Friday Five : \’frī-(,)dā,-dē ‘fīv\ : On the sixth day of every week, I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes, then share the first five tracks and thought for each track. Sometimes there is a playlist involved, occasionally we’ll have a 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:
“Wednesday Week” by Elvis Costello & The Attractions (from Armed Forces, 197)
Holy mid-tune break down, Batman!
“Midnight in a Perfect World (FUSO mix)” by DJ Shadow (from The DJ Shadow Remix Project, 2010)
I remember the arrival of Shadow’s Endtroducing….. in 1996. I was working at a record store—and when I say record store, I mean a record store—and recall spinning the disc twice daily, trying to figure out how in the hell this guy was able to patch together elements from disparate sources into cohesive, and damn funky, tunes. Remember, these were the days before technology made it easy. I’m still in awe.
“Lullabye” by Ben Folds Five (from The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner, 1999)
I’ve never been much of a fan of Folds’ music. This tune, however, is lovely.
“Lay Me Down” by The Frames (from For the Birds, 2001)
Somewhere between The Commitments and The Swell Season, Glen Hansard was plenty busy putting out quality records with his band, The Frames.
“Factory” by Band of Horses (from Infinite Arms, 2010)
This week’s five came in like a lion, and is going out a lamb with the mellow lead-off track from Band of Horses’ latest, Infinite Arms.
Friday Five : \’frī-(,)dā,-dē ‘fīv\ : On the sixth day of every week, I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes, then share the first five tracks and thought for each track. Sometimes there is a playlist involved, occasionally we’ll have a 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:
“Breakdown” by Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers (from The Live Anthology, 2009)
Recorded in June of ‘81 at The Forum, in Los Angeles; this take simply smolders its way through six solid minutes of groove. It’s definitely a testament to the power of a solid shuffle. The “Hit the Road Jack” tag towards the end of the jam is a bonus. Despite having this in my collection for over year, I still haven’t listened to the entire collection.
This is shaping up to be one of the longest shuffles in recent memory, clocking in at just shy of seven minutes, the prog-rock pledge of allegiance demands attention. Rise up! Grab your 12-string laúd and recorder and salute Roger Dean.
Let’s hope for a shorter song to follow …
“Infinite Arms” by Band of Horses (from Infinite Arms, 2010)
Make that the Grammy Nominated album, Infinite Arms. Dreamy and serene, this is probably the closest tie on the record to their impeccable debut, Everything All the Time. Naturally, it is a favorite of mine. The crickets at the close remind me of being a kid sitting out on the back lawn
Another live performance, this time from perennial Irish sad bastard, Damien Rice. That’s not to say that Ireland isn’t teeming with sad bastards, that is; rather, to say Mr. Rice is famously especially sorrowful in his bastard ways. Add to the fact that this version of “Delicate” is played just a hair slower than the original, amping up the dirge quality.
Ahh … a perfect power pop song close to what was becoming a very heavy Friday Five. I’m sure I’ve shared the story of how I came to know and love The Silver Seas, so I’ll spare you all the gory details, but I will share that the band has just released a brand-spanking new “3 AM” version of Château Revenge! for your listening pleasure. You can hop on over to http://chateaurevenge.com/ and pick up the “Blue” as well as the original “Red” versions of the record. It came in at number two on my Top 12 of 2010, and is a must-listen.
