Showing posts with label Bruce. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bruce. Show all posts
Saturday, September 06, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
On the magic of live music
Yes, yes, a thousand times yes.
This was pretty much what I was going through when I saw Pearl Jam, 5/6/06. Except I can't write like that.
This was pretty much what I was going through when I saw Pearl Jam, 5/6/06. Except I can't write like that.
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
The Year in Music
My rankings of 2007 releases
Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare
Bruce Springsteen - Magic
Lyle Lovett - It's Not Big It's Large
Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
Kings of Leon - Because of the Times
Gogol Bordello - Super Taranta!
Rush - Snakes & Arrows
Foo Fighters - Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace
Radiohead - In Rainbows
The White Stripes - Icky Thump
Same band, new band, takes the top spot two years in a row, with each of their first two albums. I can't even explain how small the odds of that happening are. They beat out Pearl Jam in 2006, and Bruce and Lyle this year. Even I'm astounded.
Acquired just recently, too soon to tell
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Raising Sand
M.I.A. - Kala
Fall Out Boy - Infinity On High
Rilo Kiley - Under the Blacklight
Grinderman - Grinderman
Against Me! - New Wave
New to me (acquired, but not released, in 2007)
The Replacements - yeah, yeah. They were big when I was in Greece. I never heard of them until college, when their last album came out, and no one in my house listened to them. I always liked Paul Westerberg's solo stuff, though, so I got my hands on the originals, to see what the fuss was about. Not bad. Some great stuff, some meh stuff. In general, good old alcohol-fueled garage rock.
Dreamgirls - (2006) Soundtrack. Got it for the wife. Jennifer Hudson is amazing. I can do without the rest.
OK Go - Fun. Nothing too deep, just enjoyable party powerpoprock? I don't fucking know what to call it. Good shuffle tunes.
Silversun Pickups - (Carnavas) Meh. A little too noodly, and the guy whines even worse than Billy Fucking Corgan. And that's pretty fucking bad.
Chris Whitley - (Living With The Law, 1991) Toast insisted I listen to this. I knew the name, but couldn't think of anything he did. I really like the title track, Living With The Law. If no movie has that song playing at the end, with the heroes riding off into the sunset (fade to credits), then I may have to make a movie just so I can do that. And then... track fucking 2. I hate that song. Hated it when it was popular, and have managed to avoid it for 16 years. But noooooooo. Here it was again. I swear, I was so aggravated 30 seconds into the song, it colored my listening of the rest of the album. I couldn't give it a fair shake. So I stopped that day, took the song off the iPod, and gave it a week. Played it on another commute. Still love the first song, and the rest is very good too. Dark, creepy, blues/country/folk. Maybe a little too samey for many more straight-through listens (I'm way too ADD for an album full of low-energy music), but if any of these songs comes up in a shuffle, I won't be skipping it.
Blind Melon - (Goodfoot Demos, 1990) Apparently, 4 of these songs were on the demo tape that got them their major label deal. They then retreated to a barn in the country (one of the guys had a farm in the family) and practiced and practiced and played and wrote and jammed and practiced and jammed, until they were sure they had the chops, the cohesiveness, and the material. Then they started recording. These 8 songs were the can when they scrapped the whole project, because it sounded too polished, not organic enough. Of course, the A&R people were pissed. Money wasted, time wasted, buzz starting to fade and no album to release. Well, as luck would have it, Shannon Hoon hooked up with Axl Rose and did guest vocals in the Use Your Illusion albums, and appeared in the Don't Cry video. Buzz comes back. Meanwhile, they had been recording the album they wanted to make. Which was phenomenal. Anyway, 5 of these songs are on the album, so it's interesting to compare and contrast. They made the right choice. Ditched the over-produced, reverb-heavy "slick" sound, and came out swinging with a raw rock album; grinding staccato guitar rhythms, heavy driving bass, great vocals. Of course, if all you know is that fucking bee-costume No Rain song, well, you're missing out. That's not what this album is. Short story long, even though I like the songs as released better, I am getting a kick out of this. And hey, don't forget, three "new" songs too, at least to me.
Arctic Monkeys - Favourite Worst Nightmare
Bruce Springsteen - Magic
Lyle Lovett - It's Not Big It's Large
Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
Kings of Leon - Because of the Times
Gogol Bordello - Super Taranta!
Rush - Snakes & Arrows
Foo Fighters - Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace
Radiohead - In Rainbows
The White Stripes - Icky Thump
Same band, new band, takes the top spot two years in a row, with each of their first two albums. I can't even explain how small the odds of that happening are. They beat out Pearl Jam in 2006, and Bruce and Lyle this year. Even I'm astounded.
