9 posts tagged “music”

[NOTE:  Thanks for the E-mails.  One of you suggested a tribute to Supertramp.  I'm going to do one better.  Standby for my tribute to "Super" bands.  Coming soon.]

You asked for some "mood music" and here it is.

The problem is that you didn't distinguish which mood.  As a result, in the same way Holst gave us tunes for each planets, I give you music for my "bad" mood.  When I lose my keys or the dog craps in the kitchen or last piece of toast gets burnt, here is what I've been listening to:

Trouble

Tim Fite

This is Tim Fite.  He's a new find and he's awesome.  He works with his brother, who doubles as a whacked out sound artist.  If you listen, there are hints of Jim White and Tom Waits -- anger, ire, fringe psychosis.

Further evidence of this twist of the mind can be found in his video "Away from the Snakes":

There are very few that I trust to help shape my musical tastes -- which tilt more towards indie rock.  You see, I'm a total music snob and, wrong as it is, think that I know something about the Indie scene and its players.  I don't trust others and take almost every opportunity I can to demean those who try to send me recommendations.

I think this stems from an instance from my youth where I was told by friend/prankster/bastard that WHAM! was a ska/punk/badass offshoot of The Damned.  Trying to look cool, I took a copy of the tape "Make it Big" (yes, it was a cassette tape) and cranked it up in front of a girl I had a crush on.  Imagine my surprise/shock/horror as the first cut, "Wake Me Up Before You Go Go" came blaring through my parents' beige stationwagon speakers.

Make It Big

Wham!

This fateful event is revisited anytime anyone has the inclination to try to inform me about music.  As a result, I acted like an ass to friend/all around nice guy/music fiend Andy Bowman when he tried to cajole me into going to the Nada Surf show at SXSW.  "You're going where?"  I taunted.  "Haven't they had songs on the OC soundtrack?  Or did I hear their latest single on a Target commercial?  Why don't you go to their show by yourself.  I get uncomfortable hanging out with crying teenage girls waving lighters." 

Sure, it was harsh.  Sure I felt bad as Andy slid away into the night, heading headlong towards the Nada Surf show.  But can you blame me?  How cool is a band that poses like this:

NadaSurf

When I got home, I was downloading music for the Best of SXSW CD and happened upon Nada Surf.  The intention was to publish Andy's idea of "good music "and then crush that idea under the jackboot of my own superior musical intellect.

[Here is where I start to try to apologize]  I started with the 30 second intros of their songs.  It was kind of like my first taste of bleu cheese -- strong, not really my taste, but not bad.  Parts of their music were sugary sweet and parts pretty complex.  Pretty good for a band that I assumed to be best matched with a caramel macchiato at Starbuck's -- there I go again, note self:  cut it out.  This was one of the first full cuts I dove into:

Always Love

Nada Surf

It turns out that Andy was spot on.  As I got further into the catalog of their music,  the more I got into it.  I even found myself teary-eyed, swinging a Zippo around.  I finally totally broke down.  "Andy, you were right!"  I said to no one.  And that was when I sat down to pen this half-ass apology and whole ass validation that Andy Bowman's tastes are of the highest standard.  There, I said it.  Now give a listen to another favorite cut from a new favorite band.

Tree House

Nada Surf

So you want to get married in Hawaii?

Good move.

Here's just a glimpse of your backdrop.  Give it a look.  You're only three easy steps away from realizing your dream.

Not a matte painting.

My expertise?  Hmmmm.  You're questioning my credentials?  Well, I just happened to come back from from a wedding in Hawaii so, through osmosis, I'm well versed on the subject.  Don't ask again, or you'll be asked to leave.

Step 1:  Pick an exotic place. 

Make it an island.  It also has to be a US State that serves fresh pineapple.  Oh, and it should be really expensive to get to (that's how you'll find out who your real friends are).  If you've made a list of places, it should be short and only have Hawaii on it.  There.  You've taken your first step towards your wedding in Hawaii.  Our blushing couple Jen and Pete went through this exercise and picked Kauai (mostly because it's the hardest island to spell). 
 

Checking out the site for your wedding is important.

Jann, a hallowed guest, pontificates on love

Stuart, another guest, abuses Jann for his romantic views, and so it goes.

Step 3:  Just do it (the wedding, that is)

Pete and Jen stand under the "spiritual structure" with a serious USC fan.

Unfortunately, at some point, you have to get married.  This is where the fun could stop.  At the end of the day, a wedding is a wedding, whether it be in Syracuse, Sarasota or Hawaii.  But you're in Hawaii!  And the Hawaiians don't play the "heavenly matrimony" and a string quartet song -- their wedding march is played on a ukulele and served with a cold Chi Chi.  Pete and Jen shook it up with a Hawaiian Priestess and a whole bunch of orchids (the orchids  are for wishes for the new couple -- Jen can explain).  It was very cool, but I was somewhat disappointed that the slack key guitar accompanist didn't play any Don Ho.

Jen and Pete decided that their wedding would be a Macarena-free event.

Be sure to only have island food and island drink.  In Hawaii, they tend to have foods that sound like you're saying that things have gone wrong.  Pete and Jen served up "Ono" (sounds like "Oh no!") and "Itinkapupedinmopants" (pronounced "I think I pooped in my pants!').  Lastly, the wedding dance is an age-old event that can make or break the entire weekend.  This takes careful consideration.  Pete and Jen went with a mix of disco and hippie music.  In a weird way, it worked!  Take a listen (and picture the blushing bride in her new husband's arms romantically swaying to the beat):

"Coconuts"

Widespread Panic

And there you have it.  A Hawaiian wedding in three steps.  So stop looking at the Arboretum in Philadelphia or Coit Tower in San Francisco.  Start planning your island wedding now.  By the way, Step 4 is make sure I'm at the top of all your lists.

Apparently, you have a way you like things done.  It's like the beginning of a relationship when you've moved past the honeymoon phase and are figuring out each other's likes and dislikes:  Lower the toilet lid, put the coffee cups in the sink, don't cut your toenails in bed, etc.

For you (and I mean the collective "you"), you don't like photos of bands without music.  I got it. I got it.  You don't have to ask me twice.  All I ask is that you don't get bitchy and start trying to tell me what to do.  I'm serious.  I'll walk my ass out of here if you ever talk like that to me again.  OK.  OK.  Let's make up.  No, you're the best.  You know you're the best.  I hate it when we fight.  That's sweet of you to say.  Me too. 

All that said, here's a cut from the Dirty Dozen Brass Band.

Dirty Dozen Brass Band-Mardi Gras In New Orleans

Dirty Dozen Brass Band

[PLEASE, NO MORE REQUESTS FOR MY "BEST OF SXSW 2008".  I HAD TO CUT IT OFF.  I'M ONLY ONE MAN AND ONE BURNER.  I WILL POST THE LIST ON THE BLOG SOON.  Now back to our regular programming.]

Thanks to all who seem to be reading about our journey into the Louisiana swamps.  When surrounded by such a fascinating array of biodiversity, odd food and strange-sounding creatures, it's good to know that you all are there and that you say the word "on" without a long "o".

This gator was my pet until this man came along.

Thanks especially to all the response to the SXSW issue.  The United State, Brazil, Sweden, Italy, Australia, Poland and a few others all joined together and agreed that The Evangelicals "sucked" (terrível in Portuguese).  I'm glad to have united the free world (no E-mails from China?) in your mutual musical disdain.

Well, I'm back with some more tunes, and I will try to get back on your good side.  These were two bands that had a huge amount of buzz at the festival.  While I can attest for the Ting Tings, I'm going to have to trust the musical ears of Pat Beach, Allen Eddy and Sara Michel on the Raveonettes.