Here we are again, the final week of another year, and in true procrastinator’s fashion, I’ve put off my year end music recap until the final few days. Now, every music blogger and their uncle has a year end list – the top tens, twenties and fifties (!). Me, I’m keeping it simple for my own sanity and for the purpose of keeping a reader’s attention. Here’s a blast of my top 5′s for the year 2010…
Top 5 Songs
5. “Monster” – Kanye West | I’ve never been one of those in awe of Kanye’s music. I tend to steer clear of jackasses. But I did use my Rdio subscription (see below) to get into his new album. And when I heard “Monster”, I was hooked in pretty hard. And the main reason wasn’t Kanye himself – it was Nicki Minaj. Nicki’s multi-personality attack floored me. I was running when I first heard her spit these rhymes, and I got bona fide goosebumps. Amazing. [Amazon]
4. “No Reason To Cry” – Tom Petty | My sentimental, sappy side always wins in the end – I have a soft spot for the slow, sad songs. There are a lot of great tunes on Mojo, but none hit me as hard as Tom’s plaintive “No Reason To Cry”: “So overtake me my sweet lover / let me kiss your honey lips / could be the only thing that’s real / could be that when you get sad your memory slips / there’s no reason to cry”. Certainly one of Tom’s best love songs ever. [Amazon]
3. “I Gotta See” – Ronnie Wood | Speaking of running and goosebumps, I was also jogging when I listened to Ronnie’s new record for the first time. Track 4 came on – the bluesy, soulful, affair-of-the-heart ballad called “I Gotta See”. Ronnie and co-writer / co-vocalist Bernard Fowler absolutely nail it on the head. “I’m goin’ out / don’t wait for me / don’t bother calling my friends / they won’t know where i’ll be / I hear a voice / it’s calling me / I gotta go now / I gotta see”. It inspired this Ickmix. [Amazon]
2. “It’s Hard To Be Humble (When You’re From Alabama)” – Phosphorescent | I knew nothing of this Brooklyn band at the beginning of the year, and I wish I could pinpoint exactly how I first heard this song – but I’ve listened to it in so many settings since, that I can’t recall. Sweet, folky, soulful rock – you could almost picture this in the setting of late 60′s / early 70′s country rock – maybe something that Gram Parsons and Keith Richards would have gotten together to do. [Amazon]
1. “Harlem River Blues” – Justin Townes Earle | I’ve never sung and clapped along so joyously to a song about drowning oneself, but that’s where I found myself by the second chorus, after hearing Justin’s “Harlem River Blues” for the first time. Rootsy, gospel-flavored, and catchy. Steve’s son is doin’ his dad proud. [Amazon]
Top 5 Albums
5. Here’s To Taking It Easy – Phosphorescent | As I mentioned above, I didn’t know Phosphorescent from a hole in the wall when this year started. But when “It’s Hard To Be Humble (When You’re From Alabama)” hit my ears, I needed to hear me some more Phosphorescent. The album is a laid back blend of folk/country rock featuring the great vocals of Matthew Houck. His voice has a delicate, genuine, earthy feel to it, and it really draws me into the songs. Instantly catchy tunes like “Heaven, Sittin’ Down” and “Nothing Was Stolen (Love Me Foolishly)”. And beautifully crafted songs like “We’ll Be Here Soon” and especially the lovesick feel of “The Mermaid Parade“, another album highlight for me. [Amazon]
4. Mojo – Tom Petty | What a blast of fresh air from Petty and his Heartbreakers. For this record, Tom scrapped their formal studio sessions of years past for a more informal jam session vibe. The guys hung out in Tom’s warehouse studio and played music, at ease, letting it flow. Lucky for us, the tape was rolling. There’s no rushing on this record. If it takes seven minutes to jam it out, like the blissful stoner groove of “First Flash of Freedom”, then so be it. If Mike Campbell wanted his Jimmy Page moment, then he found it in “I Should Have Known It”, which bleeds blues rock in that Zeppelin vein, with a dash of 21st century Jack White vibe thrown in. I still have so much to discover with this album. It feels like I haven’t even cracked the surface. [Amazon]
3. I Feel Like Playing – Ronnie Wood | It was a Stonesy year. Keef’s new book, the Exile on Main Street reissue, the DVD release of Ladies and Gentlemen, the Rolling Stones. On top of all that, Mr. Wood was busy with a new radio show and a brand new record. Featuring guests like Slash, Bobby Womack and Lenny Kravitz, Ronnie keeps it loose and unpredictable with I Feel Like Playing, just like the man himself. I’ve already expressed my appreciation for “I Gotta See”, but there are so many other great moments on this album: the opener, “Why You Wanna Go And Do A Thing Like That For”, with its cool, sly groove; the R&B-infused “Catch You” with Bobby Womack; the fun reggae of “Sweetness My Weakness”; and one of the best tunes to get a good chuckle out of your young kids, if you have ‘em: “Fancy Pants”. I love this record because it doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s a loose, carefree, fun hour of music – all qualities shared by Ronnie (and me, for that matter). [Amazon]
2. Infinite Arms – Band of Horses | I fell hard for Ben Bridwell and his merry Band of bearded Horses after they released their stellar second record, Cease To Begin. My expectations were very high for Infinite Arms, probably too much so. I was first struck by how much of a departure it was from Cease to Begin. But then my focus shifted to the wide variety of songs on the record, and those songs began to take hold. “Laredo”, “Blue Beard”, “On My Way Back Home” are just some of my favorites now. It’s one of those albums you can keep revisiting and finding something new you like about it every time. [Amazon]
1. Tin Can Trust – Los Lobos | The living legends from East L.A. roared back this year with a vengeance, releasing Tin Can Trust on August 3rd (my 40th birthday, no less). From spaced out blues (“Jupiter or the Moon”) to traditional Mexican (“Yo Canto”, “Mujer Ingrata”) to loose jam rock (their cover of the Dead’s “West L.A. Fadeaway”), the album is brimming with what Lobos do best: crossing genres and flavors as flawlessly as any band playing today. [Amazon]
Top 5 Live Shows
5. Pixies – Mesa Ampitheater (Mesa), Sept. 24 | During college spring break 20 some odd years ago, I was introduced to the Pixies through their album Doolittle. I loved the angst, rage, power, and melodic hooks of the songs. This year, the band took the album on the road, performing it straight through. Sure, it was a nostalgia trip, but that’s my favorite part about music – its transformative power. Even the dense cloud of cigarette smoke couldn’t ruin the effect of seeing songs like “Debaser”, “Monkey Gone to Heaven”, “and “Wave of Mutilation” performed in sequence.
