speed of dark

In recognition of the 40th anniversary of the release of the Beatles' ground-breaking album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, on June 1 (yes, that's how far behind I am), I am posting some Beatles covers.

I was a Beatles fan; in fact the first concert I went to was the Beatles in New Orleans in 1965 at Tulane Stadium. They could have been any four mop-haired men from the seats I had, and I couldn't hear anything because everyone was screaming. I was screaming too. It all seems so silly now!

But the music has endured through all that goofy teen-fan-club garbage because the writing is solid and the scope is universal. Here are some of their most beautiful songs. I have a hard time choosing between Rufus and Fiona Apple on "Universe."

Here's to the Beatles and to Fridays!

Ted Leo: I'm Looking Through You
Guster: Two of Us
Rickie Lee Jones: For No One
Rufus Wainwright: Across the Universe
Ben Kweller: Wait
The Pretenders: Not a Second Time

From the blogroll:

Dave at The Rawking Refuses to Stop has his mid-year top ten albums list up--a good way to check and see what good stuff you may have missed so far.

Let Eric at Can You See the Sunset From the Southside be your guide for Lollapalooza 2007, in his hometown of Chicago. He has sample songs of the groups that will be there.

Find a delightful cover of Death Cab For Cutie's "Lightness" at Lost In Your Inbox, and more from good stuff from earlier this week as well.

Music Is Art features guest poster, artist Ray Caesar, sharing his favorite songs and revealing secrets about the source of his inspirations. This is a unique and fascinating post.

Nathaniel at I Guess I'm Floating calls Xavier Rudd's show "one of the best" at Bonnaroo. I have recently discovered Rudd myself, and I'll be writing about him soon.

Looking for summer songs? Mars Needs Guitars has got them a double mix for you.

Have you got the scoop about the Apple iPhones? Catch up on the latest at Stereogums. While you're there, read about the new Smashing Pumplins' album, which is being released with different songs depending on where you purchase. Let the buyer beware!

I am SO jealous: Rewritable Content saw Beirut in London and recorded the concert for us. Live tracks of songs from the unreleased new album, The Flying Club Cup!

Happy Friday to all!

Dear Readers:

I have just learned that Iain Smith, one of the three members of London-based band Chow Chow, passed away unexpectedly last Sunday, June 24. He was only 26 years old.

Stu and Nathan, the other two band members, are understandably in shock and feel that this is the end of Chow Chow as well. They have posted a goodbye message to their MySpace friends. They also have a page for tributes and condolences for fans.

I posted about Chow Chow in January. That's Iain on the right in the picture. I was pleased that things seemed to be going so well for them this year. They kept up a steady stream of chatty bulletins about their live shows and successes. A tour was scheduled to support the release next month of their new EP Colours and Lines.

I am deeply saddened by this news, and my heart goes out to the band and members of Iain's family who are suffering his loss.

I will miss you, Iain and Chow Chow.

MySpace | eMusic

NO COPYRIGHTED CONTENT APPEARS IN THIS POST
To anyone having objection to the content in this post, please have the courtesy to contact me directly by e-mail.

~alt-gramma~

There is a long-standing bond between rock and country music. Here are some new bands that are exploring that tradition, some from quite unexpected places.

Mountain Firework Co.


The Mountain Firework Company of Brighton, U.K. remind us Americans that much of the music we think of as OUR country music has its foundations in traditional Irish and Scottish tunes. Gareth McGahan (lead singer/guitarist), Jim Harmer (mandolin), Grant Allardyce (Drums), Simon C. Russell (double bass), Matt Oldfield (banjo), and sometime-guest Mike Simmonds (violin) blur that line with some lovely and lively melodies. I can't wait till my copy arrives in my mailbox.

Stream their catalog and buy their CD on one of the most adorable band websites I have seen yet. Be sure to listen to "Me Me Me" on their MySpace site, and read their blog entries for hilarious letters from Chinese fireworks companies offering to do business with them.

From A Rough Guide To Feeling Rough:
The Mountain Firework Co: You're On Your Own
The Mountain Firework Co: Down In Love

MySpace | Buy at their Website | Label: unsigned

Upcoming shows:
Jul 8 2007 - Paddle Round the Pier-Brunswick Square, Brighton, U.K.
Jul 15 2007 - Joogleberry Playhouse, Brighton, U.K.
Aug 3 2007 - Lewes Guitar Festival, Lewes, U.K.
Aug 5 2007 - Lewes Guitar Festival lunchtime gig, Lewes
Sep 29 2007 - The Black Box, Belfast, Ireland
Sep 30 2007 - The John Hewitt Bar, Belfast Open House Festival, Belfast

Cheyenne

You might think that Brooklyn-based Cheyenne is a long shot to be a country band, but their roots are authentic, since they are formerly from Norman, Oklahoma. Founding member and singer/songwriter Beau Jennings is joined by Heath Fisher on drums, Ben King on bass, Josh Harper on guitar, Rob Stephenson on pedal steel, and songwriter/Starlight Mints pianist Ryan Lindsey. Their EP The Land Rush was released earlier this month.

This is some great road trip music, and if Mr. Folkie and I ever take a vacation this year, you can bet that Cheyenne will be coming with us. I love this line from "Horsepower:"
"You're American by birth but you're Southern by the grace of God."

Look also for their debut release, I Am Haunted, I Am Alive (2005), available on eMusic.

From The Land Rush EP (2007)
Cheyenne: I'll Be Gone
Cheyenne: Horsepower

MySpace | Website | Label: Clerestory AV
Buy: iTunes, and eMusic
Upcoming shows:
Jul 1 2007 - Rockwood Music Hall - FREE, early at 7pm, New York City, NY
Jul 20 2007 - Cake Shop, New York, NY
Jul 28 2007 - Parkside Lounge, New York, NY
Aug 10 2007 - Mo Pitkin's, New York, NY

The Basement

Northern Ireland doesn't seem a likely place to find American country music either, but The Basement offer "a unique blend of indie-rock, blues, country and Irish barroom folk songs" on Illicit Hugs and Playground Thugs released in 2006 in the U.K. but only available in the States since last month.

Out of the country mode, but included because I like it: "It's a Kinda Love." What kinda love? "It's like a wishin' well that don't give back." Oh yeah. That kind. Been there!

For more country flavor, try also "When Tomorrow Comes" and "Summertimes."

From Illicit Hugs and Playground Thugs:
The Basement: Do You Think You're Movin' On?
The Basement: It's a Kinda Love

Stream their album.

MySpace | Website | Label: Zealous Records
Buy: iTunes, and eMusic
Upcoming shows:
Jul 19 2007 - Cabaret Voltaire, Edinburgh
Jul 20 2007 - EWO Club @ Barfly, Glasgow

The Loose Salute

U.K. band the Loose Salute was formed in 2004 by Ian McCutcheon (drummer of Mojave 3) and Lisa Billson. After releasing an EP, Suck It Up Buttercup, the band floundered for a while but continued writing and recording tracks on their own until signed by Graveface Records in Chicago. The received help in the studio from hot-shot engineer Gareth Parton (The Beta Band, The Go Team, The Pipettes, Mojave3) to release their debut album Tuned to Love earlier this month.

