Hide the children, I'm expressing myself.
Stevie Wonder on Sesame Street. This funk is so hard that I am having chest pains. I feel privileged to have grown up in a time when this could happen on a Public Television show for kids.
Fun Fact :: That’s Ray Parker Jr. of Ghostbusters fame on guitar.
All damn day long!
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This is exactly the sort of thing I would have hated at 18. Stiff-necked and holier-than-thou, I would have decried the “rape” of this amazing song. I would have been TOTALLY wrong.
I have been listening to this Lily Allen cover of probably my favorite Clash song for a few weeks now and I really love it. Very nice arrangement. Combat Rock was one of those albums that made a HUGE impact on me as a young man. I’m just thrilled to see Straight to Hell seeing a new audience. These songs are vital social commentary and the message they broadcast should be out there in whatever form reaches people. Perhaps this will be a “gateway” to the original work for many.
A friend once said :: “If we only listen to the old stuff, how does the scene ever continue to grow? It will die.” He’s right. Basically, walking around talking about how it was better “before” is OLD MAN stuff. True, the work has to be authentic. It has to been genuinely good. But I think the spirit with this Allen cover and its inclusion on the 2009 protest album War Child – Heroes, Vol. 1 is dead on. (BTW, the album is really great and probably should have made my “Best of 2009″ list, but sadly, I didn’t discover it until recently.)
For the haters, Allen was actually close with Joe Strummer himself from her youth. I think Strummer would be proud of the pissed, vulnerable, beautiful, talented artist that Allen has become. Heck, Mick Jones appears on the track as well. I like to think of it as Big Audio Dynamite for 2010.
ANNNND…here’s the original in all of its stark, swaggering glory ::
Long live The Clash and The Scene. Lily, keep up the good work.
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I’m officially jumping in to the doppelganger pool.
I have for years been told that I bear a resemblance to character actor, poet and filmmaker, Crispin Glover. I think the similarities are fading as I age, but in High School, I DEFINITELY did my share of George McFly imitations. I know I should be replacing my Facebook profile pic, but that seemed so one-dimensional. So, I thought I’d share one of my fave scenes with Mr. Glover from David Lynch’s Wild at Heart. God Bless Jingle Dell. “I’M MAKING MY LUNCH!”
Here’s to you, Crispin.
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It has been one hell of a week. Friday is MUCH appreciated. Sooooo, I thought this would be a very visceral post.
STYX’s Tommy Shaw. 1984. Solo. Girls With Guns. The video has no cuts or edits. It’s just one long shot. Move your feet to this little pop-rock 80’s gem. It may be silly, but what a great song.
Those of you who know me will also know that I was a FREAK for the seminal pop-culture phenomenon Miami Vice (and I STILL AM). This song was featured in Season 1, Episode #9 entitled Glades. It was used in the scene featured at the end of this mashup video as one of Vice’s classic Ferrari driving songs.
Happy Friday!
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Yeah, I finally took the plunge. I now have glasses. Ahhhhhh well…Thankfully, Ray Ban had some retro-cool tortoise shell options that make me look like the geek that I am. The circle is complete. Not that I needed help in that regard, BUT I AM a sucker for truth in advertising. What can I say?
Just more proof that “the ol’ gray mare, she ain’t what she used to be.”
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Oh SNAP! Watch the whole thing.
Sweetness!
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I LOVE poster design. I think that great poster design is so often ignored in the marketing mix. It’s such a tangible link to our past as designers and I relish the opportunity to work on posters whenever I can. Here are two recent examples I personally designed for NGAGE — one deconstructed and brimming with pop, one textural and dimensional. Great fun! ::
Speaking of sweet uses of Mr. T, pass me the Courvoisier. Please.
You’ve got to love Pharrell and I will never get enough of that dude in the glasses.
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I know it’s a bit late to post something like this, but I felt like I just didn’t want to miss the opportunity to share these albums. Go and buy them. Spend the time with them — you will be rewarded.
Some General Thoughts ::
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So much of what was interesting in music in 2009 was not from the good ol’ US of A. Though that may be true a lot of years to one extent or another, it was especially true in ‘09. Frankly, I think American artists and labels could learn a lot from what’s OUT THERE. These releases are not the furthest out on the proverbial fringes of music, but they do bring both a global and a hand-wrought sense to the mix. Why 11? Why not. Each of these albums needs to be recognized.
