Song of the Day

Savory

2010-07-19T10:04:00.000-07:00

Quite honestly, I'm clueless when it comes to the band Jawbox.

Back in college, my dorm mate and I were sifting through any and all things Deftones, and we came across a cover of this song called 'Savory.' An amazing cover version and--after listening to the original--a classic track.

A quick album clip-through of "Special Sweetheart" yielded nothing quite as remarkable, but I'm satisfied with just the one.

Sometimes a song is all you need.

Jawbox - Savory
(From the album "For Your Own Special Sweetheart," 1994)

I've Been Tired

2010-06-23T12:12:00.000-07:00

Eyes swollen shut, tottering forward and discharging spittle on an unsuspecting crowd, my 2004 ACL attendance was as if Black Francis's biblical mayhem had manifested itself in my very own eyes.

Fittingly, the sole positive that day was seeing those incalculable legends, the Pixies, perform a reunion set at the evening's end.

I'm very pleased to report that my aforementioned semi-aware state, battling through allergen hell, will not be the final condition nor final word on witnessing this seminal act.

Soon to arrive in the mail, I have two tickets to ...

Pixies
w/ F*ck Buttons
Sept. 22
@ Austin Music Hall

Yeah!

To celebrate, here's a classic clip for everyone's viewing pleasure.
(check out the lyrics too if you have a moment; this song is freakin' hilarious)

Pixies - I've Been Tired
(From the EP "Come on Pilgrim," 1987)

Tell 'Em

2010-06-03T14:46:00.000-07:00

Popular music's heyday ended just as the 80s came to a close.
Okay, let me rephrase, "worthy" pop music ended.

Perhaps Nirvana's breaking-of-the-dam and alternative's influx was the cause: Suddenly, the underground had a voice and a say in mass consumer culture.

No matter the reason, seasoned (and talented) pop artists like Madonna, Michael Jackson, and even The Cure had to redefine their place in the musical landscape, abandoning the songcraft that made their past hits so artistically relevant.

Even worse were the millennial *NSYNCs, Aguileras, and Dursts.
"Pop" became "pap," and the listening public either teenyboppered along or hung their heads in shame.

Personally, I affiliated with the latter crowd and have been waiting for a second coming of sorts.

That time has (perhaps) arrived.

The initial fresh breathe came in 2003--OutKast's 'Hey Ya!' burst on the scene with its Polaroid-shaking entourage in tow. This Music Nouveau firmed even more in 2007 with the arrival of M.I.A.'s 'Paper Planes.' The crucial element was a sample ... four gunshots and a weapon cock.

I declare said sample as pop's resurgence and revolution.

Expanding on the promise of this "assault pop," here is Sleigh Bells' lead-in track from their debut album.

Sleigh Bells - Tell 'Em
(From the album "Treats," 2010)

Like Rats

2010-05-20T15:29:00.000-07:00

Here's a novel question for you all: If given a quarter century, how many bands/side projects could one musician take on?

Justin K Broadrick makes his case and "streetcleans" the competition:

The JB Tally

1. Final
2. Napalm Death
3. Fall of Because
4. Head of David
5. Godflesh
6. Techno Animal
7. God
8. Painkiller
9. Ice
10.The Sidewinder
11.White Viper
12.Curse of the Golden Vampire
13.Jesu
14.J2
15.Greymachine
16.Council Estate Electronics
17.Blood of Heroes
18.Pale Sketcher

Witness Justin circa 1990: a mere 20 years old and at the peak of his apocalyptic power.

Godflesh - Like Rats
(From the album "Streetcleaner," 1990)

Uptown Girl

2010-05-10T15:33:00.000-07:00

Here's another childhood favorite that would be a guaranteed embarrassment for most, yet I hold it up and display it proudly.

What a fool I am ... but an unabashed, fun-loving one.

Billy Joel - Uptown Girl
(From the album "An Innocent Man," 1983)

Fall on Me

2010-04-12T10:38:00.000-07:00

Hindsight is a funny thing.

I remember when R.E.M.'s "Monster" debuted in 1994 and was heralded as the band's triumphant crossover into rock.

Being 14 at the time, and knowing just enough to get this was a big deal, my friends and I ponied up and got our copies in double-quick time. We were convinced it was a classic album, a real masterstroke.

Once again, hindsight is a funny thing.

"Monster" wasn't a bad album. It was actually a pretty fair stab at going electric. It's just that it didn't measure up to the undeniable genius of the band's landmark I.R.S. releases.

Since my introduction to R.E.M., I've oscillated between their early and latter-day works: "Murmur"'s crisp-sounding beauty, "Automatic for the People"'s heart-wrenching reflections. Bouncing back and forth throughout the years, my internal compass continues to center on this song, once proclaimed by Michael Stipe to be his favorite from the band's catalog.

R.E.M. - Fall on Me
(From the album "Life's Rich Pageant," 1986)

Go to Hell

2010-04-05T10:23:00.000-07:00

"We were already almost out of America and yet definitely in it and in the middle of where it's maddest. Hotrods blew by. San Antonio, ah-haa!"

- Jack Kerouac, "On the Road"

San Antonio is one of those strange cities that, to me growing up, seemed anything but.

My first 11 years were spent in its sheltered, scenic suburbia. Everything appeared established and anchored: people were who they were and places never changed. This afforded me a wealth of security, yet left me with a faulty worldview. San Antonio didn't change and, if you lived there, you didn't change. People went about their lives being who they were and meeting their day-to-day responsibilities.

It wasn't until my parents' separation that I detected a different, darker undercurrent. A fair comparison might be the introductory scene in David Lynch's "Blue Velvet": white picket fences, neighbors waving, quite picturesque ... until the pent-up pressure explodes. Then, and only then, does one see the "black bugs" squirming beneath the grass.

