Going on a 4AD Jag (Episode 1)

As documented about a year ago I have a soft spot for bands that are signed to the 4AD label. In the past the label was the home of THE PIXIES, DEAD CAN DANCE and UNREST just to name a few. Whoever is in their A&R department has a tremendous ear for sound and bands that have tremendous artistic potential. Lately 4AD has put together a nice slate of new releases featuring some very unusual artists with very different sounds. Since they are all from one place it seemed appropriate to dedicate a short series of posts.

First comes the Edinburgh based band BROKEN RECORDS. Fellow blogger Song, By Toad has been all over these guys for a while so it is a bit disingenuous of me to write of them now but since they have just hit the states with their debut, "Until The Earth Begins To Part" it allows me to introduce them in this blog space.

At first I pegged them as a distant cousin of both FRIGHTENED RABBIT and THE POGUES since they often employ accordions, horns and other instruments into the mix. Additionally, the music often has the late night bar feel that The Pogues were famous for. But subsequent listens has given me a greater appreciation of the band's ability to create moments of grandeur and majesty in their music. "Nearly Home" takes a while to get to the crescendo but when it does it is as satisfying as anything I have heard in a long time. One imagines the live take of this song being something to behold as the band whips itself into a frenzy. Other songs, like the rocking "If The News Makes You Sad, Don't Watch It" recall the early efforts of THE WONDER STUFF. But despite all the knee jerk comparisons, they are unique in combining their efforts into something that has both emotion and power after repeated listens.

(mp3) Broken Records -- Nearly Home

(mp3) Broken Records -- If The News Makes You Sad, Don't Watch It

What Were You Doing At Age 18?

Not completing a fully realized musical statement that has actuality quality I will tell you that? But that is what young Mr. Jacob Magers has done. As a Senior Project for high school Jacob wrote and recorded an ep of five songs that he is now selling to the general public. When I first listened I wasn't really paying attention (reading with music on is always a good way to get a feel for something without pre judging it) and I was shocked at the fully formed musical thoughts. "Point of Reference" has a feel of an early Death Cab for Cutie song (especially in the descending guitar lines prior to the chorus). "Pendulums" is a nice upbeat song, but perhaps a little too close to Coldplay's "Life in Technicolor", but still a nice little pop song. "Overboard and Down" is the truest to an original sound that finds a nice home between folk and indie pop. ""Smiling at Strangers" could be a long lost Eliot Smith song before he took drugs and lost his mind. The last song, "Shanghai" is probably my favorite with a nice harmony to it along with a stately, quite guitar playing before it kicks in a with a nice shuffle for the chorus.

My initial reservations of it sounding more like tributes to his favorite bands fades away with each listen. More and more of his own voice comes out with repeated listens. Again, the dude is freaking 18!! When he gets some life lived and loses love a few times his lyrics will deepen and his playing will gain more depth. Then the world needs to look out for this kid...he is going to be a good one.

BUY HIS RECORD HERE!!!

PREVIEW IT HERE THEN GO BACK TO THE TOP AND BUY IT!!!!!

Death Cab For Cutie Live at the Hollywood Bowl

I have to say that I was mildly intrigued by the prospect of DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE playing with the LA PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA when the show was announced. Death Cab have been a band that has begun a slow decent out of indie rock isolation to mass market appeal and in many ways this was the show that should seal that deal. The bowl is a landmark location and the use of a full orchestra is really something only reserved for big time acts. At the outset I thought that the band might not be up to the task. The crowd was very reserved (it being a Sunday night and all) and the fact that it's just four guys playing on a huge stage seemed to rattle the band at first. The opening three songs ("Marching Bands of Manhattan", "Your Heart Is An Empty Room" and "The New Year") set a nice pace and signaled that most of the night would be dedicated to their more recent material (a good choice given the stakes of the event). By the mid point the band found it's rhythm and the first real highlight of the night was a remarkable version of "Summer Skin" followed by the centerpiece of the show, the epic "I Will Possess Your Heart". After a couple of more songs it was time to bring on the strings.

"I Will Follow You Into The Dark" (performed solo by Ben Gibbard) was made all the more haunting with a twelve string accompaniment. "Grapevine Fires" benefited the most from the horn backings and the added tension that comes with orchestration. Only "Title and Registration" and "Soul Meets Body" felt like a misplaced marriage (the former due to a bad vocal mix where the lyrics got swallowed by the music and the later placed at the end of the evening for the fact that it is a hit single not a song needing strings). The ending opus "Transatlanticism" had just the right amount of build up (a better version than the album take) and was a perfect end to the show. The last song signaled that the band was in fact ready for the larger venues and will probably stay in this type of setting for a long time.

(mp3) Death Cab for Cutie -- Grapevine Fires

(mp3) Death Cab for Cutie -- Photobooth (a song that I have since really taken to since the show)

Caught by the Fuzz

So I thought it might happen but my post yesterday reviewing the new DAVE MATTHEWS BAND record got pulled from the blog. So the quick version was I really like the record and if you have been a long time fan you will to. But because I had the audacity to post two songs off the album (which has sold millions by the way) my post got removed without notification.

Oh well...funny the way it is.

Dusting off the Tape Collection

I have a crate of cassette tapes of all kinds. Mix tapes I made so I didn't have to carry around a ton of other tapes. Recordings of old radio shows I did (which are basically the same as a mixtape only with annoying radio chatter every couple of songs). Albums I bought that I have since replaced on CD and never discarded. Then there are those tapes that I got while working in college; the demo tape. Demo tapes used to flood into the station and then later to the label I worked at. Every time I went to to a club I would walk out with a demo tape. Most were shoddily made home recordings that soon were taped over. Some were better produced and stuck around to be listened to more than once. On rare occasions the tape made it's way to a show and a song lived on in mixtape nirvana. Then there was MARKET.

I got a tip from a friend when I went to New York for a convention to go see this unsigned band play. At the time I was in radio so I was far more interested in seeing bigger bands, but that night had a unique feel and so I ventured to this dingy old club to see this band play. Maybe it was the consumption of alcohol or the fact that I spent a good portion of the night chatting up a nice young girl from a radio station in New Jersey, but something about the band's music has always led to an intense response to it even years later. It is pretty run of the mill trip hop (a la PORTISHEAD but dancier) but I immediately procured their demo and have ever since treasured it.

