pit--masterful drum and bass work from Pete Caldes and Ed V., muscular guitar playing from Lucky Jackson and Jedidiah Parish's bigger than life voice.
BONUS: Here's the Pit playing "Closer to the Wall" at a gig this summer.
And here's the Pit backing up Frank Black at the Ciao My Shining Star: The Songs of Mark Mulcahy concert September 20th in Brooklyn.
This new Pit track (their first in five years) comes from the deluxe iTunes version of Ciao My Shining Star: The Songs of Mark Mulcahy, a fantastic tribute album that includes Thom Yorke, Michael Stipe and a ton of other great acts. Proceeds from the album will go to the former Miracle Legion and Polaris frontman, who lost his wife suddenly last year and is raising their young twins by himself. It's a very worthy cause, so I encourage everyone to check out the deluxe iTunes version and buy a track or 41. And I highly encourage you to purchase "Closer to the Wall," which features everything I love about the Gravel Pit--masterful drum and bass work from Pete Caldes and Ed V., muscular guitar playing from Lucky Jackson and Jedidiah Parish's bigger than life voice.
BONUS: Here's the Pit playing "Closer to the Wall" at a gig this summer.
And here's the Pit backing up Frank Black at the Ciao My Shining Star: The Songs of Mark Mulcahy concert September 20th in Brooklyn.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Song of the Week 9/11/09
Jim Carroll Band - "People Who Died"
After a weekend of thinking about loss, another one comes today with the great Jim Carroll. This song has always been one of my favorites of the early 80s. I didn't want to put the 1995 Basketball Diaries re-recording up, so this live version will have to do.
After a weekend of thinking about loss, another one comes today with the great Jim Carroll. This song has always been one of my favorites of the early 80s. I didn't want to put the 1995 Basketball Diaries re-recording up, so this live version will have to do.
Monday, September 07, 2009
Song of the Week 9/4/09
Sonny & Cher - "I Got You Babe"
Seriously, what took us so long to add this to the song list? It is the perfect karaoke song. (Well, unless you're the guy singing both parts in rehearsal. Then it kind of sucks.)
Have a great wedding David and Melanie.
BONUS: I remember watching this back in high school. 22 years later it's still cool. Letterman really was the best in the mid to late 80s.
Seriously, what took us so long to add this to the song list? It is the perfect karaoke song. (Well, unless you're the guy singing both parts in rehearsal. Then it kind of sucks.)
Have a great wedding David and Melanie.
BONUS: I remember watching this back in high school. 22 years later it's still cool. Letterman really was the best in the mid to late 80s.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Song of the Week 8/28/09
Pearl Jam - "The Fixer"
Penned by Matt Cameron, "The Fixer" is Pearl Jam's most commercial sounding lead track from an album since, well, I'd say Ten and "Alive." It's also one of their most optimistic sounding songs in a long time. When Eddie Vedder sings the first verse, I'm inclined to believe he can do this entire laundry list of tasks:
"When somethings dark, let me shed a little light on it
When somethings cold, let me put a little fire on it
If somethings old, I wanna put a bit of shine on it
When somethings gone, I wanna fight to get it back again"
Add in the production touch of Brendan O'Brien (strategically placed handclaps, a tiny piano part, guitars that sound like 80s synths, or perhaps actually 80s synths) and you've got one great 2:55 song.
(Sidebar: Why has Brendan O'Brien made other acts--the E Street Band, cough cough--sound so muddled, yet this PJ track has the treble all the way up? Weird.)
With O'Brien's behind the console for the new album Backspacer (his the first time recording the band since my favorite Pearl Jam album, 1998's Yield) and its 11 tracks clocking in at under 37 minutes, I am optimistic that it might be a damn fine disc. That will only get more excited to see them in Austin at the close of ACL (even if both my friends going to ACL ditch me because they don't care to see the band).
Penned by Matt Cameron, "The Fixer" is Pearl Jam's most commercial sounding lead track from an album since, well, I'd say Ten and "Alive." It's also one of their most optimistic sounding songs in a long time. When Eddie Vedder sings the first verse, I'm inclined to believe he can do this entire laundry list of tasks:
"When somethings dark, let me shed a little light on it
When somethings cold, let me put a little fire on it
If somethings old, I wanna put a bit of shine on it
When somethings gone, I wanna fight to get it back again"
Add in the production touch of Brendan O'Brien (strategically placed handclaps, a tiny piano part, guitars that sound like 80s synths, or perhaps actually 80s synths) and you've got one great 2:55 song.
(Sidebar: Why has Brendan O'Brien made other acts--the E Street Band, cough cough--sound so muddled, yet this PJ track has the treble all the way up? Weird.)
With O'Brien's behind the console for the new album Backspacer (his the first time recording the band since my favorite Pearl Jam album, 1998's Yield) and its 11 tracks clocking in at under 37 minutes, I am optimistic that it might be a damn fine disc. That will only get more excited to see them in Austin at the close of ACL (even if both my friends going to ACL ditch me because they don't care to see the band).