Without further ceremony, here they are. All of these are 2009 releases ::
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12 -> CHINESE DEMOCRACY :: Guns & Roses :: OK, I know what you’re thinking. I know it’s a crazy choice to include this in some ways, but allow me to explain briefly. This release makes the list solely on promise. 90% of these songs are great songs. Seriously. Axl Rose masturbated with them too long and they suffer from overproduction, but at the core of this record, there is some really solid songwriting here. I felt it needed to be recognized for that and that’s why it makes the list at position #12.
FAVE SONG :: Madagascar
- – - – - – - – - -11 -> NORTHERN ROOTS LIVE IN NAMEST :: Tim Eriksen :: How many artists can say that they’ve shared a stage with Kurt Cobain, Doc Watson, Jack White, Omar Sosa and Ralph Stanley? Tim Eriksen can. Eriksen is simply one of the most important forces in music today. His focus on ethnomusicology places him at the center of so many great traditions. This 2009 release shows why BBC Radio says that Eriksen is “widely regarded as the best ballad singer of his generation.” Hair-raising and bone white in it’s purity, this album will shake you to your core. Not for the squeamish.
FAVE SONG :: I Wish the Wars Were All Over
- – - – - – - – - -10 -> OOHS & AAHS :: Say Hi :: Alt, quirky power pop at it’s most charming. A super listenable album from the the first strains to the last. Love songs, toe-tapping beats and wonderful hooks served with a touch of cynical dis-ease bring this in at #10.
FAVE SONG :: Elouise
- – - – - – - – - -09 -> DARK WAS THE NIGHT :: Various :: Anyone remember the amazing 1990 release Red Hot and Blue? Same organization here — the Red Hot Organization for AIDS / HIV research. Just a STELLAR collection of artists making artistic music. This provides a great way to explore the alt landscape in a relatively broad way. Amazing.
FAVE SONG :: I Was Young When I Left Home
- – - – - – - – - -08 -> BEN FOLDS PRESENTS: UNIVERSITY A CAPPELLA :: Various :: The stunning result of an open call to university a cappella groups to submit arrangements of Ben Folds music, this album features 17 jaw-dropping performances of many of Folds’ best songs. All recorded live in a variety of locations including dining halls, dorm rooms and even a synagogue, this is an affirmation of the power of both great music and the human voice to stir the heart. Beautiful.
FAVE SONG :: TIE ==> The Luckiest and Still Fighting It
- – - – - – - – - -07 -> TIMBER TIMBRE :: Timber Timbre :: Cool, melodic, atmospheric, sinister Canadian alt shoegaze. An amazing headphones album. Let it wash over you. Attention David Lynch — soundtrack opportunities GALORE, here!
FAVE SONG :: TIE ==> Demon Host
- – - – - – - – - -06 -> WELCOME TO MALI :: Amadou & Miriam :: The blind duo from Mali is back and this is their most mature work to date. Gorgeous Afro-pop. This is feel-good music that shows why Amadou & Miriam are the current “mansas” of Mali. If you are not bobbing your head to this, contact the coroner as you are probably dead.
FAVE SONG :: TIE ==> Sebeke
- – - – - – - – - -05 -> TWO SUNS :: Bat for Lashes :: Building on the brilliance of the amazing 2007 release Fur and Gold, Natasha Khan has done it again. This is an amazing album. Fragile, lush, textured and gorgeous, this is not to be missed. All that and I think Kahn is cute as a button, too with an engaging personal style.
FAVE SONG :: TIE ==> Siren Song
- – - – - – - – - -04 -> 11:11 :: Rodrigo Y Gabriella :: This album is again all guitar in the flamenco tradition with a very heavy metal bent. However, this is NOT a metal album, the metal is all in the phrasing and subtleties of style. I highly recommend this one for your next get-together. Making guitar wizardry without “wanking” is no easy feat and this Mexican duo carries it off with ease and true style.
FAVE SONG :: TIE ==> Hora Zero
- – - – - – - – - -03 -> WOLFGANG AMADEUS PHOENIX :: Phoenix :: French alt rock / power pop from a band at the height of their power. I have loved these guys for years and this is their most mature work. A GREAT pop/rock album. Hooks, soundscaping, layers, texture…this album has it all.
FAVE SONG :: TIE ==> Love Like a Sunset, Pt 1
- – - – - – - – - -02 -> THE BALLAD OF JOHN HENRY :: Joe Bonamassa :: I do not listen to the blues often AT ALL. This blues / rock record however, is a great album. Bonamassa is a unique talent — when he opened for BB King at 12 YEARS OLD, King said he would surpass everyone. He’s probably right. This album really showcases his guitar pyrotechnics and soulful vocal abilities. The orchestration and changes on the record are quite intelligent, veering into an almost prog direction. This is NOT a retread of your daddy’s blues / rock record. It’s easily the best rock album of the year and that’s something we don’t have too much of anymore…straight-up ROCK with a nod to it’s blues roots. (Rock-chester and western, NY folks…REPRAZENT. I know you feel me.)
