I watched Kissing Jessica Stein (squee! Scott Cohen!) the other night and like so many others, I was intrigued by the concept sexy-ugly. Then I got to thinking, hey, I'm a big fan of sexy-ugly, especially when it comes to musicians.
Here is my list of some of my favorite sexy-ugly guys out there in no particular order.
1. Blixa Bargeld
Who is he?
He's the vocalist for Einstürzende Neubauten and has played with Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. Also does commercials for German DIY store Hornbach. Able to make the sound of strangled cats or dying children, according to Nick Cave.
2. Nick Cave
Who is he?
He is an Australian musician who was vocalist for The Birthday Party and later Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. Also records under the name Grinderman. Stupendously sexy even though he has a weird face.
Bonus: Nick and Blixa make fangirls melt.
3. Gary Numan
Who is he?
David Bowie fan and synth-pop pioneer. Now he makes old goff music. Some might question his sexiness, but come on, dude's got a pilot's license. (Imagine that!)
4. Josh Homme
Who is he?
Singer for Queens of the Stone Age and member of Eagles of Death Metal. Most sexy in the music video for "Little Sister". That video made me remark, "It's like he thinks he's hot and somehow he makes us think so too." Takes advantage of my weakness for red heads.
5. Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith
Who are they?
They are Tears for Fears, motherfucker. Maybe not sexy so much as adorable. Minus five points for Curt's rat tail all those years.
6. Jack White
Who is he?
One-half of The White Stripes. Pale, stringy hair, shadowy-eyed, really awesome. An obvious addition to my list.
7. Moby
Who is he?
Multi-instumentalist, sample wizard, vegan. If you doubt his sexy, just know he dated Natalie Portman for a short while. Yeah.
8. Jarvis Cocker
Who is he?
Vocalist for Pulp. Writer of "Do the Hippogriff" from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. He might just be ugly if it wasn't for his creepily long fingers which are sexy. Also, key character in this fanfic I read.
9. Mike Joyce
Who is he?
Drummer for the 80s indie band The Smiths. Now does the DJ circuit. He's on this list only because he's no longer the ugliest Smith now that Andy Rourke's aged terribly. Good on you, Mike.
10. Pickles the Drummer
Who is he?
Fictional character. Drummer for animated band Dethklok. Sexy even though he has some sort of dread skull-et. That's talent. His Wisconsin accent really does it for me.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Yo
It's been a week since my last post. I hope everyone's been having a nice holiday.
Just a few odds and ends.
I looked up Rammstein on Wikipedia and the article said that they will be coming out with their sixth studio album in 2009. Cool beans, I guess. Put that next to Morrissey's Years of Refusal and the titled-but-the-title-isn't-revealed-yet Depeche Mode album in my list of anticipated 2009 albums.
I still haven't watched this all the way through, but it's an informative video about the drum break on "Amen, Brother" - a b-side released in 1969 by the Winstons. This drum break has been endlessly sampled and had a huge impact on hip hop, drum and bass, and jungle. Whoop.
One last thing, click
Just a few odds and ends.
I looked up Rammstein on Wikipedia and the article said that they will be coming out with their sixth studio album in 2009. Cool beans, I guess. Put that next to Morrissey's Years of Refusal and the titled-but-the-title-isn't-revealed-yet Depeche Mode album in my list of anticipated 2009 albums.
I still haven't watched this all the way through, but it's an informative video about the drum break on "Amen, Brother" - a b-side released in 1969 by the Winstons. This drum break has been endlessly sampled and had a huge impact on hip hop, drum and bass, and jungle. Whoop.
One last thing, click
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Warner Music Videos Removed From Youtube
Story on Yahoo! News
Story on Oh No They Didn't
Negotiations between Warner and YouTube broke down and now Warner is demanding that all the videos from the Warner label and all subsidiaries be removed. No date mentioned.
Noooooo, whyyyyy? This seems like a classic case of Warner cutting off its nose to spite its face. The comments on ONTD offer many testimonials to the effect that people discover new artists on YouTube because music channels such as MTV, VH1 and Fuse do not play music videos at peak hours anymore. We all know that the music industry is suffering, but do they have to punish the public? Repeatedly?
So users will increasingly turn to dailymotion and other sites which offer free viewing on demand. And Warner will have no revenue. SMART IDEA WARNER.
