i want to get under your skin

long before she was the impossibly intriguing love interest in the science of sleep, before she was in 21 grams, charlotte gainsbourg was just (no, never just!) the daughter of serge gainsbourg and jane birkin.



i continue to be surprised by the great reach of the weirdo-musician-with-hot-woman phenomenon. it's easy enough to explain (talent, charisma, attention, drugs, temporary insanity...) but that doesn't mean it necessarily makes sense. nonetheless, without this phenomenon, the world wouldn't have charlotte gainsbourg, and we'd be poorer for it. so to all you weirdo musicians out there who may someday record a song called lemon incest with your daughter: i salute you??
hmm.
anyway. this is not about serge, who was an intriguing, widely-influenced musician who managed to stir up controversy at every turn. maybe not musical controversy, but controversy all the same.
this is not even about jane, who is a talented human, humanitarian, and also a serious weirdo in her own right. (although that bit about naming her nipples gestures at a fairly interesting woman, don't you think?) so it all sort of makes sense when you think about the fact that she was married to a man who sang a song about anise lollipops as a metaphor for um... well, surely you can figure out what "ani loves suckers" might indicate.
anyway. this is about charlotte, wonderful charlotte, who managed to walk away from that train wreck of an origin story with an absolutely amazing range of talent. there's the whole movie thing...
and then there's her music. 5:55, is in pretty much constant rotation as far as my listening habits go.
when it came out in 2006, people mentioned it being her first album in 20 years.
for a woman born in 1971, that has a special ring to it in and of itself.
the album begins with the lovely, haunting, eponymous track, which may or may not slip right past your consciousness. in fact, that's something this album as a whole can do - it will either push in between your ribs like a knife and pierce your heart, or it will breeze right past you, a breathy, french ode to love and lust and heartbreak and the mystery that is life.
it should be mentioned that the music for this album is provided by air - which may or may not give you some perspective as to where it all comes from.
charlotte's voice is breathy, sensual, sweet, often shy, a lot like her mother's and, without a doubt, totally foreign. it always seems (to me, anyway...) that the greatest gift that multilingual lyricists give us is perspective - seeing and hearing things through foreign filters, but in our own tongue. this whole album is a range of such revelations, with songs like beauty mark and set yourself on fire, both of which are ultimately, heartbreakingly human.
but the star of the show? the one that stops my heart, that makes me put this whole album on repeat for hours on end?
the operation.
please to enjoy:

Tickle My Ivories: Pianists Everyone Can Appreciate

If you're like me, then you have a strange fetish for musicians that play the same instrument as yourself. For me, that is piano. I've never had formal training, but growing up with an opera singer and professional pianist/organist for a mother, well, something is bound to rub off.

Of course, my mom being the classical nut that she is, I grew up listening strictly to Chopin, Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Rachmaninoff, and other amazing composers that are also dead. So I had to discover a lot of this on my own; the first real rock piano player I was exposed to (and enjoyed) was NOT Billy Joel, Elton John, or Bruce Springsteen. It was a middle-eastern born boy with an overbite from Godtopus himself.

Freddie Mercury
You can't deny his charisma, or his songwriting. Hell, Mercury is a legend.
Queen, Don't Stop Me Now



Jerry Lee Lewis
This man doesn't need an introduction. And if he does, then you need some serious schooling on the roots of rock, honey.
Jerry Lee, Great Balls of Fire
*Note Dick Clark, and how ancient his ass must be.



Nick Cave
For me, Nick is the epitome of an artist, one whose means of creation just happens to be music. That, and he is deliciously curmudgeonly.
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, The Mercy Seat
*This is from a Japanese TV show, and is a hilarious set-up for Nick's performance; do yourself a favor and listen to the exchange between Nick and the host. Also, check out the fucking amazing piano that he is playing. I'm lusting after it something fierce.



Tori Amos
I worship at the altar of the Almighty Amos. I always have, and I always will; I don't give a shit what direction she takes. But this song, from her most recent collection, is a really interesting choice. My inner Southern girlie does what the kids call "squee" when I hear this.
Tori Amos, Big Wheel



Diana Krall
I really wanted to do a jazz pianist post, and that still might happen, but I had to add two of my favorite jazz pianists because this list would feel so incomplete without them. Diana, who by default would be the coolest woman ever simply by being married to Elvis Costello (shut it you), is not only cooler than cool, but can play her ass off. Not many people can do a Joni Mitchell cover, especially Case Of You, and not only pull it off, but in my opinion give it just the right amount of emotional impact. She kicks.
Diana Krall, Case Of You



Natasha Khan
Run, do not walk, to check out Bat For Lashes. This song isn't as piano heavy (it has more organ), but the rest of the songs on the album are much more plunk. This one is just badass, and the video rocks. How can you not love mask wearing bikers that do wheelies and claps on beat? The answer is, "You can't."
Bat For Lashes, What's A Girl To Do



Ray Charles
The TRUE king. Truly, for truth.
Ray Charles, Georgia On My Mind



Armando "Chick" Corea
Chick is my other jazz pianist addition, and this video is pretty charming. His touch is amazingly light, facile, and extremely quick. Also, he might be cheesy, but you cannot deny Bobby McFerrin's incredible talent. This duet is really nice, especially for any jazz lovers in the house.
Chick Corea and Bobby McFerrin, Armando's Rhumba



Ben Folds
My hometown boy! If you have never seen Ben in concert, you are missing out on probably one of the best live shows. Try to see him in the smallest possible venue.
Ben Folds Five, Brick



Marketa Irglova
Oscar winner. Actress. Musician. That's a hell of a resume for this up and comer. Marketa's voice is simple and proficient, and her voice is somewhat ethereal and childlike. Very nice combination.
The Swell Season, The Hill
*Please excuse the video; it had the least cheese factor. Sheesh.


Honorable Mentions:
John Lennon
Trent Reznor
Cat Stevens
Billy Joel
Bruce Springsteen
Tom Waits
Thelonious Monk
Art Tatum
Natalie Merchant
Zakk Wylde

The return of Lollapalooza

I’ll be heading off to my fourth consecutive year of Lollapalooza on Friday. I never had the privilege of going when it was a touring show, I only caught it when it stationed itself in the great Chi-town. Some people might say Lolla has turned into a corporate hungry event with overpriced everything. I am not a fan of any of that type of garbage and I’ve managed to have a good time every year and not get into any fist fights. Here’s a playlist of bands that have played Lolla the past three years. Hopefully I’ll be back next week with a recap of 2008, as long as I don’t die of alcohol poisoning or sun stroke.

2005:
Billy Idol – Hot In the City (video below)
Pixies – Where Is My Mind
The Black Keys – Just Couldn’t Tie Me Down
G. Love and Special Sauce – Rodeo Clowns




2006:
The Flaming Lips – She Don’t Use Jelly
Violent Femmes – American Music
Ohmega Watts – That Sound
Lyrics Born – I Like It, I Love It (Jimmy Kimmel performance below)




2007:
Interpol – Evil (video below, it creeps me the fuck out)
Amy Winehouse – Valerie
Rodrigo & Gabriela – Diablo Rojo
TV on the Radio – Staring at the Sun

Let Me Introduce You to Some of My Favorite Women

Hello, boys and girls. Today I decided to introduce you to some songs that have to do with women. Not just women in general, but an ideal or actual woman that someone wrote about who affected them. In some cases, we have an actual name given to the woman, although we have found all through history that the real name is not always given (see “Layla” by Derek and the Dominoes, written by Eric Clapton, about George Harrison’s wife, Patti Boyd as an example). In other cases, it’s the relationship with the woman (as in “She’s My Ex” by ALL, listed below).

It’s hard for me to nail down in words, but most of the time I feel that when men write about women, there’s a lot of unknowns or mystery in the songs, maybe even confusion or hurt because of misunderstanding or a lack of knowledge when the songs involve love or intimacy. Think about this when you look at the lyrics of the songs that are familiar to you. I intend to show how men are more specific in fleshing out the subject when they are talking about men in another post.

Remember as always with me, it’s not only the lyrics but the combination of music and lyrics.

“V” – Golden Smog

When I was down, she was full of advice
She said she’d been there once or twice
With a ring on the side of her nose
Wearing other people’s clothes

V is a woman who used to wait on the guys at the bar, and when I mean wait, I mean she served them cold beverages. Then, on a cold December day, V up and went away. Where did she go? The song never knows, but V used to light the place up so much the boys in Golden Smog wrote a song about her.

“Lovely Rita” – The Beatles

Here’s one of my favorite Beatles songs. Rita is a meter maid. Written by one of the masters of silly (and quite honestly, very cheesy) love songs, Paul McCartney.

“Sara Smile” – Hall and Oates

Probably one of the best examples of White Boy soul out there. This is always a favorite of mine due to the vocals and the smooth music.

“She’s My Ex” – ALL

Both ALL and the Descendents (basically the same band with different lead singers) write some great tunes about women, and the relationships with them. Not quite “emo”, these guys were probably writing songs about not expressing their true feelings or being shy with innocent angst long before Rivers Cuomo came around with the truckload of female fear he delivers into those kinds of songs.

