Artist: New Order
Song: Crystal
Album: Get Ready (2001)
Performance: Official Video
Another band I'll hit up again before this list is over. I passed on anything from Substance 1987, because I already used up this month's allotment of epic songs :-D
A curious bit about this video, notice the name of the fake band? Indeed it was this video that inspired the name of that little group from Vegas.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
365 Songs: Day 11
Artist: Fiona Apple
Song: Shadowboxer
Album: Tidal (1996)
Performance: Official Video
Ok, for those of you that are still following along and waiting to hear a good song, today is your last chance. Every song so far I obviously think is pretty good, that's why I've bothered to post them (duh).
This song though, this song is sublime. If I was pressed to put together a list of my 10 favorite songs of all time, this would, without a doubt, make the cut.
I wanted to find a live version that did it justice, but alas, the performances were either not-so-hot, or the recordings were suspect. So the official video it is, in all its poorly lip-synced beauty.
Song: Shadowboxer
Album: Tidal (1996)
Performance: Official Video
Ok, for those of you that are still following along and waiting to hear a good song, today is your last chance. Every song so far I obviously think is pretty good, that's why I've bothered to post them (duh).
This song though, this song is sublime. If I was pressed to put together a list of my 10 favorite songs of all time, this would, without a doubt, make the cut.
I wanted to find a live version that did it justice, but alas, the performances were either not-so-hot, or the recordings were suspect. So the official video it is, in all its poorly lip-synced beauty.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
365 Songs: Day 10
Artist: PJ Harvey
Song: C'mon Billy
Album: To Bring You My Love (1995)
Performance: French TV, 1995
Polly Jean Harvey's masterpiece album 'To Bring You My Love' entered my musical life in the late 90's like a bomb, blowing apart my ideas of what I liked in a female vocalist. And like a bomb it probably did my hearing no favors as I listened to it loudly and frequently at the Bride's apartment; we had just started dating and so these songs are forever bonded to that time for me.
Even with the feel-good association, I'd rate this album in my top 50 all-time even if I discovered it during bad times. It just doesn't quit. In a recent interview she said, "I certainly don't want to make music that can be put on in the background and be spoken over". Mission accomplished with this album.
I chose this low-key performance because it is mercifully lacking in the dark stage persona she is often projects, she is just playing it straight here.
Song: C'mon Billy
Album: To Bring You My Love (1995)
Performance: French TV, 1995
Polly Jean Harvey's masterpiece album 'To Bring You My Love' entered my musical life in the late 90's like a bomb, blowing apart my ideas of what I liked in a female vocalist. And like a bomb it probably did my hearing no favors as I listened to it loudly and frequently at the Bride's apartment; we had just started dating and so these songs are forever bonded to that time for me.
Even with the feel-good association, I'd rate this album in my top 50 all-time even if I discovered it during bad times. It just doesn't quit. In a recent interview she said, "I certainly don't want to make music that can be put on in the background and be spoken over". Mission accomplished with this album.
I chose this low-key performance because it is mercifully lacking in the dark stage persona she is often projects, she is just playing it straight here.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
365 Songs: Day 9
Today sucks, so I'll keep this brief.
The Band: Editors
The Song: An End Has A Start
The Album: An End Has a Start (2007)
The Sound: The British Interpol
The Video: Worst use of models in a video, to see proper usage refer to Palmer, Robert, Addicted to Love.
That is all.
The Band: Editors
The Song: An End Has A Start
The Album: An End Has a Start (2007)
The Sound: The British Interpol
The Video: Worst use of models in a video, to see proper usage refer to Palmer, Robert, Addicted to Love.
That is all.
Monday, April 26, 2010
365 Songs: Day 8
I can't claim this band is some kind of hidden gem, it's only album, "Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too" did go platinum in the U.S. But other than the hit 'You Get What You Give', the album itself kinda flew under the radar. If came out today it would probably sell a million downloads of the single and 100k albums...
...which would be a shame, because the album is a very solid piece of work start to finish. The "band" was really Gregg Alexander, who wrote, sang, produced, and played many of the instruments, and then filled in the blanks with session musicians. He called it quits after this one album (though he had two previous solo efforts) to produce and write for other artists. Too bad.
The song is 'Someday We'll Know'.
...which would be a shame, because the album is a very solid piece of work start to finish. The "band" was really Gregg Alexander, who wrote, sang, produced, and played many of the instruments, and then filled in the blanks with session musicians. He called it quits after this one album (though he had two previous solo efforts) to produce and write for other artists. Too bad.
The song is 'Someday We'll Know'.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
365 Songs: Day 6 & 7
This is the first appearance of what is sure to be several by one of my favorite bands. Many people love them, though it seems lately that more hate them. Partly I think this is due to Bono's activism and somewhat holy-than-thou personality. They have also been around a long time and have produced a fairly large and varied body of work, engaging in a lot of "reinvention" along the way. So if you want to find something they have done that you don't like, well then, you can probably find it.
Whatever.
War. The Unforgettable Fire. The Joshua Tree.
If they did nothing but those three they would still be among my favorites.