A couple of years later they were signed to INTERSCOPE so I waited in anticipation for their album but it never came. One of their songs from the tape made it to a compilation but that was it. Then they disappeared. Did they break up recording the album? Did the label drop them when everyone moved away from Trip Hop? I can't even Google search the band members because the tape has no names on it. All I have is five songs to remember them by. And maybe that's the way it's supposed to be.

(mp3) Market -- Kawasaki

(mp3) Market -- Island

(mp3) Market -- Rip

(mp3) Market -- Big Sound

(mp3) Market -- Madstore

p.s. Big thanks to the wife for the purchase of a system that allows tape and record conversion to CD then to MP3. Expect more out of date and unusual stuff as I get time to rip it.

Moving On

The past few weeks have seen me neglect my happy little blog due to a very busy work schedule. Sleep and relaxation have been few and far between so obviously writing pithy little stories about bands I love has not exactly been a priority. But with my chores done for the day and the house quite with sleeping children (and a pregnant, napping wife) I have a few moments to crystallize what is on the horizon for me and my work career.

I have worked at the same place for 12 years. In my universe that is a long time. I have spent roughly a third of my life roaming the halls of Pasadena High School first as a teacher then as an Assistant Principal. I can close my eyes and navigate the quad with no trouble. I can hear the bells that ring in my sleep. I know every one who works there from the Principal to the night custodian to the morning cafeteria cook (who taught me how to make 400 pancakes in 32 minutes). For a while it seemed like this would be my last job. Funny how things change.

When my family moved I thought I could take the commute. What's an hour in a car with a good iPod playlist and decent sports talk radio? But as time went on it got harder and harder. The seat isn't as comfortable as I thought and the music becomes repetitive after a time. Then along came a chance to get closer to home, a job at a local high school. I put my application in and waited. Then I lost track of the process and forgot about it. I just kept working at what I did best, helping the students and staff of good ole' PHS.

Then the call came for an interview. Then a follow up. Then the reference checks began. Then a third interview. For two weeks my life was suddenly in limbo. I had no idea if I was coming or going. I bombarded those I trusted with incessant ramblings about "what if this happens" and "why haven't they called?" I guess it never dawned on me that I would leave the only school I knew. Next thing I knew they had offered me the job and I had accepted. It was like an out of body experience. I remember the call and I remember saying yes in the same spot I had first walked through to start my work at PHS.

Now the work of saying goodbye has begun. This week was graduation which is always bittersweet but with an added twinge since it was my last in red and white. The last day for staff was full of hearty handshakes and slightly awkward well wishes. There were those I had known for a long time that were a little more heartfelt, a little more emotional. Some were angry with me (you can't leave...), some were happy (getting closer to home will be good for you and your family...), most were appreciative of what I had tried to do for them. To be honest I was both flattered and ashamed. Who was I to get such praise? I just tried to do my job as best as I could.

I will miss the place. I will miss the people (here is one instance where FACEBOOK is a valuable tool). But forward I go. Off to new places and new faces. But always with one eye trained on my old school and how it fairs without me. Somehow, I think it will be just fine.

(mp3) I am Not Lefthanded -- Long Goodbyes

(mp3) Editors -- An End Has a Start

(mp3) Morrissey -- I Will See You In Far Off Places

(mp3) Anthem In -- Moving On

New From I Am Not Lefthanded

I Am Not Lefthanded has put up a new single for download on their site. It is exactly the sort of sublime indie pop that I have come to expect from these Irish lads and lasses. It's nice to see them exploring new textures with pacing and guitar work that give the song a punch that is new for the band. The addition of male backing vocals from Daniel mesh nicely with Kathryn's usual wonderful voice.

The band is also looking for submissions for the video (get all the details from their site).

Keep up the good work guys!!

(mp3) I Am Not Lefthanded -- Everybody Sleeps

American History Rock

I imagine that Portland, Oregon based band THE DIMES had little to no idea that I used to teacher American History when they sent me a couple of songs to review. How in God's name could I give a poor review to a band that wrote an entire song about Clara Barton, famed Civil War Battlefield nurse and founder of the Red Cross? It certainly helps that the music has a nice country folk feel to it (kind of like THE JAYHAWKS mixed with THE DECEMBERISTS and DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE) that makes the lyrics go down that much easier. "Save Me Clara", the standout track from their new "New England EP", shuffles along with the help of a nice slide guitar and harmonica that screams Americana. "The Liberator" has a wonderful harmony chorus and a nice use of what I think is an accordion for the solo. This ep comes on the heels of their debut record which you can sample on the band's website.

The best tribute I can pay the band is that their music gets better with every listen. The slower, quieter songs grow on you much in the way a lazy Sunday just kind of take over your mood. The peppier songs show an edge that is most likely enhanced when they play live. This is definitely a band I will keep a keen eye on. Very well done boys.

(mp3) The Dimes -- Save Me Clara

(mp3) The Dimes -- Watching The Wheels

Big, Bright, Heaping Gobs of American Pop Music

There are just those artists an self described "Indie" music lover such as myself are not supposed to like. These are artists that can come from a variety of genres but that when packed onto the ole' iPod would stick out lick a sore thumb. There is no rhyme or reason for them to be there. In some cases they are bands that I should be ashamed of but in other instances they are songs that have a beauty to them that transcends cool. Here is the first in my admissions of sins against the Indie Gods; I give you BRUCE HORNSBY AND THE RANGE!!!!

(waiting for a moment to you to pick yourself up off the floor and return to a normal breathing pattern...)

If I played Bruce's songs for you without knowing who he was, it is possible that you could see what I see. Here is a highly talented piano player who specializes in painting pictures with words and sounds that convey a sense of the American Spirit. You can almost here the train tracks in the back of the bass line and see the fields of the Midwest in his piano keystrokes. There are just those moments when you listen and get swept away in the feelings of the songs. There's the hopelessness and despair of "The Way It Is" (written at the height of the Reagan Era which was the last time we saw the dire economic straights we see in the US today) and the juxtaposition of that in the hope of the journey ahead with "The Valley Road". I understand how terminally uncool all this is but the emotion and the beauty of the songs make up for the very square nature of it all. Set aside your hipper than thou attitude and just listen...

