New Tunes: Reed KD
Here’s a good first impression: Reed KD out of Santa Cruz, California.
Right up my alley, really. Uptempo, spirited, folksy & rootsy. The bass drum makes me think of Zeppelin’s “Bron-Y-Aur Stomp”, and his voice sounds juuust a bit like Ben Bridwell of Band of Horses. Something about the annunciation. I dunno. I dig this one.
Hear: If the Tide Swings (mp3)
From his new album: In Case the Comet Comes
Visit: Official Site | MySpace
Review: Alan Wilkis, “Pink and Purple”
Brooklyn-based electrofunk wizard Alan Wilkis recently gave me an early peek at his latest release Pink and Purple. For those of you not familiar with Alan, let me bring you up to speed the self-described “musician, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and general musical mover-and-shaker” first came to my attention last year with his self-released debut Babies Dream Big (Review). Earlier this year he dropped a brilliant remix of Pheonix‘s hit “1901” which only served to build the anticipation for his new material which has been in constant rotation since it landed in my inbox.
The six tunes that make up the Pink and Purple are clearly derived from the synth-laden funk rock of the early 80’s but it’s never derivative. There is something immediate and familiar about the tunes and where where his previous release Babies Dream Big may have lacked focus, Pink and Purple is concentrated and intense. The auto-tuned double entendre’s flow with the lead track “Snuggle Up to Nail Down” and erupt with 4 bars of pure shred bliss. The juxtaposition of the electronic and analog meshes perfectly. “N.I.C.E.” could bring a tear to George Clinton‘s eye it’s so funky and “Gotta Get You Back” makes me long for the days of my youth and is an rollerskating rink classic and is an early contender for the track that I will wear a spot on the hard drive with. The closer “Time Machine” builds to an completely unexpected epic guitar driven finale that absolutely begs for a continuation.
With all the great (and not-so-great) music coming out of Brooklyn these days it’s hard to know what’s worth the precious listening time, but if you still own a Swatch, love Hyper-Color, Rubik’s Cube and Brat Pack movies look no further because it’s Mr. Wilkis’ world and he’s here to make you dance.
Alan Wilkis – “Gotta Get You Back” (from Pink and Purple)
Buy Pink and Purple: Official Site | iTunes
Links: Official Site | on Last.fm | on MySpace | on Twitter
Bonnaroo: Bruce Springsteen on stage with Phish
As a Bruce and Phish fan for more than a quarter century and almost 20 years respectively, my mind was just about blown last night when I was reading through my Twitter feed, and saw this from Bruce’s official Twitter:
I guess the opportunity was ripe, with Phish and the Boss co-headlining the festival, but it just didn’t seem within the realm of possibility that these two forces in popular music – different realms of the spectrum, one could argue – would collide and collaborate. But it happened. At the end of Phish’s 1st set on Sunday night, Trey Anastasio introduced his “boyhood and still hero”, Bruce Springsteen.
They tore through “Mustang Sally”, “Bobby Jean”, and “Glory Days”. And suffice it so say, I’ll be scouring the interwebs for any and all video of this moment. Bruce was also spotted taking in Band of Horses earlier in the day as well. It just keeps coming together, doesn’t it?
The Friday Five: June 12, 2009
Friday Five : ˈfrī-(ˌ)dā,-dē ˈfīv : On the sixth day of every week I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes and share my five and drop a little knowledge and insight for each track. Sometimes there is a playlist involved, sometimes there isn’t. Sometimes we have guest, but most of the time it’s just me. The rest is up to you, our friends and readers! Fire up your media player of choice and share the first five random track of your shuffle in the comments.
The Five:
Willie Nelson – “Always on My Mind” (mp3) (from The Essential Willie Nelson)
I may be committing an act of blasphemy, but this is – in my opinion – the quintessential version of this song. Released in 1982, this earned Willie a Grammy award (Best Male Country Vocal Performance) and the songwriters Johnny Christopher, Mark James and Wayne Carson Thompson the Song of the Year and Best Country Song statues. This tune is easily in my top 10 favorite ballads.
Incognito – “Rivers Runnin’ Black” (mp3) (from Life, Stranger Than Fiction)
Not my favorite Incognito record, but this is a specifically strong (mostly instrumental) track. This band never lacks for groove.
Chrisette Michele – “Playin’ Our Song” (from Epiphany)
This record, while good in it’s own right, was a disappointment for me. After the power and range displayed in her debut I Am, this record feels flat. It’s a decent modern R&B record but suffers from the input of her songwriters trying to hard to sell a ‘hit”. The biggest offender here is the track “Another One” which is essentially Beyoncé‘s “Irreplaceable” with different lyrics. Oh, and the real rub here is they were both written by Ne-Yo.
