ScarJo and Yorn’s new song “Relator” – and a vinyl giveaway
Even though Scarlett’s cover album of Tom Waits tunes didn’t fare too well commercially or critically, you have to hand it to her for following her musical whims and desires. Her latest project has her teaming up with Pete Yorn for Break Up, a new album due September 15th.
The first single is “Relator”, which was released a couple weeks back. Last week, the video was released – which is a huge deal for me, because, well, this is Scarlett Johansson we’re talking about here, folks.
7″Vinyl Single Giveaway: The good people at Rhino sent me the vinyl 7″ single, which includes the B-side “I Don’t Know What To Do”. If you feel like adding this to your collection, leave a comment below. I’ll pick a random winner a few days down the road. The cover art is different (and better) than the one above. I look at the one above and four words come to mind: “Outta the way, Yorn!!”
Listen: Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson – “Relator”
Visit: The Break Up Album dot com
W-w-watch…
Prince & Lenny – American Woman
If you do a little digging, it is possible to track down some quality Prince video action online. This comes from the Pay-Per-View concert (Rave Un2 the Year 2000) that Prince broadcast on New Year’s Eve 1999. It was a few months after Prince had released the disappointing Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic. The album was released on Arista, and was conceived by Clive Davis as a comeback/collaboration album, similar to what Supernatural had done for Carlos Santana a couple years earlier. It featured artists like Chuck D., Gwen Stefani, and Sheryl Crow, and well, it didn’t turn out to be the smash hit they were looking for.
As for Lenny, he had just contributed his version of the Guess Who classic “American Woman” to the Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me soundtrack.
And here, the two sashay to the stage in dramatic fashion, and do proceed to rock the house.
[dailymotion id=x66l3y]The Friday Five: August 14, 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:
The Band – “Up on Cripple Creek” (from Greatest Hits, 2000)
I’ll admit that I’ve heard this track covered more often than I’ve heard the original.
Phish – “The Divided Sky” (mp3) (from 2009-03-06: Hampton Coliseum, Hampton, VA, USA, 2009)
In this case, I’ll let the music do the talking.
John Mellencamp – “Jack and Diane” (from The Best That I Could Do 1978-1988, 1997)
Pop Quiz: What unique quality does “Jack and Diane” have in common with Prince & The Revolution‘s “When Doves Cry”?
Jellyfish – “Will You Marry Me” (mp3) (from Fan Club, 2002)
I recently acquired this fantastic collection of demos, outtakes, b-sides and live material from what could easily be my favorite band of the early 90’s. As evidenced by my last.fm chart, I’ve been on a steady diet of Jellyfish ever since. “Will You Marry Me” is easily one of the band’s strongest unreleased tracks and was only performed live.
DJ Shadow – “Mashin’ on the Motorway” (from The Private Press, 2002)
I’ve been a fan of DJ Shadow from the first moments of Entroducing…. in 1996. In the years between solo outtings he released an early singles collection and worked as part of the U.N.K.L.E. project but nothing could compare to what he does best
Side Note: The first person to correctly guess the “Pop Quiz” question gets a copy of Assembly of Dust‘s Some Assembly Required.
What’s up next on your shuffle?
RIP Les Paul
Legendary guitarist, inventor, songwriter and overall pioneer Les Paul has passed away at the age of 94. The debt that popular music itself owes to Les is immeasurable. From his part in the creation of the solid-body electric guitar to the first multi-track recording in history his contributions are endless. As a performer, solo and with his late wife Mary Ford, he had scores of top-ten hits and sold millions of records. This particular recording, from the Chester & Lester recording sessions, has long been a favorite of mine.
Chet Atkins & Les Paul – “Over the Rainbow” (mp3) (from Masters of the Guitar: Together, 1978)
Funk Explosion: Dumpstaphunk at the Rhythm Room
It was about 30 seconds into Dumpstaphunk’s set last night that I realized how starved I was for the Funk. No joke. I literally felt it wash over me like an ocean wave, seep into me, cleanse me, f-u-n-k me. That opening instrumental tune – the rapid fire bass lines of Tony Hall, while he stood over Ivan Neville on the Hammond B3, staring eye to eye – completely locked in from square one. While the chicken scratch guitar of Ivan’s son Ian, and the sounds of the funky drummer, Raymond Weber, piled on in the background. A symphony of funk right from the get-go.
