Sean Lennon - Friendly Fire

If you are a Beatles fan give this album a listen. Throughout the album there are Beatles-esque, whimsy, simple, and melancholy melodies. It has grown on me. Tracks 1 and 10 are good.

Ghostland Observatory-Paparazzi Lightning

Thought I would post a little upbeat dancing tunes for this here Tuesday, the voting day.

The band is not political, just excellent.

They hail from Austin, Texas, and are comprised of a 2 friends, one with pig-tails who sings oh so heavenly, and the other who usually wears a cape, and makes the beats with his computer. Check out their Myspace page for more. www.myspace.com/ghostlandobservatory

The music is on par with The Rapture, but you can tell very distinct differences. I actually prefer the two Ghostland albums to the new Rapture.

Sad Sad City may be one of my Top Five songs of the year.

I know they recently played 7th St for all you MPLS peeps, but if you get a chance to see them again, go go go go go.

Whitest Boy Alive- Dreams

It's FINALLY here. Sorry for the delay, it is well worth it.

This is the sideproject of Erlend Oye, of Kings of Convenience fame. The band is comprised of Erlend and 2 of his friends. It was concieved in the same way The Postal Service came to be; where Erlend and his friends were commisioned to write a song for a compilation (Jimmy Tamborello and Ben Gibbard made a track for DNTEL, called This is the Dream of Evan and Chan, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR FANS).

Well, The Whitest Boy Alive liked what they heard and decided to record and album. It is similar in tone to Kings of Convenience, but is has a more upbeat, dance tune to it.

Despite the succes of Whitest..., Erlend promises another go around for Kings in the near future.

Dreams is a complex album, that goes from airy pop, to harmonizing twee, to techno sugar pop.

John Lennon - Plastic Ono Band

Lennon told Jann Wenner, founder of Rolling Stone Magazine: "The poetry on this album is superior to anything I've ever done because it's not self-conscious...." Of the equally minimalistic music he said: "I always liked simple rock.... I was influenced by acid and got psychedelic like the whole generation... but when you just listen, the piano does it all for you, your mind can do the rest.... I don't need anything else."

Singles

Singles are the best. They're the first music I ever latched onto, when I found my parents' box of 45s. It's not big, and there are deeper collections out there. But there's some Motown, Stax, a mess of Capitol & RCA, and Leslie Gore. I've toyed with the "album", but I'll always favor pop singles. These are some of my favorites.

1. Mississippi Delta - Bobbie Gentry: She left a ton of great singles, and I think this is a great soul banger. If you're ever at Half-Price Books and can cop some Bobbie, do it.

2. Hard Times - Baby Huey: This came from Curtom, Curtis Mayfield's label. Baby Huey was an enormous Chicago dude who died of a heart attack at 26. Another great soul tune.

3. Independent Women - Destiny's Child (remix by 2 many dj's): I swear the only thing holding back soul and R&B these days is lousy production. This remix - actually a mashup with 10CC - gets everything right about Beyoncé. The vocal performance is lightning, but the original's flat production drags it down and masks a superior tune waiting to get out.

4. Lover & A Friend - Eddie Bo & Inez Cheatham: Super-catchy funk, complete with tremendous breaks. Eddie Bo is a total god, and probably my favorite singles artist.

5. (Runaway) I Wouldn't Change a Thing - Coke Escovedo: This is AM Gold, great pop from the 70s. Again, a very generous break, and terribly catchy.

6. Doomsday - MF DOOM: First, he crafts a hip-hop alter-ego based on Dr. Doom. Next, he samples Anita Baker.

7. My 2600 - Captain Funkaho: The genius of this cut is that it manages to use the bad cliches from three full decades of music. It's weird and goofy, and totally bad. But it's from Stones Throw, so it's got to be good, right?

8. Mama Roux - Dr. John: Great tune, back when the Doctor mattered.

9. Our Happiness Is Guaranteed - Quasi: My friend John turned me on to Sam Coomes and his two-person band. You should really check out "Featuring Birds", as it's pretty much a solid pop records loaded with singles. I love the thunderous drums throughout, and how the dystopic sci-fi lyrics go down so sweet.

10. Check Your Bucket - Eddie Bo: "There's a Hole in the Bucket" re-done in sexual terms (or maybe the themes are just made more explicit). Another big winner by Eddie.

11. Honky Tonk Women - Rolling Stones: It rocks out hard, and has a nice break at the beginning - big ups to Charlie Watts.

12. Hard to Handle - Otis Redding: Like me, you probably only knew the Black Crowes version. Otis Redding might be the best male soul singer who ever lived.

13. The Mexican - Babe Ruth: Would you believe me if I said they rocked this at block parties in the Boogie Down in '80? Strange how British prog rock is present at the birth of hip-hop.

14. Like a Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan: I figured everyone had this, but this mix is about pop singles, and this is likely the best single ever.

15. Where Is Love - Eldridge Holmes: Tough to follow Dylan, so something short and to the point. I like that this song goes all over the place in less than two minutes, but you never feel lost.

Getz/Gilberto - Vol. 1 & 2

Reviews from Amazon.com
Vol. # 1, Originally released in March 1964, this collaboration between saxophonist Stan Getz and guitarist João Gilberto came at seemingly the end of the bossa nova craze Getz himself had sparked in 1962 with Jazz Samba, his release with American guitarist Charlie Byrd. Jazz Samba remains the only jazz album to reach number one in the pop charts. In fact, the story goes that Getz had to push for the release of Getz/Gilberto since the company did not want to compete with its own hit; it was a good thing he did. Getz/Gilberto, which featured composer Antonio Carlos Jobim on piano, not only yielded the hit "Girl from Ipanema" (sung by Astrud Gilberto, the guitarist's wife, who had no professional experience) but also "Corcovado" ("Quiet Night")--an instant standard, and the definitive version of "Desafinado." Getz/Gilberto spent 96 weeks in the charts and won four Grammys. It remains one of those rare cases in popular music where commercial success matches artistic merit. Bossa nova's "cool" aesthetic--with its understated rhythms, rich harmonies, and slightly detached delivery--had been influenced, in part, by cool jazz. Gilberto in particular was a Stan Getz fan. Getz, with his lyricism, the bittersweet longing in his sound, and his restrained but strong swing, was the perfect fit. His lines, at once decisive and evanescent, focus the rest of the group's performance without overpowering. A classic.