Story on Oh No They Didn't
Negotiations between Warner and YouTube broke down and now Warner is demanding that all the videos from the Warner label and all subsidiaries be removed. No date mentioned.
The order could affect hundreds of thousands of videos clips, as it covers Warner Music's recorded artists as well as the rights for songs published by its Warner/Chappell unit, which includes many artists not signed to Warner Music record labels.
The talks fell apart early on Saturday because Warner wants a bigger share of the huge revenue potential of YouTube's massive visitor traffic. There were no reports on what Warner was seeking.
[...]
The music companies typically get paid a share of any advertising revenue associated with the video and a per-play payment for every video viewed. The per-play fee is usually a fraction of a penny and with millions visiting YouTube everyday it was all expected to add up to a substantial amount.
But a source familiar with Warner Music's talks said the amounts it has been receiving from YouTube were "staggeringly low".
[...]
YouTube also has agreements with Vivendi's (VIV.PA) Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment and EMI Music. Warner's move could see them also making tough demands for higher fees.
The demands could leave YouTube in a difficult position as it tries to balance the need to pay a reasonable fee to content partners, including TV and movie companies, and also generate enough return on the substantial investment needed to keep streaming millions of videos around the world.
Noooooo, whyyyyy? This seems like a classic case of Warner cutting off its nose to spite its face. The comments on ONTD offer many testimonials to the effect that people discover new artists on YouTube because music channels such as MTV, VH1 and Fuse do not play music videos at peak hours anymore. We all know that the music industry is suffering, but do they have to punish the public? Repeatedly?
So users will increasingly turn to dailymotion and other sites which offer free viewing on demand. And Warner will have no revenue. SMART IDEA WARNER.
Friday, December 19, 2008
10 Reasons I Should Play the Flute Again
10. tonguing, fingering
9. It promotes good posture and proper breathing.
8. I can tell people that it takes the same amount of air to play the flute as to play the trombone and come off as an authority.
7. Chicks dig musicians.
6. Alan Wilder played the flute as a lad.
5. I can make money playing "Greensleeves" over and over again in downtown Boise.
4. So I can be like this guy.
3. So I can be more like David Carradine.
2. Maybe one day I can become a session musician or part of an indie band.
1. Because the flute is the badassiest instrument EVAR.
9. It promotes good posture and proper breathing.
8. I can tell people that it takes the same amount of air to play the flute as to play the trombone and come off as an authority.
7. Chicks dig musicians.
6. Alan Wilder played the flute as a lad.
5. I can make money playing "Greensleeves" over and over again in downtown Boise.
4. So I can be like this guy.
3. So I can be more like David Carradine.
2. Maybe one day I can become a session musician or part of an indie band.
1. Because the flute is the badassiest instrument EVAR.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
The Hazards of Being a Professional and a Fan
I am a fan. I mean that in the most general sense. I participate in many fandoms on different levels. I read fanfic - no joke. I'm actually working on a story for one of my fandom friends. Most fans dream of meeting the object of their affections. It's a strong passion - for some, an obsession. I will stand up and say it, sometimes it's hard for the fan to quiet down when the professional is needed.
For instance, I interviewed the very talented Spencer Cobrin for my school newspaper via MySpace. He was very kind and candid, great qualities in a subject. He even wished me a happy birthday a month or so later. I was a bit infatuated. I wished that we could somehow maintain correspondence and even be friends. Of course, that's not gonna happen. The most I can hope for is that I get to hang out with him for a bit when I work on my book. And that will have to be enough.
Maybe this is a bit of a lame post because it doesn't even take that much discipline to resist the urge to contact a musician because it's pretty obvious that your reputation would suffer as a consequence. But ain't gonna lie, it's very cool to talk to your idols. Duh.
For instance, I interviewed the very talented Spencer Cobrin for my school newspaper via MySpace. He was very kind and candid, great qualities in a subject. He even wished me a happy birthday a month or so later. I was a bit infatuated. I wished that we could somehow maintain correspondence and even be friends. Of course, that's not gonna happen. The most I can hope for is that I get to hang out with him for a bit when I work on my book. And that will have to be enough.
Maybe this is a bit of a lame post because it doesn't even take that much discipline to resist the urge to contact a musician because it's pretty obvious that your reputation would suffer as a consequence. But ain't gonna lie, it's very cool to talk to your idols. Duh.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
VotD: "Where The Wild Roses Grow" sung by Nick Cave and Blixa Bargeld
I love love love both Nick Cave and Blixa Bargeld. Nick Cave is that guy who sings low a lot and sometimes acts. Blixa Bargeld is some German guy was involved in the industrial music scene. Very influential. His group Einstürzende Neubauten inspired Depeche Mode with their "found sound" experiments. Oh noes, Tom Cruise is going to accuse me of being glib.
