Over on the venerable Book of Faces I participated in the 30 Day Song Challenge. Every day for a full month you post a song following a certain rule for the day. It's fun to do and it has spurred a little discussion if not as much as I'd hoped for initially.
The only thing I'd improve is it seems aimed at a younger set of followers. Some of the rules are a little focused on teenage angst and less on showing your appreciation for music. So, as a brain exercise, I'm going to redo the 30 Day Song Challenge as tho I were writing it and aiming it at my peer group.
Day 1 - Your favorite song - "A Whiter Shade of Pale" by Procul Harum
This one is the same as the actual challenge and it doesn't change.
Day 2 - Your favorite song from the last year - "Runaway" by Kanye West
In my opinion, the 3 best songs from the last 12 mos. were "Bed Intruder", "Fuck You" and this song. Out of those 3, this is the one I still listen to frequently.
Day 3 - Your favorite song which is 50 years old this year - "My Favorite Things" by John Coltrane
This takes us back to 1961 which was a weird year in music. Rock had struck it big in the middle of the previous decade but had cooled for various reasons. So we're still 3 years away from The Beatles coming to America and jazz is making its last run on the top. As such, I pick Coltrane at or near his peak.
Day 4 - Your favorite song which is 25 years old this year - "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" by Paul Simon
This jump takes us back to 1986 which was the first year I really started to listen to music and have my own opinions on it, simple tho they may be. One of the albums I remember my dad (and, by proxy, me) listening to a lot was "Graceland" and I've held a special affinity for the album even until today. In fact, if you pulled up my fandom of Vampire Weekend you'd find "Graceland" at its roots.
Day 5 - Your favorite song which is 10 years old this year - "Jo Jo's Jacket" by Stephen Malkmus
Now we're up to 2001 and in that year I would've told you my favorite album that year was Weezer's green album. But now it's been 10 years and there are two albums I'd go to the shelf and pull out to listen to on a whim: The (international) Noise Conspiracy "New Morning, Changing Weather" and Steve Malkmus' first solo album. Since I like the latter better than the former, I'll put that one out front.
Day 6 - A Song Which Was Played At The 1st Concert You Ever Attended - "Hanging Tough" by New Kids On The Block
Fuck yeah I went to a New Kids concert and I was excited as shit to go. It was 1989, the concert was at the Met Center and my young ears and heart were won by whatever was on WLOL. My whole family went, we sat right were the speakers were pointed and I still have vivid memories of it. Some might find it embarrassing to admit their first concert was the New Kids. I think it's kind of perfect.
Day 7 - A Song Played At The Most Recent Concert You Attended - "I'll Buy" by The Replacements
It's been the slow season for concerts here in Minnesota and I've been kind of skint here at the end of it all as bands start touring thru here again. Consulting my calendar tells me the last concert I went to was the Replacements tribute at First Ave over the Thanksgiving weekend. Yes, it's been that long. Either way, here's the original version of a song from "Tim".
Day 8 - A Song Played At The Best Concert You Ever Attended - "Warning" by Green Day
Another shocker perhaps. The best concert I ever went to was in January 2001 when Green Day played The Eagles Ballroom in Milwaukee. My friends Adam, Bryan and I drove down from school in Green Bay and it was an amazing show. The band was in the in-between space after their "Dookie" success but before their "American Idiot" success. This meant they were actually trying and tuned in and it made for a great show.
Day 9 - 4 Days of Songs About Classical Elements: Air - "Blowing In The Wind" by Bob Dylan
I could go with Bob Dylan for each of these. But I'll limit myself to this one as the quintessential song about wind. And since YouTube only has covers, it should be one by someone who at least knows Dylan.
Day 10 - 4 Days of Songs About Classical Elements: Earth - "Dead Leaves & The Dirty Ground" by The White Stripes
Again, you could probably go with Jack White on each of these. But again I'll limit myself.
Day 11 - 4 Days of Songs About Classical Elements: Fire - "Fire" by Jimi Hendrix
When you think of fire you should think of Prometheus and Jimi Hendrix.
Day 12 - 4 Days of Songs About Classical Elements: Water - "Take Me To The River" by The Talking Heads
There are a lot of great songs about rain, oceans, snow and tears. But this one is the best one about rivers.
Day 13 - A Song about Luck - "Lucky" by Radiohead
This is the first song I ever heard off "OK Computer". This performance actually since I was a Launch subscriber.
Day 14 - A Song About Love - "Lovesong" by The Cure
This song came out when I was about 9 or 10 and it was the first time I remembered a love song sounding sad. Not just "Baby, baby. Where did our love go?" but actually sad while still being about love.
Day 15 - A Song About Falling Out of Love - "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?" by Amy Winehouse
The original is a little too upbeat. I like Winehouse's cover better.
Day 16 - A Song About Loneliness - "So Far Away" by Carole King
How did anyone survive the 1970s? Seriously, did everyone just zone out and let shit happen? Or did everyone break their hearts early on and what we have now is the broken version of those people?
Day 17 - A Song About Happiness - "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life" by Stevie Wonder
Scratch that. Everyone in the 1970s must've been listening to Stevie Wonder. Boom! Happiness achieved.
Day 18 - A Song About The Past - "In My Life" by The Beatles
This song, in addition to being my father's favorite Beatles song, was the music which scored Kevin Arnold's first kiss with Winnie Cooper on "The Wonder Years" and you can't get any more about the past than that.
Day 19 - A Song About The Present - "Right Now" by Van Halen
CARPE DIEM, MOTHERFUCKER!!! (Drink Crystal Pepsi.)
Day 20 - A Song About The Future - "Ooh Child" by The 5 Stairstep
Yeah, I see myself as an optimist. But if my fault is believing better things are around the corner, it's a fault I'm okay having.
Day 21 - The Original Song Sampled in A Hip-Hop Song - "One Step Ahead" by Aretha Franklin
To be later used by Ayotollah on Mos Def's "Ms. Fat Booty". When you hear it, you'll shit bricks.
Day 22 - A Song Which Should Be Sampled By A Hip-Hop Song - "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson
It used to be "Cruel Summer" by Bananarama. Now I just wish someone would use "Billie Jean", especially the drum beat and bass lines which are both dope as hell.
Day 23 - Coolest Guitar Riff - "Seventeen Years" by Ratatat
I know it's kind of unfair to put Ratatat here because all they do is riff. But it's my rules and I choose how to enforce them.
Day 24 - Coolest Guitar Solo - "Dazed and Confused" by Led Zepplin
Listen, I could've put everything Jimi Hendrix or Eddie Van Halen ever did in this slot. But I chose Jimmy Page playing "Dazed & Confused" in "Song Remains The Same". Get it?
