Greg Brown’s Eugene
Boy, does this song hit me juust in the right place on so many levels. Greg’s low-down baritone narrative, and the purely American imagery his lyrics evoke, make me close my eyes, sit back, and just listen. The detailed vignettes he weaves together in this song are wildly entertaining, funny, thought provoking, and not without a hint of bittersweet sadness.
This song is about traveling this great country, and the freedom and independence a person can find in the outdoors. A song about fly fishing. A song about overcoming “the blandification of our whole situation.” A song about how “sometime you gottta go not look for nothin’.”
It’s a song that’s about going away from civilization and rediscovering this world, reminding yourself that when all the ugliness of mankind is stripped away, it’s a staggeringly beautiful world we live in.
It’s a song that makes me want to go back to the mountains of southwest Colorado and go fly fishing with my dad.
Greg Brown – Eugene (mp3)
Buy
Ickmusic’s Friday Five: October 17, 2008
The days are getting noticeably shorter and the foliage here in New England has sprung to life with its blazing colors as autumn kicks into full gear. Creating a soundtrack to excursions around the area usually involves hours of scouring through the collection looking for the perfect tunes to provide a backdrop to the visuals. This also means I’m ready to take a break and let the shuffle drive.
Last week the shuffle racked up some great commentary from the usual crowd and a new face or two. For those who have not joined in the Five, here’s how it works: … I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes and share my five with a bit of insight for each track.
Then it’s your turn! Just share the first five random track of your shuffle in the comments and see what your fellow readers are listening to as well.
Here are this week’s tracks:
1. Tesla – Love Song (mp3) (from Time’s Makin’ Changes: The Best of Tesla)
This one showed up on last week’s Chartburn over at Popdose where it was promptly skewered. And while I may agree with some of the commentary (specifically the theory about the bands tour bus) I have to say that in it’s time this song f*cking ruled. I still to this day play the intro bit anytime I get my hands on a 12-string guitar.
2. Hammers of Misfortune – The August Engine Part 1 (from The August Engine)
The Hammers of Misfortune are one of two current generation heavy metal bands that I actually enjoy (the other being The Lord Weird Slough Feg, which shares a lead singer with the Hammers) and can listen to for more than a few minutes. Smart and straight forward and heavy as hell if you are a fan of classic heavy metal (Sabbath, Early Maiden, Judas Priest) I highly recommend checking out these two groups.
3. Earth, Wind & Fire – Wait (from I Am)
Who can resist a swinging ballad in 6/8 time? Seriously, this is by the numbers awesomeness. Huge 70’s brass section, vocal harmonies for days and a sickly sweet sentiment makes this a classic.
4. Foo Fighters – My Hero (from The Colour and the Shape)
Credit: WFMU’s Beware of the BlogWait, you mean to tell me that this song isn’t’ about presidential hopeful John McCain? Dave Grohl is my hero.
5. Band of Horses – Ode to the LRC (mp3) (from 2007-09-06: KCRW Morning Becomes Eclectic)
From the audio associated with the video that Pete shared a couple of weeks back. It astounds me how perfectly they pull off the dynamic of the original track from my top record of 2007, Cease to Begin. I have to echo Pete’s gushing man-love for this band.
So what has got you shuffling towards the weekend?
100 Words on “Rattlin’ Bones”
There is a misnomer that the sugar laden pop with a twang that passes for country music these days is the real deal but leave it to a duo from far across the pond to serve up a reminder of what ‘real’ country sounds like. Husband and wife duo Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson deliver stunning vocal harmonies from the shuffle of “Sweetest Waste of Time” to the wistful “Wildflower” there is an honesty in both the recoding and material that is hard to deny. The title cut is scathing dirge which I implore all of you to check out.Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson – Rattlin’ Bones (MP3)
Purchase Rattlin’ Bones: Amazon | iTunes
Links: Official Site | on Last.fm | on MySpace
One Step Up
This album (Tunnel of Love) and this song are like a comfortable old blanket to me.
“One Step Up”.
