The Cars are Back [Video: “Blue Tip”]
For those of us who grew up listening to The Cars, there’s something comforting about hearing Ric Ocasek’s voice and that vintage Cars sound here in the year 2011. After all, the last time they released an album of new music was 1987. Just a few things have changed in the time between.
But reunited they have – all original members (minus bassist and occasional lead vocalist Benjamin Orr, who passed away in 2000 after a battle with pancreatic cancer). Their new album, titled Move Like This, will be released on May 10th, and the lead single and video, “Blue Tip”, is now out – and it has that unmistakeable Cars sound: the new wave/rock blend and the quirky vocals of Ric Ocasek (yep, still married to Paulina Porizcova, 26+ years now).
Here’s “Blue Tip”:
Radiohead’s ‘The King of Limbs’ [My 2 Cents]
Like a lot of you, I dropped the $9.00 for Radiohead‘s new album The King of Limbs, when it was offered up a day earlier than expected on Friday. What was it, last Monday when it was announced out of the blue that Radiohead would release a new album in the coming weekend? It’s quite a phenomenon the way this band can command the attention of the entire music industry at will. Their ‘pay what you want’ model for their last record, In Rainbows, generated all the buzz the last time around (can you believe that was more than three years ago? October 2007).
This time around, it was 0 to 60 in minutes last week as the word spread across Twitter and Facebook faster than it took for Lady Gaga to emerge from her Grammy egg. On Friday, the digital album made itself available, along with a video for track 5 on the album, “Lotus Flower” – featuring Thom Yorke’s avant-garde gyrations.
So I’ve listened a few times now, most recently during a run this overcast, dreary morning in Arizona. I think the album “hit me” most profoundly during this outing. Thing is, the band’s music – electronic, experimental, atmospheric – has a way of transforming your environment as you listen. It’s one thing to take in The King of Limbs sitting at your computer or in your living room. But it’s an entirely different experience listening to it out on the town, or running around the neighborhood. It makes you take in your surroundings differently – the cars that pass, the blowing trees, the faces of people walking by – with the filter of this album providing your soundtrack. It transforms reality… drug-like almost.
I enjoy the creativity in Radiohead’s music. It’s always an interesting listen – and it got decidedly more interesting post OK Computer, wouldn’t you say? When the 1-2 punch of Kid A and Amnesiac were released in 2000 and 2001, we knew the game had changed… or rather that Radiohead had changed up their game. We were free to come along for the ride, but don’t expect a smooth, orderly trip.
Gone are the sing along, epic, almost anthem-like songs like “Creep”, “Fake Plastic Trees”, “Let Down” and the like. Well, maybe some of you sing along to “Everything In Its Right Place”, “Like Spinning Plates”, and now “Morning Mr. Magpie”… but to my ears, the melodic stuff went adios with OK Computer.
So as someone whose musical taste spans across many many genres of music, I enjoy The King of Limbs because I enjoy bands that think outside of the box, who create completely unpredictable pieces of music that are hard to categorize.
The King of Limbs is another work of art by a band that plays by their own rules.
→ Visit Radiohead’s site to purchase The King of Limbs: http://www.radiohead.com/deadairspace/
Bruce: Give My Love to Rose
I stumbled across this today. Still gives me chills…
“tell my Rose to go and find another / you tell her that I will understand”
From a 1999 tribute to Johnny Cash.
The Friday Five: February 18, 2011
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:
“Make It Mine” by Jason Mraz (from We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things., 2008)
It feels like it has been forever since I last listened to this record. (According to iTunes, the last time was September; not quite forever.) Taken in small doses, it is impossible to be in a bad mood after listening to Mraz.
“Rolling in the Deep” by Adele (from 21, 2011)
I haven’t had a chance to dig into this album properly, yet. What I’ve heard, though gives me hope that Miss Adkins has taken her craft to the next level. With a bit of delta blues spirit, and just a touch of gospel, “Rolling in the Deep” is a slow burn that builds to a full-blown blaze at its close.
“The Game Gets Old” by Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings (from I Learned the Hard Way, 2010)
One of my favorite live acts, Jones is nothing short of a powerhouse. Popdose’s new music editor, Ken Shane, had a recent opportunity to catch the stellar soul singer in Rhode Island, which he came away from equally blown away. If you have any opportunity to catch the Jones, do not hesitate. I guarantee you’ll have a great time.
“P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)” by Michael Jackson (from Thriller, 1982)
The King is dead. Long live the King.
“Boogie Chillen” by Buddy Guy & Junior Wells (from Alone & Acoustic, 1991)
This record, mmm-hmm. Hell, I’m not even sure I can put it into words. Two master bluesmen, hold up in a studio somewhere in Europe with just an acoustic guitar, absolutely throwing down.
What’s on your shuffle today?
My Dove, My Lamb
Today, I developed a case of the blahs. Without good reason, really. I’m blessed. Family, work, health…all great, no complaints. But sometimes, even when all’s well, that crap feeling can creep in and take hold. I think they call it part of living.
So tonight I decided to seek out some soul soothing music. Something to take me to that cathartic, introspective place that only good music can. I found it in Phosphorescent with their 2007 album Pride.