Day 25 - Coolest Vocal Solo - "Great Gig In the Sky" by Pink Floyd
One of the few times I can think of where the human voice was used as an instrument and yet also given it's own space. If this had been a guitar or a saxophone, it would've been cheesy. But the human voice...
Day 26 - Best Verse - "6 Foot 7 Foot" by Lil Wayne
Yeah, just pick your favorite between either of Wayne's verses on this song. Both are classics.
Day 27 - Best Chorus - "Enjoy The Silence" by Depeche Mode
Just read the words.
All I ever wanted/All I ever needed/Is here in my arms/Words are very unnecessary/They can only do harm
God, there's just so much there.
Day 28 - Best Cover - "Hurt" by Johnny Cash
This is the one time on this list I feel like if I'd forgotten about this song for this category I actually might've hated myself. Like actually been angry with myself.
Day 29 - Best Mashup - "I'm A Flirt 7/4 Shoreline" by The Hood Internet
I could've gone with a Girl Talk or Super Mash Bros mashup here. The Hood Internet is on to something here and it's sneaky good.
Day 30 - Last Song You Heard Before Starting This List - "Vanessa From Queens" by Stephen Malkmus
From the very good and under radar "Pig Lib" album, Malkmus woos a reluctant paramour.
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Saturday, January 15, 2011
One White Album (Why?)
I typed my original White Album post on Thursday in a bit of a rush. I wanted to get the idea out there and get reactions to it before coming back to my reasoning later.
Mostly people missed the really weird songs from The White Album which is what I was going for actually. For example, I think Dear Prudence is a meandering piece of fluff with 6 words which doesn't even crack the top 300 Beatles songs. The White Album is better by cutting all of the Prudences, Rocky Raccoons and even Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Das.
My intent was to make a good, straight-forward 1968 rock album. This was the most popular band in the world slowly tearing itself apart from the inside. In my mind this is The Beatles deciding to rededicate themselves and go back to what made them great; making better music than anyone else.
Side A - I felt it was necessary to throw in sides for historical accuracy. If The Beatles were sequencing this album in 1968, there would've been breaks to be exploited.
Glass Onion - The actual White Album begins with Back In the USSR or more accurately with the sound of a plane landing in a great big theatrical entrance. I wanted to go against that. It's two beats and begin with the song.
Additionally, Glass Onion references The Beatles' history as a band. My scenario has them rededicating themselves to being The Best Band In The World and acknowledging their past is a part of that. Putting that up front is even bolder.
Yer Blues - I included this one because it's a bluesy rock song. Also, John Lennon went from "Help! I need somebody!" to "Yes, I'm lonely, wanna die." in three years. Following Glass Onion, it's pretty stark how The Beatles feel about themselves.
While My Guitar Gently Weeps - I think this is the best song on The White Album and possibly the best song in their oeuvre. The real White Album didn't have a single but I'd make this the lead single from the album and as such I put it into the third spot on Side A where most lead singles go.
I'm So Tired - This is one of the under-appreciated songs on The White Album. I think of it as an echo of I'm Only Sleeping from Revolver.
Cry Baby Cry - I didn't want to make The Beatles into joyless assholes (despite the evidence) and left this song on to reflect their playful and less-serious side. Also the little "Can you take me back where I be from?" code leads really well into Julia.
Julia - This is the second prettiest song on the album and John's homage to his mother. A perfect song to take the listener between sides.
Side B - After John covers the vocal duties on all but one of the songs on Side A, he only sings lead once on the flip.
Blackbird - Though he will be forever most remembered for Yesterday, Paul really should be remembered for this song. It's buried on The White Album and I rectify that by moving it to the beginning of Side B. Imagine setting the needle in the groove and the first thing that comes thru the speakers is this song. It would really be perfect.
Revolution 1 - Whereas the version on the B Side of Hey Jude is a fuzzed-out rock song, the horns and slower tempo swing here. I also like putting it one song before...
Back In the USSR - The album hits the fast forward and peaks loudly between this song and the next.
Helter Skelter - Ok, so not a great song on its own and the temptation might be to delete this song because of its association with Charles Manson. I leave it because it represents how much of the mythology of The Beatles is stuff that was out of their control.
Savoy Truffle - George gets one song on Side A and one on Side B. I think this is one of his songs that had-he-not-been-in-The-Beatles is an indicator what his music would've sounded like in his own band.
I Will - Again, while The White Album makes a big theatrical production of its departure with Good Night (sorry Ringo but no singing for you here), I aimed to go against that and have the album make a sweet and subtle exit.
Mostly people missed the really weird songs from The White Album which is what I was going for actually. For example, I think Dear Prudence is a meandering piece of fluff with 6 words which doesn't even crack the top 300 Beatles songs. The White Album is better by cutting all of the Prudences, Rocky Raccoons and even Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Das.
My intent was to make a good, straight-forward 1968 rock album. This was the most popular band in the world slowly tearing itself apart from the inside. In my mind this is The Beatles deciding to rededicate themselves and go back to what made them great; making better music than anyone else.
Side A - I felt it was necessary to throw in sides for historical accuracy. If The Beatles were sequencing this album in 1968, there would've been breaks to be exploited.
Glass Onion - The actual White Album begins with Back In the USSR or more accurately with the sound of a plane landing in a great big theatrical entrance. I wanted to go against that. It's two beats and begin with the song.
Additionally, Glass Onion references The Beatles' history as a band. My scenario has them rededicating themselves to being The Best Band In The World and acknowledging their past is a part of that. Putting that up front is even bolder.
Yer Blues - I included this one because it's a bluesy rock song. Also, John Lennon went from "Help! I need somebody!" to "Yes, I'm lonely, wanna die." in three years. Following Glass Onion, it's pretty stark how The Beatles feel about themselves.
While My Guitar Gently Weeps - I think this is the best song on The White Album and possibly the best song in their oeuvre. The real White Album didn't have a single but I'd make this the lead single from the album and as such I put it into the third spot on Side A where most lead singles go.
I'm So Tired - This is one of the under-appreciated songs on The White Album. I think of it as an echo of I'm Only Sleeping from Revolver.
Cry Baby Cry - I didn't want to make The Beatles into joyless assholes (despite the evidence) and left this song on to reflect their playful and less-serious side. Also the little "Can you take me back where I be from?" code leads really well into Julia.
Julia - This is the second prettiest song on the album and John's homage to his mother. A perfect song to take the listener between sides.
Side B - After John covers the vocal duties on all but one of the songs on Side A, he only sings lead once on the flip.
Blackbird - Though he will be forever most remembered for Yesterday, Paul really should be remembered for this song. It's buried on The White Album and I rectify that by moving it to the beginning of Side B. Imagine setting the needle in the groove and the first thing that comes thru the speakers is this song. It would really be perfect.
Revolution 1 - Whereas the version on the B Side of Hey Jude is a fuzzed-out rock song, the horns and slower tempo swing here. I also like putting it one song before...
Back In the USSR - The album hits the fast forward and peaks loudly between this song and the next.
Helter Skelter - Ok, so not a great song on its own and the temptation might be to delete this song because of its association with Charles Manson. I leave it because it represents how much of the mythology of The Beatles is stuff that was out of their control.
Savoy Truffle - George gets one song on Side A and one on Side B. I think this is one of his songs that had-he-not-been-in-The-Beatles is an indicator what his music would've sounded like in his own band.
I Will - Again, while The White Album makes a big theatrical production of its departure with Good Night (sorry Ringo but no singing for you here), I aimed to go against that and have the album make a sweet and subtle exit.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
One White Album
My friend Jeff asked me how I would pare and re-order The White Album if I wanted to make it into just one album. In fact, here's what he wrote...
"Just thought this would be fun. If you were the Beatles, and you had to whittle The White Album down to one LP because George Martin finds it too bloated, what tracks (maximum of 15) would you keep and what order would you put them in?"
Jeff, I can do it in 12 songs.
Side A
Glass Onion (Lennon/McCartney)
Yer Blues (Lennon/McCartney)
While My Guitar Gently Weeps (Harrison)
I'm So Tired (Lennon/McCartney)
Cry Baby Cry (Lennon/McCartney)
Julia (Lennon/McCartney)
Side B
Blackbird (Lennon/McCartney)
Revolution 1 (Lennon/McCartney)
Back In the USSR (Lennon/McCartney)
Helter Skelter (Lennon/McCartney)
Savoy Truffle (Harrison)
I Will (Lennon/McCartney)
"Just thought this would be fun. If you were the Beatles, and you had to whittle The White Album down to one LP because George Martin finds it too bloated, what tracks (maximum of 15) would you keep and what order would you put them in?"
Jeff, I can do it in 12 songs.
Side A
Glass Onion (Lennon/McCartney)
Yer Blues (Lennon/McCartney)
While My Guitar Gently Weeps (Harrison)
I'm So Tired (Lennon/McCartney)
Cry Baby Cry (Lennon/McCartney)
Julia (Lennon/McCartney)
Side B
Blackbird (Lennon/McCartney)
Revolution 1 (Lennon/McCartney)
Back In the USSR (Lennon/McCartney)
Helter Skelter (Lennon/McCartney)
Savoy Truffle (Harrison)
I Will (Lennon/McCartney)
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Set For Random and Enjoy
I recently had to wipe the hard-drive on my laptop because I'd let my virus protection lapse. (In my defense it was a year and half before anything went wrong.) Not only did it provide me an opportunity to upgrade to Windows 7 but also to reload all my music onto my computer. Which is to say I only put stuff back onto it which I really wanted. I feel very satisfied with the results. Here's the list which would be a perfect cross-section of music I like.
Adriano Celentano - Prisencolinsinainciusol
The Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
Aziz Ansari - Intimate Moments for A Sensual Evening
Blackroc - s/t
Bob Dylen - Greatest Hits Vol. 1&2
Broken Social Scene - Something For All of Us & Spirit If...
Cee-Lo Green - Noone's Going To Love You
Chiddy Bang - Hey London & The Opposite of Adults
Doomtree - False Hopes
Doctor Dog - Shame, Shame
The Flaming Lips - Borderline
Gorillaz - Some Kind of Nature
Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown
GZA - Pro Tools
Jonsi - Time to Pretend
Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Kings of Leon - Sex On Fire
Kraftwerk - I, II, Autobahn & Ralf and Florian
La Roux - s/t
Lil Wayne - Carter III
MGMT - Congratulations
Minutemen - Double Nickels on The Dime
Mos Def - The Ecstatic
Pavement - Terror Twilight
Rick Ross - Ashes to Ashes
Sonic Youth - Antenna
Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks - Pig Lib & Real Emotional Trash
Sufjan Stevens - The Age of Adz
The Talking Heads - More Songs About Buildings and Food
The Tallest Man On Earth - The Wild Hunt
Titus Andronicus - The Monitor
The White Stripes - Under Great White Northern Lights
That's a set of music you can put on shuffle and pretty much count that one song will flow from another to an other.
Adriano Celentano - Prisencolinsinainciusol
The Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
Aziz Ansari - Intimate Moments for A Sensual Evening
Blackroc - s/t
Bob Dylen - Greatest Hits Vol. 1&2
Broken Social Scene - Something For All of Us & Spirit If...
Cee-Lo Green - Noone's Going To Love You
Chiddy Bang - Hey London & The Opposite of Adults
Doomtree - False Hopes
Doctor Dog - Shame, Shame
The Flaming Lips - Borderline
Gorillaz - Some Kind of Nature
Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown
GZA - Pro Tools
Jonsi - Time to Pretend
Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Kings of Leon - Sex On Fire
Kraftwerk - I, II, Autobahn & Ralf and Florian
La Roux - s/t
Lil Wayne - Carter III
MGMT - Congratulations
Minutemen - Double Nickels on The Dime
Mos Def - The Ecstatic
Pavement - Terror Twilight
Rick Ross - Ashes to Ashes
Sonic Youth - Antenna
Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks - Pig Lib & Real Emotional Trash
Sufjan Stevens - The Age of Adz
The Talking Heads - More Songs About Buildings and Food
The Tallest Man On Earth - The Wild Hunt
Titus Andronicus - The Monitor
The White Stripes - Under Great White Northern Lights
That's a set of music you can put on shuffle and pretty much count that one song will flow from another to an other.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Need A Go-Go Girl Who Dance Like Lady Gaga
Last night I went to a Lady Gaga-themed 30th birthday party for a friend. Attendees were encouraged to dress like Gaga or in Gaga-inspired outfits. Some people took their direction from Gaga videos and replicated the bubble outfit or the Diet Coke rollers. Other people simply wrapped themselves in electrical tape or something sparkly because nothing which is aware and celebrates its oddness is really un-Gaga. I myself took the four aces and a joker from a deck of cards and stuck them to my forehead with double-stick tape.