The sound here reflects summer-time fun, and the pedal steel, banjo, and guitars give it a real country feel.

From Tuned to Love (2007):
The Loose Salute: Turn the Radio Up

Stream the album. Check out the ballads "Why'd We Fight" and "Dumb Angel."

MySpace | Website | Label: Graveface Records
Buy at Amazon.com, iTunes, and eMusic
Upcoming shows:
Jul 5 2007 - Borderline, Club Fandango, London, U.K.
Jul 18 2007 - Heavenly Social, London
Aug 4 2007 - Big Potato Festival, Henley

Indie Mom says that there are songs she knows from hearing them before birth. I have some of those too. A notable one, released five years before I was born, is "La Vie en Rose."

I can remember being very young, like four, and singing this song to myself with nonsense words of my own. Maybe I had heard the French lyrics and, not understanding them, figured whatever I made up would be just as good. The point is, this song was in my life for longer than I can remember. I was never very enthusiastic about the heavy vibrato, but I have to admit the voice is striking and unique. Now there is a movie about the owner of that voice.

My husband, Mr. Folkie, has an ear for female vocals. He mentioned Edith Piaf on our first date. So he was very interested in seeing the recently released French film of Piaf's life, La Vie En Rose, named for her signature song. It is English-subtitled and in limited release right now, so we had to travel a good distance on Sunday to find an art-house theater that was showing it.

I was deeply touched by this film, which is why I'm posting about it today. I doubt if I'll ever go back this far on Time Travel Tuesday or so depart so severely from our usual fare.

Piaf was not her real name; it was a stage name meaning "sparrow," and she was also affectionately called "la Môme" (the Kid), which is the French title of the movie. For non-French-speakers, pronounce her name like this: "Eh-dit pyOFF." Say the last name fast, as if it is one syllable, and you'll have a good approximation.

Edith Piaf lived a rock and roll lifestyle long before the likes of Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, and Janis Joplin. Unlike them, she also endured an incredibly hard life beginning with a nightmare of a childhood. Abandoned by her mother and estranged from her father, she spent her very young years in her grandmother's brothel. It seems as if on every occasion in her short life that she formed an emotional attachment, that person was taken from her in some way. The song "La Vie En Rose," which she co-wrote, is a fantasy of the love and security she dreamed of but perhaps never had.

While sympathetic, the film does not gloss over her flaws. She was often a rude and disagreeable person even to those who remained loyal to her. Her personality by turns was endearing, feisty, unbearable, demanding, childish, and childlike. She was both hard as nails and as vulnerable as the little bird whose name she adopted. And through it all, she sang and sang and sang.

This photo is actress Marion Cotillard playing Piaf.

Edith Piaf was not a beauty, and I admire that this film did not try to make her one. She was tiny, plain, and buck-toothed. When she was in love or singing, though, her pale face was radiant as the moon. When afraid or sad, her whole being seemed to retreat into her huge eyes. Grief, petulance, and the pain of the arthritis that afflicted her in later years could turn her face to a clownish white mask, with her red-painted mouth and tiny pencilled eyebrows like slashes across it.

The film focuses mostly on her emotional life and stage performances, skimming over lightly or missing entirely: her acting career, all the time she must have spent in recording studios, the fact that she wrote many of the lyrics of the songs she sang, her efforts on behalf of the French Resistance in World War II, and even her two marriages.

Possibly the best reason to see the film is the Oscar-worthy performance by Cotillard as Piaf. Cotillard takes the role from 20-year-old street singer to addicted, spoiled star to crippled crone on her deathbed at only 48 (but looking like 90). This is a truly break-through performance in a movie that otherwise would be good but not great. As word gets around, hopefully La Vie En Rose will appear in more theaters.

There would be no point in posting about this on a music blog if the songs weren't wonderful. All except three (and perhaps young Edith's impromptu a capella street performance of "La Marseillaise," the French national anthem) are Piaf's original recordings which Cotillard lip-synched flawlessly. You WILL believe she is the one belting out those numbers from her tiny gut, from her audition song "Les Mômes de la Cloche" (one of the three not Piaf's own voice) to the stunning final song, "Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien" (usually translated as "No Regrets"). "Padam Padam" is another fascinating song, incomplete in the movie because Piaf collapses on stage before finishing, but I decided to post "Cri du Coeur" because of the oddly dissonant guitar accompaniment, which I like.

Audiophiles should see this film. It's one of those movies you'll keep thinking about for days.

La Vie en Rose
Cri du Coeur
Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien

Sources: Official Movie site | Wikipedia
Soundtrack on iTunes | Lots of tracks on eMusic

The real Edith Piaf, singing "Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien"

Will Stratton's debut CD, What the Night Said, released just last month, has a theme of nighttime, both as a period of reflection and peace and of regret and disquiet. But mostly, the stars are out and shining, and the atmosphere is warm. The album works nicely for any time a listener feels like music that calms and comforts.

What the Night Said is generally made up of light and gentle compositions on piano, which Stratton has played since age 5, and guitar with clear and pleasant vocals. Friends and family add subtle accompaniment to just the right depth. Nothing is overpowering or overplayed. Will's father Tim plays bass, former bandmate Jeff Wheeler plays slide, and Sam Deutsch adds violin to several songs.

To my ear, Stratton fits nicely in the same niche as Sufjan Stevens (who plays oboe on "Katydid"), Iron and Wine, Glenn Phillips, and Josh Rouse. It's important to remember when making these comparisons that Stratton is a very young musician--still in college in Tacoma, WA. These songs were written when he was just 17. This is only our first glimpse of the talent that will surely be more completely developed in future projects.

Even so, this is an impressive beginning, and even more experienced artists sometimes do not match Stratton's ability to adhere to his theme so well. Maybe these lines from "Lost the Fear" explain his choice to narrow down the scope for this set of songs and save other paths for later explorations.

There are roads all around us with so much to say
They stetch out in back like today, today
I'm tired of looking to see where they lead
I'm gonna pick one just so I can see.

On my favorite, "Night Will Come," New Jersey-raised Stratton borrows a couple of lines from a pastoral New England poet, Robert Frost (I wake up everyday/To shed my dreams and go away/'I have promises to keep/And miles to go before I sleep' again). The band sound is fullest on this track, which adds dimension and spark. I like the warmth that the handclaps bring to it as well.

The banjo on "Sunol" and "So Ashamed" is similar to Iron and Wine, and the accordion adds a smooth texture to both songs.

