Brent Randall and his Pinecones
I dipped into the inbox tonight and discovered this little gem from Halifax, Nova Scotia’s own Brent Randall and his Pinecones. Hell yeah, Brent and Band. It’s a catchy, dreamy little ditty and I thought I’d pass along…oh, and there’s an odd video to go along with it.
Hear: Strangelove (Don’t Be Lazy) [mp3]
Check out the album, We Were Strangers In Paddington Green, on
Links: Official Site | MySpace
Beastie Boys on Fallon
The Beastie Boys appeared on Jimmy Fallon last night. Some thoughts:
- The Beastie Boys still kick ass.
- The Beastie Boys are aging right along with the rest of us (except for that poofy haired Mike D. What’s his secret?).
- I know their schedule is pretty full, but the Roots clearly need to be the Beasties’ full time backing band.
- I now feel the need to check out the newly released remastered edition of Check Your Head…
Check out “So What’cha Want” from Fallon:
New Nino Moschella: Boom Shadow
Slipping just under my radar last week was the new release from California funk-soulmeister Nino Moschella. His debut a couple years back, The Fix, was heavy on the retro 70’s soul/funk sound – think Parliament, Sly, Shuggie Otis and the like (yep even Prince) – and his new one continues down that road – but advances even further production-wise.
The album is Boom Shadow, and even with all the comparisons and retro feel, you’ve still never heard anything like it. Moschella’s arrangements and production work on this album is a huge progression from The Fix. The horns, the synths, the innovative rhythms and vibes…
Just take a listen to this pair of tunes – tracks 5 and 6 on the album – and tell me this isn’t completely off the charts. Much like I said with his first album, if you long for the days when Prince used to drop crazy, innovative work on us, then you will really dig Boom Shadow.
Looking At Your Face
Hear: Continue to Call (mp3)
Buy Boom Shadow on Amazon or on the Ubiquity Records site.
Side note: If you’re on iTunes, be sure to download iConcertCal. The latest version is killer. It integrates as a visualizer into your iTunes, takes a look at your iTunes library – then shows you who in your library has an upcoming show in your area, and when they have new albums scheduled. Take a look & download here. Highly recommended by yours truly.
Tractor Pull Divas
It’s time to spread the word about some quality music in my neck of the woods here in Arizona. I don’t do it enough..
Tractor Pull Divas hail from Chandler, one of Phoenix’s ‘burbs just southeast of the city. They’ve got a nice rootsy sound with a good, clear vocalist reminiscent of Roger McGuinn and Tom Petty. They’re keeping it pretty incognito online. They have a MySpace page, but nowhere do I see any mention of their names and backgrounds.
But I do know they have an EP that they released last year: Love Songs for (Insert Your Name Here), and I recommend dropping the $5. You can never go wrong supporting an unsigned band, can ya?
Hear: It’s Not Going To Kill Me (mp3)
Buy their EP, Love Songs for (Insert Your Name Here) on CD Baby or on
Lady Beatboxer
A couple of years ago, I posted this sweet French beatboxer. Today, the ladies take over things and show us how it’s done…
Thanks to Crooks & Liars Late Night Music Club.
Ick’s Pick (Week XX): Jason Lytle
I got sucked right into grandaddy‘s beautiful space pop when I heard their amazing album The Sophtware Slump way back in old ’00. A couple of albums later, front man Jason Lytle decided to call it quits (after releasing Just Like the Fambly Cat in 2006). He packed up his gear and moved to the Bridger Mountains around Bozeman, Montana. I opined back then that the clean Big Sky air would likely result in something cool in the not too distant future. Well it took three years, but here we have it: Jason’s debut solo album, Yours Truly, The Commuter.
The sound and feel of the music doesn’t stray far from the grandaddy sound – gorgeous melodies, unique lyrics, and an infusion of experimental electronic sounds into indie/folk based songs. There’s a sweet and gentle quality to Jason’s music, with an undercurrent of bittersweet sadness.
And it’s the dreamy, floating, melancholic tunes that I gravitate towards most on this record. The last half dozen songs have this area covered… “Fürget It” transitioning into the slow waltz of “This Song Is The Mute Button”; followed by “Rollin’ Home Alone”, “You’re Too Gone”, “Flying Through Canyons”, and “Here for Good”.
After hearing these, I can guarantee you won’t be cheered up. But that’s obviously not the intent. The self-imposed exile that Jason imposed on himself – from Modesto, Calif. to Montana – obviously sparked some soul searching, and the result is a sublime but sort of downcast collection of songs (if you ignore “It’s the Weekend”, an out of place ode to Saturday).
It’s all summed up during “I Am Lost (and the moment cannot last)” -“On mountain high / I’ll say goodbye / My concerns have been confirmed / I am lost“
Jason Lytle’s Montana days have yielded a great album, but hey – friends of Jason – sounds like he needs some company!
BUY Yours Truly, The Commuter (Amazon)
Watch the video for “I Am Lost (and the moment cannot last)”
Visit: Jason’s Official Site
Family Guy channels Revenge of the Nerds
I was delighted this past Sunday during Family Guy, when “King Stewie” and Griffin Peterson (Peter) decided to settle their differences the old fashioned way: with a talent show straight from Revenge of the Nerds. Classic!
A must see for any Nerds fan…
And the original…
Happy Birthday Joey Ramone
The world is worse off without the presence of Joey Ramone. Eight years ago (8!) last month, Joey lost his battle with lymphoma – he didn’t even see his 50’s, and that’s a tragic shame. I think often about how strange it is to live in a world without Joey Ramone and Joe Strummer. It just doesn’t seem right, does it?
May 19th is Joey’s birthday, and like a lot of people around the world, I’m marking the occasion by blasting the Ramones. Much like we hold artists like Mozart, Bach, and Beethoven in such high esteem today, our descendants 100-200 years down the road will study and enjoy the works of one Jeff Hyman and his band of “brothers”: the Ramones – inventors of Punk. What a legacy. What a body of work to unleash upon the world. And the world needed it.
Here are a few from my favorite Ramones album, Pleasant Dreams, a 1981 record produced by 10cc’s Graham Gouldman. Johnny Ramone wasn’t crazy about the production, calling it “too slick”. But as I’ve mentioned before around these parts, I love every song. It may be polished compared to early Ramones, but the melodies & hooks are great, and it’ll always be a favorite.
Visit: Joey Ramone.com – and if you’re in NYC, head down to the Joey Ramone Birthday Bash Tuesday noght at the Filmore @ Irving Plaza (see web site for details).
30 Rock’s Kidney Now!
Here’s that great moment from 30 Rock last night. NBC will probably yank it off Youtube in a matter of minutes, so check it out while you can…