5-21-12 - "All The Rowboats" ~ Regina Spektor

Regina Spektor probably doesn't need the hype from my little blog, and I've already discussed a few of her tracks.  But this one, from her new album that drops next week, is just spectacular and I felt like telling you why I feel that way, so here goes.


The first several times I listened were at work with the volume low, unfortunately not the best way to fully appreciate music.  However, even in that setting, the musicianship and composition struck me.  When I got around to giving the song its proper due and absorbing the lyrics, it only deepened my enjoyment.  On the surface, the song is a lament for masterworks of various art forms as they are neglected by today's reality TV society.  If you like, you can likely find several layers of deeper meaning as well.


The most poignant metaphor, for me, is the violin.  A Stradivarius is in itself a masterpiece, but it only becomes a true wonder when in the hands of a brilliant musician.  If it's sitting in a display case, the beauty of its sound is lost... "They've forgotten, forgotten how to sing..."


Here's the track on Soundcloud:





A Letterman performance from last week, complete with a Steinway & Sons grand piano and Regina's trademarked oddball vocalizations - this time in the form of laser sound effects:

And the music video:

"First there's lights out, then there's lock up

Masterpieces serving maximum sentences

It's their own fault for being timeless

There's a price to pay, and a consequence..."

12-05-11 - "Spider's Web" ~ Katie Melua

This one may require your thinking cap; the lyrics are weighty.  Or, you can just enjoy the somber melody over arpeggiated guitar and piano - it's quite lovely musically.


Katie Melua was born in Soviet Georgia, lived through the collapse of the Soviet Union, and immigrated to the UK at a young age in the aftermath of the Georgian Civil War in 1993.  Can't say as my childhood was quite that interesting, although we did move from Pennsylvania to Virginia when I was 6.  Like I said, not quite the same as experiencing a communist government and a civil war by 9 years old...


Melua has gone on to be one of the most popular recording artists in Europe, and songs like this show you why.  The subject matter is controversial, and at first listen you may find yourself questioning the message of the first verse, but Melua brings it together if you continue listening.  Hate begets more hate, as has been evidenced in countless situations throughout history.  It takes someone rising above the hatred to bring about a change in attitude, for love also begets love.  


Racism is pretty clear-cut in most cases, but in today's world there are a lot of gray areas on other moral, political, and personal issues - or at least there are a lot of things we convince ourselves are gray areas.  I don't want to get political, but I'm sure you know what I mean.


The ultimate message of the song is hopeful - yes, sometimes the difference between right and wrong is a hair, and sometimes it's difficult to know what is the correct path, but if we each seek to do right by each other, we can do our part to make the world a better place.  In so doing, we can better enjoy the "million colours" - both the literal, visual ones and the beauty of music.

"The piano keys are black and white

but they sound like a million colours in your mind..."

11-8-11 - "Machine" ~ Regina Spektor

Been a while since I posted some Regina Spektor.  This one falls somewhere near the middle of the Spektor Weirdness Scale - it has some odd vocal utterances and disturbing imagery, but isn't nearly as strange as certain other tracks ("Oedipus", "Aching to Pupate", I'm looking at you.)  I think my favorite thing about Spektor is she's absolutely unafraid to try new things, be herself, and just have fun with her songs.


The song starts with a driving piano rhythm, explodes with mechanical sounds, and features a sick string breakdown for the bridge.  The subject matter here is pretty heavy; I'll leave the details for you to work out on your own but the gist seems to be an homage to / railing against the technological age, or maybe some kind of futuristic dystopian world...

Several clutch live performances are online; here's one from House of Blues (Boston) to start you off:

(look for "Live in London", "Live Paris Bataclan", and "Bonnaroo 2010" for some other sweet ones - better video than this version but this one has that intimate venue feel)

And here's the album version, coupled with one of the most fitting fan videos I've ever seen.  The scenes are from Joss Whedon's "Firefly" and "Dollhouse" shows, and although I haven't watched Dollhouse, Firefly was great.

"I collect my moments

into a correspondence

with a mightier power

who just lacks my perspective

and who lacks my organics

and who covets my defects

and I'm downloaded daily

I am part of a composite..."

11-5-11 - "The 1812 Overture" ~ Tchaikovsky

"Remember, remember the Fifth of November,

The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,

I know of no reason

The Gunpowder Treason

Should ever be forgot."

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:

And here's the <SPOILER ALERT> final scene from the film.

6-27-11 - "Samson" ~ Regina Spektor

Here's a pretty awesome song, with beautiful piano and lyrics that are deep and layered.  It's a departure from the other Regina Spektor songs I've posted earlier this year, but it's an example of her range and talent - she can do upbeat poppy songs, and then bring you to tears with a tune like this.

I don't know exactly what this one is about.  According to the internets, it was inspired by a friend who was battling cancer ("not much hair left on his head..."), but it also has some obvious Biblical references and themes of love.  I think it's intentionally weaving all of these concepts together, and leaving some room for interpretation...

"Beneath the stars came falling on our heads
But they're just old light, they're just old light..."

4-27-11 - "Prelude in G Minor, Op. 23, No. 5" ~ Sergei Rachmaninoff

If you don't like classical music, you haven't heard Rachmaninoff (or Beethoven, or Mozart, or Chopin, or Tchaikovsky, but I digress...)  This guy came up with some intense stuff on the piano, including this one.  I first heard this prelude back in high school, when my piano teacher had me learn to play a blend of it and the hymn "How Great Thou Art" for a competition.  I never did quite get it right, but it introduced me to a great composer's works.  Check it out; it's only a few minutes and you just might dig it:

Prelude in G Minor, Op. 23, No. 5

4-20-11 - "2.99 Blues" ~ Regina Spektor

I love Regina Spektor's catalogue.  She's a talented pianist, plays some diverse styles, and is not afraid to be weird and unique rather than a cookie-cutter carbon copy of a dozen other acts out there.  Her vocal stylings, in particular, are unlike any other artist I've heard, and that adds a layer of intrigue for me.  This one's definitely a bit strange, but super catchy, and with lyrics worth pondering.  Some of the verses are actually pretty heavy, despite the upbeat melody...

"but in the furthest place I've ever known 
where even I so rarely roam 
there lives a boy who just come back from war 
his flesh was wounded but he made it back home 
his mother calls him by his given name 
and the neighbors whisper how he prefers to be alone 
and he gets nightmares about boys dripping blood
sold for 2.99 a gallon..."

1-16-11 - "Dance Anthem of the 80's" ~ Regina Spektor

Bringing you a combination of pop and ballads, piano and synth, and delightfully absurd sounds and lyrics, Regina Spektor is loads of fun.  This one's a fun and upbeat one, full of the quirks that distinguish Spektor from other artists who might otherwise seem similar.  Might be a bit of social commentary in there as well, but mostly it's just catchy.  Have a listen.

"And it's only a matter of whom,
and it's only a matter of when..."