(m4a) Bruce Hornsby and the Range -- The Valley Road

(m4a) Bruce Hornsby and the Range -- The Way It Is

Hitting Shuffle (Episode 4)

As bands get older and put out records it's easy to dismiss them. I have previously addressed this subject before but it returns with the shuffle turning it's attention to a track off ECHO AND THE BUNNYMEN's 2005 record "Siberia". This was a record that I found for free and downloaded more out of curiosity then anything I had actually heard off of it. To be frank I had stopped listening to Echo after their reunion album back in 1997, so I dismissed this record pretty quickly. This is often the case with formerly huge acts that have not aged very well (current case in point would be DEPECHE MODE) but Ian and Will seem to have quietly rediscovered their sound.

Now the record was no where near as good as their heyday but I could thing of worse stuff to listen to on a Thursday evening. This particular song, "Of A Life" has a nice retro feel to it (with a lyrical nod to "Songs to Learn and Sing") and has nice quick pace to it. Maybe I overlooked this album too quickly after all.

(mp3) Echo and The Bunnymen -- Of A Life

p.s. I feel like I need to explain the disjointed nature of this post. My original hope in writing was to take my mind off the atrocious performance the LAKERS put forth in the playoffs tonight. If you are not a sports fan it's hard to understand what it's like to be let down by your team. I can't focus on anything right now and have a sick feeling in my stomach. It's maddening and frustrating and yet I will be glued to my couch Sunday to see if they can win because that is what sports fans do...

A Call To Action

I have tried for the life of this blog to keep it light and simple. I have tried to bring you good music that I feel people have either never heard or forgotten about. But sometimes I feel that it is important to veer away from all the frivolity and into more serious territory. With that in mind please indulge me a moment to speak to those living in California.

May 19th, 2009 is a very significant date in terms of the future of California education. With the budget cuts that have been enacted over the past year already destroying school districts throughout the state, we are now faced with the possibility of of a catastrophic meltdown of the state's education funding system. Simply put, the election on May 19th may very well be the beginning of the end of education in CA as we know it.

Now it may sound like I am being overly dramatic but consider this. If you have a child who is between the ages of 2-5 the odds on them being in a classroom with 30+ kids all with one teacher and no aides or other support are very real. One of the first things that most districts cut with the last round of budget reductions was the Class Sized Reduction numbers for K-3 classes. Under the old rules, class size was mandated at 25 students per teacher. Now, there are very little penalties in place for schools that do not adhere to these guidelines so it allows schools to reduce staff, save money and still service all it's students. This is by no means a good plan. Every teacher will tell you that fewer students is always better for the overall learning environment. But these are the realities that we face. And it's about to get worse. If the Props are not passed on May 19th we could be faced with another multi billion dollar cut to education funding. Large scale programs will be affected and basic services will become harder to give to all students.

Now no one likes taxes. Lord knows since I became a homeowner I cringe every time anyone starts talking about raising property taxes. But an increase in the Sales tax (as proposed by Prop 1A) will go directly to education funding (as proposed by Prop 1B). If 1A fails, the 1B fails as well. Props 1C, 1D, and 1E are also in line with shoring up the education funding system so that all students get what they need to succeed in life.

Think about where you would be without your education. We all had that teacher that inspired us and challenged us to reach our full potential. I was fortunate enough to have several outstanding teachers (Mr. Corigliano, Mrs. Ebey, Mr. Metternich, and Mr. Anderson to name a few) and I shudder to think what I might have turned out as if any of them had not been around when I got to their classroom door. I have watched my wife work miracles with groups of seven year olds teaching them how to read and write and become passionate about learning.

The questions before you on May 19th are simple. What kind of education should your child get? What is the price of that kind of education? Shouldn't we all share in the fiscal responsibility to give all children a chance to become what their potential says that can be? Are you okay with risking the next generation because you don't want to pay a little more for a candy bar?

Do the right thing and support education on May 19th. VOTE YES ON PROPS 1A-1E.

For more information visit here.

A Busy Few Days

So the past couple of days have found a whole new group of people gravitating to my little space of the blogosphere for both positive and negative reasons.

First I have had the honor of guest posting on one of the best blogs running now: THE VINYL VILLAIN. To see what I had to write click here.

Second, a recent post on the new PASSION PIT album got snagged off the net by the DCMA folks who monitor copyright infringement. This is not the first post I have lost to the censors but it was the first that came with the dreaded legal notice that my behavior of praising a band for their work and trying to share my joy of the sounds they have created was a sort of crime against humanity. It used to be that this sort of thing happened when you posted large act songs, which lead to smaller acts to rally around the blogs who spent most of the energy championing them to greater success than they could possibly imagine. Personally, I understand the argument that posting songs is a form of piracy and that the writers receive no compensation for their work as a result. However, given the continued conglomeration of commercial radio and the fact that music television is all but non existent, then were do bands turn to get publicity for their albums?

Under the old construct this was the role of college radio. Non-commercial stations had the freedom that came with no format boundaries to play songs from lesser or unknown artists trying to find an audience for the music outside of the larger corporate music business. Bands such as NIRVANA and REM were born out of this. I would posit that the blogs have replaced the old college stations as that outlet. Some labels share music with the larger blogs as a form of detente and those blogs (such as STEREOGUM and MY OLD KENTUCKY BLOG to name a couple) have seen huge spikes in the audience traffic in a win-win situation. However, those of us who do this more for the joy of sharing music have no such aspirations for commercial success of our own venture. This means that we post things we like (either new or vintage in variety). I just wish bands would understand that our intent as bloggers is not malicious but supportive and we always recommend that readers buy the records and support the bands we love in concert so that they can continue to make music rather than taking a job at BEST BUY.

Does this mean I don't still love the PASSION PIT CD? Of course not (I'm listening to it now). It does mean I cannot share their music with you other than to say GO BUY THE FREAKING RECORD RIGHT AWAY...IT'S BRILLIANT!!!!

(mp3) The Last Shadow Puppets -- My Mistakes Were Made For You

(mp3) Rage Against the Machine -- Guerilla Radio

My Life, As Told By U2

I've seen this in a couple of places (listed below for varying opinions) so I thought I would take a whirl at it. The rules are simple; answer the questions using only the songs from your favorite band...