Now to explain the video. I discovered this when I read that the girl part for "Where The Wild Roses Grow" was written for Blixa but the song was recorded as a duet with Nick Cave and Kylie Minogue. That version is pretty good (very good), but there's something magical about Blixa Bargeld, so I went searching on YouTube and hit paydirt.
Things I love about this video:
Nick Cave's dancing
Nick Cave touching Blixa and giving him a rose and singing at him
They hold hands at the end! Awwwwww
Now to explain the video. I discovered this when I read that the girl part for "Where The Wild Roses Grow" was written for Blixa but the song was recorded as a duet with Nick Cave and Kylie Minogue. That version is pretty good (very good), but there's something magical about Blixa Bargeld, so I went searching on YouTube and hit paydirt.
Things I love about this video:
Nick Cave's dancing
Nick Cave touching Blixa and giving him a rose and singing at him
They hold hands at the end! Awwwwww
Monday, December 15, 2008
SotD: "Down" by Dave Gahan
Maybe I should save this song for January or February when the snow can really get to a body, but I only heard the lyrics "and the snow is falling" for the first time last night. The chorus really brings up a delightfully awful image. Just listen!
Side note: You may wonder why I always link to YouTube. The answer is simple. I don't really know where one can hear full tracks for free legally and on demand (by which I mean through a search). If there is a solution to that problem, let me know.
The YouTube video (or still photo) probably isn't legal either, but I'm not really promoting copyright violation. I'll leave that to mp3 blogs and all those torrent folks.
Side note: You may wonder why I always link to YouTube. The answer is simple. I don't really know where one can hear full tracks for free legally and on demand (by which I mean through a search). If there is a solution to that problem, let me know.
The YouTube video (or still photo) probably isn't legal either, but I'm not really promoting copyright violation. I'll leave that to mp3 blogs and all those torrent folks.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Superfans: likeanangel1826
I love superfans. Those people who spend hours thinking about the objects of their obsessions. They are kind of like archivists, kind-of-sort-of, in a way - shut up! No really, they put up countless clips on YouTube, providing tons of research materials for the casual fan, the serious fan, the fanfic writer, or the super srs bidness writer.
One such superfan that I've found likeanangel1826 is devoted to collecting Duran Duran clips. If you need to know anything about Simon, Nick, Andy, John, or Roger, the answer can be found within the 366 videos she's posted. My mind reels when I contemplate watching that much Duran Duran related footage.
I thank you, likeanangel1826, for all your hard work.
One such superfan that I've found likeanangel1826 is devoted to collecting Duran Duran clips. If you need to know anything about Simon, Nick, Andy, John, or Roger, the answer can be found within the 366 videos she's posted. My mind reels when I contemplate watching that much Duran Duran related footage.
I thank you, likeanangel1826, for all your hard work.
SotD: "Frosty the Snowman" sung by Harry Connick, Jr.
Guys, I have a huge crush on Harry Connick, Jr. I hardly know anything about him, but I think he's hot. And jazzy. Also, Rachel inexplicably owns Harry for the Holidays.
In celebration of all this plus the snow - and oh dear, it's coming down hard again - let's listen to this song that's cute but introduces children to death. Spoiler alert: Frosty melts. Bonus spoiler: he'll be back again some day.
Here you go!
In celebration of all this plus the snow - and oh dear, it's coming down hard again - let's listen to this song that's cute but introduces children to death. Spoiler alert: Frosty melts. Bonus spoiler: he'll be back again some day.
Here you go!
Saturday, December 13, 2008
My very own interview with Chris Dane Owens [dreamy sigh]
Yo, peeps. I thought I'd get the jump on a whole bunch of journalists/bloggers by talking to the man of the hour December, Christopher Dane Owens. But, dang sauce, the kids at the LA Times music blog, Pop & Hiss apparently had the same idea. They may have beat me by a few days, but I'm not bitter, oh no.
Now, ignore all that other stuff and READ THIS.