Monday, August 24, 2009
Song of the Week 8/21/09
Brendan Benson - "A Whole Lot Better"
Dear Brendan,
I love The Raconteurs, but four years is too long to wait for a power-pop gem like this.
(And it's too long to wait for an album just packed with ridiculously catchy songs.)
Rock on, and I hope we only have to wait two years next time,
Steve
BONUS: Brendan, I think Dave likes you. And way to hit that note in the break!
Dear Brendan,
I love The Raconteurs, but four years is too long to wait for a power-pop gem like this.
(And it's too long to wait for an album just packed with ridiculously catchy songs.)
Rock on, and I hope we only have to wait two years next time,
Steve
BONUS: Brendan, I think Dave likes you. And way to hit that note in the break!
Monday, August 17, 2009
Song of the Week 8/14/09
Steely Dan - "The Royal Scam"
Once in a great while something comes along that makes me think, "Fuck it, I am worthy of spending this extra money." Three weeks ago I made that call when one of my co-workers forwarded me an email declaring that tickets to some Steely Dan dates at the Beacon Theater were being "discounted" for two days only. I use quotes around discounted because cutting a concert ticket from $160 down to $99 isn't really a discount. I'm not one to shell out that kind of money for tickets that often (the multi-artist, multi-awesome ACL Festival being the exception). Yet I felt compelled to break out the credit card because a) in all my years of Steely Dan fandom, I've never seen them play since they reunited in 1994 and b) the album they were playing on the discounted night was 1976's The Royal Scam. It is, quite simply, one of my favorite albums ever.
A decade ago in the RT20 I did a list called The Top 30 Albums of the pre-'90s. The Royal Scam landed at number-29 (it's much higher now). Back then I described how I came to discover The Royal Scam:
"My sophomore year my friend Dave Hoffman turned me onto the wonders of The Royal Scam. Dave told me that he loved listening to this album at a really loud volume in the dark because it 'totally filled the room.' So one night decided to see for myself, borrowing his copy of the album and listening to it loudly when I crashed at a friend room’s while my roommate’s girlfriend was in town. Dave was right—and I was even sober!!! Songs like 'The Caves of Altamira' and 'Don’t Take Me Alive' just came at my ears from everywhere at once. The topper was the title track—I actually felt a bit scared by how perfect it sounded. I went out and bought The Royal Scam the next week, and have let it fill up many rooms in many different apartments since."
(In some strange stroke of fate, Dave called me just before I was going to the Beacon, I told him I was going to see Steely Dan, and he said almost the exact same thing two decades later. Wow.)
Once the lights went down at the Beacon I had a fleeting thought--"What if this is kind of a let down?" After the opening song, "Kid Charlemagne," I knew that a let down was impossible. The track sounded even more vibrant than the recorded version. The band Donald Fagen and Walter Becker had put together for this tour was, well, smoking. And the entire crowd was absorbing in every note and nuance. When guitarist Jon Herington (who was a star all night) did a couple of tasty licks at the end of "Kid Charlemagne" that weren't on the album, the crowd roared as one. I can't remember the last time I was at a show where the crowd was so in tuned with everything the musicians on stage were doing. This audience (which for the most part was probably a decade older than me) was one of the most attentive I've ever been in, and that made the experience that much better.
When Fagen and Becker and company finally reached the album's title (and closing track), I still wondered if it could fill up a dark room. And my goodness, it certainly did. I could have left the show completely happy at that point. But Steely Dan had other ideas, as they did another 90 minutes of great material. "Aja" sparkled, "Third World Man" from Gaucho was a welcome rarity and "Daddy Don't Live in that New York City No More" was a lot of fun. When I checked the time on my phone and saw it was 10:30, I realized that the show was probably coming to an end and I had probably heard all of my favorites from their catalog. And then, as if to make fun of my faulty memory, they broke into my favorite non-Royal Scam song--"My Old School." It was a perfect ending for one of my favorite shows of 2009.
Once in a great while something comes along that makes me think, "Fuck it, I am worthy of spending this extra money." Three weeks ago I made that call when one of my co-workers forwarded me an email declaring that tickets to some Steely Dan dates at the Beacon Theater were being "discounted" for two days only. I use quotes around discounted because cutting a concert ticket from $160 down to $99 isn't really a discount. I'm not one to shell out that kind of money for tickets that often (the multi-artist, multi-awesome ACL Festival being the exception). Yet I felt compelled to break out the credit card because a) in all my years of Steely Dan fandom, I've never seen them play since they reunited in 1994 and b) the album they were playing on the discounted night was 1976's The Royal Scam. It is, quite simply, one of my favorite albums ever.
