Yet another ridiculously fun music video from OK Go. This one takes a different approach on the Rube Goldberg theme of the This Too Shall Pass video - now it's an electric car and some pretty good timing on a piano-laced desert stunt track:
Oh yeah, and here's the album version, where the visuals aren't nearly as impressive but the audio is a little clearer... well actually it's pretty distorted guitar, but.... yeah.
"So I been sitting around, wasting my time
wondering what you been doing
aw, and it ain't real forgiving, it ain't real forgiving
sitting here picturing someone else living..."
PS - you can download the "video version" (car version) of the song on the band's facebook page.
Just found this band thanks to 1,2,3's facebook post regarding upcoming shared tour dates. This song is delectable and transcendental, with ambiguous yet intriguing lyrics. A slow vibe that just draws you in.
Album version:
And of course, if there's a sweet acoustic rendition on youtube, I'm obliged to include it as well:
"When the tide is low we’re digging through the loam..."
Here's a sweet new track from a sweet new band. A band comprised of Scott Simons, an expatriate of West Virginia who's been living in LA, and Dani Buncher, a Pittsburgher who you might know from my ramblings about Big Hurry and Big Snow Big Thaw (the other two bands for which she is the drummer) I'm not gonna lie, I'm a bit disappointed this band isn't called "Big TeamMate" or something to that effect...
Oh yeah, and the duo used to date for, like, ten years, so that adds an interesting dynamic. This is their debut single, just dropped last night. It deals with their breakup and some of their story, some pretty rough relationship stuff set to infectious upbeat pop sounds. If this is any indication, they'll be quite a fun show at Brillobox next weekend...
Oh by the way, free download of this track on their facebook page. Bangarang.
"Sometimes all you've got is too much sometimes nothing's ever enough..."
So I fail at battery charging pre-show and thus I fail at getting sweet concert video of 1,2,3 like I got for Meeting Of Important People from Saturday's sold out Brillobox show. BUT, I did scour YouTube and found a couple wicked live performances of "Work" which you can check on my post from last summer. And I found someone else's concert video of tonight's song too.
This one is a really chill tune, perfect for a leisurely cruise with the top down, or a relaxing summer evening - wait I mean winter evening. It's just got that groove. Can't explain; you'll have to hear it for yourself. The song is a reminder that we can't expect success to be dropped in our laps; we have to work for it. Don't expect the world to hand you things - get out there and make your dreams happen!
Live at Stickyz (whatever that is):
Album Version:
"Ooh, kid...
no golden yacht will sail you from the shore, kid.
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.
So I finally picked up Foster The People's album recently, because who doesn't love an album that's chock full of tunes just waiting for commercials to use them? I mean, screw Corporate America and The Man, but dang is this album catchy!
After a handful of spins, this track has grabbed me the most. The hook is off the hoo... wait I mean chain. And the lyrics are actually fairly deep too. It delves into the musician's dilemma - opening one's soul up to the masses. It speaks out against conforming and compromising due to fear, fostering the people (a bit of a stretch, I know, but deal with it) and encouraging them to stand strong and put their talents and skills to use. And sometimes we all wish we could pull off miraculous escapes like Houdini...
And lest you think that they're just hiding behind all the electronic sounds and synths...
And here's a hybrid live performance from SNL which still has some of the synths, but brings more focus on the keys and vox while adding some sick horns... (hey, ah, Foster The People, you got a little, uh, Ben Stiller on your shirt...)
Also featuring Kenny G. What.
"With the lights turned up, it's hard to hide sometimes I want to disappear..."
Being a bit of a nerd, I considered a post related to the date (11/11/11), but nothing fitting came to mind, except for "Konstantine" by Something Corporate... "I always catch the clock, it's 11:11 and now you wanna talk..." but I already posted that one.
So you're getting a tune that doesn't really have anything to do with math nerdery, or veterans for that matter. (Side note: if you live in America, hug a veteran today! No, our country isn't perfect, and no, our wars aren't necessarily always just, but there are a lot of things we enjoy today that were protected by the efforts of folks like my grandfathers, or someone you know that served.)
Here's a fairly sardonic take on the hipster / hippie lifestyle, with a heavy dose of tongue-in-cheek wit. Or maybe they're completely serious; I'm really not sure. Either way, it's a great one to blast with the windows down, or up if it's chilly and there are snow flurries like today in Pittsburgh.
(WARNING: music video is rated PG-13; think Titanic level. If you have sensitive eyes, use the second "video", which is just the lyrics)
A bit of a cop-out post related to the "holiday" because I've had a busy day and it's after midnight and I have to pack for a work trip. But hey, they don't call Michael Jackson the King of Pop for nothing - he was a master of his craft, and this song/music video/short form movie dominated the '80s. I think 100 million YouTube views speaks for itself... but if you don't agree, check out the list of best selling albums of all time. Thriller doubles up the nearest competition. Wow.
And here's just the song, if you're not into cheesy romantic/horror flicks:
Happy Candy Day, yinz!
"Now is the time for you and I to cuddle close together..."
Paper Lions hail from Prince Edward Island, Canada (hmm, could we be heavy on Canadianbandslately because I was recently in Canada, listening to a Canadian radio station...?) The name seems to be drawn from a book written by an average joe who participated in training camp with the Detroit Lions. Or maybe it's just a play on paper tigers.