I found it particularly in the nine minute and twenty-five second “My Dove, My Lamb”. Seven of the most gorgeous and touching verses put to song. I don’t particularly like linking to those shitty, dime-a-dozen lyrics sites, but you really should listen to this song and read the lyrics. Breathtaking, really…
So even in these cities where she’s haunting me
Even when my weariness is wanting me
Even when my wickednesses want to breathe
Even in these dirty clubs counting 1-2-3
I will keep a singing til I no more can
My dove my dove my lambThe whole album has a very spiritual quality to it – lots of harmonies, lots of reverb, and best of all, singer Matthew Houck’s voice – delicate but resolute. Definitely not a record you’d pull out and play for your friends on a Saturday night. Rather, I find it’s more of a companion record – one that a listener can form an individual bond with.
Love this band, and love this tune…
Phosphorescent – My Dove, My Lamb – from Pride
Phosphorescent’s Official Site
Yuck!
Yuck Yuck Yuck. The last couple of weeks, everywhere I turn it seems I’m hearing about Yuck! Well, this is Ickmusic, so it’s only right that I give Yuck a chance…
I listened to their new record on my run a couple days ago, and enjoyed what I heard. Guitar-driven indie pop/rock…some good up tempo noise rockers (“The Wall”, “Holing Out”). And some nice melodic laid back tunes too.
I was most intrigued with “Suicide Policeman”. I like how the drums kick in…
Buy the MP3 of Suicide Policeman or the whole Yuck album. And visit Yuck’s web site.
By the way, I don’t recommend a Google image search of “yuck“. Let’s just say it’s everything but pictures of the band.
KMAG YOYO (New from Hayes Carll)
It was just a matter if time before I got around to Hayes Carll. After all, I’m a longtime fan of artists cut from the same cloth: Steve Earle, John Prine and Todd Snider in particular. Hayes sounds a lot like Snider, very similar singing voices – and as far as his sense of humor goes, Snider and Prine are blood brothers of Carll (don’t get confused on “Bottle In My Hand” though, that is indeed Mr. Snider joining along).
As a Rdio subscriber, I’m always jumping on the new releases every Tuesday. Today, Hayes Carll’s latest, KMAG YOYO (& other American stories), hit the real and virtual shelves. It was SiriusXM Outlaw Country that played me “The Lovin’ Cup” today, and I headed right over to Rdio to check out the whole album.
The title of the album may be familiar to our military, but silly old civilian me, I had to Google it. It’s an Army acronym for “Kiss My Ass Guys, You’re On Your Own”.
“The Lovin’ Cup” is right up my twang-lovin’ alley – an up tempo, roadhouse shit-kicker of a song…
“I’m sittin’ cross-legged in the heartache tree knowin’ damn well you ain’t a-thinkin’ bout me…”
Buy the MP3 of The Lovin’ Cup, or check out all of KMAG YOYO (& other American stories) on Amazon.
Check out Hayes Carll’s Official Site | Facebook
Here’s Hayes and his band performing the title track recently at SiriusXM’s studios…
I Wish She Was My Girlfriend
I ♡ Bethany Cosentino. ♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡!!!!!!!
Alright, I know I sound like I just fell out of this month’s Tiger Beat, but Bethany is something that every woman should strive to be….hot and cool at the same time.
Bethany fronts a band called Best Coast and I had the distinct honor of seeing them last night at the Varsity Theater. The LA band’s first release, Crazy For You, is a magnificent record dripped in Phil Spector worship and estrogen powered angst. Their hit, Boyfriend, has been obsessively played on my iPod for the last few months and made my playlist of 2010. The whole record is fantastic, though, and it was great to hear it played live…which they played pretty much in its entirety along with some news songs and some covers.
Bethany, Bob, and Ali put on an excellent show last night and you should catch them on the remainder of their tour.
Here is the video for Boyfriend.
The Friday Five: February 11, 2011
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:
Editor’s Note: Another busy Friday for the Five, but fear not … once the dust settles, I’ll be back to drop some thoughts behind the five tunes that found their way to my ears this morning. — MP
“Another One Bites the Dust” by Queen (from Live at Wembley ‘86, 1992)
“Losing My Religion” by R.E.M. (from In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003, 2003)
“We Want Some P***y” by The 2 Live Crew (from The 2 Live Crew Is What We Are, 1986)
“Money (That’s What I Want)” by The Beatles (from With The Beatles, 1963)
“Crush” by Dave Matthews Band (from Before These Crowded Streets, 1998)
What’s on your shuffle today?
Red House Painters
Red House Painters. I think I listened to their latest album, Songs for a Blue Guitar, only once before tonight – and didn’t give it a good listen at that.
Some cool tracks on this one…
A Neil Young-inspired 11 minute thrasher here with “Silly Little Love Songs”…
A Cars cover! “All Mixed Up”! Completely revamped…
And the song that pushed me again toward the album after hearing on Sirius XM’s The Loft – the title track. I thought I was hearing a slowed down, acoustic version of Mazzy Star’s “Fade Into You”, but it was this…