I’m trying to think of the last time I was so funked up. It may have been in the late 90’s in Las Vegas, when Prince took over Club Utopia for one of his aftershows – a funk n’ soul laden jam session that lasted well into the morning hours.
It was a similar feeling last night – watching (and feeling) a talented group of musicians jam and have fun – taking the crowd along with them on a funk-tastic voyage. It was refreshing to pack into the Rhythm Room – a small box shaped club in Phoenix (and my favorite venue in town) – with a diverse group of like minded people. Young, old, black, white – you name it. All there to feel the funk.
From originals like “Meanwhile”, “Put It In The Dumpsta”, and their ode to flatulence on the road, “Gas Man” – to a tight n’ killer viersion of James Brown’s “Super Bad” and the show finale, Sly’s “Thank You Falettinme Be Mice Elf” – the boys of Dumpstaphunk did not let up. They packed it all into a 90 minute plus set. The old saying goes, “Leave ’em wanting more”, and they certainly did that. I wasn’t ready to go.
As I lingered around afterwards, still in a daze from the experience, chatting it up with my Twitter buds @kfoxaz and @johnnyuno, there was Ivan Neville standing right next to us. It was cool to tell Ivan how I was a fan of his and his old man (Aaron $!@ Neville!!). I tell you, I never walk out of that Rhythm Room disappointed. Last night – for the first time in too long – the funk – the Dumpstaphunk – came to the hot Arizona desert. In August. And man, did they quench my thirst.
Dumpstaphunk’s Official Site | MySpace
Be sure to check their tour dates. If you’re on the West Coast, they’ll be coming your way in the next week or two.
Here’s a recent show from Archive.org – Dumpstaphunk at the All Good Music Festival in West Virginia last month. It includes that hella-funky opening jam.
Hey, by the way, ever seen such a cool, tricked out Bug? Saw this in the parking lot last night.
Incubus & the Roots do justice to Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy”
?uestlove warned us to set our DVR’s to catch Incubus perform Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy” with the Roots on the Jimmy Fallon show. Only thing is, my computer is upstairs and my DVR is downstairs. If that doesn’t define laziness, I don’t know what does.
Thankfully, Okay Player has the video available, and it has yet to be yanked by the Purple One and his web police goons. I just watched it, and I think this version kicks ass. Lead singer Brandon Boyd clearly knows the song inside and out, and does the song great justice, along with all the great players. Kudos too to Mike Einziger, who nails the guitar parts – including the classic finale solo. Obviously the kids along the railing didn’t grow up with the song like us older farts – they think the song’s over when Einziger starts his solo. Kids…
The Friday Five: August 7, 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:
Jason Mraz – “Life Is Wonderful” (from Selections for Friends, 2006)
Originally from his largely (and criminally) ignored Mr. A-Z, “Life Is Wonderful” is a beautiful bit of alliteration.
Wilco – “It’s Just That Simple” (from A.M., 1995)
A fine country ballad from the bands debut.
Chet Atkins – “Steeplechase Lane” (mp3) (from Chet Atkins: Guitar Legend: The RCA Years, 2000)
Originally from the long out of print Chet Atkins Picks on Jerry Reed.
Estelle – “No Substitute Love” (mp3) (from Shine, 2008)
Complete with a tongue in cheek quote from George Michael‘s “Faith” this is pure pop bliss.
Bryan Adams – “Heaven” (from So Far So Good, 1993)
It’s not “All I Need” but it will have to do.
What’s up next on your shuffle?
Simply Gorgeous
“Their songs start off OK but then it’s all…..ARRRHHHDDDAHHHHHHHRRRRRRARAR.”
So says my wife regarding the New York based band the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Back in 2003, I dragged her to their first show at First Avenue when they were touring in support of the first CD, Fever To Tell. The reaction on her face (nausea) when they did the song “Art Star” (a track from their first self-titled EP which, btw, is one of the BEST album covers EVER) naturally led to what has now become a decade-plus debate with my wife on what is and what is not art.
This perpetual debate usually ends with me saying, “You have to have your art spoon fed to you” which invariably results in me not getting any vag booty that evening (please email me if you do not know what vag booty is or what the difference is between it and ass booty). It’s always been tough to play the Yeah Yeah Yeahs over the years for my wife, who considers The Stranger by Billy Joel and Bat Out of Hell by Meat Loaf to be the high water marks of art in music.