I liked that they tried different things; they didn't find the recipe for success and then repeat it. Bands should grow and evolve. It may not always work, you may not always like it, but it sure beats the same old thing every time.
I owe two songs since I didn't post yesterday, so we get a shortened version of October (from the album of the same name) and the iconic New Year's Day from War. The performance was recorded at the Red Rocks amphitheater in Colorado. I love the Edge's minimalist piano playing in both songs.
Whatever.
War. The Unforgettable Fire. The Joshua Tree.
If they did nothing but those three they would still be among my favorites.
I liked that they tried different things; they didn't find the recipe for success and then repeat it. Bands should grow and evolve. It may not always work, you may not always like it, but it sure beats the same old thing every time.
I owe two songs since I didn't post yesterday, so we get a shortened version of October (from the album of the same name) and the iconic New Year's Day from War. The performance was recorded at the Red Rocks amphitheater in Colorado. I love the Edge's minimalist piano playing in both songs.
Friday, April 23, 2010
365 Songs: Day 5
Who knew?
They were Dutch!
They have 24 studio albums!
They have had the same lineup for 47 years!
They are still touring!
Honestly, I didn't know the first thing about them before a trip to wikipedia, but I've always loved 'Twilight Zone' and 'Radar Love'. Found this great acoustic version of the former which features some very nice guitar playing (at least to my uneducated ear). Enjoy.
They were Dutch!
They have 24 studio albums!
They have had the same lineup for 47 years!
They are still touring!
Honestly, I didn't know the first thing about them before a trip to wikipedia, but I've always loved 'Twilight Zone' and 'Radar Love'. Found this great acoustic version of the former which features some very nice guitar playing (at least to my uneducated ear). Enjoy.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
365 Songs: Day 4
When I first heard Lazy Eye by the Silversun Pickups in late 2006, like many others, I wondered if it was a man or woman singing. The 25 second explosion at the 2:45 mark answered that; Brian Aubert was indeed male.
I looked for a good live recording of this song, but it seems that bit at 2:45 is hard to replicate, so I'm sticking with the studio version.
While I enjoyed the rest of Carnavas, which was their debut album, nothing else on it, or their sophomore effort Swoon, ever reached the perfection of this song. For me, it will go down as one of the finest efforts of the 00's.
I looked for a good live recording of this song, but it seems that bit at 2:45 is hard to replicate, so I'm sticking with the studio version.
While I enjoyed the rest of Carnavas, which was their debut album, nothing else on it, or their sophomore effort Swoon, ever reached the perfection of this song. For me, it will go down as one of the finest efforts of the 00's.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
365 Songs: Day 3
I've met people who viewed this band as some kind of "Lesser Nirvana*" that felt that somehow, they weren't really part of the "true" Seattle grunge era. They are of course entitled to their opinions, but I'll never trust their views on anything music-related.
Anyway, here they are in their salad days, performing a cover of Neil Young's Rockin in the Free World at the 1992 Pinkpop Festival in Landgraaf, Holland (or the Netherlands if you prefer...that always confused me).
* Count my lovely Bride among that first group. I've since shown her the error of her ways.
Anyway, here they are in their salad days, performing a cover of Neil Young's Rockin in the Free World at the 1992 Pinkpop Festival in Landgraaf, Holland (or the Netherlands if you prefer...that always confused me).
* Count my lovely Bride among that first group. I've since shown her the error of her ways.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
365 Songs: Day 2
Today we dip into the alt-country files and pull out an National treasure (no, not the Nicolas Cage cinematic abomination).
John Hiatt is one of the finest songwriters I know of; he knows how to tell a story. And he isn't a half bad guitar player :-)
Now this recording doesn't feature his finest vocal performance (and the sync is a bit off), but it's still more than adequate. I chose it because I love this song and you get a bonus! Not one, but two National treasures, because his band for this performance is the Goners, and that means slide guitarist Sonny Landreth, who pretty much steals the show here.
Now I must warn you to look past the weird "drunk dad at wedding" thing Hiatt does in the first few seconds. Actually, when I think about it, his whole vibe is a bit like that, but get over it!
So here it is, John Hiatt and the Goners at the 2003 AVO Session Basil festival in Switzerland, performing Tennessee Plates, from 1998's Slow Turning (an album I recommend without hesitation to those with functioning ears):
John Hiatt is one of the finest songwriters I know of; he knows how to tell a story. And he isn't a half bad guitar player :-)
Now this recording doesn't feature his finest vocal performance (and the sync is a bit off), but it's still more than adequate. I chose it because I love this song and you get a bonus! Not one, but two National treasures, because his band for this performance is the Goners, and that means slide guitarist Sonny Landreth, who pretty much steals the show here.
Now I must warn you to look past the weird "drunk dad at wedding" thing Hiatt does in the first few seconds. Actually, when I think about it, his whole vibe is a bit like that, but get over it!
So here it is, John Hiatt and the Goners at the 2003 AVO Session Basil festival in Switzerland, performing Tennessee Plates, from 1998's Slow Turning (an album I recommend without hesitation to those with functioning ears):
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