Are you listening?

New Emery single. Looking forward to this release. After the lackluster "I'm Only A Man," and the most recent EP, looks like the boys are moving back to old goodies akin to the great Walls. I still believe "The Weak's End" to be one of the greatest albums I have ever heard. For those that enjoy epic-stylings, "The Secret" is a must-hear. Some of Emery's choice songs (e.g. Fractions) seem to transcribe a hardcore vocal stylings of keyboardist Josh Head into a purely melodic call-and-response between "lead" singers Toby Morell and Matt carter. They are a joy to enjoy.

Therefore,

Enjoy your Wednesday.

From Russia with Love

I am happy to welcome Alexi Murdoch into my life. Surely, you will not deny him from yours.

Oddly, I half-expected Mr. Murdoch's music to be a quasi-communist mix of the sounds of tears and waiting in long lines for bread, but was pleasantly surprised to find a careful mix of Dallas Green and any number of optimistic indie-folksters.  My favorite diddy so far is his appropriately-named, airy tribute to Matt Wertz, "Breathe."

I cannot, in good conscience, claim that I stumbled upon Alexi under my own expert music-discovery skillz (with a "z"). I was fortunate to find this little trailer which features Alexi's "go live life" song - All of my days.  On an aside, the movie, Away We Go, looks fantastic. I'm excited to see John Krasinski in something other than the underwhelming "Leatherheads." And, holy crap, how many amazing cameos can you throw into one film. Excited to say the least.

Speaking of films, Alexi's song "Through the Dark" was featured in Ben Affleck's Gone Baby Gone. I guess his music just has that movie-magic draw.

So, Mr. Murdoch is not a Ruskie, but rather a London-born Scottsman who somehow brings me back to any number of pubs I found lamenting song-writers in on the West Coast of Ireland. Although I am sure I am offending millions of Scotts-people by comparing them to their Irish neighbors, I'm pretty sure they can't get over here to kick my ars. I mean, come on, there's an ocean between us.

I would highly suggest checking out Mr. Murdoch if you are in the mood for some good study leveled music or while staring into a pint whilst contemplating life.  

Prenatal Arrogance

In my present state of loving March Madness and hating all of those going to SXSW in Austin (this includes you Carina), I offer you a band bringing a similarly confusing dichotomy of artistic and hard rock - Evaline. 

Evaline began in Turlock, California in 2001 under the unoriginal moniker "Holiday". That's right. Their name was just...Holiday.  They must have just poured all of their creative energy into making music. At least that is excuse I am making for them. 

First, before we get to the good music that is Evaline, is anyone else enthralled by the town name "Turlock."  I don't know why, but I imagine some one-eyed giant monster that has the mental capacity of Lenny from Of Mice and Men.  "Turlock ... SMASH."  Evaline, then "Holiday", should have just named themselves Turlock to the delight of myself and marketer/t-shirt makers worldwide.

To date, Evaline has released an 6-song EP - Postpartum Modesty: A Portrait of Skin.  The piano driven alt-rock EP provides a diverse fist-full of songs that are sporadic at times, but a fantastic effort in the aggregate. Produced by the Used's Quinn Allman, you can hear the Warped Tour influences of the experienced rocker - hard choruses surrounded by flowing guitars and hard rhythm sections.  

The EP opens with the vocal stirrings of "La De Da", but never really returns to this ambient stage.  The remainder of the EP is dedicated to more alternative musings reminiscent of Dredg or MuteMath.

Although I am a huge fan of the EP, the new demos released on the band's Myspace leave me wanting.  I am hoping that the sophomore effort provides more than what the demos seem to offer.  

I'll leave this entry on that negative note.  Primarily because I am upset at Evaline as they get to attend SXSW (See above).  Yes folks -  I'm just that shallow.  

Nostalgia

It is amazing how TRUSTCompany reminds me of running in the Wildwood Park, Thousand Oaks, CA.

Just a little throwback for ya'll. Just like Joe Dimaggio.

Yep. . . .

Joe Dimmagio.

Dear Website

For some good, ol' fashion rock - check out Dear Future. It is reminiscent of old Flickerstick and Stage (R.I.P.). Just some fun music for sunny days in the NW.

If the Shoe Fits

It is my pleasure to introduce most, if not all of you, to Weaver At the Loom.  