From What the Night Said (2007):
Will Stratton: Night Will Come
Will Stratton: Sunol

Also recommended: "Katydid," "So Ashamed,: "I'd Hate To Leave You," and "Lost the Fear."
MySpace | Website (Find lyrics here)
Buy: iTunes | eMusic

Upcoming Shows, check MySpace for venues:
Aug 1 2007 - Cakeshop, New York City, NY
Aug 2 2007 - New York City, NY
Aug 3 2007 - Philadelphia, PA
Aug 5 2007 - Baltimore, MD
Aug 5 2007 - The Red And The Black, Washington DC
Aug 6 2007 - Richmond, VA
Aug 7 2007 - Morgantown, WV
Aug 8 2007 - Louisville/Lexington, KY
Aug 9 2007 - Andyman's Treehouse, Columbus, OH
Aug 10 2007 - The Division Avenue Arts Cooperative, Grand Rapids, MI
Aug 11 2007 - The Firehouse, North Manchester, IN
Aug 13 2007 - Chicago, IL
Aug 14 2007 - Cleveland, OH
Aug 15 2007 - Pittsburgh, PA
Aug 16 2007 - Buffalo/Rochester, NY
Aug 17 2007 - Boston, MA
Aug 18 2007 - Burlington, VT

I just returned from several days of camping in the lovely Sequoia National Park with my family. We had a very nice time hiking, playing in the river, taking in the beautiful scenery, and just relaxing in the cool, fresh mountain air. Despite a case of really bad sunburn and a slight knee injury on my part, I would definitely recommend a camping adventure in the Sequoia or King's Canyon area to anyone (just make sure to reapply sunscreen and be careful where you step).

When I was a kid, we camped quite a bit, and not always in the pleasant coolness of a forest. I remember being carefree and loving the ability to be outside and without worry. As an adult and parent, I spent a good part of the time cooking and preparing food, cleaning dishes, picking up the campsite (lest the bears come), and watching my son and his friend splash about in the river (close enough to come to the rescue if needed, far enough away to let him have some freedom). Hats off to you, Mom...I never realized how much hard work went into camping.

Enjoy this assortment of "camping" songs and a great big thank you to alt-gramma for keeping this music blog going during my extended absence!

badly drawn boy: camping next to water [buy]
antony & the johnsons: the lake [buy]
iron & wine: upward over the mountain [buy]
belle and sebastian: waiting for the moon to rise [buy]
idlewild: i don't have the map [buy]
starflyer 59: wake up early [buy]

And finally...

depeche mode: clean [buy]

kitteh sez: iz it caturday yet?

It isn't Caturday, but it IS Finally Friday. I've been a hard-working blogger this week, posting every day. I'm going to let myself off easy today.

And if you haven't visited the lolcats at i can has cheezburger?, then you are seriously missing out. The basketcase above is one of my own lolcats.

From Coachella 2004, I give you the Pixies! Live!

Monkey Gone To Heaven
Nimrod's Son
Here Comes Your Man (a Gramma favorite)
In Heaven/Where Is My Mind?
Into the White

From the Blogroll:

Contrast Podcast #64 has the odd (to dwellers of the northern hemisphere) theme of Midwinter. That's because the playlist was intended for someone who lives in Antarctica! Here's the song I should have contributed, written by someone who was also sick of winter. Then go listen to the songs that did make the podcast.

Jen Trynin: Snow from Cockamamie (1994)

Matt at You Ain't No Picasso covered Bonnaroo 2007 and took some absolutely awesome photos of Jack White of White Stripes, Jeff Tweedy of Wilco, and many, many more. You MUST see. Jack looks like Medusa styled his hair.

Another Matt, at Skatterbrain, is having a contest--put a caption on the cartoon. Check his Tuesday post on Canadian band Immaculate Machine for details.

I Guess I'm Floating has the details about Beirut's new album and tour schedule. I can hardly wait!

Marcy at Lost In Your Inbox posts some songs to remind you of the pleasures of home.

Berkeley Place has got some live Grandaddy from 2003. Download the zip file, and get it all.

Congratulations to Greg in Tennessee for winning the Graduate CD!

The first band on the bill at last Friday's show at the Glass House in Pomona was Phoenix and the Turtle, whose members come from the lovely little cities of Redlands and Yucaipa in the large area east of Los Angeles known as the Inland Empire. The band name is derived from a poem published in 1601 and attributed to William Shakespeare, recounting the ill-fated love between a phoenix and a turtle-dove (both winged, not hard-shelled, creatures). This rather old-fashioned name suits the baroque style of the band's melodies.

Cahn and Mikie Curtis--Click small pictures for larger images

Their influences show a high level of ambition: Blonde Redhead and the Album Leaf. Phoenix and the Turtle's songs contain long instrumental introductions and interludes, but they probably employ more vocals than the Album Leaf does. The overall effect is sweet, lush, and delicate.

Valerie Curtis

Band members are the Curtis brothers Cahn (lead guitar, keys, and vocals) and Mikie (drums), and Bill Barrington (bass). Cahn's wife Valerie Curtis adds vocals, keyboards, and violin--and magic. I think Valerie's skills add the magic that gives this band their own special sound. Tall, slim, and kind of regal in bearing, her precision and serious focus gives away the fact that she's had formal classical music training.

Left to right: Cahn, Bill, and Valerie

Luckily, they are not always serious. During a brief equipment malfunction, Bill entertained the audience with a joke. I won't give it away here in case he has to use it again sometime. I teased him after the show about being disguised as a middle-school teacher in his tie and cardigan, and he took it with good humor.

Phoenix and the Turtle have already garnered favorable reviews from My Old Kentucky Blog and 5 Acts. This is a favorable review too, in case you hadn't noticed. I bought this CD right after the show.

From Asleep In America (2007):
Phoenix and the Turtle: The Man Who Was Death
Phoenix and the Turtle: The Trap

These MP3s are ripped at 192 kbps for the quality they deserve. Listen also to "Pianos" on their MySpace page. You'll love it.

MySpace | Virb | iTunes | eMusic

Other bands at this concert:
Land of Talk
the Rosebuds

Usually when Indie Mom and I go to a concert, we split up the writing between us. Since I went by myself to last Friday's concert at the Glass House in Pomona, I get all the duties, so it's taking me a few days to get through.

To me, the Rosebuds' work sounds a lot like some of the 80's groups we used to listen to, like Flock of Seagulls or ABC. "Get Up Get Out" is such a disco throwback, which is why it's my least favorite. I'm not saying this is bad; it just isn't music I've found myself longing to return to.

I crammed like a college student for a final exam on the drive to the show, listening to the dozen or so Rosebud tracks that I already had. It worked, because I was able to recognize most of the songs in the set in spite of not being terribly familiar with their albums.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that, although I didn't change my mind about the 80's sound, I like the Rosebuds better in concert than from their recorded music. Part of that was the fact that the small venue allowed the charming personalities of Kelly Crisp and Ivan Howard to come to the forefront. Southern good grace runs thick with these two.

They started off with a song that I like a lot, "My Punishment For Fighting." Among the next songs were "Cemetery Lawn," "When the Lights Went Dim," "Get Up Get Out," "Hold Hands and Fight," "Leaves Do Fall," and "Back To Boston."

(click image for full size):

Then Kelly and Ivan wanted to do an acoustic version of "Shake Our Tree," but they couldn't be heard from the stage. "What if," Kelly suggested, "we came down there with you?" Certainly, no one objected to that, so she and Ivan came down from the stage, and the crowd surrounded them as they sang, Ivan on guitar and Kelly clapping her hands. It was like being at someone's backyard singalong. I hope no one here is in the witness protection program.



They ended the evening back onstage with a strong version of the title song from their new CD, "Night of the Furies," another song I like a lot.

I was fortunate to buy one of the few remaining copies of their tour CD, which contains a "demo evolution" of "Night of the Furies." In this 13-minute track, Ivan recounts in his soft southern drawl how the song evolved from a stray melody through several different versions to get to the final "big sound" track on the current album. If they make some more of these tour CDs, you want one.