I discovered Chris Dane Owens at almost exactly the same moment everyone else did: Friday, December 5. Then I became curious when I saw the date that "Shine On Me" was posted to YouTube - October 3. How had it stayed hidden for so long? The world may never know, but we do know why thousands know about it now. Videogum and G4's Attack of the Show both mentioned "Shine On Me" and bloggers quickly got wind of it and spread the love aaaaaall around. My only regret is that I didn't find it in time for my birthday. That would have been the best birthday present ever.
"Shine On Me" has proven to be polarizing, with tweets from both the lovers and the haters; sometimes both at once. Bonus twitter search link here. I am firmly in the lover camp, by the way.
I decided to email Chris (we're TOTALLY on a first-name basis, y'all) requesting an interview and I found him to be super nice and very approachable. (Well, I mean, why would you be rude to a blogger - there's no reason for it.) I totally geeked out at his answers to my questions. We have kind of similar taste in music from the 80s. But enough about me, on to the interview!
SB: You're a film and television producer by profession. What made you get into music? How long have you been playing guitar?
CDO: I have been playing since I was 13. I met some guys at school who were doing a talent show and their bass player had to back out. They asked me if I wanted to do the show with them and join the band. Problem was, I not only didn't own a bass, I had never even played before. So I said Ok, and my parents helped me get my first bass. It was a beat up Gibson SG , and I practiced for the show until my fingers were mangled. I only had a few weeks to learn the 2 songs; Led Zep, and Aerosmith tunes. The show was really a blast for me, and I have been addicted to music ever since. I moved over to lead guitar about 2 years later. My first real guitar was a red BC Rich.
SB: The video for "Shine On Me" is pretty lavish. What was the inspiration for such a fancy music video?
CDO: I am a huge fan of Anime/ Manga, as well as films like Braveheart, LOTR, and The Matrix, ...So by far, that creative body, was the greatest influence.
Also, I went back to Tokyo right before I started storyboarding for the video and that totally lit my imagination on fire. The Anime culture is thriving, and everywhere I turned, I found something new that fascinated me, with its power, beauty, or whimsical humor.
So the director, and my long time friend, Bob Short and I turned to those sources quite a bit for inspiration. It's one of reasons there is so much wind blowing in a lot of our shots in the video. We wanted to capture as much energy as we could in otherwise static setups like the animators do in Anime. People were laughing at me on the set while filming the video, because I kept cranking up the turbo fans on the actresses playing the Witches and Angels. Some of the footage was so over the top you couldn't even see their faces through all the flying hair. But I loved it.
When we do the next installment in our series of music videos, I am planning on working with some of the Hollywood stunt coordinators I know, so we can really bring more fight/ battle action to the game. I also want to get the camera moving more, to bring more dynamism to the scenes.
SB: Speaking of the video, it recently got a lot of attention on the internet. I literally showed it to everyone I know. Have you been following all the blogs and buzz?
CDO: Thank you Sarah for your support. What happened was that I was working in the mix studio last Friday with Chris Garcia, and out of the blue the video got 11,000 hits that day. I thought it was a glitch on my iPhone. All sorts of e-mails came up from friends telling me something wild was happening. Then G4 Television did a small piece on it, and it has taken flight for the last week. No doubt it will cool off, but this small flurry has set a few things in motion that were very pleasant surprises for us.
As for the blogs and comments, I have been sent lots of the blogs and am totally blown away by some of the fantastic remarks and amazing reviews of the project. For lots of people, the video seems to be very uplifting, adventurous and heartwarming. And that feels great to all of us.
Of course on the dark side of the coin, is that there are the "Enemies of Love" who aren't into the video at all. Or they actually like the video, but don't spark to my song in any way. Or maybe they love the song, but can't stand my look (with or without mustache). I'm sure you get my drift. It's hard to make mass appeal entertainment. I have learned this through my career in TV. That's why we always said while making the Vid, that we are going for a particular audience and that we would be quite happy if the right people really resonated with our themes and imagery. Also, I have discovered that not everyone even likes these kind of fantasy projects. Some people want a much more grounded universe…
But I have noticed a shift however when some people learn about the Anime inspiration behind it all. Perhaps it explains things a bit.
SB: There are mentions of an international tour on your website and MySpace page. How big of a tour are you planning? What cities do you wish to play in? Do you want to play large venues or in a more intimate setting?
