A Revolution


I am not sure if you guys are aware, but there’s a pretty big series of events unfolding in Egypt. It certainly smacks of the word revolution. However, there are a lot that either haven’t heard much at all or only a little about it. Sad, eh? That’s the country we live in, folks. Where the halftime show for the Super Bowl – featuring what I called an embarrassment to Daft Punk fans everywhere – causes more of a controversy and sparks more debate than what an estimated 80 million people have to deal with on a daily basis. With a man we’ve supported, albeit in very private fashion, no less. Our tenuous support of Hosni Mubarak stems in large part from our dealings with Israel, so no doubt they’re keeping a close eye on this, also.

Well, regardless of what happens, this has become the biggest story in the world – and affected my travel plans. So hey, I’m providing much of a revolution of my own when it comes to fighting shady travel companies. Honestly? I’m pretty worried about the events unfolding. It has more of an impact on the world as a whole than I think people realize. It’s more of a trickle down effect, though. That entire region is unstable. From Sudan – which recently saw South Sudan vote to secede – to Tunisia, Jordan, and Yemen. What we’re witnessing is unprecedented in history. It could have long lasting ramifications with world relations. A revolution is what it truly is.

Click to Play The Beatles – Revolution

I could honestly go on and on about what is happening, but this story has so many layers and complexities to it, that I simply don’t have the room to discuss it. So enjoy your week, folks. And do try to pay attention to what’s happening in your world!

Here comes not the sun….but more snow


Okay. I get it. More snow. Seriously. If you’re reading this and anywhere in the northeastern part of the United States, you will understand why I’m pissed off. All over facebook, I have friends that have these stupid status messages saying something to the effect of, “I get it, it’s going to snow. Welcome to New England.” No, assholes, this bullshit isn’t natural. I want some fucking sunshine. And this is where my music addition for the day comes in. To all you people saying, “Suck it up, it’s New England”? I want to slam your genitalia into a car door. If you’re just as pissed as I am? Enjoy this music. It makes me look forward to this god-forsaken winter ending.

Click to Play The Beatles – Here Comes The Sun

Click to Play Belle and Sebastian – Here Comes The Sun (Live)

Click to Play Nina Simone – Here Comes The Sun (Francois K Remix)

All We Are Saying…


So I’m a big John Lennon fan. Not so much for his music as I am of the ideas that he sometimes presented through his music. He wasn’t a perfect man. He definitely enjoyed his drug use, for example. He also possessed a hot temper, and had some dealings with women I look down on. However, I feel as though his impact on the world is still felt today. Thirty years ago today, his life was senselessly taken by fanatic Mark David Chapman. Even ESPN’s Outside the Lines did a piece on Lennon’s killing.

As I said, his music isn’t really what I am a fan of. In fact, much of his solo work is very sub-par. On occasion, though, the brilliance would come out and produce musical wonders. Three of them are here today. I think we all know two of the three. The first was an anthem against the Vietnam War and helped solidify Lennon’s being booted from the States by Richard Nixon. The song “Give Peace a Chance” became the anti-war song amongst anti-war songs. The second one is also anti-war but in a bit more subtle sense. Every holiday season, we hear “Happy Christmas (War Is Over)”, and wonder where it came from, but it somehow seems to fit.

Click to Play John Lennon – Give Peace A Chance

Click to Play John Lennon – Happy Christmas (War Is Over)

The last is one that pushes more his ideas as an atheist, which continually becomes more stigmatized in this country by the day. No real help from the likes of Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens with their tactless and arrogant delivery, however. The song “God” proclaims his disbelief in the fantastical, which smacks of a bit strange, considering his past history of drug use.

Click to Play John Lennon – God

People may be wondering why I didn’t post “Imagine”. Well, if you dig back a few months on the blog, I actually did a post on the song, and the covers of it I found to be some semblance of good. Now go buy some of the man’s music!

The Brits are playing at my house….fer realz.


So last week, I bashed the crap out of what is essentially a rip-off of an old Boney M tune. Gotta be honest that I won’t back off that review. I have a ton of DJ buddies and producers here in Boston that I talked to about that track, and they were all in agreement. Not good. Well, I got a polite but contentious e-mail forwarded to me about the somewhat negative review about the “remix” of the tune. I won’t go into detail, but this week’s track is sort of a way to show how to be genuine about how you portray a song.

A remix? Is a unique interpretation of a song that you have. It’s not using the majority of the original – with minor tweaks that anyone with access to Logic, Ableton, etc. has – and slapping an acapella over it. I was just listening to a Derrick Carter set where he played a remix of an old Bjork tune, and thought to myself, “Now this is what a remix is.” I’m not bashing those tunes. There is a talent in making them. But what separates a proper remix from a bootleg or mash-up is pretty cut and dry, in my opinion.

The track today sort of exemplifies this. It doesn’t take itself seriously, and it’s presented as a mash-up. Now, I have to be clear that not all mash-ups are good. This one, however, is one I liked. A lot. The fact that there is a video accompaniment? Makes it that much more clear how seriously the kid took this project. So fans of The Beatles, The Kinks, and/or LCD Soundsystem? You should check this one out. It was done a couple of years back by a guy that goes by the name FAROFF. And hey, if you’re in the San Fran area? Go check him out Saturday, October 23rd. I bet you’d hear lots of goodies like this one.


Download FAROFF – The Brits Are Playing At My House

And you really need to check the video. It’s damned cool. A video mashup, of sorts.

Imagine


So after a long few weeks I’ve finally come to the conclusion that most people just don’t get it. We live in a country right now that holds idiots like Glenn Beck up as a hero. A man that got booted off of more than a few radio stations for making incendiary remarks lacking any intellect is hardly a hero. And save me the tea party crap. A party formed out of misguided anger will eventually eat itself and its metaphorical young, to boot.

Well, I’d rather bring you all someone that actually is a hero. Well, at least to me. I get sort of tired of the aforementioned Beck and his ilk claiming there’s some left-wing bias in the media when anyone with the smarts of a toaster oven can readily tell you that eight out of ten – if not more – radio programs are right-wing run. Same goes for print media. The reasons why are a completely different reason.

Well, these people tend to act as though they’re getting bullied. That they’re the minority. Bullshit. The minority are actually the ones that have a conscience. That despise war. That have reason. All you have to do is look at major polls done by people like those at Rasmussen to understand what sort of a country we live in. When a full two-thirds of our country supports the immigration law passed in Arizona, then people like myself are the minority. And I like to be loud and push back.

The guy that I claim as a hero here is none other than John Lennon. His song “Imagine” is pretty easily one of the top five songs all-time. Seriously. Try arguing with that. Anyhow, I’ve got the original up here today for your listening pleasure, as well as a couple of covers. One is by David Bowie, with the other done by A Perfect Circle. For anyone that doesn’t know, Lennon did the background vocals on Bowie’s “Fame”. Nice tidbit of information. So here you go. Go nuts, people. And if you’re a Glenn Beck fan? I’m laughing at you on the inside. And outside, actually. Why hide how I feel?


Download John Lennon – Imagine


Download David Bowie – Imagine


Download A Perfect Circle – Imagine