In this tune, the dude singing the song is still in love with his ex, but you sort of get the feeling that if he had a woman who appreciated his love, he’d forget her despite the fact that, “she’ll be my ex til I say when, until I get her back again.” Right click on the muxtape link and open a new tab to listen to this song while you read.

“Margaret Says” – The Vulgar Boatmen

This is probably one of the better tunes about a woman that I enjoy. A very nice description of Margaret’s personality. The album this is on, You and Your Sister, will get a proper review from me at some point.

“Angelyne” – The Jayhawks

Lots of regret in this one. Beautiful, sad vocal harmonies as well.



“Evangeline” – Matthew Sweet

Matthew writes a tune about a girl he’s infatuated with, but she’s in love with another “man.” The man, in this case, happens to be God above.

“Annie Mae” – The Twilight Singers

The music in this song is so funky, it makes me feel dirty. Sort of how the person singing this probably makes Annie Mae feel. Coming around when he’s lost, and not sticking around too long.

“Caroline” – Concrete Blonde

How about a song written about a woman by a woman? I love the sound of the bass in this tune. Caroline left, and instead of the confusion you get from a male songwriter, you get poetry that lets you know how she feels.



“Josephine” – Slobberbone

This is actually, it’s a Mulehead song, but I only know the Slobberbone version, and it kicks ass! A story of a guy who loves this girl Josephine, but he can’t even talk to her. Spray paints her name in a bright color on the water tower, goes to jail for it, and with his one phone call he dials her up and then can’t say anything.

“Jackie O” – John Mellencamp

I’m not sure what to make of this song. It’s kind of got this goofy 60’s pop sound to it, and appears to use a xylophone or some kind of wacky organ in the mix. Nice tune, overall. Can your daddy get us backstage passes? You know how we love to dance. With all his political power it would seem to me that you could dance better than you do.

“Jennifer Grey” – Total Passover

Okay, so I’m self-promoting here. But this song is about Jennifer Grey, the actress, and focuses on her role in Dirty Dancing. Nobody puts baby in the corner. Also on the muxtape.

“Sharon Needles” – Earl Lee Grace

The Dwarves’ Blag Jesus decided to make a bluegrass album in the 90’s. This is one of my favorite tunes off it about a girl who had a lot of fun in high school named Sharon Needles. Sharon Needles went to the prom with her dad, he could not get none so he went away mad.

“Yankee Rose” – David Lee Roth

A metaphorical woman. Mostly great because it was the song used in the video that returned David Lee Roth to us in all of his greatness. Give me a glazed donut and a bottle of anything…TO GO!




Other honorable mentions:

“Josie” – Steely Dan
“Lesbian Nun” – Dwarves
“Liza and Louise” – NOFX
“Maggie May” – The Faces (live version)
“Maybeline” – Chuck Berry
“Sister Luck” – The Black Crowes
“Somebody’s Baby” – Jackson Browne
“There’s This Girl” – Sweet Baby

This post best enjoyed with Magic Hat #9 (a girlie beer)

Party at Ground Zero

Party music, eh?

Well, that's a bit of a dilemma for me, since I'm not really the kind of guy who hosts parties very often. We pretty much have two kinds of parties at the Meat Factory: summer barbecues and winter Christmas parties. We don't cotton to people coming over in the spring or fall. And while the Christmas parties can be fun...


Clearly, Christmas music is a little inappropriate for right now. So let's kick things off with Music for Summer BBQ's. Please note: there will be no Will Smith tracks on this list. Also note: if you were expecting Will Smith tracks, you are visiting the wrong motherfucking site... or at least reading the wrong motherfucking writer.

Be forewarned: I don't believe that party music needs a theme, a rhyme or a reason. If it makes people tap their feet, snap their fingers, shake their ass, pump their fist, throw a goat or bang their head, it goes on the list. Usually my friends are too sauced to pay much attention after the 3rd or 4th track anyway. This is just a sample of what you might hear at my place.

AC/DC: Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution - only one of the top three greatest AC/DC songs... ever.


The Gourds: Gin and Juice - a cover that borders on genius.


The Arcade Fire: Keep the Car Running - best track on Neon Bible.


Blackalicious: Powers - speaking of shaking your ass...


Monster Magnet: Space Lord - "Now open wide and SAY MY NAME!"


Prodigy: Smack My Bitch Up - Is this song misogynistic? More importantly, do I care? Also, this is an awesome video.


Rilo Kiley: Portions for Foxes - when Jenny Lewis belts out "C'mere!" during this, you're gonna wanna grab the person nearest to you and lay one on them.


Roots Manuva: Witness (1 Hope) - not even worth listening to unless you have some really kickin' bass.


Mr. Bungle: The Girls of Porn - because all parties need a little Patton... and a little porn.


Filter: Hey Man Nice Shot (Horns Remix) - track this remix down - it's a vast improvement. Sadly, no video.

Kanye West: Stronger - two words: DAFT PUNK. Speaking of which...


Daft Punk: One More Time


Fishbone: Party at Ground Zero - because the world needs more bonin'


Say Anything: Woe - "I can't get laid in this town, without these pointy fuckin' shoes..." I love this lyric


So there's a glimpse into what it's like to party at my house. Just picture me drunk, probably something spilled on my shirt, stuffing my face. Chances are Ervie's there, and chances are he's ripped the sleeves off his t-shirt and he's making somebody blush.

Rock on, people.

I've got a fever and the only prescription is more accordion

Just a quickie. I gotta stump for some homeboys: Josh Lederman y Los Diablos. I've been listening to them all day after they came up in a Pandora playlist. I won't rehash their website (click here), but I'll say a few things.

First, if you like the Pogues, the Old 97's and the accordion, you'll dig this band. Lotsa drinkin'. Lotsa heartache. Losta jig-worthy tunes. I'm still not sure if it's to their credit or their, well, discredit, but the four records that I've had lined up back to back to back to back are extremely consistent, sounding like one very, very long LP. But it doesn't ever get monotonous as they mix the waltzes and dirges up with the doodly doodly music (as a friend's proud Irish American father categorizes all St. Patrick's Day tunes).



However, if you have to start somewhere try this: The Town's Old Fair. These guys tend toward the autumnal. Hard lessons learned. Often times, they've learned these lessons in the bottle or the sack. I can endorse both methods. Your Bluest Friend is a sad little drinkin' number and I've Been Down So Long is just flat drunk. Fish's Eddy is a bouncy tune, set to the time of screwing on the road. If you're from the Boston area, you'll enjoy this for all the local spots mentioned.

But my favorite song on this disk is The Olive Tree. I could jig all day long to this song:

Quick Cuts: Bowie's in Space

From the hilariously awesome "Flight of the Conchords:" Bowie's In Space

if you don't want a woman who drinks, don't pick up women in bars.

apparently, i'm kind of weak for low brass - because when i went to hear guy forsyth at rodeo bar, and the bass player (will landon) walked into the room with a sousaphone, i got all giddy.
not that i wasn't already a little on the giddy side - i blame the giant prickly pear margarita that i downed with dinner. also maybe a stella. or two. the combination of sugar and booze always makes me d-r-o-o-n-k crunked, so i may have been feeling a little silly.
anyway, my presence at this show was all based on an impulse that i couldn't define. i googled "honky-tonk" one day at work (yes, i have a Big Important Job which allows me pleeeeeenty of time to google whatever crosses my mind), which led me to the rodeo bar calendar, which, after a quick google chat exchange with one of my most trusted music advisers, led me (with music adviser in tow) to hear guy forsyth that friday.
they started out doing some pretty standard, four-on-the-floor guitar-bass-kit tin pan alley fusion action. it was fun, catchy, a little bit bluesy, a little bit rock and roll. but not gripping. there were a few folks at the table in front of us who were clearly bigol'giant guy forsyth groupies, but in those first three songs, there was little to show me why such a thing would exist.
it was nice. but it wasn't a revelation. i even leaned across the table at one point to mutter something derogatory about rob hooper, the fairly unexciting drummer. (don't worry. he lived to redeem himself as a percussionist. boy howdy, did he ever.)
then, after three songs, guy pulled out a little blue plastic ukulele, the bass player picked up the sousaphone and the drummer moved to cajun.
oh. my. fucking. god.
you know that surge of excitement when you are listening to really excellent musicians hit their stride, enthusiastically playing music they love?
yeah.
that.guy forsyth has this... voice. it does everything a voice should do to this style of music. it pets, purrs, howls, caresses, jabs and retreats, only to come wailing back again.
despite lulling me into complacency with the beginning of their set, these fellas totally knocked me on my ass with intelligent, modern, fun, high-intensity music tinged with notes from all walks of american music. they have an album called "unrepentant schizophrenic americana" - and that's exactly what it is.
it. is. fantastic.
and i swear on a stack of bibles that i'm not just saying that because after the ukulele, guy broke out the harmonica and proceeded to rock that. and then he pulled out the saw and proceeded to rock that even harder. i mean, i have a bit of a weird instrument fetish, but it still takes a good musician to make the weird instruments work. (yes, harmonica qualifies as weird.)
there is nothing on youtube that does these guys justice. and while i'm often all about the free illegal download, this is one of those cases where buying the cd from the artist actually supports the artist - so if schizophrenic americana appeals to you, i heartily suggest you consider doing just that.
even more, i'd suggest keeping an eye out for when they might be in your area and then heading down to that there watering hole. because this is definitely a band that should be experienced, as much as heard.

