• Old School,  R&B

    Old School Friday

    My geeky music life just got geekier. You know the new iPhone came out today. Well, those of us with “old” iPhone get the 2.0 upgrade gratis, which includes the App Store – which includes a ton of free apps made exclusively for iPhone. The coolest, in my humble opinion? Remote!

    By downloading the free Remote app, I can now control my iTunes from anywhere in the house. I’ve had the Airport Express, which lets me stream my iTunes to any stereo inside or outside my house. So how does Remote enhance the experience? It means when I’m out washing my car in the driveway, and Manilow’s “Mandy” comes blasting through the speakers, I can coyly hit the “Next” button.

    Sweet.

    But that was now and this was then…

    George Clinton – “Do Fries Go With That Shake?”
    [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3fCTrU5qkI 336 278]

    The System – “Don’t Disturb This Groove”
    [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWKKuF9wcDA 336 278]

    Beastie Boys – “Hey Ladies
    [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hy5iQubfV5s 336 278]

  • Friday Five

    Ickmusic’s Friday Five: July 11, 2008

    No-One Does Chicken Like Shuffle.

    Its days like today that test the limits of my ability to stay focused on the work at hand. Its 77°F, 50% humidity, sunny and the great outdoors (not to mention the pool) is beckoning and I’m doing my best to block it out. Thankfully I’ve got the Friday Five to keep my attention focused for the next little bit. Last week we celebrated the fourth with a themed playlist and the Fivers represented with their patriotic best. And since the playlist concept seemed to really spark some interesting tracks, here’s a playlist for this Friday:

    Match ANY of the following conditions

    NAME contains Sunny
    NAME contains Beautiful
    NAME contains Warm
    NAME contains Summer
    NAME contains Day
    NAME contains Weekend

    This called up a staggering number of tracks for me to shuffle through!

    For those who have not joined in the Five, here’s the scoop: … I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes and then show you my five with some words for each track.

    Then it’s your turn! You can play along with the themed playlist or just share the first five of your shuffle, either way the fun is in playing musical voyeur for the day.

    That said…

    Here are this week’s tracks:

    1. Zwan – Endless Summer (from Mary Star of the Sea)

    One of the few Billy Corgan projects that I’ve truly enjoyed since Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, Zwan had a purity to it that could clearly not be sustained with a maniac like Corgan at the helm. It’s a damned shame, really as I truly believe that the combined creative forces of Zwan could have really produced some amazing music together. I would also be remiss if I did not at least mention the beautiful foil of Paz Lenchantin. She somehow balanced Billy‘s nasal falsetto and made it nearly accessible.

    2. The Beatles – Good Day Sunshine (from Revolver)

    Pleasant, I suppose.

    3.  New Order – Blue Monday (from Retro)

    While I can appreciate New Order (and even more so Joy Division) for the influence they have provided to countless bands that I enjoy, I’ve never really been a huge fan of their discography. I certainly enjoy all the hits to no end, but that’s about where it ends.

    4. Prince & The Revolution – The Beautiful Ones (from Purple Finale)

    From the final show of the Purple Rain tour (Orange Bowl, Miami: 7th April 1985), this is nothing short of astounding. The Revolution are as tight as ever and Prince provides a highly charged performance.

    5. Flickerstick – Beautiful (from Welcoming Home the Astronauts)

    One of my favorite records of the past decade, it kills me that these guys never made it the way they deserved. I suppose the dual curse of having been a reality show contest winner and releasing your major label debut on September 11th, 2001 really was too much to overcome. The band has persisted through some line up changes and can still be seen occasionally in and around the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.

    Now, excuse me while I slip outside for a quick walk, yeah that’s it… Tag! You’re it!

  • Blues,  Funk,  Rock

    A Good Week for Tunes in Telluride: Steve Earle, Allison Moorer, Junior Brown, and Jonny Lang

    my week in telluride

    Top Left: Steve Earle works his dobro hard for the Sheridan Opera House crowd.
    Top Right: Jonny Lang brings the blues in Mountain Village.
    Bottom Left: Junior Brown rocks his guitar / lap-steel hybrid in Mountain Village.
    Bottom Right: I ponder life’s great questions with a Franziskaner in hand.

    Yes, folks, life was sweet last week. My wife and I plopped the kids into the truck and drove the 9 hours from the Phoenix area to the beautiful San Juan Mountains of southwest Colorado. We met up with my parents, my two brothers and their families for some 4th of July fun in Telluride, Colorado.

    As you can see, the music gods were smiling on me during my vacation. Among the hiking, dining, and fly fishing (3 times, 1 brown trout, and a ton of fun) were these three great events that kept the Ickmusic vibe alive….

  • Rock n' Folk

    Me & My Lover

    The monsoons are rollin’ in. Lightning is flashing, thunder is rumbling. And this song is the perfect accompaniment. Slow, calm, primal, building up to a ferocity.

    Matthew RyanMe & My Lover (mp3)

    Buy East Autumn Grin

  • Rock

    Teddy’s Summertime Jams

    Folks, I am back from a nice long week in the mountains of Colorado, I am refreshed, and I am inspired to blast out some quality posts for you.

    First up, the good folks at Shore Fire have offered up this mp3 from Teddy Thompson’s great new record, A Piece of What You Need. The album is full of smart, catchy melodies – some of them are so well written & arranged, they seem instantly familiar. Do me a favor, after listening to the tune below, go to Teddy’s MySpace page and listen to “Don’t Know What I Was Thinking”, another of my favorites from the album.

