In Surround Sound

Censored Songs

2006-03-20T22:50:00.000+11:00

including 'Warm My Weiner' and the infamous Rolling Stones' 'Cocksucker Blues'

Because You're Mine, I Walk The Line

2006-02-19T10:21:00.000+11:00

Hey, has anyone else been to see "Walk The Line" yet. I saw it last week and I can't get over what a great movie it is. I came home and straight away had a Johnny Cash a thon (with some Kris Kristofersen thrown in for good measure, it was that kind of mood :)

Anyway, it's a great movie! I can thoroughly recommend it!

2006-02-02T15:09:00.000+11:00

Numa Numa spoof by CS6 crew of Navy USS Enterprise

what if Schubert wrote Stairway to Heaven?

2006-01-27T13:39:00.000+11:00

The Stairway Suite

Careful With That Axe

2006-01-24T01:26:00.000+11:00

Pink Floyd playing 'Careful With That Axe, Eugene' at Earl's Court, London, 1973
plus Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun

Paul Westerberg

2006-01-22T09:11:00.000+11:00

Talent Show

the server is dead, boys and it's so lonely on a limb

2006-01-20T21:38:00.000+11:00

Morrissey tickets on sale at 9:00am at www.seetickets.com

Grab two stalls tickets for last night.

Filled in credit card details

Go to final confirmation screen.

Wait.

"SQL Server has timed out. Please try again"

Return to credit card screen.

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Submit.

Database times out.

Return to credit-card screen.

Fill in details.

Submit.

"You've taken too long to submit your credit cards. The tickets are no longer allocated to you."

Return to ticket choser screen.

There are no more stalls.

Choose circle seats.

Allocated two seats.

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Submit.

Server times out.

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Server times out.

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"You've taken too long to submit your credit cards. The tickets are no longer allocated to you."

Give up.

Be sad.

Take solice in the fact that you have Morrissey's shirt from the last tour, whilst habouring resentment towards online ticket agencies with servers that are never up to demands placed on them.

Look to see how many 'fans' have sold their tickets on Ebay - a mere 60 minutes after the ticket release ....

ebayisdestroyinglivemusicforrealfans

Bastards.

All of them.

SS=SuperSmooth

2006-01-20T03:09:00.000+11:00

The Hitler Rap

Shut Up and Play

2006-01-06T10:28:00.000+11:00

Ranging from Klaus Kinski's "I Am Jesus" tour to Jim Morrison's drunken on-stage ravings to regrettable ramblings from Elvis and Mike Love, Shut Up and Play isolates amusing between-song banter from the distracting musical numbers that often accompany it. Here are 27 MP3s of on-stage breakdowns, rantings, musings and tunings.

And The Winners Are....

2005-12-22T18:24:00.000+11:00

The Gilles Peterson Worldwide Music Awards 2005 Winners

Session of the Year: Roots Manuva
Label of the Year: Tru Thoughts
Album of the Year: Fat Freddy's Drop - 'Based on a True Story'
Compilation of the Year: Jazzanova - 'The Remixes 2002-2005' (Sonar Kollektiv)
Club Night of the Year: Electric Chair
Track of the Year: Amerie - '1 Thing'
Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by Bluey of Incognito: The Mizell Brothers

Worldwide Music Awards 2005 minisite here.

bubblegum machine

2005-12-21T08:51:00.000+11:00

If it's ever been on K-Tel or Ronco, it's in. If it features hand claps, cow bells, syrupy orchestration, walls of sound, wrecking crews, sha-la-las, toothy teen idols, candy-based metaphors for carnal acts or lyrics about hugging, squeezing and rocking all night long, it's in.

boy band

2005-12-12T15:13:00.000+11:00

the Black Wings

(the one in the middle is mine)

sniff....they grow up so fast

2005-12-09T00:32:00.000+11:00

When the temperature barely reaches 20 degrees and its been snowing for three days, it doesn't get much better than having Karl Denson's Tiny Universe heating things up in the house while sipping on a Guinness or two. Karl's played here three times since last December and I'm guessing that the plan has been to just keep hitting the same city several times in a row so people start spreading the word around, something Dylan tried out when he began touring again in the 90's. Must be working because last night there were easily twice as many people as a year ago.

If not familiar with Karl, he's assembled one of the best funk bands on the road today, if not the best. The shows are always great fun, especially getting a chance to hear someone who can blow a sax as well as he does and not have to sit at a table like your listening to chamber music. Jazz is that, jazzy, and its nice to be able to loosen up and move your body a bit to feel the music. I'm guessing that people used to get all sorts of passions and spirits running through them back in the day of Bird.

The guitarist, Brian Jordan, can really tear it up too, but seems he's going for more and more of a traditional soul jazz sound with no effects and straight picking, but he's still not against stepping onto a distortion peddle for that added edge here and there. I actually would have liked to of heard him play more solos than he did, but like any art its always better to be left wanting just that tad more.

I can't leave out that Karl had one of the best openers I've ever seen, a ukulele player from Hawaii named Jake Shimabukuro. If I had told this guy before the show, without knowing who he was, that the ukulele isn't an instrument to be taken seriously, he probably would dished out a well deserved sucker punch. Never knew the instrument could be played as well as he did- very similar to a mandolin where the small bridge and closeness of the strings allow the player to go at it really, really fast. He then also would finger tap the bridge in addition to the chords, and I'm guessing that he has a pretty strong classical training. The set included the most original and beautiful version of While My Guitar Gently Weeps I've ever heard, a Schubert piece that I was not familiar with but was claimed to be a Christmas tune, and then closed with Karl Denson up on stage with him for Chick Corea's Spain, from my favorite album of his, Light as Feather.

2005-12-08T07:14:00.000+11:00

Listen to Jann Wenner's 1970 interview with John Lennon for 'Rolling Stone' magazine, including his thoughts on Paul, Dylan, Mick Jagger and others ...

Doctor Who

2005-12-05T17:14:00.000+11:00

Radiophonatron

I am a Doctor Who fan. I have a closet full of moldering videotapes of all the old Doctor Who episodes. The thing that first attracted me to the show was the music...

:: soundtransit ::

2005-11-22T04:18:00.000+11:00

all kinds of sounds

A Mother of a Band

2005-11-10T10:27:00.000+11:00

Tonight we're going along to see Wolfmother, yay!!

When this band has taken the world by storm in the next couple of years, I'm looking forward to being able to say, "Hey, I saw them play in a small venue for $27 when they were just taking off!" Stay tuned for the concert review .....

radio.blog.club

2005-11-09T18:41:00.000+11:00

This is an interesting site. Search for songs on people's playlists, such as

Jane Siberry with K.D.Lang- Calling All Angels

clubbo records

2005-11-04T00:35:00.000+11:00

music to believe in

Music Videos

2005-10-28T06:02:00.000+10:00

tons of them

Van Morrison

2005-10-06T22:26:00.000+10:00

Van Morrison's Contractual Obligation Album

2005-10-06T00:23:00.000+10:00

Famed record producer, Daniel Lanois (U2, Bob Dylan, Peter Gabriel, Emylou Harris), and solo performer in his own right, is touring with art rockers Tortoise, a one of a kind band that isn't quite rock, jazz or electronica, but instead plays an inducing ethereal soundscape that novelly blends all three. I am not familiar with Lanois' solo material, but I imagine it is quite good, having done soundtracks for Sling Blade, The Last of the Mohicans, and The Million Dollar Motel. I've seen Tortoise live once and it was the loudest show I have ever heard, so if you ever see them, pick a seat back a bit.

Musical Jokes

2005-10-03T09:33:00.000+10:00

at EveryNote.com

M. Ward

2005-09-30T20:52:00.000+10:00

M. Ward is recognized as a guitar virtuoso, particularly for his finger-picking style. He attributes his distinctive wisp of a voice to practice and recording habits as a child when he tried to sing without waking his parents.

via All Songs Considered

Listen to M. Ward (with The Shins and The White Stripes) live in concert

Music Seminar and Torrent Bits

2005-09-25T04:17:00.000+10:00

Some music related thoughts/occurrences for a post.

First, if anyone reading this lives within a two hours drive from Philly, shame on you if you were not in attendance at the first of the ropeadope's "what is jazz" series program. The highlight most undoubtedly in the dueling keyboard madness between Jason Moran and Uri Caine. The only music I have with Uri Caine is from purchasing The Philadelphia Experiment earlier this summer, an album with more Fender Rhodes than a Manhattan traffic jam. Jason Moran then sitting right beside Brad Mehldau to share the top seat for jazz keyboardists playing today.