You owe me a scream

"It's an art form unto itself," I once said to Ervie a few months ago. Ervie, bless his goofy heart, agreed that while it's not his thing, it certainly is a special talent.

I speak of screaming, of course.

There are many things that Mrs. TK and I don't agree on: Olives, for example. I've yet to be able to get her to see the genius of Big Trouble in Little China. She doesn't get my addiction to t-shirts. I don't get her addiction to furniture. I can't handle spinny carnival rides - she treats them like she's going down a kiddie slide. But one of the big ones is music - specifically, what she calls "angry screaming music." She doesn't see that it is an art. It's a skill. It's not just anyone who can scream non-stop for a 3-5 minute song. It's even harder to do it set to a rhythm. Harder still to do it for a 90 minute concert.

I fucking love it. I was once discussing "Collision Course," the Jay-Z/Linkin Park collaboration album with my friend Chris.

"I dig Jay-Z I guess, but I can't stand Linkin Park," remarked Chris
"I kinda like 'em... actually, really I just like the screamy parts," I said.
"There's a fuckin' shock," he replied.

Clearly my reputation precedes me.

It's true though. I like all manner of screamers, if they can do it right. By "do it right," I mean not just scream or roar themselves into a cacophonous, incoherent fury, such as Napalm Death, or a lot of death metal, for that matter. Chester Bennington of LP, while his band is kind of lame, gets a pass for being a truly outstanding screamer. I like those who can actually use the scream as an instrument, to play off of the harmonies in the song. I realize that Mrs. TK is never going to appreciate it, because she doesn't like the music type in general... hell, none of my friends really do (which is why Boo and I need to spend an evening getting hammered and talking about metal some time). But I like punishing guitar chords with a wailing lead and pounding, rapid-fire double bass drums and yes, a good screamer layered on top of that. One of my favorite things? Bands with two singers, so they can do that "one guy screaming/one guy singing" thing, a la Thursday's "War All The Time" album.

Thursday, incidentally, is what the kids and the Wikipedia folks call an "emo-core" or "screamo" (one of the most hysterically funny tags ever) band. They're terribly earnest and have really angsty lyrics like:

"Rupture the wall around my heart
I feel so lost,
I've been shaking, you can't save me"

I know, right? Terribly cheesy. But I forgive all of this, because right at the beginning of that verse, when lead singer Geoff Rickly begins to tearfully sing out "Rupture..." another band-mate screams out "RUPTURE!!!" simultaneously and it just fucking... works. It's almost beautiful. For the record, I'm not talking about your regular, Metallica-esque heavy metal shouting, or just singing real loud. I'm talking screaming. Like, borderline agony screaming. I know it sounds weird but I'm telling you - there's a certain magic to it.

So. With that excessively lengthy introduction, here are some of my favorite screamers.

Faith No More: "Cuckoo for Caca," from King for a Day, Fool for a Lifetime (Mike Patton is a master of vocal gymnastics - a beautiful voice with a stellar scream mixed in)



Thursday: "For the Workforce, Drowning," from War All The Time


The Dillinger Escape Plan: "Milk Lizard," from Ire Works


From Autumn to Ashes: "Pioneers," from Holding a Wolf by the Ears (Another brilliant entry in the "one guy screaming/one guy singing" sub- sub- sub-genre)


Maylene and the Sons of Disaster: "Darkest of Kin," from II (Ervie and I saw these guys open for Clutch, and they are damn impressive live)


The Hope Conspiracy: "They Know Not," from Death Knows Your Name


Linkin Park: "Faint," from Meteora (I know, OK? I know. But I'm telling you, this dude is a near-pantheon screamer)


Flyleaf: "I'm So Sick," from Flyleaf (incidentally, this album is a massive disappointment, and this is the only screamy song. I was furious. But still, this song kind of rocks).


Bad Brains: "Banned in D.C.," from Rock for Light


Marilyn Manson: "Rock is Dead," from Mechanical Animals (say what you will about these guys, but they know how to entertain and he knows how to scream)


Murder By Death, "Devil in Mexico," from Who Will Survive and What Will Be Left of Them?
(interestingly, this isn't a metal or hardcore band, and they rarely scream. But when they do, such as in the end of this song? Chills, I tell you. Sadly, I couldn't find a video.)

Nine Inch Nails: "Happiness in Slavery," from Broken (the grand master, never to be replaced: Trent Reznor)


Hope you've enjoyed. Scream 'til that shit hurts, people. That's when you know you're doing it right.

"Never trust a big butt and a smile"

Party scene: Some place near a beach/pool with a large dance floor during the summer because let’s face it, people are in better moods in the summertime.

Party drinks: Kegs of Bell’s Oberon and shots of Absolut Pear Vodka

Cut to the portion of the party where everyone is nice and drunk and ready to make fools of themselves. With my group of friends and me, this point would happen about 30-minutes into the start of the party. When people are drunk, their taste in music drops and loving Hall and Oates is a thing you can share openly.

Music: We’ll start with the good stuff, the point where people haven’t started dancing yet:

Jamie Lidell – Hurricane
Yoav – Club Thing
The Ting Tings – That’s Not My Name
Black Kids – I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You (video below)
LCD Soundsystem – Daft Punk Is Playing At My House
Daft Punk – Touch It/Technologic

OK, and now here’s the really good stuff. Dancing, singing and drunkeness is happening all around at this point. WARNING – Busting out some of the following music while sober may result in deep deep shame:

Michael Jackson – P.Y.T. or The Way You Make Me Feel
George Michael – Too Funky
Wang Chung – Dance Hall Days
Skid Row – I Remember You
Bell Biv Devoe – Poison (video below)
Positive K – I Got A Man
Journey – Don’t Stop Believing (People are starting to pass out and puke at this point)
Prince

I can’t pick just one Prince song. That would be like asking a fat person to pick just one candy bar. It’s cruel and unusual punishment. Wait, I think I just started a play list for my wedding reception. Although by the time I’m married all these songs will be long forgotten and I will be on my 12th hip replacement.

Look at these, my ruby red, ruby lips

WHERE MY BETCHES AT??!?!

You know, this might come as a bit of a shock to some people, but I want to tell you a secret: Not all women like Shitney Shears. Or Chessica Chimpson. Or Penis Hilton. Or Hariah Harey. Or Peline Pion. Hell, I hate to think even half of the women I know would like any of those "performance artists."

Yes, we like shoes. Earrings. Pink. And I might harbor a secret wish to have a life-sized doll house. But is there music out there for us gals that don't think that the soundtrack to a rom-com defines our very existence? This is my anti-rom-com manifesta!

Yes.

Let this henceforth be known as:
Female Artists That We Are Proud to Call Our Own! They Effin' Rock! or FATWAPCOOTER for short. (Funny aside: My maternal grandfather had a big doberman pinscher named Cooter.)

May I introduce you to The Bird and the Bee, Fcking Boyfriend



Please to allow Rasputina, Watch TV



Bless and protect PJ Harvey, Sheela-na-gig



I'm pleased to announce The Cardigans My Favourite Game



May 76 virgins greet you in heaven, oh most holy Cat Power Lived in Bars



My love, my very own, my precious, my dearest Portishead Over

Top Five Bands Not to Observe

I often like to go to a live show to not observe a band. I'm still paying attention, with my ears, just not my eyes. You see, I like to dance. Now I'll dance to anything. If I'm in the right mood, I'll get busted bustin' a move to the muzak when the elevator doors open while my eyes are closed in an intense Hustle send-up.

Hey, I like a observational show too. Wilco is awesome, as are the Flaming Lips. Man Or Astroman always did some terrifically silly shit. And Jack White is one hell of a performer. It's horribly ego driven, but fuck it. The stage show is amazing.

But what I really like to do is dance to live country music. This came up through the original source of this blog; TK's In Defense of Country Music. Certainly there are country shows that are worth watching intently. The Reverend Horton Heat is not to be missed for stage theatrics, nor should you pass up a Southern Culture Show. But dammit if I don't like to go to a show and spin all the girls 'til they're barfing dizzy. The thing is, the music is listenable in its own right, through the stereo. But... Oh, just read the list.

In no particular order, but for very particular reason:

Dale Watson at the Continental in Austin. You'll have better luck catching him at Ginnie's and, for Christ's sake, Ginnie's Myspace page has Watson's "Whiskey or God" on it. But the Continental is a good room for Dale. Good sized dance floor, always filled with dancers and the Lone Stars just don't stop. They taste so good poured down your gullet after rippin' it up.



Heybale at Ginnie's. This is a fun show. The place is small. Long and narrow. The band, a five piece usually, two guitar, bass, drums and a peddle steel, sets up in the back corner on the floor (no stage), right next to the back door that everyone is using to go out back for a smoke. These guys play stompin' honky tonk country music. And they do it while the drunks, me included, swing eachother into the bar, the walls, the floor and the peddle steel. They just keep playing and smiling. Find that attitude anywhere else. I went to a show at Lucky's in South Boston. Tried the same stunt and boy, did the keyboard dude turn into a real bitch about it. These guys are great.



