Justin Hawkins can't stop doing blow long enough to bring back 80s glam rock.
I like their first CD. And it looks now like i enjoyed their last CD.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Matt Costa
So I’m sitting on a plane from SLC to PHX and I’ve never been happier to own an iPod. One row in front, and on the opposite side of the aisle, sits perhaps the most heinous woman I have ever laid eyes on. She’s wearing black leggings, an impossibly ugly silver sweater and stupidly thin, “I’m trying to be trendy and young” style glasses to not only look plain retarded, but are probably impossible to read through. Her fat hands keep turning the pages of her book which she is not reading as she gestures wildly and speaks loudly to the lady across the aisle about how stylish and fashionable and rich she thinks she is. She spent 20 minutes making fun of the crap in the in-flight magazine, pretending that she’s so much better than that. (And if her sweater is any indication, she isn’t.) Since sitting in the airport bar near her, and then ending up on the same plane as her, I’ve seen her absolutely decimate at least 5 glasses of scotch and the volume of her voice is adjusting accordingly.
It’s this intro that I use to introduce you to Matt Costa. I’ve been pretending to know him for a little while now, but the last few days have been the first time I’ve had a chance to really dwell on and investigate his album, “Songs We Sing.” It takes a few listens to really get a good feel for a CD and I’m probably not even there yet, but I like to start writing a few listens in and then narrow down and sharpen my original thoughts as I get a better understanding of it.
In my dreams -- the ones where I’m a talented musician with a strong unapologetic voice and some serious guitar chops and I’m sitting at a campfire in the mountains of Colorado with many beautiful women gazing at me adoringly as I entertain the group with songs of tragedy and triumph that simultaneously paint me as a strong yet sensitive renaissance man who never wastes a minute of his precious time and always gets what he wants -- I am Matt Costa.
The guitar is the first thing you notice – and it’s track one and it’s the same chord being strummed repeatedly for about 30 seconds, but it’s good and it draws you in and there’s something about it that once his voice comes in, you just get the feeling that for the next 13 songs, something good is going to happen. And it’s good enough to drown out the most annoying of people. Thank god.
Costa ranges from some of the simplest bar sing-a-longs like “Sunshine” to some more complex tunes like “Sweet Thursday”. But if you’re in a basic mood and just want to hear some good, solid, unassuming, unpretentious tunes, then give Matt Costa a listen. He’s the kind of guy who should be playing Friday nights in a loud bar with a big dance floor, instead he has a CD, so put it on and swing your lady around the living room a few times (Behind the Moon, especially).
There isn’t much else to say, so I’ll wrap up by saying that eventually I’ll pick a CD I don’t like and just skewer it. But for now, I’m having fun listening to music I actually like, so I may stick with that for a while.
It’s this intro that I use to introduce you to Matt Costa. I’ve been pretending to know him for a little while now, but the last few days have been the first time I’ve had a chance to really dwell on and investigate his album, “Songs We Sing.” It takes a few listens to really get a good feel for a CD and I’m probably not even there yet, but I like to start writing a few listens in and then narrow down and sharpen my original thoughts as I get a better understanding of it.
In my dreams -- the ones where I’m a talented musician with a strong unapologetic voice and some serious guitar chops and I’m sitting at a campfire in the mountains of Colorado with many beautiful women gazing at me adoringly as I entertain the group with songs of tragedy and triumph that simultaneously paint me as a strong yet sensitive renaissance man who never wastes a minute of his precious time and always gets what he wants -- I am Matt Costa.
The guitar is the first thing you notice – and it’s track one and it’s the same chord being strummed repeatedly for about 30 seconds, but it’s good and it draws you in and there’s something about it that once his voice comes in, you just get the feeling that for the next 13 songs, something good is going to happen. And it’s good enough to drown out the most annoying of people. Thank god.
Costa ranges from some of the simplest bar sing-a-longs like “Sunshine” to some more complex tunes like “Sweet Thursday”. But if you’re in a basic mood and just want to hear some good, solid, unassuming, unpretentious tunes, then give Matt Costa a listen. He’s the kind of guy who should be playing Friday nights in a loud bar with a big dance floor, instead he has a CD, so put it on and swing your lady around the living room a few times (Behind the Moon, especially).
There isn’t much else to say, so I’ll wrap up by saying that eventually I’ll pick a CD I don’t like and just skewer it. But for now, I’m having fun listening to music I actually like, so I may stick with that for a while.