Also making a showing, DJ Logic. Not listening to hip hop growing up, I used to be a clueless blank when it came to spinning, but through his work with free form jazzsters Medeski, Martin and Wood, and then touring on occasion with the Grateful Dead offshoot band, Rat Dog, I started to really dig hearing a spinner sit in with bands, it basically places in a percussion instrument for an additional rhythmic layer. Some choice albums with Logic: Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, Dance Lesson No. 2, and his work on the album Yoshimbe Brothers with Vernon Reid, the nothing less then disgusting guitar player most notably known for his playing in the 90's band, Living Color.

As far as some tasty torrents to download, there's a Melvin Sparks show from August this year available at bt.etree.org. Sparks being the godfather of the classic 70's soul jazz trio sound of guitar, organ and drums, hot finger licks and smokey hammond chords always settling you right into where you want to be. Second up, the jazz avant garde guitar player Marc Ribot with his new project, The Young Philadelphians. This is a set from their opening up for Medeski, Martin and Wood this summer at the Montreal International Jazz Festival. A truly one of a kind guitar player that will blow holes through your expectations if you dare give him the time. Description is impossible. He even recites poetry. These shows won't be posted forever, so snag 'em up now while you have the chance!

Dictionaraoke

2005-09-12T21:55:00.000+10:00

The Singing Dictionary

R. L. Burnside; 1926 - 2005

2005-09-02T22:36:00.000+10:00

R. L. Burnside, a voice and electric guitar style that could peel the paint off your neighbor's garage. Played both some of the most traditional, roots based blues around today, but also put out some of the most progressive blues albums to date. Also, a huge influence on one of my favorite rock/blues bands, the North Mississippi Allstars. R.I.P.

Mechanized Music

2005-09-02T19:03:00.000+10:00

WFMU's Machines Vs. Music

Musical Skeletons In The Closest

2005-09-02T09:27:00.000+10:00

We've known each other for a while now and I feel it's time to come clean about our musical skeletons in the closet. You know, songs that we "claim" to hate when in actual fact -- well, I'm not even going to say it! It's not easy, but I'll go first to help ease the way ...

There's a song that I only ever hear played these days about once every couple of years on radio. As soon as it starts I'm angered almost to the point of destructive rage and I'll declare to all and sundry, "I hate this bloody song! Loathe it!!" Because the song in question is considered to be the yardstick of crap against which all songs that came after it are measured on the Crap-o-Meter, whoever I'm with usually agrees with me wholeheartedly. Okay, usually not so much whole-heartedly but with a calm and level-headed, "A-yup. It sux all right".

"No", I'll insist, "this song really shits me to tears! I mean pfft! Come on!!" before I launch into my Minnie-Moused voice, scathing mimicry of it just to demonstrate how bad it really is. I'm sure I've probably been told at least once, "Okay, okay. It's only a song!"

But an astute observer might stop to consider, "Hmm, methinks the lady doth protest too much". An astute observer might wonder why the disproportionate fury the song provokes.

I get to the point in the piece where there's no putting off any longer which song I'm talking about. (Sigh). Okay, okay, it's "I've Never Been To Me" by Charlene. (Oh God, I hate that song!! No, really.)

Anyway, regardless of the fallout, I'm glad I got that off my chest. The only other song I hate more than "I've Never Been To Me" is Bronksi Beat's "Smalltown Boy". God, I hate that song!!

The Odd Couple

2005-08-27T08:28:00.000+10:00

Hank and Anita

Lounge against the machine

2005-08-26T12:06:00.000+10:00

Last night, doped up on cold medicine and cups of tea, me and Collyanna flicked through the cable TV stations and settled on the recent remake of Dawn of the Dead, with Ving Rhames. Watching it (which was surprisingly good) I was reminded of a few songs on the soundtrack that I liked, and was laughing at a section where someone had done a lounge version of Disturbed's Down With The Sickness.

That someone is Richard Cheese and Lounge Against the Machine, a Vegas-esque lounge singer who has made his mark loungeing up a collection of hard, angst-ridden rock - and if there was ever an area of rock that took itself a bit seriously was ready to have a musical tickle under the armpit, this is it. He also has done his bit for a few pop hits through the years. A bit more searching and I found versions of Baby Got Back, Last Resort, Personal Jesus, Beck's Loser and even Holiday in Cambodia.

Recommended for anyone like me who has a fascination with lounge and a love of not only great songs but also covers with their own personal - uh - - -

"Idiom, sir?"

Yes, idiom.

dead air space

2005-08-20T08:29:00.000+10:00

Radiohead has a blog

New Zealand Isn't Famous For Bungy Jumping Only

2005-08-17T20:21:00.000+10:00

Fat Freddy's Drop

Intimate venue

2005-08-12T12:14:00.000+10:00

During the past few months I've been AWOL. Moving from a lonely farmhouse in the middle of the Snowy Mountains in rural Australia, down to the beachside area of Mornington in Melbourne has been fantastic. One of the things I'm starting to do is rekindle my love of live music, and fortunately Melbourne has long been a great place to see a band.

Whilst its northern neighbour, Sydney, can be a challenge to find a decent pub with a decent band due to the proliferation of pokies (poker machines) which now dominate most bars in the city, Melbourne has retained a lot of its traditional pubs, with smoky dark interiors, grumpy old fellers sitting at the bar, and a tiny band area where punters can see an up and coming band for peanuts. It is in this type of venue I first saw bands like the Cat Empire, the Living End and even the superb Californian gents of Cake.

Tonight, I'm going to a small cafe right on the beach, where one of Australia's hidden gems is playing. Phil Para plays a mix of originals and classic covers, but it's his proficiency with the guitar that I really want to see. I can't believe I can still see someone of this calibre in a small cafe that seats maybe 80 people, max! I'm hoping for some guitarist sweat to fly down and land on me - I'll never shower again!

Select your fuel

2005-08-06T01:03:00.000+10:00

Petrol Records lets you select the sex, the city, the music.

folk

2005-08-05T14:20:00.000+10:00

New Folktunes Wiki
Stream or download songs

Corey Harris; Daily Bread

2005-08-02T08:11:00.000+10:00

Like a lot of musicians creating music, categorization should not be relied upon for expectations. Corey Harris is filed under Blues at your local record shop, and the blues certainly provides his musical roots and training (even helped host a segment of Scorcese's The Blues series), but when Harris incorporates elements of rock, cajun, reggae and traditional Western African playing styles into his material, the result is an entirely unique, but also pleasantly familiar, sound within the tradition of blues music.

Harris plays both acoustic and electric guitars equally, Henry Butler provides the keys with the Hammond B-3 and Wurlitzer piano, and many tracks are backed up with traditional African percussion instruments, such as a djembe or djun djun drum, or violin. The result is a richly organic sound, and entirely pleasant in a dusty front porch, sun sinking down type of way.

Interesting to point out how few 'guitar solos' the album contains. Instead, the approach is to work the song as a whole as opposed to a backdrop for fancy finger work. Its the constant rhythmical changes and balanced instrumentation that give the Daily Bread its complexity and interest at a musicianship level.

Lyrically this is Harris' most positive album, and of course the music matches in kind. Corey sings angelic to praise the pleasures and gratifications found in a simple life, the bitter sweet richness of love, his concerns of war, the need for peace, and guidance found in the burning spirituality of rastafari. The lyrical subject matter within previous albums stemmed more from traditional blues or social and cultural concerns, but in Daily Bread Corey Harris offers a more personal testament. Although certainly in tracks such as 'The Bush is Burning' and 'Just in Time' Harris clearly channels these emotions into an expressed concern towards the wars being fought in our current times.

All in all, a great dog days of summer album.

DJ Spooky...

2005-08-01T05:57:00.000+10:00

...and the connection between sound, text and philosophy.

make your own music

2005-07-29T03:03:00.000+10:00

here

check it out...