FAVE SONG :: (3 WAY) TIE ==> The Ballad of John Henry, Stop! and Jockey Full of Bourbon
- – - – - – - – - -01 -> TROUBADOUR :: K’naan :: This 2009 release from Somali rapper, K’naan can technically be considered an African hip-hop album, but it’s so much more. World beat, R&B, rock and pop influences mixed with that hip-hop vibe to make this album an amazing cocktail of influences. It’s really my fave album of 2009. It would be like if the Beasties, Eminem, Mos Def, Vampire Weekend, Metallica, Bob Marley, Tribe Called Quest, Salif Keta and Toumani Diabate got together and formed a band. In a word, awesome.
FAVE SONG :: TIE ==> If Rap Get’s Jealous
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Do yourself a favor. Buy these. It’s worth it.
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The lowly hand clap — so often ignored, so often forgotten. I wanted to do my part to rectify this error. Soooooo, let’s put ‘em together for this list of the top 30 songs featuring hand claps.
Here they are in order ::
30 –> Shake Your Rump to the Funk … The Bar-Kays
29 –> On the Corner … Miles Davis
28 –> Opera Singer … Cake
27 –> Bodhisattva … Steely Dan
26 –> Telegram Sam … Bauhaus
25 –> You Took the Words Right Outta My Mouth … Meatloaf
24 –> Saturday Night … The Bay City Rollers
23 –> Baby, I Got Your Money … Old Dirty Bastard
22 –> Centerfield … John Fogerty
21 –> Mickey … Toni Basil
20 –> Let’s Go … The Cars
19 –> Rubberneckin’ … Elvis
18 –> Freeze Frame … J. Geils Band
17 –> Let’s Get It On … Marvin Gaye
16 –> Prescilla … Bat for Lashes
15 –> Armando’s Rhumba … Chick Corea
14 –> The Tallest Man, The Broadest Shoulders … Sufjan Stevens
13 –> Private Eyes … Hall & Oates
12 –> More Than a Feeling… Boston
11 –> Jack and Diane … John Cougar Mellencamp
10 –> Rock the Casbah … The Clash
09 –> Cecilia … Simon & Garfunkel
08 –> Car Wash … Rose Royce
07 –> I Do … J. Geils Band
06 –> What I Like About You … The Romantics
05 –> Centerfold … J. Geils Band
04 –> Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood … Santa Esmerelda
03 –> Close to You … The Cure
02 –> We Will Rock You … Queen
01 –> Clap Hands … Beck
Awwww, yeah! Special Props to J. Geils for their domination of this countdown. Gents, your domination of the medium is unequaled.
Use this as a playlist for your next party if you want to get the joint moving and you can tell ‘em you’re down with “the clap.” (Puerile Pun Intended. LOL!)
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The holiday break was a time of intense soul-searching and personal reflection for me. It’s very true that too much “navel-gazing” can be an utter waste of time, but without reflection, I feel like I’m not reaching and growing. The end of one year and the beginning of another is that time for so many of us. My inward look found me with a laundry list of things I’d love to address in my life — too many to detail or even adequately wrap my heart around. I needed an anchor.
While reading, I found something from Stephan Sagmeister and Daniel Nettle’s 2008 book Things I have learned in my life so far that served as that perfect anchor. The book is comprised of a series of truisms that the artist and designer Stephan Sagmeister has found in his own life. It’s really great reading and a truly beautiful book to boot. The idea that stood out to me was this ::
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COMPLAINING IS SILLY — EITHER ACT OR FORGET.
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This statement was so profoundly simple that it seemed to be a literal panacea for all but a few issues on that laundry-list of resolutions.
Resolutions are born of dissatisfaction. Each item is something that I am resolving to change in my life because I am unhappy with it. So much of the solution to those issues is in the act of changing itself. Why do my resolution lists look so much the same from year to year? Simply, because I never acted.
This is my only resolution for 2010 — to stop complaining about the things I am dissatisfied with and begin changing them. The things I can’t change need to be forgotten; I must refuse to let them drive my mindset. If I can do this in even a small part, I think I will have done much.
Sagmeister also created an installation of this as a billboard done on newsprint. As the board yellowed with time, the platitude faded away, underscoring its message.
Who knows, maybe it will even make me a better blogger. Lord knows I need some help with that.
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