To start, the only thing I have to say in my introduction of "Great DJ" is this:  Ladies and Gentlemen, meet this year's head-bopping summer hit...

Great DJ

Ting Tings

That Great Love Sound

The Raveonettes

First, a word about technology.  There are most certainly times when technology is your friend.  Listening to live music, hanging with friends and holding two shots of good tequila is not one of those time.

Yes.  It's true.  I tried to be one of those people trying to be constantly in touch.  Micro-blogging my life away as I saw show after show.  But here is my summation of the practice:  It's not that fun.  In fact, it literally took the fun out of the whole experience.  This ended up being a quandary.  How do you tell everyone how much fun you're having when telling everyone how much fun you're having isn't very much fun?

SXSW 08: Constantines

SXSW 08: She and Him

In short, it made me miss my former hometown.  Now, to be honest, thinking of SXSW as "Austin" is liking seeing your old girlfriend and only remembering the good times.  You know, only remembering something beautiful and perfect you did with that person.  Austin during SXSW is all about you forgetting that she called you a "dumbass" in front of your friends or that she used to hurl plates at your head.  SXSW is certainly the best of times.

SXSW 08: One Mississippi

Austin changes after SXSW.  The musicians go home.  Sixth Street becomes a tawdry place filled with shot bars and puking teenagers.  The temperature goes up to 163 degrees.  In short, it sort returns back to being a normal town with really good grocery stores.

All that said, SXSW '08 was awesome as usual.  Thanks to all who housed and fed the Kallenbergs (Sam, Laura, Henry, Camille, Alex, Eileen, Jack, Tessa, Kate) and hung with the Gregory (Chris R., Chris M, Chris G., Andy B., David, Alan, Bart, Charlie, Andy L., Eric H. et al.).  See you next year.

I'll be back with some tracks to tune into.  Stay connected.

As Interactive and Film draws to a close (and Music begins to take over), you can definitely feel the shift.  It's like some big analog indicator is being yanked from "Smart and Geeky" towards the word "Cool and Hipstery."  Not that we geeks and self proclaimed film moguls aren't cool.  It just that we carry ourselves in a different way.  These dirty would-be rock stars have a swagger that we don't.  They have an attitude that we don't.  For example, I met the hipster, waifish male members of a band that will remain unnamed.  They apparently had the attitude that sanitary living (i.e. - a bath) was not their cup of tea.   The sad part is that they pulled it off.  These guys had others oggling over their 7-11 sunglasses, ripped shirts and slightly post-teen swagger/wobble.  Everyone laughed at their veiled references to getting inebriated ("yo, let's go get shitty) and their feigned boredom ("when does it get started, boy").  They were, how should I say it, cool.

We on the Interactive side can only dream (through "Guitar Hero") what it's like behind the music

Wow.  You read.  You discussed.  You reacted (some more strongly than others -- yes, I'm talking to you Alan).

Thanks for all the E-mails.  I'm a bit surprised that no one commented on the video.  I guess it's "hilarious" in a late 90s viral video kind of way.  I guess I'll always be a sucker for bloopers (cue "Smokey and the Bandit" credits).

But you liked the music part.  So in response to your response:  You demanded the complete lists and here they are (I didn't include all of them - just ones within reach at the time this was penned).

Let me know what you think.