2005-07-26T22:28:00.000+10:00

....the new Ropeadope website has been launched, showcasing the greatest supplement to the music industry since album cover artwork; lots of tasty links with everything from veganism to your favorite jazz/funk/DJ/soul music blogs; the photo of the day is still there to greet you every morning right after you start your computer up; and a very convenient Tour Dates page, which should definitely contain more U.S. Michigan shows. Its the little record label that could, and will hopefully keep growing while keeping it real and connected.

peanut butter

2005-07-25T15:10:00.000+10:00

Iggy Pop video from 1970

idiot pilot

2005-07-22T23:51:00.000+10:00

Discovered a fantastic new band, Idiot Pilot.

Describing them will be as difficult as nailing puke to a wall, but I shall endeavour to do so (describe them, not nail puke to a wall ...)

There is a certain Radioheadness about it all - circa 'Kid A'. There is a shouty 'emo' style bloke in the background, whilst being led by dreamy lead vocal, lots of keyboardy / trippy parts, crashing guitars, lots of emotion and .... and ... fuck it, pass me that hammer and that bucket.

Anyway.

Idiot Pilot.

You read it here first.

Psychedelic Furs in 2005

2005-07-21T12:30:00.000+10:00

'I Wanna Sleep With You' slideshow at Slim's (a wonderful San Francisco nightclub)

Set your calenders

2005-07-14T01:35:00.000+10:00

A new live concert recording with T. Monk and Coltrane?!?! I read about this from the always reliable Jazz and Blues Blog. Guaranteed it is going to be a goody. Interesting to note that the recording was discovered during the Library of Congress' project to transfer all recordings on file to digital format for the sake of preservation:

Applebaum noticed a set of tapes simply labeled “sp. Event 11/29/57 carnegie jazz concert (#1), ” with one of the tapes barring the sole marking “T. Monk.” All of the evening’s performances, with the sole exception of Billie Holiday’s performances were present in the set.

One has to wonder what else might be found down in those basement vaults.

Live Tapings

2005-07-09T11:42:00.000+10:00

There can be a world of difference between what is recorded in a studio and what a band can actually pull off on stage. There are far too many bands out there known for the studio productions only, which to me is about the same as only enjoying a movie for the special effects, all gloss and no substance.

In a live setting its a whole different story. Suddenly the craft involved in creating the music becomes very apparent, and when done well, is very fun and exciting. Up on stage it becomes a creative act from the moment the guitar is plugged into the amp until Elvis has left the house. The music is given a soul and a voice, rather than a slicked out production from a bunch of corporate yes-men.

Now for the reason for my post. More and more bands are allowing fans to tape their shows. This post is intended as a brief tutorial on enjoying these recordings, which are primarily available through the graciously free online database, bt.etree.org.

When first listening to a live recording, some people are turned off due to the recording not sounding as polished and clear as a studio production. However, if you tune your ears a bit you realize that it generally just sounds different rather then of lesser quality. A good taping of a show through a quality rig (usually costing about $5,000.00 to get started) will recreate the sound just as it comes from the amps during the performance. At first it does sound different, but as with a live show, you just need to allow your ears to adjust and settle into the sound during the first song or two. Soon enough there's no problem distinguishing each instrument as clearly as a studio recording.

The first thing to look for when downloading a live show is to check the source information. This will generally cue you in on as to where the mics were placed and the types of mics used. Example:

AKG 480 + CK61 {FOB, DFC, spaced 15cm @ 90 degrees}

The AKG 480 refers to the brands of mics used to record the show. Other brands might include Schoepes, Neuman, Earthworks, and if you listen to a lot of live material you'll pick up on the differences in sound each records.

However, what's more important is the placing of the mics. In the above example, 'FOB', refers to 'front of board', meaning the mics were placed smack in front of the soundboard. Generally this provides a good recording due to the limited crowd noise and knowing that the mixing for the show was done at that specific point within the venue. These recordings consistently provide the best recording, however they can sometimes come off with a bit too much bass.

Another source might say 'stage lip', meaning that the mics were placed directly on the stage, or right in front of it. These recordings can be excellent, as though the musicians are in your living room.

Yet another might state 'sbd', this meaning that the dat recorder was plugged directly into the soundboard rather than through a set of mics. When people first get into collecting live shows this is the source they look for, mainly due to there being no crowd noise to interfere with the recording. But I think these recordings can sound flat and without the dynamics from a good audience recording.

While you should take a look at the source, there still is no guarantee as to the quality of the recording. Each band and each venue is going to have its own unique set up. However, generally if someone is going to take the effort and time to upload the show into the database you can be fairly certain that the recording will contain a certain level of quality. But ultimately its a matter of personal taste and what type of recording sounds best with your home system. I have some shows that sound excellent in my living room, but then others that sound better on our bedroom Sony bookshelf stereo. Really, when it just costs pennies to burn the show onto a disc, or even free if you have your hardrive hooked up to your stereo, you got nothing to lose.

The history of bands allowing their shows to be recorded originates from the always inventive and ever foolish Grateful Dead. The successor jambands of course followed the formula, but slowly this is now spreading to alternative rock, blues, jazz, bluegrass. Here's a listing of some of the bands that are starting to hip themselves to what's going on:

Hippy Dippy: Grateful Dead, Phish, Allman Brothers, Moe, String Cheese Incident, Widespread Panic, Dave Mathews Band

Alternative/Modern: Wilco, Yo La Tengo, Modest Mouse, Sonic Youth, Les Claypool, 311, Pearl Jam, Gomez, Radio Head, Queens of the Stoneage, Ween, Jack Johnson (some of these bands aren't necessarily taper approved, but do happen to have quite a bit of live recordings available)

Blistering Guitar: North Mississippi Allstars, Govt. Mule, Drive By Truckers, Los Lobos, Funky Meters

Jazz/Funk: Medeski Martin & Wood, Charlie Hunter, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe, Galactic, Benevento Russo, Sex Mob, Soulive, Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, Jazz Mandolin Project

Folk/Bluegrass: Indigo Girls, Peter Rowan, Donna the Buffalo, Leo Kottke, Tony Rice, Yonder Mountain String Band

Remember, don't be afraid to turn it up, not necessarily to 11, but this music was mixed for a nice full live sound. Also play around with the bass and treble a bit, it can make a world of difference.

As far as how you actually download the show and burn it onto a disc, bt.etree.org does a pretty good job at explaining all that. Basically you download the show in flac or shn format, which are compressed files with lossless quality, unlike mp3 (mp3 bad, mp3 evil). You then convert the flac or shn files into wav files and burn them onto a disc.

Its a great, cheap way to collect music, and really does provide something unique. I personally have about 400 shows, equalling out to around a 1,000 discs, all in slim cases and stored in a rotating tower. But this is nothing compared to some collecters, who fill up 1/2 their basement with shows. Yes its a bit geeky, sort of like comic books or being a treky, but still fun.

time for heroes

2005-07-05T02:38:00.000+10:00

I'm off to see Nine Inch Nails tonight.

And tomorrow night.

It's been a long five years ...

Time for heroes.

Los Lobos

2005-07-05T00:28:00.000+10:00

When a band plays together for 30+ years, they will, simply put, be either really bad, or really good. Los Lobos is one of those bands that sounds really good. No, let's change that to really, really fantastically good, dishing out their eclectic musical style of rock, blues, and tex-mex. And that is exactly why we saw them play Thursday night at the Meijer Gardens.

This quality comes from their mastering the balance of playing loose while at the same time keeping the train on the tracks with plenty of coal to burn. Never too tight, and with each member always listening to the others, their playing rises and falls with an interconnection and intensity you find in the natural powers of ocean waves or the Santa Ana winds. And with three guitarists plugged into distortion peddles, a bassist, a drummer and a third member filling in on baritone sax, soprano sax, flute or keys, there's plenty of trappings that could lead to an overcrowded mess. But the advantage from playing with each other for three decades lets them instead deliver a very nice fat sound that just roles out from the stage and soaks everyone in its warmth and danceable grooves.

But I think their personal attitudes and reasons for making music are just as important as their time spent together in the band. They obviously enjoy themselves and have a lot of fun on stage, where its more about the ancient ritual of live music rather than showmanship or extravagance. And with the this being the same reason for a person going to see live music, the seperation between performer and audience is broken down and the unnameable power within music is acknowledged by everyone equally.

This is the fourth time I've seen them play and have never been disappointed with a show. And because they are taper friendly, meaning a peson can bring a mic/dat rig and tape the show, I've got 8 crispy live shows in my collection (which you can too if you head over to bt.etree.org; and if you do, look for tapings by crackmc, most of his shows located in the northern California area and are always excellent). Their studio albums are incredible as well, but this is a band the shines best in a live setting.