    Both of these songs have a special quality that only a very talented songwriter can conjure up: one that makes the listener want to sing along, even during the first listen. Both songs connect on some sensory level that make them recognizable – and somehow perfect for the season – inspired, beaming with light, and full of possibility.

    Teddy ThompsonIn My Arms (mp3)

    Buy A Piece of What You Need…

  • Rock

    Go, Leave (and i’ll be back soon)

    I’m still in vacation mode, so apologies for the scarcity in posts from yours truly. It’s been a great few days for music here in Telluride. This week, I saw Junior Brown, Steve Earle & Allison Moorer, and Jonny Lang and his great band. Brown and Lang were both f-r-e-e too… can’t beat that.

    I’ll be back in full-on wild man post mode soon, but until then, listen to my personal highlight of Allison’s great set at Telluride’s Sheridan Opera House. Great tune, written by Kate McGarrigle (Rufus & Martha Wainwright’s mama), and as Allison mentioned, it just might tear your heard right out of your chest.

  • Friday Five

    Ickmusic’s Friday Five: July 4, 2008

    Feel The Raw Naked Shuffle Of The Road.

    Today is the Fourth of July, better known in the United States as Independence Day, commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain.

    This also means many of you will be off today and enjoying time with your friends and families, but we here at Ickmusic are dedicated to ensuring our readers have their Friday Five fix. In spirit of the holiday I’ve cooked up this playlist to get some patriotic tunes going for the days activities.

    Match ANY of the following conditions

    NAME contains Independence
    NAME contains U.S.A.
    NAME contains America
    NAME contains Fourth
    NAME contains July
    NAME contains Declaration

    This pulled up a few more tracks than I suspected it might. I hit the shuffle and away we go!

    For those of you reading this for the first time, here’s how it works… I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes and then show you my five with some words for each track.

    Then it’s your turn!

    Here are this week’s tracks:

    1. Bruce Springsteen – Born in the U.S.A. (from Greatest Hits)

    This song, along with “Glory Days”, is to me the epitome of summer songs. It stands beside Creedence Clearwater Revival‘s “Fortunate Son” and John Mellencamp‘s “Jack and Diane” as true American Standards. I could go on, but I’m just going to enjoy listening to the rest of the track.

    2. Frank Zappa – Food Gathering in Post-Industrial America, 1992 (from The Yellow Shark)

    As performed by Ensemble Modern, this is perhaps one of Frank’s most challenging works. I didn’t come to truly appreciate the depth of this record until much later in life. And in the spirit of the day there is something to be said of Frank’s ardent support of the First Amendment and the fight against censorship of any sort.

    3. Jimmy Eat World – Bleed American (from Bleed American)

    I actually purchased this record in its pre-9/11 configuration (my copy is titled Bleed American as opposed to the self-titled change) and had been a JEW fan for a few years prior. I still think this song is underrated and had it come out in a different time it would have been a huge single.

    4. Ani DiFranco – Independence Day (from Little Plastic Castle)

    I don’t think my love of the little folk singer has come up before. I’m a huge fan.

    5. Weezer – Surf Wax America (from Weezer)

    What a great send off into the holiday weekend! My 10 year old has recently discovered early Weezer (thanks to Guitar Hero) so I’ve been listening to the Blue Album and Pinkerton quite a bit lately.

    So what’s not letting you go quietly into the night?

  • Miscellaneous

    Tunes in Telluride

    telluride

    It’s summer time in Arizona, which means it’s high time to hightail it out of town. This week finds me back in one of my favorite places on God’s green earth – Telluride, Colorado. I snapped the pic above this afternoon near the Nelly Mine, up in the San Juan Mountains at about 11,200 feet. The hike kicked my ass, but as you can see, there’s a lot around to inspire and motivate a weary hiker.

    I felt fortunate too that the song bouncing around my head today wasn’t one of the selections from ’30 Songs for Toddlers’ that played 3-4 times on the drive up from Phoenix. Nope, it was this Band of Horses song – a tune that has been getting more air time than any lately. Ben Bridwell – voice from the heavens. Just beautiful. Listen to it all.

    Nice eh?

    The next couple of nights are good nights for music here in Telluride. Tomorrow night, it’s Junior Brown, who’s playing a free concert up in Telluride Mountain Village.

    Then there’s Thursday night. I’ll be at the Sheridan Opera House, seated in front of the stage (with my wife and two brothers) at a cocktail table, taking in an evening with Steve Earle and Allison Moorer.

    Yes, life is good.

  • Rock,  Video

    Get Well LeRoi!

    [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQqjzt8RIrA 425 344]
    Dave Matthews Band – Anyone Seen the Bridge > Spoon (2007-03-29 Chula Vista)

    On Sunday LeRoi Moore (saxophonist with the Dave Matthews Band) was seriously injured in an ATV accident on his farm in Charlottesville, Virginia. The band posted the following today:

    LeRoi’s condition has been upgraded from serious to fair.  We would like to thank everyone for the generous outpouring of well wishes and support that LeRoi has received.  To send an email/ecard directly to LeRoi at the UVA hospital, please click here.  Mail may also be sent to LeRoi at the following address:  Post Office Box 1467, Charlottesville, VA  22902 or to fanmail@davematthewsband.com.

    Our thoughts go out to wishing LeRoi a speedy and complete recovery.