Monday, March 14, 2011
Friday, November 5, 2010
Rock on TV
As a music fanatic and geek, I can't help but get excited when my love for music is shared by others and expressed through the all mighty television. I have spent countless hours listening to and dissecting songs. Imagining their origin, or place in the world. And even where they don't belong in the world. It thrills me when that same enthusiasm reveals itself in some less than expected places.
I love this clip from the Simpsons. I think the actual song is about 16 minutes in when the organist finally faints.
All I have to say is MORE COWBELL.
I wasn't able to find an online clip of this portion of the first episode of Flight of the Conchords, but I was able to grab a transcription. It's not quite the same, but will have to do. The scene takes place in a friend's pawn shop and Jermaine is now dating Bret's exgirlfriend. Bret isn't too keen on the idea. Their inept band manager, Murray, is none to happy about the situation and trying to resolve it...
Murray: When you're in a band, you don't get with your bandmate's girlfriend - past or present.
Jemaine: Yes, well thanks for that.
Murray: You get a love triangle - you know? Fleetwood Mac situation... Well, there there was four of them, so more of a love square. But you know, no one gets on.
Jemaine: Okay, I see.
Murray: Mind you, they did make some of their best music back then.
Bret: Rumours.
Murray: No, that's all true.
Reading it is a little dry, but trust me, the show is hilarious. I highly recommend it. They work songs with videos into the plot of each episode. Perhaps this will entice you from the same episode:
I love this clip from the Simpsons. I think the actual song is about 16 minutes in when the organist finally faints.
All I have to say is MORE COWBELL.
I wasn't able to find an online clip of this portion of the first episode of Flight of the Conchords, but I was able to grab a transcription. It's not quite the same, but will have to do. The scene takes place in a friend's pawn shop and Jermaine is now dating Bret's exgirlfriend. Bret isn't too keen on the idea. Their inept band manager, Murray, is none to happy about the situation and trying to resolve it...
Murray: When you're in a band, you don't get with your bandmate's girlfriend - past or present.
Jemaine: Yes, well thanks for that.
Murray: You get a love triangle - you know? Fleetwood Mac situation... Well, there there was four of them, so more of a love square. But you know, no one gets on.
Jemaine: Okay, I see.
Murray: Mind you, they did make some of their best music back then.
Bret: Rumours.
Murray: No, that's all true.
Reading it is a little dry, but trust me, the show is hilarious. I highly recommend it. They work songs with videos into the plot of each episode. Perhaps this will entice you from the same episode:
Friday, October 22, 2010
What's been up...
40 cds in chronological order with release year in 1 minute with Eyes closed.
Here's a guy that I think I could put to shame. I am missing one live album and single that he mentions though. He does leave off in 2004 with the self titled album and doesn't even delve into the singles off of that one.
In Dust
I've been mining through a lot of my old industrial catalogue lately. That was such a huge part of my life for so long! It has been many years since I've really been moved to listen to that kind of music. This has been such a great reminder of why I hold on to so many cds. Most of these artists were from small indie labels that are now gone and so is the music. Many of these artists are forgotten by time (and some with good reason). I've actually been looking for literature on the genre and am amazed at the complete lack of any. If I had the time and the chops, I would love to be the first to assemble the Industrial Music text book.
... here's my favorite halloween themed song
Here's a guy that I think I could put to shame. I am missing one live album and single that he mentions though. He does leave off in 2004 with the self titled album and doesn't even delve into the singles off of that one.
In Dust
I've been mining through a lot of my old industrial catalogue lately. That was such a huge part of my life for so long! It has been many years since I've really been moved to listen to that kind of music. This has been such a great reminder of why I hold on to so many cds. Most of these artists were from small indie labels that are now gone and so is the music. Many of these artists are forgotten by time (and some with good reason). I've actually been looking for literature on the genre and am amazed at the complete lack of any. If I had the time and the chops, I would love to be the first to assemble the Industrial Music text book.
... here's my favorite halloween themed song
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Coolest Wedding
Way back when my wife and I were nearly married, we used our pre-marital bliss to our advantage at a Depeche Mode show. The show was a Jones Beach and took place two days before our wedding. We approached a radio station that was there and told them our situation out of mere joy. The DJ used us in a station promo and upgraded our nose-bleed seats to the center of the front row. It was such a cool experience to kick off the string of wedding celebrations that would follow.
This Norwegian couple out did us by leaps and bounds. Proposing to someone at a concert is pretty cool, but getting them to come to your wedding and perform for you out of the kindness of their hearts is unreal. I have been quite taken by Band of Horses of late and this just makes them all the cooler.
Great sound recording too!