It all relates to a simple truth. Like or dislike her music (I personally like it), it would be pretty difficult to deny Gaga's influence as a cultural force. In the last two years she has released 8 new singles and 7 of them have been top 10 hits with the most recent being the Isla Bonita-esque "Alejandro." What distinguishes Gaga as a cultural force is that each video is a envelope-pushing production and the new video is no exception.
In her early videos, she celebrated rockstar-like Midwest partying, L.A. decadence and, like a good New Yorker, New York. Then came the dual turning points of "Paparazzi" and "Bad Romance" where the now-famous Gaga began making insider points/mocking the celebrity culture which now enveloped her. By the time "Telephone" and its unabashed product placements arrived Gaga was both ensconced in the business-side of things while winking at us from the art-for-arts-sake side. How "Alejandro" distiguishes itself from Gaga's earlier videos is the type of iconography it choses to ape.
It's disappointing to me Gaga's first foray from what she'd done well with into new turf didn't take her anywhere interesting. Gone are American influences as Gaga draws from an even deeper pool. Unfortunately the influences she draws are the tired and worn-out trifecta of Fascism, Catholicism and Victorianism. If she's feeling restricted from producing her art (and quite unworthily so) the play isn't to recycle cliche. Even if it reads as unintentional homage to Madonna, it's a rare misstep from Gaga and hopefully one she doesn't soon duplicate.
So why didn't it work? I'd offer this as a simple possibility. We Americans have our cultural feet placed deep one-each into two cultural pools: that of Europe and that of Africa. Gaga represents an excellent balance between those two cultural pools. It's not a stretch to call her music techno or to call it R&B. Some may look down their rock critic noses at dance pop here in the Anglosphere but dance music is what makes the rest of the world move. You could play "Alejandro" in an international setting and not seem over-reaching or out-of-place in either Stockholm or Malawi. Gaga's American melting pot is what distinguished her from other also-rans. I put forth the video doesn't work because it tilts to formalism while forgetting about that world-moving sensation of dancing.
The truth is Gaga is one of only two American popular artists who have actual credibility within all but the shrewdly discriminating of our culture. If her career follows the arc of Justin Timberlake's (an artist who has his own internationally-infused songs), she'll be just fine.
It all relates to a simple truth. Like or dislike her music (I personally like it), it would be pretty difficult to deny Gaga's influence as a cultural force. In the last two years she has released 8 new singles and 7 of them have been top 10 hits with the most recent being the Isla Bonita-esque "Alejandro." What distinguishes Gaga as a cultural force is that each video is a envelope-pushing production and the new video is no exception.
In her early videos, she celebrated rockstar-like Midwest partying, L.A. decadence and, like a good New Yorker, New York. Then came the dual turning points of "Paparazzi" and "Bad Romance" where the now-famous Gaga began making insider points/mocking the celebrity culture which now enveloped her. By the time "Telephone" and its unabashed product placements arrived Gaga was both ensconced in the business-side of things while winking at us from the art-for-arts-sake side. How "Alejandro" distiguishes itself from Gaga's earlier videos is the type of iconography it choses to ape.
It's disappointing to me Gaga's first foray from what she'd done well with into new turf didn't take her anywhere interesting. Gone are American influences as Gaga draws from an even deeper pool. Unfortunately the influences she draws are the tired and worn-out trifecta of Fascism, Catholicism and Victorianism. If she's feeling restricted from producing her art (and quite unworthily so) the play isn't to recycle cliche. Even if it reads as unintentional homage to Madonna, it's a rare misstep from Gaga and hopefully one she doesn't soon duplicate.
So why didn't it work? I'd offer this as a simple possibility. We Americans have our cultural feet placed deep one-each into two cultural pools: that of Europe and that of Africa. Gaga represents an excellent balance between those two cultural pools. It's not a stretch to call her music techno or to call it R&B. Some may look down their rock critic noses at dance pop here in the Anglosphere but dance music is what makes the rest of the world move. You could play "Alejandro" in an international setting and not seem over-reaching or out-of-place in either Stockholm or Malawi. Gaga's American melting pot is what distinguished her from other also-rans. I put forth the video doesn't work because it tilts to formalism while forgetting about that world-moving sensation of dancing.
The truth is Gaga is one of only two American popular artists who have actual credibility within all but the shrewdly discriminating of our culture. If her career follows the arc of Justin Timberlake's (an artist who has his own internationally-infused songs), she'll be just fine.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Oh, Eight Songs
I was combing through the last year in music and I'm going to do something a little different. The thing to do usually is to make a list of the year's best albums. But let's be honest. Not only are you unlikely to go out and buy those albums, most people don't even consume music via the album anymore. It's all about single songs.
So these are eight songs I chose to represent the music which turned me on in the last year. These were bands and/or songs a regular person wouldn't have stumbled into just by listening to the radio. (Sorry Kanye and Coldplay.) At the same time I also wanted to highlight music that most people could enjoy too. (Sorry Battles and TV On The Radio.) Most of all though these were eight songs I listed to often during the year. When I think back on 2008, these songs will be the soundtrack.
And just for added difficulty, let's make them appear in the same slot as they do on the album from which they come (our first song is first on its respective album, the second song comes second on its album, etc.) and do it in under thirty minutes.
1.) Colin Meloy "Devil's Elbow" - When I think of 2008, I will think of being in Chicago. When I think of being in Chicago, I will think of three things. The first one is obvious. The second is the good times. The third will be riding the train. I rode the CTA everywhere and on the nights when I didn't have a companion I was plugged into my MP3 player.
Colin Meloy's live solo album got a lot of spins on my way to work, going to baseball games, going out to shows and most often when I was going home. I will hear this song or any from this album and forever think of the Clark and Division stop, the stretch between Sheridan and Howard and standing at Main in the morning. Add in that it's a great song and "Devil's Elbow" spells 2008.
2.) Vampire Weekend "Oxford Comma" - Have you ever heard a buzz band that everyone seems to love and they really are that great? It's not hype. It's actually music journalism fulfilling its purpose and bringing good music to light. I had a few of those this year.
Vampire Weekend was one of them. Maybe it's because all of my musical taste is calibrated to The Clash but I always love music that isn't familiar. I like weird sounds and sounds that are presented in a different way than I've heard. Being able to do that within a three minute pop song though is a real feat.
There's something that sounds very close to Jamaican reggae about Vampire Weekend's music. Their influences are actually West African and I think that's something Joe Strummer would be way into if he were still alive. I think that because it's stuff I'm way into myself.