Those tour CDs, by the way, are each hand-decorated and signed by Kelly. I saw five completely different designs, and they were all beautiful.

My Punishment For Fighting
from Night of the Furies (2007)
When the Lights Went Dim (J-Yu Remix)
from 2007 Tour CD
I Better Run (Jimmy B Remix)
From 2007 Tour CD

MySpace | Website | iTunes | Amazon

Shows:
Jun 20 2007 - THE PARISH, Austin, TX
Jun 21 2007 - Chelsea Cafe', Baton Rouge, LA
Jun 22 2007 - THE BOTTLE TREE, Birmingham, AL
Jun 23 2007 - THE EARL, Atlanta, GA

See also: Land of Talk at the Glass House
Tomorrow: the opening act for this concert, Phoenix and the Turtle

I am not a fan of jazz. Too much of it just sounds like aimless noodling to me...but then there's Steely Dan. I can't resist that slick and shiny sound they seemed to have down perfectly from their very first LP. I think the jazz gets by me in their musicbecause the songs conform to basic rock song structure.

I'm not going to go into the long history and discography of Donald Fagan and Walter Becker and all the studio musicians that have contributed to their vision. There are plenty of places to read about that. I only want to talk about my take on Countdown To Ecstasy, one of my favorite albums of all time.

It was only Steely Dan's second full-length record, coming on the heels of the very successful first LP Can't Buy a Thrill. It was not as successful as the first, and Becker and Fagan have contributed that to what they felt was the rushed circumstances under which they recorded the album.

I think I liked it better because it wasn't as popular. I am contrary that way. Also, I think people have to think a little bit more in order to get into it, and most of the public doesn't like to do that. If they had thought about it, they might not have liked the subject matter.

This album is a commentary on Western culture's spiritual shallowness and the value it puts on material wealth. It pokes a sharp stick at money-grubbing commercialism and the things people will do to fill the emptiness that remains after they've sold their souls. These are my interpretations. The beauty of great art is that what I think may be different from what someone else thinks, and neither of us are wrong.

These tracks are recovered from my vinyl LP, which I took very good care of. The results are not too bad, especially as samples.

Start with the cover, where blobby, naked figures lounge in waiting-room chairs. They've paid their money, put forth no effort, and they expect bliss as a result.

Side One

Bodhisattva: Instead of spiritual enlightenment, all a consumer-corrupted Westerner is interested in is the surface shine on the Oriental ceramics. The bouncy beat never discloses the fallacy in this thinking.

Razor Boy: An ode to a social climber who doesn't realize the price she pays for sleeping her way to success. The Razor Boy could be Death (which reduces everyone to the same level), or it could be whatever force you believe collects payment for life's injustices. I used to have a cat named Razor Boy.

The Boston Rag: The fast path to nirvana in this song is drug consumption. Tight, slick harmonies glide through a lazy, drugged-out haze to the forseeable overdose.

Your Gold Teeth: Punchy guitar and keyboards sketch a portrait of a professional player. Although gold teeth do not look like dice, the line "You throw out your gold teeth" always gives me the image of tumbling ivories. The subject is a woman who gambles on her looks and her ability to use people.
"Your fortune is your roving eye
Your mouth and legs
Your gift for the run-around"
She damages everyone who cares about her or gets in the way of her desperate quest for status and possessions. But too soon, her game is obvious.
"Torture is the main attraction
I don't need that kind of action
You don't have to dance for me
I've seen your dance before."

Side Two

Show Biz Kids: Line by line, the differences between the very poor and the very rich are noted, all the more obvious because they live so near and depend so much on each other. Everything needed to attain the right status is listed, including the trendy Steely Dan T-shirt. The final indignity is the woman screaming something unintelligible near the end of the song without regard for "the poor people sleeping."

My Old School: I love the harmonies, and these lines are my favorite part--
"California tumbles into the sea
That'll be the day I go back to Annandale."
The essence of that song for me is that I always substituted the name of my own hometown for Annandale.

Pearl of the Quarter: There's a little bit of country flavor in the silky-smooth slide guitar that accompanies this idealized infatuation for a prostitute with a heart of gold.

King of the World: Donald Fagan likes to toy with ideas of a post-apocalyptic future. Another example is "New Frontier" from his solo album The Nightfly. Here, someone ends up with all the toys but no one to share them with--the ultimate emptiness.

Steely Dan continues to record and perform, and in fact have a world tour scheduled.

MySpace | Remastered CD: Amazon.com | iTunes

If you are interested, check out other people's interpretations at this Unofficial Steely Dan lyrics discussion page.

World Tour Schedule:
Jun 27 2007 - Auditorium Theater, Chicago, IL
Jun 28 2007 - Summerfest - Marcus Amphitheater, Milwaukee, WI
Jul 5 2007 - NIA Arena, Birmingham, UK
Jul 6 2007 - Aintree Pavilion, Liverpool, UK
Jul 7 2007 - Hammersmith Apollo, London
Jul 9 2007 - Forest National, Brussels
Jul 10 2007 - Le Grand Rex, Paris
Jul 13 2007 - Stuttgart Jazz Festival, Stuttgart
Jul 15 2007 - Zitadelle, Berlin
Jul 17 2007 - Stockholm Jazz Festival, Stockholm
Jul 19 2007 - Molde Jazz Festival, Molde, Norway
Jul 21 2007 - Pori Jazz Festival, Pori, Finland
Jul 23 2007 - Falkoner Theater, Copenhagen
Jul 24 2007 - Stadtpark, Hamburg
Jul 25 2007 - Museumplatz, Bonn
Jul 27 2007 - Blue Balls Jazz Festival, Lucerne
Jul 28 2007 - Piazza Lucca, Lucca, Italy
Aug 18 2007 - 15 Dates in Japan--Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka
Sep 8 2007 - Australia & New Zealand--Multiple Cities

Land of Talk: Elizabeth, Eric, and Chris
Click small pictures for larger versions
I always enjoy the intimacy of a small venue, but last Friday's show at the Glass House was one of the smallest I've attended. While the bands could have been better-supported by a larger audience, the audience that was there was keenly focused on the performers, and a closer connection was established between the bands and the audience members.

I was able to find Elizabeth Powell, the lead singer, lead guitarist, and songwriter of Montreal-based Land of Talk, outside on the sidewalk before the show; and we spent a long time talking. You could not hope to meet a nicer person. She has one of those adorable voices that kind of cracks a little at the ends of words. If I had known I was going to be that lucky, I would have had some actual interview questions handy--I swear, I will be more prepared from now on just in case!

A Quebec native and fluent in French, Powell has been a musician for probably about as long as she can remember. She began taking violin lessons by the Suzuki method when she was four, learning to play by ear. At fourteen she decided to pick up guitar, again teaching herself to play by making the sounds she wanted to hear. While violin technique didn't quite translate to the guitar, she admits that she does not play conventional chords like other guitarists. Look at the pictures and see her hands in some unusual positions. Beginning then, she was involved in several bands and projects for other people.