Acquired just recently, too soon to tell
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Raising Sand
M.I.A. - Kala
Fall Out Boy - Infinity On High
Rilo Kiley - Under the Blacklight
Grinderman - Grinderman
Against Me! - New Wave
New to me (acquired, but not released, in 2007)
The Replacements - yeah, yeah. They were big when I was in Greece. I never heard of them until college, when their last album came out, and no one in my house listened to them. I always liked Paul Westerberg's solo stuff, though, so I got my hands on the originals, to see what the fuss was about. Not bad. Some great stuff, some meh stuff. In general, good old alcohol-fueled garage rock.
Dreamgirls - (2006) Soundtrack. Got it for the wife. Jennifer Hudson is amazing. I can do without the rest.
OK Go - Fun. Nothing too deep, just enjoyable party powerpoprock? I don't fucking know what to call it. Good shuffle tunes.
Silversun Pickups - (Carnavas) Meh. A little too noodly, and the guy whines even worse than Billy Fucking Corgan. And that's pretty fucking bad.
Chris Whitley - (Living With The Law, 1991) Toast insisted I listen to this. I knew the name, but couldn't think of anything he did. I really like the title track, Living With The Law. If no movie has that song playing at the end, with the heroes riding off into the sunset (fade to credits), then I may have to make a movie just so I can do that. And then... track fucking 2. I hate that song. Hated it when it was popular, and have managed to avoid it for 16 years. But noooooooo. Here it was again. I swear, I was so aggravated 30 seconds into the song, it colored my listening of the rest of the album. I couldn't give it a fair shake. So I stopped that day, took the song off the iPod, and gave it a week. Played it on another commute. Still love the first song, and the rest is very good too. Dark, creepy, blues/country/folk. Maybe a little too samey for many more straight-through listens (I'm way too ADD for an album full of low-energy music), but if any of these songs comes up in a shuffle, I won't be skipping it.
Blind Melon - (Goodfoot Demos, 1990) Apparently, 4 of these songs were on the demo tape that got them their major label deal. They then retreated to a barn in the country (one of the guys had a farm in the family) and practiced and practiced and played and wrote and jammed and practiced and jammed, until they were sure they had the chops, the cohesiveness, and the material. Then they started recording. These 8 songs were the can when they scrapped the whole project, because it sounded too polished, not organic enough. Of course, the A&R people were pissed. Money wasted, time wasted, buzz starting to fade and no album to release. Well, as luck would have it, Shannon Hoon hooked up with Axl Rose and did guest vocals in the Use Your Illusion albums, and appeared in the Don't Cry video. Buzz comes back. Meanwhile, they had been recording the album they wanted to make. Which was phenomenal. Anyway, 5 of these songs are on the album, so it's interesting to compare and contrast. They made the right choice. Ditched the over-produced, reverb-heavy "slick" sound, and came out swinging with a raw rock album; grinding staccato guitar rhythms, heavy driving bass, great vocals. Of course, if all you know is that fucking bee-costume No Rain song, well, you're missing out. That's not what this album is. Short story long, even though I like the songs as released better, I am getting a kick out of this. And hey, don't forget, three "new" songs too, at least to me.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Bruuuuuuuuuuuuce!
I've been listening to Magic the last few days. I "borrowed" it, so to speak. Let's just say I'll be plunking my money down for the CD. Not only is it the right thing to do, the rip I got sucks.
There are 2 songs that are generically Brucy, as in "eh, not bad, but I already have something like this on a different album." Still solid songs, don't get me wrong, but not overly compelling.
As for the winners? In no particular order:
Radio Nowhere - Rock the fuck on. This demands volume, demands head-bobbing, and you'd better be watch your speed on the highway if it's on in the car. Anthem.
Long Walk Home - I can't listen to this without at least getting choked up. I was actually crying on the way home from work today.
Last night I stood at your doorstep
Trying to figure out what went wrong
You just slipped something into my palm and you were gone
I could smell the same deep green of summer
'Bove me the same night sky was glowin'
In the distance I could see the town where I was born
It's gonna be a long walk home
And it's downhill from there. I may be a sap, but you can't be human if you're not touched by this song.
Last to Die - An excellent anti-war commentary
A downtown window flushed with light
Faces of the dead at five (faces of the dead at five)
A martyr's silent eyes
Petition the drivers as we pass by
Who'll be the last to die for a mistake
The last to die for a mistake
Whose blood will spill, whose heart will break
Who'll be the last to die...
You'll Be Coming Down - Someone's a little too full of herself? There's more here, I'm just not the best at analyzing meaning. It may take a few epiphanies to really get this, and the meaning may change from one listen to the next, but I love it.
