Friends, I'm incredibly excited. One of my favorite bands (OF ALL TIME), Said The Whale, are coming back to Pittsburgh tomorrow! As in Wednesday, November 14, at Howler's. You should probably be there, unless you have a really good excuse, because it's going to be a blast. My pals over at Draw Us Lines were kind enough to post my big wet sloppy kiss of an article raving about the band; have a read if you like. It's always tough to pick just one song to feature when I like a band this much, but since it seems I've gone with STW's more folksy / sentimental tunes (like such as The Light Is You, Black Day In December, and False Creek Change) in the past, and they've released a brand new album this year that I've yet to mention here, I'd go with one of the pop/rock leaning new tunes, and the leadoff from April's "Little Mountain" fits the bill:
(by the way, the band made music videos - and not weak, lame ones - for all 15 tracks from the album. You can find them on saidthewhale.com) Methinks you'll find some intriguing and thought-provoking social commentary here...
"We’ve got Mandarax and loveless sex
And information passing right through our skin and bones..."
Tonight is one of those rare nights when I post a cover. Generally, while I do believe some covers are worthwhile, I try to go with the original version (or at least post both). But in this case, odds are you're familiar with the original, and the cover just has that ethereal quality which merits attention.
Interesting to note that this song may have the most comments of any song I've ever viewed on songmeanings.net. Also that the band had to fight pretty hard to get past this one track from their first album, and Thom Yorke apparently pretty much hates the song now.
Carrie Manolakos cut her teeth on Broadway, and now she has released an album of original tunes. If this performance is any indication, she's got the pipes to make for some quality songs.
Here's an excerpt from an article that has been making the rounds on the social media sites:
"This Cover of Radiohead's "Creep" Will Make Your Ears Orgasm. If you're in a hurry, skip to 2:25 for the crescendo, but you should really listen to the whole thing. It's upsettingly good."
~ Neetzan Zimmerman, Gawker
Seriously, listen to the whole thing; the emotion conveyed in the quieter parts of the song is just as good as the payoff. The high note, the harmony, the control through it all... just wow. And the instruments are spot on, as well.
And here's the original, just so the Radiohead fans don't lambaste me:
Great movie, great soundtrack, great composer, great singer. That's all I have to say about that.
Wait, I lied... I have a bit more to say. In investigating the lyrics(?) of this song, I read that it's not an actual language, but rather, glossolalia (sometimes known as "speaking in tongues"...) Interesting, no? We learned a new word today!
I'm going to admit that I found out about this band/song from a commercial. But in my defense, it's a Pittsburgh Penguins commercial, and they're pretty awesome, so I feel like whatever hipster cred I may have had remains intact. They're not an obscure indie band, anyway... they're a quickly-becoming-less-obscure rock band.
The Parlor Mob is named after a New York City gang which was one of many famous gangs in the late 19th and early 20th centuries - I give them points for a sweet historical nod there. The song itself is blistering rock and speaks of clawing and fighting to make one's way in a challenging world.
"Out of the darkness
and into the light of love
though for now it seems this struggle has only begun
I'm still believing
our day is gonna come
when we step out of the shadows and into the sun…"
This Christmas tune is a pretty tough one to pull off properly, but Josh Groban is not half bad at it. My little brother insisted I consider Il Divo's version as well - the quartet definitely have pipes to pull this off, as does Groban. Both artists treat the song with respect - not showboating, just hitting the melody smoothly and sweetly, as it was intended (I have the same complaints when people embellish too much on the Star Spangled Banner). Il Divo does have the benefit of harmonic ability, which Groban of course lacks as a solo artist... but ultimately, both versions pass my rigorous critiquing. Enjoy, and Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Joyful Festivus, and all that jazz!
Do you ever get fed up and frustrated with the world? Happens to me on a fairly regular basis, and it's probably no surprise that it often happens at this time of year. November means elections, and then Thanksgiving, and then of course comes Christmas (although given that the TV commercials and department stores start on Christmas in October these days, maybe I have the order wrong.) These annual events bring to a focus the things that make me sick to my stomach - corruption in politics, gluttonous consumerism, and the disparity between the American populace and that of numerous other countries.