A decade ago in the RT20 I did a list called The Top 30 Albums of the pre-'90s. The Royal Scam landed at number-29 (it's much higher now). Back then I described how I came to discover The Royal Scam:
"My sophomore year my friend Dave Hoffman turned me onto the wonders of The Royal Scam. Dave told me that he loved listening to this album at a really loud volume in the dark because it 'totally filled the room.' So one night decided to see for myself, borrowing his copy of the album and listening to it loudly when I crashed at a friend room’s while my roommate’s girlfriend was in town. Dave was right—and I was even sober!!! Songs like 'The Caves of Altamira' and 'Don’t Take Me Alive' just came at my ears from everywhere at once. The topper was the title track—I actually felt a bit scared by how perfect it sounded. I went out and bought The Royal Scam the next week, and have let it fill up many rooms in many different apartments since."
(In some strange stroke of fate, Dave called me just before I was going to the Beacon, I told him I was going to see Steely Dan, and he said almost the exact same thing two decades later. Wow.)
Once the lights went down at the Beacon I had a fleeting thought--"What if this is kind of a let down?" After the opening song, "Kid Charlemagne," I knew that a let down was impossible. The track sounded even more vibrant than the recorded version. The band Donald Fagen and Walter Becker had put together for this tour was, well, smoking. And the entire crowd was absorbing in every note and nuance. When guitarist Jon Herington (who was a star all night) did a couple of tasty licks at the end of "Kid Charlemagne" that weren't on the album, the crowd roared as one. I can't remember the last time I was at a show where the crowd was so in tuned with everything the musicians on stage were doing. This audience (which for the most part was probably a decade older than me) was one of the most attentive I've ever been in, and that made the experience that much better.
When Fagen and Becker and company finally reached the album's title (and closing track), I still wondered if it could fill up a dark room. And my goodness, it certainly did. I could have left the show completely happy at that point. But Steely Dan had other ideas, as they did another 90 minutes of great material. "Aja" sparkled, "Third World Man" from Gaucho was a welcome rarity and "Daddy Don't Live in that New York City No More" was a lot of fun. When I checked the time on my phone and saw it was 10:30, I realized that the show was probably coming to an end and I had probably heard all of my favorites from their catalog. And then, as if to make fun of my faulty memory, they broke into my favorite non-Royal Scam song--"My Old School." It was a perfect ending for one of my favorite shows of 2009.
Saturday, August 08, 2009
Song of the Week 8/7/09
Gary "U.S." Bonds - "This Little Girl"
I had a dream last weekend that included this song in the background. I have no idea why. I haven't thought about this song is 25 years, perhaps even more. Fortunately, it sounds better than it did in my dream. "This Little Girl" comes from one of the two Bonds albums that Bruce Springsteen had a hand in making in the early 80s. The Boss attempted to kickstart a comeback for the "Quarter to Three" singer by writing this first single from 1981's Dedication. And it worked as "This Little Girl" became Bonds' first Top 40 hit in 20 years, peaking at number-11. With its sax and guitar interplay, one could easily hear it as a Springsteen song that might have appeared on The River. (Or amongst the amazing outtakes from The River and Born in the U.S.A. eras on the Tracks box set.) Bruce really could write hits for other artists.
BONUS: Bonds tearing it up in 1989. At 1:43 you will see two of the best hairstyles ever...
And this song from 1982 seems very appropriate for today (Bruce knew how to write in the Reagan years):
I had a dream last weekend that included this song in the background. I have no idea why. I haven't thought about this song is 25 years, perhaps even more. Fortunately, it sounds better than it did in my dream. "This Little Girl" comes from one of the two Bonds albums that Bruce Springsteen had a hand in making in the early 80s. The Boss attempted to kickstart a comeback for the "Quarter to Three" singer by writing this first single from 1981's Dedication. And it worked as "This Little Girl" became Bonds' first Top 40 hit in 20 years, peaking at number-11. With its sax and guitar interplay, one could easily hear it as a Springsteen song that might have appeared on The River. (Or amongst the amazing outtakes from The River and Born in the U.S.A. eras on the Tracks box set.) Bruce really could write hits for other artists.
BONUS: Bonds tearing it up in 1989. At 1:43 you will see two of the best hairstyles ever...
And this song from 1982 seems very appropriate for today (Bruce knew how to write in the Reagan years):
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Song of the Week 7/31/09
The Moody Blues - "The Voice"
I've found myself relying more and more on one on the iPhone's most basic of features as the months have gone on--the notepad. No longer do I have to rely on stuffing numerous tiny pieces of paper in my front pocket so I would remember what tasks mundane or however difficult I had to tackle in any given day.
With this new found ability I was able to write down a bunch of the songs I had forgotten about that were featured in the CBS-FM Z to A countdown last month. One of those tracks was The Moody Blues "I'm Just a singer in a rock and roll band." I got around to downloading the track, and hearing it brought back a ton of of classic rock memories. I knew "Nights in White Satin" from it being a hit when I was a kid. And when I really got into Albany's AOR station PYX 106, the Moodys were a band I got into quickly because songs like "Tuesday Afternoon" and "Legend of a mind" were cut from the same cloth.