The CBGB Scene

2005-07-01T09:14:00.000+10:00

The Talking Heads' art identity was further highlighted by their being paired in CBGB programs and tours with those emphatic lowbrows, the Ramones. The art/pop contrast between the two groups was amusingly accentuated during their European tour. The Talking Heads would get up early to go to the museums, to the surprise of the local booking agent, who was accustomed to rockers "who can't get up before four and then have horrible trouble with their bowel movements." The Ramones "hated Europe," reported their manager, and "didn't like the idea that people didn't speak English." "They hated the food and just looked for hamburgers everywhere." Meanwhile, "the Talking Heads talked to everybody in French," which made the Ramones "pissed."

from Between Montmartre and the Mudd Club

radio on

2005-06-29T12:01:00.000+10:00

Hello, thanks for inviting me to this blog. This is my first post here. I live in a tiny town in rural Georgia, USA and I like all kinds of music.

Here's a link to start off with: Radio Indie Pop (from Luna Lounge)

addict

2005-06-29T01:33:00.000+10:00

My recently mood-swing mania has resulted in a shopping heist at iTunes.

This month, whilst in various states of 'I need to hear some sounds that recognise the pain in me now' I have purchased. Some old, some new.

Jimmy Eat World - Clarity
Alkaline Trio - Crimson
Yellowcard - Ocean Avenue
Funeral for a Friend - Hours
Carpark North - All Things to All People
Nine Black Alps - Everything Is
The Magic Numbers - The Magic Numbers

On top on these purchased, the following have also fallen into my lap

James Blunt - Back to Bedlam
Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake It's Morning
The Foo Fighters - In Your Honor

I need more time. I need more ears.

I need to stop lying on floors with headphone on, eyes shrunkwrapped in tears, listening to Emo.

PLAY LOUD

2005-06-26T04:30:00.000+10:00

Packing and moving has its advantages. I have sorted through numerous cds and found myself listening to some gems this past week.

Tracy Chapman, Tracy Chapman
I think this is one of the best albums of the past 20 years. Granted, many of us have heard the songs countless times, but the power and the lyrics are timeless. "Don’t you know, we’re talkin’ about a revolution."

Rancid, And Out Come the Wolves
Just as Green Day aped the Ramones, their contemporaries in this Southern California punk quartet aspired to be the Clash. But also like Green Day, Rancid's fresh approach and excellent songs rose far above tribute-band level. I play this one loud.

Aimee Mann, Magnolia: Music from the Motion Picture
"You look like a perfect fit, for a girl in need of a tourniquet. But can you save me. Come on and save me.If you could save me from the ranks of the freaks who suspect they could never love anyone…"
This woman can write.

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, B.R.M.C.
Anything with rebel or rebellion in the title cause me to pay attention. PLAY LOUD. These guys are strong. "The leather-clad San Francisco trio picks up where Oasis left off--pillaging the past, regurgitating it shamelessly, and making it sound exciting and dangerous in the process." (amazon)

Best Album ( 1985-2005)

2005-06-23T17:45:00.000+10:00

Radiohead's OK Computer is best album for the past two decades. Read complete story here.

Dandy Warhols on DIG!

2005-06-21T19:49:00.000+10:00

The Dandy Warhols strike again, this time on celluloid. Dig it now!

This is my all time fave Dandy Warhols song! Hell, yeah, everyday should be a holiday! :)

Everyday should be a holiday

Summertime,
If I was getting paid
For getting drunk and getting
Laid.
I’d grab a phone
Just to cal you up and say
Quit your job
Cuz I got it made.

Anytime,
Baby let’s go
Everyday should be a holiday.

Super cool,
The dandys rule okay!
Got the dough and
I got the raves.
Anytime call me up if you
Got the sun,
Cuz I got the waves.

Anytime,
Baby let’s go

Everyday should be a holiday.

Dandy Warhols, Everyday should be a holiday

Yam Who?

2005-06-21T17:15:00.000+10:00

It was in 2003 when some unauthorized remixes of Pharell and Nas began starting fires. Pushing the originals deep into more soulful territory with live instrumentation and seriously funky percussion, the white-label 12-inch singles had everybody wondering, "Who did these?" Yam Who? are who. A pair of secretive London producers (known to some as Andy Williams and Desmond Morgan), Yam Who? were responsible for the "pirate soul" recordings that stripped the originals of their more commercial elements and stretched them out to DJ-friendly length. Since then they've gone legit and continued to work their magic for artists like Dwele, Alison Crockett, N'Dambi, Amp Fiddler, Little Brother, and recently, Break Reform and Bebel Gilberto. Their résumé continues to grow at a rapid rate as the name proceeds to capture the ears of every soul searching listener.

And because I'm generous like that, here's that Pharell track (disclaimer: if you like the song, please buy the vinyl/CD version).

Pharell feat Jay-Z - Frontin' (Yam Who Rework Vocal Mix) ~12MB

Australian blues

2005-06-19T15:03:00.000+10:00

Growing up as a teenager in Western Australia in the late '80s, I often turned my back on the awful commercial pop of the era that would be blared at us by the radio stations of the day. I flirted with classical music, then jazz, and finally found a style that has stuck to me to this day - classic blues and roots. There's something about one guy and a slide guitar and awful, sad-funny lyrics that really floats my goat.

One of the great radio shows in Australia is by the national broadcaster, TripleJ. Late on Thursday nights, their show Roots 'n' All trots out what's new in the world of blues, with a decidedly Australian focus, and throws in some old classics as well. I've been a fan of the show for a while now and I was overjoyed when I found that the new producer and DJ was to be none other than Ash Grunwald who is taking the blues world by storm. I encourage anyone with a taste for this style of music to have a look at Ash's website, he's got a few songs there you can download for a taste.

On the TripleJ website, you can listen to the radio station in real-time or listen to the last show of Roots 'n' All, by downloading the audio. For those of us who prefer other styles of music, I encourage exploring the TripleJ website, as there's programs showcasing punk, metal, dance and Australian releases. There's also a selection of recent local hits the station has been playing available as mp3 downloads - some of them are pretty good.

Sharing is caring.

Comment - Alanis Morissette

2005-06-17T17:52:00.000+10:00

I've always thought there was something very, very fake about Alanis Morissette - but at last I have the evidence.

The singer has an exclusivity agreement with the coffee giants Starbucks.

The chain have been given exclusive rights by the singer to sell her new album in the US and Canada for the first six weeks of release.

So someone who presents herself as an intelligent earth-mother, wearing her heart-on-sleeve, and crying compassion for the state of the world, has decided rather than fading away gracefully and returning to a soulfully forfilling life of playing small club gigs, she will hawk an acoustic reworking of THAT album and sell the bloody thing 'exclusively' in one of America's top five greedy, earth-raping corporations.

Isn't it ironic. Don't you think?

Bonnaroo 2005

2005-06-16T03:50:00.000+10:00

All back from the 4th annual Bonnaroo music festival. We went in 2003, had a great time, so decided to give it another whirl. Glad we did.

The festival grounds are on a former farm out in the nowheres of Tennessee. The lay out is with one main stage that can fit all attendees, and then another major stage a bit smaller, and then three 'tent' stages that surround the Centeroo activities (food, vendors, 24 hour cinema tent, arcade, light sculpture park, coffee shop, play ground, children's area etc.) All the stages are within a short waking distance of each other. Bands play from about 12:30 in the afternoon until 3:00 in the morning. As far as the shows we caught:

FRIDAY
Alison Krauss and Union Station: bluegrass, traditional country
Joanna Newson: harpist with vocal styles that reminded me of Bjork
Madeleine Peyroux: a young French singer with vocals very similar to Billie Holiday
Herbie Hancock and the Headhunters 2005: this is the performer I was most excited about seeing, an incredible jazz musician who is also right at home with electric funk styles, a perfect fit for Bonnaroo; his current Headhunters ensemble had grooves thicker then Tennessee mud
Galactic's Krewe De Carnivale: my second favorite performance of the day, a modern rock/funk outfit from New Orleans, joined by some members of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and the Mardi Gras Indians; a late night show and we boogied next to the multicolored fountain
Saul Williams: a slam poet who happened to star in the film Slam, basically he was solo, but was accompanied by a spinner at times

SATURDAY
Ozomatli: world beat ensemble with hip-hop beats, great drums and bass lines that got people up and dancing ready for the day, good stuff
Mouse on Mars: German duo laying down electronic beats
Xavier Rudd: an Australian one man band with didgeridoos, acoustic guitar, and wood boxes played with bare feet; I've seen him a few times before, great rhythm and strong, soulful lyrics.
Iron and Wine: songs consisted of either Art Garfunkel style acoustic pieces, or rock n folk fusion with a nice edge and gusto from the bass, drums and violin (the lead singer is a former film professor, as well as a painter)
Widespread Panic: this was the main stage evening performance for the day, a band from Georgia which is as 'jamband' as they come, a rock genre that I would define as bands that base their music on craft, granted its not art, but they do a good enough job with extended solos, improvisation, eclectic styles and crowd pleasing fun to provide a worthwhile concert experience
Karl Denson's Tiny Universe: another funk group, I've seen them four times now and this was the tightest performance yet, on fire, horns were hitting it tough, guitarist Brian Jordan was shredding and Karl was blowing out bebop solos from a pair of lungs that just wouldn't empty.