3.) Kings of Leon "Sex On Fire" - One of the great quotes I like to pull from my life is by Gregg Allman. He was talking about the term "Southern rock." He said (and I'm paraphrasing) "All rock comes from The South. So saying 'Southern rock' is a little bit like saying 'rock rock'." Normally when we think of music that rocks, we think of the music which followed and drew influence Led Zepplin with shredding guitars, bombastic drums and soaring vocals. Allman is right though. Even the almighty Zepplin sound draws its roots in The South.
That would mean the purest form of rock made today is the "rock rock" being made by bands like My Morning Jacket and Kings of Leon. I mean what's more sex and drugs and rock and roll than a song called "Sex on Fire"? All the more to the point when you dive into the lyrics about the visceral and raw elements of making sweet love. Wrap it all up in a melody and a beat that makes you want to drive very fast down the open road and you'll be wrapping yourself in the American flag in no time.
4.) MGMT "Electric Feel" - MGMT was another buzz band that lived up to their billing. A lot of music played on synthesizers ends up sounding like its been run through a computer and filtered into bleak dystopia. It's just what happened because Bowie and Eno and their ilk were the first guys to get there and start using these new tools and that's the type of music they make.
What makes MGMT so weird and interesting is they make music about a psychedelic world without technology. They present a conundrum when they use a syntesizer to sound like a "4000 year old Peruvian flute" as Andrew VanWyngarden says in the behind the scenes video to this song. For forever the idea of more authentic and earthy music is that which is played on instruments made of wood. (See: any coffee shop this Friday or Saturday) Yet here are these two guys working with The Flaming Lips' producer to make a song about a girl from The Amazon who can create electricity from her hands. It's the type of music which appeals to your head, your heart and of course your ears.
5.) Broken Social Scene "Churches Under The Stairs" - When I think about concerts I saw this last year I'll think of the peak performances. From Pitchfork Music Festival to Lollapalooza to Rocktober to a set of shows on either side of Snelling on University to a few more great shows at First Ave, I saw a lot of really great live music this year.
Broken Social Scene contributed a large part of that great live music. I saw them not once, not twice but three times this year and each time my love for them deepened even further. Each concert was like a date. On the first date at Lollapalooza I got a quick brush-up on their sound and an introduction to some of the songs I didn't know. The second date later that evening at The Metro was confirmation that first blush wasn't a misread on my part. Then by the excellent concert of a third date at First Ave during Rocktober I had made my decision and I was wearing my good underwear. I fell for this band the way you're supposed to; by seeing them in their peak moment and being rewarded as you do.
6.) Flobots "Handlebars" - This song gives me an opportunity to give shoutouts and for wildly different reasons. First I have to shoutout Willibuster, Ghost and Emily Osby. When I was visiting home during August, we were hanging out with one of Will's high school friends and the night devolved into what most parties usually do with all of us sitting around looking up stuff on YouTube. It was even Will himself who pulled up the video for this song and every time I hear this song or watch the video I think of chilling with those three.
The other person I get to shoutout is K10. Eight years younger than me and full of opinions, K10 is more than willing to tell me my musical taste sucks and that I've gone soft in my older age. Which is exactly the thing I love about him. Ever said that if you had the opportunity to talk to yourself at a younger age you'd probably just argue about stuff? I don't have to imagine what that would be like to argue music with my younger self because of this guy. Except my younger self really likes The Flobots. "As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens his friend."
Additional shoutouts for additional and different reasons to Dan, Patrick, Noha, Luke, Pete, Peder, Jim, Abby, Stensby, Christian, Nicky, SayRock Brian, Ed, TK and all the people that were at Doomtree Blowout. Thanks for making "going to shows" the new black in '08. Let's go get them swimming pools in '09.
7.) The Black Kids "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend To Dance With You" - Guess "What?". Yet another buzz band that lived up to their billing was The Black Kids. I got this CD during the month I was subletting in Evanston and it was just a matter of having heard about them a lot on the periphery and finally taking the whole CD plunge. It really is amazing doing that worked out so well for me this year.
Okay, what do The Black Kids sound like? It's like The Cure was brought to the 21st Century and decided to write in the "Just Like Heaven" mode. That mournful quality is still there as are the crazy good synth lines. The difference is Robert Smith is playing with The Revolution and that means really danceable sped-up songs underneath the heartache and loss. It literally is the type of music which can be called 1980s retro and not have that be a derisive term.
8.) The Hold Steady "Stay Positive" - Is there any greater summation of the year of Our Lord two thousand and eight than "You gotta stay positive!"? Yeah, things went into the trash this year. At the same time a new era is dawning. Things are always darkest before the dawn and sometimes things are so bad the only place we have to go is up. In 2008, we all had to stay positive or else we'd lose our minds. But by staying positive we'll see ourselves through.
Now pour that over the type of big anthemic hooks that Springsteen and U2 only stumble upon anymore and you have a song you actually can listen to and come out feeling positive and part of something larger. The song isn't suggesting that we stay positive and then leaving us to figure out how to do that. It is infused with the raw energy and mass needed to sustain and to even see the way through to thriving. It doesn't move you in the usual way of touching your heart. It should swell in you the defiant walking-into-the-wind attitude needed to tough things out. Because, as I said before, this year more than ever you gotta stay positive.
So these are eight songs I chose to represent the music which turned me on in the last year. These were bands and/or songs a regular person wouldn't have stumbled into just by listening to the radio. (Sorry Kanye and Coldplay.) At the same time I also wanted to highlight music that most people could enjoy too. (Sorry Battles and TV On The Radio.) Most of all though these were eight songs I listed to often during the year. When I think back on 2008, these songs will be the soundtrack.
And just for added difficulty, let's make them appear in the same slot as they do on the album from which they come (our first song is first on its respective album, the second song comes second on its album, etc.) and do it in under thirty minutes.
1.) Colin Meloy "Devil's Elbow" - When I think of 2008, I will think of being in Chicago. When I think of being in Chicago, I will think of three things. The first one is obvious. The second is the good times. The third will be riding the train. I rode the CTA everywhere and on the nights when I didn't have a companion I was plugged into my MP3 player.
Colin Meloy's live solo album got a lot of spins on my way to work, going to baseball games, going out to shows and most often when I was going home. I will hear this song or any from this album and forever think of the Clark and Division stop, the stretch between Sheridan and Howard and standing at Main in the morning. Add in that it's a great song and "Devil's Elbow" spells 2008.
2.) Vampire Weekend "Oxford Comma" - Have you ever heard a buzz band that everyone seems to love and they really are that great? It's not hype. It's actually music journalism fulfilling its purpose and bringing good music to light. I had a few of those this year.
