"And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honah Lee..."

My youngest daughter's favorite new song is "Puff The Magic Dragon".

She sings it all day and all night, and I chuckle a little to myself everytime she does. I think I'll wait until she turns 18 to tell her what it's really about...

One Of My Turns

It's that time of year again, folks, when the "Honey-Do's" switch gears from the inside of the house to the outside. Time to clean the gutters, rake the leaves, take the patio furniture down and store it for the winter. My efforts are rewarded, as they are each year, with a great big holiday bottle of Tanqueray gin.
Time to settle in and take stock of the prior years trials/successes and plan my moves for (holy crap!) 2009.
My musical tastes change as well. The bright summery sounds on my iPod take a back seat for the more introspective and moody sounds that have always soundtracked my winters for as long as I can remember. Sure the bands have changed, but the mood of the music has remained fairly consistant. Bands like Pink Floyd, The Orb, Mercury Rev, Dylan and The Band, Wilco and many more who took a powder during the blazing summer months here in Northern California make a welcome return to heavy rotation. This is also a season for giving and sharing and I make room each year on my iPod for my daughters and my wife, who don't always quite share in my love for the more eclectic sounds.
There are a few holiday playlists I need to get busy creating: a jazz one for me, some Harry Connick Jr and his "ilk" for my wife (she really has pretty good taste, but gets a little maudlin with her music this time of year) and some kids' classics for the little one's which may or may not include some Burl Ives tunes.
It's been one hell of a tough year for those of us who choose to stay in the newspaper biz as a profession, so a little holiday cheer is very much needed. But hey, I've still got my house, my family and my health, my friends, my job and my iPod. I have nothing to complain about and everything to look forward to.


Cheers!

Digging Through The Archives Of Eclecticism

Been in a weird musical mood lately.

No one genre seems like enough, my mind requires a varitable cornucopia of styles to satisfy it's cravings. It's restless almost to the point of obsession, folks, and I'm sure it can't be healthy. These wild musical mood swings only ever lead to me downloading massive quantities of tunes. I feel a little like an alcoholic on a binge at the moment. I'll consume as much as I can in a very small amount of time, enjoying myself thoroughly until the buzz wears off and I wake up, look at my iTunes library and wonder to myself why I spent so much money.

Actually, truth be told, I haven't spent that much. I have found some great deals on Amazon (most albums less than $5.00) which have satisfied my jonesin' ears. I ended up with the original Rocky Horror Picture Show soundtrack, which is still a campy glam guilty pleasure all these years later, although this time I won't have to wash mustard out of my hair. A funky double album masterpiece from Funkadelic entitled America Eats It's Young, which includes the politically correct track "Loose Booty". Jean Michel Jarre and his space odyssey OXYGENE, possibly one of the best electronic statements ever recorded. The remastered and expanded editions of Technique and Power, Corruption and Lies by New Order. They are magnificent, the former an Ibiza dance classic and the latter the sound of the band breaking clear of the shadow of their former band Joy Division. To top it off, I chose Rockpile and their one and only album Seconds Of Pleasure. A purer rock and roll album you will not find, my friends. Don't know why it took me this long to buy it. It's got 6 Nick Lowe compositions on it which should have been reason enough.

But I think I have to stop now and let my new aquisitions digest in my system for a while. Let them breathe, get their legs about them. I'd hate for one to get lost in the shuffle...

Weekend Cut 'N' Paste: Bigger Ain't Always Better

Biggest Selling Singles In The United States

*Bits and pieces of the following were stolen from Yahoo! Music*

The biggest selling single of all time in the United States has sold almost twice as many as its closest competition. In 1997, Elton John released a remake of his classic 1973 song "Candle In The Wind" with new lyrics that paid homage to Diana, Princess of Wales after her untimely death. This single sold over 11 million copies in the United States. An incredible figure.

So what are the runners up to "Candle In The Wind 1997"? Well, only two have broken the 6 million mark ("A Little Less Conversation" by Elvis Presley & "Here Without You" by 3 Doors Down"), and only 12 have cracked the 4 million mark.

All the songs in the following playlist have sold over 4 million copies as a single in America. Some will surprise you, many will not. What do you think?