SUNDAY
Toots and the Maytals: Jamaican reggae/ska, second time seen
Herbie Hancock: the festival also had a smaller stage for interviews and acoustic numbers, he spoke about the latest Headhunters incarnation and played a couple improv pieces, a musical legend I was giddy to be in the presence of
Citizen Cope: saw them while slurpping down a latte from the coffee tent, nice song writing from a band I was not previously familiar with
My Morning Jacket: a great indie label rock band that has a solid fan base started (like the majority of the bands at Roo)
The Word: the second performance I was most excited seeing (first being the Headhunters); a power group made up of John Medeski, from jazzsters Medeski Martin & Wood, Rober Randolph, a great high energy steel pedal guitar player, and members from the blues rooted rock group The North Mississippi Allstars, another fav of mine; the music is all instrumental versions of traditional gospel and spiritual songs, but with oodles of boogie and make your hair stand on end guitar and organ solos.
Superjam: every year they have a set for a few musicians to form an impromptu group; this year it was with Herbie Hancock on keys, one of the guitarists from the Headhunters, the drummer from the incredibly talented hip-hop band The Roots (who weren't playing at this years festival) and a bass player I didn't recognize; great free form jazz.
Widespread Panic: the final show of the festival and they hit it right on, the best playing I've ever heard from this band, lots of great sit-in's during the show, which is another huge plus for what the festival has to offer, Hancock was smokin', its amazing how much better a band plays when a virtuoso is placed into the ring.

There were other groups we saw, but not a significant portion of the sets. There were of course many other groups we would have liked to have seen, but its difficult being in two places at once.

What really makes a festival this size work is how well its put together. I'll just point out two efforts to make my point. First, there was quite a bit of rain Friday and Saturday (which was not that big of a problem due to it being 85 degrees), and on Sunday when some of the areas become to muddy to walk through, they brought in hay to lay down to soak up the water. Second, there were old farmers driving tractors around to push out cars that got stuck in the mud, this was on Sunday and not during a time when every one would be leaving and backups had to be prevented. Its this sort of detailing that just adds an extra comfort to the experience. Neither one was absolutely necessary, but added to the overall enjoyment for everyone in attendance. Quality over profit. What a novel idea. (although, I'm certain the production company, Superfly, is poppin some corks as I write this) Oh yeah, another good example, in '03 my wife left her drivers license in the cell phone tent but they mailed it back to our home address within a week.

As far as the type of people that go to Bonnaroo, I'd say about 70% are college aged hippie kids and the rest of the 30% would be seasoned concert goers and music lovers. The majority of the crowd is very laid back, high spirited and friendly, people that are just enjoyable to be around. The down side to the festival would be that you are dealing with 90,000 people, which requires a certain amount of tolerance, as well as an enjoyment of being placed in a swarming beehive for three days. Certainly not for everyone, but definitely is if eclectic music, a good party and a bit of adventure is your idea of a fun vacation.

This is Great!

2005-06-15T22:29:00.000+10:00

It's a loose association I know, but Christy's last post there that mentioned the word "sluts" reminded me of a song by Brisbane (Australia) punk group The Aampirellas called "Wasted". If you click on the "Sounds" link on their website you can listen to what seems to be an unmastered demo of the song. The lyrics are a bit hard to make out on that version, but it'll give you an idea. And because the lyrics are so fabbo, I'm going to take the liberty of putting them up here!! But have a listen, I'm sure you'll like it! :)

WASTED

Hated all those times you lied
You’d even start to cry
It makes me sick to think I gave a shit
All those times you’d come home late
I’d lie in bed and wait for hours on end, but now it’s over

So don’t call me when you need someone to love
Your tears just aren’t enough
Don’t call me when you need someone to f*ck
Cause I’m not your slut and you’re not good enough

Copped an earful every day
Now wasn’t it a treat to hear you say you never loved me anyway
And all those times you’d push me down
Didn’t think I’d come around to push you back
Better late than never

So don’t call me when you need someone to love
Your tears just aren’t enough
Don’t call me when you need someone to f*ck
Cause I’m not your slut and you’re not good enough
So don’t call me when you need someone to love
Your tears just aren’t enough
Don’t call me when you need someone to f*ck
Cause I’m not your slut and you’re not good enough
Cause I’m not yours to waste

No, I’m not yours to waste
No, I’m not yours to waste
No, I’m not yours to waste
I’m not yours to waste

Generation Terrorists

2005-06-14T21:00:00.000+10:00

You are pure, you are snow
We are the useless sluts that they mould
Rock n' roll is our epiphany
Culture, boredom, alienation and despair

Manic Street Preachers
Little Baby Nothing
Generation Terrorists

My Opinions ...

2005-06-12T16:44:00.000+10:00

I bought three new CDs today: Coldplay's X&Y; White Stripes' Get Behind Me Satan; and Audioslave's Out of Exile.

My initial reaction to the Coldplay CD was "Stop ya bleating!" I must admit, it's all very ballady and, to be honest, whiney! I actually really love Coldplay so I hope that maybe a lot of the stuff might grow on me.

The White Stripes album is absolutely fantastic! Standout songs so far are Blue Orchid; Take, Take, Take; and As Ugly As I Seem. But on a quick listen through, there's not a dud on the album.

The Audioslave album is also a winner. I love Your Time Has Come, Be Yourself, and Yesterday to Tomorrow. This is the kind of album I picture listening to lying on a cushion on the floor with all the lights out!

So far I'd have to say the pick of the bunch is the White Stripes album! I just know it's one that I'm going to end up listening to autistically!

It’s better to burn out than to fade away.

2005-06-12T05:38:00.000+10:00

Sitting here listen to Neil Young’s Rust Never Sleeps takes me back to the summer of 1979. I got this album the same day that I got the Clash’s first album which wasn’t officially released in the US until after Give ‘Em Enough Rope. I worked at an independently record store for trade. I basically received one album for each hour I worked. My album collection grew rapidly. I miss those days. Opening albums and spinning them for the first time not realizing that 25 years later they would be timeless and how the music would become such apart of my soul that simply by hearing the music I could transfer my youth into the present. It feels great. Like old times, today I want to close my bedroom door, fire-up a Marlboro Light, put on the headphones, think about making out with my girlfriend and become fifteen again.

Brazilian Nights

2005-06-11T22:25:00.000+10:00

Brazilian music blog, Tropicalismo , Terceira Edicao and Musique.

surprise a stranger with music

2005-06-11T09:51:00.000+10:00

Summer Burn 2005

Eno

2005-06-11T08:37:00.000+10:00

I mentioned Eno's new album recently. Grab this while you can!
Thanks to 'just for a day'

Hed Kandi: Back to Love

2005-06-09T19:02:00.000+10:00

25 club classics. One delicious double album.

David Byrne digs Sousa

2005-06-08T00:58:00.000+10:00

Commentary on live v recorded music.

Beethoven experience

2005-06-07T15:36:00.000+10:00

Download Beethoven's symphonies from BBC- Radio 3.

Searching For The Perfect Beat, Worldwide

2005-06-07T12:46:00.000+10:00

"...through meditation I program my heart to beat breakbeats and hum basslines on exhalation...." -- Saul Williams/Blackalicious

Mike/Bullish1974 here from the Philippines. My turn.