At that point, with encouragement from her mom, she decided she had as much talent as she needed to front her own band, and she quit college. She had friends and recording resources to help her. Three years and a lot of hard work later, Land of Talk is starting to take off, touring in support of their self-released EP Applause Cheer Boo Hiss. They were recently signed by One Little Indian Records of London [Asobi Seksu, Bjork] and expect to release their new material in Europe sometime this year. Fans on this continent may have to wait until 2008 to get it.


For this tour, four of them are packed into a mini-van: Powell, Chris McCarron (bass), Eric Thibodeaux (drums), and a friend who handles the merchandise. Former drummer Bucky Wheaton had left the band after their SXSW gig, and Powell was at first understandably shell-shocked. However, Eric has fit in amazingly well, she told me, and that's good considering the close quarters in the van.

They travel light. Powell has only two guitars, and Chris has just a single destroyed-looking bass. Chris's amp is less than half the size most bassists use, and Powell's red amp is even smaller.

Before our show, they had had a rare day off between San Diego and two Los Angeles stops, and they spent it at the beach. In spite of regular applications of high-SFP sunscreen, Chris and Eric had gotten badly sunburned, but you wouldn't have known it from their performance.

Others have tried to make comparisons for Land of Talk's sound: P.J. Harvey is an influence, and Cat Power has been named as well. With Powell as the central force, it's easy to make comparison only with other female singers. But taking the band as a whole, they're doing something similar to what White Stripes has done: stripping rock down to basics and making those basics solid and strong.

There is no mooshy wash of synth to hide a weak voice, weak playing, or weak melodies in that kind of sound. "It's in your face," says Chris. While Powell's lyrics are not Elliott Smith-profound, there is no filler either--no songs made up mostly of "Wo-oh-oh." [See lyrics in the Blog section of Land of Talk's MySpace page]. Powell's unconventional chord techniques further make their sound distinct and dynamic.


Watching Powell play, I love how her body spasms as the music seems to pump from and through her. I love the blissful little smile on her face as she sings. Her bare feet writhed as if possessed by the rhythm of the music. She bends over and coaxes fat, crunchy chords from her red guitar. Her arm swings out after her fingers hit the strings.

The act features all the songs on the current EP as well as several new songs slated for the next one: "Young Bridge," "It's OK," "Yuppie Flu," and "Death By Fire." She says her songs come to her in the early hours of morning in that time between sleeping and really being awake. Maybe that is why the short phrases of her lyrics seem more like impressionistic images rather than fully-formed thoughts.

But what woman can't relate these lines to at least one man in her life?
Stop spitting on girls you love
Stop hitting on girls you love
--from "Speak To Me Bones"

Are bloggers allowed to have favorites, or are are we supposed to be subjective journalists? I have to admit here and now that I definitely do have favorites, and Land of Talk is one of them.

My thanks to Chromewaves for these recordings from WOXY Lounge Act at SXSW that will give you a feel for Land of Talk's live set. Get more here.

Magnetic Hill (live) from Applause Cheer Boo Hiss
Death By Fire (live) new, to be released on next CD

MySpace | Website | Buy | iTunes

Current tour schedule:
Jun 19 2007 - The Cavern, Dallas, TX
Jun 20 2007 - The Parish, Austin, TX
Jun 21 2007 - Chelsea's Cafe, Baton Rouge, LA
Jun 22 2007 - The Bottle Tree, Birmingham, AL
Jun 23 2007 - The Earl, Atlanta, GA
Jun 28 2007 - The Metro, London
Jun 29 2007 - Trafalgar Square, London
Jul 14 2007 - City Sol @ 23rd and East River--FREE SHOW--NYC, NY
Jul 16 2007 - Central Park Summerstage w/Decemberists/Grizzly Bear, NYC, NY
Check their MySpace page for future dates soon.

Also at this concert: headliners the Rosebuds and opening act Phoenix and the Turtle--reviews will be posted later this week.

Oh, people, I feel so hot and lazy, so you get a lazy post today.

These are some mellow songs for a lazy summer mood. I took the picture above of the matilija poppies that are blooming spectacularly near our driveway. These are big flowers--nearly four inches across. I wish I could upload their sweet smell for you too.

Relax and enjoy...and wish me some energy.

THIS POST CONTAINS NO COPYRIGHTED CONTENT
Pulco: Paddle People

Impossible Shapes: Florida Silver Springs

The Coral Sea: In Between the Days

Halloween, Alaska: Call It Clear

Maritime: People, the Vehicles

Early Day Miners: Comfort/Guilt

Related: Sea and Sand

I have mentioned previously (in regards to Joan Wasser's recent recordings and her former band the Dambuilders) that I enjoy hearing violin used as a lead instrument. The first example of this in my experience was It's A Beautiful Day, a band that was formed in San Francisco in 1967 by virtuoso violinist David LaFlamme, sharing vocals with Patti Santos.

In my early years of college, their first album was high on the list of must-have records, along with Santana's first album and Led Zeppelin's debut. It's A Beautiful Day had the double charm of being both truly gorgeous and different, bringing folk-style vocals into an orchestral/psychedelic/jazz setting.

The Maxwell Parrish-style cover further served to set it above the crowd. The male-female vocal combo was common in folk music (Husband cites Ian and Sylvia) but much less so in the male-dominated rock of the day. And no one else was doing psychedelic violin jams.

The song, "White Bird," was so expressive of the desire for freedom from repression and outdated values that infused the hippie spirit of those times.

From It's A Beautiful Day (1969):
White Bird
Girl With No Eyes

Sadly, their first album was a bit of a one-hit wonder. The original line-up of It's A Beautiful Day included LaFlamme's first wife, Linda on keyboards. They divorced shortly after the release of this album. Except for Linda, the band was still basically intact for the second album, Marrying Maiden, but the sound started to shift away from the rock/jazz vein toward a more honky-tonk and country-influenced sound, possibly due to the contributions of Jerry Garcia to this album.

The instrumental that kicks off Marrying Maiden, still carries a lot of the old sound. The title is a tribute to Don Harris and Dewey Terry, an R&B duo from Pasadena, CA.

Don and Dewey from Marrying Maiden (1970)

By the time that Choice Quality Stuff was released in 1971, legal battles and disagreements in the musical direction of the band were starting to take a toll that would eventually lead to David LaFlamme leaving the band in 1973. Side one of this LP and side two are recorded by different line-ups, one of which included several members of Santana. These tracks are both from side one, which is the old band line-up.

From Choice Quality Stuff (1971):
Bye Bye Baby
No Word For Glad

Today, which was released in 2003, found David LaFlamme out of his own band and only Patti Santos and drummer Val Fuentes remaining from the original group. LaFlamme reunited the group in 1997 with Fuentes, but Santos had been killed in a car accident in 1989. Still, the later recordings display some of the beauty and grandeur of the original band.

David LaFlamme played on Tracy Chapman's debut album (1988), and he has appeared on television shows Frasier, Ellen, and Wings as a strolling violinist who stands right at the table in a restaurant, playing loudly or annoyingly.

I recorded these tracks from my vinyl LPs, and I do not feel that the quality is as excellent as the music demands. I offer them as samples only, and I hope that if you enjoy them you will purchase finer-quality versions from any of the links below. In addition to these songs, I recommend sampling It's A Beautiful Day at Carnegie Hall (1972), Creed of Love (live at the Fillmore, 1971), and Live In Seattle (2003).