This year, Occupy Wall Street has added fuel to that fire. Do I agree 100% with the OWS movement? Probably not, although to be honest I haven't read up enough to know all the details. But do they have a point that the government and big corporations have been pulling a fast one on the "99%"...? Conversely, if you take the American "99%" and compare their wealth to that of the rest of the world's population... who's the 1% now? I'm not going into more detail because this blog is ultimately about the music, but these are things that grind my gears, when I let my mind ponder them.
This song is pretty clearly the result of Conor Oberst ruminating on the state of the world today. Again - I'm not trying to promote any political views, and I probably don't agree with everything Oberst thinks about the government, but clearly there are things broken in the system and if people don't stand for their beliefs, nothing's going to change.
You'll certainly feel the emotion behind the lyrics and the angry guitar riffs in the song, and hopefully it will inspire you to evaluate your life and the world around you, decide what's important, and make sure you're fighting for it.
Live at Battery Park, Manhattan, Independence Day 2009:
It's unlikely that tonight's post will be groundbreaking to you; most people have at least heard of Coldplay by now. But their latest radio hit caught my ear today, so there you go. I still feel like Parachutes and A Rush Of Blood To The Head are my fave albums by these guys, but they're consistently solid.
This track deals with the loss of youthful innocence and idealism; the realization as we move into our adult years that we're not all going to be pro athletes, astronauts, princesses, models, rock stars, the president, or whatever else we dreamed of in our youth. Most of us end up shifting our paradigm and creating new dreams for which to strive. Most of us endure hard times, but often we emerge stronger and discover a life that is better than the one we'd been imagining. The truth is, life is what you make of it, and paradise is enjoying your life for what it is, not some far-off mystical perfection.
Live at Austin City Limits:
And here's an... interesting... music video. I think you'll be able to see the correlation between the protagonist's plight and journey and the song's meaning. Also, elephants on unicycles are arguably as awesome as hiphopopotamuses and rhymenoceroses. Although I could do without the holding up of cardboard signs with song lyrics - that part is like some bad truck commercial.
It's the Fifth of November, and if you're like me, you may watch V for Vendetta tonight. Mostly because Natalie Portman looks good even with a shaved head, but also because of Occupy Wall Street - standing up to The Man, fighting against... wait, what are we fighting against? Hopefully something bad...
The movie is about a totalitarian government in the UK in a futuristic dystopian society, and a vigilante who fights against the evils of said government, wearing a Guy Fawkes mask symbolically in reference to Fawkes' efforts to overthrow the British government centuries ago. There could be a lot of debate about the meaning of the film and the motives of the characters, as well as the justness of their causes. It's interesting to note the religious side of the original Gunpowder Treason - Fawkes was part of a group of Catholics trying to overthrow a Protestant government and restore Catholicism's power backed by the British crown. So depending on whether you consider Protestants to be tantamount to Totalitarians...
Of further interest is the use of the end of Russian composer Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture at the climax of the film. The score has become popular in America and is often used in a patriotic sense here, and it's somewhat implicit in the movie that V is using it to stand for freedom and patriotism as well. However, despite what most Americans likely think, the music was not composed to celebrate American victory over Britain in The War of 1812 (hmm, more irony that a British freedom fighter would use it, if that were true). Believe it or not, there was more than one war going on in that year, and Tchaikovsky was actually telling the story of the failed attack by Napoleon's army on Moscow, and celebrating the defense of the Russian city. Hence the elements of the French national anthem and "God Save the Tsar" within the music.
Bottom line, it's a fine piece of classical music, and the final few minutes - complete with cannon fire which is called out in the score - are spectacular. To quote the great Calvin: "And they perform this in crowded concert halls??"
I'd love to debate the historical, political, and religious ramifications of all this information with you some time, but for now, just enjoy the music, and remember to stand for what you believe in.
And here's the last two minutes, for those of you who aren't patient enough for the whole thing:
Quickie because I'm on the road and using the "business center" at the hotel due to a wonky laptop which won't connect to the intarwebs...
Here's a super fun song that was in my head today. Vampire Weekend may have a lame "Twilight"-esque name, and may be The Preppiest Band Ever, but they're still good musicians and an enjoyable listen. Also they have fairly sharp lyrics. Check out this tune, and the live street performance:
"I didn't like the business But that was at first glance..."
Some days, no matter how important your project is at work, no matter how "disrespectful" it may be considered to those around you, you just gotta crank some ska. Today was one of those days.
Ska's prime was a while ago, to be sure; can't say I listen to the genre frequently these days, but if you're in the right mood it's still great. And yes, when I said "crank", I meant "go one click higher than normal on the computer volume button", so I wasn't really sticking it to the man. But man, hearing this album (and especially this song) just made me happy.
Give it a try and just try to stay angry or depressed or whatever unpleasant mood you may be in right now. And if you're already feeling good, this will only expound upon your good feelings. I promise.
I debated whether to post any 9/11 related comments on the internets today. Wasn't going to do it, but then I saw the video of Paul Simon performing this song at the WTC site, and well, I'm a sucker for S&G, even if Garfunkel wasn't there and Simon is not quite what he used to be. Here's today's performance, along with tons of pretty emphatic comments that range from "Paul Simon is an inspiration to all Americans today" to "the time to be 'silent' is behind me. I want to hear big bombs blowing up our enemies"... apparently the song and/or Paul Simon are quite divisive.
I won't get into the dirty details of whether Simon is a liberal/pacifist/commie lover, and whether such folk are evil, and whether it was a great or terrible choice for the memorial service. However, I will say that I think this song has a valid and relevant meaning, perhaps not directly related to the events of 9/11 but indirectly. The song speaks of a world where the populace are complacent and subdued ("people hearing without listening"), willing to be led like sheep wherever the powers that be would have them go. The "neon light that split the night" conjures the image of cheap entertainment, which draws my mind to the television - the "opiate of the masses", according to the great Bill Watterson. The singer tries to rally said masses out of their stupor, to no avail.
The events of that Tuesday morning ten years ago were tragic, and they caused most Americans (and many other folks) to get angry, get excited, and get behind putting a stop to the people responsible. I wonder, though, how long that spike of emotion and drive lasted for most of us. It's all too easy to fall back into the routine, to let the monotony of daily life and the opiates of entertainment take over. I won't even get into the loss of liberties that has been a result of the counter-terrorism measures taken by the US government - if you've flown in the past decade you know what I mean. Suffice to say, whether it be in politics, foreign affairs, or any other aspect of life, don't just sit back and let the currents take you. Don't blindly follow, don't let your precious time on earth be consumed by meaningless entertainment. Decide what you believe, what you stand for, what's worth fighting for, and live your life accordingly.
Here's footage from a performance back when S&G were in their prime:
And here's the album version:
"And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon god they made And the sign flashed out its warning In the words that it was forming And the signs said the words of the prophets Are written on the subway walls And tenement halls And whispered in the sounds of silence...."
Just a gorgeous little tune for you tonight. Through eloquent lyrics, the singer elucidates the human condition and the struggles we each face in life. He resolves to persevere through whatever trials life throws at him, and looks to brighter times ahead with hopeful eyes. The melody and instrumentation are simple, which fits the theme. And despite the mellow nature of the song, the boys manage to build the intensity by adding harmonies and through sheer force of will, drawing you in and lifting you up along the way.
Live at Bonnaroo:
" 'Cause death is just so full, and man so small..."
OK, so Hartwood Acres free* summer concerts are pretty flippin' sweet. Josh Ritter and David Wax Museum were great back in June, and Grace Potter & The Nocturnals brought it this past Sunday. Here's a video I shot of one of the most rockin' songs I've ever heard played solely on acoustic guitars (x3!)!
(yea, they segued into another song and I just kept filming... a cover of Bill Withers' "Grandma's Hands"... it's all good stuff so roll with it!)
And here are a few photos that hopefully capture some of the energy Grace and the band brought to the show (oh yea, she plays a Flying V AND a Hammond B3 ~ my kind of woman!)
Wow, could I have used any more parenthetical exclamations in this post? (I think not!)
"I'm at the end of a tunnel but there ain't no light..." _________________________________________________
* - except, of course, for the hassles of driving there, sitting in traffic, and parking... if you go, go EARLY and take a picnic and just enjoy the evening.
PS - sorry for the late post; Youtube took forever to upload my video so I had to go to bed. But hey, it's still August 9th in Hawaii... or at least somewhere in the Pacific Ocean near the International Date Line... I think... anyway, sorry.
While we're on the subject of vigor and spirit or enthusiasm in tubes, here's another oneder for you (don't know what a Oneder is? We'll get to that one of these days...) The Verve hit it big with this one in 1997, and never really matched that peak again. But, as a wise man once said, "it's better to go down in a blaze of glory than to rot in a state penitentiary!"
I love the soaring strings in this one, and the way they set the tone of the song - hopeful, despite the sobering aspects of the lyrics.
The song's about, you guessed it, life in general. Most of us spend most of our lives trying to "make ends meet" and being "slave(s) to money"... not exactly a spectacular fate. Many people in the world don't even have it that good... and yet, pretty much everyone experiences the sweetness of life along with the bitter...
"Well I've never prayed, but tonight I'm on my knees..."
So we're going a bit sentimental tonight. This song peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1991 (or so). My elementary school choir sang it. It's quintessential early-90s pop. MWS was my favorite artist at the time (hmm, I already told you that, if you've been reading for a while).
The reason I'm using one of Smith's songs tonight is that I'm in his hometown of Kenova, WV (by the way, it's so named because it's at the juncture of KEN(tucky)-O(hio)-(West) V(irgini)A. Slick, huh? But anyway, my company has our manufacturing plant in Kenova, so I've been hanging out in a hot, humid warehouse near the Dreamland Pool, and eating lunch at Griffith & Feil Soda Fountain / Pharmacy. We sat at a table with Smith's photo next to it:
So yeah, kinda cool for me to be in the hometown of a musical hero of mine. Small town America at its finest. And here's the song; it's kind of sappy, but it expresses the feelings of a young person with a whole life ahead, who's not quite sure what to do with it just yet, so it still rings true for me to this day.
"If there are millions down on their knees;
among the many,
can you still hear me?
Hear me asking,
'Where do I belong?'
Is there a vision
that I can call my own?"
______________________________________
Top Secret BONUS FOOTAGE:
Holy wow, thanks to the miracle of YouTube "related videos", I just discovered that MWS teamed up with the Jonas Brothers on this song at a concert in Nashville a couple years ago. You know, if you're into that sort of thing...
(those JoBros play mean shakers, no? lol... the internets are wonderful things!)
You may have preconceived notions about Billy Joel, or even about this song. I challenge you to put them aside for a few minutes and give it a critical listen. It's definitely vintage '80s style, and actually made someone's list of the "50 Worst Songs Ever". In Joel's own words, "It's one of the worst melodies I've ever written. I kind of like the lyric though." He's on track there - the lyrics are what make the song for me. (to be fair, the music is catchy, in that awkward way of 80s tunes where if you're in the right mood you dig it, but if not you want to rip your ears off...)
I had a prof in college open a class session with this song. It was an early class, and most of the kids were kind of dazed and confused and maybe didn't really get it, but I was jamming to it and knew we were in for a fun lesson. But... you don't care about that.
Joel wrote the song when he turned 40 in 1989, and it's a three-minute rapid fire retrospective look at world history during those 40 years. The gist of the song is that there's a lot wrong in the world; and "we" don't want to take the blame for problems which we didn't directly cause. Humanity as a collective over the course of history has done a lot of damage, and yes, we all are responsible in some small part, but most of us are "trying to fight it..." It plays out as a combination history lesson, morality play, and exhortation to do what you can to make the world a better place.
Surely you'll get some of the references, though if you're around my age you were just a little kid when the song came out so some of the stuff that happened before our time may not be immediately recognizable. But if you're so inclined, wikipedia breaks down the entire song.
The video goes along with the theme, showing American families over the course of those years and some of the horrible events that occurred during that time frame. And you have to love Joel sitting in front of a fire drumming on a table with his hands in the choruses:
"Pope Paul, Malcolm X, British Politician sex J.F.K. blown away, what else do I have to say?