Biggest Selling Singles In The United States

1. A Little Less Conversation - Elvis Presley

2. Here Without You - 3 Doors Down

3. Another One Bites The Dust - Queen

4. Apologize - Timbaland

5. (Everything I Do) I Do It For You - Bryan Adams

6. Hey Jude - The Beatles*

7. Hound Dog/Don't Be Cruel - Elvis Presley

8. I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston

9. Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye

10. Low - Flo Rida

11. Macarena - Los del Rio

12. Ridin' - Chamillionaire

13. We Are The World - USA For Africa**

14. Whoomp There It Is - Tag Team

Oasis: Dig Out Your Soul

Does anyone really care about a new Oasis record anymore? I mean, I'm curious, a little, but not so curious as to throw down $10, which is saying something. I previewed some of the tracks, read some of the reviews (mixed, but mainly positive) but aside from The Shock Of The Lightning the album seems a mile away from their joyous beginnings. I mean, Definitely Maybe was a fantastic album, and the folow up (What's The Story, Morning Glory?) was pretty great as well. Their blatant riff rips and Beatles piracy seemed like a good thing at the time, especially when combined with Liam's Johnny Rotten sneer, but it's old now. Really old.
However, they went downhill fast after the bloated mess that was Be Here Now and I lost interest and haven't really regained it. I bought Don't Believe The Truth, and enjoyed it somewhat, but it's not received regular airtime in quite a while. Nothing they've done since the mid-90's has stayed with me for more than a month or so. Damn shame, the lads had so much promise...

Some New Noises, Please!

"There are days when I can't remember what the Sixties felt felt like, but boy, yesterday sure wiped all the rust and dust off those Sixties ideals."

That quote is from Holly, she of The Song In My Head Today fame, and she's referring to the historic election we had a few days ago. That quote got me thinking, and I wonder if we're going to see a massive change in the musical winds over the next couple of years. I'm not naive enough to think that we'll see another burst of creativity like the mid to late 60's, but some truly original ideas would be nice. There have been some great albums released in the past 8 years but a ton of those have only built on the foundations of the past. I'm a little tired of playing "spot the influences" if I'm to be totally honest here. It's time to stop regurgitating and time to start creating something new. Or is that impossible? I'd like to think that it's possible myself, and with the regime change here in the States it should be a good time for it.

I can always dream...

Great (?) Albums Released In 1992

Boy I better get moving on this "Great Albums By Year" quest if I'm to reach the best of 2008 by December 31st!
So here we go with another instalment, this time 1992, a very schitzophrenic year for music...

Pavement, Slanted and Enchanted
Aphex Twin, Selected Ambient Works 85-92
Los Lobos, Kiko
Bob Dylan, Good As I Been To You
Beastie Boys, Check Your Head
Morrissey, Viva Hate!
Stereo MC's, Connected
Ministry, Psalm 69
The Black Crowes, The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion
Tom Waits, Bone Machine
PJ Harvey, Dry
Pop Will Eat Itself, The Looks Or The Lifestyle
Sonic Youth, Dirty
R.E.M., Automatic For The People
Nine Inch Nails, Broken/Fixed
Morphine, Good
Stereolab, Peng!
James, Seven
Red House Painters, Down Colorful Hill
Phish, A Picture Of Nectar
Rollins Band, End Of Silence
Orb, U.F.Orb
Yo La Tengo, May I Sing With Me
Juliana Hatfield, Hey Babe
Rocket From The Crypt, Circa Now
Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet, Dim The Lights, Chill The Ham
Jon Spencer Blues Experience
Rage Against The Machine
Magnetic Fields, The Wayward Bus
Tom Verlaine, Warm and Cool
Spiritualized, Lazer Guided Melodies
Tricky, Pre-Millenium Tension
Prodigy, Experience
Nick Cave, Henry's Dream
Lemonheads, It's A Shame About Ray
Faith No More, Angel Dust
Flaming Lips: Hit To Death In The Future Head
Daniel Johnston, Artistic Vice
Uncle Tupelo, March 16-20, 1992
Melvins, Melvins
Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy, Hypocrisy Is The Greatest Luxury
10,000 Maniacs, Our Time In Eden
Mr T Experience, Milk Milk Lemonade

...up next is 1993, and the beginning of the Britpop revolution!

