Monthly Archives: October 2008

Why not "In Puddles"?

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Last week, TV on the Radio released their fourth album and titled it “Dear Science.” Am I being just too much of a nerd if I ask why they didn’t pick back up on Radiohead references? OK, I digress. A bit of history for you first.

Tunde Adebimpe and David Andrew Sitek are some of the biggest musical geniuses of the decade, and it’s possible you’ve never heard of them. If you collect remixes, you may have heard one of Sitek’s: Nine Inch Nails’ Survivalism is a favorite.

Adebimpe and Sitek got together as TV on the Radio and self-released their first album in 2001, titled “OK, Calculator” (are you pickin’ up what I’m layin’ down here yet?) Now, when I say self-released, I mean they went into record stores and sneaked their album onto the shelves! LOVE THAT INDIE SPIRIT! (in all caps!)

Five years later and a few extra bandmates later, their second album “Return to Cookie Mountain” was given the label “Album of the Year” by SPIN Magazine. This album featured guest appearances from such names as David Bowie and Nick Zinner from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Influences from Sitek’s friendship with Bowie and the band’s loose, improvisational style are still true on the current album.

Sitek is now working with what he calls “pretty much [his] favorite band in the world”, Massive Attack, on their upcoming album. Well he’s hooked me in, now. Back to the collaboration, though, these guys have so many amazing and creative ideas, and let’s hope they achieve all they set out to do, such as…

“cut the record into pieces, and then send maybe 15-30 seconds of music to a different filmmaker, like all over the world, and then have them send back it back in, without seeing what the other person was making, and then make… an hour long movie… like The Wall for people with attention deficit disorder”

The tracks on “Dear Science” are so smart. They are multi-layered, but not too heavily. There are some deep themes and smart lyrics. It’s beautiful how open to interpretation TVOTR allows their music to be, and the songs are so rich with sound that you feel like you’ve been given a gift with each listen.

There is so much to highlight from the career of TV on the Radio. But because I’ve already done them a horrific justice, I will just throw you the mp3 without further ado. I’m going to share with you cut 3 from “Dear Science”, and it’s one of the faster tracks. Enjoy “Dancing Choose”…

[Download Dancing Choose]

Take this sinking boat and point it home

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We’ve still got time

I am feeling very uninspired at the moment. Sorry. I hate to disappoint, but sometimes it’s tough to come up with something interesting to write, so instead, I will just highlight a few tracks that I think are interesting.

Deal?

Funny thing JUST happened! I put iTunes on shuffle to have something to listen to while I sit down to write this, and I totally fell in love with a new song from an album I had not gotten around to listening to yet. The group is The Frames. The song is Falling Slowly. I know nothing about the artist, song, album. Nothing.

But the song stopped me in my tracks just now. So good it earned a spot in the title for this post.

Falling slowly, eyes that know me
And I can’t go back
Moods that take me and erase me
And I’ll paint it black


[Download The Frames- Falling Slowly]

I went to see Dave Grohl and his Foo Fighters recently. Good show as always. Although I have seen better Foo shows, it’s still good to see them live. 

A friend of mine thinks that Grohl and Taylor Hawkins have had gay relations. I mean they do seem to be inseparable. I think I might disagree. Well. Maybe they did experiment together? Taylor could have been a power bottom.

TANGENT.

They played Gimme Stitches in the encore. They haven’t played it in MANY years. That was kick ass.


[Download The Foo Fighters – Gimmie Stitches]

My last thought is that I may have to eat my words, because I have always talked shit about Chris Cornell. Two important people in my life love Cornell. I would spout off how untalented I thought he was as soon as his name was mentioned.

Then things start unraveling.

My friend requested some specific tracks. One of them was Chris Cornell covering Micheal Jackson. I was appalled, and quickly said: “Don’t hold your breath.” But I was intrigued. I was confident that hearing Cornell do a cover of Billy Jean would crystallize his awfulness. Fuck. I was wrong. I was sorta awestruck after hearing it. Then I made the mistake of listening to more of his acoustic covers. Led Zeppelin cover. Amazing. Bob Marley cover. Even more amazing.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

Then I discover that Cornell is doing an album with Timbaland. Oh…I cracked jokes for a week. Then I heard the single Scream off the upcoming album. Damn it all to hell. It was great!

My stomach hurts just at the thought of publishing this post. You just don’t understand the shit I am about to get.

I deserve it.

Listen for yourself:

[Download Chris Cornell – Scream]

…and bonus downloads:

[Download Chris Cornell – Bob Marley Cover]

[Download Chris Cornell – Michael Jackson Cover]



Mellow…..That’s My Style

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So anyone my age would probably know the song that the title of this entry is from. It’s one fucking badass song! The image of a Charlie Brown shirt on the DJ for Urban Dance Squad with skaters abound in an empty swimming pool is one of the things I remember clearly. So for those of you who may not know it? Check out the video for “Deeper Shade of Soul”.

With that said – and you all are no doubt recovering from dancing in your seats – I have this week’s music additions to enrich your lives. Because I know you don’t want to hear any more bullshit about the election or how crazy Sarah Palin is (because she is, btw). And if you’re depressed about the stock market? Well, this music probably won’t help you. As a tip, I think Alaska still has the highest suicide rate in the US. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that if we elect McCain and Palin, that the effect she has will make that number go up nationwide. Just sayin’. So listen to our music. If it makes you happy and you know it, clap your hands. And do it at the store. I’m sure that would make their employees smile. Or look at you funny. Don’t judge me!

Okay, so first up is more music to make you understand I’m getting older. What’s sad is I’m only in my early 30’s, but no one really knows this band. Siouxsie and the Banshees weren’t a band I really discovered until this song came out, but many people know their early ’80’s hit “Peek-A-Boo”. This is the 1990 cut “Kiss Them For Me” and is actually from my own collection. It’s a really well done remix of it, and very mellow and also about eight minutes long! Awesome remix, though.

Now, just as a little added extra, here’s the video for the original. Believe it or not, I think I have this one on wax somewhere, now that I think of it!

Next up is a remix of Radiohead’s “Reckoner” off of their latest album, In Rainbows. It’s a remix done by Flying Lotus and is EXTREMELY mellow! There are tons of remixes of this cut out there, as the band has had a bit of a contest – yet again – to remix their tracks. One? It’s free stuff they ain’t gotta pay for. Smart. Two? Why the hell not? They’re also on the lookout for talent, so this is a great idea. With that, below is the Flying Lotus remix!

As always, buy this stuff! Do it! Do it now! Now, just imagine a really shitty Arnie impression while reading that. ‘Cause I am. And it’s funny. To me.