Attention People Who Still Buy CDs
Tower Records is going out of business, closing its doors and selling its inventory at bargain basement prices. If you want Cds Movies or any of the other shit they sell there, get there soon.
Locations:
http://www.towerrecords.com/stores/Default.aspx
Locations:
http://www.towerrecords.com/stores/Default.aspx
Monday, October 09, 2006
Monday Morning Shuffle
I meant to post at least once more last week but I went out of town on short notice and had no internet connection for 4 days. Frightening at first and yet, oddly relaxing once I got used to it. On with the shuffle.
1. My Favorite Things – John Coltrane from “The Very Best of Coltrane”
This is jazz music at its finest and my absolute favorite song on the CD. I couldn’t have picked a better first song for the Monday Morning Shuffle if I had tried. Coltrane and his band riff on and solo and pretty much disect the Favorite Things song from Sound of Music for 13 minutes and 45 seconds. I’m just going to stop typing now and listen to the rest of it….
2. Streets of Laredo – Johnny Cash from “American IV: The Man Comes Around”
Not one of my favorite songs from this CD but not a bad one either. There’s a pretty big distance between the two John’s we’ve started off with this morning. And I can’t say I was in the mood for this one. According to Nole, the newest post-mortem Cash release, American V, is awesome and I should go pick it up soon. So I’ll do that. And then probably review it. Unless Nole wants to? Whaddya say Nole?
3. Everywhere – Michelle Branch from “The Spirit Room”
It was tough to stop laughing about this one but before she went all hill-billy on me, I really liked Michelle Branch. And she’s from Sedona or something, so that’s cool too. Gotta support the local stars. And honestly, Michelle was probably forced into doing pop music at the time because the labels needed a response to the Britney Spears backlash that was occurring at the time and because Avril Lavigne was already spreading her Canadian born angst (and poor spelling) across the airwaves. So when Michelle got done cutting her two pop CDs (The Spirit Room and Hotel Paper, both of which were pretty good.) she probably couldn’t wait to get into country. Still, pianos, and more importantly, girls who play pianos are incredibly sexy and she’s definitely near the top of my list. 1. Alicia Keys 2. Vanessa Carlton 3. Michelle Branch 4. Elton John
4. Hold You In My Arms – Ray LaMontagne from “Trouble”
Alright, here is my first “I knew this guy before you did” moment of the day. A few years ago my mom bought me this CD along with Robert Earl Keen (who I mentioned last week) and Griffin House. I had heard of Keen, but hadn’t heard of the other two. I loaded them onto iTunes and promptly forgot about them. But they came up in the shuffle occasionally and I liked most of what I heard from both. Now, LaMontagne has released a new CD that is gathering huge critical acclaim and since he doesn’t do a fake, trying-to-be-sexy whisper like John Mayer, he will probably pass him and that one-hit wonder James Blount as the sexy, trendy singer du jour. And just in case Griffin House doesn’t come up in the shuffle anytime soon, definitely check him out too. He’s about to get pretty large as well. Hurry and you can still beat the crowd.
5. Faithful – Common from “Be”
Common is one of those hip-hop names that gets some play (like Jurassic 5) without completely selling out (like the Black-Eyed Peas). He made some appearances on Chappelle Show and got some credit because Kanye did most of his beats and each featured the other on their last albums. But Common stays pretty true to his Chiacago hip-hop roots and avoids the “dance floor beat” disease that afflicts many MCs (including Kanye) after a taste of success (you know, when the song sucks, but the beat is good so people will dance to it and thus sell records?). He still inflects a few of today’s politics and issues into his songs and yet still has some fun. His clear voice and delivery are what I like the most about Common, because you don’t miss his messages and he’s very, very smooth with his lyrics. He apparently had a CD coming out in September, so I’ll have to check and see if that actually happened and check that out. If you don’t have “Be,” it is so choice, I highly suggest you try one out.
We’ll keep it at 5 for today. Give me your thoughts in the comments. Adios.
Oh and keep an eye out for at least one more post this week. Not sure what I’ll be talking about but it’ll probably be about Matt Costa, Doves or something old that I liked in middle school (The Offspring maybe?)
