Category: Music (Page 4 of 5)

Pope Benedict XVI, in addition to being a hard-line conservative with a Nazi past (disgruntled or otherwise), is also against rock music. Yes, rock is “an instrument of the Devil” containing “diabolical and satanic messages” that “endangers the human soul.” Catholicism, thy date-stamp is 1955.

(via waxy)

I heard a cover band play Kiss’ “Rock and Roll All Nite” this weekend.

At a black-tie wedding reception.

I’m not sure exactly, but surely this is a sign of something.

I dig the return of dirty rock ‘n roll.

~ The Strokes, “Reptilia” (single)

~ Franz Ferdinand, “Take Me Out” (album)

~ The Vines, “Ride” (single)

One must still genuflect to the master:

~ James Gang, “Funk #49”

That left-to-right stereo slide of the opening guitar lick is one of my favorite moments in recorded music.

What’s a matta you

Hey!

Gotta no respect

Hey!

Whadda you think you do

Hey!

Why you looka so sad

Hey!

It’s a not so bad

Hey!

It’s a nice a place

AH SHADDAP A YOU FACE

Must … own … Mars Volta … soon!

This movie is the best thing I’ve seen online in a very long time. (Turn up your volume and watch it through.)

Got some email today about my In Sweet Harmony music show that I did for dack.com a few years back. Been a while since I’ve discovered much new music—and by the way, after the “oh goody” aspect wore off, wasn’t that new Fountains of Wayne album disappointing?—but I’m proud to note that the In Sweet Harmony mix holds up nicely. A good hook is timeless.

Sadly, the link to the audio file of the show doesn’t seem to work anymore. Feel free to email me if you want to hear, say, Thin Lizard Dawn for yourself. Always good to find new tunes. I have to get back into the business of finding more Beatles-influenced artists, and soon.

Dack, meanwhile, has moved onto angrier things.

Long before the advent of peer-to-peer file sharing, I was taping my friends’ LPs and CDs onto cassette to sample in my car. I have hundreds of classic rock albums on Maxell XLII90s in storage in my parents’ house.

I bought a CD burner in 1998 and burned scores of albums in the years since. When Napster hit I had a field day finding music I hadn’t heard in ages.

I am 30 years old and my music collection now includes more than 150 records, 500 cassettes and 1200 compact discs. The vast majority I bought retail or used. I once estimated that I have spent more than $10,000 on music in my lifetime.

Ten grand.

The unquantifiable portion is what I would have spent had I not had free access to music. It easily could be less. Would I have shelled out $60 for the first Led Zeppelin box set had I not taped their studio albums years earlier? Would I own six Morphine albums if I didn’t possess a burned copy of their debut first?

I do not disagree that file sharing has hurt the RIAA’s sales; a 25 percent decline in three years is severe. But the argument cuts both ways.

I have just restumbled upon Friday Five, wherein random webloggers and online self-publishing folk such as this author answer five questions published by Friday Five Dot Org. Disregarding the fact that today is Monday, a dearth of content produced locally, and a music theme in the latest edition, compels yours truly to tackle the five questions herein.

I have just restumbled upon Friday Five, wherein random webloggers and online self-publishing folk such as this author answer five questions published by Friday Five Dot Org. Disregarding the fact that today is Monday, a dearth of content produced locally, and a music theme in the latest edition, compels yours truly to tackle the five questions herein.

1. Name one song you hate to admit you like.

I’m pretty open with my musical tastes, including most guilty pleasures. I am, after all, a lifelong Kiss fan. But I must confess to enjoying, quietly and consistently, all the big Richard Marx hits.

2. Name two songs that always make you cry.

Music doesn’t make me cry. It does, however, make me swoon. Songs that get me include “Moby Octopad,” by Yo La Tengo, and, once upon a time, “Black Velvet,” by Alannah Myles (at least, it did, before it got played and cliched).

3. Name three songs that turn you on.

In lieu of particular songs, I will give you, dear reader, the one fuck-while-listening-to-this CD you ever need to own, given that you already know to stock your shelves with good jazz and Marvin Gaye to set the mood beforehand:

No Protection, Massive Attack v. Mad Professor

You can thank me later. It’s also quite good on its own.

4. Name four songs that always make you feel good.

So so many. A few zingers off the top of my head:

~ “Sweetness and Love,” Odds

~ “Where’s Summer B,” Ben Folds Five

~ “Riding on the Back,” Francis Dunnery

~ “Cult of Personality,” Living Colour

5. Name five songs you couldn’t ever do without.

Once upon a time I compiled a list of 33 1/3 albums and 78 songs I considered essential to my collection. Here are five of those songs, best as I can remember (someday I’ll recompile and publish the big sheet). Some of the artists and songs listed above—no, not Richard Marx—are among my 78.

~ “Movin’,” Supergrass

~ “The Jam,” Larry Graham Band

~ “Parasite,” Kiss

~ “Time Capsule,” Matthew Sweet

~ “A Love Supreme,” John Coltrane

There are so many more that the shortlist pains me. But it’s a start.

…is much more fun when it’s about music, not news. But it’s a hot day:

Maurice Gibb dead at 53

NBC President Andrew Lack to replace Tommy Mottola at Sony (analysis)

Pete Townshend arrested on child pornography suspicion (although it doesn’t sound like much)

And the biggie: ‘Mullet Rock’ compilation shaping up. I’m (mildly) embarrassed to admit I like a lot of these songs.