I then came to know San Antonio for what it was and is: a bipolar metropolis.
I grew up knowing the yin, and grew out knowing the yang.

Music too was white or black: you either sided with good ole country standards and Tejano or you rejected that crap and took up the flag of hip-hop and heavy metal.

Yours truly chose the latter.

To this day, I continue to credit metal's promotion of the self and inherent cathartic qualities for equipping me with the tools to transition from childhood to adulthood. Its unflinching look at life's visceral sludge and putrid decay brought me back to earth and moved me forward.

In the summer of 1991, "Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey" was released. Fittingly, this was the very film my brother and I would see following the announcement of our family's dissolution. One song from that soundtrack served as my rite of passage.

Megadeth - Go to Hell
(From the soundtrack to "Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey," 1991)

Break It Down Again

2010-03-22T13:33:00.000-07:00

On very rare occasions, songs that once dominated your consciousness fall through the cracks only to be forgotten. Then, randomly, chance affords one of them a listen and the memories come flooding back into your mind, fused with the euphoria of a teenager and his first anthem.

Today's track is such a song for me. Hope you enjoy the listen.

Tears for Fears - Break It Down Again
(From the album "Elemental," 1993)

Lean on Me

2010-02-25T13:49:00.000-08:00

Convention is officially over, and I feel increasingly ill. Sore throat, the beginning of a cold I think--most likely the result of my professional ordeal. My goal this evening is to wrap up at the office by six and be in bed by seven.

In the meantime, here's something to keep the mind occupied: a New Jack Swing version of Bill Withers' classic song ...

The California Raisins - Lean on Me
(From the album "The California Raisins Sing the Hit Songs," 1987)

Switch Opens

2010-01-25T12:31:00.000-08:00

The last great moment from Soundgarden—before Cornell audioslaved and screamed …

Soundgarden – Switch Opens
(From the album “Down on the Upside,” 1996)

Sweet Disposition

2010-01-19T22:51:00.000-08:00

Watched "(500) Days of Summer" last night; good movie, interesting ideas. Not too shabby of a soundtrack either: Pixies, Regina Spektor, The Clash--and this new band named The Temper Trap.

The TT's song intro was a highlight for me, blending incredibly well with the emotional context of the story. In a humorous yet purposeful way, their U2-meets-Jeff Buckley-meets-Radiohead-meets-Coldplay sound suggests the next logical conclusion: an even poppier one to be sure, but perhaps an entrypoint for some teenager looking for a slightly more complex direction.

And, like all worthy pop music, this one burrows its way into your mind--refusing to leave and demanding a place in your own life story.

The Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition
(From the album "Conditions," 2009)

If It's Here When We Get Back It's Ours

2010-01-15T08:56:00.001-08:00

Before emocore's core was castrated.

Texas Is the Reason - If It's Here When We Get Back It's Ours
(From the EP "Texas Is the Reason," 1995)

I Don't Believe in the Sun

2010-01-14T11:33:00.000-08:00

O ye faithful blog reader: welcome to the next decade!

So here's a question for you: Have you ever become fascinated with an album or set of songs you have yet to hear?
For example, there is just something conceptual--the structure, the artwork, the theme--that initially draws you in and completely captivates you.

So it is with me and The Magnetic Fields' "69 Love Songs."

This recording assembles MF principal songwriter Stephin Merritt's reflections on love and loss, and is literally a sprawl of sixty-nine individual tracks extended over three discs.

What is my fascination with this record, you ask? I'm just a sucker for a novel concept, I guess. And anyone who can write and release sixty-plus songs of supposed quality and relation deserves some sort of listening experience in my book.

Below is today's current focus: disc one, track two ...

The Magnetic Fields - I Don't Believe in the Sun
(From the album "69 Love Songs," 1999)

Wond'ring Aloud

2009-12-14T15:14:00.000-08:00

Since my brother's birthday is unfairly weighted with finals and end-of-the-semester stresses, I wanted to offer up a musical reprieve of sorts.

Tull's 'Wond'ring Aloud,' a true pastoral gem, stands as the perfect, summery interlude--both on record and in reality.

Jethro Tull - Wond'ring Aloud
(From the album "Aqualung," 1971)

Disorder

2009-12-07T16:01:00.000-08:00

I wish more people could appreciate Joy Division.

For some reason, they remain a band that eludes most. Perhaps that is the exact reason why others, including myself, gravitate toward them.

Sure, Ian Curtis is no natural when it comes to his vocal work—but he is charismatic and lyrically distinctive. He creates an atmosphere … just as the spaciousness of Martin Hannett’s production does. All the echoes, the swooshes. You feel that isolation enveloped in sound.

Joy Division also thrives in a song setting rather than an album one. Some might disagree, but I would contend that “Substance” accurately collects and presents the high points of the band, many not found on any proper album.

That said, one of my absolute favorites is the lead track of their debut, “Unknown Pleasures.” ‘Disorder’ spoke to me in my Denton years and still speaks to me today. Its momentum sends one headlong into an album full of contradiction. Cold textures and warm bass lines. Monotone deliveries erupting into emotional climaxes. Like the cover suggests: This is what everything sounds like in nothingness.