Vol # 2, This live follow-up to the surprise blockbuster Getz/Gilberto was inevitable. Interestingly, the original LP release of the October 1964 Carnegie Hall concert focused on separate sets by Getz's quartet (featuring vibist Gary Burton) and Gilberto's trio: each is as meditative and sweetly melancholic as you'd expect.

Pavement, Live at the Palace, Hollywood, April 24, 1994

Matador has been giving us gold in the form of their Pavement reissues. If you are a fan, you need to go out to Cheapo, Amoeba, InSound, whatever and buy them right away. Slanted and Enchanted, being the greatest album of the 90's or just a great Pavement album, is fantastic in the reissue. The packaging, extra songs, quality of recording, just great. Crooked Rain, my personal favorite, has never been better.

So Matador is again giving us a reason to buy albums, and is releasing the seminal Pavement album, Wowee Zowee, on November 7th, calling it the Sordid Sentinels edition. It is jam packed with bonus songs, b-sides, demo's, live, you name it.

They had a great pre-order program with the album where you get a 7", fold out poster, and upon pre-ordering, access to this here live show from Los Angeles. The show was right before Zowee came out and shows Malkmus and Spiral and Crew testing out the new tracks.

Excellence!!!!!

Pussy Cats

I've posted both albums, but I'll let allmusic do the talking.

The relationship between Harry Nilsson and John Lennon is legendary. They were notorious booze hounds and carousers, getting kicked out of clubs for misbehavior and generally terrorizing L.A. during Lennon's "lost weekend" of 1974. They wanted to make an album together -- hell, anyone working at such a peak would -- and the result was Pussy Cats, a Nilsson album produced by Lennon. Almost immediately, Nilsson got sick, resulting in a ruptured vocal cord. Not wanting Lennon to stop the sessions, Nilsson never told his friend, stubbornly working his way through the sessions until he lost his voice entirely. These are the sessions that make up Pussy Cats, an utterly bewildering record that's more baffling than entertaining. Like many superstar projects of its time, this is studded with contributions from friends and studio musicians, all intent on having a good time in the studio -- which usually means hammering out rock & roll oldies. In this case, it meant both Dylan's "Subterranean Homesick Blues" and the children's song "Loop de Loop," which gives a good idea where Nilsson was at. Through its messiness, Pussy Cats winds up showing how he and Lennon violently careened between hedonism and self-loathing. Of the new songs, the inadvertently revealing "All My Life" is the strongest, followed by the sweet "Don't Forget Me," yet this is more about tone than substance. It's about hearing Nilsson's voice getting progressively harsher, as the backing remains appealingly professional and slick. It doesn't quite jibe, and it's certainly incoherent, but that's its charm. It may not be as wild as the lost weekend itself, but it couldn't have been recorded at any other time and remains a fascinating aural snapshot of the early days of 1974.

Remaking an entire album -- especially one as rooted in mood and the performers involved as Harry Nilsson's Pussy Cats -- seems about as wise an idea as Gus Van Sant's shot-by-shot remake of Psycho. Fortunately, the Walkmen's song-by-song redo of Pussy Cats doesn't come off as a half-baked technical exercise. The band remains loyal to the rambling feel of the original (which, to be fair, was half covers itself) and the results are as intimate as an in-joke between old friends. The Walkmen recorded this album concurrently with A Hundred Miles Off and were getting ready to shut down their Marcata Studio; while it's not exactly the months-long "lost weekend" that Nilsson and John Lennon embarked on in early 1974, Hamilton Leithauser and crew give off a similarly rumpled, tweedy, maybe too smart for their own good vibe as Nilsson did, and invite a bunch of friends, including Ian Svenonius and Mazarin's Quentin Stoltzfus, to help them send Marcata off. Interestingly, one of the stronger moments on A Hundred Miles Off was the band's cover of Mazarin's "Another One Goes By," so the spirit of having fun interpreting other people's music was already flowing by the time they approached Pussy Cats. And while the band's versions of these songs aren't much different than the originals, they do them well: Svenonius' cameo on "Subterranean Homesick Blues" helps make it a goofy highlight, along with Stolzfus' collaboration on "Mucho Mongo/Mt. Elga," which with its tropical percussion and shimmering organs, seems to have been a big influence on A Hundred Miles Off. Likewise, Pussy Cats' rare moody moments, "Don't Forget Me" and "Black Sails," are also perfect fits for the band's sound. A little messier than its inspiration but with the same freewheeling spirit, the Walkmen's Pussy Cats feels like a musical wake, rooted in just having fun making music with friends.

Enjoy.

Haunted Mix Tape

In honor of the impending Devil's Night, I've created a Halloween-themed mix. These 13 tracks remind me of Halloween for one reason or another. I've included the XML file so you can keep the playlist order. After you import the tracks to iTunes, go to File > Import… and select the XML file.

01. Incanatrix - Jedi Mind Tricks
02. Tonight the Monkey Dies - Low
03. Do They Know It's Halloween? (Radio Edit) - North American Halloween Prevention Initiative
04. Halfsharkalligatorhalfman - Dr. Octagon
05. This Devil's Workday - Modest Mouse
06. Monsters - The Boy Least Likely To
07. The Boogie Monster - Gnarls Barkley
08. Vampires - Atmosphere
09. They Are Night Zombies!! - Sufjan Stevens
10. The Ghost - I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness
11. Dracula - Gorillaz
12. The Killing Moon - Echo & The Bunnymen
13. Blood Embrace - Matt Sweeny & Bonnie 'Prince' Billy

I've convinced my wife to dress up as Tenacious D with me for Halloween. What are you going as?

Taking a vote

Hi Everyone, longtime reader, firsttime writer...

I used to work with Kyle in MPLS, but then moved to LA to further my acting career. Okay, that was a j0ke.

So I have a ton of new music I have been obsessed with and wanted to take a vote from you guys as to what I should post about first.

