The official music video for “Bring Me All The Way Home”
“Bring Me All The Way Home” is the last track on my album All Is Sideways. This video is me singing the actual take heard on the album. Thanks to Lynn Graber of The Recording House for engineering the audio for this session.
For more information about this song, visit the “Bring Me All The Way Home” information page. To buy the album, visit the store page.
No Comments >Hear snippets of the new album!
Hear you go. 
Preorder information can be found at this article.
No Comments >This is cool. My inner nerd had to come out and dance for bit. This is video by Kyle Jones, a designer, animator and illustrator from Nashville. Check out his website here and follow him on Twitter. He decided to record himself playing guitar using his iPhone from inside the guitar. Genius. Rejoice with me, [...]
This is cool. My inner nerd had to come out and dance for bit. This is video by Kyle Jones, a designer, animator and illustrator from Nashville. Check out his website here and follow him on Twitter. He decided to record himself playing guitar using his iPhone from inside the guitar. Genius. Rejoice with me, all you audio and science loving geeks.
If you want to know why this strange wiggly string phenomenon happened, ask my cousin Chris Whonsetler, the photographer behind the beautiful images found on WhonPhoto.com. Here’s his blog entry about rolling shutters.
No Comments >THE ROAD from Road of Resistance on Vimeo. My friend Jared told me about this video called “The Road” that his friends put together. Four guys traveled to Burma (officially known as the Union of Myanmar) in 2006 to document the atrocious acts of genocide being carried out by the Burmese government against the Karen [...]
THE ROAD from Road of Resistance on Vimeo.
My friend Jared told me about this video called “The Road” that his friends put together. Four guys traveled to Burma (officially known as the Union of Myanmar) in 2006 to document the atrocious acts of genocide being carried out by the Burmese government against the Karen people. I could warn you about the graphic nature of this video, but the whole point of the film is to expose the evil that is happening. While some of the things shown in this video may be visually offensive, the fact remains that real people are being systematically tortured, raped, and murdered. Like the filmmakers stated, I hope that this film disturbs, keeps you up at night, and moves you to action.
While this story may seem like a problem far, far away, I’ve learned that problems like this are never just someone else’s problem. Much like the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan is cause for concern for us here in the U.S., so too is the genocide in Burma “our problem.” This is true for us if for no other reason than if and when we find ourselves in the midst of such troubles someday. Personally, I find the genocide in Burma of particular interest for a couple reasons.
Burma directly neighbors Thailand, a country I visited in 2004. The things I saw there changed my outlook on life. I hardly dare to write of some of the events I witnessed during the short 9 days I was there. While Thailand has myriad challenges to overcome, the connection to Thailand for the Karen people is crucial. Thailand is a gateway in and out of Burma.
Fort Wayne, Indiana, which is sort of my hometown, is also home to the largest population of Burmese refugees. Fort Wayne (or Little Burma) has become the unofficial new home of the Karen people. They have come to Northeast Indiana to find refuge and escape what is happening on the other side of the world, yet many of them still have friends and family back in Burma. Real people with enormous hurts, needs, and struggles from exotic lands far away are living right here in the Midwest, but many of us have little knowledge of what they are running from or even that they have come here to live.
I urge, the citizens of the greater Fort Wayne area, my neighbors, to act with compassion for these displaced refugees. We have a huge opportunity to love, support, and help a people group that has escaped extermination only to be ignored. We may not be able to fight battles in Burma, but we certainly can help those that have come here. On this blog post, I want to compile a list of programs, services, and ministries that aim to help the local Karen people. If you know of an outreach, volunteer opportunity, or fundraiser, please leave a link in the comments below and I’ll include it as an update to this blog post.
NOTE: Please do not leave a comment below if you are an ignorant, ethnocentric bigot. You can try to post racist comments if you want, but I simply won’t publish your stupidity. I recommend leaving the U.S. at least once before making generalized statements about foreigners/immigrants (and no, Spring break in Cancun doesn’t count).
I’ll update this post by linking and embedding related resources here. I cannot verify the quality or reliability of these links, but offer them as a resource. If you have a good link or resource, please leave a message in the comments. Thank you!
Website: fortwaynebaptist.com/index.php?p=1_29_Mission-to-the-Burmese
The City of Fort Wayne is home to the largest Burmese population in the United States, and the largest Burmese Christian congregation worships at Fort Wayne Baptist Church.
Website: bacindiana.org/english/
The Burmese Advocacy Center, 501(c)3 Not-for-Profit, was formed in February of 2008 by an assemblage of individual volunteers who had consistently given their time to assist the growing Burmese population of Fort Wayne but were also aware of the need for a combined and united effort to better serve their community. The Burmese Advocacy Center provides free translation and interpretation assistance to Burmese residents for essential appointments and documents. In addition a variety of classes and information sessions will be held to help Burmese residents become confident and productive residents of Fort Wayne. Call for current schedule. The Burmese Advocacy Center also provides free cultural education to businesses, agencies, and other community groups.
Website: friendsofburma.org
1 Comment >Friends of Burma grew out of a very meaningful experience Neil and Diana Sowards had when they visited Burma in 1985. Neil’s parents had worked in Burma as missionaries for over 30 years but he had never visited there. Friends of Burma is dedicated to helping the Christians of Burma in whatever way they want to be helped. About 80% of the Protestants are Baptists, so much of our work is with the Baptists. Friends of Burma was first attached to First Baptist Church of Fort Wayne, Indiana and then to South Wayne Baptist Church. Christians number about 11/2 million in a country of about 50 million, most of whom are Buddhist. Evangelistic Christianity came to Burma with Adoniram Judson in 1813. Since 1966 no foreign missionaries have been allowed to reside in Burma, so all work is carried on by nationals.
Bad News First Perfect guitar tone does not exist. …at least not in a permanently defined state. It is always changing depending on context. There’s not a one-size-fits-all solution for guitar tone and the guy who is showing you exactly how to get “perfect” tone is either demonstrating his idea of a good sound for [...]
Can I get it in tobacco sunburst?
Perfect guitar tone does not exist.
…at least not in a permanently defined state. It is always changing depending on context. There’s not a one-size-fits-all solution for guitar tone and the guy who is showing you exactly how to get “perfect” tone is either demonstrating his idea of a good sound for a very particular context or selling you something. Let the buyer beware!
I’ve seen a zildjillion YouTube videos and magazine articles in which an “expert” outlines in very fine detail the “preferred” gear or “professional” way to play/mic/mix. They have shown me how to dial in that Clapton tone, place ribbon mics like Eno, mix a hit song like the Lord-Alge brothers, mod my guitar and amp like SRV, and even dress like a rockstar. In each circumstance I think, “Yes, that might just work. I could sound like that, if I do everything else exactly the same way as Mr. Famous Rockstarpants.”
They have it right. It truly is the small stuff that matters. In fact, all these tiny details matter so much and there is such a vast quantity of them, that replicating such performances is nearly inconceivable. Every part of the signal chain plays a role – from player to instrument to amp to room to microphone to preamp and all the cables, power supplies, recording/storage media, surfaces, and recording/mixing/mastering engineers in between. Even weather, location, and moods can make a difference.
Needless to say, it’s nearly impossible to replicate that one sound by that one artist on that one record. So many factors are involved in the making of a sound, that in many cases the original artist that recorded it might not be able to make that precise sound again, even when given identical circumstances. (I’d like to point out that perhaps the very reason we enjoy certain sounds is because a beautiful moment was captured – something unique that will never happen again – and trying to recreate it verbatim would somehow make it less amazing. Frankenstein’s monster wasn’t very pretty, was he? I digress.)
“We all have idols. Play like anyone you care about, but try to be yourself while you’re doing so.” – quote attributed to B. B. King[citation needed]
Proper tone (the right tone at the right time) can be bought. You can pay for it with practice and critical listening. Good equipment is nice, but not necessary, as Jack White demonstrates so well in It Might Get Loud.
2 Comments >Here are few notable Christmas songs I enjoy in no particular order. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas. “Go Tell It On The Mountain” by NeedToBreathe If you don’t already know about this band, you should. They are like a mash up of Kings Of Leon and Mumford & Sons. So yeah… “All The [...]
Here are few notable Christmas songs I enjoy in no particular order. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas.
If you don’t already know about this band, you should. They are like a mash up of Kings Of Leon and Mumford & Sons. So yeah…
Sufjan’s already a classic. Here’s a really sweet tune.
Sleeping At Last have usually put out a new Christmas song every year. They are in the midst of a year long project called YEARBOOK in which they are creating an EP every month. This is a rarely covered song that they released in 2008 and it’s a free download.
If you hate this song, you might change your mind after hearing this version. I bet the chord sheet for this song is a small book.