1. Are you a male or female:
STORIES FOR BOYS

2. Describe yourself:
LOVE AND PEACE OR ELSE


3. How do you feel about yourself:
NUMB

4. Describe your ex boyfriend/girlfriend:
GONE

5. Describe your current boy/girl situation:
ALL I WANT IS YOU


6. Describe your current location:
NO LINE ON THE HORIZON

7. Describe where you want to be:
WHERE THE STREETS HAVE NO NAME


8. Your best friend(s) is:
SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T MAKE IT ON YOUR OWN

9. Your favourite colour is:
RED HILL MINING TOWN

10. You know that:
SOME DAYS ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS

11. If your life was a television show what would it be called:
ZOO STATION

12. What is life to you:
LIKE A SONG...

13. What is the best advice you have to give:
BREATHE





Other Blogs of interest in this experiment:

17 Seconds (The Cure)
The Vinyl Villian (Morrissey)
Sunset over Slawit (Bruce Springsteen)
Acid Ted (Orbital)

VIVA!! Viva Voce!

Every night before I go to sleep I take a few moments to tool around listening to music. Some nights it leads me back to old favorites, other times it takes me to new discoveries. I had not heard much from the band VIVA Voce other than they are releasing a new record in the next couple of weeks and have a very loyal fan base. So when I heard the first track off their new record entitled "Rose City" I was amazed and floored by the potential this band has. "Devotion" starts with a slow guitar slide then leaps out of the speakers with a fierce burst of drums and a killer bass line. It keeps a great groove alive over the top of the song's chorus. It has a nice male/female vocal interplay and a simple signature line that will definitely get stuck in your head immediately. I haven't yet digested the rest of the record that is out there but if it is half as good as this one song, it is worth your time...

(mp3) Viva Voce -- Devotion

Hitting Shuffle (Episode 3)

There are those songs that just strike a chord. You can't really put your finger on it. They just have a way of making us feel better. It can be the lyrical content or the melody of the chorus that we respond to. Often it is a feeling or a moment that we associate the song with that gives us that good sense. I have always found that "Always The Sun" by THE STRANGLERS has that effect on me. It is a song about hope and contentment in times of trouble but it has such a sparkling quality to it that it has long been a favorite on the old iPod. Whenever I feel a little stressed or overwhelmed it's song that make me just a little sunnier. I am always looking for others so if you have any suggestions let me know.

(mp3) The Stranglers -- Always The Sun

Buy This Band's Record NOW!!!!

I love when I find a small band that I can champion (to be fair I found this one on a couple of other blogs but I want to do my part). The wife wrote a piece on her blog and God bless them the band wrote back to thank her. That is just awesome!!

I AM NOT LEFTHANDED is an Irish band that plays simple, beautiful songs with melodies that will break your heart. They are everything I love about music; unassuming, passionate and thought provoking. They are a band that deserves your attention and your support. You need to go to their site and buy their record like today. It's not fair to make any comparisons to other bands because it wouldn't do them justice. I have probably played "Long Goodbyes" 50 times in the past two weeks. It's the kind of song that creeps into your brain and you spend the rest of the day humming the chorus to the point where your co-workers start to wonder if you are okay. If you like this song you will enjoy the rest of the record.

(mp3) I Am Not Lefthanded -- Long Goodbyes

Cleaning out the InBox

I have been inundated with bands lately (which for a small time blog like this is very neat to have people actually care what I think.) As is always the case whether it is positive or negative I will always listen and give it a review. So here we go;

ACIDIC are an LA band that have the hint of punk and a hint of old fashioned rock to go with their emo angst. Would this be something I would listen to, probably not. But if you are a fan of early GREEN DAY or BLINK 182 you might enjoy this.

DIALTONE are a slight upgrade in the sound quality and have a little more hipster attitude to the lyrics on songs such as "Do You Love Your Cell Phone" or "Emo T Shirt". You can hear elements of REM in the bass lines and the guitar work. The voice of the lead singer is a bit off putting at first but it gets better the more you listen. I was very ready to dismiss this but the more I take it in the more I think they might have something. With some more time they will eventually find their own sound that will suit them.

ADAM BALBO is a singer songwriter from San Francisco who has the ARLO GUTHRIE/BOB DYLAN vibe about his stuff. Singing alone with just an acoustic guitar means that the lyrics better be good since they will stand out. Most of the songs check in at under 2 minutes. One gets the impression that if he couldn't release these songs on the net he would be singing in some bohemian coffee house where people sip lattes and read Kerouac. It's decent folk music but not really my cup of low fat vanilla chai.

A recommendation from The Wife

I mock my wife for her taste in music. Her love of Country music and Jimmy Buffett can be somewhat perplexing at times. I rarely understand why she has five singers on her iPod all named Kate (or some version thereof) and they all have the same mopey, chick folk sound. There are times when her sense of the sheer cheesiness of a song can be a bit overwhelming. For a self appointed musical snob such as I the mere fact that she and I have co-existed (and flourished) for the past five years of marriage (as celebrated TODAY!!) is a testament to whatever higher being you believe in.

So every once and awhile she will shock me. Something will come across her iPod (which is always the musical delivery device of choice in the car) that simply floors me. How is it that you can like that and all the other stuff that clutters your iPod? How can you reconcile this band which is extraordinary with the flotsam that normally comes out of the speakers? She simply smiles, tolerating my boorish behavior as she is often forced to do, and says, "because I have more evolved musical tastes than you."

So here is the latest jaw dropping, knee bending discovery from my wife (who also counts MOGWAI, IRON AND WINE, and CASSETTES WON'T LISTEN among her favorites). Minneapolis has brought many great acts throughout American Rock History but nothing that sounds like CLOUD CULT. At times they sound like ARCADE FIRE mixed with THE FLAMING LIPS at then there are times when they sound like nothing out now. They employ odd sounds and unusual instrumentation to project stories of flaw, pain and despair. On other songs from their latest, "Feel Good Ghosts", they reach astronomical heights with sing along choruses and stomping bass and drum lines. For a record that is about loss (the lead singer lost his four year old child recently) it has a subdued yet celebratory feel to it.

I hate to admit when she is right (which is usually all the time), but she is right. In this case her tastes are better than mine. And as is the case for the past five years, her guidance has made me a better person (and not just in a musical sense.)