4. Phish – Austin City Limits Music Festival, Oct. 8 | Almost a dozen years had passed since I last saw Phish. When I saw that they were rumored to play ACL, any doubts I had about attending were quickly squashed. It was a shortened festival set, but it was packed with old school favorites of mine like “2001″ (“Also Sprach Zarathustra”), “Possum”, “Cavern”, and of course, “You Enjoy Myself” – which, of the sixteen shows I’ve seen spanning back to 1990 – I’ve seen performed at least a dozen times. Set in the backdrop of a great music festival in one of my favorite places – Austin, Texas – it was a special experience for me.
3. Gov’t Mule, Marquee Theater (Tempe), Nov. 3 | I decided to go see Gov’t Mule on a whim with my brother. I’d seen them in a festival setting a few years ago, but not in a small venue with two full sets. Our jaws hit the floor. Led by guitar virtuoso Warren Haynes, the band tore through tasty blues like “Need Your Love So Bad”, acid jam/jazz (“Devil Likes It Slow”), and Mule staples like “32/20 Blues”, “Broke Down On The Brazos” and “About to Rage”. It was pure musicianship. Gov’t Mule are a group of pure talents that fly just under the radar, but blow the minds of their audiences wherever they play. Great show.
2. The Eagles – Austin City Limits Music Festival, Oct. 10 | Surprise of the year, by far. I’d always been a fan of the greatest hits. I mean, how can you not like “Desperado” and “Peaceful Easy Feeling” and “Lying Eyes”? And in the ACL festival setting, with tens of thousands around me, and a great spot close to the stage… well, I was primed for a good time. And the Eagles delivered. Hit after hit after hit. I absolutely loved it.
1. Los Lobos – Compound Grill (Scottsdale), Feb. 20th | The intimate Compound Grill hosted two shows by Los Lobos this night, an early dinner show and a late night show. My wife, some friends and I were there for both. Four hours plus of live music from one of my favorites in an intimate setting? Yes please! Highlight of the night: dancing at the foot of the stage with my lady to a cover of Shep & the Limelights’ “Daddy’s Home”, an old doo-wop ballad. It felt like a 50′s sock hop with Los Lobos as the house band.
Top 5 Music Odds & Ends
5. Prince | This year, Prince released another album for free in UK newspapers: 20Ten. While it doesn’t rank up there among his best work, it’s certainly superior to his last few efforts, as he takes a more retro approach with some old school effects like his 80′s friend, the Linn drum machine. The funk is alive & well in tunes like “Sticky Like Glue” and “Laydown” (his self-referencing “Purple Yoda” song). [Amazon]
Even more significant is his return to U.S. arenas in the last month, his first arena dates in years. In the past couple weeks, Prince has unleashed a greatest hits barrage in New York and New Jersey with his Welcome 2 America tour. Fans like me can only hope that it means more tour dates next year around the country. I have a feeling it’ll finally happen.
4. Dawes | This young band out of L.A. has a bright future. Their debut album, North Hills would have challenged for a top 5 spot if it had come out this year, but it was released in 2009. I was made aware of the band when I saw them open for Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros in June. They have a southern California 70′s folk-rock vibe, and they are amazing live. “When My Time Comes” is anthemic, sing-along folk/pop music at its finest. I’ll be watching this band closely.
