In the "interim"...

It has been a while since I last posted, and may be a few more days as things have been busy!

SORRY for the delay, but I assure you, I have a lot more to say...

In the interim, I do have a few things to share that a good friend shared with me this week. This friend is also a profound musical companion, and I do believe he just may just have the "perfect ear" for the Perfect Playlist and beyond...

So, I hope you enjoy a few tunes from an artist that "The Perfect Ear" turned me on to, Ryan Bingham, as well as a tune from a great songwriter, David Gray (cool video too!)...

Enjoy!

Where is PRINCE?

Come out, come out wherever you are!


Where is PRINCE?

This week's shortlist...

Some tunes that had second and third listens this week...enjoy!



Please Read the Letter (Robert Plant & Alison Krauss)
...this album is perfect, and this song, just gets better.






Bite Hard (Franz Ferdinand)
...after watching a live performance from Spain's Benicassim Festival, this tune just hit me. These guys are amazing. They are fun, upbeat, tight, and all - like a Talking Heads for today...or is that Arcade Fire? Or both? :)







Sex on Fire (Kings of Leon)
...solid solid tune, don't let the name throw you off!...







I don't love you like that (Jypsi)
...this family group from Nashville is tearing it up! Just saw them live in NYC and everyone can play for sure! New album due out soon!







The Loneliness of a Tower Crane Driver (Elbow)
...can't get enough of them! Love the arrangement...their ideas are just so big!






Enjoy! Happy Weekend!

Monday Five-en-Espresso

It's Monday, it's early, there's nothing you can do to avoid these hours...this day...

Here are 5 tunes that you can throw on to get you movin' quickly and efficiently! This is my Monday Five-en-Espresso for the day list...


Shake it off (Wilco)
...you’d be an interesting cat if your soundtrack started each week with the first few bars of this tune! But, whether that is true or not, this one has some scorching guitar licks, and the perfect lyrical irony to start your week, while covering so many moods...



Joker & The Thief (Wolfmother)
...this is just IN YOUR FACE....they recently changed everyone but the lead man...curious to hear the new stuff, but this stuff is epic..



You shook me (Jeff Beck)
...Rod Stewart and Jeff Beck...writing the book on everything! They did this one 1 year before a band called Led Zeppelin did... Ragers...all of em...



Spanish Castle Magic (Santana w/Corey Glover, Power of Soul tribute to Jimi)
...This version I have suggested with Santana and Living Colour lead singer Corey Glover is killer and the entire Power of Soul: A Jimi Hendrix Tribute album is! Sting, McLaughlin, Bootsy, Clapton, Chaka Khan, Stevie Ray and more! But, if we can SEE Jimi, may as well, watch him, no?



Packt Like Sardines in a Crushed Tin Box (Radiohead)
...Monday = lyric = “I’m a reasonable man, get off my case, get off my case”...

This is the “un-official” video as listed on the info section next to the video!



“Wish it was Sunday”...(fact: Manic Monday was written by....PRINCE! That’s right. Believe it. More to come on that guy soon.)

Have a great week all...

Sunday in 3 (Part III, The Final Part)

Now you know the flow, and how Sundays do go...

With the extended lists provided in both parts I and II, I thought I would get to complete albums in succession. For today, I have chosen 3 fitting albums per "movement" - as the day flows, so does this music (for me). I could easily substitute more McLaughlin, any Miles, Jerry Garcia/JGB, Dylan, Band, Neil Young, Aretha, Otis, Duane, Curtis, Marvin, Wes, Stevie, Ray Charles, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Clapton, Coltrane, (and the list goes on, depending on the mood and day) etc, for the albums here. These are for the moment, the day, may they be ever-changing, as a profound soundtrack to life...

From continent to continent, genre to genre, tempo to tempo, Sunday sounds different I say. Listen for it. There is the beauty in the serenity of it's quiet morning, it's ease into the afternoon of activity mixed with the right amount of relaxation, into an introspective night of mental organization and preperation for the week ahead...

Check out the links for a listen, and enjoy! I hope I have helped you find some cool music, and your own style to Sunday, even if it's not like mine...

Part One:

Time Remembered (John McLaughlin)
...this arrangement of the Great Bill Evans' music is just gorgeous for all guitars! While there's no video on it, here's something to tie you over:




Real Live Road Running (Mark Knopfler & Emmylou Harris Live)
...both the studio and live record from this duet are stellar. I love the way their voices swirl one another occasionally clashing most of the time meshing, but all the while beautiful with soul and emotion...



O.C.M.S. (Old Crow Medicine Show)
...taking lyrics of an un-published Bob Dylan song they made the masterpiece Wagon Wheel, and picturing my friends in the south on their porches, relaxing with the Sunday breeze can hear the Sunday local blue-grass in the air...




Mid-Day
Part Two:

Inspiration Information (Shuggie Otis)
...a hero and inspiration to musicians, but virtually an unsung hero, this solo album was WAY ahead of it's time..