Here’s a Canadian that looks like Winona Ryder and croons like a song bird over a sampled track that kind of makes me think of that ridiculously catchy viral video We No Speak Americano. That’s a recipe for success.
Rosie has created a lush variation on this old classic. I like this one very much.
Pomplamoose are Jack Conte and Nataly Dawn. They’ve been kicking around on YouTube for a while now, but recently have gained more attention after being featured in a Hyundai commercial. They’ve now released an entire Christmas album.
Schnittke was a Russian composer that created this slightly darkened version of “Silent Night.”
This is what you get when you combine the theme song from The Legend of Zelda with “The First Noël.” Doctor Octoroc released this song as part of the album 8-bit Jesus, a collection of video game Christmas mashups.
website
Don’t let this track fool you. They start off smooth and beautiful, but end up taking the crazy train to the end of the song. I’d hate it if it weren’t so well done.
Another soft, then loud holiday tune. The vocals are really nice and the guitars are really fuzzy.
Listen on iLike
A video of Bob and friends having fun.
Colbert’s take on Christmas music. Lots of zingers, but my favorite line: “Beat it into ‘em, boys!” I also like the ending; he makes sure we know who owns the rights to the song.
Classic crunchy Weezer. It should have been titled “We Wish You A Merry Christmas… In The Garage.”
It’s time for Christmas music! Some love it, some hate it. I mostly like it. But no matter what our preferences, every year starting around Thanksgiving (and now even as early as Halloween – oh, the humanity!) we are bound to hear Christmas and holiday music playing non-stop at least until New Year’s Day (and [...]
It’s time for Christmas music!
Some love it, some hate it. I mostly like it. But no matter what our preferences, every year starting around Thanksgiving (and now even as early as Halloween – oh, the humanity!) we are bound to hear Christmas and holiday music playing non-stop at least until New Year’s Day (and sometimes longer). So no matter where we go, for approximately a month and a half every year, we’re bound to experience Christmas music in one form or another.
On the good side of Christmas music, we might hear Bing Crosby on an AM radio promising “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” a claymationized Burl Ives wishing us a “Holly Jolly Christmas,” Ray Charles telling us that “The Spirit of Christmas” should last all year while Clark Griswold rediscovers old family films, Sarah McLachlan tenderly crooning a gorgeous “Silent Night,” or The Peanuts gang singing the melancholy perennial favorite “Christmas Time Is Here” by Vince Gauraldi.
And I have to admit I’m a sucker for Mariah Carey explaining (in no less than 12 octaves) that “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” I almost believe her. I bet you do too.
But on the nefarious side of Christmas music, we have to suffer through double-time punk rock versions of “Jingle Bells,” terribly over-jazzed renditions of “Santa Baby,” the latest winner of a pop/idol/reality show butchering “O Holy Night,” college choirs covering the panic-inducing “Carol Of The Bells,” and Kevin McCallister lip-syncing The Drifters’ version of “White Christmas” into a hairbrush.
Countless bad Christmas songs have been hastily fluffed like whipped cream to make albums that are then pumped into the public airspace in hopes of swiping up a bit of Joe Consumer’s annual Christmas music budget. Without taking an official census, I’d say there are probably 20+ bad Christmas songs for every good one. In short, there are a lot of bad Christmas songs. The Christmas music naysayers really have some solid exhibits and evidence in their favor.
In my mind only one Christmas song can claim to be the worst Christmas song ever. I award that prize to “The Christmas Shoes.” You’ve heard it, I’m sure. It’s the sappy tear-jerker about the poor little boy that wants to buy some shoes for his dying mother on Christmas Eve and it’s the epitome of awful. Sadly, it’s been made into a novel (what?!) and a movie that I’m sure Rob Lowe considers a low point in his career. Here are the lyrics and a video just in case you need a refresher.
The Christmas Shoes
It was almost Christmas time, there I stood in another line,
Tryin’ to buy that last gift or two, not really in the Christmas mood.
Standing right in front of me was a little boy waiting anxiously,
Pacing ’round like little boys do
And in his hands he held a pair of shoes.His clothes were worn and old,
He was dirty from head to toe,
And when it came his time to pay,
I couldn’t believe what I heard him say,Chorus:
“Sir, I want to buy these shoes for my Mama, please.
It’s Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size.
Could you hurry, sir? Daddy says there’s not much time.
You see she’s been sick for quite a while,
And I know these shoes would make her smile,
And I want her to look beautiful
if Mama meets Jesus tonight.”He counted pennies for what seemed like years,
Then the cashier said, “Son, there’s not enough here.”
He searched his pockets frantically,
Then he turned and he looked at me.
He said, “Mama made Christmas good at our house,
Though most years she just did without.
Tell me, sir, what am I going to do?
Somehow I’ve got to buy her these Christmas shoes.”So I laid the money down,
I just had to help him out
I’ll never forget the look on his face when he said,
“Mama’s gonna look so great.”“Sir, I want to buy these shoes for my Mama, please.
It’s Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size.
Could you hurry, sir? Daddy says there’s not much time.
You see she’s been sick for quite a while,
And I know these shoes would make her smile,
And I want her to look beautiful
if Mama meets Jesus tonight.”Bridge:
I knew I’d caught a glimpse of heaven’s love
As he thanked me and ran out.
I knew that God had sent that little boy
To remind me just what Christmas is all about.
I know a lot of Christmas songs could qualify for the worst ever, but I think this one wins for several reasons. I could rant about this song for awhile (as some of my friends and family know quite well), so I’ll try to make this short and sweet.
Note: My intent is not to criticize the songwriters or anyone that genuinely likes this song. I simply want to point out the problems I detect in this song. I am doing so because the song is insanely popular despite what I believe to be very obvious logical and theological flaws. I know lots of other Christmas songs fail in many of the same respects, but this one stands out above the others because it often goes under the radar as “a good song to sing in church.” Passing off heresy and consumerism under the guise of a heart-warming ballad is quite wrong on so many levels.
Ah, the Christmas consumerism machine at it’s finest! Finally someone has found a way to not only condone our consumption that makes it seem like the “Christian” thing to do, but has also capitalized on the concept by writing a song about it that’ll “just get ’em every time.” This is the primary reason I hate this song, and honestly, it’s reason enough, but I have to continue.
NOTE TO SELF: If you are ever hard up for cash, remember this simple song equation:
Poor Young Child + Dying Parent + Sacred Holiday = Money Train
Why is a little boy shopping alone on Christmas Eve? Why didn’t anyone else in the song see a problem with this? Wouldn’t someone contact authorities?
If “there’s not much time” left for the woman, then why is the boy out buying shoes instead of spending time with his mother in her final moments? Priorities, son. Priorities.
I know it seems harsh, but if his mother is close to dying from a terminal disease she simply does not need shoes. Maybe it’s the kind gesture or the thought that counts, but if she’s really that close to death, she probably would not be conscious enough to recognize a heart-warming deed from her son. Seriously.
Caskets only open on the end where the head is, so no one besides the undertaker is going to see mama in her beautiful new shoes. That’s gonna be a real let down. And if she’s cremated, well… you might as well just burn your money.
Umm… I thought we were all clear on that. For this being a “Christian” song, it sure seems like some pyramid-era theology is slipping in there. I don’t know what heaven will be like, but if I had to speculate about footwear, I’m pretty sure that whatever we wear in heaven (if we even need any shoes) will be far superior to whatever mass-produced-by-slave-labor kicks the boy could’ve purchased with some change at the local big box store.
The boy’s concern is that his mama look beautiful when she meets Jesus. I’m not sure where the boy is getting his information about who Jesus is and what he wants from us. Jesus is not Tim Gunn and heaven is not Project Runway. Mama will not be voted out of heaven based on her footwear. If so, those atrocious Crocs you just bought mama will not be winning her any style points.
‘This worries me. Make it work.’ – a quote by Jesus or Tim Gunn, I can’t remember who said it.
Congratulations, to the adults in this story (the father, the cashier, and the narrator of the song). Instead of being wise and using this difficult time as a teaching moment, you helped an already poor kid waste his last few coins on useless shoes and let him convince you that his well-meaning, but half-baked plan is in fact the true meaning of Christmas. But the shame doesn’t rest solely upon the fake characters of this trite story, we the consumers actually bought this song and are continuing to buy it every year! Please, for the sake of future generations, stop supporting this song.
These are just a few of the reasons why I believe this song is the worst Christmas song ever, but don’t let me convince you. Judge for yourself.
If you actually are in the market to buy shoes for someone for Christmas and you want to do more than just buy shoes, check out ShopToStopSlavery.com. My friend Robin researches products that are fair trade and slavery free. You can visit her site to find quality resources and good places to shop. That’s a gift that keeps on giving, Clark.