Let me know which of the following you are most interested in:

Peter, Bjorn and John-Writers Block
The Whitest Boy Alive- Dreams
The Kooks-Inside In Inside Out
Oh No! Oh My!
Tokyo Police Club
Ghostland Observatory-DeleteDeleteIEatMeat
Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly-Chronicles of a Bohemian Teenager
I'm From Barcelona-Let Me Introduce My Friends

I found Harry Smith

If anyone is interested-Harry Smith, the folk, blues, ect. music collector guy is a member at LaLa. You can view his LaLa page at
http://www.lala.com/frontend/action/karma?userToken=55392@10157

Seu Jorge - The Life Aquatic Sessions

Seu Jorge is a Brazilian musician who is known for his work renewing the interest samba. His popularity has never moved much past his native Brazil, but his work was featured in the films City of God and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. It is the second movie that brought him to my attention. Seu had a bit part in Wes Anderson's fantastic character study, as a deck hand/sound man with Steve Zissou's crew. The movie is just short of fantastic. Fantastic being Rushmore. It is probably my second favorite Wes Anderson film. I thought it really expressed the theme of fatherhood and what it means to be father and son and that realationship. It was dark, but not overly morose like The Royal Tennebaums. It kept the essence of the ensamble cast but narrowed its focus on Steve and Ned, rather then the meandering as The Royal Tennebaums. I know I am probably in the minority of with my love of The Life Aquatic, but hey deal with it.

Seu Jorge did most of the soundtrack for The Life Aquatic, it is comprised of sweet acoustic music, enhancing Seu's deep timber. Did I mention that all of Seu Jorge's songs on The Life Aquatic soundtrack are all David Bowie covers. Yes the Thin White Duke, being covered by samba musician who speaks and sings in nothing but Portuguese. It is suprisinly good. Seu strips the songs to their essence and brings out the qualities of the music. It is what a good cover/tribute album should be. The idea of the original music is there but the artist makes it their own. Seu does a wonderful job.

The uploaded album is not the soundtrack rather the studio sessions that Wes Anderson had Seu Jorge record for the album. Only five songs make the soundtrack. On the The Life Aquatic Sessions there are 13 Bowie songs and one original composition (Team Zissou). If you are fan of Bowie or not, you will enjoy this album. Highlites on the album are Life on Mars, Changes, and Queen Bitch.

Enjoy

This post updated while listening to The Maginificant Defeat by Jay Bennett

Beck-The Information

Beck's new album The Information.

Atlanta Rock n Roll

If you hang out with the Clap Your Hands and Say Hey Hey Look at Me, I'm Hip crowd then you should already know about Atlanta's Snowden. I heard about Snowden via the Musichead podcast everyone reading this should check out. Anyway, Snowden sounds like Interpol or the Cure. Check out tracks one (Like Bullets) and five (Black Eyes). Enjoy.

Uploaded by listening to Ambulance LTD cover Pink Floyd's "Fearless."

Badly Drawn Boy - Born in the U.K.

The newest offering from Badly Drawn Boy, aka Damon Gough. I've been hooked on his lush pop sound since I came across his first album, Hour of the Bewildered Beast, in 2000 at SRI. I've only listened to this once through, but it's seems pretty good so far. The title track is pretty interesting, check out the video for it here.

The Stooges - Fun House

Proto-punk at its best. A classic.

TV On The Radio - Return To Cookie Mountain

Here is TVOTR new album. There are some interesting cuts with lots of guitar, fuzz, and high-energy vocals. David Bowie does some guest vocals on "Province." The song "Wolf Like Me," reminds me of the Joy Division song "Walked In Like." If you are interested, go to YouTube and look up "Wolf Like Me" on Letterman, it is a great live performance that aired in early September.

Anthology of American Folk Music, Vol. 3: Songs

The Anthology of American Folk Music is one of the most important compilations in American music. It was assembled, sequenced, and edited by Harry Smith, a strange, self-styled anthropologist/ethnologist/experimental filmmaker/bohemian independent scholar. He was an odd figure around the intellectual beatnik scene in New York in the 50s and 60s. He had a huge, legendary collection of hillbilly and blues 78s, back when no one really thought much of those recordings. This was before those old recordings were largely ignored or thought of as backwards and unimportant. Smith is partly responsible for changing that perception by creating the Anthology, which became the central canon of American Roots Music.

I won't write a long history of the set. If you want to learn more, you can read about on the Folkways site or in the book The Weird, Old America: The World of Bob Dylan's Basement Tapes, by Greil Marcus, or check it out on Wikipedia. Suffice it to say that it sparked and inspired the Folk Revival of the 1960s and influenced all of popular music since then. It's a source of songs and lyrics of staggering beauty, brutality, and honesty.

I've uploaded Volume 3 of the set, which focuses on lyric songs (as opposed to ballads or story songs) and blues. This is the most accessible volume of the three.

If I had to choose a desert island collection, this would be it. I wouldn't even have to think about it.

Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea

In my social circles, my loathing of indie rock is legendary. Yet I adore this album. Here's what strong, original songwriting and clear production can do for ya.

TV On The Radio-Dry Drunk Emperor

This is a free download that I found while reading up on TVOTR. "Dry Drunk Emperor" is an anti-Bush, anti-war song that was inspired by the chaotic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. It is part southern gospel and part indie rock anthem with lots of fuzz and guitar.

Bobby Bare Jr. - The Longest Meow

I was first introduced to Bobby Bare Jr. by P2 while he was working at Hello Booking. Part punk, part country, Bare Jr. has rocked his way out of his father's Nashville shadow. His albums are pretty good, but his live shows are amazing. The Longest Meow was a live session recorded in 11 hours with 11 artists from such bands as My Morning Jacket and Clem Snide. It's not Bare Jr's best album, but it shows his range spanning genres and devolving into a few jams. Highlights include 'The Bionic Heart' and, Pixies cover, 'Where Is My Mind.' I'm also posting my introduction to Bare Jr., Young Criminals Starvation League. Bare Jr. will be at the 400 Bar on October 19, The Longest Meow comes out September 26. Enjoy.

Yo La Tengo - I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass

Here is Yo La Tengo's new album. It is an eclectic mix of pop tunes, noisy rock, feeback, Velvet Underground vibes, and jazzy experimentals. Give it a listen and then google some reviews.

Ratatat

I offer two albums, Ratatat and Classics, by the indie NY rock band Ratatat for your listening pleasure. I've always dug dance-able rock and I was disappointed to learn about these guys only after they had spun through the cities. Great for getting you through those afternoon sleepies.

Dylan-Self Portrait

At pualio's request, I'm posting a little-known Dylan album, Self Portrait. This is probably the one that, according to his book Chronicles, he made intentionally bad in order to try to disengage from a public that was hounding him more and more to behave like a savior, the voice of a generation.