Before the 90's, my music was mostly, uhm, pop. From Cindy Lauper, Wham, The Bangles, to (please forgive me) Debbie Gibson. Cassette tapes galore. Yes, I had my share of new wave a la The Cure, Johnny Hates Jazz, Gene Loves Jezebel, Fra Lippo Lippi. I was joining the bandwagon of loving all things British, and it was Level 42 that had me jumpstarted on all things jazzy.

Late 80's to early 90's witnessed the burgeoning of acid jazz, a genre with deep roots in the 1970s jazz/funk/fusion world. It's popularity was exponential, and every single neither-rock-nor-hip-hop dude in college had The Brand New Heavies debut album. Other hot stars were Incognito (still alive today with about a dozen studio albums and 2 remixed CDs), Jamiroquai (this year the Space Cowboy will return), Galliano posse, D'Influence, James Taylor Quartet, Corduroy, Digable Planets, Mother Earth, Stereo MCs, etc. This was when my love for groove kicked in, add to that my dad's addiction to jazz (Yes, I grew up listening to Wes Montgomery, Eumir Deodato, Earl Klugh, Miles Davis, Chick Corea, Joe Henderson, Paulinho Da Costa, Noel Pointer, etc.)

So the journey began.

At some point, the acid jazz audience started to feel a little tired of sounding almost the same. I actually felt that Hammond organs sounded too overused already. Then came trip-hop aka Bristol sound. Thanks to Massive Attack, Tricky, and Portishead, who at some time collaborated with each other for their own materials. It was a trip to ambient, cerebral music: improvised melancholy, indeed.

Independent dance music pimps were still searching for that fast, 120-ish bpm music that trip-hop couldn't provide, thus West Londoners started drum 'n bass/jungle/breakbeat. 1996-1999: 3 solid years of pure, unadulterated, syncopated beats that's actually not dance-able, but could still manage to bob someone's head and make them tap a foot or two. It was Roni Size's "It's Jazzy" that started the jazz-infused drum n' bass. Other artists worth noting here are 4Hero, Breakbeat Era, Talvin Singh (Indian drum 'n bass artist who won the Mercury Prize), Dom & Roland, Alex Reece, Goldie, DJ Suv, DJ Krust, DJ Die, London Elektricity and the entire Hospital Records crew.

But drum 'n bass was too fast, too furious, to some. So UK garage/2-step garage was born. A little more soulful than breakbeat, with a lot less bpm. Notable artists are MJ Cole, Artful Dodger, The Streets, Zed Bias, and Wookie. This started a cult following, and a lot of pirate radio stations in the UK flourished with this music as the main genre. This became too clubbish according to dance cognoscenti, so a more underground type was needed.

Unlike the polite tendencies of acid jazz, with syncopation still as the main blood, broken beat is more frenetic and sputtery, but the soul is still intact. This probably is the classic hybrid of dance and jazz. Artists include Bugz In The Attic, Domu, New Sector Movements, Seiji, etc. It's the freshest form of addiction that I have now, but copping it is tough.

Wow, at first I didn't think this post would be this long, and I haven't touched on other music styles that I listen to. But generally, if it falls under any of these categories (old school jazz/nu-jazz/rare groove, electronica, tropicalismo, broken beat, funk, deep house, bossa, afrobeat, samba, soul/neo-soul, folk jazz, afro-cuban, blaxploitation, drum n' bass/jungle, acid jazz, trip hop, dub, 2-step garage, spoken word, dancehall, jazz rap, brazilectro), rest assured that I listen to them.

Peace and beats.

Common People

2005-06-07T07:36:00.000+10:00

It's Pulp Jim, but not as we know it

William Shatner is Jarvis Cocker

music (for robots)

2005-06-07T00:43:00.000+10:00

music (for robots) - a great daily New Music blog.

2 nice downloads

2005-06-06T20:45:00.000+10:00

Dance to the VU

My Turn....

2005-06-06T11:54:00.000+10:00

I'm Brian and have lived in Michigan, USA, all my life. Specifically, Grand Rapids, a mid size city. While having a love for all music styles and genres, my listening taste primarily lies in jazz these days, which I suspect the majority of my posts will demonstrate. There is a lot of just plain sick music being played by jazz cats these days and I'm interested in increasing my own exposure while also making people aware of what's out there.

Postings will also focus upon live shows that I attend, which is not limited to any specific genre. A large reason for my love of jazz is due to the focus upon improvisation, where the music moves beyond construct to gut feeling and expression. That to me is magical, where communication begins at an intuitive level between the musician and the listener, where musicians close the circuit and pull themselves and the listener into the immediate moment. Any band that roles into town that has this element within their live show is one at which I will be in attendance.

System of a Down - Mezmerize

2005-06-05T23:48:00.000+10:00

To me, System of a Down have always 'been there' lurking in the background of my music collection for many years. However, in recent times, save for some leaping around the lounge to the title track from Toxicity, they rarely make it through these hallowed speakers.

It was by accident that I ended up with their new offering - a present in return for fixing a work colleagues home PC. And my God, that turned out to be a couple of evenings well spent, as this album has barely left the flat, the car, the office, the iPod since.

Let's get this straight, Mezmerize is a RAWK! album. Except for the last mid-tempo 'epic' closer, this is a brutal full-on assault on the senses, and cannot be listened to at any volume lower than eleven. An after-dinner album this is not.

Also, this is a highly politically charged album - songs about good versus evil - the people versus the state, or more precisely, the people versus George Bush. After a one minute thirty intro 'The Soldiers' Side', we are launched into the current single 'B.Y.O.B.' - which I do believe stands for Build Your Own Bomb, but had to be changed to get released - (someone may have to correct me on this, this is from memory). Regardless of what it is called, the message says the same ... 'Why don't presidents fight the war? Why do the always send the poor?', lead singer Serge screams over some of the most exciting riffing and chugging you're likely to hear this year.

'Cigaro' opens up with possibly the greatest line ever - 'My cock is much bigger than yours!', before clarifying any doubt that SoaD where talking literally as they exclaim 'We're the cruel regulators smoking cigaro, cigaro, cigar ... we're the propagators of all genocide, burning through the world's resources'.

And so it goes on, relentlessly through the tracks, passing by the only song I would remove from the album 'This Cocaine Makes Me Feel Like I'm On This Song', (which is mercifully short), followed by the brilliant 'Violent Pornography', a song that urges you to 'TURN OFF THE T.V.! (can you say brainwashing?)', through to Sad Statue ('We'll all go down in history, with a sad statue of Liberty and a generation that didn't agree').

The two album closers are genius. The first track is 3 minute pop blast called 'Old School Hollywood', which makes a mockery of the traditional all-America hero, before closing with the natural progression of the former track, 'Lost In Hollywood', which as I stated at the start of this review, is the only time SoaD get out of your fucking face for the whole 40 minute journey - a journey which you cannot help feel could have been even longer - but wait! - I hear SoaD have 'Part 2' of this album ready to roll in three months. The plot sickens ...

To summerise. This album is already classic in my eyes and it will also be remembered for capturing the mood of a generation. It surprised me the a genre that I thought I'd move on from has captured my imagination so intensely again.

The mix of crazy tempos, operatic vocals, insane guitar work, impressive musicianship, coupled with System of a Down's ever present nod to their traditional Jewish roots, make their music unique, exciting, dramatic, intelligent and when it all comes together as it does on the album, you are left with one of the most essential rock albums to come out in the last ten years.

Buy it.

Hello from the islands

2005-06-05T17:29:00.000+10:00

Christy here. I am the quintessential 80's kid who grew up listening to the sounds of Gene Loves Jezebel, China Crisis, Pet Shop Boys, Big Country, INXS, The Pretenders, Men at Work, Midnight Oil, Joy Division, Soft Cell, Simple Minds and the like. The 80's was an era of fashion disaster but music-wise, it was the best time of my life. If I am to quote that old Johnny Hates Jazz song, "I wish that I could turn back the clock, bring the wheels of time to stop, back to the days when life was so much better." So much for 80's nostalgia there!

On the other hand,the music of the 90's left a lasting dent on my psyche. Being a Gen-xer, I was naturally drawn to the angst- ridden, vitriolic rock anthems of the times. I discovered Offspring, Greenday, Everclear and other artists of the same permutation. I had my grunge,emo rock,ska/reggae phase, trip hop, new jazz and weirdo music phases. I listened to Sneaker Pimps, Morcheeba, Gren, Len, Rage against the Machine, Tommy Henrickson, Rollins Band just to name a few. Sometimes I'd listen to Atari Teenage Riot or Massive Attack when the mood calls for it. In general, I consider myself the eclectic type who'd listen to anything that is nouveau, beautifully weird, noisy or all of the above.