My only intimate knowledge of Minnesota or, for that matter, the Twin Cities, is that I sadly and nerdily know the state bird (ironically, "The Loon.").  Maybe an inspiration for the band's name? I bet "Weaver at the large bird" did not have the same ring, but I'm no artist.  So, although Minnesota is not known as an incubator for a burgeoning music scene, I found myself attracted to the non-LA/NY/Austin/Chicago rockers.  

WATL's new EP, "I Was Searching and I Found," offers a haunting and beautiful 5-song soundtrack for those wandering aimlessly in a downtown coffee shop or simply trying to fall asleep after taking one of those 5 hour energy drinks (edit: they really, really, really do work. And, FYI, nothing is fun at 2 a.m. on a Tuesday morning. NOTHING.)

Maybe the non-sensical nature of WATL's songwriting brings me to a place where I think I have some sort of sophisticated ear for these type of things. It is reminiscent of something uniquely Lydia. In fact, there are times where the lyrics (e.g., identifying "toxins" as a villain in the EP), travel from song to song. After listening to the EP a couple of times, the thematic nature of the album not only musically, but lyrically, makes you respect WATL all that much more.

There are times where you pine for a chorus (where is my A/B/A/B rhyming scheme?!), only to be brought into some ambient-piano driven breakdown where, in the EP's opener, the upbeat and optimistically titled "Buck Up, They're Coming", the listener is reminded ". . . I'm afraid/And longing to be brave..."  My courageousness, as it were, is not misguided. The next four tracks are truly a little choose your own adventure, where these four musicians - and they are truly students of music - lead the listener through their own take on emotional, ambient rock - reaching it's climax in a 6 minute instrumental-driven "But You Can Enjoy Life Before and After." 

Although the 5 tracks seem to be, pardon the usage, woven together in a perfect fashion, I am excited to see what a full length has to hold for these boys.  I hope they are able to push through this EP and into the 4th quarter with such veracity as they had at the outset of the game. Truthfully, I can imagine it being extremely difficult to piece 11 or so songs together to flow as well as the EP does. Good luck gents.  

A favorite track, "Without Fear of Their Return," ends the EP on a positive tone and comporting with the theme set out by the EP's opener, an unknown female vocalist provides backing to bookend the EP by crooning "Oh I've got what I wanted/and I'll be afraid no more."  If anything, my only critique is that the songs all have a similar undertone. Some variety may be on it's way in the full-length, but hopefully no synthesizers (See last entry).  

Bottom line: For lovers of Lydia and Alive in Wild Paint, this is a welcome treat. I would advise not listening to it on a rainy day. Find something more... poppy. I hear Lady Ga-Ga has a new single out.  I say you go for that. 

By the way, if you get the reference in the title to this little blog - you win a gold star. 

Break out the glow sticks

I don't know what it is, but every time I turn on the radio - oh who am I kidding, I fire up my internet machine - I hear some band adding a 5th member, who was previously known as "manager Steve," bringing in the Korg they bought from a garage sale last Saturday off Van Nuys, and dubbing themselves electronica rockers. 

Although I consider myself a person with very limited knowledge in the world of electronica, I did dabble in an a cappella techno group in college. We couldn't handle our quick rise to success. It was like No Doubt - our "soloist", Dave, was on the cover of every magazine and the remaining members of the group all got jealous. In late 2003, after only being on the scene for a year, the magazine "A Cappella Techno Weekly" put out a raving (yes, pun, check) article about Dave selling out.  He is a sell out. WE DON'T NEED CHOREOGRAPHED DANCE SEQUENCES DAVE! 

Eventually we broke up, but we remain friends...right. 

Well, notwithstanding my nonsensical rants, I have noticed a good amount of programming-based rock entering the scene.  Tooth and Nail's most recent signing are just that - enter And Then There Were None. ("ATTWN").  I'll have to admit I am not behind throwing a bunch of prepositions in a band name, they are decent enough to check out.  While listening to them, I find myself more and more interested in finding a big industrial storage unit and throwing a little partay to 6 hours of loud beats with the sounds of whales mating playing over it.  

After a couple signings that were simply sticking with the same old standard, I think ATTWN will be a welcome change.  First, because nothing says rock like 5 white kids from New Hampshire.  Second, its just something different. Like I have heard multiple times, "this world needs a new 'Power Pop.'" Maybe this electro-techno-raveish rock is just that. 

For fans of Ghostland Observatory,  Seattle's own Sleepy Eyes of Death, and Settings - ATTWN is just for your ears.  I, personally, can't wait to see them live.  Now...just need to work on my ol' glow stick skillz (with a z). 