The Derailers at the Broken Spoke. This is a great dance hall. It's big - rows and rows of big tables on either side of a central dance floor. Low stage under a very low ceiling. The boys hats risk scraping the paint. This is a place where EVERYONE dances. In fact, after most every song, lead singer/guitarist Brian Hofedt will say, "Thank ya Dancers!" This is a cultural experience. You've got Granny and Grampy mixin' it up with the rockabilly kids and little ones waltzing like you always wished you could. No bad feelings though. Dance it up, good or bad. 'Cause good or bad, it'll be a big time either way.

The next two have no particular locale in my mind. I've seen 'em. I love 'em. Regardless.

Junior Brown. You got the chance, do it. Go for the Guit-Steel (the double necked contraption that resembles Jimmy Page's double necked guitar/bass, but it's a guitar and a "pedal" steel combined. It's so confusing) but stay for the good ol' dancing tunes. Junior is a beautiful musician and deserves to be seen, but he ain't never minded being ignored for a fine young gal who needs to be swung 'round.



Big Sandy and His Fly-Rite Boys. These guys bring out the rockabilly scenesters like no other. While this makes for a very "cool" looking venue, most often none of these douchebags can dance. They got the shirts and shoes and the bad attitude, but in the hot rod world we have a term for this: all show and no go. So fuck them, push 'em aside and move it to the smooth sounds of these good time fellas. Big Sandy will likely be in a right sharp suit and pulling from a shiny hip flask all evening.

The point of all this is that, while each and every one of these bands is a spectacle in its own right, this is not spectacle time. It's spectacular, no doubt. However, this may be why so many punk rockers turned to country in the mid 90's. A large part of punk rock was the idea of taking the star factor away from the band and giving it to the mass of people in the pit.

A good mosh pit has zero difference from a great two-stepping floor.

O Canada

How can one forgive Canada for Barenaked Ladies, Avril Lavigne and Canadian bacon?

Aside: American bacon far exceeds Canadian bacon, don’t even try to put that shit on my pizza with some pineapple because that is straight up foul. Don’t get it twisted.

They more than made up for these horrible faults by giving us some awesome music (and Degrassi Junior High).

Stars – One of my top ten bands of all time. I was instantly taken with them after hearing Your Ex-Lover Is Dead, a sweeping heartbreaking tale of lost love. Heart, Set Yourself On Fire and In Our Bedroom After the War are their three major album releases. Set Yourself on Fire was the first album I heard in a long time where it broke my heart and mended it simultaneously. Your life is seriously missing something without Stars in it. Live show rating (Lollapalooza 2006, Orpheum Theater 2007): 9 out of 10 only due to the crap venue the second time around.

Metric – One of my favorite current bands. Emily Haines carries this band with her angelic voice and sharp lyrics. Calculation Theme is the song that made me fall in love with Metric. Raw Sugar, Combat Baby and Dead Disco are other stand outs. If you want a throw back to 80’s new wave mixed with dance beats, this is it. Live show rating (First Ave. 2007): 8 out of 10 only due to the teens moshing right in front of me.

Feist – She broke out this year when the monster that is Apple used her song 1234 for their new ad campaign. Well fuck Apple because now she has become so mainstream that it makes my bones ache. Anyway, before she was Feist of Apple, she had the album Let It Die. It’s a lot more somber and laid back than The Reminder and is perfect for that lazy summer day. She does a great cover of the Bee Gees Inside and Out on it too. Live show rating (Lollapalooza 2006): 7 out of 10. Lolla was not the best place to see such a laid back act.

Arcade Fire – Another band that has slightly blown up this past year. I first heard them when the MTV2 show Subterranean showed their video for Wake Up. They caught my attention immediately because it was new. They were probably one of the first bands to light the current indie rock craze on fire. And how can you not love a band that Bowie loves? Live show rating (Roy Wilkins Auditorium 2007): 11 out of 10. This was probably one of THE best shows I have ever seen in my life, and I’ve seen a lot. They rocked the shit out of a piss poor venue and had absolutely everyone mesmorized with their stage show.

Honorable mention:

Broken Social Scene – A mish mash of extremely talented musicians. They are breaking the mold of what good music is with the help of many of the musicians I listed above.

Tegan and Sara – Sister duo with an individual sound.

Bryan Adams – For good measure, or just shits and giggles. Are Canadians still proud to claim Bryan as their own?

Who are your favorite acts from Canada?

Set the DeLorean for 1993

I graduated from college in May of 1993. It was sort of a tough year to find a job, but I lucked out and made my own luck.

About 4 years later I was in Pensacola at my local record/CD store, and I was looking for the new Dinosaur Jr. CD. Plus, I was picking up some used stuff - they had some of The Fluid’s single CDs that came off of their 1993 release, “Purplemetalflakemusic.” I told the girl at the counter that I wanted the new Dinosaur Jr. CD (she had to get it out of the glass case for me. This was a record store that specialized in punk and alternative music, but carried everything). I stated that I hoped the new one was as good as 1993’s “Where You Been?”

She said, “Yeah, it sure would be great if we could have another year like 1993, there was a lot of good music released that year.”

I’ve been thinking about that for 12 years now. So this morning, with a cup of coffee in hand, I retreated to the basement and began rifling through all of my CDs and records to see if that was true. Sure enough, here are some examples to hold that up:

Uncle Tupelo – Anodyne

The final release before these guys broke up. Enough has been written about Uncle Tupelo that I don’t really need to go into it here. This is my favorite release by them. Sure, I have songs that I like more on their other albums, but overall this is an amazing album, recorded live in the studio. It starts off with the mellow “Slate”, and then moves into the upbeat “Acuff Rose” (the dynamics of this song are especially great in live setting. I saw them in the small Maintenance Shop at Iowa State University and the instruments are all acoustic except for the bass. It’s a very raucous song, just check out this clip when Tweedy does it solo. Listen to the crowd.)





Afterwards, it kicks into some more rocking tunes before mellowing out with the title track. The entire album is fantastic. Every song is great. Definitely a good way to go out on a good note.

Afghan Whigs – Gentleman

If you’re in your twenties, are into substance abuse (the legal and illegal kind) and bad relationships, do I have a record for you. Sort of a concept album about the above, including going to support group meetings to possibly meet women, this was, to me, the Afghan Whigs' transition album from Sub Pop grunge band into the soul-influenced rock band they would become and then later when Dulli would take that even further with the Twilight Singers. The lyrics here are just plain killer. Even Dulli had to get someone else to sing “My Curse” because he couldn’t sing it without breaking down crying. My favorite tunes are “What Jail Is Like” (helluva description for a relationship) and “When We Two Parted” (You’re saying that the victim never wants it to end, good, I get to dress up and play the assassin again, it’s my favorite, it’s got personality). Click on the band's name above to read a kickass review and see some videos from this album.

Dinosaur Jr. – Where You Been

A lot of people rave about the earlier DJ albums with Lou Barlowe on them, like Bug. Me, I picked up some singles, but my love affair with Dinosaur Jr started with Green Mind. Then Where You Been came out and it changed everything. The whole alternative rock movement was in full swing and J Mascis and his band actually had a hit with “Start Choppin’” with its cool playful guitar riff, vocals that sounded like J had a bag of broken glass in his throat (I was actually playing a CD called Martin and Me by J Mascis at my house back in ’98 and my wife said, “This guy sounds like he belongs in a gas station, not on a CD”) and a catchy, rockin’ chorus. I think every song on here is great except for “Not the Same” which kind of has the same things I dislike about Neil Young’s “A Man Needs a Maid” – shrilly high vocals and timpani. Keep the fucking timpani out of rock music, please.

Cracker – Kerosene Hat

Cracker is one of those “clever” bands that I never really wanted to like, but something about what they do gels with my personality and I can’t help myself. I feel the same about the first two Oasis albums. Don’t want to like them, but don’t have a choice. It’s the music that’s making me do it, folks.

Kerosene Hat contains “Low”, which in my opinion, is just okay, and in fact, I usually change the channel on the (radio, TV, internet, etc) when it comes on. I love the title track with its goofy wordplay and downer feel, and the blues/slow tune “Take Me Down to the Infirmary” probably for the same downer feel. The cover of the Grateful Dead’s “Loser” is awesome, and “Eurotrash Girl” (hidden track #69 on the CD) is, in my opinion, an updated version of Three Dog Night’s “Never Been to Spain”. Really. Play them side-by-side and tell me you can’t see the influence there. There are also some decent mid-tempo rockers on here including “Sick of Goodbyes” and “I Want Everything”.







The Fluid – Purplemetalflakemusic

When Nirvana got big in 1992, it ended the era of hair metal, and pretty much all the crap metal that was going on at the time. Don’t get me wrong, I still like some metal, but there was a lot of really bad stuff coming out there in the end that if it came out today…the stupid white trash of this country would still eat it up. Okay, sorry, that was totally uncalled for. But Trixter? Firehouse? Gimme a break!

The thing I didn’t understand was a band like The Fluid should have soothed all those metal dude’s hurt feelings. Purplemetalflakemusic is the proof. This album has great heavy drumming, two guitars played through Mesa-Boogie stacks, and a kickass bass player laying down ominous low-tones. Some of the songs pulled influences from old-time rock and roll, though, with the backing “la-las” only sung by masculine men. Check out “My Kind”. The production on this album is awesome. Total WALL OF HEAVINESS coming down from the instruments.