Right out of college, I embarked on a 3 year rock DJ stint. I loved music so much that I figured that if I can't be a rock star, I might as well settle as rock DJ!

Nowadays, my taste in music gravitates towards more Latin infused sounds. I'm slowly but surely discovering Elvis Crespo, Vinicius de Morais, Gilberto Gil, Joao Gilberto, and the like. Just catching up on the listening and enjoying it!

And for the obligatory "what's on my CD" recap: Travis, Turin Brakes, David Gray, Yolatengo and Bach.

A brief introduction ...

2005-06-05T11:08:00.000+10:00

I can live without TV. I can’t live without music. There have been times in my life ("lonely times when I could not find a friend") that music has been my life.

I remember from the age of 3 my mother coming to the front door and yelling out to me as I was playing in the yard, or even up the street a bit with neighbourhood kids, "Colleen, your favourite song’s on the radio!" I’d drop whatever I was doing, race inside and sit with my ear placed right up against the stereo speaker. I’d close my eyes and listen intently to every word and every note and visualise the singer.

To me music is more than just listening. I get completely immersed in the sound. I love to put headphones on and let my imagination go wild as I listen to a song. I imagine that it’s me on the stage singing, that it’s me performing the kick ass guitar riff. I'll lose myself completely in the song, then go straight back to the start and play it again when it's finished.

I’ve always had an eclectic taste in music. I’m sure I was the only person from my high school in 1983 who rocked up to the "record shop" and bought at the same time U2’s War album and the Mamas and the Papas Greatest Hits. If it’s a good song, if it’s got great guitar, if the singer’s voice makes me want to kiss the nearest person, I’ll listen to it regardless of what decade it came out and regardless of how much fun people make of me! People have made fun of me for my mixed tapes. I might start with a Foo Fighters song, followed by a Roger Miller song, followed by a Frank Sinatra song, then a Sex Pistols song, a White Stripes song … you get the idea!

As for all time favourites: The Beatles, The Who, The Doors, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Marianne Faithful; all predicatably enough. I mean, who doesn’t like them I guess? I also have to confess (and here’s where I lose all street cred) to loving The Monkees, Hermin’s Hermits, Kris Kristoffersen. But it all depends on my mood. That stuff is now my "comfort" music; I play it to soothe myself if I’m feeling a bit down. It helps me to remember who I really am.
As for new stuff, I absolutely love Queens of the Stone Age, Kings of Leon, the Foo Fighters, Coldplay, the White Stripes. I think in a nutshell, if it’s "real" music (not synthesiser crap or techno) I’ll love it.

There is so much great stuff around these days that I’ll hear once and I’ll fall in love with, but never find out who it was by! My mission this year is to organise my music collection into some sort of system, rather anally retentively, and then set out to track down stuff I’ve heard lately and begin a whole new category. I’ll keep you posted of any great finds!

thought for the day

2005-06-05T08:32:00.000+10:00

"The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side."
Hunter S Thompson

Greetings from Haight-Asbury

2005-06-05T02:50:00.000+10:00

I am Rick coming to you from San Francisco or actually just north of the Golden Gate Bridge. It is a beautiful place and at one time was a very influential area musically. Folks from Jefferson Airplane to the Dead Kennedy’s have found their home here.

Music… hmmm. In the beginning when I was four years old I got a copy of Are Your Experienced? by Jimi Hendrix. When I was six I heard Honky Tonk Woman by the Rolling Stones and became their biggest fan for the next few years of my life growing my collection to include all their albums. I remember thinking Keith Richards was the coolest man alive mostly because he smoked cigarettes and did a lot of drugs. Thanks Keith, you were a great influence. In 1977 I discovered The Clash (the only band that matters and what some call Punk Rock.

Some of my all-time favorite albums are:
London Calling, The Clash.
The Clash, The Clash
Sticky Fingers, The Rolling Stones
After the Gold Rush, Neil Young
Nevermind, Nirvana
Are You Experienced Jimi Hendrix.
The Birth of Soul, Ray Charles

Right now in my disc player I have:
Steve Earle, Jerusalem
Common, Be
Johnny Cash, Live at San Quentin
The Streets
And a Gregorian Chant cd.

greetings from Hell (Watford/UK)

2005-06-04T22:05:00.000+10:00

At last. Some time to breath.

Introduction time. I am Spencer Steel, and on a good day, I look a little something like this ...

I won't show you what I look like on a bad day.

I have been very, very kindly offered to contribute to this music-lovers blog, which is an honor.. from what I can see so far, we've got pretty varied music tastes, which is what makes this even more exciting.

But then again, let's flip to my iPod and see how varied my listening tastes are shall we? Yes ... lets...

At the moment, my playlist is spinning up System of a Down's new offering 'Mezmerize', which is worthy of a review of it's own, as it's outbloodystanding. This is squeezed inbetween Nine Inch Nails 'With Teeth' album and some US Emo tracks (Funeral for a Friend, My Chemical Romance). Of course, being British, I am also riding high on the current wave of excellent nu-indie bands like Bloc Party, Razorlight, The Rakes, The Killers et. al.

OK, so he's into noise, I hear you say. Well, it's not all a racket omitting from my flat windows (although the neighbours would disagree). You are just as likely to find me listening to Damien Rice, Morrissey/Smiths, Jeff Buckley, The Eels (fantastic new album, Mr.E, by the way) etc.etc.

In my time, I've gone through my punk phase, my goth phase, my techno phase, my nu-metal phase ... i've pretty much to into anything that's been gettingintoable and still love taking regular trips down memory lane. In fact, apart from Bob fucking Marley, I'll listen to pretty much anything - so long as it's comes from the heart.

Well, that's intro's over. I think my first review with be the System of a Down album - as it is really rather remarkable.

Peace.

S.S.x

You mean Daniel Johns wasn't the only member of Silverchair?

2005-06-04T12:04:00.000+10:00

Ben Gillies, who was (is maybe? I'm not sure whether Silverchair is still a happening thing or not) the drummer with Silverchair has started up a new band called Tambalane. Admittedly, I've only heard one of their songs so far, an upbeat number called "Little Miss Liar", but it sounds promising! I think the song can be downloaded from their website , or alternatively you can download a free mp3 of the song from Triple J website.

Usually with new stuff I stick to the rule of if I like three songs by a band, I buy the album, so I'll look around for a few more songs of theirs to try out and I'll keep you posted!! :) Anyway, if you decide to give "Little Miss Liar" a go, let me know what you think of it!

And while I think of it, I was watching Rage last night and I heard the most FANTASTIC song I've heard in a long time. It's by a band called YFC and it's called "Son of a Gun." I've never heard of these guys before so if anyone is familiar with them and can point me in the direction of some of their other stuff, it would be most appreciated!

Ornette Coleman: Free Jazz

2005-06-02T22:26:00.000+10:00

Ornette Coleman's 1961 album Free Jazz (A Collective Improvisation) is one of the more unique albums that I've picked up lately. It consists of two tracks of pure improvisation from two completely separate quartets playing simultaneously. One quartet channeled through one speaker, and another through the opposite speaker.

I picked up the album in the used bin at the local disc shop, and was a bit hesitant at first, having in the past purchased jazz albums that are 'musician's music', in other words, heavy on the theory and experimentation and quite difficult to listen to. But Free Jazz is not one of those albums.

With the double quartet set up, the effect is similar to two tables of people that begin conversing at a bar or coffee shop an hour away from closing time. The music is presented with the same natural ebb and flow found in conversation and with each instrument having its own personality. Sometimes a chaotic white noise as everyone puts in their two cents at the same time, but then other moments toned down, private, intimate, shy, or the oppposite comes along: nervous, excited, frustrated, boisterous. As an outside eavesdropper listening in, its easy to just get lost in all the subtleties and gestures being communicated. My favorite portion involves the two double bass players stepping up for about 5 minutes to do their thing. How often do you have an opportunity to listen to bass players soloing off each other?

This album is free form, and granted, not for everyone, but with the amount of space the players allow each other and the range of musical terrain, its still very accessible. Inside the inlay is a Jackson Pollack painting. Use that as a litmus test. Highly recommended if you're looking for something a bit different.