(mp3) Cloud Cult -- No One Said It Would Be Easy

(mp3) Cloud Cult -- Hurricane and Fire Survival Guide

New Phoenix!!

Phoenix is a french band responsible for one of the catchiest songs of all time, "If I Ever Feel Better", from the debut record back in 2000. Since then I haven't paid them much mind. Singles acts often disappear quickly leaving only the slightest of footprints. So imagine my shock when I started listening to their latest, "Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix", on how mature and detailed the songs have become and yet have not lost any of their signature dance rock sound. The only strike against the record is that it was leaked around the same time as the YEAH YEAH YEAHS and U2 so it gotten little press. This should change with the official release in May.

The first couple of songs, "Lisztomania" and "1901" fall close to the sound from their previous records with a little crunchier guitar on the second track. Things take a more orchestral approach with the seven minute "Love Like A Sunset" which takes a slow building synth line that sounds like a lost ORBITAL song before hitting it's stride. The second half of the record allows the band to start tinkering with their sound, adding overdub effects to the vocals and a nice guitar pick effect on the gorgeous "Rome".

The more you listen the more you fall in love with each song. "Countdown" originally had a throwaway feel to it but after several listens it has slowly crept into my subconscious. Which is the whole feel of the record; slight at first listen but with each pass there is more going on that leads to greater involvement by the listener. I have no doubt this will be in my top records for the year.

(mp3) Phoenix -- Rome

(mp3) Phoenix -- 1901

p.s. for sheer absurdity check out the lead singer's one off band with members of Daft Punk called DARLIN'. Fuzzed out Beach Boys is not what I would have expected...

OPENING DAY!!!

There is nothing better than Opening Day of the baseball season. Writer George Will once said that the year can be split into two seasons, baseball season and "the long, dark void." As an avid sports fan, something my wife refers to as an addiction, I watch all types of events. I spent a good portion of Saturday afternoon watching the Men's basketball FINAL FOUR even though I had absolutely no rooting interest. I have watched college football games between schools that not only have I not attended but I couldn't find on a map with a compass.

But with baseball it's a whole other level. There is a certain rhythm to a baseball game. It has a pace to it that lends itself to conversation. I can sit and watch a game and carry on a dialogue with another person and still know what is going on. I can also watch a game with focused intensity, emotions rising and falling with every at bat. It helps to have a rooting interest in a given team. Long time readers already know of my allegiance to THE LOS ANGELES ANGELS, who have had a good few years in a row and are poised for another playoff run (which, knowing the team as well as I do, will surely end with a loss to the BOSTON RED SOX in the playoffs).

So another season is upon us. Another chance to soak in the summer sun, a hot dog and the ballpark. Another opportunity to lose sleepless nights over a heartbreaking ninth inning defeat. Another set of memories of game winning hits and three run home runs. Another collection of thoughts on the state of the middle relief and the role of the fifth outfielder.

Another Opening Day to enjoy.

San Diego was once a cool place

In the late 90's, while I was running a dinky college radio station, we kept hearing how the San Diego music scene was about to explode right beneath us. San Diego is about four hours from where I lived at the time so it made sense for us to at least pay a little attention. It helped that at the time we could get the local alternative station, 91X, better than we could the radio behemoth out of LA that was KROQ. It is important to understand the impact of radio at the time. In an era prior to MP3 and blogs, radio was really the only avenue new bands could get music out to the masses. Also, alternative radio hadn't been co-opted by the large commercial conglomerates like it is today so Music and Programming directors had a lot more freedom to take chances on relatively unheard of bands. So when 91x started playing ROCKET FROM THE CRYPT, it was a shot of adrenaline that I was looking for.

Rocket had a sound that was tailor made for the radio. Enough of a pop edge to catch you with a hooky chorus but enough bite to make them hip for the indie kids. Kind of a cross between the REVEREND HORTON HEAT and SUPERCHUNK, with some surf guitar and horns thrown in for good measure, Rocket led the San Diego scene charge out into the mainstream. The band hit it big with the "Circa:Now!" record and got signed to a major label soon after. The next album, "Scream Dracula, Scream", had a major label shine to it that was good but lost some of the urgency of the previous albums.

Needless to say, the San Diego Scene never really broke out. Most of the acts that were finding some love locally never translated nationally and even Rocket From The Crypt fell about by the early 2000's. San Diego is still a beautiful city with a nice laid back attitude so I imagine no one really cared that their scene never got the same publicity as Seattle, Manchester or Detroit and 91x lost some of it's cache (it has since adopted a playlist that mirrors KROQ, which is sad). But after all these years, the sound is still the sound of summer for me.

(mp3) Rocket From The Crypt -- Hippy Dippy Do (from Circa:Now!)

(mp3) Rocket From The Crypt -- Sturdy Wrists (from Circa:Now!)

(mp3) Rocket From The Crypt -- On A Rope (from Scream Dracula, Scream)

The State of Education In California

WARNING: Non musical assessment ahead. If you want my pithy takes on pop music tune in later this week.

I just got back from a lobbying trip to Sacramento (the state capitol for those outside the US), where I sat with various assemblymen and senators trying to convince them that cutting 60% of the state's commitment to education is a preposterous and potentially catostrophic decision. There is no doubt that California has gotten it's fair share of the pain from the Bush Depression (my own label, but darn catchy if I do say so myself), but when it was time to tighten the collective belt, education got hit the hardest. Even though Public Ed. is 40% of the budget, it took 60% of the hit. No ill will toward police, fire or mental health but expecting to get ourselves of the greatest economic crisis since the 1930's by not educating the next generation of leaders is the equivalent of sending my three year old into the ring with Mike Tyson after he has had a bit too much to drink. But hey, we are bright, well educated men and women (wonder where we got all the smarts from?) we will figure something out. That was the overriding message that came from Congress. Come up with a plan and get back to us.

First off, I actually had a senior state senator suggest that the recent deluge of pink slips were a political ploy put forth to make it seem worse than it was. Seriously, because messing with people's lives by potentially dooming them to unemployment is something I enjoy doing. Every teacher that loses a job means larger class sizes, less time to spend per student and less manpower to deal with the needs of students before and after school. Additionally, cuts to secondary counseling staffs mean fewer people to get students into college and through high school. Imagine where you would be if your counselor didn't pick the right classes or get you a sholarship packet or a college application in time? That is the prospectus for our current students. But hey, layoffs are just a political ploy after all, right?