CDO: Yes, touring is a big part of my goal. In many ways, like lots of musicians, I would like to perform where ever the art is appreciated. Even if that's to 300 people in a small clubs in Tokyo. I am optimistic that we will play some good sized venues in certian cities. Japan will be first I think, however, we must finish mixing the record, and then we can set a course for the next goal. It's all about finding an audience who embrace the craft and messages.
SB: Much of the commentary I've seen compares "Shine On Me" to music made in the eighties. What is your reaction to this?
In that song in particular, from the album, I can see that! There will always be a place in my heart for musicians like The Cure, Big Country, Tears for Fears, ABC, and PIL [Author's (interviewer's?) note: psst, that would be Public Image Ltd., for those not in the know]. And as these people mostly gained notoriety in the 80's in particular, I would call that a portion of my 80's influence.
In "Shine On Me" We have a funky slap bass in the verse of that song that Damian Valentine my producer and writing partner played. My guitar work has some 70's / 80's funk to it as well. But mostly I believe it's the vocals that are probably vibing in an 80's style. I think the sliced up guitars modernize it a bit, but I agree with the comment. Conversely, our songs like "Wicked" and "Superhuman", are a complete 180 from that, as I do something more akin to vocal chants on those rock-techno tracks.
Since my deepest roots are really grounded in Led Zep, The Beatles, and most predominantly David Bowie. I never know how that influence is going to bleed through into my work.
These days my favorite groups are MCR, Rise Against, Foo fighters and Muse. So I like pulling inspiration from lots of places eras.
And a closing message from CDO to the fans:
As I jump off line now to give my thumbs a break, I want to express my gratitude to everyone who is enjoying the first video from the album. I know some people really want to know more about the 3rd Kingdom storyline and I look forward to telling that another time. Happy New Year!! CDO
Now, ignore all that other stuff and READ THIS.
I discovered Chris Dane Owens at almost exactly the same moment everyone else did: Friday, December 5. Then I became curious when I saw the date that "Shine On Me" was posted to YouTube - October 3. How had it stayed hidden for so long? The world may never know, but we do know why thousands know about it now. Videogum and G4's Attack of the Show both mentioned "Shine On Me" and bloggers quickly got wind of it and spread the love aaaaaall around. My only regret is that I didn't find it in time for my birthday. That would have been the best birthday present ever.
"Shine On Me" has proven to be polarizing, with tweets from both the lovers and the haters; sometimes both at once. Bonus twitter search link here. I am firmly in the lover camp, by the way.
I decided to email Chris (we're TOTALLY on a first-name basis, y'all) requesting an interview and I found him to be super nice and very approachable. (Well, I mean, why would you be rude to a blogger - there's no reason for it.) I totally geeked out at his answers to my questions. We have kind of similar taste in music from the 80s. But enough about me, on to the interview!
SB: You're a film and television producer by profession. What made you get into music? How long have you been playing guitar?
CDO: I have been playing since I was 13. I met some guys at school who were doing a talent show and their bass player had to back out. They asked me if I wanted to do the show with them and join the band. Problem was, I not only didn't own a bass, I had never even played before. So I said Ok, and my parents helped me get my first bass. It was a beat up Gibson SG , and I practiced for the show until my fingers were mangled. I only had a few weeks to learn the 2 songs; Led Zep, and Aerosmith tunes. The show was really a blast for me, and I have been addicted to music ever since. I moved over to lead guitar about 2 years later. My first real guitar was a red BC Rich.
SB: The video for "Shine On Me" is pretty lavish. What was the inspiration for such a fancy music video?
CDO: I am a huge fan of Anime/ Manga, as well as films like Braveheart, LOTR, and The Matrix, ...So by far, that creative body, was the greatest influence.
Also, I went back to Tokyo right before I started storyboarding for the video and that totally lit my imagination on fire. The Anime culture is thriving, and everywhere I turned, I found something new that fascinated me, with its power, beauty, or whimsical humor.
So the director, and my long time friend, Bob Short and I turned to those sources quite a bit for inspiration. It's one of reasons there is so much wind blowing in a lot of our shots in the video. We wanted to capture as much energy as we could in otherwise static setups like the animators do in Anime. People were laughing at me on the set while filming the video, because I kept cranking up the turbo fans on the actresses playing the Witches and Angels. Some of the footage was so over the top you couldn't even see their faces through all the flying hair. But I loved it.
When we do the next installment in our series of music videos, I am planning on working with some of the Hollywood stunt coordinators I know, so we can really bring more fight/ battle action to the game. I also want to get the camera moving more, to bring more dynamism to the scenes.
