MP3 Blogs in the News
Music for Robots links up a couple of recent newspaper articles about the wild world of mp3 blogs.
Respect to the Lady in My Life
Today is my second wedding anniversary, so today, my lovely wife of two years picks a tune for you all. It’s her favorite Skatalites tune, “The Vow”. Fitting for an occasion like today, as the tune expounds on the promise and virtues of loving one person for the rest of your life. The very idea that I am married to a woman who hears the lyrics to this song, and thinks of me, is in itself amazing.
Here’s a song review from All Music:
Two of the The Skatalites’s singers pledge their troths to each other, while the band offer their congratulations on this celebratory single from 1965. The backing has an almost oom-pah Oktoberfest feel, as the entire group join in to emphasize the coursing rhythm, while overhead Johnny “Dizzy” Moore blows bubbles of trumpet notes into the air. His muted tones add to the joyful mood, while Roland Alphonso’s warm solo reminds one of the seriousness of the ceremony.Both Jackie Opel and Doreen Schaeffer give excellent performances within, he ever more passionately asking her to declare her eternal love, she warm and loving in response, and together when they launch into their duet finale, the romance kindles into fiery romance. – Jo-Ann Green, All Music.com
The Skatalites – The Vow(mp3) – featuring Jackie Opel and Doreen Shaffer – 1965Buy Foundation Ska, a great Skatalites compilation, on Amazon.
Coolin’ on a Saturday Evening
As I lay on the couch tonight listening to American Routes, the baby asleep, the lights off, the fan blowing gently, and my body spent from a day in the 85 degree Arizona sun, Cookie & the Cupcakes’ “Sea of Love” piped softly over the speakers above me…. what followed was right in the same vein: a dream-inducing, gentle melody that I first thought to be from the late ’60’s / early ’70’s. But then it hit me, the voice I was hearing was Beck. I came to find out that the song, “We Live Again”, is on his 1999 ‘Mutations’ release, one of the few Beck releases I don’t own, and will soon remedy.
Beck – We Live Again(mp3)Buy Beck’s Stuff for crying out loud.
Charlie Hunter’s 8 String Funk
Every time I listen to this live track, or any Charlie Hunter song in general, I’m amazed that all of the sounds are emanating from one guitar. Charlie is a Bay Area master of his custom-made 8-string guitar. He plays the role of both bass and guitar player. Nope, there isn’t a bassist in the band. What you hear is coming from one man. On this song, “Crossings”, Charlie and Adam Cruz (on drums) lay out 12 and a half minutes of rhythmic laid back guitar funk. How Charlie can negotiate those kinds of bass and guitar parts simultaneously is beyond me.
About his guitar:
custom-made Novax eight-string…..Designed by Ralph Novak, the instrument features special frets and separate signals for its guitar and bass portions. Picking bass notes with his right thumb while fretting them with his left index finger (while at the same time fingerpicking guitar chords and single notes with his right hand’s remaining four digits as he frets with his left hand’s other three fingers), Hunter achieves the real sound of two-for-one. – from All Music
Huh? I lost track of all the fingers…. If you want to see what his guitars look like, check out the cool Gear Page on his site. Anyway, this and a whole lot of others tunes are available to you on his web site, CharlieHunter.com. There’s a ton in the Audio section.
Facts of the day:
- Charlie used to be a member of the Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, Michael Franti’s group before Spearhead.
- Jay Lane of Primus used to be Charlie’s drummer.
So without further ado:
Charlie Hunter – Crossings(mp3) – recorded live in Detroit, MI 20 Nov 1999.
Buy Charlie’s music on Amazon (plus a lot of unreleased downloads available for purchase on his site).Click Me, He’s Irish
Well today’s selection comes courtesy of my friend Todd. The guy is bonkers about the late Rory Gallagher‘s music. I must admit that I never knowingly had any exposure to Rory’s music through all my years, until I met Todd. But in Rory’s home country of Ireland, he is considered one of the best of all time.
“Here was a man who managed to combine the gift of being an authentic creative genius with the even rarer gift of being a genuinely decent, honourable human being.” So began the series of tributes paid to Rory Gallagher – the outstanding pioneer of Irish rock – published by the Irish music newspaper HOTPRESS in July 1995. Rory Gallagher was an Irish blues and rock guitarist, singer and songwriter. Born in Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal, on 2 March, 1948, he grew up in the city of Cork. Based in London during most of his 30 year career, he toured extensively, sold 30 million records, and had a worldwide following of loyal fans. He died in London at the early age of 47, on 14 June 1995, from complications following a liver transplant. Although he had suffered health problems for some time, he toured until falling seriously ill late in 1994. – from Rory Gallagher’s Home Page
I asked Todd for a good intro to Mr. Gallagher. He recommended “Million Miles Away”, a live track from ‘Irish Tour’, Rory’s 1974 concert album, digitally remastered in 1999. The songs is a great showcase of Rory’s talents on the Fender Stratocaster.
Who else out there is a Rory G. fan?