Both “My Kind” and “7/14” are my favorites here, but the entire album has to be experienced from beginning to end to truly appreciate it. I could be wrong, though. Get the CD for the kickass purple metal flake sticker.

Prisonshake – The Roaring Third

Okay, here’s an album that I think you have to get by importing it. Kinda “pompous rock critic” of me to bring it up, I know, but this album rules. The song “2 Sisters” was on a compilation CD I got of a whole bunch of singles released in 1993, so I sought out the album. “Hurry” off this album, is top 5 all time for me. In one line, it sorta sums up this site to me: Hate to write, love to drink, hate being drunk, love haven written. If that makes any sense to you at all I’d have no choice but to say I failed…

Only one bad song is on this album, in my opinion; “Asiento”. Too loud and noisy. Lots of good guitar interplay on these songs. Some are stonesish, but it’s definitely a rock and roll album.

Cheap Trick – Budokan II

I am totally breaking the rules here. Cheap Trick at Budokan is still an album that I listen to, and it came out in 1977 when I was 9 years old. However, that album only had about half the concert on it. So in 1993, Cheap Trick released the rest as Budokan II. Both these albums pull from their first three full releases, and one song, “Can’t Hold On” was only available on their Found All the Parts EP, which is an import. At least 3 songs on here are about suicide, and I’d have to say if you want a suicide song, Cheap Trick does them the best (“Auf Wiedersehen”). These two albums have since been thrown together into the correct order they were played that night in Tokyo. I don’t have it.

Other honorable mentions:

Teenage Fanclub – Thirteen
Rocket from the Crypt – Circa Now
Dwarves – Sugarfix

The 1993 Playlist

7/14 – The Fluid
Gone to the Moon - Fastbacks
Start Choppin’ – Dinosaur Jr.
That was the Greatest Song – The Pooh Sticks
Hurry – Prisonshake
Last Dance with Mary Jane – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Pickin’ Flowers For – Best Kissers in the World
Chickamauga – Uncle Tupelo
Perfectly Good Guitar – John Hiatt
Gene Clark – Teenage Fanclub
Between You and Me Kid – Mudhoney
Dissident – Pearl Jam
Stadium – Monster Magnet
Ditch Digger – Rocket from the Crypt
Serve the Servants – Nirvana
Divine Hammer – The Breeders
What Jail is Like – Afghan Whigs
Missed – PJ Harvey
Don’t Tear Me Up – Mick Jagger
Auf Wiedersehen – Cheap Trick

desolation boulevard? sensation boulevard!: glitter city party time!

(the ark, one of us is gonna die young)

hello, mes petits party animals. i hope you've got your platform boots handy.
you see, i understand. i know. sometimes, you want to get it on old school dance party style, and i can totally respect that. i have even, on occasion (usually after-three-vodka-tonic type occasions) been known to partake of such festivities.
on the other hand, sometimes you want to party like a strung-out glitter kid, and this is the kind of party that i'm here to help you get started. in a world full of partiers (party-ers?), it takes all kinds to well and truly hoover up giant piles of illegal substances.
glam, as a reactionary movement coming out of the super-earthy sixties, was (and remains) a celluloid dream of space travel, science fiction, futurism, glitter, sex, drugs and really fantastic shoes. in other words, glam is just like my life. (by the way? if you're in los angeles this weekend, please go to this, and then tell me about it. i'm really curious.)
so, i've put together a little bit of a beginner's playlist to underscore your sexually ambiguous romps this weekend - or any weekend you may feel the urge. some of these are, uh, glitter anthems, if you will. you and your skinny, skinny coked out friends will be able to shout along with them.
others are maybe less classic, but no less glamorous. (or is it necessarily glamourous in this context?)
for your listening pleasure, may i suggest:

young americans • david bowie
virginia plain • roxy music

jeepster • t. rex

filthy/gorgeous • scissor sisters
clamour for glamour • the ark
let's get physical • goldfrapp
lust for life • iggy pop
bang a gong (get it on) • t. rex
walk on the wild side • lou reed
jean genie • david bowie
lollipop • mika
black betty • ram jam
ballroom blitz • sweet
friday night • the darkness
good old fashioned lover boy • queen

like i said, it's a bit of a beginner's list. there are certainly some glaring glam omissions - but it's a party list, not a genre list - and in terms of getting the party started, i think it'll do just fine. now go feather your hair, strap on some spandex and show me how fabulous you really are.
or, more simply, please to enjoy mika:

"You bruised up both your knees while rifling through women's jeans"

I discovered Tilly and the Wall one fall night two years ago at Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis, home of grime, great rock shows and tater tots. Tilly and the Wall uses a tap dancer in lieu of drums, and as a former dancer myself I have great respect for this. She taps the entire set without missing a beat and it’s an amazing thing to see. It also gives their music a special something that doesn’t compare to anything else I’ve ever heard.

The tapping isn’t just some gimmick though. Tilly and the Wall also have two bad ass female vocalists and catchy melodies. Bottoms of Barrels was their second album, and it’s an album I can listen to beginning to end over and over again. Bad Education, Sing Songs Along and The Freest Man are the standouts. The album is full of dance beats and lots of soul.

Tilly just came out with a new album, o. I’ve only heard the first single, Pot Kettle Black, and it has more of an edgy vibe to it. It actually reminded me of The Sounds, a really great Swedish band who you should also check out.

A funny thing happened that night at Triple Rock, and whenever I hear Tilly I’m reminded of it. As I was enjoying the tapping pleasures of Tilly and the Wall, I needed to take a piss and proceeded to the can. My friend came with and we hogged the handicapped stall since that’s what classy drunk ladies do. We were chatting about how impressed with the show we were and I dropped my drawers and went to sit on the porcelain throne. This is when I realized how in the moment I was because instead of sitting on the toilet like a normal person, I went all the way down and my bare ass slapped the dirty grimy floor of The Rock. We laughed and laughed and laughed and my vagina hasn’t been the same since.

Have mercy on the Devil, He's a friend of mine...

Hip hop is certainly misunderstood and often poorly represented, but no other genre elicits a yucky face more than Metal, unless you are a self-proclaimed "metal head." Metal is like shrimp, y'all: You've got your Goth Metal, Glam Metal, Grunge Metal, Grindcore, New Metal, Thrash Metal, Power Metal, Groove Metal, Speed Metal, Hair Metal, and Stoner Metal. Fuck, there is even something called Folk Metal! (Here, for your listening...something, is Skyforger. I admit, I kinda love it.)

And this doesn't even begin to cover all of the fusion genres: Crustpunk, Grunge, Industrial, Christian Metal, Metalcore, Neo-Classical Metal, and Sludge Metal. Just like any other under-appreciated / overgeneralized genre, metal has its good and its bads.

Metal has also gone under an extreme transformation since it began in the 60s (or, at least, what would be the roots of metal began in the 60s). I mean, would we really call the "hair bands" metal nowadays? No, not really. Which is why they have their own subgenre. It isn't hard to find some amazing metal music now, but it is quite tough to shift through a lot of the shit. Everyone lays claim to the "metal" genre, but there are just as many definitions of that as there are bands. (But that's why we're here...)

I'm sorry, but Creed? SO NOT METAL. Limp Bizkit? Not only NOT METAL, but also sport the worst "weird spelling" (and I'm being nice here) of the word 'biscuit' that I've ever encountered. (Now if only Hanson would attempt it; then I would have a valid reason to initiate Operation Bloodrayne. Oh, it will be so beautiful...)

Ahem.

So, along with my metal-addicted husband, we have created two play lists. One is for those new to the "goat" and in need a little edu-macation, and the other is for the true metal fan that might be looking for some new listens.

So first up, let me present some of my picks for Metal 'Mersion. Disclaimer here: I will say that I am extremely picky about the metal music I listen to; for me, I need some kind of melody or strong note line to follow--not just endless chord pounding, although I do appreciate its unique nature--and I must have technical dexterity. I mean, we must admit that playing metal guitar is a lot like showing off; if you are going down that road anyway, you better fucking mean it, and you better be fucking good. Shred it.

This first play list is a small gathering of very easy-to-listen-to metal-type music--don't expect dragon slaying--but ultimately they are fantastic musicians and worthy of a listen.

Boo's Metal-Lite for the Weak-Kneed:

Dax Riggs (formerly of Acid Bath and a bajillion other projects)
check out: Living is Suicide, from We Only Sing of Blood or Love

Explosions in the Sky
check out: A Poor Man's Memory, from Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Live Forever

Isis
check out: Backlit, from Panopticon

Life of Agony
check out: Wicked Ways, from Broken Valley

Wolfmother (Oh yeah, I went there.)
check out: Joker & the Thief, from WolfMother

Pelican
check out: Sirius, from The Fire In Our Throats Will Beckon the Thaw

Metallica
check out: One, from ...And Justice For All (I know they are assholes now, but they weren't always, and this is truly an anthem. Those opening lines are just...fantastic. And then they kick your balls in with the build up. Ok, I'm done.)

