2-16-12 - "Little Talks" ~ Of Monsters And Men

Heard this tune on WYEP en route out of Pittsburgh to WV for work this morning.  It's quite good; has a little bit of an Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros vibe (specifically the song "Home", with the female/male vocal tradeoff, and the female leads have some similar qualities...), and some solid lyrics.

The six-member outfit blends accordion and trumpet with acoustic guitars and keys, for a sound that's not quite unique (there's nothing new under the sun, after all) but quite enjoyable, and distinctive from the majority of stuff that's out there these days.

Oh yeah, and they're Icelandic... how about that?

Here's a live performance captured by Seattle's KEXP radio:

And  here's the recorded version (vevo link):

 "Little Talks" ~ Of Monsters And Men 

"There's an old voice in my head that's holding me back..."

"Well, tell her that I miss our little talks..."

11-30-11 - "Santa Fe" ~ Beirut

Beirut is an interesting band.  I haven't yet fully explored their catalog, but what I've heard, I've enjoyed.  However, I say "interesting" because it's not necessarily the kind of stuff that grabs you at the first measure and doesn't let you go, and it's not necessarily easy to grasp the depth of the songs without giving it some time to digest.  Don't get me wrong, this isn't some totally obscure and inaccessible music, it's definitely pleasing to the ears; but neither this track nor Elephant Gun (nor several others) are simple and straightforward lyrically, and it may take a few listens to really get into the music (but it's worth it!)  So you either have to be in the mood to get into some thought, or just enjoy the music and not worry about the meaning.


This one seems to have to do with more than just the actual town of Santa Fe (although singer/songwriter Zach Condon hails from the town).  I kind of concur with some of the folks on songmeanings.net, who think it may be a dual meaning - being called home both physically and spiritually.  "Santa Fe" means "holy faith" in Spanish, and I can definitely see the parallels in the lyrics.


The town is overlooked by the Cross of the Martyrs, which may be the cross referenced in the song... or not.  Pretty sweet looking though, no?

(photo borrowed from grumpygrimble on Panoramio)

Then you have the music video, which has some dark moments but conveys a message through them.  It doesn't necessarily directly parallel the song's lyrics, but then again, maybe it does...

And just because I can, here's a live performance too:

"On the cross, Santa Fe

and all I want

sign me up, Santa Fe

and call your son…"

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.

11-2-11 - "The Riders Of Rohan" ~ Howard Shore

One of my favorite parts of the trilogy of Lord of the Rings soundtracks, the theme of the Riders of Rohan is weaved into numerous moments in the score, but is first introduced with horns about halfway through this track.  If you've seen the films, you will recognize the music from the first meeting of Legolas, Gimli, and Aragorn with the Riders.  The first part of the track is full of chaotic sounds which evoke the tense mood of the meeting, until things are set straight between the two parties.  


It's amazing how a good soundtrack can enhance a movie; this is but one example.

PS - for another occurrence of this theme, this time primarily with strings, check out "The King Of The Golden Hall":

9-28-11 - "O.C. Supertones" ~ The O.C. Supertones

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.


"O.C. Supertones" ~ The Orange County Supertones (grooveshark link)


"Orange County, huh?"

8-24-11 - "Journey To The Island" ~ John Williams

We're going soundtracking tonight, and it's all because The Best Movie Ever was on TV whilst I was eating dinner.  That's right, Jurassic Park.  Okay, maybe not the best movie ever, but pretty great, no?  If you're somewhere around 25-35, you probably were blown away by the animatronics in the film like I was.  Looking back 18 years later, the dinosaurs don't look nearly as awesome as we thought they did back then... must be how people who watched Star Wars as kids feel about the effects when they watch the movies again.


I loved dinosaurs as a kid; still pretty much do.  The movie (and the book upon which it is based) is, at its heart, a cautionary tale about modern progress in science and technology.  It's full of spectacular lines, mostly by Pittsburgh's own Jeff Goldblum as Dr. Ian Malcolm.  

"Now, eventually, ah, you do plan to have... dinosaurs... on your dinosaur tour...right?"

Of course, you have the action/adventure/drama of the dinosaurs escaping and chasing the humans around.  But the real winner is the score composed by John Williams.  The soundtrack complements each scene perfectly.  The triumphant trumpet call as the helicopter approaches the island, the wondrous tone of the strings as the guests behold the brachiosaurus for the first time, the foreboding and unsettling horns as they approach the complex... the symphony enhances the film - precisely the intention.  Bad movie soundtracks can be unoriginal and uninspiring, but good ones can really deepen the experience.

