Look, I’m pretty open minded. Generally pretty accepting of all things different, new, etc. There is one thing that I absolutely refuse to be open minded about; the blues.
I can’t stand the blues. Seems like most “blues” you hear these days is the same old drivel. Played (if live) by a bunch of suburban white men at local bars and music joints around town, and it seems like they are all playing the same thing. Over and over and over and over. Badly.
Every one of these bands will, without fail, have the following: 1 guy who is the “swinger” of the band. This man will have a beret or a stupid fedora, maybe a goatee, often both. 2. a bald guy. 3.) a man who will have jeans on, a black shirt and a wild colored tie.
They will play their music in a competent manner. Very unexciting, but competent. They will have groupies. Without fail there will be an older lady there who has had at least one, maybe several too many drinks. She will dance in front of the band as they play their shitty music. She will sway in a manner that is supposed to be seductive but really is just stupid.
If it’s on the radio, as it was this morning, it will all sound the same. Lame ass solos, “growling” vocals and music that you’ve heard 90 million times over. They will bore you with their supposed authenticity. You can picture the band. There will be one guy wearing a beret, or a stupid fedora. The singer will have the stupid crazy colored tie. He will think he’s cool. He’s not.
Look, everyone in a 10 block radius knows that I dig Grizzly Bear. One of my favorite bands of all time. Or at least the past year or so. That being said, I do appreciate new music. Surprise I know but really. I dig it. So with that being said I present some new music. Today’s selections for your dancing and dining pleasure come from Jonquil. Jonquil hails from Britain as do most good bands. Right? I mean, really, who ever heard of a band from Oklahoma City or Brooklyn? I mean, really. Enjoy.
Night Time Story – A relaxing trollop through the fields of verdant waving stalks of goodness and joy. Seriously.
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Parasol – The best Grizzly Bear song that you’ve ever heard. Crazy infectious vocals, music and feeling. The complete package. Total musical nirvana. And you don’t even have to wait until your on your death bed to achieve it.
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Putting Names to Faces – See previous post. I’m reminded of something from Yellow House. Catchy
.
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So Far So Good – A soothing ode to whatever it is that they’re odeing to. Doesn’t really matter it’s so good.
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The Weight of Lying On Your Back – I don’t know…Beach Boys…Flaming Lips? Whatever very nice. Enjoy!
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Water Is Yours - Many, many layers of goodness.
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Whistle Low – The snappiest tune on the disc. Takes you down a path you don’t want to leave.
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Maybe an acquired taste, but I’ve certainly acquired it. My new favorite band. According to the About page on their site, they’re all about the “videosong”. Okay, I get it. Whatever the name I dig it and so should you.
Link to their youtube channel link Link to their web site link
Update: Thanks to David K for hepping me to this crazy good version of My Favorite Things. Enjoy!
Thank god Kansas City has something else besides some stupid, damn blues Division
Driving back from Themiddleofnowhere, Kansas today, I had the ipod on shuffle and was enjoying some loverly tunes. My goodness thought I (in an uncharacteristically chaste exclamation) perhaps I should share these songs with my adoring fan. So, yes by gawd I will. In the inaugural post of the F@#king Great Songs Of The Day, we might as well start out in Kansas City.
(as a side note, sure there are lots more bands in Kansas City but I don’t happen to own any of their music so, you’re welcome to send it to me.)
Blue Skies – Blackpool Lights
So there we were at a concert in a parking lot in the bar district. Generally not my first choice of venues, because really…a parking lot? Emo was the word of the day. I was thinking about slashing my wrists and lamenting my fate because, really, people just don’t understand me. You know what I’m talking about? No, you CAN’T know, because you’re not me man. You’re just not me. While we were standing around frowning and you know, lamenting, a voice rang from the sky. It wasn’t jesus or anything, it was Blackpool Lights. It was a like someone poured a 55 gallon drum of wake up on the crowd. Great, popish kind of tunes that make you smile and realize that you don’t have to cut yourself to find happiness and that the black clothing all the time gets a little old.
