I've been totally stuck on the New Pornographers' The Bleeding Heart Show for, I dunno, the past couple weeks. I love the way it starts up, very reserved and demure. It slowly builds, the voices playing off each other. When it all kicks it, it's bliss. Everyone singing hey la hey la hey la hey laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. Then Neko starts singing "we have arrived too late to play bleeding heart show". I have no idea what it means but it sounds great. The drumming is fantastic, sounds almost as if he can barely restrain himself, like he's about to go off the rails. Love it.
Originally, I wasn't going to go see Morrissey this week. He's playing four nights at the Fillmore. I mean, I was interested, but the ticket price is pretty high. Finally, I decided that I should see him. I've seen him once before, and that was a looooooong time ago, at a much bigger venue. It's Morrissey, and he's the man...so I shall forget about the price and go check out a living legend. I've just arranged to pick up a ticket tonight for tomorrow night's gig, which is the third show of the four.
I'm not sure if I have a favorite Morrissey song or album (we're talking solo stuff here), I've had only casual interest in his post Smiths material. I did like Your Arsenal quite a bit, as well as Vauxhall and I. I don't have his latest album, I'm not even sure of the title. Predictably, my favorite Smiths album is The Queen Is Dead, so shoot me. It's still a great album.
In any case, I'm gonna drop We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful here. It simply reminds me of the time I had seen him in 91, on Halloween night no less. That single had just been released, with a handful of live tracks (Suedehead, I've Changed My Plea To Guilty, Pregnant For The Last Time, and Alsatian Cousin) , but Your Arsenal had not yet been released. I don't know how it was elsewhere, but that single was generating a lot of the buzz here before the show.
Morrissey > We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful
Laugh if you must, but I like this cover of Rihanna's Umbrella. It's done in white girl, OC soundtrack style, but whatever. Like I said before, I'm no indie snob, I just like what I like. Or I can call it a guilty pleasure. In any case, it's Marie Digby. She's Japanese/Irish. Hott. And she has a nice voice, too.
My buddy KC linked me to this shirt and asked me if this Venn Diagram summed up our relationship. "Yeah" I said, "Pretty much." Poor KC, I hope I didn't hurt her feelings too bad. Cool shirt, I think I might pick one up. Click the pic if you want to check it out, among others, over at Diesel Sweeties.
So, here's a song you might understand someday. Just kidding, I'm not an indie snob; I mean, look at all the shit I listen to, come on. Anyways, I picked up the reissue of The Knife's Silent Shout. It comes with two additional discs: one live CD and a live DVD. The live disc is pretty sweet, I'd like to catch their show sometime. This is the live version of my favorite track from Silent Shout.
So, the new Go! Team album, Proof of Youth, is out. So far, Fake ID is my favorite track. It's got a nice melody and I still dig the cheerleader schtick. If you have the first album, Thunder Lightning Strike, you might be able to live without this one, but it's still pretty fun and worth the splash if you like the first one. PoY also seems to follow the same formula as TLS; a few songs here, then an instrumental, and then ending with an instrumental as well. It's not a bad thing, just something I noticed. The album still has that low-fi production feel, which is cool, but there's something about the production that bugs me and I'm not sure what it is. Maybe it's just because it's new, but I think this will likely end up in heavy rotation, like the previous album did. The biggest surprise is the legendary Chuck D showing up on Flashlight Fight; I am liking that song quite a bit, as well. In any case, you can pick it up at the Memphis Industries site, if you are so inclined. The album also comes with a second disc of three b-sides and a remix of Grip Like A Vice (I'm not sure if that's a limited release or not). Don't forget to check out more tracks over at their myspaXXX site.
So even the mighty Led Zeppelin have succumbed to the reunion madness. Sheesh, this one is all over the place, even I couldn't stay away from it. Apparently John Bonham's son, Jason, will be playing drums in his father's absence. Apparently, it's a one-off gig in memory of Ahmet Ertegun (co-founder of Atlantic Records) but there are swirling rumors of a full blown tour as well. A few months ago, I happened to catch a PBS documentary on Stax Records. For a while, Stax was affiliated with Atlantic Records, and they briefly talked about the artists that Ertegun had signed and produced, and his vision. He was an amazing guy when it came to music, so I guess it seems only fitting that Led Zepppelin should get back togther to honor the guy who helped them start their legendary career. I have a hard time listening to Zep these days (they were really overplayed in high school), so check out this cool cover by Kristin Hersh.
They're 5 miles high As the crow flies Leavin' vapour trails Across a blood red sky Movin' in from the East Towards the West With balaclava helmets Over their heads YES!
But if you think that Jesus Christ is coming Honey, you've got another thing coming If he ever finds out who's hijacked his name He'll cut out his heart and turn in his grave
Islam is rising The Christians mobilising The world is on it's elbows and knees It's forgotten the message And worships the creeds
"It's War" she cried "It's War" she cried "This is War!" Drop your possessions All you simple folk You will fight them on the beaches in your underclothes You will thank the good lord For raising the Union Jack You'll watch the ships sail out of harbour And the bodies come floating back Watch the ships sail out of harbour And the bodies come floating back
If the real Jesus Christ were to stand up today He'd be gunned down cold by the C.I.A. Oh, the lights that now burn brightest Behind stained glass Will cast the darkest shadows Upon the human heart But God didn't build himself that throne God doesn't live in Israel or Rome God doesn't belong to the Yankee dollar God doesn't plant the bombs for Hezbollah God doesn't even go to church And God won't send us down to Allah to burn God will remind us what we already know That the human race is about to reap what it's sown
Islam is rising The Christians mobilising The world is on it's elbows and knees It's forgotten the message And worships the creeds The world is on it's elbows and knees It's forgotten the message And worships the creeds
Armageddon days are here again Armageddon days are here again Armageddon days are here again Armageddon Days Are HERE!!!
So, football season happens to start this weekend, which reminds me of of this song, Backfield In Motion, by Mel & Tim. I'm not much of a football fan by any stretch, but this song is ridiculously catchy and amusingly riddled with sports references (mostly football) and innuendos (even though I generally feel that most songs about sports are pretty lame)(don't you hate parenthetical asides?). Apparently, these guys are cousins from Mississippi who were discovered in Chicago in the 60s, and this was their biggest hit. I grabbed this track from the most excellent box set, Beg, Scream & Shout: The Big Ol' Box of 60s Soul, which is pretty much worth whatever it says on the price tag. Check it.
I can't decide which version of this Yo La Tengo song I like better. The album version is so elegant and understated, while the EP version is completely revved up. Georgia's voice is really pretty in both cases, so I guess it's just a matter of whether I am feeling up or down. You can find the original on the Summer Sun album, and the rock n' roll version on the Today Is The Day EP. If you are interested in more, their website appears to be down at this writing, but definitely check out the inevitable myspaXXX page and the Matador Records site.
I've been totally stuck on the New Pornographers' The Bleeding Heart Show for, I dunno, the past couple weeks. I love the way it starts up, very reserved and demure. It slowly builds, the voices playing off each other. When it all kicks it, it's bliss. Everyone singing hey la hey la hey la hey laaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. Then Neko starts singing "we have arrived too late to play bleeding heart show". I have no idea what it means but it sounds great. The drumming is fantastic, sounds almost as if he can barely restrain himself, like he's about to go off the rails. Love it.
