 |
|
|
 |
 |
|
Around the time corporate America got a hold of Rock n' Roll music it was decreed that all pop songs were to be between 3 and 4 minutes-- because honestly, who has time for a 12 minute overture. Not me. I've
recently found that I don't even have time for 3 minute songs anymore.
The following are 5 songs by 5 very different artist that get their
point across in under 2 minutes.
First we have Wayne (not lil') whose
song has become my personal mantra. Followed by El-P who sends a
letter to the government to let them know just how he feels about the
war in Iraq. While El-P crams as much as he can into a minute and a
half, Brand New does just the opposite but is no less passionate. Next
is a song by the French producer (and personal friend) Onra. It's from
his album Chinoiseries which was birthed on his trip to Vietnam where
he went digging for rare vinyl and came home with some real treasures.
Finally there's Sleeping In The Aviary with the longest song of them
all. Although it must be said that almost all their songs are under 2
minutes and rock equally as hard. Enjoy!
Wayne - Take Me Home
el-p - dear sirs
Brand New - Tautou
Onra - The Anthem
Sleeping In The Aviary - Another Girl
 |
 |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
| |
 |
|
|
There have been many renditions of “When Doves Cry.”
Some good: Quindon Tarver. Some bad: Ginuwine. But
most of them are nowhere near as engaging as The Be
Good Tanyas' version. There was actually an earlier
version of The Be Good Tanyas that included Jolie
Holland. Imagine the possibilities. Cover or no cover,
it’s hard not to love these ladies. begoodtanyas.com
The Be Good Tanyas - When Doves Cry
The Be Good Tanyas - Human Thing
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
Do you like white guys with raspy voices and an
undying love for Otis Redding? How about southern rock
that’s straightforward without all the ironic posturing
of “I’m-too-cool-for-you” hipster bands? Well,
discerning music lover, let me introduce you to
Catfish Haven. (Named after the trailer park that lead
singer George Hunter grew up in because that’s just
how “real” they keep it.) Although their studio songs
sound good I’m willing to bet they sound really great
live. When I find out I’ll let you know. Until then
try out a few songs. catfishhaven.com
Catfish Haven - Crazy For Leaving
Catfish Haven - Down By Your Fire
|
|
 |
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
|
One of my favorite songs and videos of 2006 was Greg
Laswell’s “Sing, Theresa Says.” Well this year I have
one more reason to love him: “Some boys take a
beautiful girl And hide her away from the rest of the
world but not me, I want to be the one in the sun...
Oh girls they want to have fun ” Need I say more? greglaswell.com
Greg Laswell - Sing, Theresa Says
Greg Laswell - Girls Just Want to Have Fun (Demo)
|
|
 |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
I’m writing this blog right now because I have to. You
see, I went to the The Majestic Twelve's website and
it it said: “We'll make ya a deal. We'll give you our
new disc for free, and if you like it, tell your
friends about us.” So now I’m obligated to tell you
guys about it. If you get most of your political news
from Jon Stewart as opposed to say Bill O'Reilly
you’ll probably dig The Majestic Twelve. Even if you
don’t, who cares, it’s free. Tell a friend. themajestictwelve.com
The Majestic Twelve - Condoleezza, Check My Posse
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
|
Aside from having one of my favorite band names, Heartless Bastards also have one of my favorite
albums of 2006 with Into the Open. Composed of a high school dropout (lead singer Erika Wennerstrom ) a former janitor (bassist Mike Lamping) and a former pizza delivery guy (drummer Kevin Vaughn) , Heartless Bastards know about hard times. So when Erika sings “Lord knows it’s been a while, since my face has cracked a smile.” on “Blue Day” I’m pretty sure she means it. Check it out: theheartlessbastards.com.
Heartless Bastards - Blue Day
Heartless Bastards - Searching for the Ghost
|
|
 |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
 |
The 2003 Great Lake Swimmers self titled album was
recorded in an abandoned silo in southern Ontario. A
fact makes itself known by the sounds of crickets in
the background of nearly every song. The following
album "Bodies and Mind" was recorded in a lakeside
church once again in rural southern Ontario. There
current album "Ongiara” was recorded in London,
Ontario's Aeolian Hall but there's no need to fear.