I ended up buying the cassette you see above in the fall of 1985. To my surprise I knew one song on it that PYX rarely played, "The Voice." It was a Top 15 hit in 1981 and I must have heard it a couple of times on either WGY out of Schenectady or WDRC out of Hartford. I was so psyched hearing this tune again. I was, dare I write it, nostalgic for 1981 in 1985. Ah what a weird kid I was...and still am today.
As soon as I saw "The Voice" listed in the audio database at work, I knew I had to have it. 12 listens later and I'm still hooked on that sound that--I will readily admit--hasn't quite stood the test of time.
BONUS: Here's a weird version of "The Voice" on a UK talk show from 1981. Justin Hayward is singing live and the guitar sounds live--yet the drums sound pre-recorded. Hmm.
I've found myself relying more and more on one on the iPhone's most basic of features as the months have gone on--the notepad. No longer do I have to rely on stuffing numerous tiny pieces of paper in my front pocket so I would remember what tasks mundane or however difficult I had to tackle in any given day.
With this new found ability I was able to write down a bunch of the songs I had forgotten about that were featured in the CBS-FM Z to A countdown last month. One of those tracks was The Moody Blues "I'm Just a singer in a rock and roll band." I got around to downloading the track, and hearing it brought back a ton of of classic rock memories. I knew "Nights in White Satin" from it being a hit when I was a kid. And when I really got into Albany's AOR station PYX 106, the Moodys were a band I got into quickly because songs like "Tuesday Afternoon" and "Legend of a mind" were cut from the same cloth.
I ended up buying the cassette you see above in the fall of 1985. To my surprise I knew one song on it that PYX rarely played, "The Voice." It was a Top 15 hit in 1981 and I must have heard it a couple of times on either WGY out of Schenectady or WDRC out of Hartford. I was so psyched hearing this tune again. I was, dare I write it, nostalgic for 1981 in 1985. Ah what a weird kid I was...and still am today.
As soon as I saw "The Voice" listed in the audio database at work, I knew I had to have it. 12 listens later and I'm still hooked on that sound that--I will readily admit--hasn't quite stood the test of time.
BONUS: Here's a weird version of "The Voice" on a UK talk show from 1981. Justin Hayward is singing live and the guitar sounds live--yet the drums sound pre-recorded. Hmm.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Song of the Week 7/24/09
Ingrid Michaelson - "Maybe"
I've written about Ms. Michaelson in the past on the blog and the RT20 about how she's such an entertaining interview subject. I spoke with her once again last week for her upcoming album Everybody. And for someone who's so witty and charming in an interview (and afterwards) as well as on stage, it's still surprising to me that she writes some of the darkest songs about relationships of any artist I've come in contact with the past few years. Everybody is--lyically at least--one downer of an album.
Michaelson told me that Everybody is an album about how "love is not enough to keep a relationship going." She wasn't kidding, as song after song is about relationships getting blown apart. "Maybe" closes the album on a kind of uplifting note (which was by design to soften the blow of all the bummers that come before it). It's perhaps her slickest production yet, and that's probably why I found myself humming it over and over again the past seven days.
Upon futher reflection, a chorus that goes "maybe in the future you're gonna come back" ain't so uplifting. But at least it's got a mass of Michaelsons sining the chorus. She does an incredible job of hamonizing with herself. I could listen to her do harmonies all day.
I've written about Ms. Michaelson in the past on the blog and the RT20 about how she's such an entertaining interview subject. I spoke with her once again last week for her upcoming album Everybody. And for someone who's so witty and charming in an interview (and afterwards) as well as on stage, it's still surprising to me that she writes some of the darkest songs about relationships of any artist I've come in contact with the past few years. Everybody is--lyically at least--one downer of an album.
Michaelson told me that Everybody is an album about how "love is not enough to keep a relationship going." She wasn't kidding, as song after song is about relationships getting blown apart. "Maybe" closes the album on a kind of uplifting note (which was by design to soften the blow of all the bummers that come before it). It's perhaps her slickest production yet, and that's probably why I found myself humming it over and over again the past seven days.
Upon futher reflection, a chorus that goes "maybe in the future you're gonna come back" ain't so uplifting. But at least it's got a mass of Michaelsons sining the chorus. She does an incredible job of hamonizing with herself. I could listen to her do harmonies all day.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Song of the Week 7/17/09
Billy Bragg & Wilco - "Hoodoo Voodoo"
A chance to see Wilco play just blocks from the Mermaid Avenue in Coney Island? I couldn't pass that up. And I couldn't pass up naming "Hoodoo Voodoo" SOTW after this live performance Monday night:
Wow. That was the best version I've ever seen. And it was just as good five nights later in Wappingers Falls.