Between the Buried and Me
check out: Prequel to the Sequel, from Colors (This is my local metal plug. Yay for NC metal boys! And a video to entice. Note the hilarious pop ups from the video's producer. And yes, this is a long ass song, but worth the ticket price--especially the 5:16 mark.)


And now over to the man---the one and only person that could possibly inhabit the same sphere as me for as long as he has--the oil in my truffle, the Trent to my Tori, the Sid to my Nancy; my man: the Mister....

Boo's Metal Husband posting here: Second playlist is for the tried and true, those whose blood is black, those who have seen Slayer on their Seasons in the Abyss tour and ingested a few thousand metal albums! Most of the music is listened to in my studio/woodworking shop and in transit, riding around in the crazy silver she-beast! Enjoy... and please clean up after yourselves.

The Sword: Age of Winters (Kemado Records) evokes the true essence of Black Sabbath, check out "Winters Wolves." Ouch! Listen for the howling... and watch for them on tour with Clutch!

Torche: Meanderthal (Hydrahead Records) This stuff crushes, like Foo Fighters wrestling with Isis. The songs are all over the place but every one is good.

Neurosis: Through Silver in Blood (Relapse Records) and Given to the Rising (Neurot Recordings) these guys are everpresent and constantly revolving in my life... Given is the next step in the hallowed library of music that Neurosis has created and bestowed upon humanity.

The Melvins: Houdini ( Atlantic. 1993) The true alternative are touring again... these muthafukas are badass! And the drumming is phenom... thanks Dale.

Bonnie 'Prince' Billy: new and old, Lie Down In the Light, The Letting Go and I See a Darkness
this man helps to balance all of the seething metal oozing through my veins... this may not be heavy, but it is really fucking heavy!

Acid Bath: Pagan Terrorism Tactics (Rotten Records) You must know all the lyrics of this sick sick sick album for it to work on you! Dax Riggs and Sammy St. Pierre Duet slay with their interlacing vocals.

This playlist is always evolving.... and always heavy.

I wish I was born 20 years earlier... ahhhhh, consumed by distortion. Now back to Boo...


Alright people: Disperse and destroy. Never surrender. And most importantly...

Throw 'em the goat.

School Ain't Shit, I Read It in a Book

I just wanted to take a moment and point out that as you get to know me, you might say to yourself, "Jez seems to be stuck in some sort of time warp and doesn't talk about any recent music." Well, yeah. Sorry, but I used to buy close to $300-400 worth of music per month when I was a single man, but then I got married, bought a house, and had kids. At the same time as all that schlock was going down, Britney Spears and that band Justin Timberlake was in got popular, and don't even talk about Sugar Ray to me. Sorry, I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings, but until I discovered the Drive-By Truckers and Slobberbone in 2002, music was pretty much dead to me. I was content to live with the over 1,000 records I had, and over 2,000 CDs in my collection.

Then I got an iPod for Father's Day in 2006. Hello! I started loading on all the CDs I loved, and then I started researching how to transfer my vinyl to digital. You can read more about this project and how I did it in my August 2007 post. Also, I started visiting the kickass collection at my local library and am still gleaning this awesome collection. If you haven't been to your local library, I totally recommend it. It's really something this whole blog is all about - discovering music you only have heard of.

Enough about me! The topic of this blog is actually one of the albums that I converted to mp3s: Rocket From the Crypt's Paint as a Fragrance. The awesome thing about this album is trying to find where one song ends and one begins. I recently listened to this in my normal mode, shuffle, and I can tell you that the quick cuts between songs works no matter the order.

This album is a classic to me on so many levels. Check out that album art - it's fascinating and offensive. How cool is that? Who uses paint as deodorant? I'll tell you who: this guy!

As far as the songs go, it's a pretty noisy album. Granted, it was released in 1991. However, there is some nice guitar weaving, and even some sweet background vocals to counter Speedo's screaming. There are also hooks galore in this, and usually one line that you're going to remember from each song.

This isn't exactly the album you want to put on first thing in the morning. This album is more appropriate for an 18-mile drive back home after a long day, when it's dark. And I'm not necessarily saying after a long day of work, if you get my drift.

The album starts out with what sounds like someone running a dial down the AM band of a radio, stopping briefly to see what is on each station. It finally stops on a station where you hear, "And here's the new one from Rocket From The Crypt!" "French Guy" starts out in that AM mode, then the guy producing the album kicks it into overdrive and decent stereo sound and starts the rock. Line you remember from this song: School ain't shit, I read it in a book. It's true; I know I read the same message scribbled in the margins of a couple of high school text books.

"Basturds" is kind of funny. The singer talks about how when he was a kid, he would say a curse word and he'd feel at least 5 years older, but he didn't realize that saying these bad words would come back to haunt him. The hook in this song is the "Wee-Yoo" background vocals and the great music dynamics, where the wall of sound completely drops out and your left with muted guitar strings.

Rocket From The Crypt is from San Diego. In August 1992, I went on a road trip with a good friend of mine, P-Mart. We ended up in San Diego hanging out with a friend I went to high school with in Germany; Loren. Loren was driving us around, when we came upon the Velvet Touch laundry. There was a cartoonish looking head of a man with the words, "THIS MAN WANTS TO CLEAN YOUR CLOTHES" underneath it. I made the connection between this laundry and the song with the same name immediately. Loren said, "Yeah, they sell t-shirts with that image on it." I had to get one for The Inhuman Eating Machine, as he was the one who introduced me to this album, and was also a fan of wacky t-shirts. I'm still trying to find a t-shirt that says, "I'M THE REASON God made Oklahoma." (In case you didn't know, "You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma" was a country duet sung by David Frizzel and Shelly West in the 80's.)

I'm not that well-versed on RFTC, really. I own this album, and Circa Now. I can recommend the entire Paint as a Fragrance release as well as the following songs from Circa Now:

Ditch Digger - Great riff. Fills my head when I'm getting work done.


Hippy Dippy Do - Jaunty.

Don't Darlene - Short and Rockin'. Noisy.

Sturdy Wrist - "Here he is, I got my sturdy wrist."


Beer recommended with this listening: New Belgium 1554.

Hip hop started out in the heart

C'mon baby light my fire
Everything you drop is so tired
Music is supposed to inspire
How come we ain't gettin' no higher?
Now tell me your philosophy on exactly what an artist should be
Should they be someone with prosperity and no concept of reality?
-Lauren Hill, "Superstar"

There is no more frustrating, infuriating, upsetting musical genre than hip hop. I firmly believe this to be true. What started out as essentially street poetry has gone through a thousand iterations, become turned and twisted and spun around and knocked up and down, to finally reach the sad state of affairs it's left in today. In truth, though it's certainly had a shorter life than country music, there are many parallels. This may sound strange, especially for you country fans who have nothing but disdain for hip hop. But like country, what started out as basically poor people's music evolved and changed over the decades. What used to be a movement, a message (to borrow a phrase), has become bastardized, drowned out by the commercial, the mindless mass of modern hip hop monsters.

It's why it's not uncommon for people to blatantly state, "I hate rap music," or "all hip hop sucks." In truth, if all you know is what you hear on the radio, well then based on your experience you're probably correct in that assertion. It may sound like reactionary griping, like the old man who's watching modern society pass him by, but the truth is that modern, commercial, radio-friendly hip hop, with a couple of exceptions, is mostly crap. Amateurish, misogynistic, derivative, weakly produced crap. It's developed on the equivalent of a musical assembly line, by predatory producers and executives who prowl cities and audition halls and neighborhoods, looking for someone with the basic abilities and a badass attitude. Those "artists" are paired with a producer or DJ, and a couple of weeks later, the next Li'l Jon or Flo Rida is born.

Six months from now, they will vanish into obscurity. But for six months, another brainless zombie album full of sex, drugs, and violence - bitches, money and guns, if you wish - will be foisted upon us. The music industry feeds on them like wild dogs, and they've somehow convinced people - everyone from urban school kids to suburban white kids to fraternity brothers to the average radio listener - that this is what black music is about, and what's worse, that this is the best hip hop has to offer.

"Man, fuck that shit, I pay my taxes when I'm asked to

I'm not enthusiastic about it, but shit I make it happen
Yeah, it's last minute, but goddammit they cash it
This is fiscal harassment! They keep touching my assets!
Now I imagine I might be feeling different about it
If it was given outright, witnessing it helping somebody
But it just so happens in life, the school district's too crowded
There ain't no teachers in sight, that's why the kids are so rowdy"
-Lyrics Born, "Stop Complaining"

What you hear on the radio is an insult to hip-hop, a slap in the face to Run DMC and KRS-One and everyone who came before or after them. I'm not going to waste your time telling you to go back and find the old-school stuff, because actually much of that music hasn't aged terribly well. Unless you're a real hardcore hip-hop fan, much of it is going to be wasted on you. Hell, I love hip hop and I can't tell you the last time I dusted off an old Eric B and Rakim album. But you don't have to go back 20 years. There's great, moving, intelligent, thought-provoking and fun hip hop coming out all the time. Music that still has something to say, that hasn't been corrupted by fame and fortune, and that you can still shake your goddamn ass to. Good hip hop is sexy, it's smart, it makes you want to dance - and sometimes it makes you want to revolt. It's what we should be asking of all music.