Chris Riemenschneider
North American Scum - LCD Soundsystem
Been there all the Time - Dinosaur Jr.
Young Folks - Peter Bjorn and John
For the Girl - The Fratellis
Stronger - Kanye West
Apartment Story - The National
Weird Fishes - Radiohead
Knock em Out - Lily Allen
Hip Hop is Dead - Nas
Borne on the FM - Against Me!
Is there a Ghost - Band of Horses
Direct Hit - Art Brut
Sugar - Dan Wilson
Girls in Their Summer Clothes - Springsteen
Back to Back - Amy Winehouse
Paper Planes - MIA
Antichrist TV Blues - Arcade Fire
Killing the Blues (by John Prine) - Plant and Krauss
Headed for a Fall (Jimmie Dale Gilmour) - M. Ward

Will Paradise
Say it - Glen Hansard
Sleeping Lessons - The Shins
Falling Slowly - Hansard and Irglova
And Never Look Back - Matthew Ryan
If you Want Me - Hansard and Irglova
Just Stay  - Kevin Devine
Ain't no Reason - Brett Dennen
The Crane Wife 3  - The Decemberists
Wigwam - Bob Dylan
Dead Leaves - The White Stripes
The Hill - Irglova
You Don't Know What Love is
Broken Hearted - Hansard
Crying Over - Patty Griffin
Travelin' - Matt Mays and El Torpedo
We're Going to Be Friends ((Jack Johnson) - White Stripes
Westbound Train - Chris Denny
Chicago Promenade - Jason Isbel
Marine Life - Oakley Hall
Leave - Hansard
What Light - Wilco

Corder

Corder List 2007

My personal list?  As I told a few of you, being a pundit allows me to make fun and criticize everything around me without having to show my own tastes in anything.  It's really a beautiful position to be in.

"The stairs are com-for-table [clap-clap-clap] deep in the heart of Louisiana!"

Quote of the week:  "Hey, you guys want to hear a great way to see the bottom of your testicles?" -- Overheard at Tobias' 2nd grade lunch table which is, needless to say, all boys.

Lovdy and Mark have been busy:  [Cue the "Eight is Enough" opening theme]  The Grossmans are expecting again.  It's weird.  When I knew Mark back in college, he was a lovable, cross-dressing soon-to-be music mogul (anyone remember Those Who Dig?) who was in love with Marky Mark.  I would have never thought he would have come this far?  This will be number 2 on the way to 11.

The Foo!: A lot have written to ask about my experience with the Foo Fighters.  I must warn all of you that I'm not a fan.  I must also say that their music is trite and formulaic.  All that said, those dudes awesome!  Wooooooo!  Dave Grohl rocks my world!  Foo!  Foo! Foo!  FF kicks ass!  Okay, okay, I screamed like a teenage girl.

The Foo loves you!

Battle Royal for "Best of"
The New Year is a glorious time for me.  Not because of its renewing powers -- the idea of starting all over again and having a clean slate to make (and break) personal vows like abatement in alcohol consumption, not yelling at the dog, etc. -- but because it's the time of year where my more musically minded pals send me their "Best of" CDs.

It ends up being a bit of a pissing match between the music aficionados and the self proclaimed music professionals.  Surprisingly, some of the best stuff came out of the novices of the group.  Take, for example, Will Paradise.  Will is a friend who has sequestered himself and his wife Ani and his daughter atop a place called Hurricane Hill in Colorado.  Yet, with all this seclusion, the man named after the Milton poem, found some of the coolest tunes.  For example, check out "And Never Look Back" from Matthew Ryan (another standout was Kevin Devine's "Stay"):

Matthew Ryan - And Never Look Back

LCD Soundsystem-North American Scum

Wilco was on a lot of people's lists, but Corder (Austin) picked the only good song off of the new album: "Either Way".  I will spend a sentence on Corder's "Best of" because I usually hate (hate!) his choice of music.  He and I rarely see each other during SXSW and, when we do, we spend time giving each other crap about the band the other is about to see.  This year, however, his disk was good:  The Detroit Cobras, Bryan Ferry and Spoon.

The one surprise for me is that no one gave Kimya Dawson (formerly of the Moldy Peaches, most recently of "Juno" fame).  While the movie was a bit of a mediocre VW commercial (convincing us that driving a VW Touareg could actually make us cool), the soundtrack was pretty amazing.  That said, I leave you with my one song "Best of":

Kimya Dawson - I Like Giants