We didn't start the fire It was always burning Since the world's been turning We didn't start the fire No we didn't light it But we tried to fight it..."
I have a love/hate relationship with the big corporations that dominate the landscape of America (and the world) these days. On one hand, it's incredibly convenient to be able to pick up yard tools, car parts, a PlayStation, scented candles, LEGOs, milk, eggs, toothpaste and saline all in one trip to Wal-Mart. On the other hand, where is my money going if I shop there, and what happens to the local hardware store, craftsmen/artists, grocer, farmers, etc. if I spend my money buying stuff from God knows where? Not to mention the environmental cost of trucking in these products from across the country (or further)...
Here's a song dealing with these sorts of questions and moral dilemmas. It might even hint at the potentially unsavory relationships between big businesses and politicians (hmm, where does that campaign funding come from, Mr. Senator? And why, I wonder, did Company X want to contribute to your campaign? Something in it for them?)
Five Iron Frenzy managed to blend a plethora of musical styles with some pretty deep stuff (when they weren't being totally off the wall). This one kind of defies description musically, but I love it anyway:
Who's behind the curtain anyway, Who pulls the levers and tells the lies?
Want to get some education while you listen? Read up on Adam Smith, who is mentioned in the bridge, and his book The Wealth of Nations, which set forth some fundamental theories of modern economics.
American History Pop Quiz: What is the origin of Flag Day? I bet Wikipedia will tell us! Yay for flags! I love flags, and have a small collection from countries I've visited... plan on expanding that soon!
Today being Flag Day was a convenient way for this song to pop into my head, and I figured I'd roll with it. K'naan has some pretty good songs, and this one just might be my favorite. It's a depressing yet hopeful look at the strife in Somalia (K'naan's native land).
Also, here's a version that came out last year as an unofficial World Cup anthem. It's a little peppier and poppier but also good, just presents a different mood:
(there's even a version with Justin Bieber, but you're gonna have to go find that one for yourself...)
"Out of the darkness, I came the farthest out of the hardest survival Learn from these streets, it can be bleak, accept no defeat, surrender retreat..."
Just had an enjoyable evening watching Mumford & Sons and Arcade Fire's performances at Bonnaroo from the comfort of my own home, thanks to the miracle of modern technology. Here's one of my favorites from Arcade Fire. "Rococo" was a style of art in 18th century France which involved ornate and often embellished stylings. The term is used in modern vernacular to describe something that's overdone in order to draw attention.
I like the driving bass line, and the haunting repetitive chorus and vocals; they create an eerie sensation that helps convey the unsettling message. This song probably has something to do with the culture of trying to stay ahead of the curve, trying to be something you're not, or trying to fit in with the cool crowd. Also seems to be criticizing the culture of The Next Big Thing, and the hipster mentality of "I liked <insert band here> when they were still underground, but now they've 'sold out' (made it big/started earning some money to pay back years of sacrifice) and I just don't like them any more..." So much of our culture these days is thrust upon us, and people just eat it up. Learn to think for yourself and make your own decisions.
(sorry for the Vevo, but it's a pretty sweet vid of a live performance:)
So if you've been following my posting habits, you won't be surprised that I like Gavin DeGraw. He brings a fairly unique blend of piano-based rock/pop and intriguing vocal stylings, and although some of his songs are light (perhaps even trite), some of them hold lyrical weight.
This one is kind of an anthem for the high school and college crowd. The message is pretty clear, and yeah, some of us may be past the stage where we try to conform to the trends and cliques just to fit in at school, but I think it applies to adult life as well. It's all too easy to compromise in the corporate world if it opens a door or even just to get through an awkward project quicker or easier. But is it really worth it?
None of us is perfect, and we can all seek to improve ourselves; but conversely, we shouldn't be afraid to be who we are, even if not everyone out there likes it. Sticking to one's convictions in the face of opposition is the height of courage, be it in the workplace or the halls of a high school. Live life, but not to please others. Live life in such a way as to be able to sleep at night, knowing you made the world a better place and did so without bowing to the will of others.
"Part of where I'm going is knowing where I'm coming from..."