I'm leaving off the likes of Tupac and Biggie and Jay-Z and some others - those are guys who are still popular that actually do have a lot of talent - in favor of some perhaps lesser known, and less divisive, artists. Make no mistake, these folks are artists. Because of the sheer volume of crap out there, it's often thought of as a lazy or simple genre. That couldn't be further from the truth; as writer Ta-Nehisi Coates said recently, "hip-hop is a lot more complicated than rhyming couplets and stolen drum riffs... I would not, from a mere sample of Kenny G or even John Coltrane, make any broad statements about jazz. Those of us who were shaped by hip-hop are only asking the same."

So indulge me for a moment and let me throw together a quick and dirty playlist of modern hip hop that doesn't, well... suck.

Artist	Song Title	Album
Aceyalone with RJD2	Cornbread, Eddie & Me	Magnificent City
Atmosphere	Breathing	God Loves Ugly
Blackalicious	World of Vibrations	The Craft
Brother Ali	Win Some Lose Some	Shadows On The Sun
Bullfrog & Kid Koala	Reverse Psychology	Bullfrog
Cee-Lo	The Art of Noise (with Pharrell)	Cee-Lo Green... Is the Soul
The Coup	Hip 2 The Skeme	Genocide & Juice
Cunninlynguists	Caved In feat. Cee-Lo Green	A Piece of Strange
Danger Doom	Basket Case	The Mouse and the Mask
Danger Mouse & Jemini	Omega Supreme [DM Remix]	Ghetto Pop Life
Dead Prez	Police State	Lets Get Free
Deux Process	Compatibility	In Deux Time
Diverse	Big Game (feat. Vast Aire)	One A.M.
Dr. Octagon	Waiting List [DJ Shadow/Automator Mix]	Dr. Octagonecologyst
Flipsyde	Someday	We the People
Ghostface Killah	Back Like That (Feat. Ne-Yo)	Fishscale
Gift Of Gab	Way Of The Light	4th Dimensional Rocketships Going Up
The Goats	Hip-Hopola	Tricks Of The Shade
Hieroglyphics	Chicago	Full Circle
King Geedorah	Krazy World feat. Gigan	Take Me To Your Leader
Latyrx	Latyrx	The Album
Little Brother	Slow It Down (Feat. Darien Brockington)	The Minstrel Show
Lyrics Born	Callin' Out	Later That Day...
Masked Avengers And Maylay Sparks	Small Time Thing	So Wonderful EP
Mos Def	Zimzallabim	The New Danger
Mr. SOS	Don't Know My Neighbors	The Pre-Op
Murs And Slug Present	Rick James	FELT: A Tribute to Christina Ricci
One Be Lo	Sleepwalking feat. Ka Di	S.O.N.O.G.R.A.M.
Sage Francis	Climb Trees	Personal Journals
Tonedeff	Porcelain	Archetype

"I want to be free to live, able to have what I need to live
Bring the power back to the street, where the people live
We sick of workin' for crumbs and fillin' up the prisons
Dyin' over money and relyin' on religion for help
We do for self like ants in a colony
Organize the wealth into a socialist economy
A way of life based off the common need
And all my comrades is ready, we just spreadin the seed
-Dead Prez, "Police State"

Go ahead, tell me that's not poetry.

As always, suggestions and recommendations are always welcome.

----------------
Now playing: Dead Prez - You'll Find A Way
via FoxyTunes

Freedom Dance Party Mix: Dance Like the Last 8 Years Didn't Happen

Dance Like No One is Watching
It has been proven that dancing makes you a happier person. Scientifically! Something about jiggling one of the glands in your head, or something. This creates a "good vibes" sensation that is highly beneficial to your mental and physical health. But that is not what matters here.

There is nothing better than going to a party--especially a party where you don't know the host, or most of the people there for that matter--getting tipsy, dancing until you are so sweaty you could grease every Mr. Universe contestant since 1983, and taking home a playmate. (This is merely an opinion. There are many things in the world that are certainly better than this, but for the purposes of this post, we are assuming that indeed, there is nothing better.) I've compiled a playlist of some of my favorite music that makes me wanna move, some that isn't my favorite but that I can groove to, and some that I honestly can't stand in normal situations save for under the influence. But here is the fun part: I'll let you choose your own adventure. (I know, I'm so magnanimous.) So take my categories here, and fill in your own choices in the comments section. It's the best part, after all. The difference between dancing by yourself in your underwear (which is fun, indeed), and dancing with a churning group of people that couldn't stop moving if they wanted to (that is really fun).

Songs to Get Tart-y/Brute to
If we're being honest, we know what trash (coughcoughmadonnacough) we like to listen to in the privacy of our own homes when we are "girlin' out with our clam out" (part copyright Dustin Rowles) or "rockin' with the cock in" (that one's all me); but what about when we are gearing up for a night of hot, sexy, sweaty dancing? These songs should make you feel sexy, fierce (although I hate using that word because of a certain former model turned Oprah-wannabe with an advanced degree in entitlement), and all around bitchin'. Here are my picks; leave yours in the comments, gals and guys.

You Shook Me All Night Long, ACDC: This is my classic choice. It starts off easy but rocking (because god knows you don't want to blow your load too early), and it's about sex. Score.

Chemical Calisthenics, Blackalicious: I dare you--no, I double dare you--to not want to fucking groove to this shit. With timing and beat changes galore, this gets your rhythm receptors at full attention. That, and Blackalicious is just fucking awesome. Clearly, that is the only reason one truly needs.

One Way Or Another, Blondie: Show me a girl that hasn't sung this into her hairbrush while making growly faces in the mirror, and I'll show you a girl that could possibly need a lobotomy. This song is pure feistyness.

Don't Stop, Brazilian Girls: Great beat, easy lyrics that make me want to have sex after I dance to it. Enough said.

Freedom, George Michael: The video has hot supermodels (which admittedly has nothing to do with this choice at all--I just can't help myself from mentioning it every time I think about this song), and it is a great sing-along song for applying mascara--no head banging.

Albums to Drive to
To be sure that we aren't fiddling with our CD/MP3 player while driving, it should be an album choice, rather than individual songs; an album that is rocking but not distracting, and all the songs are decent listening choices so you don't have to make too many changes. (You people that mess with your shit while you're driving? This is for you. It might save your life. Because it will quell my desire to murder you.)

None Shall Pass, Aesop Rock
Only one of the best hiphop albums in the last year. Maybe even the last five years. Crisp, clean, urban, smart, and amazing production.

Kala, M.I.A.
And then we have this album, which is probably the exact opposite of A. Rock's, but just as good. It's sloppy, unintelligible, jungle beat-y, and impossible not to move to.

Sound of Silver, LCD Soundsystem
Ahhhh. This is one of my favorite albums of all time. It is original, mature, smooth electronic punkfunk. It starts out slow...a little slow for comfort...but quickly builds into this undeniably fantastic groove. This is an album you can sink into.

Buena Vista Social Club, Buena Vista Social Club
Sexy sexy Cuban music. Great for feeling hot, especially while driving. It is fantastic music that puts me in a really good mental space (something I find absolutely necessary in order to dance with people I don't know).


The Song to Make an Entrance to
Everyone needs a good entrance; it doesn't have to be your personal anthem or whathaveyou, but it should convey strength, intrigue, and attraction. I like a good, even song that isn't too many BPM, but has just enough attitude to put a little slink in my step.

American Woman, The Guess Who: What can I say, it's America Day!! Happy AMERICA!! And it is also a classic. I'm just a classic kind of girl. You are lucky I'm not pooling from my Southern rock collection right now...

Fever, Peggy Lee: Sultry, smooth, simple. If you can't feel sexy listening to this song, then bless your heart.

Milkshake, Kelis: No, I'm not kidding. It's been long enough that it's cool again. Right?? Pshaw, what am I thinking--of COURSE it's been long enough.
I apologize for nothing!!!

Son of a Preacher Man, Dusty Springfield: Also a classic, but with a bit more flirt.


The Song That Makes You Gasp and Beeline the Dance Floor
Again, this list is totally outing myself from the "uber cool music nerd" group, but I'm totally not caring. At this point, I'll let you decide whether I am drunk posting or not.

Groove is in the Heart, Deee-Lite: I LOVE to dance to this song, and every remix ever made in every bad club I've ever been to. Thank you, Deee-Lite, for ensuring that I will NEVER go to a club and not hear this song.

Heavy Metal Drummer, Wilco: This might not be the classic "Oh my GAH let's go dance NOW!" choice, but for me, it makes me dance. Maybe good associations or something. I'm not willing to explore my psyche any further than that. Who knows what the fuck is down there...

My Sharona, The Knack: Totally embarassing admission--I rocked the Reality Bites soundtrack so much that I physically cannot just sit and listen to this song. My body forces me to get up and dance like a true moron. Leg kicks and all. Gahhh.

Crazy, Gnarls Barkley: Good opening bass + great pace + the word "crazy" said like "cuh-rah-hhhhaaaaaa-zaaaaaay" = WIN!