A Glascow art student’s final project. Lotta work there. Big Ideas (don’t get any) from James Houston on Vimeo.
A Glascow art student’s final project. Lotta work there.
Big Ideas (don’t get any) from James Houston on Vimeo.
No Comments >English band Portishead are releasing their third studio album (appropriately titled Third) on April 28th. I found this video of them performing some of the songs live in a studio in Portishead, England. Their last album came in 1997, so fans have been waiting for this one.
English band Portishead are releasing their third studio album (appropriately titled Third) on April 28th. I found this video of them performing some of the songs live in a studio in Portishead, England. Their last album came in 1997, so fans have been waiting for this one.
No Comments >Today is the last day of January and so our little ‘January Is For Videos’ blog series comes to an end. I hope you’ve enjoyed getting to see some of the music videos that have influenced me. This was not an exhaustive list by any means, but gives you a glimpse at what makes me [...]
Today is the last day of January and so our little ‘January Is For Videos’ blog series comes to an end. I hope you’ve enjoyed getting to see some of the music videos that have influenced me. This was not an exhaustive list by any means, but gives you a glimpse at what makes me tick. I liked having a project for the month and have a similar idea planned for next month. February can be equally as drab as January, so I’ve got a pick-me-up planned that I think you’ll find interesting. I’ll announce my plans February 1st, so come back tomorrow, my friends, and get all the juicy details. For the final installment of this series, I’m presenting the video “A Million Ways” by rock band OK Go. Though this Chicago-born band had connections with They Might Be Giants and made some waves on Chicago Public Radio‘s This American Life, it was their viral video spreading across the internet that eventually brought them fame. You wouldn’t think that a homemade one-take video of four dudes dancing awkwardly to their own song would catch people’s attention, but it did. Between the fall of 2005, when it was dumped into the internet tubes, and August 2006, it had been downloaded 9 million times – the most times a music video has ever been downloaded. In July of 2006, they released their famous “treadmill” music video for “Here It Goes Again,” which had just under 29 million views by the time of this blog being published. If you ask me, this signals another media master for the music industry. Much in the same way “Video Killed The Radio Star” changed the landscape of pop music, the internet is changing it again. In fact, the internet is changing things so drastically that the old music business models are failing. A new standard has not yet been established and the music industry feels a little bit like the old west. Everyone is rushing out there, trying to stake claim in something. Fortunes are being invested, sought, made, and lost. It’s an untamed world and no one knows for sure when it’s all going to settle down. So here’s to the future. Someday your kids will look back at this low budget video and ask what all the fuss was about. You can tell them – you were there. Link
No Comments >The very first music video shown on MTV was “Video Killed The Radio Star” by the band Buggles. Though New Wave would eventually wane in popularity, this band certainly ushered in a new era for pop music. Their song correctly prophesied that radio’s domination of pop music days were slowly coming to an end and [...]
The very first music video shown on MTV was “Video Killed The Radio Star” by the band Buggles. Though New Wave would eventually wane in popularity, this band certainly ushered in a new era for pop music. Their song correctly prophesied that radio’s domination of pop music days were slowly coming to an end and video would be the future. I’ve often wondered about the complete effect that the medium of video has had on music since that day. I suspect our simultaneous obsession/hatred of appearance-driven music economics has been exponentially magnified by videos. If you look at the long list of popular musicians prior to the music industry’s use of video, you find fewer and fewer good looking people (and some might say better and better music). Truly, there were some real monsters in the looks department that made amazing music. The classic insult “you have a face for radio” comes to mind. It could be argued that video not only killed the radio star, but killed some good music along the way. I shudder to think about the great music we’ve possibly missed because it didn’t come in a package pretty enough for television. Today, it is extremely difficult to be a successful musician and not be at least halfway decent looking. Are all the best musicians getting better looking or are we turning away some amazing talent? Sadly, some lines drawn when it comes to gender. The effect is more pronounced for women in the music industry. The guys seem to be able to slip past the attractiveness inspection much easier than the ladies. I won’t name any names, but there are some seriously butt-ugly dudes in the game. When’s the last time you saw a really homely girl making it in rock, hip hop, country, etc.? Shame on us all! Enough soap-boxing for today. Here’s the video that changed it all….
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE BUGGLES KILL THE RADIO STAR
Today, I bring you another enduring English rock band from the ’60s and ’70s, Pink Floyd. This band delved into philosophical, political, and social discussion through their own brand of psychedelic progressive rock. They wrote album-sized themes in quirky time signatures and still managed to capture the attention of Top 40 radio. Pink Floyd is [...]
Today, I bring you another enduring English rock band from the ’60s and ’70s, Pink Floyd. This band delved into philosophical, political, and social discussion through their own brand of psychedelic progressive rock. They wrote album-sized themes in quirky time signatures and still managed to capture the attention of Top 40 radio.
Pink Floyd is another band that I listened to a lot in college thanks to my friend Ben. Another one of the VHS tapes he had and we watched repetitively was Live at Pompeii, which featured footage of Pink Floyd playing live in an amphitheater in the ancient volcano-buried Roman city of Pompeii, Italy.
There are so many things to like about this video. They snuck into the ruins and setup all their gear, which is as much a part of the performance as what they play. The slow tracking shots around them and their equipment give the viewer the feeling of actually being there and being able to look around. The cinematography and atmosphere of that location really frame the music in a way that seems both natural and surreal.
Enjoy this one. It’s nearly 10 minutes long, but it’s just the first song. You really need to watch the whole movie to get the full effect.
No Comments >Back in the late sixties and early seventies, the English blues/folk/rock band Led Zeppelin was considered one of the first to play a new breed of rock called heavy metal. In hindsight, that genre never really fit them, though, admittedly, our definition of heavy metal has evolved . Today’s metal is quite devoid of any [...]
Back in the late sixties and early seventies, the English blues/folk/rock band Led Zeppelin was considered one of the first to play a new breed of rock called heavy metal. In hindsight, that genre never really fit them, though, admittedly, our definition of heavy metal has evolved . Today’s metal is quite devoid of any blues influence and instead focuses it’s efforts on speed and volume, among many other things, which vary from one sub-genre to the next. The number of metal genres that exist today is nearly equal to the number of metal bands that play them. Looking back, it’s obvious Led Zeppelin knew they were not metal, but used the attention they were getting anyway. Sure they were loud, theatrical, and edgy, but they believed their work to be an extension of the blues. Indeed, a listener with no prior knowledge of Led Zeppelin (Is this even possible?) would probably classify their music under progressive blues/acoustic folk rock today. Musical misclassification continues to happen all the time, as the words to describe new music are drawn from the currently available vocabulary. Proper terms are usually invented well after the music has been released. For example, look at the wide variety of music that was considered alternative in the 90′s. Much of that era’s music has demoted or dropped the term “alternative,” which paints music with a much-too-wide stroke, and has been retrofitted with proper genre labels. Regardless of how Led Zeppelin were classified, they have remained one the world’s most influential super groups. Band members Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Bonham, and John Paul Jones each were among the best at what they did. They were virtuosic pioneers exploring soundscapes that have endured over the years. A large majority of today bands cite Led Zeppelin, nearly as often as the Beatles, as a major influence. In 1976, Led Zeppelin released a film called The Song Remains The Same, that featured live footage from a series of 1973 concerts at Madison Square Garden, behind the scenes looks at the band’s touring and management, as well as some very odd fictional scenes of each of the members of the band. In college, my friend Ben Albright introduced me to and got me hooked on Led Zeppelin, which without a doubt influenced the sound of our 3 – and sometimes 4 – piece band, Caramel Concert. (The name for our band came from a box of chocolates found in the trash, which in a way has origins similar to the name of Led Zeppelin.) Ben had a copy of The Song Remains The Same on VHS and we watched it countless times, while “working” on our art projects. A few years ago I bought the DVD version and have been able to watch it whenever I like. The part of the video that has always impressed me is when they play “Since I’ve Been Lovin’ You.” The emotional performance, broad dynamics, proficiency of their playing, and over all mood of the song are so rich. The young musician has much to learn from watching these pros.
No Comments >I’ve been wanting to post this video for some time, but couldn’t justify it until now. In light of some recent news, I thought it might be more appropriate. There’s some light at the end of the tunnel. What’s this all about? Well, the UK’s beloved, but inebriated pop star, Amy Winehouse has finally checked [...]
