4 posts tagged “rock”

[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

[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

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.