Recommended Volume: 8ish. Maybe 9 if you really need a pick me up. Recommened Drink: Something sunny like maybe a screwdriver or a Bartles and Jaymes (do they still make that?..whatev..you get my drift)
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Buildings and Moutains – Republic Tigers
Light, ethereal and accessible. No, I’m not talking about me. I’m talking about Republic Tigers. Christ, it’s not always about me. Okay? Listening to the Republic Tigers reminds one that all doesn’t have to be heavy and while it may be serious, just chill. Because really, you’re gonna have a heart attack or something.
Recommended Volume: 7. You don’t want to trash the speakers again. Right? Recommended Drink: Something sophisticated and light. Something you won’t puke up later.
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Freedom In The Underworld – The Belated
Remember that skit on Saturday Night Live when the guy would yell “drama!”? This is the band for that guy. Big sweeping curves, powerful …kind of like that girl that you sat behind in Statistics. You couldn’t have her and you both knew it. But you enjoyed her entrances and her mere presence because you knew that you were near something kind of awesome.
Recommended Volume: 9ish. You need it loud to feel the power and drama. Recommended Drink: Red Wine, Absinthe
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A few years ago I got a great disc from a program director at a radio station said disc was This Towns Disaster by Blackpool Lights. Saw them not too long after that when they opened for She Loves Revenge and Placebo (I think that was the show, I could be wrong. I was wrong once before in 1983 but let’s not talk too much about that mmmkay?). Great poppy kind of sound. Fun music to listen to. I’m sure they would take offense to the “poppy” tag but then again maybe I don’t have a clue about what I’m talking about. And maybe the guys in Blackpool Lights wouldn’t mind that.
Anyway, I’m wearing the mp3 files of the disc out. I’m going to have to rerecord the disc or something. (yes I’m kidding. It’s a joke. Get it? Ha. That’s funny.)
So…whatever happened to them? I’ve included a swell video from them that you’ll be sure to enjoy.
Admit it. You’ve been working or surfing or whatever, listening to music and get a bit distracted. You turn off the music to watch the video of the baby dancing to Michael Jackson or some cute kitty chasing a dildo that got left on and is vibrating across the floor. You then forget to turn the music back on and hours later realize you’re listening to your head do whatever it is your head does inside.
Saturday morning. Chilling. Coffee. NPR. Much goodness.
NPR ends at 9 and I’ve become less and less enamored of Car Talk over the years. My wife digs them but I’m kind of over them.
At 9 then we have to decide what comes on the stereo. For me it’s Indie Retrograde on Indie 1031.
No constant repeated songs of what someone decides is “alternative”. It’s all good, all the time. Let me rephrase that, it’s good most of the time. Pet Shop Boys notwithstanding.
For instance, Uncontrollable Urge by Devo (on right now). Great, great, great rockin song from an underappreciated album. Right before that was X. Not an Incubus song to be found. Thank god.
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Remember the band America? Some hits in the 70′s…”A Horse With No Name”…”Ventura Highway”(note: edited from Diamond Girl, which was Seals and Crofts…thanks to Scott Bland!)…not bad, great harmonies…kind of happy music, even if the subject matter wasn’t happy happy.
Apparently the guys in Grizzly Bear remember them as well. And with a fondness.
The new Grizzly Bear album Vecktamist, is the best America album you’ve ever heard.
Our haven on the southern point is calling us
Our haven on the southern point is calling us
And faced with all the obvious she’ll carry us
Avert your eyes from all of this,
we’ll make it all back
In the end you’ll never find
You’ll never find me now
But I’ll return to you
When you return to me
In regards to the last word
It’s the last you’ll hear
I’d never find any other
I could ever
I could ever
Never say it’s the last one
It’s not the last one
I’d never find any other
I could ever
I could ever
Very occassionally we’ll feature new music we’ve acquired, found, or otherwise somehow added to Itunes. Enjoy!
Audiovox - A Kansas City band ready to rocket to international stardom and fame. Well, they’re famous in our house anyway. Enjoy. Audiovox on The Pitch.com Breaking Up Is Breaking Out
please note that the song is not the Paul McCartney Christmas song. Keep with it and you’ll be rewarded.
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Mortimer
a great rock and roll song. music from the midwest doesn’t have to be boring.
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Audrye Sessions
A band from Oakland that isn’t rap! Go figure.
I’m reminded of some great 80′s guitar bands. Early 80′s. Very cool. Myspace
Juliana
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Awake
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Santigold Say Aha
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L.E.S. Artistes
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