So, yes I have written about Mr. Ritter before, but he is coming to the 9:30 club on December 1st and I feel the need to get as many of you to go as possible. Tickets are $20 plus the misc. fees. And, the show is very well worth it. So, if you like the music and live in the area, come on out for a Tuesday night of fun.
Of course, most of you (unless you live in a cave & somehow get my blog) know of Mr. A-Z. This great song is from his most current album: We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things. The man is a lyrical genius and his wordplay has been ever increasing with each album. This song features 2 answering machine messages, that I feel factor well into the song itself. Take a listen.
What a ridiculously cute title for a love song. I don't have a super-long (yes, I know, I have an issue) post for this one. I discovered this song through NPR & Bob Boilen. If you haven't listened to All Songs Consided, for what are you waiting?
So, I think I am going to go see this band on Sunday at DC9. Anyone, wanting to go, yes I know they are a bit folksy, but I quite enjoy them. The show is $10, just let me know. I am also planning on seeing Blitzen Trapper at the Black Cat on Monday($15), I have previously posted the song, Furr from them. Anyway, anyone wanting to go with, please let me know or I will just roll solo.
I discovered Kings of Leon many moons ago with their First EP: Holy Roller Novacaine. I liked them enough back then that I went to the Black Cat and saw them perform. Strangely, that day I discovered another band that I became a tiny bit obsessed with called The Features. But this is not about them, this is about Kings of Leon. This group from Nashville, Tennessee is comprised of 3 brothers & a cousin, who together have a fantastic performance synergy. As much as I liked the original EP and the follow-up album: Youth & Young Manhood, their latest effort: Only by the Night shows maturity that they did not possess in 2003. This song is from this new album and is the first single released. It quickly hit #1 in the U.K., after its August 2008 release. It only reached #56 on some U.S. publications chart, which is insane. (Come on, get it together! *cough*Billboard*cough*) Anyway, without further ado, here is "Sex on Fire" by Kings of Leon:
From the Album Dear Sciene, which this Magazine chose as its Album of the Year, and in my opinion for very good reason.
"Halfway Home" is an amazing song from this album and as a fan of TV on the Radio for a number of years, it is good to hear that they have stuck with their musical experimentation. I hope you enjoy :-)
So, I have come full circle on my year. Back to the rather folky indie stylings with which I began these musical posts. This song is the title track from Blitzen Trapper's Furr album. The album has received much acclaim and for good reason. I first got turned on to this and some of my more recent music from NPR's "All Songs Considered" Podcasts. If you have not listened to these they are highly recommended.
Anyway, I don't have much on this to say. Just give it a listen and I hope you enjoy.
Today, I have decided to expose you to a great band that if you get a chance to go see perform, you simply must. You have no choice in the matter. :-p
Anyway, Spoon is not a new band by any means, having formed in the early 1990s in Austin, TX; however, they still need more exposure to people like those of you that read this blog. The song "The Underdog" is off of their 6th studio album Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga and was also featured at the beginning of the movie Cloverfield.
I've included the video here, because it is rather fun.
I hope you enjoy!
If you like this, you may also like:
-"Missed the Boat" by Modest Mouse -"Satellite" by Guster -"O Valencia" by The Decemberists -"Wolf Like Me" by T.V. on the Radio OR -"The Way We Get By" by Spoon
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
by The Knowledgemonger
My first introduction to The Shins happened when the movie Garden State came out on DVD and my ex and I rented it. The movie's screenplay is written by one of the star's of the film, Zach Braff. He happens to be responsible for the soundtrack as well. Alright, enough of the hyperlinks.
"New Slang" which so prominently plays a role in the film as the "song that will change your life" was my first exposure to this indie-rock group. I won't go as far as to say it changed my life, but it did give me a) an appreciation for a new band & b) invaded my thoughts for a bit during that time. I lied about the hyperlinks, here is one to that song. But, this is not about that song it is about a song from The Shin's third album, Wincing The Night Away (I really can't help myself). The song in question is well, duh, "Phantom Limbs" as sited in the title.
The video attached has a ridiculously well-produced "school play."
Description pulled from Wiki:
Songwriter and lead singer James Mercer described it as "a hypothetical, fictional account of a young, lesbian couple in high school dealing with the sh*tty [sic] small town they live in."[2]
One other The Shins note: They recorded a version of the song "Little Boxes" that is featured on the TV show Weeds Really just an excuse for me to add another hyperlink. :-)
While kind of a depressing song, it is used perfectly in the opening and closing scenes in the movie, "Closer" ( a must see, more on that in about 2 paragraphs...I promise). Damien Rice is a Irish folk singer, who has had limited success, but is great none-the-less.
This song is one of those that resonates in my mind well after I hear it. With lines like:
And so it is Just like you said it would be Life goes easy on me Most of the time And so it is The shorter story No love, no glory No hero in her skies
It is all too hauntingly familiar.
"Closer" is one of the rare movies that has been able to seemingly come across as real, meaning the dialogue doesn't seem contrived or forced. The brilliant acting ability of the cast of Julia Roberts, Clive Owens, Jude Law & Natalie Portman is incredible. Both Clive & Natalie received Best Supporting nods. The movie unfortunately got eclipsed by "Million Dollar Baby", "Ray", "Finding Neverland", "The Aviator" & "Sideways" for a Best Picture nod. Admittedly all brilliant movies, but still unfortunate.