This Norwegian couple out did us by leaps and bounds. Proposing to someone at a concert is pretty cool, but getting them to come to your wedding and perform for you out of the kindness of their hearts is unreal. I have been quite taken by Band of Horses of late and this just makes them all the cooler.
Great sound recording too!
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Cat-2883 Nine Inch Nails
an overview of the Nine Inch Nails catalogue:
Essential
The Downward Spiral(1994) – The masterpiece. Trent Reznor found himself in a position of artistic freedom and major label backing. Noisy and bold, TDS was an unlikely success. In the age of grunge flannel and garage band rock, Reznor defied the odds with keyboards, static, fishnet stocking and becomes a household name. TDS was the pinnacle of Reznor’s emotional decent. Each album took his doubt and angst a little farther. TDS is extreme and deals with themes of suicide, rejecting religion, complete loss of self, and a hit single with the chorus, “I Want To F*#k You Like An Animal.” The album is so intense and sincere, that it left him nowhere to go from there. How do you follow up an act like that? Closer
Year Zero(2007) – When it seemed that NIN had run it’s course and reached a point of being an act that had offered up the best of what they had to offer early on and were costing on good material and nostalgia, Year Zero erupted. YZ is perhaps the most brilliant artistic and business move that Trent Reznor has made. Once your demons are confronted with the ferocity of TDS, facing them again felt old and tired on the follow ups. Reznor must have put a ton of thought into his approach for this album that largely veered from the rock numbers of With Teeth and built his songs around an imagined future. Each song is from the perspective of different characters in an elaborately imagined future America. Even beyond the freshly charged music vision, YZ is bigger than a group of songs. There was an entire alternate reality created online and in the packaging that immersed and engaged in the unfolding and revelation of the experience. More here and here
Great
Pretty Hate Machine(1989) – Another fantastic album. The promise of what Trent would have to offer is there even though it not fully realized yet. This was the soundtrack to my high school years. I don’t think there was a single day during that span of four years that I didn’t listen to this album. The production is naïve, but Trent squeezes more life and passion out of keyboards and synthesizers than most artists can out of conventional instruments. HLAH
Broken(1992) – In the midst of a career starting to take off came a label dispute that nearly ended his career as a musician. The anger and frustration of this time for Trent is more than evident on his hardest and shortest release. Broken is a 20 minute bombardment of guitars and pounding beats driving the “fuck you” attitude Reznor clearly had towards his old label. Wish
Good
With Teeth(2005) – A solid album with some high points. There are a few missteps that make you question whether or not Reznor’s rage had run its course (revisiting themes, a single lamenting the repetitiveness of daily life). Most importantly, this album put Reznor back on track after The Fragile. Doubters from the last effort could take comfort that Trent can still deliver. Everyday
Ok
The Fragile(1999) – The 1999 flop. Reznor waited five years to follow up his masterpiece and foolishly fell victim to expectation. He felt compelled to continue to top his own efforts and forced together an opus spanning two discs in an elaborate tri-fold package. Careers and genres of popular music came and went between albums and this grand gesture was delivered to an audience that had moved on. The singles were weak and the album was terribly disjointed. Like any other release of Trent’s, there are some fantastic songs, but 2 discs is asking a lot of listeners to sift through.
The Slip(2008) – It’s free! More or less, this one sounds like a compilation of songs not used on With Teeth and Ghosts. Still, it’s good and it’s free. FREE!
And All That Could Have Been(2002) – The live companion to The Fragile. I so wish that they had done this after TDS. That was by far the best line-up and tour that NIN has had. It’s good and kind of a best of for his earlier work. Oddly, the Fragile numbers mostly are the more forgettable ones especially placed among Wish and Head Like A Hole. The companion disc has some worthwhile stuff including “acoustic” versions of some older tracks and other tracks from the Fragile sessions.
Hard listen
Ghosts 1-4(2008) – Great instrumental collection. But it’s two discs of instrumentals.
Fixed(1992) – The partner to broken remixes the songs and clocks them in at more than twice the length of the original. Fixed clears up any fears that nin were turning into a guitar rock band. This is a noisy industrial powerhouse.
Fans only
The next three are remix albums and eps that work as companions to legitimate albums.