So off we went to meet with others. One said we as educators should have seen this coming and had a plan to deal with the massive cuts. Isn't that the job of the leaders of the state? One suggested we should become more efficient at what we do. A fellow administrator shot back, "I already empty my own trash as well as run the Human Resouces department, what else can I do to be more efficient in your mind?"

Here in a nutshell is the problem. The Congress is so entrenched that each side can take a radical stance like "no tax increases" or "no more cuts" with little or no fallout. So nothing gets done. The two sides just stare at each other as student's lives fall apart (not overly dramatic if you have ever spent 5 minutes in a CA public school). Those that do cross party lines for idealogical reasons, like Anthony Adams, get instant recall notices and become a pariah to their own party (too bad because he's a really nice guy). Congress can't even agree on how to get relief money to those that need it. Education is promised a large chunk of the Obama Stimulus package. This money can be used to fill in some of the cuts and maybe even save some jobs. But will we get it in time? No one knows when it's coming or how it will be dispersed. Here's a novel thought, have the guy who used to be THE TERMINATOR to ask the guy in THE WHITE HOUSE when he can expect a check...

So what can you do? If you live in California you can start by voting on MAY 19TH for Props 1A-1E. These props will allow the government to take revenues and send them to education so that instead of 14 billion in cuts over the next 1 1/2 years it will only be 8 billion. That's a lot of jobs people!! Second, send an e-mail to your local congressman urging them to pass the stimulus package through to schools immediately. Holding the money doesn't help those it was intended to help. If the schools don't get the money by May 1 those pink slips become permanent. If you live in anotehr state or country, stay there. The beuacratic system is probably better and the schools aren't in danger of being bankrupt in the next 18 months. Other than that, a prayer for those of us with California education ties would be nice.

Fighting till the bitter end...

Irish Eyes are Smiling (Part Five)

It'll probably be gone by the morning but I thought I would put this up anyway.



HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!! Here's a mini set list from my favorite Irish Band. They may be prententious at times but there is no doubt they make music that moves the soul...

Zoo Station
Native Son
Magnificent
Miracle Drug
Where The Streets...
Sunday Bloody...

Irish Eyes are Smiling (Part Four)

While in college around 1993 or so a a couple of friends and I hitched a plane to Ireland to see U2 play a couple of shows in support of "Zooropa". With St. Patrick's Day tomorrow I will most likely dedicate a post the them later but while in Ireland we tried to see another band we had come to enjoy called THE DEVLINS. Here is where music is funny. Come to find out that most Irish music lovers absolutely HATE THIS BAND!! Sure their music sounds like COLDPLAY before they cam along but it can't be that bad, can it?

So here we are in Dublin standing in line at some random club to see what someone had told us was the it band of the moment when we start to chat up a couple of young ladies. Everything is going well until I mention, through some prodding from one of my friends, about how much I enjoy The Devlins. I might as well killed the girl's puppy while she watched. Any cool points I had being a blond from Southern California who could pass himself off as a radio personality went away in a second. I had a better chance of becoming President then I did of continuing this conversation. So I have mixed feelings about these guys. I still like them but they did ruin my one chance to get better acquainted with an Irish lass...oh well.

(mp3) The Devlins -- Everything Comes Around

p.s. This is not the record I wanted to post but I couldn't find their first record in the garage and it's late. SORRY!!!

Is it Pandering or Artistic Expression?

Taking a break from my exploration of Irish rock for a bit. Mostly because I felt this song and the subsequent album needed my attention, and not for a good reason. I have enjoyed CHRIS CORNELL's work for a long time. I bought into his vocal wail early on in the SOUNDGARDEN days and was truly disappointed when they broke up. I enjoyed his interplay with EDDIE VEDDER on the TEMPLE OF THE DOG album. I indulged his early solo work as an artist searching for his place in a the post band world (a hard transition for most front men to make...and most do not). When he joined AUDIOSLAVE I thought that maybe he had found a happy medium between the metal side of Soundgarden and solo work, but alas it did not last.

And now we have his collaboration with TIMBALAND on "Scream". Here's where I have my issues. Let's ignore for a minute that the record is very, very bad. The question is simple; is this a creative release for a wandering artist or an attempt to pander to a pop artist to sell records by selling out your "sound" for a contemporary flavor of the week. I have, in the past, enjoyed Timbaland's work and when I heard the lead single and title track I was intrigued (and it is a decent song), but listening to the whole record it is apparent that this is subpar work on both artists' accounts. The beats are lazy, the synths are tepid and Cornell spends most of the record restraining his vocals. What exactly is the point of this whole exercise? Was Cornell so unhappy with his prior work that he feels no allegiance to it? The record only serves to frustrate fans who, I do not believe, are going to accept this as a genuine artifact of his talent.

So ignore this album and go get "Badmotorfinger" instead.

(mp3) Chris Cornell -- Redemption Song (courtesy of in ALL Caps)

Irish Eyes are Smiling (Part Three)

There are a hundred ways I could have gone with this episode of this series focusing on Irish music. I had intended to talk about DAMIEN RICE (who was once in a band with the members of Bell x1 called JUNIPER) but as I researched around for interesting tidbits I came across a site that featured the heartbreaking work of MARK DIGNAM. First off a huge shout out to the blog 2U I BESTOW, which is about the best source of Irish singer songwriters I have ever seen. I pale in comparison to his knowledge, so I implore you, stop by his site and check it out.

Now, on to Mark Dignam. In many ways, Dignam is representative of the wave of Irish folk singers that includes Rice, GLEN HANSARD and PADDY CASEY who keep it simple using only their voice and an acoustic guitar. The power comes in the poetry. Young men with pain, joy, love and loss to express through their music. These are songs that will break your heart and can lift you up to places that make you sing loud in your car as you trudge off to work. You can hear the exhaustion in his voice as he sings in "Glide", "I realise how small my perspective has been....". His music doesn't vary much but it has such passion that you overlook the sometimes repetitious nature. It gets better with every listen...