The Houdini Box

2005-06-02T20:47:00.000+10:00

I went to see a local band The Houdini Box playing in Edinburgh last weekend. They have some excellent songs - written by singer Lynsey Hutchinson - and all the band members place their own stamp on the music, which has quite an unusual feel to it - intense, bittersweet and darkly decadent at times. There's an element of 'Victoriana' in the lyrics - one song is about Jack the Ripper, for example - and the arrangements complement this nicely, underpinned by some of the best drumming I've heard in ages. The bass player, Norman Lamont, has a deceptively simple yet imaginative style of playing too.

Certainly one of their songs, 'Cold Reading', could, with the right exposure, easily be a commercial hit. It's amazing how much good music and how many talented people there are out there, and how few make it into the mainstream despite developing strong local followings. Maybe there's just too much good music around, or maybe style has finally triumphed over substance in the commercial arena. I know it's a long shot, but if you happen to be in Edinburgh on Saturday 4th June The Houdini Box will be playing at the Meadows Festival. Perhaps when their forthcoming album is released they'll make some mp3s available. I'll keep you posted.

Theo Eastwind

2005-06-02T19:28:00.000+10:00

New York subway musician and songwriter Theo Eastwind has a voice as unforgettable as his haunting and soul-shaking songs.

Better late than never

2005-06-02T10:45:00.000+10:00

A while back I was chatting to a friend, her sweating as a Philippine summer approached and me with my feet wrapped around an old oil heater as the Australian winter finally started to kick in, discussing music and philosophy and loving it, as usual.

Born from these chats was this idea, to start up a music blog with music lovers around the world, to introduce them to differing points of view, and music out there that perhaps some of us haven't had the chance to hear. I remember driving across the USA when I was younger and hearing a song on a college station, and how it was one of the best songs I ever heard. I thought to myself that that song probably wouldn't ever be played outside alternative or college radio and if I hadn't happened along at that moment, I probably would never have heard it. I wonder how many songs out there that are fantastic and we'd never hear. If my co-contributors in Scotland or Canada have ever heard of the likes of Eskimo Joe and Little Birdy from Australia, and what they've got out there that I haven't heard and would like to share.

It also occurs to me I don't know much about others contributing to this site, because the central pin is my friend from the Philippines. Most people who blog prefer to keep it that way, but I love to talk about myself. Briefly, I'm a guy in my early 30s. I grew up in Perth, Western Australia and I currently live in the Snowy Mountains region of New South Wales in Australia. Shortly I'm moving to the Melbourne region to see more live acts and return to the city! I have a taste for blues, roots, alternative rock, retro pop, that sort of thing. I love the guitar and the rawer the better. Having said that, my music tastes are wide and sweeping and I enjoy almost any form.

This was just aimed as an introductory post, one that was supposed to happen weeks ago but life got in the way. Next post : less Matty, more music!

cbc radio 3

2005-05-31T06:19:00.000+10:00

cbc radio 3 -- A great music focused flash-zine

The Cat Empire strikes back!

2005-05-27T17:51:00.000+10:00

It's Aussie jazz and hip-hop with a twist of South American rhythms. Music never sounded this good!

Have some mojito, Cuban cigar, some Cat Empire and it's rumba time!

Are You Ready For The New Detroit Soul Sound?

2005-05-26T20:42:00.000+10:00

Platinum Pied Pipers

2005-05-25T22:29:00.000+10:00

Relax and take a siesta.

Eno

2005-05-22T06:57:00.000+10:00

I was driving on the motorway the other day listening to the radio. I couldn't get decent reception on a classical station so I was flicking through the preset buttons when I heard a song that caught my attention. It was 'This' by Brian Eno, a track from his new album. I love Eno's earlier 'vocal' albums, especially 'Before and After Science' and 'Another Green World'. I think the new one might be a worthy successor, but it's been a long wait ...

'Another Day On Earth is a collection of new Eno songs, "the first one I've done like that for a very long time...twenty five years or so". Eno's song-writing, his typically concise analysis of the problems that most song-writers face, and the methods he employs to solve these problems reveal the unique nature of his approach to this particular art: "Song-writing is now actually the most difficult challenge in music. It's very easy to make music now but lyrics are really the last very hard problem in music. What I think lyrics have to do is engage a certain part of your brain in a sort of search activity so your brain wants to say 'here are some provocative clues as to what this song might be about'. They don't have to be explicit... in fact for me they certainly shouldn't be explicit".'

2005-05-19T23:05:00.000+10:00

Lou Reed reads in the Reid Hall, Edinburgh, 16 May 2005
Even in his walk to the podium you can see the strange combination of vulnerability and belligerence that characterises Lou Reed's artistic persona. He looks quite youthful for a man in his sixties, and when he clears his throat and speaks it sounds as if he's been shovelling gravel down his throat. He grimaces at the microphone and wrestles it into a more satisfactory position before starting. 'I'm in Scotland to perform some songs at a Burns Festival', he drawls, 'Burns was a great Scottish poet and I decided it would be interesting to read some Edgar Allen Poe as a way of letting you hear a great American poet.' Scattered applause.

The smallish hall is packed out; testament to his legendary status. People would probably turn up just to look at him, which is just as well because he doesn't do much other than read from his own lyrics and passages from Poe. You wish he would conjure up a guitar and sing something from his back catalogue of songs, but over the years Lou has been at pains to present himself as much as an intellectual and a serious poet as a mere songwriter. Lou probably isn't sure - as Norman Mailer might say - whether he's a 'beatnik' or a 'hipster' these days, but in truth he's probably a bit of both. There's no doubt, however, that when he started out as a singer it was his cool, laconic, 'hip' style of delivery that gave those classic Velvet Underground songs their edge. The late Sterling Morrison, whose magical guitar work graces the Velvets' albums, described the young Lou Reed as one of the great rock and roll singers, and bemoaned the fact that he no longer was. It's true. Lou talks his way through much of his solo material, rather than singing it, and the songs often sound flat and lugubrious compared to the early work which fizzed with energy and assurance, and a surprising tenderness too at times.

He reads well, with passion and drama, slowly and deliberately, now and then tossing an aside to the audience - 'wow what an incredible line', 'that's very difficult to sing because there are no spaces between the words to breathe in', and so on. But song lyrics rarely work when spoken as poetry - although they must have poetry in them, and poems don't often work as songs either, unless they're either ballads or 'free-form'. Maybe 'Sister Ray', 'The Black Angel's Death Song' or the 'Murder Mystery' would work as spoken pieces, but he doesn't read any of these. He reads from the lyrics to his recent album 'The Raven' - his own lyrical homage to Poe - and Poe's own work, and a few other songs of his own, finishing up with 'Small Town' from 'Songs for Drella', and 'Candy Says'. He thanks us for coming and departs, leaving me, at least, wishing he had brought a guitar along.

Russel, Noodle, 2D and Murdoc

2005-05-19T17:11:00.000+10:00

The new Gorillaz album, Demon Days, will be released on May 24, 2005. Guests include Roots Manuva, Martina Topley-Bird, and surprise, surprise, Dennis Hopper.

Cop it.

2005-05-19T14:02:00.000+10:00

Ninja tunes

2005-05-19T13:53:00.000+10:00

Amon Tobin, Mr. Scruff, DJ Food, Kid Koala...they're all here.

get Heavy

2005-05-18T07:11:00.000+10:00

Heavy has great music (and lots-o-flash-animations).

With daily fun at their sister site Heavy Lite .

The Raveonettes

2005-05-17T09:22:00.000+10:00

Three retro-pop songs by The Raveonettes here.

2005-05-15T22:23:00.000+10:00

Bigfish Manila

Boondocks and Jazz

2005-05-15T19:44:00.000+10:00

http://www.inq7.net/globalnation/col_gln/2005/may04.htm

Sonic sauerkraut

2005-05-13T11:38:00.000+10:00

Some essential German words to add to your vocabulary: angst, schadenfreude, weltanschauung and Rammstein.

Coverville

2005-05-13T00:32:00.000+10:00

Coverville - a regular podcast that features rare cover songs.

And in other news, it's official, rap has sold out (NYtimes.com).

2005-05-12T13:12:00.000+10:00

Just Testing ...

2005-05-11T19:49:00.000+10:00

Hello!