Joy Division - Disorder
(From the album "Unknown Pleasures," 1979)

Pearly-Dewdrops' Drops

2009-11-11T09:06:00.000-08:00

*Transcribed

So I'm trying out an experiment. Instead of sitting down and writing my blog entry, I've decided to go for a voice memo approach. This morning I was contemplating a conversation I had last night with a friend of mine, and in it I was describing my blog writing and how I've noticed that my strengths tend to be when I sit down, research or really dive deep into my memories, and cull up a lot of really personal recollections. Those are usually the longer entries and the better ones, while the shorter, "clever" remarks fall a bit flat. Frankly, they're a bit pretentious, and I realize that. So the issue at hand is: What do you do with that? Do you go through and, you know, embrace the editor in you, in me as it were, and do you basically keep the good stuff and cut the crap? In this case ... no. I don't think you do. I think you ... you keep it all. You capture the moment, you get it down on the page, even if it's not the most eloquent or deeply realized entry, I think it is what it is. You leave it there, warts and all. So, I will continue to do so. Some days will be short and pretentious; others will be long and heartfelt and more personally reflective. On a totally unrelated note, um, well not quite actually, it is quite related, really, um, because I guess this entry would have been more personal. So following that thought, I should say, we have today's entry:

Cocteau Twins - Pearly-Dewdrops' Drops
(From the EP "The Spangle Maker," 1984)

Grenades

2009-11-09T10:23:00.000-08:00

Trudging through the mud yesterday at Fun Fun Fun Fest, I found a sound befitting my slosh—a sound that leads me to make a grand claim indeed:

Torche should be the next Nirvana.
They should be the watershed rock band for the twenty-first century.

Call me crazy if you will, but consider this: This band (successfully) combines postgrunge, postmetal, doom, sludge, and math rock into an anthem-filled, popular sound that flat out hooks you.

Doubt me? Just listen for yourself …

Torche - Grenades
(From the album "Meanderthal," 2008)

You'll Never Get to Me

2009-11-04T14:44:00.000-08:00

Thought I was gone, didn't ya.

No such luck! 30 years old and still truckin' forward, albeit a bit infrequently.

Back to the task at hand.

For me, this track conjures up feelings of solitude and loneliness ... yet it remains strangely empowering. Perhaps this is part of an unrealized soundtrack to survival.

Killing Joke - You'll Never Get to Me
(From the album "Killing Joke," 2003)

Red Right Hand

2009-10-22T09:12:00.000-07:00

Plucked from Milton's Paradise Lost, the "red right hand" seems to fit today like a glove.

Cool, rainy weather has ushered forth new rounds of the cold and flu. These, coupled with All Hallows Eve looming at month's end, set quite the gothic tone for this fall ... and Mr. Cave and his Bad Seeds will not save you ...

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - Red Right Hand
(From the album "Let Love In," 1994)

In Circles

2009-10-07T15:00:00.000-07:00

I first heard about Sunny Day Real Estate from J.L., my college dormmate, back in 1999.

He and a fellow classmate had been raving about The Deftones, and the latter insisted he check out another band that supposedly fell in the same camp: enter Sunny Day.

Upon first listen the two bands appeared to have little in common. The Deftones fell more on the arty, nu metal side of the fence, while Sunny Day entrenched themselves within emocore and grunge. So what was it that connected the two supposedly unrelated groups?

The answer: Weezer’s “Pinkerton.”

The Deftones worshiped at the well of Cuomo and Co., and covers like ‘Say It Ain’t So’ were a staple of their live shows. Relatedly, Sunny Day’s “Diary”—along with “Pinkerton”—was considered a seminal entry into the emo canon. Chino (D singer) and Jeremy (SD singer) also shared similar vocal styles. Verses were sung in a soft, emotive crooning, followed by explosive choruses punctuated by barks and screams.

Considering J.L. and I were freshly baptized Deftone disciples, this new prospective band began to appeal to us more and more.

We started with a latter-day entry in their catalog: “How It Feels to Be Something On.” The irony is that, over the years, this has proven to be my least favorite of their records. Yet, at the time, songs like ‘Roses in Water’ and ‘Guitar and Video Games’ engulfed me and resonated intensely.

Fast forward to today. I’ve been a fan of the band for a solid decade, and I’ve thoroughly explored each recording, continuing my listening adventures with the impressionistic sketches of “LP2” and arriving at the masterful climax of their sound on “The Rising Tide” … even dabbling in their post-Sunny Day work as The Fire Theft (which I highly recommend).

Apparently my steadfast commitment has paid off in spades: I’ll be seeing them tonight!

The … wait for it … original lineup will be in Austin performing songs from their celebrated “Diary” and “LP2” albums. In addition, my aforementioned favorite—‘Guitar and Video Games’—will be featured along with a new song tentatively titled ‘10.’

See the venue information below. Tickets are still available!

Sunny Day Real Estate.
Austin.
La Zona Rosa.
October 7, 8:00 p.m.

Here’s a song to whet the appetite: their original anthem.

Sunny Day Real Estate – In Circles
(From the album “Diary,” 1994)

Lost Verses

2009-09-23T09:51:00.001-07:00

This is a definitive composition for Mark Kozelek: superb songwriting with incredible depth.

Sun Kil Moon – Lost Verses
(From the album “April,” 2008)

Don't Stop Me Now

2009-09-14T13:26:00.000-07:00

Mr. Mercury wants
YOU
to have a good time!

Happy birthday, S.F.!

Queen - Don't Stop Me Now
(From the album "Jazz," 1978)

The Fixer

2009-09-09T14:01:00.000-07:00

I've been a Pearl Jam fanatic since 1993, the same year the impassioned "Vs." first hit the shelves.

I had a peripheral awareness of "Ten" at the time, but the music videos I saw suggested a mumbling, meandering classic rock cover band. Initially, I wasn't impressed.

Then the second album surfaced and I felt a momentary pull. The single was catchy, grunge was hip. So I anted up and made the purchase.

Next to "Jar of Flies" and "Purple," "Vs." stands as a self-defining record for me. Its bipolar tendencies toward seething funk punk and gorgeous acoustic balladry reflected my own teenage hormonal flux.

I awaited "Vitalogy" with great anticipation, only to be left half impressed ('Satan's Bed,''Immortality') and half perplexed ('Bugs,''Hey Foxymophandlemama, That's Me'). "No Code" lost me completely. Ironically, it was my brother's entrypoint and he believed it a masterpiece (along with a surprising majority of the fanbase). At the time I thought, "They can have it."

While A.R. carried the fanboy torch, I was content to explore my newfound interests outside of the grunge universe.

"Yield," however, lured me back in. Fun songs, great energy. It also recaptured something fundamental for me about Vedder and Co.--their reverence for rock and roll and their ability to fuse classic rock with more contemporary feels. A sort of neoclassicist sound.

Today's tune, Pearl Jam's newest single, does exactly that with equal parts pop, postgrunge, rock, new wave, and punk. It's perhaps the happiest and most celebratory song in their catalog.

Watch! Enjoy!

Pearl Jam - The Fixer
(From the upcoming album "Backspacer," 2009)

Yard of Blonde Girls

2009-09-03T10:47:00.000-07:00

Jeff's take on Weezer--very sexy.

Jeff Buckley - Yard of Blonde Girls
(From the album "Sketches for My Sweetheart the Drunk," 1998)

Worlock

2009-08-31T09:47:00.000-07:00

Well, here I am. Work has finally slowed down enough to return to my daily posts.

I’m very excited about today’s artist. Strangely, or perhaps not, I became familiar with their catalog by working backward—first starting with Nine Inch Nails then eventually Ministry only to belatedly arrive at the protogroup: SKINNY PUPPY.

Many people throw around words like “genius” and “original” quite haphazardly, but such words I feel have a place with people like Nivek Ogre and cEvin Key. Over the past 27 years, these two have orchestrated the most dynamic, dense soundscapes ever committed to tape and stand alone as industrial’s innovators, artists, and performers extraordinaire.

Never again will such a combination exist.
It’s like the big bang, or something.

In all seriousness though, Skinny Puppy is one of my personal music touchstones. In addition to that, great bands like NIN, Marilyn Manson, Ministry, Tool, and the Deftones owe a tremendous debt to these frightful forebearers, and the modern world of electronic music should grovel at the feet of the mighty brapsters.

To close, Ogre and Key will be making a special trip to Austin this winter—and I, for one, will be there come hell or high water. Fellow Austinites see below:

Skinny Puppy.
Austin.
Emo’s.
December 2.

Come and worship.

Skinny Puppy – Worlock
(From the album “Rabies,” 1989)

Summerland

2009-08-19T15:32:00.000-07:00

As work drains, King's X restores.

King's X - Summerland
(From the album "Gretchen Goes to Nebraska," 1989)

You're the Inspiration

2009-08-14T15:06:00.000-07:00

I realize that today's selection might very well destroy any and all credibility I may have as a music fan/critic. But sometimes one finds a track that is so terrifically awful that it comes full circle toward an apex of sorts--a nausea-inducing nirvana, if you will. Once that "perfection" is realized, there is no turning away ...

Such is the case with You're the Inspiration. Its impact didn't fully hit me until attending a friend's wedding. Their "first dance" song, I was bombarded by horror and euphoria, simultaneously, and knew it was a masterstroke.

Our student postbar theme song of choice in Denton, we would tilt our heads back and belt out a choral call and response, polluting the evening breeze with every ounce of our beings.

Some might call for my resignation on this one, but I say, "Screw it. You're going to listen to f*cking Chicago, and you're going to like it!"

Chicago - You're the Inspiration
(From the album "Chicago 17," 1984)

Chicago |MTV Music

Exhausted

2009-08-13T10:53:00.001-07:00

Exhausted?--yes. Obliterated?--not quite there. I can't hack these late nights. Guess that happens the closer you get to 30 (which for me is in two months!).

My girlfriend is flying back as I write, and I'm really looking forward to seeing her. With truly innocent intentions, hopefully a nap will follow.

Anyways, today's pick is a family favorite (i.e., A.R. and myself). Applicable today, especially.

Foo Fighters - Exhausted
(From the album "Foo Fighters," 1995)

I Like Food

2009-08-12T14:31:00.001-07:00

Butler 239 answering machine message circa 1998.

Descendents - I Like Food
(From the EP "Bonus Fat," 1985)

Real Wild Child (Wild One)

2009-08-11T09:27:00.000-07:00

T minus eight hours and counting ...

Brace yourselves. M.S. is about to hit the city limits.

And he's a bit of a wild one.

Iggy Pop - Real Wild Child (Wild One)
(From the album "Blah Blah Blah," 1986)

Eye of the Tiger

2009-08-10T10:21:00.001-07:00

I'm glad M.K. is O.K.

Survivor - Eye of the Tiger
(From the album "Eye of the Tiger," 1982)

One Day

2009-08-07T09:22:00.001-07:00

There are only a handful of artists who, I feel, have put their unique stamp on reggae music. Bob Marley, Horace Andy, the Bad Brains, and Matisyahu are among the idiosyncratic few.

The latter individual is a curious one. People might have thought that the Bad Brains' cross of hardcore and dub was outlandish, but Matisyahu's mix of kosher reggae with hip hop arguably outblends and outbizarres even that.

As we steadily approach the release date for his new album, "Light," I was compelled to hear where Matisyahu is taking his sound. Initial reviews suggested a branching out into electronica territory, where the aforementioned Horace Andy made his modern mark.

I'll be totally honest with you--I had some extreme reservations after hearing his new single. The glitchy pop tinges made me think of Chris Cornell's abysmal collaboration with Timbaland ("Scream") that flatlined my fandom in less than 0.1 seconds.

But this singer's soaring vocals and anthemic lyrics overcome, and his beatboxing bravado wins me over in spades.

This is a great song. Just don't turn me into a teenybopper, Matisyahu--I beg you.

Matisyahu - One Day
(From the album "Light," 2009)

Griselda

2009-08-06T11:45:00.000-07:00

I found a dead squirrel this morning in the backyard.

It appeared to be relatively fresh, although--upon further inspection--it was quite bloated and rigamortis had set in. Most fascinating, however, was this single white (and dried) bubble protruding from its mouth. I kept thinking of it as "the death bubble."