I’ve been wanting to post this video for some time, but couldn’t justify it until now. In light of some recent news, I thought it might be more appropriate. There’s some light at the end of the tunnel. What’s this all about? Well, the UK’s beloved, but inebriated pop star, Amy Winehouse has finally checked into rehab. Despite her hit single “Rehab” being an adamant proclamation that she will never go to rehab, she’s taken the right steps and checked herself into Edward House, an outpatient rehabilitation center in central London. For months and months, friends, family and fans have been begging Winehouse to get some help and to everyone’s relief, she did the right thing. I’m happy to see someone with so much talent take the steps necessary to keep on going. If you don’t know Winehouse’s music, it fits somewhere between jazz and pop. Feels old school and new at the same time. Typically, Winehouse can look a little rough and depressed, but in this video she’s cleaned up and seems relatively happy. There are several other video versions of this song, but this live take from Later with Jools Holland is my favorite for that reason. I absolutely love the tight drums, woodwinds, and claps. Great production, well executed. Another video with no embedding:
CLICK HERE TO WATCH AMY WINEHOUSE SING REHAB LIVE
Another dreary January day today… {{{{ sigh }}}} In the late 90′s, a rash of darkly themed videos became more and more common on MTV and VH1. Among the culprits Nine Inch Nails (NIN) (brainchild of Trent Reznor) stood out. My favorite NIN video is “The Perfect Drug.” The number of archetypal references to classic [...]
Another dreary January day today… {{{{ sigh }}}} In the late 90′s, a rash of darkly themed videos became more and more common on MTV and VH1. Among the culprits Nine Inch Nails (NIN) (brainchild of Trent Reznor) stood out. My favorite NIN video is “The Perfect Drug.” The number of archetypal references to classic art, literature, and pop cultural in this video is astounding and probably explains the reason it has become cemented into my brain. Whether the references are intentional or not, I have no idea, but would suspect they are. Here is a short list of some of the references I saw. There are probably more, so if you think of some, let me know. I’ll post those you find too.
As for the music, I especially like the outro from 3:05 to the end. Such beautiful polyphony in those many layers of sound. I love when the number of parts occurring at one given moment is greater than the number of parts your brain can process all at once. I believe this number to be somewhere around 4 parts or greater. Sorry, to give you another video with embedding blocked. That’s just the way it is.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE PERFECT DRUG BY NINE INCH NAILS
The music video for “Mr. Brightside” by the The Killers is captivating for several reasons. First, the music. What’s a music video without the music anyway? And here the music is über catchy. I’ve gone for days with this song stuck in my head. The melody, despite being relatively monotonous in the verses, is like [...]
The music video for “Mr. Brightside” by the The Killers is captivating for several reasons. First, the music. What’s a music video without the music anyway? And here the music is über catchy. I’ve gone for days with this song stuck in my head. The melody, despite being relatively monotonous in the verses, is like candy. The lyrics are hooky and infectiously easy to sing. The way the song starts with cymbal splashes is funny too. Second, the video. I’m a sucker for the rich, but muted jewel tone colors and exquisite layered ornamentation of the Parisian cabaret theme. This video and the movie Moulin Rouge! have a lot in common. The big production of the video also helps the make up of front man Brandon Flowers fit in naturally. Third, the idea. Sure, the whole thing is about a girl cheating with another man and the jaded boyfriend feeling jealous, but there is a glimmer of hope. I love defiant optimism in the face of betrayal. If only bravery came that easy all the time… Embedding is disabled for this video, so off to YouTube you go!
CLICK HERE TO WATCH MR. BRIGHTSIDE BY THE KILLERS
The 1998 Grammy Awards show was littered with shocking moments. Among them was an unscheduled performance by Michael Portnoy (better known as the Soy Bomb guy) in the middle of Bob Dylan‘s song “Love Sick.” This premeditated “art” piece by Portnoy was so odd, and Dylan’s response so unshaken, that for a while I didn’t [...]
The 1998 Grammy Awards show was littered with shocking moments. Among them was an unscheduled performance by Michael Portnoy (better known as the Soy Bomb guy) in the middle of Bob Dylan‘s song “Love Sick.” This premeditated “art” piece by Portnoy was so odd, and Dylan’s response so unshaken, that for a while I didn’t seriously thought it was part of the plan, not an interruption. Apparently, many of the people there, including security, felt the same way, because Portnoy managed to stay on stage for about 40 seconds before he was quietly pulled off stage. That’s an eon as far as live airtime is concerned. Portnoy caught everyone so off guard that he became a part of pop culture trivia. I’m showing you this video today, because it made quite an impression on me. I was amazed by Dylan’s lack of shock. He played it so cool that, for a moment, he managed to play this wild card like it was part of his hand. Of course he’s probably seen his fair share of odd things, but this guy snuck up behind him on live television at the Grammy’s. Dylan quickly hides his surprise and continues on with the song as if nothing happened. Well done, Bob, well done… Now, the Soy Bomb incident could be the whole reason that I post this video, but it’s not. I would be a fool not to recognize Dylan for his song writing and iconic presence over the past half century. Very few would give laud to his voice as being among the best, but you would be hard pressed to find a man whose songs have been more influential. Dylan’s song have been covered by thousands of artists and connected intimately with millions of listeners. This particular song has a lyric I find especially nice. It’s the chorus of the song; it acknowledges the way that love can really screw with our heads and leave us almost wishing we had never loved someone. I love the internal rhyme and resonance of the “i” sounds.
“I’m sick of love but I’m in the thick of it
This kind of love I’m so sick of it.”
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In 1987, Irish rock band U2 released their fifth (and arguably their best) studio album, “The Joshua Tree.” The opening track, “Where The Streets Have No Name,” was the album’s third single and became an international hit, in part because the lyrics transcended beyond the streets of Belfast. During my trips to Ireland, I’ve had [...]
In 1987, Irish rock band U2 released their fifth (and arguably their best) studio album, “The Joshua Tree.” The opening track, “Where The Streets Have No Name,” was the album’s third single and became an international hit, in part because the lyrics transcended beyond the streets of Belfast. During my trips to Ireland, I’ve had the opportunity to see those streets that produced U2, a band that after 30 years is still one the biggest in the world. I’ve heard stories of the fighting, division, and troubles that the people there have endured, and are still enduring today. Though as an American I may never fully grasp the culture from which U2 came, I’m beginning to see a history familiar to all cultures that frames the big picture of their music and mission. While some see lead singer/activist Bono ( born Paul Hewson) as an egotistcal rock star, I can sympathize with his desire to use his position and influence to change the world for the better. Unfortunately, attempting to change the political and social systems that men have set in motion often calls for drastic measures. You gotta shake things up to make people rethink how life is lived. Usually men will resort to guns, bombs, and violence as their tools of change. U2 were born of that environment and yet have bucked that trend and chosen music as their weapon of choice to accomplish the change they believe is necessary. In March of 1987, U2 set up their gear on top of the Republic Liquor Store in Los Angeles to film a music video for the song “Where The Streets Have No Name”. It could be debated whether the video was shot as a publicity stunt, or to call attention to U2′s greater cause of transcending the situations in which we find ourselves to be. Truth be told, it’s probably a bit of both and either way, it is exciting to see such a crazy idea implemented and interesting to observe how all the players involved respond to an extraordinary event. This music video documents what happens when the routine of a city is shaken up. The heart of the debate concerns whether the city’s traffic flow or a free concert should have priority and whether it is the people or the police that should determine that answer. Some might see this as a test of government sovereignty and its right to maintain peace and order, while others will see it as citizens’ right to free assembly and the importance of the human spirit. How do you see it? With all things considered, how should it be? Why?
No Comments >Sometimes it is healthy for a person to sit down and get schooled. Sure, it is disheartening to be slapped in the face with the reality that you indeed suck and someone else is incredible, but that dose of truth can help put everyone back into their rightful place. If you think you are good [...]
Sometimes it is healthy for a person to sit down and get schooled. Sure, it is disheartening to be slapped in the face with the reality that you indeed suck and someone else is incredible, but that dose of truth can help put everyone back into their rightful place. If you think you are good at music, and especially the bass guitar, today that will happen to you. I’m pleased to introduce you to Victor Wooten, bassist extraordinaire and member of Béla Fleck’s Flecktones. Today’s video is of Wooten performing live with the Flecktones (a must have DVD, by the way). He will take you to school and make you cry. His skills will make you feel like a little girl. His technical prowess will both inspire you and make you want to quit. There’s a little bit of irony here. While he’s demonstrating that he is obviously far superior to us, he’s playing his version of “Amazing Grace.” Through this old hymn, he is telling us, that he indeed possesses the knowledge and skills to kill us just by playing his bass, and yet he is being merciful and will spare our lives. Instead of killing us, he merely blows our minds into useless peanut butter. Don’t say I didn’t warn you… BONUS VIDEO! Here’s another video of Wooten performing “Amazing Grace” in Budapest on January 22, 2007, exactly one year ago today. He begins with a brain blasting solo then works into the song just before your face melts. He’s employing techniques that I’m not even sure existed before that moment. Prepare yourself for mental explosions!