Easy street, a quick buck and true lies
Smiles as thin as those dusky blue skies
A silver plate of pearls my golden child
It's all yours at least for a little while
You'll be fine long as your pretty face holds out
Then it's gonna get pretty cold out
An empty stream of stars shooting by
You got your hopes on high
Girls in Their Summer Clothes - Just a story. Some nostalgia, some reflection, some pining, some regret... beautiful poetry.
Magic - Again, I haven't figured out quite yet what I'll be taking away from this song yet, but it just sounds right.
Devil's Arcade - Ditto.
I'll Work For Your Love - Um, it's getting dusty in here again...
Pour me a drink Theresa in one of those glasses you dust off
And I'll watch the bones in your back like the Stations of the Cross
'Round your hair the sun lifts a halo, at your lips a crown of thorns
Whatever other deals gone down, to this one I'm sworn
I'll work for your love dear
I'll work for your love
What others may want for free
I'll work for your love
The dust of civilizations and love's sweet remains
Slip off of your fingers and come driftin' down like rain
The pages of Revelation lie open in your empty eyes of blue
I watch you slip that comb through your hair and this I promise you
I'll work for your love dear
I'll work for your love
What others may want for free
I'll work for your love
Well tears, they fill the rosary at your feet, my temple of bones
Here in this perdition we go on and on
Now our city of peace has crumbled, our book of faith's been tossed
And I'm just down here searchin' for my own piece of the cross
In the late afternoon sun fills the room with the mist in the garden before the fall
I watch your hands smooth the front of your blouse and seven drops of blood fall
4.5 stars.
Rolling Stone gives it 5. Oh, and they know how to write.
There are 2 songs that are generically Brucy, as in "eh, not bad, but I already have something like this on a different album." Still solid songs, don't get me wrong, but not overly compelling.
As for the winners? In no particular order:
Radio Nowhere - Rock the fuck on. This demands volume, demands head-bobbing, and you'd better be watch your speed on the highway if it's on in the car. Anthem.
Long Walk Home - I can't listen to this without at least getting choked up. I was actually crying on the way home from work today.
Last night I stood at your doorstep
Trying to figure out what went wrong
You just slipped something into my palm and you were gone
I could smell the same deep green of summer
'Bove me the same night sky was glowin'
In the distance I could see the town where I was born
It's gonna be a long walk home
And it's downhill from there. I may be a sap, but you can't be human if you're not touched by this song.
Last to Die - An excellent anti-war commentary
A downtown window flushed with light
Faces of the dead at five (faces of the dead at five)
A martyr's silent eyes
Petition the drivers as we pass by
Who'll be the last to die for a mistake
The last to die for a mistake
Whose blood will spill, whose heart will break
Who'll be the last to die...
You'll Be Coming Down - Someone's a little too full of herself? There's more here, I'm just not the best at analyzing meaning. It may take a few epiphanies to really get this, and the meaning may change from one listen to the next, but I love it.
Easy street, a quick buck and true lies
Smiles as thin as those dusky blue skies
A silver plate of pearls my golden child
It's all yours at least for a little while
You'll be fine long as your pretty face holds out
Then it's gonna get pretty cold out
An empty stream of stars shooting by
You got your hopes on high
Girls in Their Summer Clothes - Just a story. Some nostalgia, some reflection, some pining, some regret... beautiful poetry.
Magic - Again, I haven't figured out quite yet what I'll be taking away from this song yet, but it just sounds right.
Devil's Arcade - Ditto.
I'll Work For Your Love - Um, it's getting dusty in here again...
Pour me a drink Theresa in one of those glasses you dust off
And I'll watch the bones in your back like the Stations of the Cross
'Round your hair the sun lifts a halo, at your lips a crown of thorns
Whatever other deals gone down, to this one I'm sworn
I'll work for your love dear
I'll work for your love
What others may want for free
I'll work for your love
The dust of civilizations and love's sweet remains
Slip off of your fingers and come driftin' down like rain
The pages of Revelation lie open in your empty eyes of blue
I watch you slip that comb through your hair and this I promise you
I'll work for your love dear
I'll work for your love
What others may want for free
I'll work for your love
Well tears, they fill the rosary at your feet, my temple of bones
Here in this perdition we go on and on
Now our city of peace has crumbled, our book of faith's been tossed
And I'm just down here searchin' for my own piece of the cross
In the late afternoon sun fills the room with the mist in the garden before the fall
I watch your hands smooth the front of your blouse and seven drops of blood fall
4.5 stars.
Rolling Stone gives it 5. Oh, and they know how to write.
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