As it would happen, I find myself at work and keep returning to this ominous death bubble--yet yours truly wants to focus on his daily music post.

The compromise is a site I found that marries the two: morbid terms with musical connotations. Said site's name is "Random Band Name Generator" from TUNEVAULT
(http://www.tunevault.com/band-name-generator/), and the entertainment value is priceless!

First, pick a type of music (I'm partial to metal) and then enter a word to always include within the generated name below in the search field.

Some of my favorite name generations (all metal of course):

The Skeleton Wuss Muscle

Neurotics Tainted Spectrum

The Pedal Editor Crucifix To Maiden If Claws

The Ryder Drillicide Lucid Pulp

-and my personal favorite-

Hypoglycemic After Sucking Devil

...

Now for something completely different :).

Yo La Tengo - Griselda
(From the album "Fakebook," 1990)

Honey Bucket

2009-08-05T10:14:00.000-07:00

Riff-heavy sludgehammer, anyone?

Yes, please.

Melvins - Honey Bucket
(From the album "Houdini," 1993)

Whispering Pines

2009-08-04T10:26:00.000-07:00

Every morning of my junior year in high school, I played Johnny Horton in my '86 Cutlass Supreme as I made my way to the school's campus.

My introduction to Mr. Horton's music began when I was about 7 years old. One of my dad's favorite songwriters, he would play The Battle of New Orleans for me and dissect the story of Andrew Jackson's historic defeat of the British.

Not only a captivating listen, I was also compelled to focus on Horton's lyrics in order to distract me from the severe case of chicken pox overtaking my person. So, with calamine lotion and gloved hands secured, I dove into this artist's historical ballads with vigor.

It wasn't until much later, aka postpuberty, that I recalled songs like Sink the Bismark and North to Alaska, and willingly returned to my dad's suggested listening.

My main memory is driving my brother to middle school, smoking cigarettes, and playing Horton's greatest hits over and over. They always relaxed me and made me contemplate life on the frontier ... or in battle.

This song of the day, specifically, made me imagine being in a forest--shrouded with tall trees and feeling a cool breeze.

Johnny Horton - Whispering Pines
(From the album "The Spectacular Johnny Horton," 1960)

In Your Room (Zephyr Mix)

2009-08-03T10:08:00.000-07:00

Rarely, in my estimation, does a remix transcend an original mix.

However, there are always exceptions. Check out this one, remixed by Butch Vig of Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins (production) fame:

Depeche Mode - In Your Room (Zephyr Mix)
(From the single "In Your Room [#2]," 1994)

Long Way Back from Hell

2009-07-31T08:59:00.000-07:00

I've been on a big Danzig kick lately. Two weeks ago, yours truly nabbed the first three albums from his Case Logic (yes, I still use one of those) and kept the first on rotation for bathroom purposes (shaving ...).

Then, a few days ago, I was recounting my listening schedule to A.R. and mentioned the Evil Elvis. Strangely, he had been looking up Danzig the night before and was curious what the best entry point was.

This, my friends, is a tough one. I'm partial to the third album (Dirty Black Summer + Sistinas + H.R. Giger cover = badassery) but the first two have grown on me quite a bit.

In the end, I recommended "Danzig II: Lucifuge"--it has the most overt roots/blues element that I know my brother will like.

Here's one of my favorite cuts from that album--the kick-starter:

Danzig - Long Way Back from Hell
(From the album "Danzig II: Lucifuge," 1990)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgIlPOPysMM

Nothing Left to Lose

2009-07-30T08:28:00.000-07:00

I had a strange case of déjà vu last night.

My girlfriend recently returned from Mexico with a male/female pair of Day of the Dead figurines--handcrafted, delicate, and lovingly detailed.

Later on, I was walking past the dining room and the pair seemingly jumped out at me. I remembered another time where the exact same objects had stood there, and then they were packed away in a dresser.

No such two exist.

To mark this strange blip on my radar, I've chosen the following as my song of the day:

Wipers - Nothing Left to Lose
(From the album "Land of the Lost," 1986)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDVkppJo5Jo

Cuckoo

2009-07-29T08:54:00.000-07:00

I wish crazy felt this good ...

The Monks - Cuckoo
(From the album "Black Monk Time," 1966)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9TjDxhSESE

I Fought the Law

2009-07-28T10:19:00.000-07:00

M.S. is taking his bar exam today. I thought this song would be fitting ... "M" vs. "Law" ... FIGHT! FIGHT!

Dead Kennedys - I Fought the Law
(From the album "Give Me Convenience or Give Me Death," 1987)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbCqwl2geQg

Mantooth

2009-07-24T08:19:00.000-07:00

A curious man with a great sense of humor, Rhett Butler has been billed as "the Obsessive-Compulsive Guitarist."

This year he self-released "The Atlantis Assignment," including a very affecting paragraph in his liner notes. Speaking of his brother, Ashley, he writes:

Most Rhett Butler supporters know well the story of my brother's life long fight with cancer ... Because of his impairments, Ashley relies on his family to help realize his life goals. These tasks most often fall to me as siblings are equals. The goals are broken down into small, never ending, manageable tasks that we call assignments ... no matter how large or small the assignment is, it must be accomplished so the next one can take it's place. He is relentless in his pursuits. It is a great pleasure and a great burden.

According to his website, http://www.rhettbutler.org, "As his primary antidote against the pain and fear [OCD] that he felt through his brother's bouts with cancer, Rhett retreated into the instrument [guitar]." What resulted is simultaneously complex and beautiful.

With combined empathy for Rhett's disorder and respect for his commitment to his brother, I'm pleased to offer up this song for today's listen.

Rhett Butler - Mantooth
(From the album "The Atlantis Assignment," 2009)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkfkQcR7bUw

Little Sister

2009-07-23T09:49:00.001-07:00

More cowbell (is here)!