No Comments >Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a U.S. holiday designated to observe King’s birthday (January 15th), honor his life’s work, and celebrate human rights. While it would seem that MLK Day, a federal holiday, would be a holiday everyone celebrates, the reality is different. All federal government offices are closed today, but some banks [...]
Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a U.S. holiday designated to observe King’s birthday (January 15th), honor his life’s work, and celebrate human rights. While it would seem that MLK Day, a federal holiday, would be a holiday everyone celebrates, the reality is different. All federal government offices are closed today, but some banks and schools, and very few businesses close their doors. This disparity reflects the general attitude about what the day commemorates. Sadly, it also reveals that we either still possess some racial biases and/or are ambivalent to it’s very real existence and problems.
In Indiana, typically, only those schools with minority students tend to observe this holiday. Those that do not celebrate it will often set it aside as a winter storm cancellation make-up day. I suppose there could be debate discussing the merits of closing schools or not. Should we make the holiday more reverable by canceling classes? Or should we keep schools open and dedicate that day to focus solely on human rights education?
Regardless, I would hope that everyone, not just those with a diverse enrollment, workforce, or neighborhood, would use this day to celebrate human rights. Really, this holiday should be as important to white people as it is to black people. I certainly don’t view it just as a day to celebrate King’s life, his work, and the freedom that was eventually won for minorities. It is a day to remind ourselves of the awful bigotry that scarred our nation’s history, the very present reality of modern day racism, and the ugly effects of hatred fuel by ignorance. I think it is important to take time to assess our beliefs and actions in light of that knowledge and to celebrate the freedom of all men and the spirit of brotherhood that we all should have.
To honor MLK Jr. Day, I thought it would be nice to show you some Jonny Lang.
“What?! Jonny’s white,” you say.
I know, but on “Anything’s Possible” from his most recent album Turn Around, Lang sings about Martin Luther King Jr. and even includes part of King’s “I Have A Dream” speech, so it seemed quite appropriate to feature this song today. It has encouraged me to keep going when times are rough.
I really love this album; I can’t recommend it to you enough. At a young age, Lang gained attention as a phenomenal blues rock guitar player with mature sounding voice. he could sing, but he was known for his guitar playing. Now his voice is at the forefront of a bluesy/R&B gospel album, showcasing his unbelievable vocal range and emotion, while exposing his maturity as a writer, musician, and man. The track “Only A Man” is a beautifully intimate duet sung with his wife; it has brought me to tears several times before. This is an excellent disc you must have.
If you read reviews of this album, ironically, you’ll find that the negatively tinged reviews often have the undertones of extremely reluctant tolerance for religion. Lang is quite open about his renewed zeal for Jesus Christ and has created a really well executed album that talks about his experience. While his religious views may not connect with everyone, it seems that those opposed to the idea of religion (and especially Christ) can’t get past the lyrics to objectively assess the music. For example. below is a review from Amazon’s Hal Horowitz that is barely covers his disdain for Lang’s renewed Christianity and thus, the music as a whole.
Amazon.com
The churchy organ that opens and closes Jonny Lang’s fifth album reveals its direction. After 2003’s Long Time Coming plunged the once-up-and-coming blues guitarist into more soulful and commercial waters, Turn Around completes the transition. Lang is lyrically direct in his spiritual awakening, and the uplifting if sometimes pedantic lyrics make it clear that any vestiges of the teenaged guitar slinger that knocked out an impressive version of the lascivious “Good Morning Little Schoolgirl” on his debut are far in the past. A few short leads aside, Lang shifts into full Stevie Wonder/Prince mode, but unfortunately without the quality material that made those artists’ work transcend genre. With vocals that shift from guttural howls to sweet and screaming falsetto on tunes like “Don’t Stop (For Anything)” and a penchant for oversinging, he’s not aiming for subtlety. But there are some winning melodies here: songs such as “Anything’s Possible” and “One Person at a Time” boast catchy choruses in a funkified, gospel-tinged, adult-alternative vein bound to appeal to audiences that lean towards obvious religious references in their music. This is a well crafted, undeniably heartfelt set from Lang, who makes it abundantly clear he feels his destiny is to make the world a better place through Jesus. It’s a valid enough objective that doesn’t quite connect with Lang’s rather heavy-handed lyrics, affected singing, and derivative tunes.
Here we are, in 2008, still trying to get a grip on bigotry. While Lang’s music may help to stamp out some racial tension, some of his reviewers are letting their religious hatred surface on prominent mainstream web sites. Sad, sad, sad. Amazon, you should be ashamed. Horowitz, go sit in the time-out chair until you’re ready to play nice.
Anyway, as for Johnny Lang videos, I couldn’t find many online, especially of his more recent stuff. This gritty live video will have to do. Although the quality is poor, I think the live video does help show that this guy is for real. When first hearing Lang sing, you might think, “This can’t be a young white guy.” Just by singing like he does, he breaks down racial stereotypes.
No Comments >Back when Counting Crows were just coming into their heyday, they released a disc called “Recovering The Satellites.” The best know track “A Long December” was heavily played on top 40 radio and helped sell the album. I hadn’t heard any of the other tracks, but I liked that track, so I bought the album. [...]
Back when Counting Crows were just coming into their heyday, they released a disc called “Recovering The Satellites.” The best know track “A Long December” was heavily played on top 40 radio and helped sell the album. I hadn’t heard any of the other tracks, but I liked that track, so I bought the album. I took it home, threw it in my CD player (one of the old boombox types that took 30 seconds or so before it would spin up and start playing), and turned around to start cleaning up my messy room. To this day, I can vividly recall the next following few minutes. While walking away from my dresser, where the CD player sat, the music started playing the opening organ riff from the first track “Catapult.” I froze. I turned my head and looked back at the CD player. For the first time ever, I was hearing a sound that somehow connected directly to me. It was as if I had been looking for this music my whole life. Needless to say, I didn’t clean my room. I quickly grabbed the CD case, ripped out the liner notes and laid down on my bed. For the next 59 minutes, I just laid there soaking it in. I cannot describe how deeply I connected with this album. I doubt you will have the same experience either. But it may help you to see into a part of me. As you can tell from Letterman’s long intro and begging, they really connected with him too.
No Comments >When No Doubt‘s album “Tragic Kingdom” debuted in 1995, underground ska punk rock bands everywhere got excited. The disc featured the hit singles “Just A Girl” and “Spiderwebs.” Hopes were high, as it seemed that ska (in an updated form) would have yet another rise to the top. For a moment they did. Bands like [...]
When No Doubt‘s album “Tragic Kingdom” debuted in 1995, underground ska punk rock bands everywhere got excited. The disc featured the hit singles “Just A Girl” and “Spiderwebs.” Hopes were high, as it seemed that ska (in an updated form) would have yet another rise to the top. For a moment they did. Bands like The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and Reel Big Fish saw big time air play and commercial success. Lots of skacore, ska rock, and ska whatever bands popped up out of the woodwork. But when No Doubt released their third single “Don’t Speak,” this was a signal that were going to change. No Doubt was no doubt the biggest ska-influenced band and they were taking a step away from ska. They saw the future as being less ska and more pop. “Don’t Speak” has become a staple of 90s alternative music. Despite the dominance of heavily grunge-leaning music in that era, No Doubt was able to shine. Because their music was so different from the songs being broadcast at that time, it helped them stand out. The most famous member of the band is, of course, Gwen Stefani. Even at that early point in No Doubt’s career, the music video alludes to the somewhat inevitable future stardom of Stefani without the band. She has since gone on to make a solo career for herself. I like this video because it shows two different sides of Stefani: the polite, dressed-for-church girly singer, asked to sing for a garage band and the athletic, wrestle-with-the-boys, leader of a high energy band. The cuts between live clips and studio footage reinforce this dualism. I like the artsy opening and closing scenes too, which acknowledge Stefani’s relationship and break up with bassist Tony Kanal. The video also shows the band both loving the music and almost hating it at the same time, as I’m sure most musicians feel at some point. There are lots of things going on here, which makes for a good video.
No Comments >You may not know who Randy Newman is, but you’ll instantly recognize his voice from that song “You’ve Got A Friend In Me.” I like Randy Newman. His familiar, timeless, no-bull-crap kind of approach to song writing is something I admire. He’s an old fella, but clever as ever. He and Steve Jobs must be [...]