(mp3) Mark Dignam -- Glide (courtesy of 2U I Bestow)

Mark Dignam Myspace page

Irish Eyes are Smiling (Part Two)

A lot of Irish music is a study in contradictions. Many times the music is uplifting and joyful. Other times it can be somber and reflective in a way that most American artists can't grasp. Given the political issues that have plagued the Irish over time (both in their native land those that traveled to America in the 1800's). So it only makes sense that often the music that comes from Ireland can be something on a dichotomy. Today's example highlight the more soulful side of things.

BELL x1 have had almost no impact on the US market. No one I have ever talked to has ever heard of them or any of their music. This is a crying shame because they make music that can break your heart. It has much in common with U2 but with a less uplifting take on life as we know it. Their latest album, "Blue Lights on The Runway", takes a mixture of Postal Service's bleeps and adds to their standard mix of straightforward rock. There are also hints of the instrumentation and vocal cadences found in the last FRIGHTENED RABBIT CD, which I adored.

(mp3) Bell X1 -- The Ribs of a Broken Umbrella

(mp3) Bell X1 -- Heartlands (bonus points for this brilliant take on the U2 song from "Rattle and Hum")

Irish Eyes are Smiling (Part One)

In honor of the month of March (which houses St. Patrick's Day as well as the release of the latest U2 CD) I plan to embark on a short series on some of my favorite Irish bands/artists. I know it might be a might disingenuous for someone of no Irish decent from Southern California to celebrate the music of the Emerald Isle but I realized just how many Irish musicians I admired and the ideas seemed to start flying.

First up is THE POGUES. Irish style music of all kinds (both traditional and of the rock variety) tends to be associated with copious consumption of alcohol. No more so is this in effect then when speaking of Shane MacGowan, lead singer of this Irish pub rock outfit. Their music is a combination of tin whistles, mandolins and punk rock ethos that made them, in some peoples minds, the most dangerous band around. Their live shows were legendary more for the potential for disaster as the music they played. But through all the rabble rousing and debauchery came pure passion and brilliant music. The highlight of their work, in my opinion, is "Thousands are Sailing" from the record "If I Should Fall From Grace With God". The story of Irish immigration to the US, the song aches with a longing for the homeland and a sense of wonder at the new adventure that lies ahead. There is hope in the lyrics and the music swells to a fever pitch over a rolling bass line. It is a quintessential Irish song about the Irish experience.

(mp3) The Pogues -- Thousands are Sailing

Nervous Anticipation

I don't get anxious about new music very much anymore. Perhaps it's the countless records and songs that I have purchased over the years in all shapes and sizes. I have waited in line for only a couple of records in my life. Now, concert tickets is another story entirely. With concerts, my friend Scott and I had what we thought was a full proof plan. If we didn't get a spot in line close enough to the front we would race back to my house and speed dial TICKETMASTER till we got in. Once, to get tickets to a show we actually drove to his employer's office and used their multiple phones to get through. We even resorted to bribing the ticket dispenser with a promise of a ticket of his own once to get a peak at the line-up numbers in advance to gauge our chances.

But records are not that immediate. Sure I want to hear what the band has been working on for, in some cases, up to three years. But I can usually wait a day or two after it's released. In high school, I did sneak out of class to go to the record store to get a new copy of DEPECHE MODE'S "Violater" because I very much wanted to be the first to have it. I will never forget the sense of victory I had walking into the yearbook with the CD, like a Roman Emperor showing off the spoils of war. So I cannot for the life of me explain why I have such nervous anticipation when it comes to the new U2 record, "No Line on the Horizon".

I have been a U2 fan for quite a spell. I have traveled to Ireland just to follow the band. I have seen them live at least 12 times. I have purchased almost every album, single, soundtrack, and demo that they have. I have purchased the PASSENGERS record and own a copy of AUTOMATIC BABY on cassette. For the last album, I went on my conference period to pick up two copies of the CD (one for my friend Holly who has an similar addiction to the Irish Lads). What I'm saying is I am a fan.

But shouldn't I be beyond the nervous anticipation. I have heard half of the record leaked through various blogs for two weeks now. I actually know the words to the tongue twisting tale of "Breathe". And yet, here I am giggling like a teenager at a Jonas Brothers concert listening to it for the first time (thanks to a little know quirk in iTunes that makes a record available on EST time for the whole US).

Now, many early critics have been split on the album, but the fan in me cannot be objective. U2 is probably the only band that I cannot be passive about. Over time I have lost some of the fanboy when it comes to REM and Depeche Mode (BTW, is the new DM single the worst thing they have ever recorded...). Will this record stand the test of time like the rest? All I can say is that in many ways it is vintage U2 and yet different, which is probably a good thing. Songs I did not like the first time through have grown on me. There will be time for an in depth analysis...for one night and one day I am a fan. And I wouldn't want it any other way.

p.s. in the interest of not losing this post to the censors I cannot post anything relating the new record. But maybe you will find what you are looking for...

(mp3) Voxtrot -- Your Biggest Fan (courtesy of MFR)

The Sham of Award Shows

We are officially into awards season, which brings out a special kind of ire in my view of the arts. First off, since all art is subjective, how can one thing be better than another? Who says one person's best song is better than another? I personally, have little or no knowledge of ADELE, LADY GAGA, or LEONA LEWIS but apparently they are all very important artists of our time. For the past two weeks all I have seen is the vapid, meaningless "musicians", prance around accepting various forms of statues for their contribution to the music world. Seriously, they may be truly great at what they do, but how can you award art? Isn't the reward to the artist that their music is appreciated by fans who find meaning in what they have created?

Secondly, it seems that these pre-taped shows have merely become long form infomercials for artists latest product (whether its a new record or a new perfume it apparently doesn't matter). No more so is this apparent then in the honoring of a certain artist for "lifetime achievement". The genesis of this particular rant came from a segment of this year's Brit Awards that I stumbled across. It seems that THE PET SHOP BOYS, were honored with a special medley of their hits as an homage to their longevity. Now, I have loved the Pet Shop Boys for a long time. I own several of their records and even sat through the self indulgent film they made years ago. What angered me was the inclusion of the what I found out later was their latest single, "Love, etc." into this mix. Now it is a decent song, but to include it alongside "West End Girls", "Suburbia" and "Domino Dancing" is just wrong. It sounded out of place and turned me against the whole notion of what they were there for. Instead of giving them credit for their place in pop music, it was merely a marketing ploy to promote their new record.