Queens of the Stone Age - Little Sister
(From the album "Lullabies to Paralyze," 2005)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_c-4krcj9JI

Inked in Blood

2009-07-22T11:30:00.001-07:00

I realize that most, if not all, readers of this blog don't listen to extreme metal.

Perhaps, then, it is selfish for me to choose exactly that for today's song of the day.

Oh well. Isn't that what metal is all about? Embracing the baser, primal side of our humanity?

At any rate, here it is--a sinister onslaught of dark symphonic sound:

Sigh - Inked in Blood
(From the album "Hangman's Hymn," 2007)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQJu3noyLIY

Giant Steps

2009-07-20T10:09:00.000-07:00

A perfect pick-me-up for a Monday morning. Better than Folgers!

John Coltrane - Giant Steps
(From the album "Giant Steps," 1959)

Green to Me

2009-07-19T13:44:00.001-07:00

No rhyme or reason to today's entry--I just felt like it.

Hum - Green to Me
(From the album "Downward Is Heavenward," 1997)

God Only Knows

2009-07-18T22:28:00.000-07:00

Brian Wilson's story epitomizes the "rise and fall" of a tragic hero.

Together with the other Beach Boys, he realized incredible commercial and artistic success--the latter especially, since he was the principal songwriter of the group.

His undisputed career peak was the album "Pet Sounds" in 1966, followed by the single "Good Vibrations" (released later that year). Although, G.V. took months to record and more than $50,000 to produce, it was Wilson's zenith point--pop sophistication at its finest ... with a cello and theramin to boot.

His story turns grim afterward.

Wilson suffered from schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type, which manifested itself through depression, paranoia, and voices. He consequently left his next ambition, Smile, unfinished, and retreated into the care of his personal doctor ... living in a life and environment completely created and controlled for his medical and mental benefit.

Following the path of a tragic hero, Wilson's journey should have ended there. Fortunately for him, his family, and his fanbase, it didn't.

Wilson returned, resurrected Smile, and transitioned the songs into a functioning live performance and studio album. Even more impressive, the heralded release of "SMiLE" marked a "re-rise" for Wilson--as he accomplished the greatest feat of his life ... overcoming the wall that spiraled him down into his own personal hell.

This song of the day celebrates Brian's triumph.

The Beach Boys - God Only Knows
(From the album "Pet Sounds," 1966)

The Godfather [Theme]

2009-07-17T09:47:00.000-07:00

Originally titled "The Godfather Waltz" and found on the 1972 film's soundtrack, this theme song helped define a standard in modern-day moviemaking. Considered the most important and relevant American film since Citizen Kane, Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather set a new bar from which all other pictures would be judged.

Although the original theme associated well with Coppola's vision, it wasn't until 2001 and Fantômas' reinterpretation that the true genius was revealed and Michael's (Pacino's) transformation encapsulated ...

Fantômas - The Godfather [Theme]
(From the album "The Director's Cut," 2001)

Ol' 55

2009-07-16T10:16:00.000-07:00

This song is for A.R., S.F., and T.M.

Safe travels.

Tom Waits - Ol' 55
(From the album "Closing Time," 1973)

Reckoning

2009-07-15T11:38:00.000-07:00

Pour some sugar on me(talcore).
.
. .
. . .
. . . .
. . . . .
. . . . . .
. . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . .
Killswitch Engage - Reckoning
(From the album "Killswitch Engage," 2009)

Could You Be the One?

2009-07-14T09:47:00.001-07:00

Hüsker Dü Factoids:

Named after a board game
Formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Pioneered hardcore pop
Had two primary songwriters, Bob Mould and Grant Hart
Recorded and mixed the double album Zen Arcade “within 85 hours” and it “consists almost entirely of first takes” (allmusic.com)
Played the following song of the day live on the Joan Rivers Show

Hüsker Dü - Could You Be the One?
(From the album “Warehouse: Songs and Stories,” 1987)

Husker Du - Could You Be The One

Rab | MySpace Video

No Surprises

2009-07-13T10:03:00.001-07:00

Sometimes I imagine myself as a prisoner of war trying to subsist from day to day.

Then I think of this song. One that I know well, that I can hum the music to and sing in my head--one that, although it embraces death, makes me want to live.

Radiohead - No Surprises
(From the album "OK Computer," 1997)

Poison

2009-07-01T09:21:00.000-07:00

The year was 1990.

Yours Truly was sportin' his sole pair of Z. Cavaricci's--brown ... yes, brown.

Hip enough, but YT also had a wedge (haircut) and a Hypercolor shirt to boot.

Man, I was cool--but still not as cool as these New Jack Swing kings:

Bell Biv Devoe - Poison
(From the album "Poison," 1990)

Lifeline

2009-06-30T08:56:00.000-07:00

Simply put, this song is me.

Jesu - Lifeline
(From the EP "Lifeline," 2007)

Smash It Up (Parts 1 and 2)

2009-06-29T11:39:00.000-07:00

Okay, I admit it. Yes ... I missed a song of the day.

The run is over; no perfect attendance for this guy. I'm a bad, bad blogger!

I plan to make it up to you, though. Just give me another chance!

Today's song is a two-parter, one part to make up for my shameful stumble and the other part as my regular daily contribution.

It's the signature song of the oft-overlooked group of punk progenitors: The Damned.

Without further adieu, it's time to

SMASH IT UP, YEAH!

The Damned - Smash It Up (Parts 1 and 2)
[From the album "Machine Gun Etiquette," 1979]

Still Remains

2009-06-27T21:00:00.000-07:00

Para todos los fans de STP por ahí, esta canción es para ti ...

Stone Temple Pilots - Still Remains
(Del álbum "Purple," 1994)

Smooth Criminal

2009-06-26T14:33:00.000-07:00

As most of you know, Michael Jackson died yesterday from cardiac arrest at the age of 50.