You may not know who Randy Newman is, but you’ll instantly recognize his voice from that song “You’ve Got A Friend In Me.” I like Randy Newman. His familiar, timeless, no-bull-crap kind of approach to song writing is something I admire. He’s an old fella, but clever as ever. He and Steve Jobs must be tight; Newman has scored a large number of Pixar movies and appeared recently at the Macworld Expo 2008 during the Apple Keynote. He played his song “In Defense of Our Country,” which, in part, is why I’m posting it today. The other reason I’m posting this video is because I can relate to Randy in having to defend myself and the U.S. as a whole for the current state of affairs. I’ve had similar experiences in the places I’ve been, having the distinct privilege of representing our wonderful country and the awful burden of defending her too. Being over seas can be quite disheartening when the discussion turns to U.S. politics. Often I am forced, reluctantly, to be an unofficial ambassador, explaining why Americans are the way we are. I know we’re not all evil warmongers, we don’t know everything that the current administration is doing, and that it only speaks for some of us, but often that’s the stereotype I’m faced with. I grow tired of defending something I know isn’t completely terrible, but also isn’t the best right now. Mostly, I grow tired of being blamed for it, as if responsibility for the whole situation rests solely on my shoulders. There are over 300 million people living in the U.S. and somehow I’m supposed to give an answer for them? I don’t want to make excuses and foolishly defend bad policies and practices. What good is that? Is that patriotism? Or reckless loyalty? This reminds me of that line from “Drops Of Jupiter” by Train: “Your best friend always sticking up for you, even when I know youre wrong.” Blegh… Makes me cringe every time. The best I can explain it is this: Imagine your brother has done something wrong. You don’t control him; he does what he wants. But because he’s your brother, you have to give an answer for him. You know that what he did isn’t right, and you don’t excuse the injustice he caused, but you defend him because you love him. You know he has good in him and he’s not completely awful. Instead of giving up on him, you see him through it all, so he’ll eventually become a better person. That’s how I feel about my country. Sometimes it’s hard to defend her, but I love this place. I’ve said a lot, but I think Randy Newman has put it best here, in this song.
No Comments >Need a new anthem you and your friends can sing at the top of your lungs? Here’s one for you: “Like U Crazy” by indie duo Mates of State. This song comes from their fourth release called “Bring It Back,” which is their first release as one of those über cool Barsuk bands. I was [...]
Need a new anthem you and your friends can sing at the top of your lungs? Here’s one for you: “Like U Crazy” by indie duo Mates of State. This song comes from their fourth release called “Bring It Back,” which is their first release as one of those über cool Barsuk bands. I was recommended Mates of State by my friend Lisa, a connoisseur of fine bands. This recommendation didn’t let me down, though their album cover creeps me out. It’s his eyes or something. I don’t know. Doesn’t matter, the music is good. When the verse comes in, the snap of that snare is perfect. On with the show!
No Comments >Ready for a creepy video with non-sense lyrics and really cool music? No? Well, you’re getting it anyway. The Mars Volta (commonly and erroneously referred to as just Mars Volta) are notoriously known for creating their own blend of crack-laced Spanglish progressive rock. They, along with Sparta, are the offspring of the band At The [...]
Ready for a creepy video with non-sense lyrics and really cool music? No? Well, you’re getting it anyway. The Mars Volta (commonly and erroneously referred to as just Mars Volta) are notoriously known for creating their own blend of crack-laced Spanglish progressive rock. They, along with Sparta, are the offspring of the band At The Drive-In. There’s some bad blood between the two bands resulting from monstrous drug abuse and the politely phrased “creative differences.” Here’s “Televators” from their disc “De-loused in the Comatorium,” an epic (and undecypherable) story about a man named Cerpin Taxt. Trying to wrap your mind around this is like trying to fully understand “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.” Best of luck to you.
No Comments >Today Apple Computers announced their latest addition to the Mac family, the MacBook Air. Despite my Mac fanboism, I’m somewhat skeptical. This new all wireless subnotebook has only one usb port, no firewire, no optical drive (making an external drive or another computer necessary to install or use anything on CD or DVD), no user-replaceable [...]
Today Apple Computers announced their latest addition to the Mac family, the MacBook Air. Despite my Mac fanboism, I’m somewhat skeptical. This new all wireless subnotebook has only one usb port, no firewire, no optical drive (making an external drive or another computer necessary to install or use anything on CD or DVD), no user-replaceable battery, no audio input jack, memory soldered to the board (meaning no upgrades), a 1.6Ghz processor (a big step back in speed), and another new proprietary DVI connection. The hard drive choice is either a small 80GB drive or an even smaller 64GB solid state drive (which, if like flash, I undestand would have limited rewrites. I could be wrong on that though.) So, yeah, I’m not impressed at all with this new offering from Apple. Regardless, the MacBook Air has inspired today’s edition of January Is For Videos. I have a Phil Collins tune for you that talks about air. Not the French Duo Air, the stuff we breathe. Collins is a rare breed. As a former member of Genesis, he served as both the drummer and eventually the lead singer, after Peter Gabriel left for a solo career. He’s kind of like the Dave Grohl of his era; a switch hitter with lots of hits. In 1981, Collins himself endeavored into the realm of solo work and released his debut album “Face Value,” featuring a bunch of tracks he had done at home. “In The Air Tonight,” the first track off that disc and features one of the best known drum fills in rock history. This is Collins performing “In The Air Tonight” on his “First Final Farewell Tour,” a jab at the rash of relic rock bands hosting multiple farewell tours attempting to milk out a pension plan with their former status.
No Comments >Well if the hype of their new pay-what-you-want-to-pay record hasn’t already got your attention, then your Radiohead Radar must be broken. “In Rainbows” was released October 10th of 2007. With it came a flood of media attention and downloads (unbelievably many of which were still illegal even though the band was offering the tracks for [...]
Well if the hype of their new pay-what-you-want-to-pay record hasn’t already got your attention, then your Radiohead Radar must be broken. “In Rainbows” was released October 10th of 2007. With it came a flood of media attention and downloads (unbelievably many of which were still illegal even though the band was offering the tracks for free from their own website). Radiohead’s seventh album was ushered into the world through the veins of the internet as a sign of the demise of record label tyranny. Most hailed this new method of music transaction as a great new way to do business outside the traditional model. Some blasted it as a media gimmick that only the rich bands can afford to do. Either way, “In Rainbows” has garnered attention, become a profitable album, and still managed to have critical success. A few weeks ago I was lying in bed, ready to drift asleep, and decided to pop on my headphones. This, I believe, is the best way to listen to music – especially Radiohead. I started listening to the first few tracks of “In Rainbows” and got stuck at track 3, “Nude.” My ears were being washed with such gorgeous, rich sounds. I put it on repeat for a few times and just let it soak in. I recommend you do the same. This is the music video for “Nude” and I think it’s quite elegant. The simplicity, subtle flickering, and slo-mo are quite peaceful.
Normally I don’t watch awards shows, however, in 2006 I caught part of the Grammy’s. I didn’t see much except for Mariah Carey singing “Fly Like A Bird.” I’m not a huge Carey fan, though I do respect her amazing abilities. Not many people can belt it like she does. This performance was remarkable for [...]
Normally I don’t watch awards shows, however, in 2006 I caught part of the Grammy’s. I didn’t see much except for Mariah Carey singing “Fly Like A Bird.” I’m not a huge Carey fan, though I do respect her amazing abilities. Not many people can belt it like she does. This performance was remarkable for several reasons. 1. Her tremendous singing. A lot of people lip-sync at awards shows, but this is live. Gotta respect that. 2. The emotional performance of the band and choir. Everyone is into it. That’s exciting. 3. An overtly spiritual message in a secular venue. There’s a clear call for people to trust in God. Gutsy, but encouraging. So, on with the video. Check it out:
No Comments >In 2002 Johnny Cash recorded his final album, “American IV: The Man Comes Around.” Among the songs he recorded for this album was a song called “Hurt,” written by Trent Reznor, mastermind of Nine Inch Nails. Despite their vastly different musical styles, Johnny was able to make “Hurt” into something of his own. He recorded [...]
In 2002 Johnny Cash recorded his final album, “American IV: The Man Comes Around.” Among the songs he recorded for this album was a song called “Hurt,” written by Trent Reznor, mastermind of Nine Inch Nails. Despite their vastly different musical styles, Johnny was able to make “Hurt” into something of his own. He recorded the video in the four months time between his wife’s death and his own. This the last video he made. I don’t have much else to say for this video. It speaks for itself.
No Comments >Every time I hear Paolo Nutini, I think of Florida, specifically the time when I was on tour with my friends Lynn Graber and Katie Nelson. On the road we listened to Paolo’s debut disc “These Streets” about a hundred times. Sandy white beaches, convertibles, late night lounging in the pool… Ahh… the memories. I’ve [...]