3. Bruce Springsteen – The Promise: The Darkness on the Edge of Town Story | This takes top billing as the best box set I’ve owned. The remastered Darkness album (CD); The Promise (2-CD’s), a double album set of material from the Darkness sessions that somehow mostly stayed buried in the vaults all these years (“One Way Street” and “Candy’s Boy” highlights for me); The Promise: The Making of Darkness on the Edge of Town (DVD) – a documentary showcasing Springsteen’s meticulousness and perfectionism in the studio (read slave driver!); Live at the Paramount Theater, Asbury Park, 2009 (DVD) – Bruce and the band perform the album start to finish in an otherwise empty theater. Raw and intimate; Houston ’78 Bootleg (DVD) – a full, not previously released concert from the Boss’s prime; and ALL THIS packaged in a notebook / scrapbook that replicates Bruce’s notebook of lyrics and notes from the Darkness days. Alternate lyrics, song ideas, album sequences… interspersed with photographs, flyers, and newspaper clippings from the era. Truly a treasure trove for Bruce fanatics like myself. [Amazon]
2. The Rolling Stones – Exile on Main Street Reissue and Ladies and Gentlemen, the Rolling Stones | The 2-disk Exile reissue featured a full disk of outtakes and extra tunes from the famed Exile era. Also this year, the 1974 concert movie Ladies and Gentlemen, the Rolling Stones saw the light of day as a proper DVD release. It captures the band at its creative and performing peak: 1972′s U.S. tour supporting Exile. Filmed over four shows in Houston and Dallas, you get Mick in all his glam frontman glory, Keith the ragged and true rock n roll star, and you get to see Mick Taylor shine on lead and slide guitar. An amazing document – pick it up or rent it if you haven’t seen this. [Exile Deluxe | Ladies & Gentlemen The Rolling Stones]
1. Rdio | This year, the method in which I consume music changed significantly. I subscribed to a paid streaming service, Rdio (http://www.rdio.com), over the summer. For $10 a month, I can now stream on demand virtually any album or song I want to hear, both on the web and through their iPhone app. Every new release I’m curious about, all the back catalogs of artists I’ve never explored (e.g. Warren Zevon, Harry Nilsson) – anything I want to hear – it’s there on Rdio. Sure, there are similar services – Mog and Rhapsody to name a couple – but it was Rdio’s clean and uncluttered interface, and their interaction with its users in social forums like Twitter and Facebook that made me select them.
I’d say I’m about 50% Rdio and 50% iTunes these days. My concept of music ownership is shifting. I still buy a lot of music, mostly in mp3 format, but with most albums now, like, for instance, James Brown’s or Bill Withers’ back catalog, or the new Kanye West or Nicki Minaj – why buy the records if they’re available on Rdio any time or place I want to hear them? Rdio makes me feel spoiled – like I’m living in the most comprehensive record store in the world. I 100% recommend them, and suggest you check out their free trial if you’re curious. Search for me and “Follow Me” if you subscribe, I’ll return the favor.
Friday Five : \’frī-(,)dā,-dē ‘fīv\ : On the sixth day of every week, I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes, then share the first five tracks and thought for each track. Sometimes there is a playlist involved, occasionally we’ll have a 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:
“Laredo” by Band of Horses (from Infinite Arms, 2010)
As I’m gathering up my notes to compile my “Best of 2010″ list, this record keeps cropping up near the top. I’ll admit that when I first heard the track, I was less than enthusiastic. With a bit more ‘country’ in the mix, I had feared that the songs I had heard a year back were going to be swallowed up by the bands new sound. That fear was all for naught, in the end. Instead, Infinite Arms quickly grew on me and will likely make a top 10 appearance on my year-end chart.
“Watermelon in Easter Hay” by Frank Zappa (from Joe’s Garage, 1979)
My second favorite Zappa guitar solo, only behind “Black Napkins” — from 1976′s Zoot Allures — by a smidgen. It is clearly not his flashiest, nor most technically challenging material, but it contains probably some of his most plaintive melodies. From the phrasing to the tones, it contains just about everything that I love about Frank’s playing.
“All I Have to Do Is Dream” by The Dandy Warhols (from Stubbs the Zombie, 2005)
This is an incredibly odd cover. What is even odder, is the fact that I can say pretty safely that the first time I ever heard this song was in another film, 1984′s Starman. Okay, maybe that isn’t so odd.
With a string of metaphors that would make an english teacher blush, the first single from Fall Out Boy’s debut a slice of pop-punk perfection. Sure, it’s completely derivative; sounding more like Blink-182 than Blink-182 did at the time, only with much smarter lyrics. I won’t lament them just yet, but all signs are pointing towards the band’s demise.
Why don’t my family and I live in Austin, Texas? Sitting here back home in Arizona just off the plane, I ponder that question. Austin: a city that live and breathes music. A city teeming with life and heart and soul and character. Just so different than Phoenix and its outskirts, where I’ve lived for the last 18 years. Yeah, I’ll settle back into the rut and routine of everyday life, the job that supports my family (thank God for it), and hit some shows around town. But there’s always Austin – like a soul magnet to my music loving core – calling me.