Fleet Foxes

Well I finally pulled the trigger and bought Fleet Foxes. The massive critical hype made me instantly nervous, as I have been burned more than once (TV On The Radio's "Return From Cookie Mountain" was touted as "the album of a generation", and I thought it overblown and pretentious) by the Pitchforians and their ilk.
But hey, I had $10 burning a hole in my pocket so I did it.
Here's what some of the critics had to say about it when it was released in June of this year:
From Delusions Of Adequacy: "With their self-titled debut, Fleet Foxes have attained this and have delivered one of the best albums of the year."
From The Guardian: "It all adds up to a landmark in American music, an instant classic."
From MOJO: "The sense of wonder in Fleet Foxes' songs is matched only by the discipline and talent that created this adventurous, evocative record. One which is already shaping up as an album of the year."
From Dot Music: "Ironically, though defined sartorially and sonically by this short window in history, the songs on their debut album are mostly timeless. Few better will be released in 2008."
From The Austin Chronicle: "A number of contemporary indie bands attempts to strip-mine mountain ballads in the service of indie pop, but none has melded the impulses as effortlessly and captivatingly as Fleet Foxes manage on "Blue Ridge Mountains" and "Oliver James." Sublime."

...and the list goes on...and on...and on. Even some of you reading this have touted the magnificance and significance of this album on your music blogs.
I've listened to it only a couple of times and I think I really dig it! A great late night album, for sure, with excellent harmonies and great musicianship. But it's the melodies that keep me interested, something that is sorely lacking with many of today's bands. Not bubblegum teeny-bopper type melodies, but strong ones that help define the song, give it heft. It's telling that the list of people they thank in the liner notes include Bob Dylan, The Band, Brian Wilson, John Lennon, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Charles Mingus, Harry Nillson, Marvin Gaye, Arthur Lee and Townes Van Zandt. They are students of music, but good music, and even though their influences betray them somewhat I find solace in the fact that they coul have picked worse.
I don't have the history with this album yet to give it a song by song review; they're many great sites that do a much better job at that sort of thing than I. Is it a great album? I think so, but will it top my "best of list" this year? I don't think so. So far it's been tough to beat Nick Cave's Dig Lazarus Dig!, but you never know. Excellent albums have a way of sneaking up on you. Stay tuned...

I Gotta Get Me One Of These

Wow, a genuine bumwadipod dock! How cool is that? Now I can combine two of my "great escapes" into one.
Hmnnn, I wonder what the playlist would consist of...?

Oh, and as a side note: If you can find it, the Orb's version of Free Bird is a friggin classic!

Eclectic Video Weekend

Primal Scream's "Can't Go Back"

Nick Lowe's "What's So Funny ('Bout Peace Love And Understanding"

My Morning Jacket's "One Big Holiday"

And, from The OST To The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Tim Curry camping it up with "Sweet Transvestite"

A Few Things The "Downloading Revolution" Has Destroyed

Album art and liner notes.

The smell of new music.

Spending/ investing many (wonderful) hours at independent brick and mortar music shops, simply browsing.

Rolling, ahem, cigarettes, ahem, on gatefold sleeves.

Scrounging for milk crates, most often behind convenience stores, to store your albums (LP's).

Organizing your albums alphabetically, chronologically, by genre, whatever.

Buying new albums based solely on artwork or band name and, occasionally, finding a real treasure.

The experience and excitement of searching for months (or years!), and finally finding that rare CD or LP.

Trading in old albums you no longer listen to for something new.

Bragging rights on the size and diversity of your collection.

Great (?) Albums Released In 1991

Here we are at one of my favorite years for recorded music. 1991 was the 1967 of the rave and grunge generation with albums of great creativity and originality being released almost daily. Primal Scream, My Bloody Valentine and Nirvana defined new genres and U2 released the best record of their career. Teenage Fanclub and Matthew Sweet re-energized power pop. John Prine recorded and released what many would argue was his best album up to that point.
Grunge, house music and the "shoegazer" bands would eventually go the way of the dodo but for a brief moment in time it was all extremely exciting.
As always, let me know if I left anything out.