The upgrade in recording facilities hasn’t changed
them a bit. Sure, the production is a little slicker
but the songwriting of Tony Dekker is still intimate
and urgent almost to the point of intrusion. Check them out at: greatlakeswimmers.com
Great Lake Swimmers - There Is A Light
Great Lake Swimmers - Your Rocky Spine
|
|
 |
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
|
I’ve found that in my travels that most instrumental
albums, no matter the genre, are pretty boring.
So I was pleasantly pleased when I heard the sophomore
album “Classics” by Ratatat. Naming your band a
sound as opposed to a word and calling your album
“Classics” may seem a bit pretentious (They WERE the first
band ever to play a show at the Guggenheim
Museum in New York so maybe they have a right to be.) but don’t let that deter you. The album
reminds me of an awesome old school video game soundtrack.
That may sound like a bad thing but it’s really not,
I swear. Check them out at ratatatmusic.com
Ratatat - Montanita
Ratatat - Gettysburg
|
|
 |
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
|
I recently purchased an instrumental album online from
french producers Onra & Quetzal and it took me an hour
to do it. (Because I don’t speak French and google
couldn’t translate the page.) So you may be asking me
if it was worth the time and effort? Well, it hasn’t
left my computer since I put it in so the answer to
that question would be a resounding “Fuck Yeah!”
(pardon my French and the unintentional pun.) The
title of the album is “Tribute” as in a “tribute” to
soul music. It contains 35 tracks. (Don’t worry, the
album only clocks in at an hour.) 17 were produced by
Onra, 17 by Quetzal and one song co-produced by the
both of them. Any one who loved J-Dilla’s (R. I. P.)
“Donuts” or Madlib’s “Beat Konducta Vol. 1 - 2: Movie
Scenes” or just loves soul music in general will
defiantly love this one. More info at their MySpace.
Onra & Quetzal - Arts And Policy
Onra & Quetzal - Let Me Know
Onra & Quetzal - You Don't Have To Go
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
|
El Perro Del Mar (aka Sarah Assbring, the sole member
of the “band”) is what happens when a lonely Swede
spends a lot of time with her Smokey Robinson and
Supremes records. Whether she’s singing about buying
candy or going to a party all the songs on the album
follow the same formula of repeated lyrics, wafting
background harmonies, and subtle instrumentation to
get her point across. Her point in most cases is that
she's not very happy. That’s not to say that it’s a bad
album. Quite the contrary. The balance of her
melancholy voice and perky harmonies are a perfect
mix. She’s too mopey for pop, too poppy for mope. You
be the judge. Oh, yeah ... she’s real purdy, too. elperrodelmar.com
El Perro Del Mar - God Knows (You Gotta Give to Get)
El Perro Del Mar - Candy
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Although they’ve been around since the late 90’s I had
never heard of the Pernice Brothers until 2003 when I
heard the song “Baby in Two” off the album “Yours,
Mine and Ours.” Needless to say I’ve been a fan every
since. I love the way Joe Pernice balances lovely
melodies with depressing lyrics. No easy feat... trust
me, I've tried. When I saw that they had a new album
out this year I checked it out and while it is a baby
step backwards from 2005s “Discover A Lovelier You”
it’s still head and shoulders above almost everything
this side of The Decemberists. I think they sound a
bit like Belle And Sebastian but so far, I’m the only
person I know that feels that way. What do you think?
pernicebrothers.com
Pernice Brothers - Conscience Clean (I Went To Spain)
Pernice Brothers - Automaton
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
|
To the best of my knowledge the band Girls in Hawaii
are neither girls nor from Hawaii but their music is
rather dreamy (much like the girls in Hawaii) so
somehow the name fits. They are actually 6 guys from
Belgium. Go figure. It's taken two years for From Here
to There to make a stateside debut, but it’s finally
here, so check it out. girlsinhawaii.be
Girls From Hawaii - Short Song For A Short Mind
Girls From Hawaii - Flavor
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
|
The opening lines to the song “Two Sides? by
Controlling the Famous pretty much sums up my current
mind state: “I need food to eat, A girl where I sleep/
money in my pocket so I don’t have to dream.? The mind
reading doesn’t stop there either. The entire album
entitled Automatic City is an extensive study in big
city living in general and Life in Los Angeles
specifically. Once again The Militia Group, whose
roster includes great bands like Tahiti 80, The
Appleseed Cast, The Jealous Sound, The Rocket Summer
and a host of others has done it again. controllingthefamous.com
Controlling the Famous - Two Sides
Controlling the Famous - Detox
|
|
 |
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
maria rocio moreno on 