Rory Gallagher – Million Miles Away(mp3)Buy ‘Irish Tour’ on Amazon.
The Amazing Bielanko Brothers
I first discovered Marah through a Steve Earle interview I read where he mentioned that “Let’s Cut the Crap and Hook Up Later Tonight”, their 1998 debut album, was one of his favorite albums of the year. He went on to sign them to his label, and they released 2000’s ‘Kids in Philly’. They are a fresh, no BS, bare bones rock n’ roll band, full of such innovative and imaginative lyrics, and on top of that, they rock out with a banjo. Dave and Serge Bielanko of Philadelphia are the masterminds behind Marah. They released “20,000 Streets under the Sky” last year, another great release.
If you EVER get the chance to see these guys live, please do. I saw them twice in 2000: once opening for Steve Earle at House of Blues in Hollywood, and a few days later in a small sweat-soaked bar (Long Wong’s) in my then hometown of Tempe, AZ. It was about 200 friggin’ degrees in there, and I was drinking Hefe Weizen like it was lemonade, sitting 5 feet from the band. Certainly one of the most incredible live show experiences of my life. Some kind soul recorded the show and shared it with me so I can always go back and listen to my WOOOs. They have a large following in Europe and tour extensively there, so keep your eyes open overseas as well. You won’t be disappointed.
So this is my favorite song from their debut. Listen, enjoy, and check out more of their music…
Listen:
Marah – Formula, Cola, Dollar Draft(mp3)
Buy: ‘Let’s Cut the Crap and Hook Up Later Tonight’ on Amazon
Site: Marah-USA.comNels Cline Article and Interview
I posted about the amazing Nels Cline a while back, and just came across this short but great article / interview on Guitar Player magazine’s web site. It has two excellent mp3’s available for download. Here’s a quick quote from the article:
But, as revolutionary as Cline is, he did not mysteriously appear out of nowhere. A mainstay of the Los Angeles free-jazz community for more than 20 years, Cline has worked with dozens of the worlds most innovative artists, including guitarists Bill Frisell and G.E. Stinson, sax/woodwind masters Yusef Lateef and Tim Berne, bass legends Charlie Hayden and Eric Von Essen, percussionists Adam Rudolph and Brad Dutz, violinists Jeff Gauthier and Jenny Scheinman, pianists Mark Weber and Richard Grossman, and electronics wizard Don Preston.
Beyond the jazz scene, Cline has collaborated with Mike Watt, Sonic Youth guitarists Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo, and country-punk-poets the Geraldine Fibbers, as well as appearing on recordings by artists as diverse as MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer, the Blue Man Group, and new-age composer Osamu Kitajima. And that’s not to mention sessions with singer-songwriters such as Deborah Holland, Mia Doi Todd, and Rickie Lee Jones, and key roles in two ’70s Miles Davis tribute projects: Yo Miles! and Miles Remembered: the Silent Way Project.
Guitar Player Interview with Nels Cline (includes 2 full mp3 downloads)
Getting Hi on Life
You’re in for a treat this evening / morning / afternoon. Some grooves get you from the very get go. I guarantee you that 3 seconds into this song by Ghana’s C.K. Mann, you’ll be shaking your booty faster than a fat lady being tasered on an episode of ‘Cops‘. Don’t worry, it’s very natural to have this reaction to this highlife-funk beat. This song is 30 years old, but sounds as fresh as ever. Thanks to Benn Loxo du Taccu for introducing me to it in December.
And now, brothers and sisters…..shake it!
Listen:
C.K. Mann – Funky Hi-Life(mp3)
Buy: C.K.’s music.The Ghost of Gary Glitter
I’m not sure what old Gary Glitter is up to these days, last I heard he was in a bit of hot water over his collection of, shall we say, underage photographs. But his influence is still alive and well in these recent tunes by Goldfrapp and Louis XIV. That’s Ms. Goldfrapp above by the way. MUCH easier on the eyes than Mr. Glitter.
I don’t know too much about these two bands/artists, but I’ve heard these songs over the last month or so, and gotta say, it’s pretty catchy stuff. I have to attribute some of the catchiness to Gary Glitter’s “Rock and Roll Part 1 & 2”. For those who wondering what song that is, think of any sporting event you’ve been to (at least in the U.S), it’s the song they play after touchdowns, goals, home runs, etc. Da-da-da-da-da HEY da-da-da-da-da-da Da-da-da-da-da-HEY!! – and so on. Does that clear it up for you?
Goldfrapp is the brainchild of Allison Goldfrapp of Bath, England. Electro-pop type of stuff. Louis XIV are from San Diego, CA, and appeal to me because of their wacky twisted brand of indie pop.
So tell me if you agree. Do these two tunes channel Mr. Glitter or what???
Listen:
Louis XIV – Illegal Tender(mp3)
Buy: on Amazon
Web Site: Louis XIV Official Site
Listen:
Goldfrapp – Strict Machine(mp3)
Buy: on Amazon
Web Site: Goldfrapp Official Site