SB: Speaking of the video, it recently got a lot of attention on the internet. I literally showed it to everyone I know. Have you been following all the blogs and buzz?
CDO: Thank you Sarah for your support. What happened was that I was working in the mix studio last Friday with Chris Garcia, and out of the blue the video got 11,000 hits that day. I thought it was a glitch on my iPhone. All sorts of e-mails came up from friends telling me something wild was happening. Then G4 Television did a small piece on it, and it has taken flight for the last week. No doubt it will cool off, but this small flurry has set a few things in motion that were very pleasant surprises for us.
As for the blogs and comments, I have been sent lots of the blogs and am totally blown away by some of the fantastic remarks and amazing reviews of the project. For lots of people, the video seems to be very uplifting, adventurous and heartwarming. And that feels great to all of us.
Of course on the dark side of the coin, is that there are the "Enemies of Love" who aren't into the video at all. Or they actually like the video, but don't spark to my song in any way. Or maybe they love the song, but can't stand my look (with or without mustache). I'm sure you get my drift. It's hard to make mass appeal entertainment. I have learned this through my career in TV. That's why we always said while making the Vid, that we are going for a particular audience and that we would be quite happy if the right people really resonated with our themes and imagery. Also, I have discovered that not everyone even likes these kind of fantasy projects. Some people want a much more grounded universe…
But I have noticed a shift however when some people learn about the Anime inspiration behind it all. Perhaps it explains things a bit.
SB: There are mentions of an international tour on your website and MySpace page. How big of a tour are you planning? What cities do you wish to play in? Do you want to play large venues or in a more intimate setting?
CDO: Yes, touring is a big part of my goal. In many ways, like lots of musicians, I would like to perform where ever the art is appreciated. Even if that's to 300 people in a small clubs in Tokyo. I am optimistic that we will play some good sized venues in certian cities. Japan will be first I think, however, we must finish mixing the record, and then we can set a course for the next goal. It's all about finding an audience who embrace the craft and messages.
SB: Much of the commentary I've seen compares "Shine On Me" to music made in the eighties. What is your reaction to this?
In that song in particular, from the album, I can see that! There will always be a place in my heart for musicians like The Cure, Big Country, Tears for Fears, ABC, and PIL [Author's (interviewer's?) note: psst, that would be Public Image Ltd., for those not in the know]. And as these people mostly gained notoriety in the 80's in particular, I would call that a portion of my 80's influence.
In "Shine On Me" We have a funky slap bass in the verse of that song that Damian Valentine my producer and writing partner played. My guitar work has some 70's / 80's funk to it as well. But mostly I believe it's the vocals that are probably vibing in an 80's style. I think the sliced up guitars modernize it a bit, but I agree with the comment. Conversely, our songs like "Wicked" and "Superhuman", are a complete 180 from that, as I do something more akin to vocal chants on those rock-techno tracks.
Since my deepest roots are really grounded in Led Zep, The Beatles, and most predominantly David Bowie. I never know how that influence is going to bleed through into my work.
These days my favorite groups are MCR, Rise Against, Foo fighters and Muse. So I like pulling inspiration from lots of places eras.
And a closing message from CDO to the fans:
As I jump off line now to give my thumbs a break, I want to express my gratitude to everyone who is enjoying the first video from the album. I know some people really want to know more about the 3rd Kingdom storyline and I look forward to telling that another time. Happy New Year!! CDO
Friday, December 12, 2008
SotD: "Into My Arms" by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
This is one of my absolute favorite songs of all time. So. Damn. Awesome.
I will marry Nick Cave someday.
I will marry Nick Cave someday.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Marvel at what Rolling Stone magazine deems the best albums of 2008
... and feel your skull implode here
And that's why everyone thinks Rolling Stone is a joke.
More reaction Here
I'll admit straight up that I haven't listened to anything by the Jonas Brothers except what I saw on the VMAs but, oh my god why are they on this list. And you wonder why musicians hate journalists.
And that's why everyone thinks Rolling Stone is a joke.
More reaction Here
I'll admit straight up that I haven't listened to anything by the Jonas Brothers except what I saw on the VMAs but, oh my god why are they on this list. And you wonder why musicians hate journalists.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Free "Prey" remix for "Xmas"
Monday, December 8, 2008
The English Beat Dec.8 The Knitting Factory, Boise
My sister and I arrived at the venue at the perfect moment. The headliners were on stage and just starting their set. Unfortunately that means I can't comment on the opening bands, sorry. But I was quite surprised at how many people were in the building, considering that the streets of downtown Boise were eerily empty. Rachel asked me if there was a zombie outbreak. I told her that I didn't think so.