Every time I hear Paolo Nutini, I think of Florida, specifically the time when I was on tour with my friends Lynn Graber and Katie Nelson. On the road we listened to Paolo’s debut disc “These Streets” about a hundred times. Sandy white beaches, convertibles, late night lounging in the pool… Ahh… the memories. I’ve written about Paolo before, so if you want to find out why I like his music, click here to check out that blog and video. I wanted to post another video of his. This is “New Shoes,” his fourth UK single (his second in the States). I like the UK version of this video because it’s really straight forward; he acts out exactly what he’s singing about. This is refreshingly simple and direct. Good direction for such a light-hearted song. Lynn, this video’s for you. Hope you’re enjoying your time in Florida!
No Comments >I’m not an opera guy. I don’t know what the problem is; maybe it’s the language barrier. Most opera songs are in Italian, so I can’t understand it. (Funny how death metal and screamo have this in common with opera.) Or maybe it’s the long drawn out arias that seem to go nowhere but up [...]
I’m not an opera guy. I don’t know what the problem is; maybe it’s the language barrier. Most opera songs are in Italian, so I can’t understand it. (Funny how death metal and screamo have this in common with opera.) Or maybe it’s the long drawn out arias that seem to go nowhere but up and down the scales. Regardless, along came The Fifth Element, written and directed by Luc Besson, and changed my mind about opera. This movie is a futuristic, sci-fi masterpiece featuring interwoven stories, bright colors, quirky characters, and funny aliens. There are numerous quotable lines like “Aziz, light!” and “Mool-ti-pass”, among others. But the thing that always stands out to me the most is the scene in the theater on Fhloston Paradise, a ritsy, flying resort. Our hero, Korben Dallas (Bruce Willis), attends a performance by the Diva Plavalaguna, played by Maïwenn Le Besco. The voice is that of Inva Mula-Tchako, singing a medley of the “Lucia di Lammermoor” and “The Diva Dance Song.” There is some debate, but from what I can gather, she sang all, or nearly all, the notes you hear in this video, which is quite outstanding. I don’t know what it is that connected with me on this song, but I enjoy it. In fact, I prefer the first operatic part more than the last bit, which is more electro-pop. The aria is an extremely beautiful piece and done very well. I have to applaud Luc Besson for setting it in the middle of a high energy, mainstream movie, thus exposing the general populous to good opera.
No Comments >I was introduced to Sleeping At Last sometime in 2003, shortly after their album “Ghosts” was released. My friend and bassist Dan Wilton knew them from way back when. He let me hear the disc and I was blown away. This 3 piece band from the Chicago area makes beautiful music – mountains of it. [...]
I was introduced to Sleeping At Last sometime in 2003, shortly after their album “Ghosts” was released. My friend and bassist Dan Wilton knew them from way back when. He let me hear the disc and I was blown away. This 3 piece band from the Chicago area makes beautiful music – mountains of it. I’ve had the honor to open for them and been a guitar tech for them on occasion, so I can vouch for how excellent they really are. I could go on and on about their spot-on live shows, the great songs and music they write, and how nice they are, but then i’d be gushing. If you have a chance to see them, go! It’ll be one of the best. I promise. This video is “Needle & Thread” one of my favorite songs from their 2006 release “Keep No Score.” Enjoy!
2 Comments >In the past few months I have really grown to love Tom Waits. I’ve bought nearly every album of his and wish there was more. This guy is pushing 60 and still has the energy to dance around like a young punk. His music is raw and untidy. His voice is like gravel soaked whiskey. [...]
In the past few months I have really grown to love Tom Waits. I’ve bought nearly every album of his and wish there was more. This guy is pushing 60 and still has the energy to dance around like a young punk. His music is raw and untidy. His voice is like gravel soaked whiskey. His songs are like old hymns, sad ballads, and vintage jukebox country covered by years of dust. When I hear Waits sing, I think of grandpa, Bing Crosby, southern plantations and dirty saloons, gritty auto shops blaring AM radio, the Mississippi delta, old men that wear hats and hang out in barber shops, Victrola record players, and run down theaters gilt with gold and torn red velvet curtains. How to know if you’ll like Tom Waits: 1. If, when watching a movie, your favorite character is the old man wearing a worn out jacket, smoking a cigar, mumbling to himself, and who always seems to be the guy with the right answer, though no one ever listens to him, then you will love Tom Waits. 2. If a collaboration between Bob Dylan and Tim Burton sounds like a good idea, then Tom Waits is for you.
3. If you can’t wait for Jack White of The White Stripes to turn 60, play out-of-tune upright pianos, and sing old spirituals, Tom Waits will help fill the void. 4. If, in your mind, a male singer is only good if he has a clear voice like Clay Aiken, then there is no hope for you. You are not living life. You need to get your hands in the dirt, ride a motorcycle, and not comb your hair every day. You should burn all your music and start over. I’m kidding… kind of… not really. But seriously, you won’t like Tom Waits and that’s sad. Anyway, this video is Waits performing his song “Lie To Me” from the three disc album “Orphans.” If you don’t like this song, give his others a chance. I’m sure you’ll find something that will make you laugh, cry, or feel at home again.
No Comments >Last year I was on tour all over the eastern U.S. and found myself in Charlotte, NC. While there, I was given a CD by the father of a local solo artist named Mark Mathis. When I am given a disc, I reluctantly give it a listen because usually (99 out of 100 times) I [...]
Last year I was on tour all over the eastern U.S. and found myself in Charlotte, NC. While there, I was given a CD by the father of a local solo artist named Mark Mathis. When I am given a disc, I reluctantly give it a listen because usually (99 out of 100 times) I don’t like it. The music is more than likely subpar, uninteresting, or just not my style. This time was different. I popped Mathis’ “We Both Was Young” CD in the car and was greeted with an intentionally lo-fi banjo tune wrought with unconventional percussion called “Sharecropper Takes A Colored Wife.” It was beautiful, quirky, relaxed, ambitious, political, and inspiring. I thought that maybe this was the best track on the disc. It’s not uncommon to find a really good song in midst of a bunch of groaners, so I kept listening, half expecting to find the next track would let me down. If it was blah, then I could toss this disc on top of the ever-growing pile I’ve collected and move on. But track 2 was good, really good. Track 3, good too. Tracks 4, 5, 6 and so on… good. The whole disc was full of great music. Here was the first disc I found in a long time that I loved every track. I was blown away. So of course, the next time I had internet access I had to look him up. Who is this guy with a down-to-earth and confident tone that both gives you hope and breaks your heart? I was happy to see that he has several CD’s out. So I bought them. I was not let down with these either. In my mind, Mark Mathis is the voice of the new church. He speaks the truth without mincing words. He’s direct, but not bible-bashing. He’s down home, but not backwater. Young, but wise for his age. Indie, but high quality. So refreshing… The video for today is him performing his song “Two Days To Live” live on what appears to be a local Christian TV show. It’s the only YouTube video I could find of him online. SUPPORT GREAT INDEPENDENT MUSIC:
1. Buy his discs/tracks on iTunes or from his website.
2. Add him as a friend on MySpace too.
3. Tell a friend. Just send them to this blog post by clicking here.
Many thanks to my friend and college roomie, Magee, for making me listen to Joanna Newsom. Magee, had you not made me borrow her “Milk-Eyed Mender” disc, I might not be posting this video right now. So, thank you! I was skeptical at first because Joanna’s voice is not typical Top 40 tambre, but after [...]
Many thanks to my friend and college roomie, Magee, for making me listen to Joanna Newsom. Magee, had you not made me borrow her “Milk-Eyed Mender” disc, I might not be posting this video right now. So, thank you! I was skeptical at first because Joanna’s voice is not typical Top 40 tambre, but after a few listens, I was hooked. If you know me at all, I’ve probably recommended her to you as one of those amazing artists you have to hear. I might have even made you listen to a track. My position has not changed. Joanna Newsom is brilliant. Her most recent disc “Ys” confirms this to an even greater degree. I hope that you’ll give this one time to soak in, because once you do, your world will have a larger, more beautiful and elaborate horizon. Some things to keep in mind:
1. Don’t go into this expecting Carrie Underwood, Avril Lavigne, or Beyoncé. Think fairy tales and wood elves.
2. Don’t try to fit this music into a box you already have. You’re gonna need a new box.
3. Don’t thank me. Thank Magee. Joanna Newsom singing “The Sprout and The Bean”
John Cougar Mellencamp is from Seymour, Indiana, just 217 miles from Gary, Indiana, home of Michael Jackson and family. Some know this soft rocker as John Cougar. To others he’s John Cougar Mellencamp. He tried dropping the cat to be just John Mellencamp. Now I hear he’s now referring to himself as Jean Paul “Le [...]