Just because.Review: Jason Mraz at Radio City Music Hall
Despite listening to him since his days at Java Joes, Friday night was my first experience seeing Jason Mraz live. I was not alone in my first experience as it was Mr. A-Z’s first show at the legendary Radio City Music Hall, a that fact did not seem lost on him as he pulled out all the stops for what was one of the most entertaining and memorable shows I’ve attended in the last few years.
The evening started with Irish chanteuse Lisa Hannigan. I was really only familiar with her in the context of her work with Damien Rice and really enjoyed her solo set. With a 4 piece band of multi-instrumentalists to back her up, she performed a selection from her debut Sea Sew. “An Ocean and a Rock” was simply beautiful and captivating. “Lille” was delicate and lovely, which seems to be the essence of Miss Hannigan. I will definitely be picking up the record based on this performance.
After a brief intermission it was time for Mraz. The night started with the full 7 piece band taking the stage for “Make it Mine” the lead track from his latest release We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. Wasting no time, the band segued directly into a fresh (and lively) take on Mraz’s first hit “The Remedy”. This was the first of many times that the crowd would fill the hallowed hall with their voices in unison with Jason and he wasted no time in using it to his musical devices and creating a live mash up with the ladies singing the chorus and the boys (what few were in attendance) layering Oasis‘s hit “Wonderwall” over top to great effect.
The band slowly began to recede during “If It Kills Me” and a quiet “You & I Both” and whittled down to the core trio of Ian Sheridan, Toca Rivera and Mraz for the stark and utterly heartbreaking “A Beautiful Mess”. Sheridan even broke out the stand up bass for the occasion bringing to mind the small club feel and making this one of the moments that Jason managed to make Radio City seem like an intimate club for five minutes. This feel continued with the simple and lovely “Life Is Wonderful”.
The rest of the band returned as well as four additional microphones as the back drop took on a decidedly religious slant. It was clear that it was time to go to church! “Live High” came to a grand crescendo with the Broadway Inspirational Voices choir joining in to bring the house down. The choir stayed on for an uplifting rendition of “Oh! Happy Day”. I should mention here that over the band, the crowd, and the choir Jason maintained a presence and a quality of voice that was astounding.
“Dynamo of Volition” brought the crowd to it’s feet for some well choreographed dance moves. It’s interesting to see 5,000 happy fools raising the roof in unison at Radio City. The crowd stayed on its feet for the remainder of the show as Jason kicked into “I’m Yours” to a crowd ready to make a joyful sound. I’ll let the video do the talking on this one.
After and incredibly short encore break Mraz brought Lisa Hannigan back out to play Colbie Caillat’s part in the duet “Lucky” and from there it was non-stop from the rave up of “Build Me Up, Buttercup” to the beautiful finale of “Song for a Friend” the significance of how grand a night it was long on nobody in the room. This was a perfect cap to the concert season and for my wife and I a beautiful way to celebrate our first year of marriage.
Pre-Order A Thousand Things: MusicToday
See the full setlist and the rest of the tour dates after the jump.
AC/DC DVD – Let There Be Free Stuff
I’m giving away a brand spankin’ new copy of AC/DC‘s new DVD release ‘No Bull: The Director’s Cut‘. It’s a 1996 concert from a bullring in Madrid, Spain – Plaza De Toro De Las Ventas. I lived in Madrid when I was a kid, and I’m pretty sure I went to a bullfight there (about 21 years prior to this show). I’ll have to ask my mom.
I caught this on Palladium HD channel a few weeks back, and, well, it’s pretty sweet if you like to rock out with AC/DC once in a while, and really, who doesn’t?
So leave a comment below to throw your hat in the (bull)ring (*rimshot*).
You know how I love my haikus and my limericks in situations like this, but I’ll leave it up to you. Leave the typed equivalent of a belch if you want. Or maybe a link to a funny Family Guy episode. You decide.
The winner will be announced in a week. Good luck!
Check out the Trailer | Buy It
ACL Highlight: Rodney Crowell
The first full set I caught at this year’s Austin City Limits festival was Rodney Crowell. It was 12:30 in the afternoon on Friday. Maybe it was the combination of a sunny day, a cold beer, good friends, and the opening day of a great music festival in Austin, but Crowell’s set was a thing of beauty.