Welcome #44

Congrats to President Barack Obama. A particularly moving 18 minute long speech that I hope to one day tell my grandkids about. Regardless, its now time to get to work. Good luck, sir.

Madeleine Albright's letter to the new President

Transcript of Obama's speech

On a musical note, Yo-Yo Ma and Itzhak Perlman provided an amazing soundtrack.   As per my original concern of "how the heck do you tune those things in 17 degree weather," the musicians played to a recording - now bringing the total of "things that Yo-Yo Ma and Ashlee Simpson have in common" to a whopping two (the other being that they both do Hip-Hop Abs. Got to keep lean.)

Finally, if you want the soup-to-nuts insanity that is the press coverage of this event, check this out. Political cyber stalking at it's finest!

Out.

Thank you Martin

It's MLK day so I figured I would try to reflect on that particular topic. The fact is that, tomorrow morning, Barack Obama will become the first African-American president. Whatever side of the metaphorical political fence you fall on, it's a big deal. 

Given the current horribleness that is our country right now that is the result of our failing economy, war, and so forth, I wish him the very best. 

I thought I would provide a little music that mirrored the reason you didn't go into the office today.  Music has played an interesting little role in race relations in the US. I think Motown's history is particularly interesting. 

So back in the day (circa 1959), Berry Gordy snuck a loan of $800 from family and friends to start the first ever record label owned and ran by a black man. Always the innovator and without an apparent talent in naming things, Gordy named his label as a tribute to its location - "Mo" and "town" being a combination of "Motor town" or, for those who don't know where the automobile came from - Detroit. Motown left Detroit for the sunny skies and gridlock of Los Angeles in 1972.  Motown was eventually bought out by Universal and relocated to the grey skies and Sabarro'd NYC where it currently finds itself. 

The 1950's, apparently, were a tumultuous time in our short history. Who knew right? In fact, Jim Crow Laws (which mandated the false dichotomy of "separate but equal") were still in effect until the mid 60's. Initially, Gordy steer his artists away from the race "issue," but after MLK rose to prominence, it was unavoidable. Motown stepped onto the civil rights scene by the release of Stevie Wonder's "Down to Earth"  album (1966) and Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On", followed shortly the number one single by the Supremes "Love Child."  In fact, Diana Ross gave one of King's many eulogies. 

A particularly poignant and brilliant song from a young Stevie Wonder of off the "Down to Earth" release is "A place in the sun."

Friends that have their ear to the ground on this stuff tell me that The Shadows of Motown and Only the Strong Survive are pretty powerful documentaries on the history of Motown. They are on my list - whatever that means. 

The civil rights movement also was the birthplace of many American folksongs that crossed racial boundaries. The oft-cited example is Bob Dylan's "Blowing in the Wind."

Dylan's song surprised a lot of black artists who described their astonishment at how a young white artist could accurately capture the plight of the African-American community (see wiki-goodness).

In more modern times, Rage Against the Machine's "Wake Up" actually quotes MLK ("How long? Not long, because what you reap, is what you sew"). Although more closely associated with Malcom X, Rage often cited the teachings of MLK as lyrical inspiration. Thoughtfully, Rage has provided all of us you with a little civil rights history book-esque song. My brother thoughtfully reminded me "Renegades of Funk" is actually a cover of Afrika Bambaataa's song with the same name. He is good for something I suppose. 

I hope everyone enjoys the day - even if just for a day off. At a minimum, everyone has a homework assignment to check out "Soundtrack for a Revolution."

It is an amazing documentary. 

Out. 

Greetings

So I would like to think that I enjoy all types and styles of music.  I can find something redeeming in almost every song and discard any type of snobbery that may be associated with a band "selling out" or "getting too big."  In fact, I would dare to say I "love" music. It, and peanut butter, are what sustain me in life. 

Accordingly, I try to stay on the front lines of new bands and new music.  Although my little blog here pales in comparison to more legit blogs, but I thought I would throw my hat into the virtual ring.  

I tend to try to keep things simple because my brain can only handle so much stimuli.  So this blog is just that - simple.  I'll try to put up some music that means something in particular moments in my world.  Maybe some tidbits in here about items I feel that have any other type of cultural or social relevance. 

Realistically, I know many folks won't read or care to read this.  It will, if anything else, selfishly provide me with some bookmarks to look at on at a later point. I could use a pen and paper, but this requires me to burn more calories.  I have a body image problem. 

ENJOY!