Can you tell I’m dealing with some post-ACL blues? The weekend was just great. Perfect weather, and some amazing live music experiences. Some highlights…
Favorites:
Phish Penguin
Phish – The boys from Vermont did not disappoint, firing up the Budweiser stage Friday night with an old school set featuring a handful of my favorites: “”Possum”, “Also Sprach Zarathustra” (theme from 2001), and of course “You Enjoy Myself”. It was my 16th time seeing Phish, going back to 1990, and probably at least the 10th or 11th “YEM” I’ve seen. I hadn’t seen them since the Pima County Fairgrounds outside Tucson in November 1999, so I was definitely overdue. The two hour festival set was shorter than the normal show experience, but it worked just fine for me – getting to see Trey, Jon, Page and Mike in the Austin City Limits Festival setting was something special.
Set List: Down with Disease > Cities > Possum, Wolfman’s Brother, Chalk Dust Torture, Rock and Roll > Also Sprach Zarathustra > Backwards Down the Number Line > Harry Hood -> Light > Suzy Greenberg > You Enjoy Myself / Encore: Cavern > First Tube
The Eagles open with "Seven Bridges Road"
The Eagles – Leading up to the festival – and even throughout the weekend – I can’t say I was overly excited about the final Sunday headliner, the Eagles, probably due to all the other acts that held my attention (e.g. Phish and Band of Horses). But after staking out a sweet spot for Band of Horses – probably 30 yards from the stage – and deciding to stay put another hour for the Eagles set, I was quickly reminded when they hit the stage. Thing is, I’ve always enjoyed the music of the Eagles. I couldn’t recite much from their back catalog, but their two greatest hits albums have been staples during my life. Like a lot of people, I’ve always loved songs like “Peaceful Easy Feeling”, “Lying Eyes”, and of course “Desperado”. And during their 2 hour set, the Eagles gave the people exactly what they wanted – trotting out hit after hit after hit. A nostalgia trip? Of course it was. And I loved every minute of it. And so did the tens of thousands beside and behind me.
Set List: 7 Bridges Road, How Long, Take It To the Limit, Hotel California, Peaceful Easy Feeling, I Can’t Tell You Why, Witchy Woman, Lying Eyes, Long Road Out of Eden, Walk Away, Boys of Summer, In the City, The Long Run, Life’s Been Good, Dirty Laundry, Funk #49, Heartache Tonight, Life in the Fast Lane / Encore:
Take It Easy, Desperado
Monsters of Folk
Monsters of Folk – This two hour set on the smaller and more intimate Austin Ventures stage exceeded my expectations. For those unaware, Monsters of Folk are a ‘super-group’ made up of Conor Oberst (solo, Bright Eyes), Jim James (My Morning Jacket), and M. Ward (solo, She & Him). I’m fans of all three entities, and I was expecting good things, but wow – what a set! They played most of the songs from their self-titled album, including “Dear God”, “Baby Boomer” and “Say Please”. But even more magic spun out of the artists’ own catalogs. Bright Eyes’ “Soul Singer in a Session Band” (I love Oberst’s passion), M. Ward’s “Vincent O’Brien” (love his smoky voice), and my highlight of the night: My Morning Jacket’s “Smokin from Shootin”, which gave me goosebumps. Jim and Conor traded verses, and the song just exploded in emotion and intensity – fire and brimstone, pure unfiltered rock n’ roll. If I had to pick one song that made the weekend, “Smokin From Shootin” was the one.
M. Ward is bad ass
Set List: Say Please, The Right Place, Soul Singer In A Session Band (Bright Eyes), Slow Down Jo, Man Named Truth, Golden (MMJ), Vincent O’Brien (M. Ward), Ahead of the Curve, At Dawn (MMJ), Baby Boomer, Dear God (Sincerely M.O.F.), To Save Me, Temazcal, The Sandman, The Brakeman and Me, Map of the World, Smokin from Shootin (MMJ), Hit the Switch (Bright Eyes), Losin’ Yo Head, At the Bottom of Everythng (Bright Eyes), Whole Lotta Losin’, Another Travelin’ Song (Bright Eyes), His Master’s Voice
Ben Bridwell unleashes in the hot sun
Band of Horses – This was my second Band of Horses show. The first time was two years ago, also at ACL, but on a smaller stage across the field. This time around, through hard work and a successful third album, Infinite Arms, the boys upgraded to the Budweiser stage, playing right before the Eagles. After walking out to Joe Walsh’s “Rocky Mountain Way”, they launched into “Cigarettes Wedding Bands” and never looked back. It was a 6-7pm set, and the band was staring straight into the late afternoon sun, a fact that Ben Bridwell mentioned a time or two – “Don’t let the sun go down on me guys!” The set drew pretty evenly from all three Horses albums – among them “Part One”, “Great Salt Lake”, “The Funeral”, “No One’s Gonna Love You”, “Ode to LRC”, “Laredo”, and a wall of sound version of “NW Apt.”. They also let loose a surprise finale with a cover of Cee-Lo’s “Georgia” (with a horn section including Trombone Shorty).