The Song to Get Sweaty to
Oh man, this so sooooo much fun you guys!@! I think we should' do this more often--oops, sorry about your drink; here, let me find you a paper tow--OH I HAVE TO STAY FOR THIS ONE, SORRY...

Music is My Hot, Hot Sex, CSS (yeah Effina!): I don't CARE that it was on an iPod commerical--I care that it makes me wanna SHAKE IT. WOOOO!

Billie Jean, PYT, or Thriller, Michael Jackson: Do the funny zombie swaying-claw dance! Oh, you know, the one---it's like this...weird pendulum thing! You don't KNOW IT??

Backyard Betty, Spank Rock: Please, do yourself a favor and get his latest album, YoYoYo. You will not regret it. It is soo dirty, y'all! heeee! (Seriously, it is dirty AWESOME.)


The Song to Seduce To
Oooh, hey, look at that dude. Nice shoulders. MMmm. He's turning around, ok, nice ass, good. I'm going in.

Wandering Star, Portishead: I wanna fuck this song. I really do. I've tried. It is what sex sounds like when you write it into a song.

Feed Me, Tricky: Slow and sexy and heavy, but still moves enough to make a dance out of it.

Os Novos Yorkinos, Bebel Gilberto: Think hips, wrists, arms; this Brazilian bitch knows what she is doing. (Bitch in the good way. Just FYI. I don't know how well you know me.)

Slow Like Honey, Fiona Apple: Again, slow and sexy, and all the right words.


The Song That Finds You Screaming Along at the Top of Your Lungs When You've Maybe Had One Too Many
Whew, I need another beer. Oh man, there's nothing but Beam? Shit, alright, well...fuck it, I'm having FUN! (Oh, how those words have come back to haunt me...)

Cherry Pie, Warrant: Ha ha ha!! Oh, I'm such a douchebag. I swear I was not in a sorority. No offense to sororities.

Pour Some Sugar On Me, Def Leoppard: See above.

The Sweater Song, Weezer: See: the last party I was at that ended in a sing-along. A Weezer sing-along. Sometimes I even shock myself.

I Like Big Butts, Sir Mix-a-lot: Everyone knows at least the first ten words. That counts.

Don't Stop Believin', Journey (courtesy of my baby sistaaaar!): I don't get it. It must be a Maryland thing. :)

I Wanna Rock and Roll All Night, Kiss: DUH! I wanna rock and roll all night, too! Sweet! Let's SCREAM IT AS LOUD AS POSSIBLE!!

Ice, Ice Baby, Vanilla Ice (yo yo yo SelfishKitty): Ok, so weird grammar nerd question because I just don't feel like looking it up? What is the correct comma use for this song? Two commas? One comma? NO commas?

I could go on for a while here...


The Song to Make an Exit To
I ahm shmashed!! Caan sumone givvvve me a riiiiiidee? Pleease?Aw mans, thanks mister. Whaat are you, a stunt maan or somethingk? Weeerd.

Love Her Madly, The Doors: "Wanna be her daddy" is just fucking awesome.

Announcement

Just a quick update:

Tomorrow we're kicking off a new idea - every six weeks we'll decide on a theme. Then, we'll each write a post each Friday about that theme. After six weeks - new theme!

Get it?

Got it?

Good.

First theme - Party Music, in light of America Day! First post, by Boo, goes up on July 4th.



Happy 4th, people. Drink up.

i don't want to work, i don't want to lunch

probably the worst question a person can ask, if they want to get to know me, is "what kind of music do you like?"
my response is usually "all of it. if it's good." or something along those lines. really, what kind of answer is that? a lame one. every time i come out with that answer, i find myself feeling as though i've just admitted that i don't know anything about music and don't really listen to much and so i don't have any real answer to the question.
this is far, far, far from the truth.
really, though, it's not a good question at all. so it doesn't deserve a good answer. and i know i'm not the only one who thinks so - but despite that, it comes up in almost every getting-to-know-you conversation i've ever had.
i used to hedge with "everything except country music and hip hop," but then i took a considered look at the johnny cash, wilco, woody guthrie, krs-one, busta rhymes and eminem in my collection and realized that i wasn't actually allowed to rule out those two oft-maligned genres.
the truth is, i really do enjoy everything. again, with the caveat - as long as it's good.
so, given a music geekery that ranges from handel to the horrorpops, social distortion to the dixie chicks, where do i begin? how do i convince you that i'm not just an eclectic spazz?
well, that last might not be possible. because there's a good chance that i really am just an eclectic spazz.
but regardless of that, i've decided that the best place to start is with something really. fantastic.
i've got just the thing for you.



a few years back, my dad gave me pink martini's hang on little tomato.
on the 12 hour drive back to los angeles from my parents' house, i slipped that cd into the cd player in my car - and listened to it on repeat the whole way home.
i was floored.
pink martini's music is sweet and quirky, sexy, flirty, smarter than smart. they're an old-time big band (though they call themselves a "little orchestra,") embracing the lush richness of real live instruments played by real live musicians. and not just played, but played well. and the primary singer, china forbes, is a chanteuse of the first order, with a voice that ranges from operatic to intimate, slipping from one language to another without a single moment of hesitation. i have been to see them live, and while the whole group is comprised of consummate professionals, ms. forbes holds that shit down (yes, that's the technical term) without ever showing the slightest strain.
a pink martini performance is like stepping into a multilingual, multicultural, multidimensional jazz lounge in hollywood, 1945; one in which you're not surprised that the women are drinking whiskey and the men are drinking cosmos and everyone is dressed for a white tie cocktail party but also maybe playing a spirited game of strip twister on the dance floor.
does that make any sense?
no, probably not. but that's still a little bit of what it's like.
if you're going to heed my advice and head over to your favorite brick-and-mortar cd store, i would, without hesitation, suggest that you actually buy the most recent album first. my obsessive-compulsiveness wouldn't usually allow me to suggest that to you, but there are some of the most fantastic musical gems on that album you will ever hear.
if you're going to do as i do, and not as i say, then you'll go download some tracks to get a taste of what you're in for. if you go this route, you must download:
dosvedanya mio bombino
amado mio
hey eugene!
tempo perdido
hang on little tomato
una notte a napoli
the gardens of sampson & beasley
donde estás, yolanda?
bukra wba'do
and, of course, absolutely, without fail,
sympathique:

Mobile Homes, The Simple Joys

If you went to college at one of the major universities in Iowa during the late 80’s, and went to see a lot of live music, chances are you heard the Gear Daddies. I actually heard them because this band, Box 10, from Cedar Falls, Iowa, covered about half of their first album, Let’s Go Scare Al.

That first album is pretty much the soundtrack for all Midwestern small towns in the 80’s. The Gear Daddies were officially my “first” alt-country band. I was into them for about a year before I even heard of Uncle Tupelo. I spread that first CD around to anyone who would give it a listen.

The Gear Daddies, or “Gear Dads” as some of us would refer to them, were from Austin, Minnesota. They were lumped in with a bunch of other Minneapolis bands, including the Jayhawks, Run Westy Run, and the Draghounds. They were around until at least 1993, so they sort of got to ride that whole “alternative” thing for a little while, but never really made it big. Hell, I don’t think that they did that much touring outside of the Midwest except for one tour out in the Boston area. It’s not like they were on some small indie label, either. These guys were signed to PolyGram.

In the Spring of 1993, I was graduating. I don’t think the economy was very good back in 1993, because a lot of the people I resided with in Friley Hall were having trouble finding jobs. There were two guys on my floor who were getting degrees in Aerospace Engineering, and they were not going into their field of work, instead, having to compete with mechanical engineering majors for jobs. There wasn’t a lot of Health and Safety jobs out there either, but one day, my advisor said, “Jez, I scheduled you for an interview tomorrow night with AlliedSignal. Be there.”

So I interviewed with the head Health and Safety guy for a division of AlliedSignal and the HR Manager. It was cool. I let them know about my 8-month internship and that I was in a band. The HR Manager’s eyes lit up.

“Are there any good bands playing in town tonight?”

I said, “Actually, Jim, if I didn’t have a final tomorrow, I would be going to People’s Bar and Grill to see the Gear Daddies. They’re one of my favorite bands.”

I got a second interview at the plant and ended up getting the job, which was a good thing, since my folks were living in Germany at the time, and if I didn’t get the job, I was going to be essentially homeless. Later, I came to find out that Jim really liked the Gear Daddies and even bought one of their CDs. I think he tried to get them to play at the corporate summer party, but it didn’t happen.

When I moved to Pensacola in 1996, I discovered what I consider the “southern” version of the Gear Daddies: Drivin’ n’ Cryin’. Their song, “Straight to Hell” would have fit nicely on either Gear Daddies album, as well as this suggested list of Gear Daddies songs:

Statue of Jesus
Heavy Metal Boyz
Drank So Much (Just Feel Stupid)
She’s Happy
Strength
Stupid Boy
Don’t Look at Me
Time Heals
Zamboni (hidden track at the end of “One Voice”)
Dream Vacation
Little Red Corvette (cover)
The Tide is High (cover)

Some dude from Illinois hooked up this video with the song, "Statue of Jesus." You may think it really has nothing to do with the song. Actually, if you watch this video with a pounding hangover, it's perfect.

Beer to enjoy this music with: Leinenkugel's Original