Official Website | David LaFlamme

Buy: Downloadable albums | Its About Music | Amazon | eMusic

References: JW's Rock Garden | Prog Archives | Wikipedia | Chaz Reviews
Photos and description of It's a Beautiful Day in concert at Bath (1970)

Let's Go Sailing

The sequence of events that has boosted Let's Go Sailing into popular awareness does not reflect the years of work that singer-songwriter Shana Levy has put into it.

Levy studied classical piano from a very young age and began writing her own music before she was a teen. In college, lack of access to a piano forced her creative skills into poetry. Elliott Smith was her inspiration for putting the poems and music together as songs with lyrics.

Levy joined Irving, a band with several songwriters, shortly after their formation in 1998. With songwriting shared among so many members, she found that she created more material than Irving could use. I would bet that this track from Good Morning Beautiful (2002) is one of her contributions:

Irving: Heading North

Levy started Let's Go Sailing in 2002 as a side project and began playing first with friends Tanya Haden (the Haden Triplets), Brent Turner (Irving), Nikki Monninger (Silversun Pickups), and Byron Reynolds (Possum Dixon).

Still, it took a couple of years and many rejections from record companies before she polished the songs into an attractive album. The next task was to find musicians who were free from other commitments so that she could schedule live performances. The album, The Chaos In Order, first became available on Let's Go Sailing's website late last year.

Since then milestone events have occurred in rapid succession: a residency at Spaceland last November, a feature story on NPR,
airplay on KCRW's Weekend Becomes Eclectic, an appearance at SXSW March 14 this year, and a podcast performance on Nic Harcourt's Morning Becomes Eclectic on March 22.

The same date as the podcast, both "All I Want From You is Love" and "Sideways" were featured in an episode of the popular TV show Grey's Anatomy. "Better Off" was used in the April 26 episode. A band could hardly ask for better exposure to a wide audience. I find it amusing that television has taken the responsibility of springing new music away from stodgy mainstream radio.

Last Thursday night marked the official release for national distribution of The Chaos In Order. The show at the Troubadour in Hollywood was attended by a crowd of devoted friends and family. Levy took the stage with band members Stacy Kiehl (keys, percussion), Chris Armstrong (guitar), Tanya Haden (cello), Andy Creighton (bass), Lindsay Stella (violin) and, I think, Mike Green (drums). She started off on keyboards, switched to guitar for a few songs, then came back to the keyboard.

The atmosphere was casual, but the band appeared a little self-conscious and not fully comfortable, letting Levy take full charge of their stage presence. Creighton and tiny Stella lurked in shadows near the edge of the dimly-lit stage. Hopefully they will begin to show themselves off a little more.

Lindsay Stella, after the show

Setlist:

1. This Rope Is Long
2. Icicles
3. It's As Clear
4. Better Off
5. Deal With the Devil - a new lovely new song
6. Nowhere Close - also new
7. Heart Condition
8. Sideways
9. All I Want From You Is Love Live at KCRW

The band was momentarily flustered by requests for an encore, but quickly responded with "We Get Along."

I had hoped to post more live songs from the KCRW podcast, but the sound on them is uncharacteristically poor. Levy's vocals are fine, but the instrumental parts are warbly. At the concert, several sound adjustments were necessary to keep Levy's delicate soprano from being buried by the other instruments. In general, the gentle beauty of the songs translates quite well into the concert environment.

Hopefully the release of the new songs will come along faster than the long labor of Chaos--not that I'm pushing! I think that a factor that makes Chaos such a fine album is that Levy took her time and brought each song to its best level.

Anyone who has liked the songs played on Grey's Anatomy will definitely enjoy all of The Chaos In Order right down to the charming packaging and liner notes, which include lyrics. Tour dates will be published on the band's website soon, so don't miss a live performance.

Scheduled shows:
Jun 12 2007 - Echoplex w/Cold War Kids and Little Ones, Echo Park (L.A. area), CA

Also on Thursday's bill were the wonderful Bedroom Walls. After the show we exchanged hugs with singer Adam Goldman. Indie Mom will post about them after she aces her history final on Monday.



Tanya Haden, her cello, and some cute shoes

Website | MySpace | Merch
Amazon | iTunes

Coltrane Motion

I am not usually into dance/DJ/trip-hop music, but every once in a while something comes along that is just so catchy I get pulled into it in spite of myself. Chicago's Mike Bond and Matt Dennewitz have created a dancing Frankenstein of a sound from influences as disparate as Neutral Milk Hotel, Arab Strap, Grandaddy, and Missy Elliott. I like all these by themselves, but how well could they possibly mix? Surprise! It's very attractive and different!

Songs About Music is their first full-length CD, following two previous EPs. I'm posting my favorite, and you can get a couple more from their MySpace page. Now if I could just get hold of "This Is Not L.A." from their concert CD...

Coltrane Motion: How To Be
Coltrane Motion: Pi Is Exactly Three

MySpace | Website | Label: Datawaslost Records
Buy at Datawaslost store, Amazon, and eMusic
Shows:
Jun 9 2007 - Nomad Pub, Minneapolis, MN
Jul 10 2007 - Schuba's, Chicago, IL

Rondo Brothers

I discovered the Rondo Brothers by accident while researching Herman Jolly, who is a labelmate. Not actual brothers, Jim Greer (Diamond Jim) and Brandon Arnovick (the Bastard Prince), are San Francisco-based producers/musicians who have employed a variety of singers on their tracks. I am particularly attracted to the ones with Kelly Atkins, lead singer of another band from CitrusToCitrus, 20 Minute Loop (see below). "Crazed," is the song that made me sit up and take notice.

When they aren't tooling their electric golf cart around the neighborhood, the Rondos typically keep busy working on other artists' projects. Recent work includes a 2006 remix by Dan The Automator (Gorillaz, Deltron 3030) for The Killers as well as a recent collaboration with him on a Peeping Tom track and Galactic's Ruckus. The Rondos also worked on a New York Dolls remix for last year's release on Roadrunner Records.

It's fortunate that they've had time to get some of their own music out. The record release party for the band's upcoming album Seven Minutes To Midnight will be at the Independent in San Francisco on July 14.

the Rondo Brothers: Crazed (with Kelly Atkins)
the Rondo Brothers: Until We All Fall Down (fantasy remix)

MySpace | Website | Label: CitrusToCitrus
Buy at iTunes, and eMusic

20 Minute Loop

Although not a dance/trip-hop band like the other two, 20 Minute Loop, also from San Francisco, belongs in this post because of the Kelly Atkins connection. Atkins's voice is similar to Sherri DuPree's of Texas band Eisely, and she has been compared to Jenny Lewis as well.

But unlike the other two, 20 Minute Loop combines her strong female lead with male vocals. Songs are often presented in a call-and-response between Atkins and the other vocalist Greg Giles. This male-female mix is a sound that seems to be coming around a lot lately in the music I like.

Their most recent CD Yawn + House = Explosion was well-received when it was released in 2005. Here are two standouts for me.