Since everyone seems to have an opinion about him, I thought I'd weigh in with my own two cents.

In my opinion, the man obviously had a real problem distinguishing between what was appropriate for childhood behavior versus adult behavior, just as he struggled between his fantasy world and the real world.

Best-case scenario: Michael made poor choices regarding interactions with children. Even if he didn't know better before, the accusations should have clued him in to public opinion and standards.

Worst-case scenario: Michael was an overgrown child in a man's body--with an adult's sexuality. This paradox contributed to sexual encounters with children, and he paid the price (public humiliation and an untimely death) he deserved.

Personally, I believe the former case.

With that said, I sympathize--and would like to focus on his contributions to music and popular culture.

His zenith point, for me, was the following song: Smooth Criminal. It epitomized everything about Jackson--whether it be the suggestive title, the top-notch production, the expert vocal dynamics, or the amazingly choreographed music video.

Enjoy, and, Michael Jackson, rest in peace.

Michael Jackson - Smooth Criminal
(From the album "Bad," 1987)

Happy Song

2009-06-25T15:06:00.001-07:00

It finally rained! Time to do the happy dance ...

The Nixons - Happy Song
(From the album "Foma," 1995)

Song to the Siren

2009-06-24T08:46:00.000-07:00

This morning my company had a meeting (of departmental representatives) to vote on our insurance plan for next year.

Although I'm tempted to bore you with the details--not really--my idea is to open up today's song of the day to a vote. I'll offer up two versions of one of my favorite songs, and I'll leave it in your hands to decide which one is a better interpretation.

The song of choice is

Song to the Siren

Originally by: Tim Buckley ("Starsailor," 1970)

Covered by: This Mortal Coil ("It'll End in Tears," 1984)

Feel free to leave a comment with your preference!

Symptom of the Universe

2009-06-23T09:07:00.000-07:00

My symptoms:

1. Sore throat
2. Upset stomach
3. Sour disposition

Sabbath's symptom:

Black Sabbath - Symptom of the Universe
(From the album "Sabotage," 1975)

Molto Allegro

2009-06-22T09:25:00.000-07:00

Yar! If me brain be feelin' twitchy, this here sailor be lookin' fer a smidgeon o' the ole classical fer relief. Beethoven be a bit like a cannonball up the ole hearin' canal--nar!!--but the Mozart be makin' me feel right as the summer rain cleanin' the birdshit off me fine vessel. Yar, yar!

Mozart - Symphony #40 in G Minor, K 550 - 1. Molto Allegro

Daddy Played the Banjo

2009-06-21T21:04:00.000-07:00

Today's post won't be very long. It was a great day spent with my dad, and ranks up there as one of the best Father's Days we've ever had with him.

As far as a gift goes, Aaron and I thought the new Steve Martin recording would be right up his alley. Martin wrote 14 of the 15 tracks, and plays one heck of a banjo.

Here's the lead track, which I find particularly appropriate:

Steve Martin - Daddy Played the Banjo
(From the album "The Crow: New Songs for the Five-String Banjo," 2009)

Happy Father's Day, Papa.

Up on the Sun

2009-06-20T11:46:00.000-07:00

The Meat Puppets will always have a special place in music for me.

Nirvana Unplugged, Backwater; these performances soundtracked my freshman high school year. I remember thinking, "I really need to check out this 'II' album," but I never managed to get around to it. Maybe I was too distracted by "Purple"--STP was soaking up a lot of minutes back in those days. :)

However it happened, I failed to truly immerse myself with the Puppets, and their catalog remained a mystery to me.

It wasn't until I finished college and began my first professional job that I noticed the Rykodisc reissues of both "II" and "Up on the Sun" on Amazon and thought, "Why not? I've got money now. Might as well see what the fuss is about."

So I bought them, got them, opened them up, and listened.

Oh (me) why didn't I listen to my gut back in '94!?

These recordings border on sublime--especially their 1985 classic "Up on the Sun."

In the spirit of these musical touchstones, and to commemorate their Austin homecoming show this evening, I've selected the following track as my Brothers Meat treat for you all:

Meat Puppets - Up on the Sun
(From the album "Up on the Sun," 1985)

Eat Meat!

Bizarre Love Triangle

2009-06-19T10:08:00.000-07:00

So this is my dilemma:

I personally love New Order. My friend, on the other hand, HATES New Order--with a passion.

To add to this quandary, said friend's musical taste is virtually dead right every time. He's turned me on to countless gems and is somewhat of a connoisseur of the unique and the bizarre(ly good).

So, with that in mind, I'm torn between listening to my friend's better judgment and following my own subjective impression. It's the classic "head versus heart" conflict.

Sides have been taken. The line has been drawn and the bell has rung. Which one of these would-be warriors will win?

All it takes to decide is one spin of this song:

New Order - Bizarre Love Triangle
(From the album "Brotherhood," 1986)

The stress immediately subsides and the answer materializes.

New Order is brilliant. And this song is brilliant. My friend; poor, sad bastard; is epicly mistaken, and I bask in the comfort that: "I am right."

HEH-HEH-HE-HEH-HEH! NA-NA-NE-NA-NA!

The Space For This

2009-06-18T07:49:00.000-07:00

There's nothing like the smell of sweet technical death fusion in the morning ...

Cynic - The Space For This
(From the album "Traced in Air," 2008)

Everybody Needs Somebody to Love

2009-06-17T15:31:00.000-07:00

Maybe I'm just getting older, but sometimes I wonder: If I had kids one day, what kind of music would I play for them? What might soothe an infant, or compel a 3-year-old to get up and dance?

Mozart, The Beach Boys, Motown records--some solid starts, but my guess is some trial and error would be involved.

However, the Wicked Wilson is a definite.