Paper Lions' brand of garage pop/rock is infused with hints of punk, and caught my ear as I drove. Check this song:
"grab your shoes, we're headin' to the closest bar to get down to something not so new..."
Another one from the West Coast airwaves. These guys have a band name that, on first hearing it, will likely have you thinking "some sucky emo band" or "...hmm..." Apparently the name is derived from a book - I'll have to read it someday, perhaps. But I dig the song, even if the band name is strange. I think they were gonna call themselves "The Beatles", but found out that one was already taken...
The drummer rocks a legit mustache in the video; in one shot he looks like Seth Avett. They also have a chick who plays viola, always a nice touch. It seems like the song is about having the wounds of a relationship re-opened. And the video has some interesting cinematography...
"And the piano is this melancholy soundtrack to her smile"
Another one from 100.5 The Peak. Local Vancouver band Hey Ocean! are on form with this track, and hey, David Beckham is in the band!
...wait that's David BeckINGhamin the band, not the soccer player... my bad. But he's pretty cool too!
Anyway, the song is just swell. Catchy and hopeful, this fits the bill of indie rock-pop brilliance. And I found an amazing acoustic version as well, which brings out the harmonies and emotive depth in a spectacular way...
Recorded:
Acoustic Awesomeness:
"Sing until you have no voice sing because you have no choice sing until you float away our love is like a big blue wave..."
So I made it 9 months without missing a daily post (although a few came an hour or two past midnight EST.) But due to a combination of travel, a late night at the Penguins-Canucks game in Vancouver, and a crappy computer that wouldn't connect, I didn't get to post yesterday. So here's yesterday's song, retroactively.
Heard it on 100.5 The Peak, Vancouver's awesome radio station, whilst driving up from Seattle. One of a plethora of great songs they played, many of which will likely show up here in the coming days. This trip is in some ways a mirror of the trip which originally inspired me to start this blog, and this station played a role in that.
This track is from a British songstress and is a bit on the dance/techno side, but it's enjoyable and has some interesting lyrics...
Despite the un-googleable name, 1,2,3 are a pretty cool band. They hail from Pittsburgh, though you'd never guess it from the glamour shots of the city in this video. The opening shots of the bridges and PNC Park look like models - almost a Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood feel. Then the guitars kick in, and you're hooked. The video is a cross-section of the personalities of the various blue-collar neighborhoods of the city and the residents therein.
I haven't actually heard these guys live yet, but it's definitely on the agenda. If this track is any indication, seeing them play in person would be tons of fun. Oh yea, and you can totally see this building from my bedroom window AND at 2:43 of the music video:
You can even download a few tracks for just the price of an e-mail, if you're so inclined:
"God knows how I go and take it so hard..."
EDIT 1-9-12: Found some sweet performance videos. Check 'em.
(not sure whether to trust the free download from this Baeble site - some questionable comments below the video. don't blame me if you try it and get spammed.)
If I had to describe The Ventures in one word, it might be 'slick'. Their virtuosity with their guitars is legendary in the music world, as they were pioneers in exploring new sounds which could be made on the instrument. Their efforts in the late '50s and early '60s paved the way for a plethora of other artists, thus earning them the moniker "The Band That Launched A Thousand Bands." The drummer is pretty smooth, too. They are possibly the most famous instrumental rock band of all time, and their catalog is well worth exploring.
My dad grew up learning to play guitar via songs by The Ventures and Simon & Garfunkel, which might partially explain my love for both groups. If you want to learn guitar or improve your existing skills, figuring out some of these songs is not a bad way to pick up some new things and work on dexterity...
This one, despite the threatening title, sounds joyful to my ears, with a soaring guitar lick and a chugging riff to bring it back down, all layered over a driving drum beat and hyperactive bass line. The segue into the muted bridge is spectacular, and then it builds right back up for the close...
It's actually based off the score of a ballet by the same name... but this version is a lot faster paced and more fun!
This is one of those songs that caught my ear with the first measures, and never let go. It's insanely catchy, with a vicious guitar lick and a beat that is perfect for a drive or an athletic warm up mix tape. The lyrics are actually quite depressing, about a breakup from an abusive relationship, but on the surface it's a real toe-tapper. Kind of like "Pumped Up Kicks" in that regard...
For those so inclined, the actual music video is here (I still haven't figured out why Blogger sometimes won't embed certain youtube videos...)
Live on Letterman:
"And on this day these deepened wounds
don't heal so fast, can't hear me croon
of a million lies that speak no truth
of a time gone by that now is through..."
So tonight I finally watched (500) Days Of Summer. It's a pretty good film, especially if you're into soundtracks (which I am, of course, being a guy who blogs about music...) It's not just a romantic comedy; it has something to say about our culture, the idea of "love", and how we often allow reality to be shaded by our desires - sometimes to our own detriment.
This song is what brings the boy and the girl together in the early going, and it's got some pretty great lyrics. It blends romantic feelings with morbid humor, and, well... just check out the song (and the movie, if you haven't already.)
"to die by your side is such a heavenly way to die "