A chance to see Wilco play just blocks from the Mermaid Avenue in Coney Island? I couldn't pass that up. And I couldn't pass up naming "Hoodoo Voodoo" SOTW after this live performance Monday night:
Wow. That was the best version I've ever seen. And it was just as good five nights later in Wappingers Falls.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Song of the Week 7/10/09
Bob Welch - "Sentimental Lady"
WCBS-FM here in New York did their (what now seems go be) annual Fourth of July trip through the alphabet last week. This year it had twist--Z to A instead of regular alphabetical order. Even backwards, it's still the coolest thing on commercial radio. I heard tons of songs that made me think, "Damn, I should make sure that own this song, and download it if I don't." So this year I used the handy note feature on the iPhone to keep track of what I wanted. And this hit single from the former Fleetwood Mac singer-guitarist was at the top of the list. It's a smooth rock gem from 1978 that I remember all the lyrics to 31 years later.
Wow, my brain has a lot of worthless crap in it.
WCBS-FM here in New York did their (what now seems go be) annual Fourth of July trip through the alphabet last week. This year it had twist--Z to A instead of regular alphabetical order. Even backwards, it's still the coolest thing on commercial radio. I heard tons of songs that made me think, "Damn, I should make sure that own this song, and download it if I don't." So this year I used the handy note feature on the iPhone to keep track of what I wanted. And this hit single from the former Fleetwood Mac singer-guitarist was at the top of the list. It's a smooth rock gem from 1978 that I remember all the lyrics to 31 years later.
Wow, my brain has a lot of worthless crap in it.
Friday, July 03, 2009
Song of the Week 7/3/09
Death Cab for Cutie - "Little Bribes"
My friends, today I bring you an example of the Internet doing some good for once. Ross Ching is an out of work director and cinematographer in L.A. Inspired by an old Death Cab for Cutie clip, he decided to make a video to go along with "Little Bribes" from The Open Door EP. Ching writes that ,"The goal was to create a fresh, new direction to take my work to." And he certainly does that, combining stop action, time lapse photography and some handy video effects to create perhaps the best fan made video ever. Stereogum discovers it, tips off someone in the Death Cab camp, and the band posts it on their site in late May. Six weeks later, as "Little Bribes" starts getting airplay at Triple A stations, the band convinces their label to make the clip the official "Little Bribes" video. And then Ching picks up a job making another video for Atlantic.
Seeing someone rewarded for the hard work is so baffling to me. It's not like that happens at my job.
As for "Little Bribes" the song, I have always been a big fan and wondered why Death Cab didn't include this on Narrow Stairs. If it had made the cut, it probably would have been my favorite song. As it is, it's one of my favorite singles of the year.
My friends, today I bring you an example of the Internet doing some good for once. Ross Ching is an out of work director and cinematographer in L.A. Inspired by an old Death Cab for Cutie clip, he decided to make a video to go along with "Little Bribes" from The Open Door EP. Ching writes that ,"The goal was to create a fresh, new direction to take my work to." And he certainly does that, combining stop action, time lapse photography and some handy video effects to create perhaps the best fan made video ever. Stereogum discovers it, tips off someone in the Death Cab camp, and the band posts it on their site in late May. Six weeks later, as "Little Bribes" starts getting airplay at Triple A stations, the band convinces their label to make the clip the official "Little Bribes" video. And then Ching picks up a job making another video for Atlantic.
Seeing someone rewarded for the hard work is so baffling to me. It's not like that happens at my job.
As for "Little Bribes" the song, I have always been a big fan and wondered why Death Cab didn't include this on Narrow Stairs. If it had made the cut, it probably would have been my favorite song. As it is, it's one of my favorite singles of the year.
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Song of the Week 6/26/09
Egghead. - "My Daughter"
Two amazing reunion shows in New York and Baltimore from my friends Mike, Johnny and John? Fantastic.
Two amazing reunion shows in New York and Baltimore where they do two brand new songs? My oh my, I almost can't stop smiling. I love the fact that people were singing along after only two performances.
"My Daughter" might be the best thing to come out of parenthood ever.
Two amazing reunion shows in New York and Baltimore from my friends Mike, Johnny and John? Fantastic.
Two amazing reunion shows in New York and Baltimore where they do two brand new songs? My oh my, I almost can't stop smiling. I love the fact that people were singing along after only two performances.
"My Daughter" might be the best thing to come out of parenthood ever.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Vanessa's Birthday 6/19/09
Wow, what a wild night this was--musically and, um, otherwise at Sharlene's. Here's perhaps the most diverse playlist I have ever spun in the borough of Brooklyn.