Vampire Weekend was one of them. Maybe it's because all of my musical taste is calibrated to The Clash but I always love music that isn't familiar. I like weird sounds and sounds that are presented in a different way than I've heard. Being able to do that within a three minute pop song though is a real feat.
There's something that sounds very close to Jamaican reggae about Vampire Weekend's music. Their influences are actually West African and I think that's something Joe Strummer would be way into if he were still alive. I think that because it's stuff I'm way into myself.
3.) Kings of Leon "Sex On Fire" - One of the great quotes I like to pull from my life is by Gregg Allman. He was talking about the term "Southern rock." He said (and I'm paraphrasing) "All rock comes from The South. So saying 'Southern rock' is a little bit like saying 'rock rock'." Normally when we think of music that rocks, we think of the music which followed and drew influence Led Zepplin with shredding guitars, bombastic drums and soaring vocals. Allman is right though. Even the almighty Zepplin sound draws its roots in The South.
That would mean the purest form of rock made today is the "rock rock" being made by bands like My Morning Jacket and Kings of Leon. I mean what's more sex and drugs and rock and roll than a song called "Sex on Fire"? All the more to the point when you dive into the lyrics about the visceral and raw elements of making sweet love. Wrap it all up in a melody and a beat that makes you want to drive very fast down the open road and you'll be wrapping yourself in the American flag in no time.
4.) MGMT "Electric Feel" - MGMT was another buzz band that lived up to their billing. A lot of music played on synthesizers ends up sounding like its been run through a computer and filtered into bleak dystopia. It's just what happened because Bowie and Eno and their ilk were the first guys to get there and start using these new tools and that's the type of music they make.
What makes MGMT so weird and interesting is they make music about a psychedelic world without technology. They present a conundrum when they use a syntesizer to sound like a "4000 year old Peruvian flute" as Andrew VanWyngarden says in the behind the scenes video to this song. For forever the idea of more authentic and earthy music is that which is played on instruments made of wood. (See: any coffee shop this Friday or Saturday) Yet here are these two guys working with The Flaming Lips' producer to make a song about a girl from The Amazon who can create electricity from her hands. It's the type of music which appeals to your head, your heart and of course your ears.
5.) Broken Social Scene "Churches Under The Stairs" - When I think about concerts I saw this last year I'll think of the peak performances. From Pitchfork Music Festival to Lollapalooza to Rocktober to a set of shows on either side of Snelling on University to a few more great shows at First Ave, I saw a lot of really great live music this year.
Broken Social Scene contributed a large part of that great live music. I saw them not once, not twice but three times this year and each time my love for them deepened even further. Each concert was like a date. On the first date at Lollapalooza I got a quick brush-up on their sound and an introduction to some of the songs I didn't know. The second date later that evening at The Metro was confirmation that first blush wasn't a misread on my part. Then by the excellent concert of a third date at First Ave during Rocktober I had made my decision and I was wearing my good underwear. I fell for this band the way you're supposed to; by seeing them in their peak moment and being rewarded as you do.
6.) Flobots "Handlebars" - This song gives me an opportunity to give shoutouts and for wildly different reasons. First I have to shoutout Willibuster, Ghost and Emily Osby. When I was visiting home during August, we were hanging out with one of Will's high school friends and the night devolved into what most parties usually do with all of us sitting around looking up stuff on YouTube. It was even Will himself who pulled up the video for this song and every time I hear this song or watch the video I think of chilling with those three.
The other person I get to shoutout is K10. Eight years younger than me and full of opinions, K10 is more than willing to tell me my musical taste sucks and that I've gone soft in my older age. Which is exactly the thing I love about him. Ever said that if you had the opportunity to talk to yourself at a younger age you'd probably just argue about stuff? I don't have to imagine what that would be like to argue music with my younger self because of this guy. Except my younger self really likes The Flobots. "As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens his friend."
Additional shoutouts for additional and different reasons to Dan, Patrick, Noha, Luke, Pete, Peder, Jim, Abby, Stensby, Christian, Nicky, SayRock Brian, Ed, TK and all the people that were at Doomtree Blowout. Thanks for making "going to shows" the new black in '08. Let's go get them swimming pools in '09.
7.) The Black Kids "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend To Dance With You" - Guess "What?". Yet another buzz band that lived up to their billing was The Black Kids. I got this CD during the month I was subletting in Evanston and it was just a matter of having heard about them a lot on the periphery and finally taking the whole CD plunge. It really is amazing doing that worked out so well for me this year.
Okay, what do The Black Kids sound like? It's like The Cure was brought to the 21st Century and decided to write in the "Just Like Heaven" mode. That mournful quality is still there as are the crazy good synth lines. The difference is Robert Smith is playing with The Revolution and that means really danceable sped-up songs underneath the heartache and loss. It literally is the type of music which can be called 1980s retro and not have that be a derisive term.
8.) The Hold Steady "Stay Positive" - Is there any greater summation of the year of Our Lord two thousand and eight than "You gotta stay positive!"? Yeah, things went into the trash this year. At the same time a new era is dawning. Things are always darkest before the dawn and sometimes things are so bad the only place we have to go is up. In 2008, we all had to stay positive or else we'd lose our minds. But by staying positive we'll see ourselves through.
Now pour that over the type of big anthemic hooks that Springsteen and U2 only stumble upon anymore and you have a song you actually can listen to and come out feeling positive and part of something larger. The song isn't suggesting that we stay positive and then leaving us to figure out how to do that. It is infused with the raw energy and mass needed to sustain and to even see the way through to thriving. It doesn't move you in the usual way of touching your heart. It should swell in you the defiant walking-into-the-wind attitude needed to tough things out. Because, as I said before, this year more than ever you gotta stay positive.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Lollapalooza 2008
Since Lollapalooza starts midday tomorrow (Half Day At Work!) and goes into the night I won't have time to update until maybe Monday. But if I do, it will be right here on this post.
For those of you going to the show, look for me at these band's sets which I will not miss for the world.
Friday
2:15-3:15 - The Go Team
4:15-5:15 - Gogol Bordello
5:15-6:15 - Mates of State
7:15-8:00 - Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks (Sorry CSS)
8:00-10:00 - Radiohead
Saturday
1:30-2:30 - Mason Jennings
3:30-4:30 - DeVotchKa
4:30-5:30 - Explosions In the Sky
6:30-7:30 - Broken Social Scene
8:30-10:00 - Wilco (Sorry reunited Rage Against the Machine)
11:00-??? - Broken Social Scene - Afterparty at The Metro
Sunday
3:00pm - Roll out of bed
5:15-6:15 - Flogging Molly
6:30-7:30 - Girl Talk (Sorry Gnarls Barkley)
8:15-10:00 - Nine Inch Nails unless I really want to see Kanye West
Otherwise I'll be bouncing around from set-to-set trying to catch as much as possible.