____________________


As a footnote - while Google searching for Jeff Goldblum, I found some tragic news (which apparently escaped my attention for two years, for which I cannot forgive myself...)

8-3-11 - "Perth" ~ Bon Iver

In honor of several of my friends who trekked to various locales over the past few days to catch Bon Iver in concert, here's the epic leadoff track from the recent self-titled release.  I wasn't able to make one of the shows, but NPR did the world a solid by streaming last night's DC show live and leaving it up for us schmucks who missed it to catch later.  Definitely worth your time, some evening when you can just sit back and soak it in.


The song features rolling percussion, reminiscent of a drum corps from the Civil War, muted horns creating a surreal sensation, and of course, Justin Vernon's soaring falsetto.  Lyrically, it's pretty cryptic, yet beautiful.  Vernon said in a recent interview that the song was inspired by the happenstance of working with a close friend of Heath Ledger's when the actor died, and the town from which Ledger had come.  The emotions of loss and the conceptualizing of a town form the foundation for the rest of this amazing album...

"in a mother, out a moth
furling forests for the soft
gotta know been led aloft..."
_______________________________


EDIT 8-6-11: my friend Jake, who attended the DC show on Monday, posted a video of this song from the show!  Check it out on Youtube (embedding not so much working right now)

7-26-11 - "Short Skirt/Long Jacket" ~ CAKE

Surprising that I haven't used Cake yet.  They're delightfully strange and unique... pretty much every Cake song you hear, you know it's them straightaway.  Both the vocals and the style in general give it away, but they still manage to write songs that don't all sound the same.

This one is fun and catchy, especially the "na, na" part with the trumpet.  But it's also pretty deep.  I'm not going to speculate too much, but it seems to be about seeking a girl who stands out from the crowd, who isn't afraid to be herself and live life to the fullest.  That, or the economy, if certain SongMeanings commenters are to be believed...

Music video is hilarious; they just wandered around with a portable CD player and filmed people's reactions to the song:

Oh yea and it's the theme song to Chuck which is just plain awesome.

"I want a girl with uninterrupted prosperity
who uses a machete to cut through red tape
with fingernails that shine like justice
and a voice that is dark like tinted glass..."

7-14-11 - "Dancing Machine" ~ The Jackson 5

Quickie tonight, because I'm on the road for work and have to get up super early.  This is a pretty obscure band, you've probably never heard of them.  But they rocked back in the day; just watch the moves and listen to the harmonies and enjoy the supafly coordinated outfits.

"Automatic systematic
full of color self contained
tuned and gentle to your vibes..."

6-24-11 - "We Don't Gotta Work It Out" ~ Fitz And The Tantrums

Here's an early one for ya, and a quickie.  This is one of the sweet bands you can check out at Schenley Plaza tonight at the WYEP Summer Music Festival, if you're in Pittsburgh.  I'd totally be there if I wasn't on my way out of town.  Dang.  All the best stuff happens when other awesome stuff is happening...


Anyway, song is pretty catchy and has a 60s-ish soul vibe, seems to be about infidelity and revenge, or something... check it:


"Don't Gotta Work It Out" (grooveshark)


Live performance:

"Baby, gonna even the score
cause you've been giving that love, oooh, all over town..."

6-8-11 - "Elephant Gun" ~ Beirut

Thanks to the miracle of technology (read: facebook), I just heard this song and this band for the first time, and I can't stop listening.  My friends in Bright Black Bright (more on them another day) posted the song.  It's a beautiful track with a bit of a circus-y feel (and not just because of the Elephants in the title - something about the 3/4 time, the accordion, and the trumpet).  Kinda a wistful, whimsical mood - you're not sure whether to be happy or sad.  The lyrics are a bit of a puzzle, but seem to deal with regretting missed opportunities in life, yearning for adventure (hunting the big game with the proverbial elephant gun), or possibly it's a metaphor for a war (or several wars...)


(Wow, could I get any more parenthetical?)


Let me know what you think:

"it rips through the silence, all that is left is all that I hide..."

6-3-11 - "Penny Lane" ~ The Beatles

Oh, just a catchy little song by a fun little group from Liverpool... you've probably never heard of them.

"he likes to keep his fire engine clean,
it's a clean machine..."