Bad Company - "Can't Get Enough"
Blue Oyster Cult - "Burning For You"
The Move - "Lightning Never Strikes Twice"
Cheap Trick - "Southern Girls"
The Faces - "Stay With Me"
J. Geils Band - "Love Stinks"
Rolling Stones - "Monkey Man"
Humble Pie - "30 Days in the Hole"
The Velvet Underground - "Sweet Jane"
Led Zeppelin - "Hot Dog"
Detroit Cobras - "Hot Dog"
PJ Harvey - "Good Fortune"
The Pretenders - "Mystery Achievement"
Blondie - "X Offender"
Big Star - "When My Baby's Beside Me"
Elvis Costello & the Attractions - "Olivers Army"
Wilco - "Monday"
Bob Mould - "See a Little Light"
Matthew Sweet - "Sick of Myself"
Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs - "Care of Cell #44"
The Zombies - "This Will Be Our Year"
Jenny Lewis - "Rise Up With Fists"
Billy Bragg - "The Milkman of Human Kindness"
Pavement - "Summer Babe (Winter Version)"
Nada Surf - "Always Love"
The Raspberries - "Go All the Way"
Dr Hook and The Medicine Show - "Cover of the Rolling Stone"
Todd Rundgren - "Hello Its Me"
Boz Scaggs - "Lowdown"
10CC - "The Things We Do For Love"
Badfinger - "Come And Get It"
Bee Gees - "Massachusetts"
Sam & Dave - "I Thank You"
Wilson Pickett - "Funky Broadway"
Stevie Wonder - "I Wish"
War - "Why Can't We Be Friends"
Curtis Mayfield - "Pusherman"
Earth, Wind & Fire - "That's the Way of the World"
Marvin Gaye - "Inner City Blues"
Prince - "Little Red Corvette"
Beck - "Debra"
MGMT - "Electric Feel"
LCD Soundsystem - "All My Friends"
Electric Six - "Danger! High Voltage"
Devo - "Whip It"
Bow Wow Wow - "I Want Candy"
Men at Work - "Who Can It Be Now"
Tears For Fears - "Head Over Heels"
The Outfield - "Your Love"
Duran Duran - "Girls on Film"
Psychedelic Furs - "Pretty in Pink"
Asia - "Heat of the Moment"
REO Speedwagon - "Keep On Loving You"
Ratt - "Round and Round"
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts - "Do You Wanna Touch Me"
The Motels - "Only the Lonely"
ABC - "The Look of Love"
Kim Wilde - "Kids in America"
Wall of Voodoo - "Mexican Radio"
Nik Kershaw - "Wouldn't It be Good"
Toto - "Africa"
Hall & Oates - "Kiss on My List"
Pat Benetar - "Hit me With Your Best Shot"
Big Country - "In a Big Country"
The Cars - "Bye Bye Love"
ZZ Top - "Waiting for the Bus"/"Jesus Just Left Chicago"
Elvis Presley - "Suspicious Minds"
Sly & the Family Stone - "Family Affair"
Bee Gees - "Fanny (Be Tender With My Love)"
Kiss - "Beth"
Led Zeppelin - "Fool in the Rain"
Mott the Hoople - "All the Young Dudes"
Fine Young Cannibals - "Suspicious Minds"
Urge Overkill - "Sister Havana"
Stone Roses - "She Bangs the Drums"
AC/DC - "TNT"
Motorhead - "Ace of Spades"
Sex Pistols - "Problems"
Ramones - "Today You Love, Tomorrow the World"
Black Flag - "TV Party"
Dead Kennedys - "Too Drunk to Fuck"
Fear - "I Love Living in the City"
Husker Du - "Makes No Sense at All"
Killing Joke - "Eighties"
Replacements - "Left of the Dial"
Spoon - "I Turn My Camera On"
Robyn Hitchcock & The Egyptians - "Flesh # 1"
Big Star - "Thirteen"
Hall and Oates - "One on One"
Beirut - "Rhineland (Heartland)"
Magnetic Fields - "Kiss me Like You Mean It"
Neil Young - "Only Love Can Break Your Heart"
Elvis Costello - "Brilliant Mistake"
Wilco - "Jesus, Etc"
Flaming Lips - "Waiting for a Superman"
White Stripes - 'We're Going to be Friends"
Stevie Wonder - "I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will be Forever)"
Lindsey Buckingham - "Trouble"
Fleetwood Mac - "Think About Me"
Michael Jackson - "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough"
Bee Gees - "Love You Inside Out"
David Bowie - "Modern Love"
Prince - "1999"
Hall and Oates - "Private Eyes"
Hall and Oates - "I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)"
Nada Surf - "Inside of Love"
Bad Company - "Can't Get Enough"
Blue Oyster Cult - "Burning For You"
The Move - "Lightning Never Strikes Twice"
Cheap Trick - "Southern Girls"
The Faces - "Stay With Me"
J. Geils Band - "Love Stinks"
Rolling Stones - "Monkey Man"
Humble Pie - "30 Days in the Hole"
The Velvet Underground - "Sweet Jane"
Led Zeppelin - "Hot Dog"
Detroit Cobras - "Hot Dog"
PJ Harvey - "Good Fortune"
The Pretenders - "Mystery Achievement"
Blondie - "X Offender"
Big Star - "When My Baby's Beside Me"
Elvis Costello & the Attractions - "Olivers Army"
Wilco - "Monday"