Update (12:22 am Saturday): I knew the moment of the night was probably going to come during the Radiohead set and it did. The band was playing at the southmost stage with the backdrop of the South Loop and the Field Museum behind them. There was a glow from Soldier's Field where, I know now, the Bears were holding a fan family night and I commented on it between songs.
At the end of the family night, there was a fireworks display. Radiohead kicked into "Fake Plastic Trees" from The Bends and I watched as the colors exploded in the sky and how they reflected off the building. It wasn't intentional and you'd have to be several degrees beyond stoned to believe the song and display synced up. Still it was a really beautiful moment and one which I'll treasure forever.
Alright, I'm too tired from the sweltering heat to stay awake much longer. Tomorrow is going to be a long day including an afterparty. I'll update at the end of the day if I'm still awake enough to be coherent.
Update (9:10 am Sunday) Sometimes in life you have to take the good with the bad, the better with the bitter. So when you take a frisbee to the face at Lollapalooza, try to remember it was at Lollapalooza that you blocked a frisbee with your face. Call the guy a fucking asshole and move one with it.
There are too many bands to see to waste your time on some piece of human trash (Seriously, this guy was a total dick. No "Sorry"s, just laughing.) and you were on your way to see Broken Social Scene. Which Dan and I did see. For the first of two times. As the sun was setting behind the Chicago skyline. Which was awesome.
The second time was later that evening at the Metro. After an ordeal with the doors not opening until when the opening band Yeasayer was supposed to be on stage, BSS hit the stage around 12:30 in the morning and played straight until 2:15. There wasn't a lot of duplication between their set earlier in the day and they actually played my favorite song, "Lovers Spit." Dan and I caught a cab home after the show and climbed into bed at 3 am.
Update (10:39 am Monday)
I'm back at work today and, despite having the worst dry-mouth ever last night, I woke this morning without Lil Wayne voice. I'll have to try even harder next year.
My brother wasn't able to stay for yesterday's festivities. All of the bands he wanted to see started after 5:00 and he had a 7 hour drive back to Minnesota to tackle. We went to brunch out in Bucktown with one of his friends, we said our goodbyes (all the way until this upcoming Saturday) and he drove home.
He does get a million points at life though because he figured out a way to take off his wrist band and get it onto my other friend's wrist. Since he has a big wrist and her wrist is small, he cut his band close to the clasp and then she and I stitched it onto her wrist with a needle and thread. We tightened the clasp so it covered the stitches and it looked like it had been on her wrist all along.
While there we saw three different acts and all three were an absolute jam. Flogging Molly is always great, Girl Talk was off-the-hook and then Mr. Kanye West brought his manic energy to the people. Overall Lollapalooza was great and I'm glad my bro was there to share it with me.
P.S. The new Ghostface and Raekwon?
For those of you going to the show, look for me at these band's sets which I will not miss for the world.
Friday
2:15-3:15 - The Go Team
4:15-5:15 - Gogol Bordello
5:15-6:15 - Mates of State
7:15-8:00 - Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks (Sorry CSS)
8:00-10:00 - Radiohead
Saturday
1:30-2:30 - Mason Jennings
3:30-4:30 - DeVotchKa
4:30-5:30 - Explosions In the Sky
6:30-7:30 - Broken Social Scene
8:30-10:00 - Wilco (Sorry reunited Rage Against the Machine)
11:00-??? - Broken Social Scene - Afterparty at The Metro
Sunday
3:00pm - Roll out of bed
5:15-6:15 - Flogging Molly
6:30-7:30 - Girl Talk (Sorry Gnarls Barkley)
8:15-10:00 - Nine Inch Nails unless I really want to see Kanye West
Otherwise I'll be bouncing around from set-to-set trying to catch as much as possible.
Update (12:22 am Saturday): I knew the moment of the night was probably going to come during the Radiohead set and it did. The band was playing at the southmost stage with the backdrop of the South Loop and the Field Museum behind them. There was a glow from Soldier's Field where, I know now, the Bears were holding a fan family night and I commented on it between songs.
At the end of the family night, there was a fireworks display. Radiohead kicked into "Fake Plastic Trees" from The Bends and I watched as the colors exploded in the sky and how they reflected off the building. It wasn't intentional and you'd have to be several degrees beyond stoned to believe the song and display synced up. Still it was a really beautiful moment and one which I'll treasure forever.
Alright, I'm too tired from the sweltering heat to stay awake much longer. Tomorrow is going to be a long day including an afterparty. I'll update at the end of the day if I'm still awake enough to be coherent.
Update (9:10 am Sunday) Sometimes in life you have to take the good with the bad, the better with the bitter. So when you take a frisbee to the face at Lollapalooza, try to remember it was at Lollapalooza that you blocked a frisbee with your face. Call the guy a fucking asshole and move one with it.
There are too many bands to see to waste your time on some piece of human trash (Seriously, this guy was a total dick. No "Sorry"s, just laughing.) and you were on your way to see Broken Social Scene. Which Dan and I did see. For the first of two times. As the sun was setting behind the Chicago skyline. Which was awesome.
The second time was later that evening at the Metro. After an ordeal with the doors not opening until when the opening band Yeasayer was supposed to be on stage, BSS hit the stage around 12:30 in the morning and played straight until 2:15. There wasn't a lot of duplication between their set earlier in the day and they actually played my favorite song, "Lovers Spit." Dan and I caught a cab home after the show and climbed into bed at 3 am.
Update (10:39 am Monday)
I'm back at work today and, despite having the worst dry-mouth ever last night, I woke this morning without Lil Wayne voice. I'll have to try even harder next year.
My brother wasn't able to stay for yesterday's festivities. All of the bands he wanted to see started after 5:00 and he had a 7 hour drive back to Minnesota to tackle. We went to brunch out in Bucktown with one of his friends, we said our goodbyes (all the way until this upcoming Saturday) and he drove home.
He does get a million points at life though because he figured out a way to take off his wrist band and get it onto my other friend's wrist. Since he has a big wrist and her wrist is small, he cut his band close to the clasp and then she and I stitched it onto her wrist with a needle and thread. We tightened the clasp so it covered the stitches and it looked like it had been on her wrist all along.