Anyway, as always I hope you enjoy it for what it is and that on some level it makes you think (it is a reflective song).
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
by The Knowledgemonger
So, this week on my musical blog, I am reintroducing people to Snow Patrol and their musical efforts prior to the success of the single "Chasing Cars". this song is from the Album Final Straw. The album features many other great songs that I encourage to you to listen to in your own time. Check out "Run" & "Chocolate"
This Sunday, August 3rd, Mario Spinetti makes his Washington, DC debut at the Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage. The show starts at 6 PM and is FREE. Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to see an amazing musician.
I am going to admit it...I love Jason Mraz! There I said it. He is goofy cute. What? He is :-)
I also think he has a great command of the English language and his 3rd album is a great example of just how good he is at songwriting. Give this a listen and consider picking up his latest effort We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.
So, my musical post of the week has to do with the band that has been stuck there all week and the song that started it all on Monday at about 12:15 pm. Just an approximation.
Not my favorite song of Coldplay's but one of the better ones anyway :-)
Hope you enjoy and I will post more about my world and the craziness therein, after this long long weekend. Happy Birthday Sam & Uncle Sam!
2. My favorite from them would be "Power of Two" but I couldn't find a version of that that was good enough to embed over here & a friend posted that song a while back and I didn't want to repeat too much.
3. This is how most things are in life as well. The hardest to learn are always the least complicated.
So, there is a super long intro to this song. But, that is rather appropriate for DMB. I threw up the live version from Folsom Field, because most of their music should be heard live.
One of my all time favorite songs; the music & the lyrics are just SO Good!
Say, my love, I came to you With best intentions You laid down and gave to me just what Im seeking Love, you drive me to distraction
Hey my love do you believe that we Might last a thousand years Or more if not for this? Our flesh and blood it ties You and me right up Tie me down
Celebrate we will Because life is short but sweet for certain Were climbing two by two To be sure these days continue, These things we cannot change
Hey, my love, you came to me like Wine comes to this mouth Grown tired of water all the time You quench my heart and you Quench my mind
Celebrate we will Because life is short but sweet for certain Were climbing two by two To be sure these days continue, The things we cannot
Celebrate, you and me, climbing Two by two, to be sure These days continue, things we cannot change
Oh, my love, I came to you With best intentions You laid down and gave to me just what Im seeking
Celebrate we will Because life is short but sweet for certain Were climbing two by two To be sure these days continue, Things we cannot change... Things we cannot change
There is something to be said (heh) for repetition when trying to get a point across. I think Mr. Mayer does a wonderful job getting his point across in this song. Not only does it make for great panty-melting music, but it also is very sound advice.
Why hold back what you need to say? If you do, you may not "look foolish" but you will inevitably get the same result as you would have if someone rejected what you had to say, but without giving them even a chance to respond. Self creating your own rejection.
Some moments need to be handled differently than others; however, communication is always a vital part of any interaction or relationship. Of course, this is just my opinion and I have been known to be wrong.
I first saw this band at the Black Cat in 2004 when they opened for Kings of Leon, whose song "Molly's Chamber" was used in a Jetta commercial. However, this is not about them this is about The Features.
They impressed me enough for em to go home and purchase their album. Rather fun! I think that is the correct description. Anyhow, I hope you enjoy this tune as I have.
Firstly, let me just say I LOVE Wolf Trap. I like that it is a smaller venue. I like that they have been recycling for years. I really like that I can bring my own food and beverages (wine and beer last night) and consume it on the lawn. The staff there is amazingly friendly. Sign interpreter for every show. This is how a venue should run.
The opening act was Julia Nunes. She started her portion of the show playing the ukulele , later progressing to the guitar. She played a few original songs as well as some covers, including "Bye Bye Bye" She was fun, quirky and engaging.
Ben Folds gets on stage, plays some songs then decides that he loves playing this venue, because he gets to the learn the signs for words like fuck. He then improvs a song that starts with "Fuck, fuck, fuck...., fuck" while he watches the girl signing. Then transitions to "shit, shit, shit, shit..., shit" while doing the same thing. Then he says this is where it gets a bit harder and he incorporates the words "endoplasmic reticulum" and "spinal bifida" into the song. Very funny reactions from the girl and the crowd.
Later he gets the crowd to do a three part harmony for a part of a song. At the conclusion of this song, he then spends time conducting portions of the audience.
Very good music all night long. Extremely entertaining. A great time was had.
Me: I am simple. Not to say that I am uninteresting, I just am not unnecessarily complicated.
I like people who start a conversation with something other than "What do you do?" Ask better questions: Why? What if? How?
Don't tell me what you do. Tell me what you know, why you know it and how that has impacted you. Tell me about things from your past that have shaped the person that you have become. Tell me that you are happy with yourself and why. But, please don't define yourself or me by the jobs that we undertake. Then tell me that you are good with questioning your assumptions.
I enjoy good conversation with good people. People who exhibit kindness as a default, instead of criticism and anger.
I smile a lot. I enjoy laughter. I write for fun. I sing often. I prefer a hug as a standard greeting. I look at things from the outside.I am empathic & empathetic. I am direct. I love uncontrollably. I don't appreciate being over-whelmed by absurdity.