Yes, it is kind of bad. But there a handful of gems on it, including Alberta #1 & #2, The Mighty Quinn, and Gotta Travel On. But it's still kind of fascinating to hear Dylan's failed attempts at crooning Blue Moon, and (in a disaster of vocal overdubbing) Simon & Garfunkel's The Boxer. You have to hear that one to believe it.

School of Rock

Minnesota Public Radio's website is hosting a trivia game for the month of Sept. Each day a new question is asked and the previous days question is answered. If you answer the question correctly you are entered in a drawing for $1000.00 shopping spree to the Electric Fetus. As a bonus 'Current' DJ Mark Wheat will meet you at the Fetus and encourage you to buy Euro-trash dance music. Trivia is fun; check it out.

School of Rock

REV 105

As part of my extensive clean up of my office one of the things that I have been doing is putting the straggler CD's on my computer. As I was putting them on I came across the REV 105 Radio Archive. For those of you who did not live in Minneapolis in the mid 90's let me explain, or try to explain what REV was all about.

REV was a mid power radio stations serving the Twin Cities with the frequencies of 105.1, 105.3, and 105.7 (I never really figured out why there was three frequencies). REV played the kind of music that was perfect for a young college student like myself. It was the kind of station where you never knew what they where going to play next, but they never hit you with anything too far out in left field. The music the played was hip, without being condescending. The DJ's were the best, Brian Oake, Thorn, Shawn Stewart, Mary Lucia. They seemed to care about the music they played and had a seemed very genuine. It made me so desperately want to become a DJ. REV 105 was a commercial college station for all intense purposes. They would play the new "indie" artists without the hippies playing their Dead bootlegs, or John Zorn retrospectives, like so many college stations do now.

REV introduced me to so many of my favorite artists, G Love; Pavement; Frank Black; Spearhead; Ben Folds Five; and of course Soul Coughing. Just a quick note about Soul Coughing and REV. They where undoubtedly the house band of REV 105. REV 105 made Soul Coughing, in fact an alarming 40% of all of there record sales where in the Twin Cities area. That is pretty impressive from a band out of New York. It showed the power that REV had and radio in general had to push quality artist.

Something this good of course did not last. With the Bill Clinton and the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which deregulated ownership of media outlets paved the way for the eventual buy out of REV 105 by the Disney Corp. REV 105 was commercial station and the Cargill group and Carl Polad was offered a ton of money. I don't balme them, they are a business they are here to make money. I blame the Act and the lawmakers who thought it was a good idea. There is an interesting recollection here.

March 14th was a sad day, there where many people very upset at the demise of REV and a grass roots organization sprung up with the eventual goal of getting the Telecommunications ACT overturned. In essence it was really trying to get REV back on the air. The group was called Americans for Radio Diversity or ARD for short. They held fund raisers and even put out a CD, with some very familiar artists. Even the hidden track by Soul Coughing gave a shout out to REV and Shawn Stewart. The group eventually turned their focus from the Telecommunications Act to low power radio stations and other FCC type things. ARD from the looks of their website has disbanded and do no work for us hard working Americans who want true radio. Russ Feingold has seemed to take up this cause sometime last year, but I don't think it is going anywhere. Guess we have to wait until he is president.

Nearly 10 years after the Telecommunications ACT was signed the state of Radio is not good. Sure there are pockets here and there of quality stations. There is even a radio station in the Twin Cities that have the same frequencies as REV and even some of the same DJ's, but it really shallow shell of what REV used to be. Doesn't really matter that the only good station in town plays Johnny Lang and Eric Clapton on a continious loop? Do we really care that Disney and Clear Channel own most of our media. I say no. There is a new media, the internet. I have found more new music through the internet then I have ever had through radio. The internet is a place where shomes like us can share new, old , and weird stuff. It is a place where I can get Radio from Finland, Spain, and Louisiana. The state of music is fine. Yes, I will miss REV and what it was, and I would love have the station back. But am I going to write my congressmen and burn down Disney and Clear Channel, I don' t think that is necessary. Billie Joel said it best, "The good old days aren't always good, and tomorrow isn't as bad as it seems."

I have put up both Rev 105 Radio Archive, and ARD's TELEconned vol 1. for your listening enjoyment. There are some great performances on both of these discs. The REV disc is quite good, I love the Spearhead and They Might Be Giants song. Also Dylan Hicks song on the ARD disc is awesome. Enjoy

***This post updated while listening to the Cubs v Pirates***

Deerhoof - The Runners Four (more post rock?)

I first heard Deerhoof at the Wilco concert at the Orpheum a few years back. They opened, and people mostly talked though their set or sat dumbfounded and a little annoyed. "By turns cuddly and chaotic" (allmusic.com), Deerhoof can be a little off-putting if you're not expecting what they have to offer. I was intrigued, but I didn't get an album of theirs for another year.

I bought "Reveille" on iTunes, and I was immediately hooked. Mostly instrumental, that album has to be one of my favorites. Since then I've bought most of their albums. Their latest is "The Runners Four" which I offer here. I chose that instead of my favorite because, well, it's their latest, and it's still damn good.

The lead singer, Satomi Matsuzaki, sounds a little too close to Yoko Ono for many people's comfort, but her voice is more childlike than catlike. Their music offers some great pop melodies along with experimental noise, angular guitars, and great drumming. I hope you like.

Post-Rock: Part 2

The original Paul (or O.P.) has requested more post-rock; I am happy to oblige. This band is called Godspeed You Black Emperor! The album is called Yanqui U.X.O.

I struggled with a quick review of the album so I’ll just quote allmusic.com. “Montreal politico-art/music terrorist unit Godspeed You Black Emperor! has been working on the material for Yanqui U.X.O. (unexploded ordnance-landmines) for the past four years…. For over 75 minutes, no "found" voices are wafting through the mix like displaced ghosts at a musical inquiry into the nature of mass control and fascism.” I usually feel anxious while listening. Enjoy.

bob - pat garrett & billy the kid soundtrack

once there was a time where bob didn't have much to say, and the results were one of the odder of dylan albums. odd in that it was a soundtrack and that it was almost lyrically barren... fitting the setting of the Peckinpah western it was scored for. dylan also had a cameo role in the film, a character named Alias, a knife throwing specialist who mutters only a handlful of lines. bob fan or not, it's worth a watch... and the album is strangely addicting. enjoy.