Wilson Pickett - Everybody Needs Somebody to Love
(From the album "The Wicked Pickett," 1966)

A live cut perfect for a young cat (sportin' some shades) to get in touch with his soul side.

Yeah. Dig it, man--err, kid.

Somebody's Crying

2009-06-16T13:48:00.000-07:00

Chris Isaak - Somebody's Crying
(From the album "Forever Blue," 1995)

One might make the claim that my fandom of Chris Isaak makes me a wuss.

Point taken.

But if you think about it, Isaak is really just an updated version of Roy Orbison. Orbison is cool.

So if Like + Isaak = Wuss and Like + Orbison = Cool, where do I fall?

Mull that one over, and enjoy the sounds:

Unsung

2009-06-15T23:53:00.000-07:00

Today was a long one. I logged in about 15 hours of editing time--now my brain is officially scrambled.

Since each precious brain cell still remaining is important to me, I'll make this brief (yes, even shorter than my Ramones post).

Song of the Day ... number 5 ...

Helmet - Unsung
(From the album "Meantime," 1992)

Lock yourself into the ascending groove, and then nod your way through the stop-start unity of guitar, bass, and drum.

There. Sung.

Paperback Bible

2009-06-14T18:12:00.000-07:00

I first heard Lambchop when I was living in Denton, going to journalism school. I stumbled across "Is a Woman" online, and thought the reviews were encouraging.

I remember sitting at my computer and looking out the window as twilight began. The songs relaxed me, and made me feel at peace with the world. Kurt Wagner's rather unique speak singing seemed oddly right matched next to his acoustic orchestral arrangements.

It wasn't until 2006 that I returned to this band, and the lead track--today's song of the day--caught my attention immediately.

Lambchop - Paperback Bible
(From the album "Damaged," 2006)

The amazing thing about this song is how topically ordinary it is. It's just about two people in a pawn shop. That's it.

So why would I care about such a track?

Well, when I listen to it, I imagine a poor married couple standing at the counter. The woman is blind, and the man is gently speaking to her, describing all the things around them and explaining the nature of each one. She smiles from time to time, envisioning these special things--things that he's offering to buy her to make her happy.

This is where the magic is. Listen to the lyrics, so plain and straightforward, and pretend you're there next to the couple--seeing what the man sees. Let the music be the joy the woman feels as her husband paints a beautiful picture out of other people's castaways.

See you later.

Cretin Hop

2009-06-13T12:26:00.000-07:00

Simple, fast, and fun.

Sometimes that's all you need to make a song great, and that's exactly what The Ramones did with this, my third song of the day:

The Ramones - Cretin Hop
(From the album "Rocket to Russia," 1977)

In the spirit of brevity, I'll keep this post short and to the point.

This song is summer to me.

I ran across it last year while watching a documentary of the band--part of the footage was from a sound check at the Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome. They opened up with a short intro then fired off a blistering version of "Cretin Hop." It was punk purity concentrated into two minutes.

Written for their faithful fanbase, this track (for me) encapsulates fun and excitement ... about nothing, everything, love, life. Just jump around to jump around. Be care-free, let things happen.

Isn't that what it's all about anyway?

Check out the infamous sound-check version below:

Ciao for now.

Blind

2009-06-12T10:35:00.000-07:00

Anger and self-confidence have always appeared as an interesting combination in my life. Whether it was a hate-filled view of the world in my mid-teenage years or a bitter resentment for companions I felt wronged me, these two feelings commingled to give me a surety in what I was doing to move forward. Having had these personal experiences, I relate very much to my second song of the day:

Michael Gira - Blind
(From the album "Drainland," 1995)

The music is gorgeously layered. It begins with a slow, acoustic fade-in. A cyclical guitar melody arrives backed by choral moans. Electronic ribbets are all that remain of the battering nihilism of Gira's previous work with Swans. His voice is darkly monotone but strong and reverberates with humanity.

"Blind," in essence, is a story--a story about a young man who subsists off violence and is oblivious to others' pain. Throughout the lyrics, Gira recounts instances with people in need, and the cocky elitism that propels the young man to ignore them and continue down his own arrogant path.

Once the chorus is reached, however, the songwriter turns to self-reflection. He speaks from a mature, learned perspective of how his younger self assumed so much yet was -blind- to everything and everyone else around him.

When the song ends, I always feel like I've learned something priceless: How to rise above my primal self and invest in the life and world around me. It's one of the most cathartic and instructive recordings I've ever come across.

If you'd like to sample the song for yourself, follow the link below.

Until next time.

Up the Down Escalator

2009-06-11T09:48:00.000-07:00

I've toyed around with this idea for awhile and decided to finally sit down and make something out of it.

I've always enjoyed discovering new music and sharing it with the people I'm closest to. In fact, a few friends and I started a music club of sorts about a year ago with the goal of showcasing new and underappreciated albums. It's one of the catalysts behind my posting today.

My goal with this blog is to feature a "song of the day" that I find particularly special or that just makes me appreciate the art of music. If you'd like, I invite you to sit down and enjoy the listen--maybe you'll find something of value or, at the very least, be entertained for a few minutes.

On to the song:

I've decided to kick-start this blog with a song that's one of my most recent favorites.

The Chameleons UK - Up the Down Escalator
(From the album "Script of the Bridge," 1983)

There is something absolutely addictive about this song. It reminds me of an older, artier U2 laced with dream pop flourishes. Allmusic.com calls it an "at once harrowing and thrilling antinuclear/mainstream politics slam," but the musical nature of the song makes me think of a hopeful call to arms, an encouragement to take life in your own hands.

I've shared this song with several people already, and listened to it countless times. It never grows old and always seems to retain its power. Somehow this lifts it above most of the musical landscape for me; it makes it a timeless track.

You can watch an excellent demo video of the song here at YouTube:

Hope you enjoy.