Back by popular request, I give you this year's Top 10 Playlist.
Music might be harder to find these days but there was some great output this year.
Although nobody knows how to sell records anymore, great artists will survive as long as they can find ways of reaching and communicating with their fans.
Enjoy.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Bob Dylan's Latest
I'm a few times through and can strongly recommend; won't say it reaches classic status but that expectation would be impossible given Dylan's body of work. Still its its another fine production, and this lead track is just great. Feel like I'm being hypnotized by the piano set to Bob's voice, kind of like he's reading a bedtime story. Also, absolutely LOVE the drums in this - the fills at the end of each verse are wicked.
Also check out this month's Rolling Stone for a great interview as well.
Also check out this month's Rolling Stone for a great interview as well.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
May 8, 1977 - Grateful Dead at Barton Hall, Cornell, New York
Today is the 32nd anniversary of what heads around the world recognize as the greatest show they Grateful Dead ever played. This bootleg is widely available online, and any music fan would do well to spend time listening to this entire show. A mind-blowing performance with an energy and power too impossible to describe.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
David Byrne and Brian Eno
Leading the charge of new music I'm continually lovin', I cannot get enough of David Byrne and Brian Eno's EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS WILL HAPPEN TODAY.
These 2 giants of a-typical song structure and musical creativity have worked many times over the years, and this latest release is the best thing they've done yet. Featuring a wide span of material, the songs slowly work their magic with time and anyone in the mood for something that will challenge and satisfy should get their hands on this now.
These 2 giants of a-typical song structure and musical creativity have worked many times over the years, and this latest release is the best thing they've done yet. Featuring a wide span of material, the songs slowly work their magic with time and anyone in the mood for something that will challenge and satisfy should get their hands on this now.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Springsteen's Dylan-Like Moment
"God have mercy on the man
who doubts what he's sure of...."
who doubts what he's sure of...."
Bruce reached iconic status years ago but I'm not so sure his writing has been fully appreciated, at least outside the realm of his super-fans. It's easy to overlook given his wide collection of material, alot of it more internal and honest then his more popular Top 10 singles. But in each and every stage of his career he's managed to create something that truly surpasses the ordinary and climbs into the stratosphere space that most rarely penetrate.
This lyric that closes the fantastic "Brilliant Disguise", where he considers the tight squeeze of uncertainty, is one of these examples. It feels like it came from Blood on the Tracks or something else from Dylan's heyday. What an unsettling way to close a song and still maintain its majesty.
This song is indeed a brilliant one; in my opinion, one of his best.
This lyric that closes the fantastic "Brilliant Disguise", where he considers the tight squeeze of uncertainty, is one of these examples. It feels like it came from Blood on the Tracks or something else from Dylan's heyday. What an unsettling way to close a song and still maintain its majesty.
This song is indeed a brilliant one; in my opinion, one of his best.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
JJ Grey and Mofro
Rocking my shit right now is the latest album from JJGrey & Mofro, entitled ORANGE BLOSSOMS. Cookin it up down-n-dirty, these guys embrace to the old-school flavor that you just don't see in many other new 'rock' bands.
This album's title track is a KILLER!, and has a wickedly clever video too. Hope these guys can find the bigger audience they deserve.
This album's title track is a KILLER!, and has a wickedly clever video too. Hope these guys can find the bigger audience they deserve.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Aimee Mann
If you don't own Aimee Mann's SMILERS yet you should.
With material that reaches all over the musical map, this is easily one of the year's best albums which I've been playing constantly since the summer.
I've noticed a heavy push of TV performances recently and caught this one from Ovation last week. Featuring a stripped down semi-acoustical performance inside an LA cathedral, it's a fantastic show that put her album back into heavy rotation for me. Here's a clip from this extraordinary artist who continues to make great music.
With material that reaches all over the musical map, this is easily one of the year's best albums which I've been playing constantly since the summer.
I've noticed a heavy push of TV performances recently and caught this one from Ovation last week. Featuring a stripped down semi-acoustical performance inside an LA cathedral, it's a fantastic show that put her album back into heavy rotation for me. Here's a clip from this extraordinary artist who continues to make great music.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Levon Helm's Midnight Ramble
Have to say I've been extremely fortunate enough to catch some incredible shows along the path so far. This past weekend the list of all-time greats got bigger after I made it up to catch Levon Helm's Midnight Ramble.
Taking place at Levon's house(!) set back in the woods of Woodstock, NY, I struggle to pay the this wonderful evening its proper due. After picking up some food at the community table and entering the barn to catch the wonderful opener by Swell Season, who staked a claim on the map after their Academy Award winning performance in ONCE, Levon came out and ripped into a killer version of the blues-classic, "Same Thing". Standing in his barn, about 20 feet from this legendary architect of The Band was awe-inspiring. Even more so was his frail condition, having beat throat cancer (the cruelest of inflictions for a singer) he was visibly struggling throughout the performance, but only on the outside. The 15+ song set contained some classics, none moreso than The Weight finale, but it was the more intimate numbers that proved most affecting. Having had my eyes opened to the joys of blue-grass recently, I was moved unlike any previous occasion at the beauty of the songs, Levon's delivery and his band's playing.
For music-lovers anywhere, I can't recommend this very special night of music enough. Get there as quick as you can to see a true musical legend.
Taking place at Levon's house(!) set back in the woods of Woodstock, NY, I struggle to pay the this wonderful evening its proper due. After picking up some food at the community table and entering the barn to catch the wonderful opener by Swell Season, who staked a claim on the map after their Academy Award winning performance in ONCE, Levon came out and ripped into a killer version of the blues-classic, "Same Thing". Standing in his barn, about 20 feet from this legendary architect of The Band was awe-inspiring. Even more so was his frail condition, having beat throat cancer (the cruelest of inflictions for a singer) he was visibly struggling throughout the performance, but only on the outside. The 15+ song set contained some classics, none moreso than The Weight finale, but it was the more intimate numbers that proved most affecting. Having had my eyes opened to the joys of blue-grass recently, I was moved unlike any previous occasion at the beauty of the songs, Levon's delivery and his band's playing.
For music-lovers anywhere, I can't recommend this very special night of music enough. Get there as quick as you can to see a true musical legend.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Astral Weeks Revisited
wow....might have to check out flights to LA. Thankfully it's being filmed....
From rollingstone.com:
Van Morrison will perform the entirety of his 1967 masterpiece ASTRAL WEEKS during a run of concerts at the Hollywood Bowl this November. Morrison will perform at the famed Los Angeles venue November 7, 8 and 9. Many of the musicians who performed on the original album will perform at the concert as well. Tickets go on sale on October 5th.
The whole event will be filmed for an upcoming DVD, appropriately titled Astral Weeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl.
From rollingstone.com:
Van Morrison will perform the entirety of his 1967 masterpiece ASTRAL WEEKS during a run of concerts at the Hollywood Bowl this November. Morrison will perform at the famed Los Angeles venue November 7, 8 and 9. Many of the musicians who performed on the original album will perform at the concert as well. Tickets go on sale on October 5th.
The whole event will be filmed for an upcoming DVD, appropriately titled Astral Weeks Live at the Hollywood Bowl.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Back Door Slam
After a brief hiatus and trip down to Austin City Limits, we're back here at FM. Thanks for your emails and music recommendations over the past month, and Ron in Minnesota I hear you bro and will post some more of my Dylan favorites shortly.
So I've got a new find to share, an act I caught down in Austin and literally was blown away by. Thought it could have been the 90 degree dead heat that was making me dizzy but no, this BACK DOOR SLAM is scary good. A UK-based trio fronted by Davy Knowles, an incredibly precocious chap who plays like he's on fire and sounds like he's a 45 and lived a hard lifetime already. Playing the kind of dirty blues that always sounds best live, I urge you to check them out when they come through your town. Props to the Geisenpatch for pulling me over to see this band.
So I've got a new find to share, an act I caught down in Austin and literally was blown away by. Thought it could have been the 90 degree dead heat that was making me dizzy but no, this BACK DOOR SLAM is scary good. A UK-based trio fronted by Davy Knowles, an incredibly precocious chap who plays like he's on fire and sounds like he's a 45 and lived a hard lifetime already. Playing the kind of dirty blues that always sounds best live, I urge you to check them out when they come through your town. Props to the Geisenpatch for pulling me over to see this band.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Friday, August 8, 2008
Jerry Garcia
"There's no way to measure his greatness or magnitude as a person or as a player. He really had no equal"- Bob Dylan.
It's been 13 years since the guitar stopped playing. What an incredible life in music. What insane fun it was going to the shows. His iconic status will never fade, and thankfully his music lives on.
It's been 13 years since the guitar stopped playing. What an incredible life in music. What insane fun it was going to the shows. His iconic status will never fade, and thankfully his music lives on.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Possibly My Favorite Beatles Jam
And in the end, the love you take
is equal to the love you make
Sheer ridiculousness. Who knew Lennon was such an animal!?! He seemed to always be the bookish, sensitive, intellectual, not the rock-n-roll lunatic who wailed that ditty before one of the Beatles' most timeless lyrics ever.
is equal to the love you make
Sheer ridiculousness. Who knew Lennon was such an animal!?! He seemed to always be the bookish, sensitive, intellectual, not the rock-n-roll lunatic who wailed that ditty before one of the Beatles' most timeless lyrics ever.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Neil Young On His Genius, Life
This interview was one of the more revealing pieces I've seen. What a thinker, what a great soul, and yes what a genius. Check out the whole piece from the Charlie Rose show if you can.
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