While there we saw three different acts and all three were an absolute jam. Flogging Molly is always great, Girl Talk was off-the-hook and then Mr. Kanye West brought his manic energy to the people. Overall Lollapalooza was great and I'm glad my bro was there to share it with me.
P.S. The new Ghostface and Raekwon?
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Dedicated To The One I Love
These three songs go out to my newest and best friend. Consider this a mini-mix tape from me to you.
Follow your dreams.
Remember the good.
Live without regrets.
(P.S. Don't worry too much about all of the words. It's the choruses that really matter.)
Follow your dreams.
Remember the good.
Live without regrets.
(P.S. Don't worry too much about all of the words. It's the choruses that really matter.)
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Once I Start I Cannot Stop Myself
A few weekends ago Susie and I were riding in our car. She was driving and I was riding shotgun which means I'm in charge of keeping good music on the radio. We were listening to Jack-FM when "Closer" comes on. It's easy to forget what a good song it is. Almost fifteen years ago it's really good for both shaking your fists or for shaking your ass.
I like "The Fragile" as much as I like "Pretty Hate Machine." Still the matter is Trent Reznor writes better songs when they drive. When he's being atmospheric and ambient, he's good enough to get by. When he's rocking (and not in the way the new R.E.M. album strives to rock), there are few who can keep up. Which is why I was happy as I listened to the new Internet-released Nine Inch Nails album, "The Slip." Here are some of the songs which stuck out for me.
999,999 Just a minute and a half of ambient humming. One might ask what's the point of putting a track like this on an album. It's kind of a waste of space on your hard drive. I like to think about it within the context of "the album as a performance." This track is like the moment when the lights go down and before the band steps on stage. This is the album telling you to get ready for the show to start. Hence the connection between the title of this song...
1,000,000 ...and this song. Like a good concert opener, it immediately grabs you and like a good NIN song, it punches you in the mouth for a good four minutes. There's a moment I love three minutes into the song. The song stops abruptly and you ask yourself, "Is that the end?" Then it comes back in after four or five seconds like comic timing. It absolutely slays me.
Letting You I was one of a few kids in middle and high school who were good at sports but not a jock-ass-motherfucker. So while I didn't hang out behind the loading docks sneaking smokes, I heard of Nine Inch Nails before "Closer" entered my peer group about 1995. (Things were different back then and it might take a year between the release of an album and when it even high school freshmen had heard it.) The first Nine Inch Nails song I ever heard was actually "Happiness in Slavery" on a cassette of songs from Woodstock '94. This song absolutely takes me back to that moment.
Discipline There's this phrase which was created by the early-80s English ska band and oft co-opted since then: FUCK ART LET'S DANCE. You can sing all of the songs of pain and angst you want. Unless you throw in a song you can move to occassionally, you're just complaining. So let's dance motherfucker. See: Boy, Fall Out.
Lights In the Sky Okay, I take back a bit of what I said earlier about Trent being good enough to get by when he writes "quiet" songs. Because, if I really am being honest, the best song he ever wrote was not "Closer" but "Hurt" as completely validated by Johnny Cash. This song is just Trent's voice and a piano sounding as heart-achingly beautiful as both are possible of being.
(Hi CJ. How are you?)
I like "The Fragile" as much as I like "Pretty Hate Machine." Still the matter is Trent Reznor writes better songs when they drive. When he's being atmospheric and ambient, he's good enough to get by. When he's rocking (and not in the way the new R.E.M. album strives to rock), there are few who can keep up. Which is why I was happy as I listened to the new Internet-released Nine Inch Nails album, "The Slip." Here are some of the songs which stuck out for me.
999,999 Just a minute and a half of ambient humming. One might ask what's the point of putting a track like this on an album. It's kind of a waste of space on your hard drive. I like to think about it within the context of "the album as a performance." This track is like the moment when the lights go down and before the band steps on stage. This is the album telling you to get ready for the show to start. Hence the connection between the title of this song...
1,000,000 ...and this song. Like a good concert opener, it immediately grabs you and like a good NIN song, it punches you in the mouth for a good four minutes. There's a moment I love three minutes into the song. The song stops abruptly and you ask yourself, "Is that the end?" Then it comes back in after four or five seconds like comic timing. It absolutely slays me.
Letting You I was one of a few kids in middle and high school who were good at sports but not a jock-ass-motherfucker. So while I didn't hang out behind the loading docks sneaking smokes, I heard of Nine Inch Nails before "Closer" entered my peer group about 1995. (Things were different back then and it might take a year between the release of an album and when it even high school freshmen had heard it.) The first Nine Inch Nails song I ever heard was actually "Happiness in Slavery" on a cassette of songs from Woodstock '94. This song absolutely takes me back to that moment.
Discipline There's this phrase which was created by the early-80s English ska band and oft co-opted since then: FUCK ART LET'S DANCE. You can sing all of the songs of pain and angst you want. Unless you throw in a song you can move to occassionally, you're just complaining. So let's dance motherfucker. See: Boy, Fall Out.
Lights In the Sky Okay, I take back a bit of what I said earlier about Trent being good enough to get by when he writes "quiet" songs. Because, if I really am being honest, the best song he ever wrote was not "Closer" but "Hurt" as completely validated by Johnny Cash. This song is just Trent's voice and a piano sounding as heart-achingly beautiful as both are possible of being.
(Hi CJ. How are you?)
Friday, March 7, 2008
I'm Going to Lollapalooza '08
Last year around this time I received an e-mail from a friend. It said there were special discounted three-day passes to Lollapalooza for sale in a very limited quantity. By the time I got to the website they were gone. Later on that day, however, I overheard a co-worker talking about how she HAD been able to get the discounted passes. I commented about my envy because I had wanted to get passes of my own.
This morning that same co-worker showed up at my desk and said, "Was it you that I was talking about Lollapalooza with last year?" After I confirmed it had been me, she told me, "Go to the website right now. They're on sale again." Thus I will be attending all three days of Lollapalooza 2008 in Grant Park with my brother for the low, low price of $60 a piece.
Consider me even more fortunate though because of the double-billed headliners as reported by the Chicago Tribune this morning.
Radiohead
Nine Inch Nails
This morning that same co-worker showed up at my desk and said, "Was it you that I was talking about Lollapalooza with last year?" After I confirmed it had been me, she told me, "Go to the website right now. They're on sale again." Thus I will be attending all three days of Lollapalooza 2008 in Grant Park with my brother for the low, low price of $60 a piece.
Consider me even more fortunate though because of the double-billed headliners as reported by the Chicago Tribune this morning.
Radiohead
Nine Inch Nails
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)