Janet Jackson – “That’s the Way Love Goes” (from Design of a Decade: 1986-1996)
Mmm… Good Tune!
Old Californio – “From the Mouths of Babes” (from Westering Again)
You may recognize Old Californio from Pete’s Ick Pick column (link). This is actually one my favorite cuts from that record and has stood up to multiple listens. As a matter of fact I think that I’m going to go listen to the whole record again now.
What tunes are brightening your day?
Ick’s Pick (Week XXIII): Mos Def’s The Ecstatic
Call it the power of television. I tuned into Letterman on Monday night to take in the entertainment that is Howard Stern in the guest chair. I always enjoy the interaction between Howard and Dave. The musical guest that night was Mos Def. He was on promoting his new album, The Ecstatic. I came back to the performance about midway thru, but I was immediately hooked. The song was “Quiet Dog” – a DJ, a drummer, and Mos Def on two large timpani drums. A tribal rhythm, really unique, and another example of how one encounter can hook a new fan.
I bought The Ecstatic the next morning, and it’s pretty much been bumpin’ here all week. Favorites are “Quiet Dog” (intro features some interview audio from the late Fela Kuti), “Twilite Speedball”, and “The Embassy” (another unique intro – a pilot’s in-flight announcement, with some tweaking). Hell, he’s even got a Spanish language rap, “No Hay Nada Mas”. At least I think it’s got something to do with love.
A refreshing album. I haven’t even cracked the surface…
Buy Mos Def’s The Ecstatic
on Amazon (still only $3.99).
Hear the whole album on MySpace Music
Visit: Mos Def’s MySpace
Dananananaykroyd
Photo by Lucy Johnston Seriously. Do you think I’m going to come across a band named Dananananaykroyd and not share it with you? Don’t even think twice.
The guys are from Glasgow, Scotland. They have a pretty hard/post-punk edge to them, and have been compared to Los Campesinos. Another unique feature along with their name is that they have two drummers bangin’ away. Nice.
I just downloaded a few from their full length debut, Hey Everyone, off eMusic – and this one immediately caught my ear. Turn this one up LOUD, folks…
Hear: Pink Sabbath (mp3)
Buy Hey Everyone on the Banquet Records site or
Visit: Dananananaykroyd on MySpace
Summer of Sound Saturday Night on Mill Ave
If you’re with me here in the Valley of the Sun, and you like good tunes, join me & m’ lady Saturday night at the Mill Cue Club on Mill Avenue in Tempe. The New Times Summer of Sound series kicks off, with Americana as the theme of the evening, featuring local bands Tractor Pull Divas, Matthew Reveles, the Cartwheels, the Sugar Thieves, and L.A. band the BellRays. Entry is only $5.
Live music on Mill Avenue. Feels like 1995!
Mos Def on Letterman
Mos Def dropped by Dave’s place last night for a cool performance of “Quiet Dog” from his new album, The Ecstatic. Love the Fela Kuti intro…
Thanks Rap Radar for the video.
For a limited time, the Amazon MP3 Store has The Ecstatic
Girl in a Coma
As a music lover whose listening habits tend to lean heavily in favor of male artists, it’s always refreshing to stumble upon some quality female rockin’ and rollin’. Girl in a Coma are a trio of heavily inked young ladies from San Antonio, Texas, and these girls rawk.
They rock so hard that they caught the ear of one of the genre’s matriarchs: Joan Jett. She snapped them up quickly, signing GIAC to her Blackheart Records label. Their second album on the label is Trio B.C., just released on June 2nd.
They get it all started with “BB”, a power packed tune with a hint of that tex-mex twang amidst the madness. Lead singer and guitarist Nina Diaz immediately shows off her sassy, f–k you vocals. Backing her up are sister Phanie on drums, and Jenn Alva on bass. Don’t let the lo-fi first verse fool you. The hi-fi immediately follows.
The album is full of great power trio pop-rock-punk with a ton of catchy hooks – and Nina’s vocals really shine through it all. Impressive.
Hear: BB (mp3) – Also highly recommended is “Trail
“.
Visit: Official Site | MySpace
I’m On Fire
Thanks to a post on Slowcoustic, I happened upon a cool A.A. Bondy version of “I’m On Fire” today (who’ll be at Modified in Phoenix later this month). I had to share.
Hear: A.A. Bondy – I’m On Fire (mp3)
Which made me seek out the Gaslight Anthem’s Brian Fallon singing the same tune at a performance in Germany. Both great interpretations of a classic Boss tune…
Sites: A.A. Bondy | Gaslight Anthem