So these shows are shams. Why even bother giving out awards anymore if they are arbitrary and apparently can only be given to those artists with records either just released or about to come out? Why must we have winners and losers in music? Why can't we just like what we like without mainstream media throwing things down out throats? Why does this bother me when it's not a new thing? Maybe, I should just sit back and listen to what I like and ignore the rest...

For your own review

(mp3) Pet Shop Boys -- Love, etc. (courtesy of Amix Music)

(mp3) Pet Shop Boys -- Domino Dancing

New Music: White Lies

WHITE LIES have been starting to get some publicity here in the US (I understand that they are already quite big in the UK nut we Americans can be a bit slow on the uptake...must be too much American Idol). Anyway, this band has several things going for it. First, they are signed to Fiction records (home of THE CURE) so they come with a built in sense of cool. Second, their music is full of great guitar hooks and big, anthemic choruses. This is the kind of thing that will translate well live which means that they might have some staying power (musically, they have a similarity to THE EDITORS).

Finally, they write depressing songs. Now you might ask, why is this a good thing. Well, given the current climate of the US and how everyone is losing work and money, you would think that people would gravitate to music that is poppy and escapist.But I beg to differ. I think when times are tough, people look for music that is real and filled with genuine emotion. The last major economic crisis in America gave us NIRVANA, PEARL JAM and the other Seattle bands. Now we search the landscape for music that reflects our reality, which dark and gloomy. Here is where White Lies will come in. Now I'm saying these guys will sell a million records or become international pop stars, but I do think they represent a trend in music that will drift to the more depressing side of emotion.

So now that I have thoroughly saddened you, go listen to their music. If you are a fan of THE CURE or JOY DIVISION you will like these guys. Just don't drink and listen to their record.

(mp3) White Lies -- To Lose My Life

**If you like this you will like the whole album. It is very representative of their sound.

(mp3) White Lies -- From The Stars

**You don't here to many songs written in the second person. Kind of a neat trick.

Hitting Shuffle (Episode 2)

When I get a little more time this long weekend I will try to post something a little more exciting but in the meantime:

(mp3) Fugazi -- Instrument (from In On The Kill Taker)

Fugazi are the ultimate DIY band. Their records are slices of hardcore punk ethos with all the warts and bumps of a band recording on their own. I dipped my toes into their music briefly while in college and, while most of it was a bit to abrasive for my tastes (this song included), there are some of the tracks that have a certain draw when one is in a particularly angry mood. I have always admired them for not selling their soul and becoming homogenized by the music business (even though they could have made a lot of money augmenting their sound like Bad Religion did in the 90's).

Hitting Shuffle (Episode 1)

This will be a new feature here on Your Moment of Zen. Essentially, its a way to increase my productivity in the event I don't have a long time to think about a post. Often when I sit down in front of the computer to do other things, I will simply open my iTunes library and let it shuffle from song to song. Since I share the computer with my wife's music and, now, much of my kids' stuff, it can be a bit disjointed. All in all it provides the appropriate backdrop to what I am doing. So for this new concept, here are the rules:

1) The song selected must be the song that is playing when I open up a new post window.***

2) It cannot be a children's song (I won't make you suffer through "She'll Be Coming Round The Mountain...I do have a heart you know)

3) If a song appears that is from my wife's collection I cannot skip it (I do not want to end up sleeping on the couch). However, I do not have to be positive in my review of the song.

***denotes the seldom used Madden Bump rule. If a song is so abhorrent that it should have been removed from the library and just hasn't, I reserve the right to reset the shuffle once (similar to "accidentally" hitting the reset button when losing on Madden Football for the playstation) I do however, in the interest of honesty, have to tell you when I have used this rule.

So here we go, (opening iTunes now and hitting shuffle)

(mp3) Working for A Nuclear Free City -- Kingdom

Bands that make double albums are pretentious bastards. Seriously, one out of every 10 double albums make you say, "yeah, that was a good idea releasing all of those songs at once." Most of the time, there is one good record full of material and a lot of artistic noodling that could have been left in the studio and developed into better material later on. This song comes from a huge collection of 29 songs entitled "Businessmen and Ghosts". The song is a nice little shoegazer style number that I got for a podcast I did awhile back (back when I did those sorts of things). The rest of the record is a mish mash of styles that never really coalesces into a coherent sound. Intriguing but not overwhelming. But this song is a pretty good indicator of what you are getting.

Enjoy!

Random Peter Murphy Post

I admit that I never got the whole GOTH thing. I had no affinity for dressing in all black (although my wife will sometimes chastise me for the fact that I wear black slacks to work every day), the mascara and the wild hair. Outside of a love for THE CURE, the rest of the goth crowd was just a bit to extreme. For the most part I missed the boat on SISTERS OF MERCY, SIOUXSIE AND THE BANSHEES and BAUHAUS. I opted for the poppier side of alternative which was probably best for my overall social life. So when I eventually ran into Mr. Murphy it was with little knowledge of his prior band affiliation.

His 1989 album, "Deep", was merely another intriguing product of my musical investigation. Obviously the first thing that hits you is his voice. It has an otherwordly quality that can dive into a deep baritone one minute and a half falsetto the next. Hearing it for the first time takes some getting used to. Then come the lyrics. For someone in his late teens, early twenties, this sort of existential poetry full of images of love and death can be a bit much for someone who was a relatively happy guy at the time. But I just couldn't shake the sound. I came back again and again to hear the tortured tale of "Marlene Dietrich's Favorite Poem" or the soul bearing honesty of "Cuts You Up". It just had this depth to it that was missing in a lot of music at the time.

The odd thing is that for a record that I was so obviously entranced with, I never moved beyond it into the rest of his catalogue. I tried some of the Bauhaus stuff, but it wasn't the same. His next record, "Holy Smoke", felt forced and overproduced to the point where I lost interest very quickly. Some artists are like that; just flashes in our musical journey. But in this case, a flash of needed oddity to shake me out of a stale part of my life.

(mp3) Peter Murphy -- Cuts You Up

(mp3) Peter Murphy -- Marlene Dietrich's Favorite Poem