Bob Mould - "See a Little Light"
Matthew Sweet - "Sick of Myself"
Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs - "Care of Cell #44"
The Zombies - "This Will Be Our Year"
Jenny Lewis - "Rise Up With Fists"
Billy Bragg - "The Milkman of Human Kindness"
Pavement - "Summer Babe (Winter Version)"
Nada Surf - "Always Love"
The Raspberries - "Go All the Way"
Dr Hook and The Medicine Show - "Cover of the Rolling Stone"
Todd Rundgren - "Hello Its Me"
Boz Scaggs - "Lowdown"
10CC - "The Things We Do For Love"
Badfinger - "Come And Get It"
Bee Gees - "Massachusetts"
Sam & Dave - "I Thank You"
Wilson Pickett - "Funky Broadway"
Stevie Wonder - "I Wish"
War - "Why Can't We Be Friends"
Curtis Mayfield - "Pusherman"
Earth, Wind & Fire - "That's the Way of the World"
Marvin Gaye - "Inner City Blues"
Prince - "Little Red Corvette"
Beck - "Debra"
MGMT - "Electric Feel"
LCD Soundsystem - "All My Friends"
Electric Six - "Danger! High Voltage"
Devo - "Whip It"
Bow Wow Wow - "I Want Candy"
Men at Work - "Who Can It Be Now"
Tears For Fears - "Head Over Heels"
The Outfield - "Your Love"
Duran Duran - "Girls on Film"
Psychedelic Furs - "Pretty in Pink"
Asia - "Heat of the Moment"
REO Speedwagon - "Keep On Loving You"
Ratt - "Round and Round"
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts - "Do You Wanna Touch Me"
The Motels - "Only the Lonely"
ABC - "The Look of Love"
Kim Wilde - "Kids in America"
Wall of Voodoo - "Mexican Radio"
Nik Kershaw - "Wouldn't It be Good"
Toto - "Africa"
Hall & Oates - "Kiss on My List"
Pat Benetar - "Hit me With Your Best Shot"
Big Country - "In a Big Country"
The Cars - "Bye Bye Love"
ZZ Top - "Waiting for the Bus"/"Jesus Just Left Chicago"
Elvis Presley - "Suspicious Minds"
Sly & the Family Stone - "Family Affair"
Bee Gees - "Fanny (Be Tender With My Love)"
Kiss - "Beth"
Led Zeppelin - "Fool in the Rain"
Mott the Hoople - "All the Young Dudes"
Fine Young Cannibals - "Suspicious Minds"
Urge Overkill - "Sister Havana"
Stone Roses - "She Bangs the Drums"
AC/DC - "TNT"
Motorhead - "Ace of Spades"
Sex Pistols - "Problems"
Ramones - "Today You Love, Tomorrow the World"
Black Flag - "TV Party"
Dead Kennedys - "Too Drunk to Fuck"
Fear - "I Love Living in the City"
Husker Du - "Makes No Sense at All"
Killing Joke - "Eighties"
Replacements - "Left of the Dial"
Spoon - "I Turn My Camera On"
Robyn Hitchcock & The Egyptians - "Flesh # 1"
Big Star - "Thirteen"
Hall and Oates - "One on One"
Beirut - "Rhineland (Heartland)"
Magnetic Fields - "Kiss me Like You Mean It"
Neil Young - "Only Love Can Break Your Heart"
Elvis Costello - "Brilliant Mistake"
Wilco - "Jesus, Etc"
Flaming Lips - "Waiting for a Superman"
White Stripes - 'We're Going to be Friends"
Stevie Wonder - "I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will be Forever)"
Lindsey Buckingham - "Trouble"
Fleetwood Mac - "Think About Me"
Michael Jackson - "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough"
Bee Gees - "Love You Inside Out"
David Bowie - "Modern Love"
Prince - "1999"
Hall and Oates - "Private Eyes"
Hall and Oates - "I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)"
Nada Surf - "Inside of Love"
Monday, June 22, 2009
Song fo the Week 6/19/09
Creedence Clearwater Revival - "Who'll Stop the Rain"
I heard this song twice in the middle of the night over the past week. Thanks for pissing me off at 3am, CBS-FM. It's a question we New Yorkers have asked all throughout June.
BONUS: There's no footage of the CCR performing this song on You Tube, but there is a great clip of John Fogerty finally breaking 15 years of silence and performing CCR songs at the Vietnam Vet benefit on the Fourth of July 1987. This show is pretty legendary because Fogerty vowed to never do CCR songs again, and for him to break that vow at an event honoring a group which strongly identified with songs like "Fortunate Son"...well, by all accounts many tears were shed that day.
Bruce Springsteen likes breaking this song out at outdoor shows to reward fans waiting through inclement weather. He did it last month in Stockholm, Sweden.
I heard this song twice in the middle of the night over the past week. Thanks for pissing me off at 3am, CBS-FM. It's a question we New Yorkers have asked all throughout June.