On to the show! We were not the youngest people in the crowd, I don't think. Understandably there were quite a few olda peeps. That's my sort of crowd. They know how to act and alcohol can help the good vibes spread to everyone. I found myself grinning widely as I was bopping my head to the bouncy beat.
I found Dave Wakeling to be a puzzling chap. He rambled through strange setups that segued clumsily into the songs. Rach and I heard several people ask their friends, "What is he saying?" "I have no idea." Here is, as far as I could make out, what he said during one of them:
"It's so nice to drive out of California to where there are seasons. The only way you know it's winter in California is if it smells like burning. I was so excited when we got our first chain advisory."
and then he said something about being in Birmingham and it was so dreary that suicide was a tempting option, if only he had the courage for it. I found it highly amusing, but no one in the audience seemed to understand either A) him or B) why what he was saying was relevant.
But the music. The music was beautiful to me. This is partially because it's been two months (!!!) since my last show and longer than that since I've been to a good show. Dave Wakeling noted the crowd's response to the ska songs and said, "It's going to be a 2 Tone night." That was exactly what I was hoping for. I love how there are at least two different rhythms to dance to with ska and it's still okay. You can be bouncy and fast or slow and swaying. The crowd got amped for "Hands Off She's Mine", "Tenderness" (the General Public song, remember?), and "Mirror in the Bathroom", which people had been calling for since the beginning. I wanted "Mirror" to last forever. I'm not even joking. It was musical bliss for me. Then there was a short break between the main set and the encore; they didn't fuck around.
At one point the band led the audience in a chant for Barack Obama during a breakdown, replacing actual lyrics. But I don't really the song titles since I'm not really a big English Beat fan.
So all in all, Dave Wakeling is strange and the band was awesome.
On to the show! We were not the youngest people in the crowd, I don't think. Understandably there were quite a few olda peeps. That's my sort of crowd. They know how to act and alcohol can help the good vibes spread to everyone. I found myself grinning widely as I was bopping my head to the bouncy beat.
I found Dave Wakeling to be a puzzling chap. He rambled through strange setups that segued clumsily into the songs. Rach and I heard several people ask their friends, "What is he saying?" "I have no idea." Here is, as far as I could make out, what he said during one of them:
"It's so nice to drive out of California to where there are seasons. The only way you know it's winter in California is if it smells like burning. I was so excited when we got our first chain advisory."
and then he said something about being in Birmingham and it was so dreary that suicide was a tempting option, if only he had the courage for it. I found it highly amusing, but no one in the audience seemed to understand either A) him or B) why what he was saying was relevant.
But the music. The music was beautiful to me. This is partially because it's been two months (!!!) since my last show and longer than that since I've been to a good show. Dave Wakeling noted the crowd's response to the ska songs and said, "It's going to be a 2 Tone night." That was exactly what I was hoping for. I love how there are at least two different rhythms to dance to with ska and it's still okay. You can be bouncy and fast or slow and swaying. The crowd got amped for "Hands Off She's Mine", "Tenderness" (the General Public song, remember?), and "Mirror in the Bathroom", which people had been calling for since the beginning. I wanted "Mirror" to last forever. I'm not even joking. It was musical bliss for me. Then there was a short break between the main set and the encore; they didn't fuck around.
At one point the band led the audience in a chant for Barack Obama during a breakdown, replacing actual lyrics. But I don't really the song titles since I'm not really a big English Beat fan.
So all in all, Dave Wakeling is strange and the band was awesome.
Your light of love shined on me and I jizzed in my pants
I owe a lot to bestweekever.tv, but nothing I can do can make up for being shown this video by Chris Dane Owens. I have trouble expressing my feelings about this music video and song. Suffice it to say, there are unmatched levels of joy in my life now.
But first, a little background info. When I first heard of this, I looked up Chris Dane Owens on Wikipedia but dude didn't have a page. He does, however, have a page on imdb. This man, whose lyrical creations light up my ears, is a television and film producer and he is the son of Gary Owens whom I know best as Dirk Niblick from Square One Television.
My early comments upon viewing the clip:
"Is he trying to look like Cary Elwes?"