Horses
Set List: Cigarettes, Factory, No One’s Gonna Love You, Part One, The General Specific, Laredo, Great Salt Lake, Is There a Ghost?, Island on the Coast, NW Apt., Compliments, Ode to LRC, The Funeral, Georgia (Cee-Lo cover w/ horn section incl Trombone Shorty)
Pleasant Surprises:
Milwaukee's Kings Go Forth
Kings Go Forth (http://www.kingsgoforth.com) - Ahhh, it felt good to take in a good time band with a classic soul feel – think Earth Wind & Fire fronted by the younger brother of Rick James. His name is Black Wolf, and this cat is a character. A nine piece band and another vocalist back him up, offering up great harmonies, and great soul & funk rhythms. And they’re from Milwaukee, Wisconsin of all places! For all my friends in Wisconsin (and elsewhere), keep an eye out for these guys.
Mayer Hawthorne & the County (http://www.myspace.com/mayerhawthorne) - More soul… L.A.’s Mayer Hawthorne channels Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye, and Philly soul groups like the Stylistics. His short but sweet set featured a cool version of the Doobie Brothers’ “What a Fool Believes”. Mayer does a helluva Michael McDonald too.
Frank Turner
Frank Turner – (http://www.frank-turner.com) – I completely stumbled on to Frank’s set, and was immediately drawn into the British working-class folk/punk feel of his sound. When I heard him intro a song with a shout out to Elvis Presley and Bruce Springsteen, I knew I’d come to the right place. His good nature and UK charm endeared him to the crowd, and before long, we were singing along to songs like “The Road” and “Long Live The Queen”. I’m a new fan. For those in the U.S., Frank will be opening a number of dates for Social Distortion in November.
Honorable Mention:
The Gaslight Anthem
The Gaslight Anthem – Although their latest record, American Slang, didn’t knock my socks off, the same can’t be said about Gaslight’s explosive live show. Frontman Brian Fallon channels Strummer and Springsteen, energizing any crowd he encounters. Sunday’s ACL set was no exception. Gaslight rocked the house – my favorite being the old standby “The ’59 Sound”.
Dawes' Taylor Goldsmith on vox and guitar
Dawes – L.A.’s Dawes stopped through my town earlier this summer, opening for Edward Sharpe, and I sure wasn’t going to miss their ACL set. The only unfortunate part was the abbreviated 40 minute time slot they were afforded. But they soaked everything out of it, with great tunes like “Peace in the Valley”, “Fire Away”, and of course, “When My Time Comes”. Super talented young band – check them out when you can.
Letdown:
M.I.A. – Apparently, going up against Muse as Saturday’s co-headliner didn’t spark any competitive or creative fires in M.I.A. She had a full hour to impress the large crowd that assembled for her set on the AMD Stage. Two giant video monitors on each side of the stage were a lifeblood for the throngs of fans who were further back from the stage – me included. Every artist that I’m aware of let the camera operators do their thing so the large crowd could see from afar. But not M.I.A. Not only did her video effects take over the giant screen behind her, but the two side screens as well. The result was a shortened 47 minute set of pre-recorded beats and the inaudible meanderings of M.I.A. She may think she’s a groundbreaking, unconventional artist. On record, she well may be. But as a live performer, at least in this incarnation, it was frustrating to watch. A missed opportunity on her part, but I don’t think she gives a shit. Should’ve caught Muse.
————-
Austin Town, I already miss you, and with some careful give & take negotiation with the wife, I’ll be seeing you next year too. Who knows, maybe the Ickmusic family will one day find its way over to you permanently.
Friday Five : \’frī-(,)dā,-dē ‘fīv\ : On the sixth day of every week, I hit the shuffle button on my iTunes, then share the first five tracks and thought for each track. Sometimes there is a playlist involved, occasionally we’ll have a 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.
