-Bjork
-Death Cab For Cutie
-Pearl Jam
-Steely Dan
-Pearl Jam
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Sunday, July 31, 2011
It's Chili in the Woods
Most super bands of the world practice their new material in a large sound stage as to not be caught not knowing the words, or sounding less than impeccable. The Red Hot Chili Peppers are not most super bands. Following in the footsteps of their "Californication" lifestyle, RHCP fronted by Anthony Kiedis and energetically supported by bassist Flea took their unreleased tracks from the upcoming studio album I'm with You to Big Sur.
While the Henry Miller Library gives off the vibe of a venue more suited for an acoustic folk show or an intimate backyard wedding, Kiedis and co transformed the grassy starlit dance floor into a private party fit for the funk metal festival headliners. Considering that the price of a ticket to see RHCP at Club Nokia in August starts at $150, the audience shuffled in quickly and prepared for the once in a lifetime show about to start before them.
Coming on late--as every diva rock star does--Kiedis and Flea casually addressed the audience as their close friends and greatest admirers before jumping into a set comprised of 90% of unknown songs.
Semi Big Sur local Flea joked with the crowd as he started up his iconic bass playing, "If you guys know where I live, this would be a good time to rob me...because...you know...I'm not there!"
Even the most reluctant of music lovers couldn't help but get excited by hearing the sounds of a band they have heard on the radio for almost 30 years now. Whether you like them or not, the Red Hot Chili Peppers are iconic and represent the middle school years of almost everyone on the West Coast. There was a sense of warm nostalgia that pierced through the bitter cold Northern California night.
The fun sense of carefree summers can only take you so far before the audience begins to notice that Kiedis couldn't remember the words or get through an entire number without mentioning that his throat hurt. Passing most of the choruses by the end of the gig off to a second banana player, Kiedis continued to command the stage with an air of entitlement even as the light show consistently failed around them.
When they were tight and together, nothing could stop the audience from swaying and dancing, but these moments were few and far between partially because the 250 odd people didn't know any of the words of the songs played. Peppering old classics such as "By the Way" and "Californication" within the masses of new material, RHCP jump started the buzz and demand for their style and talent for their next world tour. My only hope is that they remember to play favorites like "Scar Tissue" and "City of Angels" at future shows as a thank you to the fans who have been there all along.
While the Henry Miller Library gives off the vibe of a venue more suited for an acoustic folk show or an intimate backyard wedding, Kiedis and co transformed the grassy starlit dance floor into a private party fit for the funk metal festival headliners. Considering that the price of a ticket to see RHCP at Club Nokia in August starts at $150, the audience shuffled in quickly and prepared for the once in a lifetime show about to start before them.
Coming on late--as every diva rock star does--Kiedis and Flea casually addressed the audience as their close friends and greatest admirers before jumping into a set comprised of 90% of unknown songs.
Semi Big Sur local Flea joked with the crowd as he started up his iconic bass playing, "If you guys know where I live, this would be a good time to rob me...because...you know...I'm not there!"
Even the most reluctant of music lovers couldn't help but get excited by hearing the sounds of a band they have heard on the radio for almost 30 years now. Whether you like them or not, the Red Hot Chili Peppers are iconic and represent the middle school years of almost everyone on the West Coast. There was a sense of warm nostalgia that pierced through the bitter cold Northern California night.
The fun sense of carefree summers can only take you so far before the audience begins to notice that Kiedis couldn't remember the words or get through an entire number without mentioning that his throat hurt. Passing most of the choruses by the end of the gig off to a second banana player, Kiedis continued to command the stage with an air of entitlement even as the light show consistently failed around them.
When they were tight and together, nothing could stop the audience from swaying and dancing, but these moments were few and far between partially because the 250 odd people didn't know any of the words of the songs played. Peppering old classics such as "By the Way" and "Californication" within the masses of new material, RHCP jump started the buzz and demand for their style and talent for their next world tour. My only hope is that they remember to play favorites like "Scar Tissue" and "City of Angels" at future shows as a thank you to the fans who have been there all along.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Track Take: "Gamma Ray" (Beck)
Bek David Campbell--better known as Beck Hansen or simply Beck--is an artist that pushed the boundaries of innovation, pop, grundge, and humor within his music for the last 20 years. While many feel that the last peak of his career occured in 2005 with the release of Guero, Hansen's 2008 album Modern Guilt continued to bridge the gap between the fun loving passion, and the incredible musicianship that make Beck albums so memorable.
