28.5.09

To the night, will you follow me?

Listening to the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' Little Shadow today, I was feeling like this song is sort of in the same vein as Tanya Donelly's Keeping You (which I posted the other day). I think the "little shadow" refers to a child, her child? Does Karen O. have a kid? Maybe, I dunno, but that's what it makes me think of, a mother asking her child to follow her to the end. I really like the line, closer/shadow/for all your strides/still you're caught between/all this sorrow, like she's trying to shield the child from the sadness in the world. It comes off as very sweet and tender.

I think I must have listened to this song about 15 times today. It's on their newest album, It's Blitz!, which dropped a couple months ago. For a few dollars more, there's also a limited version of the album with four extra acoustic tracks tacked on at the end, one of which is a cuckoo clock with strings version of this song. I kinda like it, but it's too peppy and doesn't breathe melancholy the way that this version does.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs > Little Shadow

25.5.09

Settle in, now

I think I've officially gone soft. I'm kidding, I really like the lyrics for this. Sung from a mother to a daughter (newborn?), with the mother telling how things have been far from perfect...until now. I dunno, it's a really sweet sentiment, and I love Tanya Donelly's voice. My favorite line is I've used and been used, I got over it. It's just life, it happens, and she tells it plain and simple.

Check this song on her 2002 album, Beautysleep, however, I actually prefer this live version, recorded in 2004. The original sorta sounds like a wind-up toy or something, I think it's the drums that do it. This version sounds more pure and less cluttered...from the heart, but maybe it's just me.

Tanya Donelly > Keeping You (live)

18.5.09

When you fuck it up later, do I get my money back?

I recently went to check out Bettye LaVette and Booker T. I had only heard a couple of Bettye's songs, not too much really, but I did like what I heard. What got me to buy a ticket was this video of Ms. LaVette performing The Who's classic, Love Reign O'er Me, with Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey in the audience. Watch for yourself, it looks as if those two were going to cry. She was that good.



Not knowing much about Booker T., I was keen on catching his set. I'd always seen his name, from time to time, on Stax albums, his own band (Booker T. & The MGs), but I'd never been properly exposed to his music.

I left work early so I could arrive on time. I got there about 10-15 minutes after 8 (hard to find parking)...AND BOOKER T.'S SET WAS ALREADY DONE. I suspect he came on around 7.30 or something.
Seriously! It was about 8.30, I had gotten a drink and ventured forth when I heard the words, "Ladies and gentlemen, Miss Bettye LaVette!". I swear I've never been to a show where the headliner came on so early. Some friends were supposed to meet me there as well, and they were nearby, so I texted them immediately to let them know she was on. They hustled down and barely made it in time to catch the last three or four songs. Crazy.

So I ended up missing Booker T., and Bettye LaVette was fantastic. I was surprised when she also busted out an Aimee Mann cover, which I now know is on her album, I've Got My Own Hell To Raise. If you know me, you know I'm a huge fan of Aimee, so that was a nice treat. I also picked up Booker T.'s new album, Potato Hole, and it's really cool. Seems like it's mostly covers, but there are a few songs I am unfamiliar with. I particularly like the cover of OutKast's Hey Ya.

Booker T. > Hey Ya


Bettye LaVette > How Am I Different?

10.5.09

Freedom

Get this. The other night, I had a dream that I was in a band with Zack de la Rocha. How's that for strange? I was singing with him on Freedom, from the first RATM album. I'm not sure if the rest of the band were there in the dream, though. What a weird feeling when I awoke.

Rage Against The Machine > Freedom

8.5.09

It grows like a tumor


I love this line:

I love her so much

I don't even know what planet I'm on

I love her so much
I wish she'd just go away


Joe Jackson can write a pop song as well as anyone, that's for goddamn sure.

Joe Jackson > Stranger Than Fiction

2.5.09

Wish I could shimmy like my sister can

Hmm, it's been a while, but now the Sharks stumbled out of the postseason, so I suddenly have some time on my hands.

This post is gonna be kinda lame, because I'm pretty much regurgitating someone else's post. But the main point, I think, is the music. Basically, I ran into this post over at the wonderful Soul Sides, so please be sure to check that out. I think I've always known Laura Nyro's name, but I've never checked out her music for whatever reasons. So when I saw her name pop up in my trusty RSS reader, I was a bit perplexed as to the appearance on Soul Sides. I always thought Nyro was one of those singer/songwriters in the mold of Joni Mitchell, Rickie Lee Jones, or Carole King. From what I've read, I suppose I was sorta right to cast her in that mold, but that's not the point. The reason she showed up on Soul Sides is because she recorded a really cool album of Motown covers and R&B songs, called Gonna Take A Miracle.
Labelle show up on vocals, and the whole thing was produced by Gamble & Huff, who pretty much invented Philly soul.

So, I listened to the Jimmy Mack cover, because I like the original Martha & The Vandellas track.
Let me tell you, my jaw hit the floor. The cover is great, maybe even as good as the original. It's joyful, loose, infectious and hand-clappy fun. I can't get enough of it. Also, I'm gonna toss in this cover of Major Lance's Monkey Time, just because it fucking kicks ass. The song segues into Martha & The Vandellas' Dancing In The Street and, once again, it's incredibly fun. I love near the end when there's a pause and she belts out "Wish I could shimmy like my sister can, I just dance! dance! dance!"

Hell yeah.

Laura Nyro and Labelle> Jimmy Mack


Laura Nyro and Labelle> Monkey Time/Dancing In The Street