Things Fall Apart(2000) – companion to The Fragile
Y34RZ3R0R3M1X3D(2007) – companion to Year Zero
Further Down The Spiral(1995) – companion to The Downward Spiral
Essential
The Downward Spiral(1994) – The masterpiece. Trent Reznor found himself in a position of artistic freedom and major label backing. Noisy and bold, TDS was an unlikely success. In the age of grunge flannel and garage band rock, Reznor defied the odds with keyboards, static, fishnet stocking and becomes a household name. TDS was the pinnacle of Reznor’s emotional decent. Each album took his doubt and angst a little farther. TDS is extreme and deals with themes of suicide, rejecting religion, complete loss of self, and a hit single with the chorus, “I Want To F*#k You Like An Animal.” The album is so intense and sincere, that it left him nowhere to go from there. How do you follow up an act like that? Closer
Year Zero(2007) – When it seemed that NIN had run it’s course and reached a point of being an act that had offered up the best of what they had to offer early on and were costing on good material and nostalgia, Year Zero erupted. YZ is perhaps the most brilliant artistic and business move that Trent Reznor has made. Once your demons are confronted with the ferocity of TDS, facing them again felt old and tired on the follow ups. Reznor must have put a ton of thought into his approach for this album that largely veered from the rock numbers of With Teeth and built his songs around an imagined future. Each song is from the perspective of different characters in an elaborately imagined future America. Even beyond the freshly charged music vision, YZ is bigger than a group of songs. There was an entire alternate reality created online and in the packaging that immersed and engaged in the unfolding and revelation of the experience. More here and here
Great
Pretty Hate Machine(1989) – Another fantastic album. The promise of what Trent would have to offer is there even though it not fully realized yet. This was the soundtrack to my high school years. I don’t think there was a single day during that span of four years that I didn’t listen to this album. The production is naïve, but Trent squeezes more life and passion out of keyboards and synthesizers than most artists can out of conventional instruments. HLAH
Broken(1992) – In the midst of a career starting to take off came a label dispute that nearly ended his career as a musician. The anger and frustration of this time for Trent is more than evident on his hardest and shortest release. Broken is a 20 minute bombardment of guitars and pounding beats driving the “fuck you” attitude Reznor clearly had towards his old label. Wish
Good
With Teeth(2005) – A solid album with some high points. There are a few missteps that make you question whether or not Reznor’s rage had run its course (revisiting themes, a single lamenting the repetitiveness of daily life). Most importantly, this album put Reznor back on track after The Fragile. Doubters from the last effort could take comfort that Trent can still deliver. Everyday
Ok
The Fragile(1999) – The 1999 flop. Reznor waited five years to follow up his masterpiece and foolishly fell victim to expectation. He felt compelled to continue to top his own efforts and forced together an opus spanning two discs in an elaborate tri-fold package. Careers and genres of popular music came and went between albums and this grand gesture was delivered to an audience that had moved on. The singles were weak and the album was terribly disjointed. Like any other release of Trent’s, there are some fantastic songs, but 2 discs is asking a lot of listeners to sift through.
The Slip(2008) – It’s free! More or less, this one sounds like a compilation of songs not used on With Teeth and Ghosts. Still, it’s good and it’s free. FREE!
And All That Could Have Been(2002) – The live companion to The Fragile. I so wish that they had done this after TDS. That was by far the best line-up and tour that NIN has had. It’s good and kind of a best of for his earlier work. Oddly, the Fragile numbers mostly are the more forgettable ones especially placed among Wish and Head Like A Hole. The companion disc has some worthwhile stuff including “acoustic” versions of some older tracks and other tracks from the Fragile sessions.
Hard listen
Ghosts 1-4(2008) – Great instrumental collection. But it’s two discs of instrumentals.
Fixed(1992) – The partner to broken remixes the songs and clocks them in at more than twice the length of the original. Fixed clears up any fears that nin were turning into a guitar rock band. This is a noisy industrial powerhouse.
Fans only
The next three are remix albums and eps that work as companions to legitimate albums.
Things Fall Apart(2000) – companion to The Fragile
Y34RZ3R0R3M1X3D(2007) – companion to Year Zero
Further Down The Spiral(1995) – companion to The Downward Spiral
Monday, August 9, 2010
Pancake Albums
A pancake album is an album that plays out like a plate of pancakes. They are all exciting at the beginning and by the end you're pretty sick of them. Sick of them is a little bit harsh. There are plenty of albums out there that the front end is so heavily loaded with great music that the back end is totally overshadowed.
The best example that I can think of is U2 - The Joshua Tree. It is a solid album through and through, but it is the first three tracks that make it memorable.
Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix is another fine example of a heavily front loaded album. It is another fantastic album through and through, but I could be totally satisfied with the first six tracks alone.
Any other qualifiers out there?
Friday, August 6, 2010
SOTD - Heartbreaker-Dread Zeppelin
Campy, campy, campy! What a fantastic gimmick though!
To their credit, this song could be considered a pioneering move in the development of the mash-up.
To their credit, this song could be considered a pioneering move in the development of the mash-up.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)