Crowell, accompanied only by Will Kimbrough on guitar, and Jenny Scheinman on violin, delighted the crowd with some great tunes. Thing is, Rodney is such a great storyteller, he has a way of keeping you on the edge of your seat, anticipating where the story is going next. All the while, these stories are embedded in the sorts of wonderful, rootsy melodies that Crowell has been creating for decades.
There were a few highlights for me. First was Scheinman on violin, who got to showcase her stuff in her own tune, and launched into a killer violin solo – yes killer violin solo – on “Wandering Boy”, also with some great interplay with Crowell’s acoustic…the ending violin strokes had the entire crowd entranced.
Crowell’s “Earthbound” was another favorite, but it was two sublime new ones that stood out this afternoon… consider the first verse of the closing song, “Closer to Heaven”…
I don’t like humus
I hate long lines
Nosy neighbours and the nation blind
Chirpy news anchors alter my mood
I’m offended by buzz words
Like awesome and dude
I look like a trainwreck
I feel like a blob
Till you get to know me
You may think I’m a snob
But I’m closer to heaven
Than I’ve ever beenIt’s lyrics like these interwoven in a beatiful song that is the magic of Rodney Crowell.
The other song that affected me was “Moving Work of Art”. It has that Townes Van Zandt / Steve Earle finger pickin’ ballad feel (both Townes and Earle spent a lot of time with Rodney back in the day) – and the love-lost lyrics hit you right where it hurts…
Time is jammed and flying fast
the brakes are bad and the potholes rough
I’m out here running from the past
What we had was not enough
Heard she just touched down in Hollywood
And her friends all say she’s looking good
I saw it coming from the start
She’s a moving work of artBeautiful stuff. The studio version is great, but doesn’t hold a candle to seeing and hearing Rodney perform the song live. He’s out on the road supporting his latest record, Sex and Gasoline (awesome cover!). Rodney Crowell is one of those underrated living legends, and I recommend the show…
Rodney Crowell – Moving Work of Art (mp3)
Rodney Crowell – Earthbound (mp3)
From Fate’s Right Hand
Links: Official Site | MySpace
Set List
Austin City Limits Music Festival, September 26, 2008The Rise and Fall of Intelligent Design
I Want You #35
Moving Work of Art
Sex & Gasoline
Earthbound
U Don’t Know How Much I Hate U
I Wish It Would Rain
Wandering Boy
Untitled Julie Scheinman Cover
Fate’s Right Hand
Closer to HeavenACL Highlight: Gogol Bordello
What a fun &%#$ band! High energy bohemian gypsy maniacs.
Gogol Bordello was high on my list of must-see acts at the ACL festival a couple weeks ago. Like a lot of people, I first came to know of them during Madonna’s performance at Live Earth last summer (7/7/07). She brought guitarist and lead singer Eugene Hütz and violinist Sergey Ryabtsev out to join her for “La Isla Bonita”. If you were able to ignore Madge’s annoying backup dancers, you got a glimpse of these two eccentrics, and they spurred you into finding out more about them.
The original members of Gogol Bordello met at a Russian wedding in Vermont in 1997. From there, they played up and down the isle of Manhattan and, in the process, got banned from the Mercury Lounge, CB/GB, Fez and the Bowery Ballroom for “being too over the mothefucking top”.
They set up residence at a performance art space called PIZDETZ, on the lower east side. Eventually, they ended up at Menahata, a Bulgarian bar, also on the lower east side, where their weekly gig. ‘DRINK LOCALLY! FUCK GLOBALLY!’, put them through the roof, and turned Menahata into the CBGB of the Gypsy Punk scene.
A couple months before ACL, I picked up Gypsy Punks: Underdog World Strike, their second album. The album, coupled with some good YouTube festival footage, got me primed for the show. On Friday afternoon at 4:30, the opening day of ACL, Gogol Bordello took the AT&T stage, and Entertainment ensued.
I could watch frontman Eugene Hütz all damn day – such manic energy, and that great Eastern European accent flavoring his lyrics. But then there’s the seven others, including Sergey on violin, an accordion player, and Elizabeth and Pamela, the two crazy-sexy dancers who leaped and bounded to all ends of the stage.
The ACL program put it best: if you like the Clash, the Pogues, and the Gypsy Kings, then you’re in for a treat. They tour all over the world now, so get out and see ’em!
Here are a couple of my (and my two daughters’) favorites:
Gogol Bordello – I Would Never Wanna Be Young Again (mp3)
Gogol Bordello – 60 Revolutions
ACL Set List – 9/26/08
Ultimate
Sally
Not A Crime
Supertheory Of Supereverything
Wonderlust King
Mishto!
Tribal Connection
60 Revolutions
American Wedding
Start Wearing Purple
Think Locally, F’ck GloballyVisit: Gogol Bordello’s Official Site | MySpace
Check out a couple Gogol Bordello albums…
Ickmusic’s Friday Five: October 10, 2008
This week was almost the first Five-less week since the inception of the shuffle happy column. I’m a bit under the weather this week and am saving up my energy to go and see Jason Mraz tonight. Rather than cancel the Five, here’s a quick five (with two downloadable tracks this week!) as I’m resting up.
For those who have not joined in the Five, here’s how it works: … I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes and share my five with a bit of insight for each track.
Then it’s your turn! Just share the first five random track of your shuffle in the comments and see what your fellow readers are listening to as well.
Here are this week’s tracks:
1. The Beach Boys – Little Deuce Coup (from The Platinum Collection)
Not my favorite
2. Donny Hathaway – Misty (from Everything Is Everything)
A torch song from the master, I love everything about this record.
3. Apollonia 6 – Sex Shooter (mp3) (from Apollonia 6)
Let’s see some action, let’s have some asses wiggling, I want some perfection. Whawhak!
4. Dink – Green Mind (mp3) (from Dink)
I used to spin this one weekly as part of my “Alternative Night” DJ set.
5. Van Halen – Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love (from Van Halen)
One of the most recognizable riffs in the history of Rock n’ Roll.
So what’s making you feel better this week?
In Dreams
Deep within me, in my register of perfectly constructed love songs, Roy Orbison’s “In Dreams” ranks right near the top. In my four decades on earth, very few songs have managed to so profoundly move me, to elicit such emotion, as “In Dreams”.
The song is such a rich, unique tapestry of sounds – shifting from one distinct section to the next – that there’s something new to appreciate with each listen. It’s no accident. Most Western pop songs follow a relatively similar structure: verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, verse, chorus. When Orbison was inspired to write “In Dreams”, he bucked the trend, writing five completely unique elements. Where most songs followed, ABABCAB, “In Dreams” was ABCDE.
“A candy-colored clown…”
“I close my eyes…”
“In dreams I walk with you…”
“But just before the dawn…”
“It’s too bad that all these things…”All are different, and each builds exponentially in intensity. Orbison starts the song in a calm, reflective, low voice. By the grand finale – “Only in dreams, in beautiful dreams” – it’s a plaintive and desperate wail, in that gorgeous signature falsetto.
Purists will probably scoff at this, but I discovered the song not by hearing the 1963 original, but by hearing the T-Bone Burnett and David Lynch produced version that was recorded in 1987, and released on In Dreams – The Greatest Hits. The song had sort of a rebirth in 1986, when it was prominently featured in Lynch’s Blue Velvet, with Dean Stockwell’s creepy sing-along. The remake is the version I fell in love with, and the version I still listen to. The are some nuances that make it different from the original, and though I love both versions, I always come back to the newer version I originally fell in love with. I’ll take the criticism.
This is a song made for the broken hearted, the lovesick, the downtrodden. This is a song that almost makes you wish your heart were broken again, just to truly relate to the song again! But it remains powerful, even for the happily wed like me. Maybe because a lot of music is about reminiscing, and it brings me back to those times I could step into Orbison’s shoes…
Roy Orbison – In Dreams (mp3)
From:
And the original comes from:
