Bah Humbug

Tis the post title, only a little tongue in cheek.  Sorry folks, I'll fake a lot of things but this year I'm just not in a Christmas mood.  I wish I were but, I'm going to let it ride and wait until next year.  I have however been nostalgic lately for the "guitar god".  "There is no guitar god" you say?  Oh ye of little faith. For this post I have two goodies. The other day I attempted to make a list of my top 10 favorite guitar solos OF ALL TIME but, I failed. Because I could never narrow it down to 10 I ended up with almost 18 minutes of some of the greatest moments in music history. I hope you enjoy that, if you have the patience (pun). My other goodie is the guitar god that I speak of. There are humans that are extremely proficient at the guitar these days but, I would not call them gods. I call them guitar heroes. A wise and awesome movie once said that, "Heroes are remembered but, legends never die." The guitar gods...legends, may not have played as many notes as some of the new guitar heroes but they somehow took the notes that were available to everybody else and played them like nobody (not even the guitar heroes) could play them. They changed volume knobs forever (car & home stereos, Walkmans, Discmans, iPods, etc). There haven't been many guitar gods/legends in the last 20 years but I'm convinced that Derek Trucks is one. Here is another great example of one of the guitar greats. The guitar solo fun is at the bottom but only in flash for those that aren't slaves of the evil apple mobile empire.

The Derek Trucks link on Youtube was removed

Link to guitar solos mix

It is that time of year and for the first time in a long time I have been enjoying some Christmas music. Last year She & Him came out with this album and I have been waiting to break it back in this year. It has quickly moved up my list of favorite Xmas albums. My first of course being Bing Crosby's Christmas Album. I can see Papa Jarrett right now singing along to Bing. Have a Merry Christmas Everyone!
Cheers!
Clint.

'tis the season

So, I'm obsessed with Christmas in general, but particularly with holiday music.

Off the top of my head, in no particular order, are my top 10 (and note that they change every year...)

White Christmas - Bing Crosby
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - Darlene Love
Santa Claus is Coming to Town - Bruce Springsteen
The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole
Merry Christmas From the Family - Robert Earl Keen
All I Want for Christmas is You - Mariah Carey
Do They Know It's Christmas - Band Aid
Christmas Time is Here - Vince Guaraldi (and the Peanuts kids)
Blue Christmas - Elvis Presley
Feliz Navidad - Jose Feliciano

The worst Christmas Song ever? That is easy - 12 Days of Christmas

Now, for your enjoyment, is the Christmas song that gets me most pumped up. It starts out hilarious and ends in full rock mode. Come for SNL, stay for Julian Casablancas...

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!


i wish it was christmas today by workprint

A running timebomb

There's nothing that is more important to me during a run than having a good playlist. There are really no rules for which songs work and which ones don't. It's kinda like the supreme court justice's definition of porn, "I know it when I see it."

So, there's no explanation of why this song gives me the boost when I need it, but it does.

Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings Machine

Hola Hombres!
I have enjoyed listening to the mashup lately. There is some great stuff we have on here and it make me glad to be a part of it.

I recently posted something by the Ting Tings and stated that I haven't been listening to much music and haven't felt inspired by any in forever. That was true until a few weeks ago while I was in FL for a meeting and a guy I was working with turned me on to Gillian Welch. At first I couldn't place it, but I knew that I knew her and couldn't for the life of me remember where. Naturally I turned to the world wide interweb and realized that she is a badass Grammy Award winner for none other than one of my favorite soundtracks, Oh, Brother Where Art Thou.

INSPIRATION!

I know you guys don't like folk and bluegrass as much as I do, but her catalog of music is outstanding. Most of her Singer Songwriter stuff is a beautiful downer. They should sell the albums with a rocking chair and a porch.

Listening and researching Gillian lead me to her music partner Dave Rawlings who has a band called Dave Rawlings Machine. Here is a bluegrass cover of To Be Young.

Cheers Mates,
Clint.

Sometimes you just need a little Wu

So I'm doing the Music Mashup version of not watching any episodes of a great show all year, then buying the season on DVD and knocking it out in a weekend. Lots of good stuff coming in, but it makes me sad to see the posts that express feelings of not being inspired by music lately. I hate to see that ever happen, so I have some words of advice. When you feel like nothing is really speaking to you, like nothing is being released that means anything to you, says something that you feel is important, or makes you simply want to dance... ...reach back to the 90's. Even better, the mid-90's. Even EVEN better, mid-90's rap.

Shameless, unabashed, raw, and awesome.

 

ZZ Ward - Put the Gun Down

ZZ Ward's album came out today.

Titus Andronicus - A More Perfect Union

This is from one of my favorite albums of the last couple years and I'm more than excited for their next album that comes out this month. The guitar lines in this song are wonderful. I hope the next album has at least one guitar line like this.

Lord Huron - Ends of the Earth

Clint, it's good to have you back! I feel like I've been in the same boat as I haven't been that inspired by music lately but, there is a lot of new stuff out and a lot of new stuff coming. I think this is going to be a great fall! I heard this song on NPR this week and it has a great 58 degree pullover weather feel to it. Since Tulsa is about to get the first cold front of the fall it looks like impeccable timing.

Hi guys!
It has been a while. I really haven't felt inspired in a while by any music. I may be a little behind the curve on this band, but I really fell in love with this song when I heard it last week. I logged straight in to iTunes and bought the album. In so many ways there is nothing hotter than a super hot front lady in a band. Give a listen and let me know what you think.
Cheers!

Post from Text Message

I got set up to post to the blog from text message.  Not sure how to attach a YouTube clip that way?  I can at least let you know if I hear a great new song as its happening.  Love - BC

Japandroids - The House That Heaven Built

So my prolonged hiatus from posting is now over. I had a hard time finding new music that I really enjoyed the first half of this year but that all changed when I listened to the Japandroids new album. Apparently all I needed was loud guitar and downhill rhythms to be revived. What these guy lack in songwriting they make up for in intensity and passion. Just like for Stephen Malkmus, the lyrics don't really have to make much sense. You just have to sound like you mean it. It's good to be back.

This is an awesome band and a fun song!

M83 - Midnight City

Since it's my birthday month, I am proud to have the first post of the month! I couldn't tell you when I first heard this song. In fact, I had no clue who it was until I spent an hour and a half on the internet trying to figure out the artist and title for the song I had stuck in my head. I must admit I cheered out loud when I actually found it. It's harder than you might think.... I realized how bad I am at describing music and how awful Google is at understanding my descriptions. All that behind us, I didn't realize I liked this song until I woke up with it in my head this morning.

Dirty Projectors - blowing my mind one harmony at a time

Dirty Projectors is one of those bands I always heard about but never gave a listen to, until this week. Sometimes I like to take a flyer on iTunes and just buy an album that I know nothing about. I was lucky to find this one. "Offspring Are Blank" is the opening track to the album. This is a pretty great live version - it takes a minute or so to build, but it's worth it.

Pavement - Stereo

For this one I'm reaching back into the vault and pulling out some kick ass rock. As I think Clay mentioned once, why weren't we all listening to Pavement and starting bands in our garages in high school? Now we're stuck working for the man and blogging about the plan.

Paddy Casey - Fear

I was browsing through the iPod and found this gem. My college roommate used to play it all the time. It was one of the anthems of 730 Monnett Street in Norman, OK and reminds me of some great times drinking Guinness and watching an October rain shower from our front porch.

Gotye song follow up

I don't like this song. I've been meaning to post a follow up for a long time now. I'm sorry that I'm just now getting around to it. I can't really pinpoint it but, I just have to change the channel when it comes on the radio or Pandora. It drives me nuts.

So I was recently turned on to one of my new favorites, Father John Misty. This guy was the drummer for Fleet Foxes and now has a solo thing going. I love the Fleet Foxes, but I can't understand how this guy hid in that band for this long. He's flamboyant and supremely entertaining to watch perform. His lyrics are bitingly clever, too. Here's a great song from Letterman (love the dancing by the whole band)

Third Post is a Charm

Okay, one more. Best quote ever from Sarin tonight when she said, "Your iCloud is like the storm on my iCoud!".

Repost

This song was originally posted by Clint but, I had to repost because I was at the concert and took this total tease of a video (sorry!) and it's the best version of the song I've ever heard along with being a great freakin show. Four words that just aren't hard to say "I" and "love" and "this song". Love - BC

Let's talk about this one

Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know...we've all heard it now. Why is it so catchy? Do I really

like it? I don't know if I've figured that out yet. What do you think?

Update: this dude was just on SNL literally minutes after my post. I think I am pissed off that his breakup has now become so lucrative for him. He was probably a jerk to her anyway.

Alabama Shaaaaaaaakes

A little while back, I heard this single from a band I'd never heard of, Alabama Shakes. I loved the sound and hoped they would release an album that matched the single.

They didn't disappoint.

You can listen to the new album for free for a few more days here

It's a great album all the way through. It reminds me of the first Kings of Leon record, only if KOL had practiced a little more and had a badass woman as a lead singer.

Enjoy!

ZZ Ward - Criminal

I heard this girl today for the first time. She's freaking awesome and has some free downloads on her site. Check it out dudettes and dudes. While everybody else is listening to Adele, I will be listening to ZZ Ward because I like her way better.

I Got a Woman - Ray Charles

Ray Charles' foundation sues his children

Andrew Bird - Fatal Shore

If you're looking for some music that is best experienced through headphones on a slow day when you just feel like being alone on the porch, in the park, or anywhere you have some time to think: look no further than the new Andrew Bird album. Here's one of my favorites. Aren't the snare, tremelo and reverb guitars incredibly tasty?

SF Hipsters + Bikes = Motherf***ing Bike

Basically hilarious!

Awesome New Republic - Wheels No Engines

This is actually a different version than the mp3 I call home but, you get the idea. I can't remember when I discovered this song but it was a fun day, maybe 6 years ago? For some reason it reminds me of how San Diego smells and feels when it's about 70 degrees and sunny....or I guess every day of the year. I don't understand the pictures on the youtube video but I hope you enjoy the music.

My Best of 2011

It's good to be writing about this stuff again.

All in all 2011 felt like a down year for me.  Releases that I was pining for didn't quite do what I thought they would and in many cases I was pretty disappointed.  Luckily 2011 offered many things that were not on my radar that helped me out.

I love year end lists so heres the best I can do for you.

My Top 8 (So I can feel a bit more exclusive than CK)

1. Girls, Father, Son, Holy Ghost

2. Ty Segall, Goodbye Bread

3. Kurt Vile, Smoke Ring for My Halo

4. Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Unknown Mortal Orchestra

5. Yuck, Yuck

6. Oneohtrix Point Never, Replica

7. The Antlers, Burst Apart

8. Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Belong

I really wanted to like Bon Iver's album but I didn't and St. Vincents album just felt a little flat.

Anyways, excited about 2012, new Sleigh Bells comes out tomorrow yay.

9 for '11

So, it's been awhile. Thanks to Brett for getting the flow going again.

It only took me 1.5 months to post a "my favorite of 2011" list. At this rate, you'll see my "best of the 90's" list in 2020

Without further ado, and in no particular order:

1. Bright Eyes - The People's Key

Welcome back from your odd solo acts and bizarro bands, Conor Oberst

2. Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks - Mirror Traffic

Thanks for giving me some new material to replace Slanted and Enchanted in my playlists, Steve

3. Raphael Saadiq - Stone Rollin'

Thank you for going 1 for 3 on solo artists, Tone Toni Tony

4. Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues

Thank you for making me want to grow a ZZ Top beard and move to a cabin in the woods, Fleet Foxes

5. Bon Iver - Bon Iver

Thank you for also making me want to grow a ZZ Top beard and move to a cabin in the woods, Justin Vernon

6. The Rapture - In the Grace of Your Love

Thank you for making me dance at work (and by dance, I mean bop my legs up and down beneath my desk and bob my head up and down until someone walks into my office), The Rapture

7. Wild Flag - Wild Flag

Thank you for being the best all-girl band since Heart, Wild Flag

8. Beirut - The Rip Tide

Thank you for making me promise a promise that I will never keep (that I will listen to more multi-national music, play a tiny guitar, and sing in a weird voice), Beirut

9. Cults - Cults

Thank you for making the best fucking album of the year , Cults.

Okay, time again

Here's the weird


Here is the awesome

Two Things - Food & Music

1.) You need to check out Steve Albini's food blog, it's just as awesome as he is! Steve Albini Food Blog

2.) The other day when I was listening to Tom Petty - I Won't Back Down for about the ten thousandth time I realized that this song may be the closest thing we have on this earth to perpetual motion. There is not a single wasted note, word, or beat in it. There are other songs I like better but, there aren't many that are more perfectly crafted.



P.S. since my first post in way too long was pretty mainstream I will try and get weird next time.

Love - B.C.