My Bloody Valentine: Loveless
John Prine: The Missing Years
Mercury Rev: Yerself Is Steam
Codeine: Frigid Stars
U2: Achtung Baby
KLF: The White Room
Massive Attack: Blue Lines
Teenage Fanclub: Bandwagonesque
Fishbone: Reality Of My Surroundings
Pop Will Eat Itself: Cure For Sanity
American Music Club: Everclear
Ozric Tentacles: Strangeitude
Nirvana: Nevermind
Primus: Sailing The Seas Of Cheese
Joni Mitchell: Night Ride Home
Talk Talk: Laughing Stock
Pixies: Trompe Le Monde
Sebadoh: III
Metallica: self-titled
Matthew Sweet: Girlfriend
Orbital: Yellow
808 State: Ex:el
Orb: Adventures Beyond The Ultraworld
Guns And Roses: Use Your Illusion
Mudhoney: Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge
Melvins: Bullhead
Red Hot Chili Peppers: Blood Sugar Sex Magik
Pearl Jam: Ten
Public Enemy: Apocalypse '91
Saint Etienne: Foxbase Alpha
Ice-T: Original Gangster
Neil Young: Arc
Steve Hillage: System 7
Sarah McLachlan: Solace
Primal Scream: Screamadelica
Rocket From The Crypt: Paint As A Fragrance
Sting: The Soul Cages
Toad The Wet Sprocket: Fear

Rat Patrol From Fort Bragg

"Combat Rock was originally planned as a double album with the working title Rat Patrol from Fort Bragg, but the idea was scrapped after internal wrangling within the group. Mick Jones had produced the first cut, but the other members were dissatisfied and producing duties were handed to Glyn Johns at which point the album became a single LP. The original cut has since been obtained and subsequently bootlegged."(from wikipedia)

Ok, WTF!?!?!

I consider myself a fairly huge Clash fan and I knew zip about this. I'm embarassed but at the same time pretty excited that I found some new Clash tunes! Managed to get my hands on a copy, and it seems that the aforementioned Glyn Johns did a bit of a hatchet job on Combat Rock. Extended intros/ outros and whole songs were cut from Combat Rock, and whether or not this was a good idea will depend on who you ask. In addition to the editing of the tracks, some on here are alternate takes, and although a couple are fairly muddy the majority are of really decent sound quality! And, in some cases, these versions eclipse the released version, and in the case of Should I Stay Or Should I Go eclipse the Combat Rock version by a freakin' mile!

So, yeah, I'm fairly stoked. It's all over the web, apparantly, readily available with the blessing of Mick Jones.

Did any of you reading this know about Rat Patrol?

Please, Someone Save Me From Myself!

Everyone has made a few musical faux-pas during their lifetime. If you're me, then you've made more than a few. Bands or albums that you were infactuated with at the time that sounded groundbreaking and fresh then, after a period of a few years sounded horribly dated or just plain horrible. You ask yourself, "what the hell was I smoking?" and "I wish someone would've tipped me off how bad that was before I rolled down the windows of my Pontiac Sunfire and blasted 'Hungry Like The Wolf' at top volume!"
A friend of mine, mercurial commentor Rumproast, saved me more than once, the most memorable time was with a little band called The Soup Dragons. I was in love with the band's album Love God back in the early 90's until Rumproast informed me that the singer sang with a lisp. You remember their big hit, right? A reggae-rock-techno cover of the Stones I'm Free. I didn't believe him, if I recall, but upon close scrutiny of that particular track I came to the realization that he was spot on.

"I'm FWEEEEE, To do what I want, any old time..."

That, coupled with the fact that Rumproast sung it in a mocking way in an Elmer Fudd accent, was enough. I sold the thing immediately. He was right, of course. They were crap. We used to mock each other relentlessly, and you know what? It was the honorable thing to do, to save each other from commiting musical suicide.

And then we bought tickets and went to see Jesus Jones...

Shuckin' The Jive

The following has nothing to do with music, or comics for that matter, it's just something I read the other day that made me laugh out loud. And since that doesn't happen very often I thought I'd share. After you read it you'll probably be convinced that I'm this totally bonkers guy living in a basement like that Silence Of The Lambs dude, but I'm really quite normal. I've just got a very bizarre sense of humor.

Enjoy, and special props to whomever can name the author or the book from which this was taken.

"I was sitting at home, peeking through the blinds at my neighbor's wife, minding my own business, when my doorbell rang. "Who's there?" I shouted. "We don't know," came the reply. I immediately knew the dopes had come over. I opened the door and invited them in. I was happy to have company even if they were a bunch of dopes.

'Well, what brings you over this way?" I queried.
"Yup."
"Yup."
"Yup."
"Yup." they said.

"Would you like some coffee?" I asked.
"Gol," said one dope, "how long have we been here?"
"About two minutes."
"Gol, we should have left hours ago!" And they packed up some of my things and lumbered out.
"Goodbye Dopes!" I shouted.
They turned to me and shouted back, "Goodbye, you big fuckin' idiot!"