I've always been a fan of Maurice Sendak's "Where The Wild Things Are" and my appreciation for it has grown exponentially in the last six months or so. When word that the movie was coming out hit, the book was all over the place. And in that time, having been through it a bunch and having researched about the movie and found that Spike Jonze (awesome) and Dave Eggers (even more awesome) wrote the screenplay, that Jonze would direct it, and that Eggers was making it into a novel, only enhanced my love and added to my excitement level for the film to be released. Then I saw the trailer and the music for it was Arcade Fire's "Wake Up" off their Funeral album, one my oldest brother turned me to in 2005.
After seeing that, I was hooked. The song was played on repeat. Over and over. I'm still obsessed with it, and it's a song I first heard four years ago and only slightly enjoyed. Funny, yet tremendous how meaningful video can add to your enjoyment of a song. And so, just before I saw the movie, I read an interview that Spike Jonze gave where he said many things, among them that "Wake Up" essentially inspired him to get the project going. It's a great interview, fantastic film and Arcade Fire are beyond adjectives. Here's a few of their best....
"Wake Up" with David Bowie
"Keep The Car Running" with Bruce Springsteen (the video quality isn't great, but the people around the video camera's pure joy when they hear what song it is that they're going to play with The Boss is, well, it just makes me happy.
"Neighborhood #1"
As always, listen hard, sing loud and enjoy.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Saturday, October 17, 2009
youtube: an unhealthy addiction that provides such joy.
Since I was first introduced to it, I've had an unhealthy obsession with youtube. I'm a sucker for acoustic live versions of songs I already enjoy, and like kazaa and limewire before it, youtube is the place to find such versions and even one ups the audio download programs by providing video. And lately I've spent most of my unemployed time scowering youtube to find personally yet unseen versions of songs that simply put, move me. Here we go....
Stephen Kellogg (without the Sixers) - "4th of July"
This track was on the last AVSH and is really one of the songs of the last few years that has gone straight to my core. I believe he's from Boston, which allows some sense to be made of him playing at BC, but the fact that he's playing for a classroom of about 20 people is a bit bizarre. Nonetheless, effing awesome. He'll be in Fargo in about a month, and I'll be there. Will you?
Todd Snider - "Talking Seattle Grunge Rock Blues"
This is one of Snider's most liked songs by his fans....mainly because he's apparently never written down the lyrics, so they change from show to show. The stories he tells at his live shows take his music to another level, and the story that precedes this song is terrific. He won't be anywhere near ND anytime soon, but he'll be in Lexington and Indianapolis in early November, so for all you KY folks, make it happen.
Fink - "Sort of Revolution"
"Sort of Revolution" has been on a heavy rotation lately. WFPK played it twice in the my final two days in Louisville, and for reasons hard to describe, I really can't stop listening to it. It's so simple, so beautiful, so powerful. Fink fits nicely into the British singer/songwriter box with Alexi Murdoch, who needs to hurry up and release his next album. Fink, though, will not be in the country in the near future, so albums and youtube will have to suffice.
Stephen Kellogg (without the Sixers) - "4th of July"
This track was on the last AVSH and is really one of the songs of the last few years that has gone straight to my core. I believe he's from Boston, which allows some sense to be made of him playing at BC, but the fact that he's playing for a classroom of about 20 people is a bit bizarre. Nonetheless, effing awesome. He'll be in Fargo in about a month, and I'll be there. Will you?
Todd Snider - "Talking Seattle Grunge Rock Blues"
This is one of Snider's most liked songs by his fans....mainly because he's apparently never written down the lyrics, so they change from show to show. The stories he tells at his live shows take his music to another level, and the story that precedes this song is terrific. He won't be anywhere near ND anytime soon, but he'll be in Lexington and Indianapolis in early November, so for all you KY folks, make it happen.
Fink - "Sort of Revolution"
"Sort of Revolution" has been on a heavy rotation lately. WFPK played it twice in the my final two days in Louisville, and for reasons hard to describe, I really can't stop listening to it. It's so simple, so beautiful, so powerful. Fink fits nicely into the British singer/songwriter box with Alexi Murdoch, who needs to hurry up and release his next album. Fink, though, will not be in the country in the near future, so albums and youtube will have to suffice.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
decide what to be and go be it.
The best track of the new Avett Brothers album. Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
I and Love and You.
The Avett Brothers have done it. They've taken their music to a new level. They've come together, clearly in an emotional state they've evaluated heavily. Over the course of thirteen tightly constructed songs they weave listeners through a path of raw human emotion. They've examined themselves, relationships and anyone or anything else they can, and in all that, have produced one of the most complete albums this man has ever heard.
Previous AB albums have been very good, don't think that's not the case. Introducing Emotionalism was their best to date when it arrived a couple years ago. And The Robbinsville Sessions was good too, but this album takes the lyrical power from those albums and combines it with the pure energy of their live shows and the result of that combination appears to be a totally focused group of musicians creating their best work to date.
They've included an extremely well written Mission Statement in the album notes, an essay examining the words within the album title. Taking them as seriously as anyone can, evaluating their worth, how they are used and misused, and how important and elemental they are to us all. It's truly a moving piece, one that after I read, I knew I was about to listen to something special.
The album is noticeably slower than their previous albums, with only a couple fast-paced tracks. Lyrically they are as sharp as ever, and by the sounds of it, it's clear Rick Rubin was involved in the making of the album. They sound clearer and sharper than ever before, but that's what a big record deal and a big-time producer will do.
Go buy the album. You'll be better for it.
Top track: Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise
Close Second: I and Love and You
Closer Third: Laundry Room
Sing Loud. Listen Hard. Enjoy.
Previous AB albums have been very good, don't think that's not the case. Introducing Emotionalism was their best to date when it arrived a couple years ago. And The Robbinsville Sessions was good too, but this album takes the lyrical power from those albums and combines it with the pure energy of their live shows and the result of that combination appears to be a totally focused group of musicians creating their best work to date.
They've included an extremely well written Mission Statement in the album notes, an essay examining the words within the album title. Taking them as seriously as anyone can, evaluating their worth, how they are used and misused, and how important and elemental they are to us all. It's truly a moving piece, one that after I read, I knew I was about to listen to something special.
The album is noticeably slower than their previous albums, with only a couple fast-paced tracks. Lyrically they are as sharp as ever, and by the sounds of it, it's clear Rick Rubin was involved in the making of the album. They sound clearer and sharper than ever before, but that's what a big record deal and a big-time producer will do.
Go buy the album. You'll be better for it.
Top track: Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise
Close Second: I and Love and You
Closer Third: Laundry Room
Sing Loud. Listen Hard. Enjoy.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)