4-13-11 - "Boys of Winter (Pittsburgh Penguins Theme Song)"

So I had a pretty insane day at work, and it's the first day of the most wonderful time of the year - the Stanley Cup Playoffs.  Two reasons you're getting a pretty lighthearted track tonight.  Anyone who lives in Pittsburgh or follows the Penguins will recognize it - it's the music played when the team takes the ice for home games.  Pretty good as far as theme songs / pump up music go...


(Matt isn't as techno-savvy as he'd like to be sidebar: So if anyone knows why I occasionally can't get a YouTube video to show up when trying to embed it in my blog, I'd be glad to hear it... the version I want is easy to find on YT but won't come up here...)


Current Version:  "Boys of Winter"


Original 1967 Version:

2-23-11 - "Keep The Customer Satisfied" ~ Simon & Garfunkel

Trivia for the day, kids: did you know that Paul Simon was married to Princess Leia?  For real, look it up.


Here's an incredibly fun song, complete with a horn section in the chorus, that is actually about some fairly serious stuff.  Some will tell you it's about a drug dealer, some will say it's about the rise and fall of Simon & Garfunkel themselves... I dunno for sure, but clearly Paul has been having a rough go of it lately, and people just haven't been very friendly.

"It's the same old story:
everywhere I go,
I get slandered,
libeled;
I hear words I never heard in the Bible..."

2-20-11 - "Juggernaut" ~ Five Iron Frenzy

These guys aren't around any more, but they were a lot of fun back when I was in high school and college, and well worth an occasional spin in amongst the newer music I listen to these days.  FIF blended upbeat tunes with humor, and threw in some deep thoughts as well.  This one's about finding a way to overcome the crushing weight of doubt.

"Beneath machinery
specter of treachery,
and I've lost everything;
and I am getting out,
the shadow of my doubt
is suffocating;
my own worst enemy,
this Juggernaut is killing me"

2-9-11 - "Don't Fight It" ~ The Panics

Here's one from an Aussie band.  It's been in my head all day.  A simple, keyboard-driven verse/chorus with some horns dropped in for the tail end, it's just a catchy groove.  But there's more to it than that... the singer grapples with apathy, with giving in to the path of least resistance, going with the flow, joining the rat race, being overcome by the brainwashing of society and allowing himself to become just another zombie, going through the motions of life and believing the illusion that happiness is found in being just like everyone else.  He knows he's contributed to the problem, but he struggles to find the willpower to break free.  Yet he hasn't given up hope; the bridge shows he's still searching for answers and escape from the apathy...

"Where has my light gone?
Where has my fight gone?
What keeps us burning
when the fire is long gone?
When I can't relate 
to that voice without a face,
should I be afraid or
is it just a voice I did create?"

2-7-11 - "Chase The Sun" ~ The O.C. Supertones

Ska is a funny genre.  Some of it is quite good and catchy, and some of it... isn't very good at all.  Can't say I listen to a ton of it lately, but back in high school and college, The Orange County Supertones were one of my favorite bands.  They called it quits several years ago, which was probably for the best, but before that they put out several albums full of horn-infused fun like this one, with a few mellow, introspective ones mixed in for good measure (I'll  feature one or two of those eventually...)


This one's a scorcher, dropping the bass and kick to get it started, and bringing the horns in for the big finish. It brings back lots of memories, from warm up mixes to counseling at a youth camp.  I had a cabin full of 9-year olds yelling the chorus as we traipsed around the camp one summer - loads of fun.  The video is quite amusing as well - don't take it too seriously, the Supertones certainly didn't when they filmed it.  Just a good old-fashioned Western standoff:

"We lived inside the fault lines
beneath the earth's surface,
spendin' all our time
readin' books and writin verses;
the earth started shakin'
from the noise we were makin';
we emerged from the rubble,
OC was taken."

1-19-11 - "This Too Shall Pass" ~ OK Go

OK Go are possibly more famous for their music videos than for the songs themselves, but they have some pretty good stuff musically too.  This one's tons of fun.  (oh btw, it just occurred to me tonight that I can slap YouTube videos right into posts, rather than linking.  how about that.  booyah.)

"You can't stop these kids from dancing, and why would you want to,
especially when when you are already getting yours?
'Cause if your mind don't move, and your knees don't bend,
well don't start blaming the kids again..."


BONUS:


Rube Goldberg Music Video:

AND


Band Music Video:

What fun. (these versions have their own audio which is different from the studio cut.  each is spiffy in its own right.)