Exciting news today that the new Fleet Foxes album, Helplessness Blues, comes out on May 3rd. I've sung the praises of the band before, so I don't feel the need to reiterate how great they are. The first release is the title track from said album, and if it's any indication, the album could surpass my already high expectations.
Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues by subpop
Monday, January 31, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
Song of the Day: Hall & Oates - I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)
So yeah, I guess it's cool to like Hall & Oates again? Or can one only enjoy them ironically?
I became reacquainted with them last year, as my parents found a copy of the "Maneater" 45 in the attic. For me, 2010 was the year that I rediscovered a lot of music from my formative years that I had sworn off as I got older - mainly the over-produced, distinctly late '70s or '80s sounds of Def Leppard, Boston, Hall & Oates, etc. I've recently gained more of an appreciation of how these bands put together their songs and what it takes to make them sound so slick - and in the case of H&O, how they can write a near-perfect pop song.
"I Can't Go for That" delivers the goods completely - the keyboards, the drum machine, the backing vocals, and of course, the sax solo. Is it cheesy? Yeah, a little. But if you're not humming this song and marveling at how damn good it sounds (listen on headphones), then at least try and enjoy it ironically, as you stroke your Oates-like mustache.
I became reacquainted with them last year, as my parents found a copy of the "Maneater" 45 in the attic. For me, 2010 was the year that I rediscovered a lot of music from my formative years that I had sworn off as I got older - mainly the over-produced, distinctly late '70s or '80s sounds of Def Leppard, Boston, Hall & Oates, etc. I've recently gained more of an appreciation of how these bands put together their songs and what it takes to make them sound so slick - and in the case of H&O, how they can write a near-perfect pop song.
"I Can't Go for That" delivers the goods completely - the keyboards, the drum machine, the backing vocals, and of course, the sax solo. Is it cheesy? Yeah, a little. But if you're not humming this song and marveling at how damn good it sounds (listen on headphones), then at least try and enjoy it ironically, as you stroke your Oates-like mustache.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Song of the Day: Guns N' Roses - Rocket Queen
Like R.E.M.'s Green, Guns N' Roses' Appetite for Destruction was a game-changer for me. I distinctly remember hearing "Sweet Child O' Mine" at my seventh-grade dance, and pretty much half the album was on Top 40 radio.
But my fondest memory is my dad buying me a copy of the album on cassette at the flea market. When he gave it to me, it was pretty obvious, even to my 12-year-old self, that it was a bootleg copy - the cover art looked like it was copied on a cheap printer, and the tape itself had no labeling on it whatsoever. My dad still jokes about it till this day.
The other thing I remember is my parents listening to the album (without me around) and telling me they didn't approve of it. Thankfully they didn't forbid me from listening to it, but I knew why they didn't like it - what you don't hear on the radio is the cursing, the orgasm sounds...oh, and the references to heroin (no matter they are so oblique I didn't know what "Mr. Brownstone" meant until I was in college).
However, what you do hear throughout the album is one of the best bands of the '80s. The guitar interplay of rhythm and lead rivals anything from the Stones heyday, the rhythm section drives most of the songs, and of course Axl's voice could melt hearts and make parents cringe.
Without a doubt one of my favorite songs on the album is the closer "Rocket Queen." Though I could do without the orgasms, this song starts off with the aforementioned rhythm section killing it and closes with a somewhat uncharacteristically sweet Axl (starting with "I see you standing...").
But my fondest memory is my dad buying me a copy of the album on cassette at the flea market. When he gave it to me, it was pretty obvious, even to my 12-year-old self, that it was a bootleg copy - the cover art looked like it was copied on a cheap printer, and the tape itself had no labeling on it whatsoever. My dad still jokes about it till this day.
The other thing I remember is my parents listening to the album (without me around) and telling me they didn't approve of it. Thankfully they didn't forbid me from listening to it, but I knew why they didn't like it - what you don't hear on the radio is the cursing, the orgasm sounds...oh, and the references to heroin (no matter they are so oblique I didn't know what "Mr. Brownstone" meant until I was in college).