"I like that if you just listen to the music, it is impossible to tell what year this was made." I mean that in the best way possible. I have memories of sitting in the car as a child and listening to jams like this, circa 1990.
and simply "WHAT THE FUCK" as I sat there in awe.
"Shine On Me" appears on the album Blue Stone which comes out in February. The physical CD will come with a letterbox version of the "Shine" video. Well, I'm sold.
That video is vying for my attention as it's time for the SNL Digital Short holiday song. We all remember "Lazy Sunday" and "Dick in a Box". Now we can add "Jizz in My Pants" to that list. This song is the first single from The Lonely Island's debut album "INCREDIBAD". In stores 2/10/2009. THE DUDES ARE RELEASING AN ALBUM. That's super Ka-blamo, y'all.
PS I'm stupidly pleased with my post title.
But first, a little background info. When I first heard of this, I looked up Chris Dane Owens on Wikipedia but dude didn't have a page. He does, however, have a page on imdb. This man, whose lyrical creations light up my ears, is a television and film producer and he is the son of Gary Owens whom I know best as Dirk Niblick from Square One Television.
My early comments upon viewing the clip:
"Is he trying to look like Cary Elwes?"
"I like that if you just listen to the music, it is impossible to tell what year this was made." I mean that in the best way possible. I have memories of sitting in the car as a child and listening to jams like this, circa 1990.
and simply "WHAT THE FUCK" as I sat there in awe.
"Shine On Me" appears on the album Blue Stone which comes out in February. The physical CD will come with a letterbox version of the "Shine" video. Well, I'm sold.
That video is vying for my attention as it's time for the SNL Digital Short holiday song. We all remember "Lazy Sunday" and "Dick in a Box". Now we can add "Jizz in My Pants" to that list. This song is the first single from The Lonely Island's debut album "INCREDIBAD". In stores 2/10/2009. THE DUDES ARE RELEASING AN ALBUM. That's super Ka-blamo, y'all.
PS I'm stupidly pleased with my post title.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Fun leetle game
I know I blather on about Depeche Mode too damn much, but this is a fun little game. I'm pretty good at name that tune style games, but some of the scores on the board are ridiculous.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Diamond Dogs by David Bowie
Diamond Dogs (1974) is one of my favorite albums of all time. In this day and age (as I type this I'm waving my cane menacingly at some kids driving too fast) where no one listens to albums anymore and players are always on shuffle, it seems rare to talk about an album as a complete work of art rather than a collection of songs. Which is why I quietly recommend favorite albums.
I feel that Diamond Dogs should be listened to all together. It doesn't take long, the runtime is only 38:25. And all the songs are gems, from the intro track "Future Legend" to "Chant of the Ever Circling Skeletal Family" the album flows smoothly. It's odd how cohesive this album is when considering that many of the songs were written for a failed theatrical production of George Orwell's 1984. David Bowie smooshed together the 1984 music with other tracks and bam - concept album centered around the theme of a post-apocalyptic society. MUSICAL ALCHEMY.
My particular favorite moment is the "Sweet Thing"/"Candidate"/"Sweet Thing (reprise)", what, suite? That's how it's referred to on Wikipedia. It's absolutely gorgeous. Equally lush is "We Are the Dead".
The album was co-produced by Tony Visconti, whom I lovingly refer to as Tony V, despite the fact that I probably shouldn't take such liberties. Visconti would go on to work closely with Bowie for much of the rest of the 70s.
I feel that Diamond Dogs should be listened to all together. It doesn't take long, the runtime is only 38:25. And all the songs are gems, from the intro track "Future Legend" to "Chant of the Ever Circling Skeletal Family" the album flows smoothly. It's odd how cohesive this album is when considering that many of the songs were written for a failed theatrical production of George Orwell's 1984. David Bowie smooshed together the 1984 music with other tracks and bam - concept album centered around the theme of a post-apocalyptic society. MUSICAL ALCHEMY.
My particular favorite moment is the "Sweet Thing"/"Candidate"/"Sweet Thing (reprise)", what, suite? That's how it's referred to on Wikipedia. It's absolutely gorgeous. Equally lush is "We Are the Dead".
The album was co-produced by Tony Visconti, whom I lovingly refer to as Tony V, despite the fact that I probably shouldn't take such liberties. Visconti would go on to work closely with Bowie for much of the rest of the 70s.
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