From the immediate start of the Danger Mouse produced album, the "one-two" punch of powerhouse tracks "Orphans" and "Gamma Ray" lets the listener know that this is not an album to be overlooked or competed against. While the back up vocals of Cat Power on "Orphans" do add an extra layer of interest, Hansen's real genius shines solo through "Gamma Ray"
With an explosive start, "Gamma Ray" features fantastic surf guitar and bass lines: addictive and perfect. Of course a fantastic 60's style beach hit isn't enough for Mr. Beck Hansen. Enter the haunting voices that could have been escaping from the "Mystery Machine", and the poignant lyrics about a world in turmoil. The classic mixture of pop culture, musical detail, and self awareness brings the listener into Hansen's world with the help of the bouncing bass line, and catchy chorus, without becoming cliche.
In under three minutes (which is also a maturing feat for Hansen), Beck Hansen has asserted the playful and taylored tone of the album flawlessly.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Summer of Springsteen
Summer in Southern California is exactly all of the clichés you have seen on TV, plastered up on billboards and postcards, or even read in the pages of an Isherwood or Pynchon novel. It’s hotter than hell, but you’d be hard pressed to find someone who would trade the magic present in those four months (yes, even May and September count as part of the summer in Los Angeles) for any other climate. With the sand filled shoes and smell of Coppertone stuck to fabrics even after a thorough wash, a Los Angeles summer is defined by what music is radiating out of your car stereo into the warm air.
While other artists have made their small mark on certain summers of our adolescents such as Sugar Ray and Girl Talk, the crown of summer will always be held by Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys sound. The combination of the subject of the surf, bikinis, fast cars, and the direct influence of the early Phil Spector sound has proven Wilson’s genius as lovely and timeless again and again. While our problems don’t actually melt away with our sunscreen, they do seem to sting less (which in itself is a miracle). It’s a fresh start that no other season can provide; the arbitrary start of each New Year in the middle of winter can’t inspire nearly as much as a drive down PCH can. The anthems of puppy love and endless sunshine has continued to represent the innocence and hope that each summer brings us.
Sometimes the tinkling sounds of Brian, Dennis, Carl, Al, and Mike just don’t cut it in the rapidly approaching “real world” that seems to encroach on even our most sugary summertime thoughts. It is when these feelings arise that we need a new summer muse; someone who understands the necessity of playfulness, but not at the expense of heavier subject matter.
Enter Bruce Springsteen.
Complete with his E Street Band of misfits, Springsteen’s song book is filled to the brim with summer anthems for kids in emotional transitions, and adults in turmoil, just desperately trying to hold on to the ideals and conviction that spurred them on years ago. While the classic “Glory Days” might come to mind when thinking of our parents and their friends listening to the Boss, we can’t simplify the need for Bruce to one perfectly compartmentalized song. His early sense of struggling hope continues to push the rest of us along with a driving beat and usually a killer sax solo from the late Big Man Clarence.
From break out hits on Born to Run and Darkness on the Edge of Town, to the quiet and introspective Nebraska, and even the semi recent The Rising, Springsteen masters the artist/audience relationship building a connection to last a music lover’s lifetime. Just listening to “Badlands” once on a failing car stereo, you feel like you immediately know who Springsteen is and you understand his driving frustration when he sings lyrics like this with such fire and brimstone:
You better get it straight darling:
Poor men wanna be rich, rich men wanna be kings,
And a king aint satisfied till he rules everything.
I wanna go out tonight, I wanna find out what I got.
It seems simple and cliché, but isn’t this how everyone feels when they are down on their luck? This universal connection is what keeps Bruce in our hearts and on our radios when the hot summer months aren’t as carefree as they were in our salad days.
With the passing of Clarence Clemons—the E Street Band’s saxophone player—there is a hole in the sparkling lineup of Bruce’s band that will never be fully replaced, but never forgotten. To quote my father: “energy can neither be created nor destroyed which means that the love and actions of the dead are never gone”. Every time that you drop the needle (or press play) on a Springsteen album the magic of Clemons and the heart of Bruce continue to entertain and affect us deeply.
It is in this use of the laws of energy that a summer of Springsteen is more comforting than that of the gorgeous harmonies of Wilson and the Beach Boys; it is the connection of human struggles and the triumph of the rebellious spirit.
Friday, May 6, 2011
My McCartney
It has just come to my attention that Sir Paul McCartney--and my favorite Beatle--has just been engaged to his long time girlfriend Nancy Shevell. Who really cares what her name is though, right? While it is true that I actually don't want to marry a man so close to the age of 70 (to be fair he does look great for 68), the idea of marrying Paul the Beatle, Paul the Wings member, even Paul the Ram or McCartney was always in my the back of my dreams from when I was a little girl watching A Hard Day's Night every other day when I came home after preschool. He was absolutely perfect!
Adorable haircut
Precious smile
Great Dresser
Clean face (and public persona)
British accent
Wonderful voice
I was such a fan of him and Linda that I didn't even mind he was off the market. I also really appreciated the fact that she was American, giving all of us girls a chance at our respective British crushes. She was also a fantastic photographer.
Whoever this new lady is, she is definitely no Linda, but at least she'll be better than Heather Mills...and hopefully not a gold digger...also hopefully with two legs. What ever happened to that baby they had also?
No more heartache for Paul please!
Adorable haircut
Precious smile
Great Dresser
Clean face (and public persona)
British accent
Wonderful voice
I was such a fan of him and Linda that I didn't even mind he was off the market. I also really appreciated the fact that she was American, giving all of us girls a chance at our respective British crushes. She was also a fantastic photographer.
Whoever this new lady is, she is definitely no Linda, but at least she'll be better than Heather Mills...and hopefully not a gold digger...also hopefully with two legs. What ever happened to that baby they had also?
No more heartache for Paul please!
Thursday, March 17, 2011
mypod roundup
Ever since it's first release on October 23, 2001, Apple's greatest invention has become an integral part of our lives with regards to the speed and advances with technology, how we interact (or don't) with others in public situations, and how important music is to each of us on a daily basis.
I specifically remember two of my very good friends getting the first versions of these bohemith paperweights and thinking that they were the coolest thing in the world while I still rocked the Sony walkman on the bus. While I am so grateful that they have changed over the years to include more space for music and a sleek screen, I personally think that Apple has cast its original cash cow aside for bigger and "touchier" things. Were you aware that you can no longer purchase a white version of any ipods? Now everything is black and grey, but those are not colors that we all associate with the iconic ads from yester-year.
Is it too much to ask for the clean white look to make a comeback?
My ipod is a third generation ipod "classic" in white with 30GB space. Even when I got it before I left for college I knew that this would not be enough space; it still isn't, but I manage. That being said, every time I want to add a new album that I have added to my itunes syncing my ipod has become an inveratible Sophies Choice. With the upcoming release and recent leak of The Strokes fourth studio album Angles I knew that more of my lesser listened to music was about to get the axe. Instead of wallowing on the mp3s that we have lost this afternoon, I'd like to focus on the new entries into my earbuds!
The Strokes -- Angles
The highly anticipated return of the beautiful kings of garage rock revival has blown me away. It has prompted me to think about and rank the four releases of my NY boys in the order of preference:
1) Room On Fire
2) Is This It
3) Angles
4) First Impressions of Earth
Broadcast & The Focus Group -- Investigate Witch Cults of the Radio Age
The colaboration album of two fantastic Warp records bands results in an equally fabulous album full of vocal and instrumental layering that excites as well as soothes. I picked this up right after I saw Broadcast perform at the Warp 20th anniversary party back in London. It's still so sad to think that this is the last released material featuring Trish's voice.
Belle & Sebastian -- Write About Love
Less of a musical impact than I would have hoped from the Glasgow natives, I still have a musical ethics code that states that I must include all releases of my favorite bands on my ipod. You never know when I will want to listen to everything that Stuart ever releases...
Paul McCartney & Wings -- Band On The Run Limited Edition
Duh. The only reason it wasn't on here earlier is because I just got the new vinyl edition for Christmas and hadn't gotten around to the syncing. I'm lazy. Moving on!
Wolf Parade -- Expo 86
After being invited to the Wolf Parade concert at Los Angeles' Wiltern last summer as a MORA piece, I was incredibly intrigued by this album they were promoting.
I am most excited about having this next one on my ipod to be able to listen to it every single day:
Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band -- The Promise
This past Christmas we bought my mother (diehard Bruce fan for life) the rereleased Darkness on the Edge of Town complete with replica spiral notebook of Bruce's doodles and notes. Class A work for whoever marketed this thing. With all these adorable keepsakes of the Jersey native and his hobo friends came the two disc first release of the "outtakes" of the Darkness sessions. These are not your typical outtakes, these are 21 completed songs with over 10 instant classics (including the original version of "Because The Night" which the Boss gave to Patti Smith). Get it if you dont have it already.
(you did good Bruce)
I specifically remember two of my very good friends getting the first versions of these bohemith paperweights and thinking that they were the coolest thing in the world while I still rocked the Sony walkman on the bus. While I am so grateful that they have changed over the years to include more space for music and a sleek screen, I personally think that Apple has cast its original cash cow aside for bigger and "touchier" things. Were you aware that you can no longer purchase a white version of any ipods? Now everything is black and grey, but those are not colors that we all associate with the iconic ads from yester-year.
Is it too much to ask for the clean white look to make a comeback?
My ipod is a third generation ipod "classic" in white with 30GB space. Even when I got it before I left for college I knew that this would not be enough space; it still isn't, but I manage. That being said, every time I want to add a new album that I have added to my itunes syncing my ipod has become an inveratible Sophies Choice. With the upcoming release and recent leak of The Strokes fourth studio album Angles I knew that more of my lesser listened to music was about to get the axe. Instead of wallowing on the mp3s that we have lost this afternoon, I'd like to focus on the new entries into my earbuds!
The Strokes -- Angles
The highly anticipated return of the beautiful kings of garage rock revival has blown me away. It has prompted me to think about and rank the four releases of my NY boys in the order of preference:
1) Room On Fire
2) Is This It
3) Angles
4) First Impressions of Earth
Broadcast & The Focus Group -- Investigate Witch Cults of the Radio Age
The colaboration album of two fantastic Warp records bands results in an equally fabulous album full of vocal and instrumental layering that excites as well as soothes. I picked this up right after I saw Broadcast perform at the Warp 20th anniversary party back in London. It's still so sad to think that this is the last released material featuring Trish's voice.
Belle & Sebastian -- Write About Love
Less of a musical impact than I would have hoped from the Glasgow natives, I still have a musical ethics code that states that I must include all releases of my favorite bands on my ipod. You never know when I will want to listen to everything that Stuart ever releases...
Paul McCartney & Wings -- Band On The Run Limited Edition
Duh. The only reason it wasn't on here earlier is because I just got the new vinyl edition for Christmas and hadn't gotten around to the syncing. I'm lazy. Moving on!
Wolf Parade -- Expo 86
After being invited to the Wolf Parade concert at Los Angeles' Wiltern last summer as a MORA piece, I was incredibly intrigued by this album they were promoting.
I am most excited about having this next one on my ipod to be able to listen to it every single day:
Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band -- The Promise
This past Christmas we bought my mother (diehard Bruce fan for life) the rereleased Darkness on the Edge of Town complete with replica spiral notebook of Bruce's doodles and notes. Class A work for whoever marketed this thing. With all these adorable keepsakes of the Jersey native and his hobo friends came the two disc first release of the "outtakes" of the Darkness sessions. These are not your typical outtakes, these are 21 completed songs with over 10 instant classics (including the original version of "Because The Night" which the Boss gave to Patti Smith). Get it if you dont have it already.
(you did good Bruce)
Monday, February 28, 2011
Girl Power
I am obsessed with girl bands. I love how they sound and I love what they represent. I've always preferred female voices in music and I love to watch ladies killing it on stage. When we were in tenth grade, Meredith got a drum set. Bailey and Laura both played guitar, and my cousin conveniently had a bass she didn't play anymore and was willing to give to me, and so our band was formed. As time went on we decided we needed a keyboardist...cue Elisa. Anyway, we called ourselves The Decos and we played songs about how much the Valley sucked and boys who wore tight pants. We also made t-shirts and buttons, and had band practice Fridays after school. Our band practices usually consisted of a play through of our songs:
Boys Don't Cry
(ft. the steel drum affect on Elisa's keyboard)
Psycho Killer
(Laura and I killed these vocals, thank you very much)
Yourtown, USA
(our hit, featuring an entire verse in Spanish)
and then about 3+ more hours of listening to The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, laying down a lot, eating pizza, and trying to play each other's instruments. Then we broke up because of creative differences or something.
I've been listening to Warpaint pretty much non stop lately, which in turn has inspired me to listen to more all girl and girl fronted bands. So, here are just a few of my favorite seriously bad ass bitches in music:
I've been listening to Warpaint pretty much non stop lately, which in turn has inspired me to listen to more all girl and girl fronted bands. So, here are just a few of my favorite seriously bad ass bitches in music:
Warpaint
Bethany Cosentino/ Best Coast
Patti
Kim Deal/ The Breeders
Karen O
Stevie
Courtnet Love (yes, I love her)
Shirley Manson
Poison Ivy (The Cramps)
(and many many more)
Get it, girls.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Songs of Hate
Here is the track listing (and original order I wanted it in):
Sleep Forever- Crocodiles
Stupid Girl- Garbage
She's Long Gone- The Black Keys
Free- The Martinis
Our Deal- Best Coast
A.M. 180- Grandaddy
Don't Cry- Deerhunter
Solitude is Bliss- Tame Impala
When I'm Small- Phantogram
Master of None- Beach House
Love Fade- Tamaryn
Shadows- Warpaint
6 Underground- Sneaker Pimps
Alone, Together- The Strokes
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