Some songs just beg you to stop, close your eyes and vacate your conscious for a moment. Band of Horses’ debut record is rife with exactly these type of songs. Atmospheric to a fault; the music serves to paint the scenery against which Ben Bridwell acts. “Monsters” is perfect example of this.
Despite having this box set in my collection since last year, I haven’t had a chance to listen to it straight through. Tunes from the box pop up here and there, usually when shuffling through my library. The version on the set is the longer album cut, which was never as good as the single edit.
“Playground (Young Jack club 12″ mix)” by Another Bad Creation (from MTV Party to Go 2, 1992)
At least once or twice a month my wife and I institute the “’80s/’90s Dance Party” night, usually after an especially hard day at work. Most of the time, I play the DJ and mix up a set of new jack favorites and classic hip-hop. Other times, I just load up the “MTV Party to Go” series and let it rip. It’s rare that one or more truly embarrassing moments of acknowledgment doesn’t occur — usually on my part — when one of us starts bopping to some unfortunate track. Another Bad Creation is on my wife’s list, and that is all I have to say about that.
“I’ll Be There for You/You’re All I Need to Get By (feat. Mary J. Blige)” by Method Man (from Def Jam 25th Anniversary Box Set, 2009)
You couldn’t escape this song during the summer of ’95 right through ’97. I actually wore a copy of this record out. No shit.
“Can’t Stop Lovin’ You” by Van Halen (from Balance, 1995)
In retrospect, this wasn’t a bad record. Had we known at the time that it was the last time we’d hear a Sammy Haggar fronted Van Halen — save for the brilliant “Humans Being” — maybe it wouldn’t have been panned. It’s a dark record, and a lot to deal with, but it comes from an honest place.
Exactly two years have passed since I became enamored with Band of Horses (the cool thing about having a music blog is the ability to track your evolution as a music geek). It really clicked when I picked up Cease to Begin, then watched this in-store performance at Amoeba Records in Hollywood. Beautiful melodies & harmonies soaked in a classic, southern, indie rock vibe – the focal point being front man Ben Bridwell and his Voice from the Heavens.
In the 24 months since, I have devoured their two albums, seen them play in Austin, and signed on as a lifelong fan. So obviously, I was good n’ ready for the release of their third album, Infinite Arms, on May 18th.
Over the last month, BoH debuted the first three tracks of the record – “Factory”, “Compliments” and “Laredo” – on their web site. Great tunes, and it’s fun to get a sneak peek, but as hard as it is to do, I wish the band would’ve held their cards until release day so I could be hearing the entire album for the first time. Of course, no one forced me to listen to the early released tracks – but come on, what’s a guy gonna do – ignore them for 3-4 weeks?
But I’ve listened enough times now that these first three tunes now seem more woven into the fabric of the album than separate entities, like they first felt. Don’t worry, I’m in a good place now.
“Factory” leads off the record, features strings, and a great opening line: “The elevator in the hotel lobby has a lazy door.” This is one of the “growers” for me – one of those songs you’re not crazy about initially, but grow on you the more you listen. There’s a definite sadness to the song. Ben Bridwell’s lyrics center around a man who has left his lady, and is shacking up in a hotel…
It’s temporary, this place I’m in
I permanently won’t do this again
My belongings scattered across the hotel floor
And any thoughts of a happy ending and a return home are squashed with this last part:
Well I feel awful, and I believe
Time gets wasted in this misery
And darling I never wanna come back home
“Compliments” is another song that reaches into deeper and darker territory. “If there’s a God up in the air / someone looking over everyone / at least you’ve got something to fall back on… I bet you get a lot of compliments down there”. Can’t figure out if Ben’s writing about a dame who turned to the dark side. But this also ain’t no love song – that’s for damn sure.
“Laredo” seems the most familiar of the bunch, which makes sense, being so similar to “Weed Party” – same rhythm, very similar riffs and chord structure. And I have no problem with that.. a spirited, get out on the road vibe. And still, another about escapism – and from what I’m gathering, about putting an end to it all. There’s talk of kitchen knives, bullets, and getting thrown in the deep part of the lake. Shit, maybe he shouldn’t take a trip to Laredo…
“Blue Beard”. Beautiful. I’m a sucker for Ben’s voice when things slow down and his multi-tracked voice shines – and this is the first moment of the record when this happens. The first few seconds will remind you Indie-minded folks of Fleet Foxes (though every choral-type harmony these days seems to draw comparisons to FF by default). Oh yeah, there’s an underlying sadness to this one too.