However, what you do hear throughout the album is one of the best bands of the '80s. The guitar interplay of rhythm and lead rivals anything from the Stones heyday, the rhythm section drives most of the songs, and of course Axl's voice could melt hearts and make parents cringe.
Without a doubt one of my favorite songs on the album is the closer "Rocket Queen." Though I could do without the orgasms, this song starts off with the aforementioned rhythm section killing it and closes with a somewhat uncharacteristically sweet Axl (starting with "I see you standing...").
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Song of the Day: The Waterboys - Purple Rain [live]
I've posted a song by The Waterboys, and I've posted a song by Prince. But I know what you're thinking - why haven't I posted a Prince cover by The Waterboys? What am I, an idiot?
A Scottish-Irish folk band playing "big music," complete with fiddle, covering the R&B power ballad? Sign me up! Well...OK, it may not sound like a match made in heaven, but don't knock it 'til you try it.
P.S. This is song #300 on the blog. It seems like just yesterday I was at #200.
A Scottish-Irish folk band playing "big music," complete with fiddle, covering the R&B power ballad? Sign me up! Well...OK, it may not sound like a match made in heaven, but don't knock it 'til you try it.
P.S. This is song #300 on the blog. It seems like just yesterday I was at #200.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Song of the Day: Wire - Lowdown
As I've mentioned before, I became an R.E.M. fanatic when I was 12. When I become infatuated with a band, I usually want to know what they listen to and what inspires them. This is how I became familiar with Wire.
Actually, I should say I first came to know Wire without knowing that I knew Wire; that is, R.E.M. covered Wire's "Strange" on Document, only I didn't know it was a cover song. But I later read in an interview that Michael Stipe was especially influenced by three albums: Television's Marquee Moon, Patti Smith's Horses, and Wire's Pink Flag (it's scary to me that I still remember reading this some 20 years ago, but I digress).
While I wasn't able to get my hands on the latter record, I did get a best of that encompassed their first three albums. At the time, I didn't think it was all that great, but it's really grown on me over the years, especially as I've come to love similar bands, such as Gang of Four. In fact, thanks to vinyl reissues, I now own the first three Wire albums, and when this song from Pink Flag came up on my iPod the other day, it reminded me how great the band is.
Actually, I should say I first came to know Wire without knowing that I knew Wire; that is, R.E.M. covered Wire's "Strange" on Document, only I didn't know it was a cover song. But I later read in an interview that Michael Stipe was especially influenced by three albums: Television's Marquee Moon, Patti Smith's Horses, and Wire's Pink Flag (it's scary to me that I still remember reading this some 20 years ago, but I digress).
While I wasn't able to get my hands on the latter record, I did get a best of that encompassed their first three albums. At the time, I didn't think it was all that great, but it's really grown on me over the years, especially as I've come to love similar bands, such as Gang of Four. In fact, thanks to vinyl reissues, I now own the first three Wire albums, and when this song from Pink Flag came up on my iPod the other day, it reminded me how great the band is.
Monday, January 24, 2011
Song of the Day: Wilco - Jesus, Etc.
A friend bought me Wilco's Being There for my birthday about 15 years ago, and I've been a fan ever since. However, I have a confession to make - I like Wilco, but I don't love them. Keep in mind, I've tried desperately to love them, and the Yankee Hotel Foxtrot story that everyone knows engenders massive respect. I think all of their records are really good, some of the songs are especially brilliant, but something has kept me from becoming infatuated with them (and I'm infatuated with many bands), despite my best attempts. That said, when I hear this song from YHF, they seem like the best band in the world.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Song of the Day: Smith Westerns - Dance Away
Dye It Blonde, the just released debut from Smith Westerns, is already getting a lot of "record of the year" hype, and while it's maybe too early for those proclamations, I kind of agree with them (though records released early in the year often suffer in year-end lists). I hear some T-Rex, Smiths, Clientele...there are too many influences to count. I haven't listened to the album enough times to definitively say that this is my favorite song, but it's a damn good one.
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