Archive for October, 2005
jamie on October 26th, 2005
So I was browsing through new releases, and came across this little gem from last week that I missed because it’s a soundtrack comp- a bin I tend to skip right over. Stubb The Zombie is the soudtrack to the game by the same name, full of classic 60’s tunes covered by a gaggle of today’s top acts. Death Cab For Cutie, Cake, Phontom Planet, The Walkmen, Ben Kweller, and Clem Snide all take a stab at tracks like Lollipop, My Boyfriend’s Back, Strangers In The Night, and Mr. Sandman, among others. There’s just something about hearing fresh takes on these songs. I’m not saying it’s going into regular rotation on my iPod or anything but it does make for a refreshing break from the current status quo- which, come to think of it, is pretty sad. I looked over the week’s list of new releases for what seems to be the 6th week in a row and thought, “when will the good stuff come out?”. Looking at the calendar of releases for the rest of the year, it may not be until 2006 that my question gets and answer.
jamie on October 17th, 2005
There is just nothing going on in commercial music this week. N-O-T-H-I-N-G. I bought Ellie Lawson’s new disc at Barnes & Noble last week, it’s good, but the album as a whole doesn’t quite stand up to the single, Gotta Get Up From Here. This week’s new release list held zero interest for me, so I turned to Radio & Records’ “Going For Ads” to see what was going on in radio. First off, let me just say that the term “alternative” needs to be retired. There was a time, when it meant something- it was litterally the alternative to the glam-rock and synth-pop of the end of the century. It was the commercial realization that something that sounded different could sell records. With roots in the punk movement, it eventually became the descriptor for just about anything that was out of the mainstream- until the alternative became the mainstream. Even as early at 1995, “Alternative” was no longer alternative music, but rather just another hot word used to sell albums. The problem is, radio geniuses are still using it to try and sell music. Hell, even Atlanta radio station 99x likes to call themselves “Everything Alternative” (they used to say they were “New Music and Everything Alternative”, but they’ve dropped the “new” bit, probably because someone pointed out the fact that their playlist is the same twleve songs they were playing 9 months ago).
Even geting away from the historical meaning of the term, “Alternative” would seem to indicate a choice- something not on the regular menu, as it were. How is Blink 182 not on that “regular menu”? Or Staind? How about putting Ozzy Osbourne into the Alternative category- becuase, surely, nobody’s ever heard anything like that before. The idea that Alternative music should actually be an alternative choice to what everything else sounds like has obviously been lost on radio today.
jamie on October 12th, 2005
Trying to listen to the new Paul Weller, but I haven’t had enough caffeine yet today… last text msg sent from my phone last night @ 4:30 am…ugh.
jamie on October 12th, 2005
Okay, no time to really get into anything right now, but here’s this week’s new stuff in brief:
Dangerdoom - The Mouse And The Mask
Whoa! Just my first listen to this, and I was bown away. Mixed with sooundbytes and samples from the album’s inspiration, Aqua Teen unger Force, it really made me feel old- I just don’t get ATHF. The talent displayed in this album makes up for any misgivings I might have for it’s muses.
Jamie Cullum - Catching Tales
I think this is a better offering than his first, but the jazz-piano-wants-be-pop Cullum just doesn’t offer enough pop with his jazz. And the jazz ain’t all that either. It’s kinda like luke warm easy listening sure not to raise your pulse a beat- perfect for a dentist’s office waiting room. I guess what I’m saying is: it’s better than the last one, but skip it- even if he’s got a good name.
Matt Pond PA - Several Arrows Later
There’s something nice and warm in Matt Pond PA that makes me think of days when I was young, coming home after sledding down dead man’s hill, shedding the show suit, and grabbing a hot chocolate. But again, there’s little there that sends chills donw my spine- it’s just not the likes of LeMontagne or Iron & Wine, though I htink it wishes it was.
Butch Walker - Cover Me Badd
Butch Walker is always good for a high-energy live show, and this collection of mostly live cover songs performed by Walker doesn’t disappoint. You gotta love his balls-out live version of Since U Been Gone, and his vocals hold out better than Kelly Clasrkson’s did at the VMA’s.
Jordis Unga - Man Who Sold The World
Though not entirely a new release, this recording taken from the reality-tv series RockStar:INXS is just beautiful. I hope to see a full-length new release from Ms. Unga in the near future.
jamie on October 12th, 2005
Tomorrow is John Peel day, as celebrated by the BBC - Peel was a radio DJ in both America and the UK that had a significant impact on rock music. In the 60’s, Peel was part of the Rock and Roll revolution in the UK. He was a presenter (Brit for “DJ”) at Radio1 when the station was launched by the BBC, and his “Peel Sessions”, spotlighting live recordings of the day’s newest bands, became as famous as some of the bands they featured. John Peel continued to work in radio, and Rock, until his death last year.