1. My Favorite Things – John Coltrane from “The Very Best of Coltrane”
This is jazz music at its finest and my absolute favorite song on the CD. I couldn’t have picked a better first song for the Monday Morning Shuffle if I had tried. Coltrane and his band riff on and solo and pretty much disect the Favorite Things song from Sound of Music for 13 minutes and 45 seconds. I’m just going to stop typing now and listen to the rest of it….
2. Streets of Laredo – Johnny Cash from “American IV: The Man Comes Around”
Not one of my favorite songs from this CD but not a bad one either. There’s a pretty big distance between the two John’s we’ve started off with this morning. And I can’t say I was in the mood for this one. According to Nole, the newest post-mortem Cash release, American V, is awesome and I should go pick it up soon. So I’ll do that. And then probably review it. Unless Nole wants to? Whaddya say Nole?
3. Everywhere – Michelle Branch from “The Spirit Room”
It was tough to stop laughing about this one but before she went all hill-billy on me, I really liked Michelle Branch. And she’s from Sedona or something, so that’s cool too. Gotta support the local stars. And honestly, Michelle was probably forced into doing pop music at the time because the labels needed a response to the Britney Spears backlash that was occurring at the time and because Avril Lavigne was already spreading her Canadian born angst (and poor spelling) across the airwaves. So when Michelle got done cutting her two pop CDs (The Spirit Room and Hotel Paper, both of which were pretty good.) she probably couldn’t wait to get into country. Still, pianos, and more importantly, girls who play pianos are incredibly sexy and she’s definitely near the top of my list. 1. Alicia Keys 2. Vanessa Carlton 3. Michelle Branch 4. Elton John
4. Hold You In My Arms – Ray LaMontagne from “Trouble”
Alright, here is my first “I knew this guy before you did” moment of the day. A few years ago my mom bought me this CD along with Robert Earl Keen (who I mentioned last week) and Griffin House. I had heard of Keen, but hadn’t heard of the other two. I loaded them onto iTunes and promptly forgot about them. But they came up in the shuffle occasionally and I liked most of what I heard from both. Now, LaMontagne has released a new CD that is gathering huge critical acclaim and since he doesn’t do a fake, trying-to-be-sexy whisper like John Mayer, he will probably pass him and that one-hit wonder James Blount as the sexy, trendy singer du jour. And just in case Griffin House doesn’t come up in the shuffle anytime soon, definitely check him out too. He’s about to get pretty large as well. Hurry and you can still beat the crowd.
5. Faithful – Common from “Be”
Common is one of those hip-hop names that gets some play (like Jurassic 5) without completely selling out (like the Black-Eyed Peas). He made some appearances on Chappelle Show and got some credit because Kanye did most of his beats and each featured the other on their last albums. But Common stays pretty true to his Chiacago hip-hop roots and avoids the “dance floor beat” disease that afflicts many MCs (including Kanye) after a taste of success (you know, when the song sucks, but the beat is good so people will dance to it and thus sell records?). He still inflects a few of today’s politics and issues into his songs and yet still has some fun. His clear voice and delivery are what I like the most about Common, because you don’t miss his messages and he’s very, very smooth with his lyrics. He apparently had a CD coming out in September, so I’ll have to check and see if that actually happened and check that out. If you don’t have “Be,” it is so choice, I highly suggest you try one out.
We’ll keep it at 5 for today. Give me your thoughts in the comments. Adios.
Oh and keep an eye out for at least one more post this week. Not sure what I’ll be talking about but it’ll probably be about Matt Costa, Doves or something old that I liked in middle school (The Offspring maybe?)
Monday, October 02, 2006
Monday Morning Shuffle
Ok, so maybe it's Monday afternoon, sue me. I'm unemployed. You wouldn't be awake either.
In the interest of having some consistency on this page, i'm going to have certain days for certain types of posts, an editorial schedule if you will. That way, if it's Monday, you know that today is Monday Morning Shuffle day. Also, suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Monday Morning Shuffle will be a list of songs that came up while iTunes was shuffling this morning and a few sentences about each.
1. Posse In Effect - The Beastie Boys - Track 4 on Licensed to Ill
This is one of the most unremarkable songs on an otherwise fantastic CD. Having this song as track 4 is like having me bat 4th in the Yankees line up. After "Rhymin N Stealin," "The New Style" and "She's Crafty" it just drops off on track 4. But seriously, how good are the first 2 tracks of this CD? Damn good, that's how good.
2. Girl Anachronism - The Dresden Dolls
This was a random download and i don't really get it. I get how they're a band you could say you like and people would think you're interesting but i really can't see actually enjoying this song. Maybe the lyrics are genius but i'd never know because the song sounds like thumb tacks in my ear drums.
3. Killing Me Softly - The Fugees - Track 8 on The Score
An obvious song on a teriffic album. When Lauryn Hill rhymes on "How Many Mics" you just have to have respect and then she sings on Killing me Softly and you're like, "Is there anything this chick can't do?" and the answer to that is "No." Her voice is even better on "Fu-gee-la." If you haven't busted this CD out since high school, i highly recommend bringing it out for another listen. It's so, so good. Years later, Wyclef does a song called "Hips Don't Lie" and that was also amazing. And in case you were wondering, my hips don't lie either, at least not regularly.
4. Field Guide To The Night's Sky - Fivespeed - Track 2 on Trade In Your Halo
Fivespeed is a great local Phoenix band that just released their first major label release a few months back. This song is also on that CD which is called Morning Over Midnight and is super, super good. Definitely go buy it if you like local music. They're a little harder than some of the recent emo-core weirdness coming out of the Tempe/Mesa scene but i really like it. The lead singer's voice is almost impossible. I would have no voice in maybe like 8 seconds if i sang like that. But i love the grainy quality of it, it adds a ton of texture to the songs.
5. Clear The Area - Imogen Heap - Track 6 on Speak For Yourself
Alright, i don't watch the OC and i avoid Zach Braff movies at all costs so i was a little late jumping on the Imogen Heap bandwagon but i'm here now and i'm with it. I first listened to this CD late one night at work. I was completely alone in this gigantic office building in downtown Phoenix. It was pitch black outside, i had a ton more to do so i was just looking for something quiet that i could ignore. I got through the first few songs without paying much attention and the i got to the song "Hide and Seek" and just had to stop and listen. Then of course i went back to track 1 and listened harder and was pleasantly surprised. Not only are her lyrics good but her voice has a really unique tone and accent to it. My favorite thing about this CD was the variety of sounds she uses. There are flying guitar solos mixed in with a kind of electronica sound mixed in with blues and jazz beats. It's a very interesting and suprisingly easy-to-listen-to sound.
(Rob Gordon would definitely stop after 5 but i'm having fun so i'm going to do a few more. My blog. Fuck You. And yes, i'm going to use that reason a few thousand times in this space, in fact, i think i'm just going to go ahead and make up one of those cool internet abbreviations for it. MBFY.)
6. For Love - Robert Earl Keen - Track 1 on What I Really Mean
I am not a country fan. At all. In fact most of the shit they play on the radio makes me want to park my car in Tempe and leave the windows open so one of the vagrants will do me a favor and steal my car radio so i never, ever have to hear it again. And it's not the sound that kills me, or the twang or the line dancing. In fact, i love country bars and country people and even cowboy boots and hats. I just really hate mainstream country music that insists on me buying into their subject matter just to like the song. I just don't dig it at all. So when i heard this Robert Earl Keen CD i was pretty damn amazed. He's not a mainstream country star, and he's been doing it for a long time. He's in the Texas Country vein of Pat Green, etc. His lyrics are what used to be good about country music before Toby "Neo-Nazi" Keith and Honky Tonk Badonkadonk got ahold of it. Because the lyrics used to be about good things, they may have been sad or made you reflect on something, but at least they were thought out and well written. Country music today might as well have the Ying Yang Twins writing their lyrics ... Robert Earl Keen is more like the Johnny-Cash style of songwriting, in that he writes about less than perfect people and the less than dreamy aspects of our society. If you've never heard him, and even if you can't stand country, i highly suggest picking this one up.
8. Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye
This song needs no explanation and is an unbelievably appropriate place to stop considering the tie-ins with the name of this very blog.
Hope you enjoyed the Monday Morning Shuffle.
In the interest of having some consistency on this page, i'm going to have certain days for certain types of posts, an editorial schedule if you will. That way, if it's Monday, you know that today is Monday Morning Shuffle day. Also, suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Monday Morning Shuffle will be a list of songs that came up while iTunes was shuffling this morning and a few sentences about each.
1. Posse In Effect - The Beastie Boys - Track 4 on Licensed to Ill
This is one of the most unremarkable songs on an otherwise fantastic CD. Having this song as track 4 is like having me bat 4th in the Yankees line up. After "Rhymin N Stealin," "The New Style" and "She's Crafty" it just drops off on track 4. But seriously, how good are the first 2 tracks of this CD? Damn good, that's how good.
2. Girl Anachronism - The Dresden Dolls
This was a random download and i don't really get it. I get how they're a band you could say you like and people would think you're interesting but i really can't see actually enjoying this song. Maybe the lyrics are genius but i'd never know because the song sounds like thumb tacks in my ear drums.
3. Killing Me Softly - The Fugees - Track 8 on The Score
An obvious song on a teriffic album. When Lauryn Hill rhymes on "How Many Mics" you just have to have respect and then she sings on Killing me Softly and you're like, "Is there anything this chick can't do?" and the answer to that is "No." Her voice is even better on "Fu-gee-la." If you haven't busted this CD out since high school, i highly recommend bringing it out for another listen. It's so, so good. Years later, Wyclef does a song called "Hips Don't Lie" and that was also amazing. And in case you were wondering, my hips don't lie either, at least not regularly.
4. Field Guide To The Night's Sky - Fivespeed - Track 2 on Trade In Your Halo
Fivespeed is a great local Phoenix band that just released their first major label release a few months back. This song is also on that CD which is called Morning Over Midnight and is super, super good. Definitely go buy it if you like local music. They're a little harder than some of the recent emo-core weirdness coming out of the Tempe/Mesa scene but i really like it. The lead singer's voice is almost impossible. I would have no voice in maybe like 8 seconds if i sang like that. But i love the grainy quality of it, it adds a ton of texture to the songs.
5. Clear The Area - Imogen Heap - Track 6 on Speak For Yourself
Alright, i don't watch the OC and i avoid Zach Braff movies at all costs so i was a little late jumping on the Imogen Heap bandwagon but i'm here now and i'm with it. I first listened to this CD late one night at work. I was completely alone in this gigantic office building in downtown Phoenix. It was pitch black outside, i had a ton more to do so i was just looking for something quiet that i could ignore. I got through the first few songs without paying much attention and the i got to the song "Hide and Seek" and just had to stop and listen. Then of course i went back to track 1 and listened harder and was pleasantly surprised. Not only are her lyrics good but her voice has a really unique tone and accent to it. My favorite thing about this CD was the variety of sounds she uses. There are flying guitar solos mixed in with a kind of electronica sound mixed in with blues and jazz beats. It's a very interesting and suprisingly easy-to-listen-to sound.
(Rob Gordon would definitely stop after 5 but i'm having fun so i'm going to do a few more. My blog. Fuck You. And yes, i'm going to use that reason a few thousand times in this space, in fact, i think i'm just going to go ahead and make up one of those cool internet abbreviations for it. MBFY.)
6. For Love - Robert Earl Keen - Track 1 on What I Really Mean
I am not a country fan. At all. In fact most of the shit they play on the radio makes me want to park my car in Tempe and leave the windows open so one of the vagrants will do me a favor and steal my car radio so i never, ever have to hear it again. And it's not the sound that kills me, or the twang or the line dancing. In fact, i love country bars and country people and even cowboy boots and hats. I just really hate mainstream country music that insists on me buying into their subject matter just to like the song. I just don't dig it at all. So when i heard this Robert Earl Keen CD i was pretty damn amazed. He's not a mainstream country star, and he's been doing it for a long time. He's in the Texas Country vein of Pat Green, etc. His lyrics are what used to be good about country music before Toby "Neo-Nazi" Keith and Honky Tonk Badonkadonk got ahold of it. Because the lyrics used to be about good things, they may have been sad or made you reflect on something, but at least they were thought out and well written. Country music today might as well have the Ying Yang Twins writing their lyrics ... Robert Earl Keen is more like the Johnny-Cash style of songwriting, in that he writes about less than perfect people and the less than dreamy aspects of our society. If you've never heard him, and even if you can't stand country, i highly suggest picking this one up.
8. Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye
This song needs no explanation and is an unbelievably appropriate place to stop considering the tie-ins with the name of this very blog.
Hope you enjoyed the Monday Morning Shuffle.
Friday, September 29, 2006
Stadium Arcadium
First, the ground rules:
1. I'll review anything I damn well feel like. I don't care if it's new or old or mainstream or so indie that it hurts you that I found them first or anything else.