BONUS: There's no footage of the CCR performing this song on You Tube, but there is a great clip of John Fogerty finally breaking 15 years of silence and performing CCR songs at the Vietnam Vet benefit on the Fourth of July 1987. This show is pretty legendary because Fogerty vowed to never do CCR songs again, and for him to break that vow at an event honoring a group which strongly identified with songs like "Fortunate Son"...well, by all accounts many tears were shed that day.
Bruce Springsteen likes breaking this song out at outdoor shows to reward fans waiting through inclement weather. He did it last month in Stockholm, Sweden.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Song of the Week 6/12/09
The Posies - "Flavor of the Month"
I must give a shout out to my pal Jack McFadden (a.k.a. Skippy) for booking such great back-to-back nights of rock at The Bell House. Thursday it was a stellar set from Robyn Hitchcock and the Venus 3. Friday it was The Posies, performing their great 1993 album Frosting on the Beater in its entirety. I mean, wow, what joy each of these nights brought me. It was the fourth time I've seen Hitchcock and the Venus 3, and it was by far the best. And I haven't seen The Posies since 1996 at Coney Island High on St. Mark's...which just makes me feel old. When the Beater set was over, Ken Stringfellow, Jon Auer and company came back and did a great miniset of songs from their albums--and they played every single one of my favorites from their catalog (save the production heavy "Golden Blunders.") Oh, how I love power pop heaven.
I suppose I choose "Flavor of the Month" for this week because that has always been my favorite song on Frosting on the Beater, but realistically it could have been any song either of these two bands played over the two nights.
EDIT: I just saw that The Posies did this show last night at the Gramercy Theater. Shit, if I had known that I probably would have done back-to-back Posies nights. Oh well.
BONUS: Oh yeah, I had the camera working overtime at these shows.
The Posies - "Flavor of the Month"
Robyn Hitchcock & the Venus 3 - "NY Doll"
Robyn Hitchcock & the Venus 3 - "Roadhouse Blues"
I must give a shout out to my pal Jack McFadden (a.k.a. Skippy) for booking such great back-to-back nights of rock at The Bell House. Thursday it was a stellar set from Robyn Hitchcock and the Venus 3. Friday it was The Posies, performing their great 1993 album Frosting on the Beater in its entirety. I mean, wow, what joy each of these nights brought me. It was the fourth time I've seen Hitchcock and the Venus 3, and it was by far the best. And I haven't seen The Posies since 1996 at Coney Island High on St. Mark's...which just makes me feel old. When the Beater set was over, Ken Stringfellow, Jon Auer and company came back and did a great miniset of songs from their albums--and they played every single one of my favorites from their catalog (save the production heavy "Golden Blunders.") Oh, how I love power pop heaven.
I suppose I choose "Flavor of the Month" for this week because that has always been my favorite song on Frosting on the Beater, but realistically it could have been any song either of these two bands played over the two nights.
EDIT: I just saw that The Posies did this show last night at the Gramercy Theater. Shit, if I had known that I probably would have done back-to-back Posies nights. Oh well.
BONUS: Oh yeah, I had the camera working overtime at these shows.
The Posies - "Flavor of the Month"
Robyn Hitchcock & the Venus 3 - "NY Doll"
Robyn Hitchcock & the Venus 3 - "Roadhouse Blues"
Saturday, June 06, 2009
Song of the Week 6/5/09
The Decemberists - "Crazy on You" (Live)
I must admit that I'm not a fan of The Decemberists new album The Hazards of Love, which is why I passed twice on offers of tickets to see them at Radio City Music Hall on June 10th. Colin Meloy and company are doing the entire puzzling (and at times, pompous) concept album straight through at each show, and I'm pretty sure that would drive me to distraction.
But if I had known that at the end of the night Meloy would be using guest vocalists Shara Worden (of My Brightest Diamond) and Becky Stark (of Lavender Diamond ) -- they play key female characters on The Hazards of Love -- to tackle a great song by a fellow Northwestern band, I might have reconsidered.
Jeebus, they sing the shit out of that. I've watched it 10 times this week, and two more times just embedding it in this post. Let's hope a proper live recording is released at some point.
(HT to Stereogum and You Ain't No Picasso for discovering this gem)
I must admit that I'm not a fan of The Decemberists new album The Hazards of Love, which is why I passed twice on offers of tickets to see them at Radio City Music Hall on June 10th. Colin Meloy and company are doing the entire puzzling (and at times, pompous) concept album straight through at each show, and I'm pretty sure that would drive me to distraction.
But if I had known that at the end of the night Meloy would be using guest vocalists Shara Worden (of My Brightest Diamond) and Becky Stark (of Lavender Diamond ) -- they play key female characters on The Hazards of Love -- to tackle a great song by a fellow Northwestern band, I might have reconsidered.
Jeebus, they sing the shit out of that. I've watched it 10 times this week, and two more times just embedding it in this post. Let's hope a proper live recording is released at some point.
(HT to Stereogum and You Ain't No Picasso for discovering this gem)
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