How They Might Be Giants changed my life

So for the past couple of months I have been reliving my junior high school days. Watching Doctor Who, wearing shorts, vests and Chuck Taylors. Remembering the days when I was the king of geeks and friend to all. Most of my junior high school was spent musically trying to break away from my earlier obsession with Huey Lewis and the News and The Nylons. And trying to sing the Choir. Anyone who has spent anytime with me knows I can't sing, nor have any musical abilities whatsoever.

I first saw TMBG on MTV's 120 Minutes. I was at Sean Lawler's house. The song was Ana Ng, from Lincoln, I was hooked. The thing that hit was the video. It was so weird. In fact so you can all see it with me here it is:



Lincoln was the first CD I actually bought with my own money. It was in Rockford at the Cherryvale Mall. I popped it in once I got home and was amazed. Two guys, guitar and according, hell I don't think I knew what an according was. Songs like Cowtown, and Kiss Me Son of God, I was truly blown away. I knew from that moment on I would not be listening to Bon Jovi or Poison. No They Might Be Giants would lead me down the road of geek rock. It really started me off on the path that I am today. In fact They Might Be Giants was my first concert (that I paid for). Which is a lot better to say now then Queensrych. I can't imagine what life would have been like for me. I can't imagine coming to college and thinking the greatest band in the world was Led Zepplin. Of course I did like Sting, but you can't blame me.

So for your listening pleasure I have put up Lincoln and They Might Be Giant's self titled debut. I recently listened to them again. They both hold up quite amazingly. Download them and listen to them. I would also be interested in if anyone has a story of a similar story of a band that changed your life. If anyone says the Shins I will find you and kill you, you Zach Braff loving bastards.

***This post updated while listening th Bitter Honey by Eef Barzelay***

Modern Times

Here's Dylan's new album. Just came out today.

Posted while listening to Modern Times on my record player. (Yes, I bought it on vinyl, too. I'm a little crazy that way. That's nothing, considering I have Blonde on Blonde on CD, SACD, stereo LP [reissue], mono LP [reissue], and mono LP [original first pressing].)

herbie hancock - head hunters

classic herbie circa 1973 - pushing the synth envelope. jazzy, funky, groovy... fusiony.

my favorite dish washing soundtrack of all time.

posted while watching shaolin soccer.

Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - The Letting Go

I've posted The Letting Go, Will Oldham's 9th full-length album under the moniker Bonnie 'Prince' Billy. He's recorded previously as Palace, Palace Songs, Palace Music, Palace Brothers as well as under his given name. Most recently, he released an excellent album with guitarist Matt Sweeny called Superwolf. Will Oldham talked with The Current's Mark Wheat about his new album and his recent record store tour. You can listen to the interview and performance here. The Letting Go will be available from Drag City Records on September 19.

Posted while I should've been working.

Ugly Casanova - Sharpen Your Teeth

This is an Isaac Brock's (Modest Mouse leader) solo project. Califone's Brian Deck and Tim Rutili help out and make it a very interesting record. It was release in May, 2002.

The Decemberists - The Crane Wife

Their first major label record, Colin Meloy and gang did not follow all the rules. The Crane Wife is an hour long with just 10 songs, two of which are more than 11 minutes each. The album switches back and forth between melancholy-folk and prog-rock, often times in the same song. The addition of organ and accordion give The Decemberists more meat to their sound and more weight to Meloy's dark lyrics. While it's not my favorite album, it will surely grow on me. The song "Yankee Bayonet" highlights a great duet with Meloy and Laura Veirs. Also, the last three songs are amazing. The Crane Wife comes out October 3. Enjoy.

I've also reposted 'The Magic Numbers' and 'They Shoot Horses Don't They' for Matt.

Posted while listening to Califone - Roots & Crowns.

M. Ward - Post-War

I don't know much about M. Ward. I know that he sometimes collaborates with Bright Eyes and that there has been a lot of buzz about his yet to be released album, Post-War. The intimate lyrics are written in such a way that they define the context of the current social climate. Ward sounds as though he's singing to you from both across an ocean and with you in the same room. Highlights for me include To Go Home, Right In The Head, and Chinese Translation. This album is quickly becoming one of my favorites of 2006. Post-War will be released on September 12. Enjoy.

Posted while listening to The Decemberists - The Crane Wife.

Califone - Roots & Crowns

I uploaded Califone's most recent album, Roots & Crowns, a couple of days ago and neglected to post about it. Lead singer, Tim Rutili, was apparently inspired to write this album after listening to the The Orchids by Psychic TV on repeat for several hours. That song is included as a cover and is one of the many highlights of this album which comes out October 10th. If you aren't aware, Califone is a blues/folk/rock experiment from Chicago. Their 2003 release, Quicksand and Cradlesnakes, was arguably one of the best of that year. Listen to this album and support this band. You won't be sorry.

By the way, this is a good opportunity to welcome Scott (aka Sloth) to Steal This Song. I share an office with Scott and he is the one who introduced me to Califone as well as several other amazing bands. Hopefully he will be posting his first contribution soon.

Posted while listening to The Decemberists - The Crane Wife.

The return of Patton

Posted is Mike Patton's – of Faith No More, Mr. Bungle and Tomahawk fame – latest offering. This time around, Patton has teamed with a different musical artist on each track.




A few artists he collaborates with:
Odd Nosdam
Rahzel
Dan the Automator
Massive Attack
Kid Koala
Dub Trio
Norah Jones (I know you all have been dying to hear Norah drop a few f-bombs in a song. Here is your chance!)

The album has been described as possibly on one of grooviest albums of the year. Patton's sound comes through in each and every tune, but this time around, Patton's work highlights the some of the strongest tallents of is collaborators. If there is a downside to this album, it is that the the album sounds more like a collection of singles. Also, if you never liked Patton's work in the past you may not be down with this one either. But for those of you who were faith No More fans, I am guessing you will find it entertaining.

Give a listen.

grant-lee phillips - nineteeneighties

Grant Lee Phillips former leader of Grant Lee Buffalo covers some of his favorite 80's tunes. Mostly performed semi-acoustic, his interpretations of songs by: The Cure, Joy Division, New Order, The Smiths, Psychedelic Furs, Robyn Hitchcock, etc., bring much of his own character to the mix. Love my way, track 6 is great.

Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins -Rabbit Fur Coat

I bought this album on a whim. Mainly making my choice on a recommendation from NPR's All Songs Considered. (On side note the podcast is great). One of the best albums of the year they say. Hey I had a credit of $4.02 in the iTMS and thought what the hell. So I got it.

Jenny Lewis is one of the driving force behind the indie pop group Rilo Kiley. Now with Rilo Kiley I have not heard one note of their music. In fact I thought it was a girl power pop trio, but I guess it is Jenny singing and a bunch of dudes.

I have heard a lot of hype surrounding this album. There are a lot of fanboys out there who totally love Jenny. It reminds me of how people drool over Neko Case. The comparison to Neko is not unfounded. Both Neko and Jenny are similar in style and voice. Jenny's voice is a little softer and her writing style is a tad more whimsical. This album is closer to the earlier stuff Neko has done, rather then the noir pop of the excellent Fox Confessor Brings the Flood.

Jenny has veins of Loretta Lynn and Cat Power. Rabbit Fur Coat came out a week prior to Cat Power's white woman soul album The Greatest. Every critic loved The Greatest. I did not. I think Chan Marshall is an overrated nut job. She so badly wants be Dusty Springfield, but is not, not by a long shot. Chan's voice annoys the piss out of me. But that is another story. Me thinks that Rabbit Fur Coat was over shadowed by the undue praise that The Greatest got.

I have listened to this album five times, three of them in a row two nights ago. If you know me I rarely listen to an album more then once maybe twice in a row. Hell, I have a problem listening to the same artist in a row. Damn you iPod and your shuffle function! Rabbit Fur Coat is a solid album. There are some great songs on it, one with a nod to one of my favorite song writers, Jeff Tweedy. Special bonus points for anyone who can tell what the reference is. Jenny also does a great cover of Traveling Wilburys'"Handle with Care" with M Ward, Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes), and a couple of the dudes from Rilo Kiley. The album is good, the album is damn good. Right now it is definitely in my top 10 my top 5 of the year.

Enjoy this album.

***this post was updated while listening to/watching the Cubs v Brewers***

Ok Go! - Here It Goes Again

So the first time I have ever heard of Ok Go! was on a special This American Life episode, for their 10th anniversary or something. They were the "house" band when Ira and gang took the show on the road. I pretty much thought the band would be going nowhere, but 6 years later they are every where. Kmart ads, and of horrors upon horrors VH1's Best Week Ever. This is where Ok Go again crossed my path. They showed the video I posted. The song is ok. It is straight ahead power pop. Nothing too ground breaking. Catchy, fun but very forgettable. The greatest thing is this video. Done in one single take with some amazing choreography, all on tread mills. No blue screens, no stunt actors, just the dudes from Ok Go.

Playing around on their site they have some other great videos. Enjoy, I just wish their music was a bit more adventurous, like their videos.

**this post updated while listening to Rabbit Fur Coat by Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins

Rob Corddry on Pavement's - Brighten the Corners

In this past weeks Onion's Random Rules Daily Show Correspondent, Rob Corddry, had this to say about the band Pavement, their album Brighten the Corners, and front man, Stephen Malkmus:

RC: Oh wow, I'm awesome. Brighten The Corners —I would argue, the best Pavement record. The Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain people can slam a cock, because this is the best. I miss Pavement. I went and saw Stephen Malkmus live a couple years ago. Terrible. He's a jam band now. There was this guy in the front row who wouldn't stop asking Malkmus, "What's up with the Jicks?" He kept saying, "Steve, what's up with the Jicks?" And my friend Jason started yelling, "Esteban, que pasa los Jicks?" Needless to say, he did not answer us. Not a good show, though I got very drunk.

If you don't have Brighten the Corners I have put it up for you. It is good, listen to it. I also have some of Stephen's solo stuff, but not his new one. If any one has it that would be cool.

[EDIT] I've posted Stephen's latest album, Face The Truth, per Kevin's request. - Kyle

***this post updated while listening to Nothing'severgonnastandinmyway(again) by Wilco. ***

ween... the mollusk

the album cover says it all.



posted while staring at a picture of kevin.

Sample or Be Sampled - Instrumentals

Really quick now:

1. Slim's Return, by Madlib, who is the best DJ working today.
2. Sexy Coffee Pot, by Tony Alvin and the BelAirs. Classic break/beat single.
3. Waitin' for the Rain - The Philly Sound. Look everyone! Disco!
4. Apache - The Incredible Bongo Band. The quintessential hip-hop break.
5. Strange Eyes - Sunz of Man. Off the Ghost Dog soundtrack, essentially a RZA tune. I love the back end on this song.
6. Soulful Sickness - Mickey and the Soul Generation. Great tune.
7. Getting Nasty - Ike Turner, who knows a thing or a hundred about gettin' nasty.
8. One Word Extinguisher - Prefuse 73. Look everyone! A party!
9. Parrty (Part 1) - Maceo and All the King's Men. A James Brown production. Yeah, there's some shouting, but it's basically an instrumental.
10. Kooler than Jesus - My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult. Pure electro funk, layered thick with Russ Meyer samples.
11. Thank U - The R&B Classic Funk Band. A rolicking great time.
12. The Hen - Louis Chachere. I know nothing about this song except the title, the artist, and the way it shakes my ass.
13. Sneakin' in the Back - Tom Scott. Pop quiz: who sampled the shit out of this cut?
14. Montara - Madlib. Another Madlib joint from "Shades of Blue", an album everyone should check out.
15. Time Is Tight - Booker T. and the MGs. Great stuff from Stax.
16. Dry Dock - Polkapocalypse. It was supposed to be a polka-pop song about venereal disease spreading amongst hotstacking sailors (Dry Dock? Get it?), but we were for the children.

Cabaret Manana

Juan Garcia Esquivel. I first learned of Esquivel from a roommate of mine in college. His name is/was Ben Wells. He played in a some local punk bands in Minneapolis in the mid '90s. I can't for the life of me remember the name of band. It was DriveShaft, or Pig Fuckers or something like that. I lived with Ben and like 6 other guys in an apartment that had a crooked stair case and 50's frige retro fitted to hold a keg of beer. It was tasty days. The apartment was gross but the parties where fun.