The midwestern sky is gray and cold
The sun never shines but that’s alright
And I couldn’t find the letters you wrote me too
What did you write? Where’d you go?
Well I don’t know.
“On My Way Back Home” is another beauty, starting slow and picking up tempo. Ben’s voice starts in an even higher register than normal. If I was put in charge of sequencing this album (and I’m sure I’ll have my day), this would’ve served admirably as the album closer.
“Infinite Arms” starts softly with acoustic guitars and chirping birds. Pondering life’s questions, man’s mortality, and returning to the refrain: “When my thoughts drift to you”. This line stuck out to me. Simple, poignant, intense. Really cool imagery here, and so open to interpretation:
I love the morning
I like to listen
to 4am birdies begging to feed
Now there’s something here before me
a figure i think
Isn’t there a warning?
Something to drink?
My God
My God
When my thoughts drift to you
Hmm, the “figure” there before him. The grim reaper maybe? This is how it ends?
“Dilly” has a fun little groove to it. Ben co-wrote it with guitarist Tyler Ramsey. Again, open to interpretation. Take the chorus: “”It really took a tall one to see it / two to believe it / three to just get in the way”. At a loss really to what it means, but I’m going to enjoy repeat listens and try to figure it out. “Dilly” may be the most pop-oriented of the bunch.
“Evening Kitchen” is a quiet one – acoustic guitar & vocals – written and sung by Tyler Ramsey. Ben and keyboard man Ryan Monroe add harmonies. Interesting tune. Outside of the harmonies from Ben, it’s a departure from the BoH sound.
“Older”, ahh “Older”. The band played this song when I stood feet away from the stage at their 2008 ACL Festival set. I even captured some amateur vid. LOVE this song. Ryan Monroe sings the lead (he wrote the song) and plays the B3 – and Ben kills on the harmony. An amazing song, and I’m happy to see it on this record.
“For Annabelle”, another co-writing credit with Ben and Tyler, features Tyler’s great acoustic guitar work, the churn of Ryan’s B3, and some great harmonies with the boys.
“NW Apt.” – I was reading a review of the record on Songs by Toad, and a commenter called this song a “blatant Grandaddy ripoff.” I love me some Grandaddy, and he’s right about the similarity – it could easily be Jason Lytle singing this song.
“Neighbor” channels the spirits of Bartles and Jaymes (those fellas still around?), referencing them in the chorus. It’s hard for me not to think back to the album closers of their previous two records: the songs “St. Augustine” and “Windows Blues” – the latter song arguably my favorite BoH song of them all – gentle, sublime and damn near perfect. So while “Neighbor” is a good enough tune, it doesn’t wrap up the album like the other two songs close their respective albums.
All in all, the album is seeping into my pores with each listen. I’ll admit I bought this disk on Tuesday with some pretty high expectations. Everything All The Time and Cease to Begin were an amazing one-two punch, and I was instantly drawn to songs like “Monsters”, “Marry Song”, “I Go To The Barn Because I Like The”, “Part One”, and of course “Windows Blues” (huh, those are the slower ones, go figure). So maybe I was seeking out that same experience with this record – expecting to be promptly bowled over by some of the songs.
The dynamics, however, have changed. The supporting cast surrounding Ben is different, and it’s more of a collaborative effort, with Tyler Ramsey and Ryan Monroe contributing songs, and the band self-producing a lot of the record (along with original producer Phil Ek). If you mix up the formula, your results will be different.
The mainstay through it all, though, and frankly the heart and soul of this band, is Ben Bridwell. His voice is one I’ll be enjoying for the rest of my life, thank you very much. And it’s his presence that makes Band of Horses something very special, and Infinite Arms a solid record overall - one that will continue to evolve along with the rest of us.
Band of Horses showed up last night on Letterman to perform “Laredo”. Of note: Tyler Ramsey’s finger pickin’ electric guitar work, Ben Bridwell’s determined delivery, and Bill Reynolds’ get-up. Looks like Bill could have walked out of the Ed Sullivan Theater and straight onto the set of Boogie Knights. Slick, man!
c) The Austin City Limits Music Festival – which I will be attending for the third time – releases its lineup (check out the ACL Festival site). Pre-announcement rumors are pointing to Phish, the Eagles, Muse, and the Flaming Lips, among others. In fact, USA Today posted this on Monday night.
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would have challenged for a top 5 spot if it had come out this year, but it was released in 2009. I was made aware of the band when I saw them open for Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros in June. They have a southern California 70′s folk-rock vibe, and they are amazing live. “
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(Amazon)
on Amazon).
on Amazon).