Considering the current influence of British bands on rock music today (and the singer-songwriter genre), the influence of John Peel can be heard in the bands that he championed, and even the bands that credit the bands that Peel championed. It’s like six degrees of Kevin Bacon- if you wree to play the game using musicians, relatin gthem all back to John Peel, I’m sure he’s touched just about every known rock outfit in six degrees or less. Anyways, John Peel was an important person to Rock and Roll, and modern music in general, so go by the Radio1 website, and check out some of the info there on Peel, and next time you listen to your favorite band, think about where they’d be if someone hadn’t given them their big break.
jamie on October 9th, 2005
Q Awards in London today- James Blunt got “Best New Act”, and K.T. Tunstall got “Best Track”, and Coldplay got “Best Act In The World Today”- two out of three ain’t bad.
jamie on October 4th, 2005
The Magic Numbers are like a breath of fresh air in a world of bands that want to sound like Franz Ferdinand or The Killers. This dual pair of siblings create music that encompases elements of 50’s rock, pop and country, and spin it all together with wonderfully simple harmonies. Songs on the album range from simple and sweet to (slightly) more powerfull and driving to jangle-pop that simply makes you want to “clap along”. Love Me Like You remembers a love lost with such sweet harmonies and poppy melodies that lines like “all those years gone by / I only want to find a way / to make it hard for you” almost seem cheery. The special blend of male lead vocals and female harmonies that is distinctly The Magic Numbers’ is really most evident on Forever Lost, where lead vocals and songwriter Romeo’s voice is so perfectly complemented by his sister Michelle (bass) and co-writer Sean’s (drums) sister Angela (percussion, etc.). This is just quality music, as evidenced by their nomination for the UK’s top music prize, the Mercury Prize last month (they lost, however, to the much over-hyped and nausiating Antony and the Johnsons).
jamie on October 3rd, 2005
It’s a new music Tuesday, and this week, I’m actually excited about some of the stuff that’s out. It feels like so long since there was a quality NMT that I was almost looking forward to the holidays. Out today is new material from Franz Ferdinand, The Magic Numbers, Liz Phair, Twista, and Sinead O’Connor. Yeah, you read that last one right- Sinead O’Connor has a new album out.
Sinead O’Connor - Throw Down Your Arms
I was somewhat surprised last week, when the demo arrived in the mail- the cover artwork is a photograph of what might be O’Connor in her childhood, dressed in a white dress. This image is bordered by celtic knotwork. Not having heard any of O’Connor’s work since 1994, and based on the stereotyped “celtic” images on the cover, I was certainly NOT expecting a reggae album- but that’s what Throw Down Your Arms is a compilation of reggae covers featuring Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare (”Sly and Robbie”). Putting two such legendary reggae innovators on your cover album doesn’t instantly qualify it as “good” reggae though. Though O’Connor’s voice is beautiful and pure, it is uncomfortably and awkwardly wedged into these songs. Maybe the Irish accent just wasn’t meant to sing reggae. Most tracks on the album are sung with all the reggae feel and mood of a pine 2×4. So, after allowing her career to rocket skyward with a phenominal presentaion of a phenominal Prince song (need I name it? okay, Nothing Compares 2 U), Sinead O’Connor seemed hell-bent on self-destruction (SNL, Anthem singings, etc), and it seems she’s still at it.
jamie on October 2nd, 2005
Yesterday was an adventure! Ashton Allen, a Jacksonville, FL singer/songwriter was in Atlanta to shoot a video for one of his songs, and since I hang out with his tour manager occasionally, I got to appear in the vid. Here’s the funny part- I was playing violin! Yeah, I haven’t even picked up the violin for nearly two years, but still I’m playing violin in a video. Anyways, it was a great time! I was joined by three members of Duluth High’s orchestra, who were all very sweet girls. Along with the strings, there was a ‘horn section’ made up of an oboe playing trumpet, a trumpet playing trombone, and two french horns (of which I think only one actually played french horn). I was taking snaps with my cameraphone all day-
The shoot was at Shout restaurant in midtown, in their upstairs bar area, and there was an assortment of extras on hand to fill in the seats. The whole thing was staged to look like a live performance. Mike’s been out running around with the shooting crew for three days, so I would imagine the parts we shot Sunday will play a minor part in the overall video. More pics from the day (all my cameraphone pics are on my flickr page).
By the time things wrapped at about 3:30 pm, I was exhausted. I ran home to do some laundry, then just vegged in front of the telly the rest of the night. Speaking of which- I love the show Grey’s Anatomy, and this week’s episode opening scene feature K.T. Tunstall’s song Suddenly I See. I’m excited to see her getting some attention here in the U.S., and hope she makes it accross the pond soon to do a tour!
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