Grunge was slowly dyeing, Kurt Cobain had been dead for several years, Eddie Vedder had cut his hair. Soundgarden's Spoonman was all the rage. Coldplay wasn't even a glimmer in a record executives eye. Swing was just starting to be come huge. Music needed something different something weird. Hey I know what do the kids like? Jazz Standards played by a Mexican American with glasses that would make Harry Carey. Better yet he's almost eighty, we will get him to sign a contract and get this 50 year old music dirt cheap. The Space Aged Bachelor music didn't quite take off like one would have hoped but for, but it was a fun ride while it lasted.

If memory serves Ben came home all excited from the Electric Fetus, with a stack of CD's. He told us of this crazy music he heard. He said it was like a 1950's Mr. Bungle. Now if you have ever listened to Mr. Bungle or Esquivel you probably would be scratching your head. I am scratching my head right now. A thing you have to remember about Ben, his chair in his room was from a car (which he later gave to me) and his instrument of choice was the Didgerdoo. It wasn't a didgerdoo he got on a trip to Australia, or one he bought in a music store. It was one he made out of a heavy duty card board tube and wax. We also made him one for Christmas and painted on it and shit. I think I also bought Scott Vocarl a bong that year as well.

So I found Cabaret Manana in the BMG Music Service. You know 20 CD's for a penny or whatever. So I got it, listened to it and liked it. I still don't like Mr. Bungle though. I threw it in my stack of CD's and never bothered transferring it my computer. Which mean I did not listen to it for many years. Paul's request for instrumentals brought me back to it. There are some pretty cool tunes on there. Some great twists on Jazz standards.


*** this post updated while listening to Elliot Smith's Roman Candle.***

A Collection of Instrumentals

Pualio (aka Scott Vocarl) requested a week or so ago some instrumentals. Since I didn't have much to do tonight and there was nothing on TV. I thought I would post a collection of crazy instrumentals for dear old Pablo. Here is the 19 I came up with.

1) Take the "A" Train - Esquivel
Esquivel is one of the craziest mother f*ckers out there. His music is nuts. This version of the Duke Ellington Classic is one of his more normal ventures in to music

2) Take the "A" Train - The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra
This is from the Ken Burns' Jazz documentary a couple of years back. Wynton Marsalis is the director at this time. When his trumpet comes in it hits me every time. This song really started me liking jazz. Plus I wanted to hear how different the traditional version is compared to Juan's.

3) Good Eats Theme - Alton Brown
A catchy tune from the best Food Network show out there.

4) Cat Eats Coyote - califone
This is from one of the greatest albums in the last couple of years, Quicksand and Cradlesnakes. At first thought a throw away song, at just about a minute thirty. But there is a lot going on here, really works well as a stand alone piece, but is fantastic as part of the album.

5) Stockport - Badly Drawn Boy
Underrated album (One Plus One is One), love the piano. Quite and fun

6) Everything In Its Right Place - Christopher O'Riley
So Christopher thought it would be a good idea to play the lush electronic production of Radiohead, alone on his piano. Amazingly enough he pulls it off and well. You can hear Tom Yorke's voice straining out from behind the keys. I can't wait until his Coldplay album.

7) June Bug - Leo Kottke
Greatest 12 and 6 string guitar player, ever. Funniest too.

8) Smoothie Song - Nickel Creek
Yeah this was all over AAA radio a couple of years back, but damn if it isn't good.

9) Buck Hill - The Replacements
A song from their "experimental" album, Hootennanny. Where each of the members played a different instrument then their normal one. I think Paul is on drums but it hard to tell. Plus it is a song about a ski hill in Minneapolis.

10) Space Suit - They Might Be Giants
After the ADD marathon that is "Fingertips," the two Johns close Apollo 18 with this song. Really wraps up the album nicely. One of the first songs they ever wrote together and performed.

11) Main Theme, Doctor Who Series Two
Louis: I'm the king of France
The Doctor: Yeah? Well I'm the lord of time.

12) Ice Castles - Ween
A wonderfully weird and delightful song from Gene and Dean. Kinda reminds me a Saturday morning cartoon theme stuck on the wrong speed.

13) Instrumental 2 - Wilco
From the Yankee Hotel Foxtrot Demos. There are words to this but luckily for you they are not on this version. They are not good.

14) Blue Grass - John Denver
Rocking out only as John can.

15) My Friend Cubilas - Badly Drawn Boy
The stocking capped Brit makes his reappearance. I really like this song. Can't tell you why though.

16) Sabrosa - The Beastie Boys
From their solid album, Ill Communication. Very funky with an Eastern twinge.

17) Dick Holster - Ben Folds Five
A total throw away song. Just Ben noodling with the piano.

18) Treefingers - Radiohead
Feel yourself melt with this song. Kid A is the best overrated album I have listened to. X&Y is the worst overrated album.

19) The Polynesian Fertility Chant
I don't even know myself

*** this post updated while actually listening to the above songs.***

Tapes 'n Tapes – The Loon

Last night I saw a Twin Cities success story on stage at First Ave. Since forming in 2003, Tapes 'n Tapes has already gone through a few variations. After recording a self-titled EP in early 2004, the band went on a touring binge with such bands as The Futureheads. They regrouped in 2005 to record their first full-length album, The Loon. Shows in the Twin Cities had not been successful, but thanks to their glowing reviews on music blogs such as Music for Robots and an eight-show marathon at SXSW, Tapes 'n Tapes had caught fire. Last night they returned to Minneapolis to open for another local band, The Plastic Constellations. Although Tapes 'n Tapes went on before TPC and only played about 45 minutes, it was clear that they were the stars of the show in the sold-out main room. Their sound recalls Pavement and The Pixies, they also fit nicely with current bands like Modest Mouse and Wolf Parade.

Check out The Loon. Highlights on this album include Insistor, Cowbell, and Omaha. You can see them perform live on the Late Show with David Letterman this Tuesday.

Posted while listening to Tapes 'n Tapes – The Loon.

David Darling - Dark Wood

Paul give this a listen. Dark Wood is wonderful meditative solo cello music by David Darling. It is a Hauntingly Beautiful recording that takes you to another place. I have more cello music if you are interested.

Magnetic Fields – i

An album composed entirely of bitter-sweet pop songs that begin with the letter i. How's that for a gimmick? Favorites include "I Looked All Over Town" and "I Don't Believe You."

