Yet another artist that came into my spheres thanks to mi hermano. Fantastic little ditty about being antisocial and just a bit awkward at parties... or maybe it's a metaphor...? At any rate, this Swede just might rival another one we've discussed previously on this blog... There are several versions floating around the intarwebs, but here's the first one I heard, which is a little bit stripped down compared to the second version:
"I get the creeps from all the people in here I cannot breathe, it's too crowded in here don't look at me, I don't wanna be seen
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..."
You guys. I've been a terrible blogger. It's been a crazy summer. You probably forgot this page even existed. But I'm going to try and make it up to you. Might mean posts with very little of my ramblings, maybe even just song links. But here's to a fresh start.
You guys. I've missed you. Probably more than you've missed me. I haven't posted much because I've been too busy going to awesome shows n'at, ya dig?
Anyway, it's high time I introduced you to There There. These PGH rockers brought the noise and the funk to Brillobox on Wednesday night. I was pretty well mesmerized by this bass-tastic glowing rig:
I got some grainy videos, but the audio isn't too shabby (all things considered). While the band blends elements of hip hop and reggae on some tracks, this particular tune is pretty straight up rock. Check out "Everything":
And here's the album version, resplendent in its plastic flamingo glory:
You can totally get this track (and the rest of the EP) for free on Bandcamp or Noisetrade. I recommend you do so, if you like what you're hearing. And if you still like it after spinning it on your iPod for a few weeks, go back and tip the band - we here at ASOD are staunch believers in exploring music, but also in taking care of the artists we love so they can continue to make music.
"Is it me, or is it you tell me whatever, what do I have to lose to find this piece and keep it close to my chest I feel inside me for all of my unrest..."
You guys. David Wax Museum are back in Pittsburgh tomorrow night for a show at Club Cafe. Yes, the Boston-based band with the donkey jawbone will be playing at everyone's favorite PGH venue. Here's a track which epitomizes their Mexo-Americana stylings with an English-language version of a traditional Mexican folk song:
Be sure to check this track and others in their Daytrotter session. Be sure to check some other sweet performances which are floating around the interwebs, like this NPR Tiny Desk Concert which opens with this tune:
And most of all, be sure to be at Club Cafe tomorrow night at 8 (7 Central).
"...your careless heart invites me in, just to see me go..."
Just a note - for anyone living in or near Pittsburgh with similarities in musical taste to the stuff you see on this blog, I've added a concert calendar tab. I'll try to add as many interesting shows as I can, but it won't be comprehensive, just a sampling of shows on my radar.
Please feel free to alert me to any shows in which you're interested, and I can add them to help raise awareness.
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:
