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.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
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.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Beatles 101
When this came up on the iPod shuffle running in Central Park this morning, I kicked it into overdrive. Positively cooking. Need to give McCartney credit for his chops on the 4 string, the way he makes the bass the lead on this song.
Just thinking of what it must have been like to hear this on the radio in the early 60's makes my head spin......
Just thinking of what it must have been like to hear this on the radio in the early 60's makes my head spin......
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Scare Easy
"I don't scare easy
Don't fall apart when I'm under the gun
You can break my heart, and I ain't gonna run
I don't scare easy, for noone"
Have you picked up the Mudcrutch album yet? If you look at my iTunes player this song is at the top of my list, 27 plays and counting. I just can't get enough. A hit is a hit, and I knew this on the very first listen. In typical Tom Petty fashion it's a hard hitting, anthemic rouser that will have you throwing your hands up in the air and singing along once the essence of the track makes its way through you.
The guitars here kill me. Listen closely and you'll get it. The drive, the achieved effect of the layering during the chorus. The solo by Mike Campbell, perfectly described by someone on YT as "criminally underrated". The flawless groove established by the bass player: who is this guy and how the F did this guy not make it into The Heartbreakers??!
And then of course there's TP's lyrical magic, rendering this simple yarn about resolve that even the mightiest of men can dig deep on.
If you love great music, you're out of your mind if you don't have this record.
Don't fall apart when I'm under the gun
You can break my heart, and I ain't gonna run
I don't scare easy, for noone"
Have you picked up the Mudcrutch album yet? If you look at my iTunes player this song is at the top of my list, 27 plays and counting. I just can't get enough. A hit is a hit, and I knew this on the very first listen. In typical Tom Petty fashion it's a hard hitting, anthemic rouser that will have you throwing your hands up in the air and singing along once the essence of the track makes its way through you.
The guitars here kill me. Listen closely and you'll get it. The drive, the achieved effect of the layering during the chorus. The solo by Mike Campbell, perfectly described by someone on YT as "criminally underrated". The flawless groove established by the bass player: who is this guy and how the F did this guy not make it into The Heartbreakers??!
And then of course there's TP's lyrical magic, rendering this simple yarn about resolve that even the mightiest of men can dig deep on.
If you love great music, you're out of your mind if you don't have this record.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
My Morning Jacket
"I'm Amazed"....at how good this F'n song is.
MMJ's been on constant repeat lately and I'm really starting to enjoy the varied delights of their new album.
MMJ's been on constant repeat lately and I'm really starting to enjoy the varied delights of their new album.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Pearl Jam at MSG
There is an extremely limited number of bands that can launch a tour with no new material or significant media promotion around it. There’s even fewer who could sell out 2 nights at Madison Square Garden, even with a full-on media blitz. All Pearl Jam had to do was announce the shows on their website and they sold out in minutes. That’s the kind of power they retain after years of consistent good material and most importantly always doing the right thing for their fans. They’re the only band left standing that came out of the ‘grunge-rock’ explosion in the early 90’s, and Tuesday night’s show demonstrated that their popularity has seemed to only increase with time.
The wailed through classics like “Evenflow”, “Eldery Woman...” and “Daughter” but it was their non radio-hits that went over best and give an important signal into the depth of their fanbase. Songs like “Given to Fly”, “Faithful”, “Present Tense”, and one of my favorite PJ deep cuts, “Indifference”.
Greatest of all to see at this show is the energy. The band’s and the crowd’s. It what seems to be missing in rock music today, but not at a Pearl Jam gig. This clip says it all, how they're able to create a wild, rock-club like atmosphere in a huge arena, everyone on their feet and totally going for it. As all the comments on YouTube and message boards have been evangelizing, an absolutely killer show.
The wailed through classics like “Evenflow”, “Eldery Woman...” and “Daughter” but it was their non radio-hits that went over best and give an important signal into the depth of their fanbase. Songs like “Given to Fly”, “Faithful”, “Present Tense”, and one of my favorite PJ deep cuts, “Indifference”.
Greatest of all to see at this show is the energy. The band’s and the crowd’s. It what seems to be missing in rock music today, but not at a Pearl Jam gig. This clip says it all, how they're able to create a wild, rock-club like atmosphere in a huge arena, everyone on their feet and totally going for it. As all the comments on YouTube and message boards have been evangelizing, an absolutely killer show.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers at MSG
A perfect show. 2 of my all-time favorites, Tom Petty and Steve Winwood, on one bill at the worlds most famous arena. After a fabulous opening set from Winwood, where he's showing how he's quickly becoming one of the world's best guitarists as well as keyboard playing, TP and company took the stage and wailed through 2 straight hours.
There's not many shows you can attend these days where you know and love every single song the band plays, but after 22 years of non-stop hits this is what their shows delivers. SO many classic tunes. Tom Petty is just an institution at this point, a desert island that you can spend months on end listening to alone. And I can't complete this without noting how truly ridiculous Mike Campbell is on the guitar. The Heartbreakers and arguably Tom Petty wouldn't be what they are without him. Man I wish these guys played every weekend.
As for the best of the night, even though every classic Heartbreakers song rocked the house, I have to go with this, when Steve came out and joined the band to render one of his rock hey-dey classics. The guitar playing!!! Check the way Campbell and Winwood lock into each other around 3:58 and just let it unfold. Also notice how TP backs off to sideman and lets these 2 take the wheel. Ridiculously good.
There's not many shows you can attend these days where you know and love every single song the band plays, but after 22 years of non-stop hits this is what their shows delivers. SO many classic tunes. Tom Petty is just an institution at this point, a desert island that you can spend months on end listening to alone. And I can't complete this without noting how truly ridiculous Mike Campbell is on the guitar. The Heartbreakers and arguably Tom Petty wouldn't be what they are without him. Man I wish these guys played every weekend.
As for the best of the night, even though every classic Heartbreakers song rocked the house, I have to go with this, when Steve came out and joined the band to render one of his rock hey-dey classics. The guitar playing!!! Check the way Campbell and Winwood lock into each other around 3:58 and just let it unfold. Also notice how TP backs off to sideman and lets these 2 take the wheel. Ridiculously good.
Friday, June 13, 2008
I Walk On Guilded Splinters
Rousing jam as we head into the weekend. Figures that the kick-ass guitar part came courtesy of Duane Allman, there's just something ferocious about it. Some will know this opening part too, famously borrowed in Oasis's classic "Go Let It Out".
Thanks to JB down south for hipping me to this one.
get it
Thanks to JB down south for hipping me to this one.
get it
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
This show at MSG Theater last night was as beautiful an evening of music as you could ask for. The unusual yet effective mix of blue-grass pleasantry, solemn hymms and reworked rock-n-roll classics left the audience spellbound, and I had a hard time concentrating all the way through to this afternoon.
I never thought "Black Country Woman" from Physical Graffiti was one of Led Zeppelin's greatest songs but now I know that it is. And "Battle Of Evermore" seems like it can now finally be complete with Ms. Krauss' vocal backings.
Plant looked as god-like as his legend backs him up to be, and appeared to genuinely be enjoying himself with this project that nobody could have ever predicted to be so good. I was as excited as anybody about the prospect of Led Zeppelin touring this summer, but after seeing this show I can almost understand why he said no and went out to play the music that most inspired him. As for Alison Krauss, there wasn't one rocker who left this show not having declared themselves a new fan.
This record continues to carve out a very special place, and if you have a chance to catch this show live you do not want to miss it.
I never thought "Black Country Woman" from Physical Graffiti was one of Led Zeppelin's greatest songs but now I know that it is. And "Battle Of Evermore" seems like it can now finally be complete with Ms. Krauss' vocal backings.
Plant looked as god-like as his legend backs him up to be, and appeared to genuinely be enjoying himself with this project that nobody could have ever predicted to be so good. I was as excited as anybody about the prospect of Led Zeppelin touring this summer, but after seeing this show I can almost understand why he said no and went out to play the music that most inspired him. As for Alison Krauss, there wasn't one rocker who left this show not having declared themselves a new fan.
This record continues to carve out a very special place, and if you have a chance to catch this show live you do not want to miss it.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Eddie Vedder & My Morning Jacket
Filmed in 2006 when MMJ was opening for Pearl Jam in Europe, this cover of The Who's mini rock-opera "A Quick One" totally kills. Hang in there for this, runs 9 minutes long but what a JAM! This kind of performance makes you want to drop everything your doing and go join a band.
Get It
Get It
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Dry The Rain
Do you know this wickedly awesome tune by the Beta Band?
Exposed to the masses in the great scene in HIGH FIDELITY?
What a jam. I had the same reaction as the dude in the movie the second I heard this too. Love the lazy beginning and how it just cruises to the 2 mintue mark before switching gears. Such a great build, like more band members kept entering the studio and picking up instruments to join in. The bass line steers this thing out. Even with the near-perfect hype-up from this film the Beta Band never really seemed to go over, but its not because they didn't have songs.
get it
Exposed to the masses in the great scene in HIGH FIDELITY?
What a jam. I had the same reaction as the dude in the movie the second I heard this too. Love the lazy beginning and how it just cruises to the 2 mintue mark before switching gears. Such a great build, like more band members kept entering the studio and picking up instruments to join in. The bass line steers this thing out. Even with the near-perfect hype-up from this film the Beta Band never really seemed to go over, but its not because they didn't have songs.
get it
Monday, June 2, 2008
RIP Bo Diddley
As he reminded us in those great 80's Nike commercials, Bo certainly did know diddley. What a pioneer of the rock-n-roll sound, what an animal!! Look at the way he rocked the house here and had the girls going apeshit. And who was this woman he had in has band??! Singing backup AND playing guitar. Could this guy have been any cooler? Probably not. He'll certainly be missed.
Millennium Collection
Millennium Collection
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