Posted while listening to Explosions In The Sky – The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place.

Lyrics are for Suckers

Post-Rock is rock n roll music without the front man, the lyricists, the singer, the Rolling Stone interviewee, and the vocals. It works best while doing the dishes, walking the dog, or running at the YMCA. Since 8th grade you have been enslaved by lyrics and the mind controlling powers of the songwriter. Now you can be free. Imagine that great part of your favorite song when band “breaks it down” or slowly builds to climax of rock bliss. You are ready for post-rock!

M2 introduced me to the post-rock world last summer and I have been slowly collected a nice library of instrumental (and mostly instrumental) rock n roll. Some of you will love it, some of you will hate it, but those who dig it-will really dig it.

I have uploaded Austin, Texas’ Explosions in the Sky. This album is entitled “The Earth is Not a Cold, Dead Place.”

No words for our Alma Matter

Paul's request finally called forth the classic University of Eau Claire Jazz band extravaganza that is Jazz in Clear Water. It's fun jazz, and I always enjoy it when it pops on. It's been a staple in iTunes since my mac was born. This one should satisfy those that never even knew that Eau Claire had a world famous jazz band (let alone put out its own cds) as well as those hankering after a bit of the lyricless. Long Live Third Floor Governors! (or something like that)

Searching for the Perfect Beat

The year was 1982.

For the past five years or so, the Bronx had been rocked solid with poverty and huge block parties where the kids who had nothing else would congregate to have a good time and dance to some tunes.

They were a lot like any party you'd find today - the DJs played the hits the crowd wanted to hear, and circles formed around the best dancers so people could gawk at the raw athletic skill on display.

Except these parties were much different from anything you'd attend today. These parties were the genesis of hip-hop: breakdancers spinning and twirling in the crowd, and each DJ extending the "break", or drum/bass solo of each record, to keep the energy high while the MC would shout with the beat.



This was before Biggie and Tupac, before Jay-Z and the East Coast/West Coast beef. This was a simpler time, when a bunch of kids just wanted to have a good time. Among the early stars of the scene was Afrika Bambaataa, a veteran organizer of block parties and flawless DJ.

Planet Rock: The Album, released in 1986, collects the early 12" singles released by Bambaataa on Tommy Boy records. It's a marriage of key breaks with synth/electro production and early B-Boy enthusiasm. When "Searching for the Perfect Beat" kicks in, you either get it or you don't.

The Magic Numbers

For the benefit of P2 and anyone else that may be going to the Minnesota State Fair to catch The Flaming Lips along with Sonic Youth, The Magic Numbers have been added to the bill. Maybe not as exciting as the line-up for some other state fairs, but still pretty cool. For those that don't know, The Magic Numbers are a pair of brothers and sisters from London who play a laid-back style of folk-rock that is heavy on harmonies and beards. I've posted their debut album for your downloading pleasure. Enjoy and hope to see you at the show.

Updated while listening to Cubs vs. Mets on WGN.

The Best of Syd Barrett-Wouldn't You Miss Me?

Here is a best of compilation that was released in 2001. If you have a hard time getting though Syd's albums give this greatest hits disk a listen. There are moments of brilliance and moments of what's going on here. It has the previously unreleased versions of Bob Dylan Blues and Two of a Kind. Bob Dylan Blues was posted on the idisk before we had the blog thing. By the way here is the link to HYGIY.

Great Lake Swimmers - Bodies and Minds

In honor of Greg, the Manitou Monster, I've posted an album by Great Lake Swimmers, Bodies and Minds. Fans of Iron & Wine and Sufjan Stevens should dig this 2005 release. Enjoy, or don't.

Mr. Lif - Mo' Mega

For the sake of introducing some more hip-hop, I am posting the most recent offering from Boston-based lyricist, Mr. Lif. While Mo' Mega is not his best work (see his Emergency Rations EP), this is still a good listen. Often political, sometimes silly, and always tight. Produced by El-P, there are some great cameos from Aesop Rock, Blueprint, and Murs. Mr. Lif is one of my favorite MCs in the game today. So, enjoy or don't.

Syd Barrett Passes Away

Over the years there have been many rumors of Syd Barrett passing away but today it appears to be true. Syd Barrett (Roger Keith Barrett) founding member of Pink Floyd passed away a few days ago in Cambridge, England. He was the brilliant burnout who created the sound of early Pink Floyd. Today, I am posting his two solo albums: Madcap Laughs, released January, 1970 and Barrett, released November, 1970. Ever since I was a teenager I have been moved by Syd’s free-spirited, optimistic lyrics and his inventive melodies. He is one of my all time favorite musicians. If anyone is interested in early PF (posted it before the days of our Steal this Song blog) or music from HYGIY drop me a line and I can upload them. Also have mpgs of early PF videos/performances and a great BBC special about early PF and Syd, Omnibus - Crazy Diamond.

Bartok's String Quartet No. 2

I have a friend in Boston named Steve. He is an accomplished musician, composer, and songwriter, having studied at the Berklee School of Music. He plays classical guitar, but he specializes in Brazilian music and his own compositions.

One day 6 or 7 years ago I half-jokingly asked him what he thought was the best piece of music ever composed. I didn’t expect a straight answer. Who can really answer such a ridiculous question? I expected a discussion to follow, about what criteria to use, whether you can really compare music of different genres and cultures, etc. But he answered without hesitation:

“Bartok’s Second String Quartet in A Minor.”

He played a recording for me; I didn’t get it. It is a thoroughly modern piece, composed in 1917. It’s not strictly atonal, but it might as well be, with its strange dissonances and bizarre tonalities. I must admit I didn’t understand it. But I was intrigued by his certainty about the greatness of the piece and wanted to learn to appreciate it.

So I decided that over the next few years I would listen to classical music with the goal in mind that it would lead eventually to my being able to appreciate Bartok. The most helpful music to listen to were Beethoven’s late string quartets, the ones he composed when he was totally deaf, with their dramatic and unconventional (for the time) structures that pointed the way toward Bartok’s quartets.

Now, after 6 or 7 years I can say that I've learned to love it. It's challenging, difficult, haunting, beautiful. I don't know if any of you are "classical" music lovers. If so, you might already know and love this work.

Best piece of music ever composed? I don’t know. But maybe it will take you somewhere, like it did me.