2. I don't really care if you agree with me about any of this really. It's my blog, i'm the critic, fuck you. (Always wanted to say that, and boy it feels good.) But seriously, i'd love to hear your thoughts on what I say, and that's why comments are fully enabled.
3. Your iPod probably has more songs than mine. You probably have been to more shows than me. You probably know Thom Yorke or got Hep C from Steven Tyler or have had a member of Blink 182 stick his head under your skirt. I'm not really concerned with how much I know vs. how much you know. I'm hoping this will become a nice little co-op music utopia where anyone who reads it can say "oh, if you liked that CD, then you'll love this one." or provide some other material that will be beneficial. That's my hope anyway.
Backstory: My mom bought me RHCP's Blood Sugar Sex Magik for Christmas in the 6th grade. I opened it and was excited to listen to it when my mom noticed that there were mostly naked men wearing only tube socks on the back of the album and that the word "sex" was also printed where my young pupils could take it in. Obviously mom put a lot of though into that gift because it caught her completely by surprise and she took it back to the store. A few years later I had the album but I had kind of passed it by. I knew the singles but didn't get into the deep cuts until after I graduated from high school. Still, I picked up every subsequent album at the beginning of every summer (for some reason, their CDs always come out in the summer.) And almost every song on every CD reminds me of something Wyoming, Montana or Canada related. (Meanwhile Suck my Kiss reminds me of walking around CU's campus in Boulder because I thought it was funny and in your face to sing it out loud while walking in large crowds of people.)
I honestly thought that Stadium Arcadium would blow. After the overhype and radio-ization of Dani California, I thought that RHCP had finally kicked the bucket and had become content to make poppy single and move on with their lives. That was a piss-poor assumption and the reason I don't listen to the radio. Thanks to iTunes, you can just delete Dani California and listen to the rest of the album unfettered. In fairness, however, Dani California is pretty much all you could ask for out of a Track 1, Side 1, so that's the last bad thing I'll say about this album.
Starting with track 2, this is one of their best CDs ever. And that's a pretty big deal. John Frusciante is absolutely stunning on this album. As a former bass player, i've always caught myself listening to Flea's bass lines and those have pretty much driven every album, up until now. Not to take anything away from Flea, who is still as good as ever, but Frusciante's guitar absolutely moves this album. I could go on and on, but I won't.
The hottest song on this album is "Make you Feel Better" because it just absolutely jams. Now that it's getting cooler in PHX, I dare you to roll down your windows on the freeway at night, play this song and NOT clap along with it. It's impossible, can't be done. When Flea's vocals come in on the 3rd verse, it's kind of a wet dream that you get to be awake for.
I've always liked songs that start slow and build up (G&R - November Rain, Weezer - Only in Dreams) and "Wet Sand" is pretty close to being one of those songs. The build-up at the end, with the afore-mentioned guitar and what sounds like an organ, and then launching off the solo with a prototypical Keidis scream. Well it's just a song that you want to hit repeat on.
This album really channels a cathartic feeling with it. I know the boys haven't had problems with drugs for a few albums but you really get the sense of good, solid happiness from the songs. Even the tunes with a heavier vibe such as "We Believe" have this uplifting feel to them, and that only comes from musicians who have been where those guys have been.
I really have to hand it to them. After all these years and all the albums (9), it would have been really easy for them to slap 12 tracks on a disk and let it sell platinum without much work and solely based on the name and the marketing. It would have been really easy for them to mail it in and support it with a half-assed stadium tour and go back home, but instead they come out with their first 2-disk set ever, with 27 really decent songs that Keidis himself called the best work they had ever done. And then they go on tour with Mars Volta, and they push themselves and they get better than I think they've ever been. To a guy like me, with the worst career ADD in the world, to stay singularly focused on making good creative music year after year is pretty impressive and something that we haven't seen in a long time, and with all likelihood in the state music is in these day, will never see again.
1. I'll review anything I damn well feel like. I don't care if it's new or old or mainstream or so indie that it hurts you that I found them first or anything else.
2. I don't really care if you agree with me about any of this really. It's my blog, i'm the critic, fuck you. (Always wanted to say that, and boy it feels good.) But seriously, i'd love to hear your thoughts on what I say, and that's why comments are fully enabled.
3. Your iPod probably has more songs than mine. You probably have been to more shows than me. You probably know Thom Yorke or got Hep C from Steven Tyler or have had a member of Blink 182 stick his head under your skirt. I'm not really concerned with how much I know vs. how much you know. I'm hoping this will become a nice little co-op music utopia where anyone who reads it can say "oh, if you liked that CD, then you'll love this one." or provide some other material that will be beneficial. That's my hope anyway.
Backstory: My mom bought me RHCP's Blood Sugar Sex Magik for Christmas in the 6th grade. I opened it and was excited to listen to it when my mom noticed that there were mostly naked men wearing only tube socks on the back of the album and that the word "sex" was also printed where my young pupils could take it in. Obviously mom put a lot of though into that gift because it caught her completely by surprise and she took it back to the store. A few years later I had the album but I had kind of passed it by. I knew the singles but didn't get into the deep cuts until after I graduated from high school. Still, I picked up every subsequent album at the beginning of every summer (for some reason, their CDs always come out in the summer.) And almost every song on every CD reminds me of something Wyoming, Montana or Canada related. (Meanwhile Suck my Kiss reminds me of walking around CU's campus in Boulder because I thought it was funny and in your face to sing it out loud while walking in large crowds of people.)
I honestly thought that Stadium Arcadium would blow. After the overhype and radio-ization of Dani California, I thought that RHCP had finally kicked the bucket and had become content to make poppy single and move on with their lives. That was a piss-poor assumption and the reason I don't listen to the radio. Thanks to iTunes, you can just delete Dani California and listen to the rest of the album unfettered. In fairness, however, Dani California is pretty much all you could ask for out of a Track 1, Side 1, so that's the last bad thing I'll say about this album.
Starting with track 2, this is one of their best CDs ever. And that's a pretty big deal. John Frusciante is absolutely stunning on this album. As a former bass player, i've always caught myself listening to Flea's bass lines and those have pretty much driven every album, up until now. Not to take anything away from Flea, who is still as good as ever, but Frusciante's guitar absolutely moves this album. I could go on and on, but I won't.
The hottest song on this album is "Make you Feel Better" because it just absolutely jams. Now that it's getting cooler in PHX, I dare you to roll down your windows on the freeway at night, play this song and NOT clap along with it. It's impossible, can't be done. When Flea's vocals come in on the 3rd verse, it's kind of a wet dream that you get to be awake for.
I've always liked songs that start slow and build up (G&R - November Rain, Weezer - Only in Dreams) and "Wet Sand" is pretty close to being one of those songs. The build-up at the end, with the afore-mentioned guitar and what sounds like an organ, and then launching off the solo with a prototypical Keidis scream. Well it's just a song that you want to hit repeat on.
This album really channels a cathartic feeling with it. I know the boys haven't had problems with drugs for a few albums but you really get the sense of good, solid happiness from the songs. Even the tunes with a heavier vibe such as "We Believe" have this uplifting feel to them, and that only comes from musicians who have been where those guys have been.
I really have to hand it to them. After all these years and all the albums (9), it would have been really easy for them to slap 12 tracks on a disk and let it sell platinum without much work and solely based on the name and the marketing. It would have been really easy for them to mail it in and support it with a half-assed stadium tour and go back home, but instead they come out with their first 2-disk set ever, with 27 really decent songs that Keidis himself called the best work they had ever done. And then they go on tour with Mars Volta, and they push themselves and they get better than I think they've ever been. To a guy like me, with the worst career ADD in the world, to stay singularly focused on making good creative music year after year is pretty impressive and something that we haven't seen in a long time, and with all likelihood in the state music is in these day, will never see again.
What Came First, the Music or the Misery?
Much like being a fireman or an astronaut, being a music critic has to be one of the coolest jobs possible. And it's one of those starving artist, stand in the back of the smokey club, i'm better than you, elitist, laptop in the messenger bag over the vintage jacket jobs that never pays well enough in cash but pays huge returns in stories and cool points and Almost Famous moments. Besides, maybe one day some major editor will read this and give me a job. Can't hurt right?
So here goes nothing.
(PS. Please leave suggestions for new bands, concerts, anything, in the comments section. I'll check them out. And i'd rather this be a forum than a soapbox.)
So here goes nothing.
(PS. Please leave suggestions for new bands, concerts, anything, in the comments section. I'll check them out. And i'd rather this be a forum than a soapbox.)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)