While I do enjoy both of those albums immensely, I think the tapestry of art that is music should contain a great deal more depth than those records. Variety, angst, power, labia, and soul vomit (all words that come to mind when I think of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs) should also be a part the lexicon of artistic expression in music. I doubt my wife, as well as many others, will ever see this.
So, when the Yeah Yeah Yeahs released It’s Blitz last March, I expected a similar reaction. As I listened to the record, I was stunned to hear an entirely new direction. A mellow sound made up of stunning vocals by Karen and wispy keyboards gave me hope that my wife would give it a chance, or perhaps even like it. One track in particular has haunted me since I first played it last spring.
“Skeletons” is simply gorgeous. It’s so fucking good it just breaks my heart. It starts off with melancholic softness and builds into a majestic cacophony that makes the listener feel like he or she is John Wayne riding through Monument Valley in triumph. I am honestly at loggerheads as to which track will be the track of the year… this one or “Strange Enough” by N.A.S.A. Both feature Karen, so at least no matter which song I pick, I know I won’t dis the indie goddess of this century.
Last night as I was making dinner, I put “Skeletons” on the iPod boom box in the kitchen. My wife was reading the paper and looked up in the middle of the song. “This is a terribly sad song. I like it, though. Who is it?” I told her it was the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Her face quickly turned to astonishment. “Really? There’s no…….ARRRRAARRRGGGHHHHAARR…I hardly recognized it.”
I recommend that you buy the deluxe version of It’s Blitz as it has an accoustic (stunning!) version of “Skeletons” in addition to the original version.
Listen: Skeletons
Visit: Official Site
New Pete Droge: The Droge & Summers Blend
Pete Droge just added Volume One, a new EP by The Droge & Summers Blend, to his Puzzle Tree Online Store today. The EP is made up of 5 tracks, and you – the picky music consumer – have the option of paying what you want, a la Radiohead’s In Rainbows. I just picked up the digital download for the default price of $2.99, and they are well worth it. Head over to Pete’s store to listen to the tracks and download if you fancy. The EP is officially released later this month.
The Summers in The Droge & Summers Blend refers to Elaine Summers, a Seattle area musician and artist who shares the vocals with Pete. They recorded the songs on nearby Vashon Island.
I’ve been a fan of Pete’s since his debut, the Brendan O’Brien-produced Necktie Second, back in 1994. There’s just something about his vibe – relaxed, genuine, gentle – that has always sat quite well with me.
Here’s one of the tracks – a happy-go-lucky, summery kind of tune…
Listen: The Droge & Summers Blend – Tie the Knot (mp3)
Name Your Price at Pete’s Puzzle Tree Store.
NEW: John Fogerty and Bruce Springsteen – “When Will I Be Loved”
In 1973, John Fogerty released his solo debut album, The Blue Ridge Rangers – a collection of country, rock and gospel covers- every instrument and every vocal part belonging to John.
On September 1st, John’s back with a whole new collection of favorite tunes, with The Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again. Once again, the record is produced and arranged by Fogerty, but this time around, he brings some friends into the studio to help out with the playing and singing. Among them, Timothy B. Schmidt and Don Henley on Rick Nelson’s “Garden Party”, and one Bruce Springsteen on the Everly Brothers classic “When Will I Be Loved”.
The Boss is a long time fan of Fogerty’s, and it’s great to hear the two of them together, covering such a great tune…
Listen: John Fogerty w/ Bruce Springsteen – “When Will I Be Loved”
→ Pre-Order The Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again |Visit: JohnFogerty.com
Here’s the track listing:
- Paradise (John Prine)
- Never Ending Song of Love (Bonnie Bramett/Delaney Bramlett)
- Garden Party (Rick Nelson)
- I Don’t Care (Just As Long As You Love Me) (Buck Owens)
- Back Home Again (John Denver)
- I’ll Be There (If You Ever Want Me) (Ray Price/Rusty Gabbard)
- Change in the Weather (John Fogerty)
- Moody River (Gary Bruce)
- Heaven’s Just a Sin Away (Jerry Gillespie)
- Fallin’ Fallin’ Fallin’ (D. Deckleman/J. Guillot/J.D. Miller)
- Haunted House (Robert L.Geddins)
- When Will I Be Loved (Phil Everly)