20 Minute Loop: Our William Tell
20 Minute Loop: Properties of Dirt

MySpace | Webs ite | Label: CitrusToCitrus/Fortune Records
Buy at Amazon, iTunes, and eMusic
Shows:
June 27, 2007 - 8:00 PM - Café du Nord, San Francisco, CA

Hype Machine is one of our main referrers for readers, but due to server problems on Hype last weekend two of our recent posts did not get picked up, and the songs are not listed. See these posts for more info and additional MP3s by these artists.

Subscribe to Speed of Dark to make sure you don't miss future posts.

Friday: Finally Friday
Brand-new album Arms Down by
Get Him Eat Him: Just So
MP3 of "2X2"

Plus, more tracks by these new bands:

16Pac: The Alarm
Mandate of Heaven: Sacrifice For the New Planet
Questions In Dialect: Train No Track

Sunday: New and Notable Releases by
Herman Jolly: Days Are Long
Ford Pier: Employed

Meanwhile, my sides are still aching from laughing at Contrast Podcast #62 on Seas, Oceans, and All Things Marine. There be sharks in these waters! ARRRRR!

I have mentioned here before that I married a hard-core folkie. I was a Beatlemaniac in my teens who stuck steadfastly to rock through the disco years, graduated to punk and alternative in the 90's, and who now digs with enthusiasm through MySpace for independent rock. Our tastes don't converge very often. I'm always after what's new except on Time Travel Tuesdays.

Think of the Venn diagrams Husband's daughters are so fond of: one circle is labelled Music HE Likes, the other Music SHE Likes, and the overlapping sliver consists of Music He Likes That She Tolerates, and Music She Likes That He Tolerates. It's really not as bad as I'm making it sound.

He likes female vocalists: Joan Baez, Linda Ronstadt, and Enya--all good. The other thing Husband likes a lot is country--the OLD kind: Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Marty Robbins, Johnny Cash. He likes railroad songs, "cowperson" songs and yodelling--he loves the Chicken Sisters. Yeah, that's what it sounds like, chickens yodelling. Actually, it's interesting in its own little way.

But some of the music I went for first from my Vinyl Vault turned out to be Music That He Tolerates Quite Well. I like folk and country, but I am very, very particular about it. It has to sound like somebody just playing out on the back porch. It doesn't have to sound perfect, but it has to sound REAL. It has to SOUND authentic even if it isn't authentic. These are some tracks that have always sounded real to me.

I'm not sure if these albums are considered rare. Amazon has the CDs, and iTunes has the Incredible String band for download. I cleaned up the pops on these tracks as best I could; unfortunately there still are a few in there.

Taj Mahal: De Ole Folks At Home (1968)

Bluesman Taj Mahal's gravelly vocals and casual delivery make this album the epitome of backporch music for me. It's like he's playing for himself, whether you're listening or not. This was actually a double album with one platter, Giant Step, devoted to rock and the other, De Ole Folks At Home, devoted to traditional folksy, bluesy downhome music. I hardly listened to the rock LP because this other one stole my heart clean away at first listen.

Numerous artist have performed various versions of "Candy Man" and "Stagger Lee," but Taj Mahal's are my very favorite. One of the main reasons is the glorious sound of that Mississippi National steel-body guitar he uses on "Stagger Lee" and some of the other songs.

Taj Mahal: Candy Man
Taj Mahal: Stagger Lee
Amazon
iTunes has live versions of both songs as well as "Fishin' Blues" from this album, but they don't have that raw quality that makes these so special.

Ry Cooder: The Long Riders Soundtrack (1980)

You know this movie: it's the one where all the actor brothers play the parts of the real-life brothers in the Jesse James gang story. David, Robert, and Keith Carradine play the Younger brothers; James and Stacy Keach play the James brothers; Randy and Dennis Quaid play the Millers; and Christopher Guest and his doppelganger brother Nick play Charlie and Robert Ford, who "laid poor Jesse in his grave." The brothers alone make it fun to watch, but it's actually a pretty thoughtful take on the old shoot-em-up storyline.

This album is one of Ry Cooder's gems as a soundtrack producer. In truth, he doesn't play on every song--"I'm a Good Ol' Rebel" is an example even though I've listed him as the artist. The musicians are Mitch Greenhill (vocals, guitar), Bill Bryson (banjo), and Tom Sauber (fiddle), but the style and choice is all Cooder's. I grew up in the South, so the Yankee-hating sentiment is familiar (thank goodness, it's not like that anymore).

Cooder on basso sexto and my other love David Lindley on fiddle, take "Seneca Square Dance" for a lively turn around the old dance hall. It's all you can do not to start tapping your foot in time.

Ry Cooder (producer): I'm A Good Ol' Rebel
Ry Cooder and David Lindley: Seneca Square Dance
Amazon
On iTunes find "The Long Riders," "Archie's Funeral," and "Jesse James" from this album
Related Time Travel Tuesdays: Ry Cooder, David Lindley

The Incredible String Band: I Looked Up (1970)

This is the one that made Husband perk up his ears when I was ripping it. "Hey! That sounds like my music!" Yes, there is some small resemblance to those hokey Chicken Sisters.

I know this is not the original cover picture for this album, but it is the picture on the album that I have.

I wish that the Incredible String Band had done more songs like this one. I've never found any others of theirs that had this particular Appalachian backwoods feel. If you know of any, tell me. I want them.

What I like best about this recording is, it is NOT perfect. They stumble, loose the rhythm, hesitate on the vocals--but all that just makes it more real. I love how they saw away on those fiddles. "Go find that lady!"

The Incredible String Band: Black Jack Davey
Amazon | iTunes

We always like to spotlight local bands on this blog, and a feature on Highland Park-based Bedroom Walls is long overdue. I found out about this band just after I finalized my list of Favorite Songs of 2006 and would have liked to include on that list "Somewhere in Newhall", a song from their 2006 release All Good Dreamers Pass This Way.

Bedroom Walls consists of Donna Coppola, Adam Goldman, and Melissa Thorne, and their sound is soft and ethereal, almost shoegaze, with just a bit of an edge. There are some lovely bells, strings, vibraphone, and even trumpets on this album, all instruments that I love to hear. BW can be compared to Earlimart, another L.A. band and favorite of this blog. The band garnered some great reviews from Spin, The Onion AV Club, and L.A. Weekly, and has performed on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic (watch and listen to that show here). The band also will have a Pixies cover of "Stormy Weather" on an upcoming tribute album to be released later this year, along with other awesome artists such as They Might Be Giants, OK Go, and British Sea Power, just to name a few. You can pick up a limited edition first pressing from the American Laundromat Records website.

Bedroom Walls will be at the Troubadour in Hollywood on Thursday, June 7 with Let's Go Sailing for their album release - and we will be there too. You can hear some tracks from Let's Go Sailing on their official website or myspace page. Bedroom Walls will also play some additional West Coast shows later this summer and some Midwest shows in September. Check out their myspace page for updated information on their shows.

from 2003's I Saw You Coming Back to Me:
bedroom walls: winter, that's all [buy]

from 2006's All Good Dreamers Pass This Way:
bedroom walls: somewhere in newhall [buy]
bedroom walls: kathy in her bedroom [buy]

official website | myspace | buy albums | buy from emusic

Herman Jolly

Herman Jolly paints both acoustic and grungey pop portraits with a Pixies-style brush and a cracked, slightly nasal voice.