John Cougar Mellencamp is from Seymour, Indiana, just 217 miles from Gary, Indiana, home of Michael Jackson and family. Some know this soft rocker as John Cougar. To others he’s John Cougar Mellencamp. He tried dropping the cat to be just John Mellencamp. Now I hear he’s now referring to himself as Jean Paul “Le Tigre” Diddycamp*. Whatever his name, in the 80′s I was growing up in small town Indiana and knew him as John Cougar Mellencamp. My third grade teacher would help us learn our multiplication tables and cursive writing (both of which I’ve given up using in real life, thanks to computers) by bribing us with odds and ends from her prize box. Mrs. Taggart was a dyed-in-the-wool John Cougar Mellencamp fan, so one fortunate day, after completing some extremely difficult third grade task, I got the best prize in the box: a John Cougar Mellencamp “Scarecrow” cassette tape. I wore that tape out. After school, I would go to my room, put the cassette in my boom box, pull out the liner notes, and lay there in a pile of my Legos, reading along to the most rock and roll thing I had ever heard. Mellencamp sang about farmers, small towns, girls, Jesus, the government. It didn’t make sense to me, but it rocked. He was rough and untamed, yet still seemed to emote respectable values. I couldn’t quite grasp everything he said, but it resonated with me. He was rock and roll and a Hoosier. In those days, I didn’t know that being from Indiana was actually a strike against someone when dealing with the entertainment industry. I was oblivious to the Midwest Curse. Maybe growing up in Indiana wasn’t very cool in the eyes of east and west coast folk, but man I felt proud to be from Indiana when I listened to “Small Town.” In many ways, I still am proud to call Indiana home, thanks to John Cougar Mellencamp. The YouTube video embedding is disabled for this video, so you’ll have to CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE “SMALL TOWN” VIDEO. *Not factual.
No Comments >Well, it’s Friday, so I wanted to bring you something light-hearted and fun for the weekend. Here is the Jackson 5 in their appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1970, where they played “I Want You Back/ABC” and “The Love You Save.” Sometimes I forget just how talented the Jackson family is. Michael’s voice [...]
Well, it’s Friday, so I wanted to bring you something light-hearted and fun for the weekend. Here is the Jackson 5 in their appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1970, where they played “I Want You Back/ABC” and “The Love You Save.” Sometimes I forget just how talented the Jackson family is. Michael’s voice on ABC gets me every time. Absolutely outstanding. I recently bought “Thriller” and it’s crazy to see the progression that his career has taken over the years. Despite all the weirdness, I feel sorry for the guy. He’s had a crazy life and I’m sure that didn’t help his mental health. If you are unfamiliar with his story, just read up on it. Disregard the spanish subtitles on this video, unless you need them, of course.
No Comments >My First Music Video Growing up in rural Indiana my family didn’t have cable or satellite until I was in high school, so we didn’t get MTV or VH1 until after both channels stopped airing music videos. Thankfully, YouTube can help to fill that void now – though at lower resolution. At any rate, because [...]
My First Music Video Growing up in rural Indiana my family didn’t have cable or satellite until I was in high school, so we didn’t get MTV or VH1 until after both channels stopped airing music videos. Thankfully, YouTube can help to fill that void now – though at lower resolution. At any rate, because we didn’t have cable until I was a freshmen, this music video was my first glimpse into the visual side of pop music culture. I didn’t really know who R.E.M. was at the time, but I knew that they were obviously famous, successful, and most importantly: connecting with somebody somewhere, which I thought was cool. The Dan Rather Mugging
I also didn’t know that this song was referencing some odd bits of pop culture trivia involving time travel, media mind control, a street mugging, and Dan Rather. I’m not making this stuff up. Here are some links:
R.E.M. – What’s The Frequency Kenneth? As for the video itself, I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t love it either. Here was just a group of fairly normal looking guys playing a straight-forward rock song, synced to strobed lights, in some kind of warehouse/airplane hangar. In that way, it has always been reassuring to me, that an average looking fellow like myself could still be a successful musician some day. Thanks R.E.M.! And because this music video was the first one I had ever seen, it has stuck with me over the years as a kind of archetype for what music videos maybe ought to be: the artists playing their song for you like it was a private concert. The band, you, a garage, and a song. Nice and simple. The R.E.M. Effect Since 1994, I’ve seen countless bands attempt to do R.E.M. covers. Sounds like it would be an easy thing to do, right? WRONG! Lots of people make this mistake. Today, I am officially going public with my “R.E.M. Effect” theory. To me, it seems that the only people capable of playing R.E.M. songs are R.E.M. themselves. The songs are not particularly hard to play, but there’s just something about playing an R.E.M. tune that makes the performer sound like a so-so college band doing a so-so cover. I don’t know what it is really that creates this effect, so if anyone has an insight into this, please shed some light on the subject. BONUS VIDEO!
Today is a twofer deal. This clip below is from Letterman. Dan Rather actually *sings* with the band live. That Rather… he’s such a wild card!
Alright, day 2 of my adventesque January music video blogs is a comedic one. Maybe this doesn’t really count as a true music video, but why not? Two kiwis pretending to be post-apocalyptic robots = funny. This is one of those rare videos that actually makes me LOL, even after repeat viewing. These chaps have [...]
Alright, day 2 of my adventesque January music video blogs is a comedic one. Maybe this doesn’t really count as a true music video, but why not? Two kiwis pretending to be post-apocalyptic robots = funny. This is one of those rare videos that actually makes me LOL, even after repeat viewing. These chaps have packed a lot of humor into 4 minutes and pull off an impeccable impression of the Mac computer voice (you know the one). NOTE: Before watching this video, make sure you know what binary is – it’ll make the solo much funnier. WARNING: This movie moves uses words outside the PG realm. They drop the F-bomb at 2:47 as well as several other minor curse words. Fair warning. Play on.
1 Comment >Introduction to “January Is For Videos” The new year is always bittersweet for me. The upside: It’s the start of a new year, which means a clean slate. The downside: Jan. 1 means months more of dreary winter. I don’t so much mind the cold, sleet, and snow as long as there is a holiday [...]
Introduction to “January Is For Videos” The new year is always bittersweet for me. The upside: It’s the start of a new year, which means a clean slate. The downside: Jan. 1 means months more of dreary winter. I don’t so much mind the cold, sleet, and snow as long as there is a holiday to celebrate. Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Get us through October, November, and December, but the first few months of the new year are quite sparse on holidays. March brings us St. Patty’s Day, the first real holiday of the year. I know February gives us Valentine’s Day, which is also technically a holiday, but to me (and apparently a lot of other people) that’s a holiday that’s more dreary than the darkest, coldest day in January. So in 2008 I’m turning over a new leaf. I am going to celebrate the dark month of January, despite its doldrums. I’ve decided to fight the new year sadness with music videos. I’m calling it “January is for Videos” – a tongue-in-cheek reference to Virginia’s we-have-something-to-offer state slogan. Each day, I’ll post a video that makes me smile, inspires me, changed my life, or somehow captures something I think is worthy of others seeing. I hope this little glimpse into my experience with music videos will help make the beginning of your 2008 a little more exciting, less dreary, and gives each January day that small, but much needed boost to get you through. That said, here’s the first post for Day 1: Portishead – Glory Box First, Portishead. If you don’t know who they are, you’re missing out on a part life – the part where lounge soul and electronic beats beautifully drown together in reverb. The band’s heyday was the late 90s and sadly, they are no longer together, but this stuff is still as beautiful and fresh today. I’ve known about them for a long time, but just recently bought their self-titled album ‘Portishead.’ This video is them playing track 2 from that disc. They are playing live at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City in ’97. As a musician, the atmosphere in this video is as good as it gets. In your dreams, you hope to someday play a show. In fact, this is exactly how you want to perform your songs every time: lights low, room smoky and chill, surrounded by your extremely talented bandmates, backed by an an orchestra, and an intimate gathering of your fans listening intently, enjoying your art as much as you do – maybe even more so. The mood is right and the music is good. They’ve written a real gem, something poppy, yet timeless. “Glory Box” is catchy, groovy. Hippies and deadheads nod in unison to its vibe, but there is a depth and quality that the critics and classicists (in the musical sense) can’t deny either. They take their time because no one wants to go anywhere. That’s hard to do. This is how I want to play. This kind of venue, this quality of music, these kind of fans. Wish I could’ve seen this show. Good news though, this concert is available on a live DVD. I’m saving my pennies to pick it up. Anyway, check out the video. Hope it makes your January 1st super chill.
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