There is also something about his songs I can't quite put my finger on that reminds me of Tobin Sprout, former member of Guided By Voices who is a long-time favorite of mine. Maybe it's the way he uses words to present an off-kilter perspective and frames it all with unforgettable melodies on guitar.

Jolly, former member of Sunset Valley, retired to Montana a few years ago from the rock-band life but never stopped writing and recording. He is back living in Seattle now with a new CD called Bunker Life, which is available, along with his earlier CDs, on both iTunes and eMusic. Don't neglect his earlier work, espcially 2002's Thanasphere. There is a lot to like on both.

Herman Jolly: Days Are Long from Bunker Life (2007)
Herman Jolly: Windless from Thanasphere

Also highly recommended: "1,000,000 Feet Below," "Glowing Wires," "Candy Stairs," "Captainette," "Get Dizzy," "Lost and Spaced," and "Needles and Pines."
Watch: "Candy Stairs" video

MySpace | Label: Fortune Records
Buy at CitrusToCitrus, iTunes, and eMusic

Shows:
Jun 15 2007 - Easy Street After Hours in West Seattle, WA
Jun 16 2007 - Towne Lounge with Hazelwood Motel, Portland, OR

Ford Pier

My first impression upon hearing "Angels On Horseback" from Ford Pier's EP Organ Farming, to be released this Tuesday, was that the original lineup of Weezer had returned from the past--the same wacky, irreverent, guitar-based romp kind of thing that gets thicker and wilder the longer it goes.

Next on the CD is "Employed" with a perfectly lovely guitar riff reminiscent of early Beatles or Matthew Sweet. Oh boy, how can you not like this? But it isn't just a pretty bouquet of tunes. Listen to the words, and you'll hear some sharp opinions on the state of the economy and employment, or lack of it.

Organ Farming is just an appetizer for a full-length CD called Adventurism that is planned for release in fall. Members of the
Ron Sexsmith Band, Fembots and the Weakerthans play on both.

Ford Pier: Angels On Horseback
"Isolated neighborhoods/Dependence on imported goods/The taste of these bananas makes me want to get away!"

Ford Pier: Employed
"I might want to raise a family/I might like my kids to be employed/Like I'm employed."

MySpace | Website | Label: Six Shooter Records
Buy at Six Shooter Records and previous CDs at iTunes and eMusic

Shows:
Jun 9 2007 - Six Shooter Afternoon BBQ, Toronto, Ontario
Jun 9 2007 - Cameron House (EP Release show!), Toronto, Ontario
Jun 12 2007 - The Casbah (w/Peter Elkas), Hamilton

Short weeks can be the toughest, don't you think? Especially weeks where Monday is on Tuesday, so you start the week already a day behind. Finally, it's Friday.

THIS POST CONTAINS NO COPYRIGHTED CONTENT
Get Him Eat Him

Get Him Eat Him from Providence, RI, officially release their new album Arms Down on June 5, but it's available for advance download on eMusic now. As if their own five band members weren't enough, they have several members of Beirut, including Zach Condon, contributing to many tracks on this collection of sunny summer songs. Here is one to sample, and their MySpace page has a couple more.

Get Him Eat Him: 2x2

They are kicking off an extensive touring schedule from mid-June to the end of July, beginning in New York City with dates all over the U.S. and Canada, so be sure to check their MySpace page for those dates and venues.

MySpace | Website | Label: Absolutely Kosher Records
Buy at Absolutely Kosher, iTunes, and eMusic


16pac


The French electro-pop trio 16pac released a 2006 CD called Endless Work In Progress with cool songs like "Ghost World" and "The Alarm." "Letters From L.A." from their previous EP My Heart Is Full of Music features Emma's vocals singing over her reciting the same letter to a seemingly endless list of boyfriends.

16pac: The Alarm
16pac: Letters From L.A.

MySpace | Website
Buy directly from their MySpace page with PayPal or download tracks from iTunes

And if you're in Paris in the next two weeks, they'll be playing two shows:
Jun 6 2007- -9 billards, PARIS, FR
Jun 11 2007 - Union Bar, PARIS, FR


The Mandate of Heaven


I was turned on to The Mandate of Heaven by another MySpace friend, Gregg Yeti with whom they share Syracuse, NY as hometown. Mastermind/lead singer/songwriter Greg Pier was kind enough to send me these MP3s to share. Both rockers and quieter ballads like "Paper World" and "High Dragonfly" are reminiscent of beloved artists of the 80's and 90's: Weezer, Smithereens, even the Boss. And they like cats too, which is always a plus as far as I'm concerned.

The Mandate of Heaven: Sacrifice For The New Planet
The Mandate of Heaven: Apology

MySpace | Label: Noiseville Records | Buy: CD Baby and iTunes


Questions In Dialect


A couple of weeks ago a reader commented that he'd heard Questions In Dialect on KCRW's New Ground program. I looked them up and found that members Phillip Blackwell and Daniel Guaqueta of Jackson, MS are the creators of these moody, instrumental soundscapes. Their tools include unusual instruments like the martenot and theremin. QiD were also featured at Dallas' North by Southwest festival in March. They'll be getting around this month, so check out their show dates.

These tracks are from their EP The Ghost Wishes To Speak (2007):

Questions In Dialect: On This Hand
Questions In Dialect: Train No Track

MySpace | Website | Label: Esperanza Plantation
Listen: purevolume, last.fm and discrevolt
Buy at Esperanza Plantation, eMusic, and iTunes

Shows
Jun 2 2007 - Room 710, Austin, TX
Jun 3 2007 - Super Happy Fun Land, Houston, TX
Jun 8 2007 - Caffe Cottage, Lafayette, LA
Jun 16 2007 - Thirsty Hippo, Hattiesburg, MS
Jun 23 2007 - Free Expression Exposition Music and Arts Fest, Florence, MS
Jun 30 2007 - Cornerstone Festival - Gallery Stage, Bushnell, IL


Today From the Blogroll:

Audio Deficit Disorder has a mid-year Best-Of list! I am way to lazy to make a list now, but I am right with that Blonde Redhead.

Blogs Are For Dogs recaps May new releases--
while Can You See the Sunset From the Southside pulls out some classics.

Berkeley Place features tracks from Beck's first concert, 1988. Very cool!

Nathaniel at I Guess I'm Floating notes the 40th anniversary of Sargeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts' Club Band. Jeez, how time flies.

Jefito might have to take some Peptobismol for that Chartburn, but his dialog is way too funny to miss.

Marcy at Lost In Your Inbox didn't feel like blogging today, but she did anyway. I can sympathize because I've been too sick all week to do more than watch my old home-recorded videos of "My So-Called Life."

Check out tracks by the Clientele, Beach House, and Pale Young Gentlemen at Muzzle of Bees.

Neil's Life is having a make-over. I say, go blonde and try blending that smoky eyeshadow.

PJ at The Yellow Stereo comments on discovering new music through television commercials.

And don't forget Contrast Podcast #61 where the question is HOW???