Exile on Main St (The Rolling Stones)
...pick a track, ANY track!




In Rainbows (Radiohead, can sub OK Computer for sure)
...this tune can put you in a subterranean world...



Evening/Night
Part Three:

Axis: Bold As Love (Jimi Hendrix)
...this album lands back in my lap every few months...it's baaaaack!



Houses of the Holy (Led Zeppelin)
...something remains the same more than the song... you can always learn something new from Zeppelin no matter how many listens you've had...




Gish (Smashing Pumpkins)
...I was a late bloomer with this record, but think even if you don't like this band, you can appreciate the production, creativity, musicianship and talent...some of my favorite songs all from this one record.



Happy Sundays!

It got LOUD...24 hours later...

I was reading a magazine I pick up from time to time called American Songwriter: The Craft of Music. Jeff Tweedy is on the 25th Anniversary issue cover (amongst countless other covers both music and non-music featuring Wilco these days), and right now, I eat, drink, and breathe anything Tweedy or Wilco related. They set the bar for American bands right now as far as I am concerned.

What was the most interesting in this issue, was an interview with The Lemonheads' lead singer Evan Dando. The Lemonheads had a strong run inside the mid 1990’s grunge scene as a more polished version of what was out there for the Doc Marten-flannel-wearing-Cobain-Pearl Jam-Soundgarden-Singles-loving-Gen X-er. And now they are making a comeback.

When asked about their popular cover of “Mrs. Robinson” for the re-issue of The Graduate, Dando said, “I never would have done that song. I hate that song. I hate Paul Simon.”

The interviewer remarks back, “Wow.”

(Note: This is IN American Songwriter Magazine, not at a bar...)

Dando goes on, “I hate Paul Simon.”

The interviewer says, “You hated him before...”

“Oh yeah, before, yeah. Except for that one song I like, “Slip Sliding Away”. I like a couple of songs of his actually. I guess it was intensified by having to do “Mrs. Robinson” continues Dando.

“Yeah. So what-” says the interviewer as he is cut off again...

“I mean, he’s super-talented. I know that. But I love his soundtrack to the movie—it’s great. That’s good stuff.”

This struck me as sort of a strange thing for anyone, again, IN American Songwriter to be saying. How can any American songwriter bash Paul Simon besides Paul Simon himself? Love him or not, he is a definite, distinct fabric woven into America’s musical quilt. Hate?

In reading an interview about It Might Get Loud with Jack White and Jimmy Page on Music Mix’s website, the interviewer Dan Snierson asks the question, “Did you take away anything from the summit that will inform your future work?”

White answers, “You should try to take something away from any musician you talk to. Even if you’ve got no respect for what they’re doing, you could learn what not to do. But this is a case definitely of learning what you should do and what you could do. And I’m taking that away, for sure… When Jimmy starts playing or the Edge starts playing, you’re just like, “Wow, I’m listening to every single thing they’re doing now. I want to know what they can show me.”

Sounds like Dando should have a talk with White (if he respects White enough to do so), as he can learn a thing or two from humility, and the lineage of musicians that lead to Dando’s own music and career. In fact, the film It Might Get Loud wraps up with White talking about being part of a family of storytellers, and how he looks to add to that path, and become part of that eternal “family”. I took in as much as I could my first viewing of this film, and hope to get my hands on it to see again, so I can pick up every last detail!

Twenty-four hours after seeing the film It Might Get Loud the tone, the art, the personalities, and the crash course designed to amalgamate creative genius together has just only begun to resonate with me. Jimmy Page. The Edge. Jack White. Tone. Tone. Tone.

Here are three of the world’s most influential “sonic architects” from decades of world culture in one setting; guards-down, showing you some of the cards up their sleeves from the past, present and future. But more than that, this is a glimpse into three immortal figures who have staked their claim in guitar-history and the world of music forever, making them real and mortal

How do you touch a Rock God? I suppose the closest, besides being leather pants, a family member, fellow rocker, or celebrity, is a documentary. And sometimes that is even closer.

We get to see The Edge in Dublin, pointing out childhood spots and the places where U2 practiced, wrote and performed. That glimpse, gives you a peek at who is really turning the wheels in that band. For all of Bono's image, The Edge has all of the edge.

There's rural Jack White and Detroit Jack White. While he looks as Edward Scissorhands as ever, you can't help but be taken by his presence, his prowess and spewing creative fire. The image of his bleeding hands as he rips solos with The Raconteurs leaving a trail of blood down the body and neck of his guitar was more than moving. It wasn't blood and guts in a gory type of way, but in a glory type of way. This man embodies Rock. He has taken all that was before him, and shown it all to you from Son House to Jimmy Page. He is Rock's favorite son.

The "Page estate" of a hidden man, known little by the public, opens us open to Page’s roots as young performer, to his session days, to tearing out the "bow" the minute he could. His white hair makes him wizard-like at this stage of his life, and he shows you a glimpse of Led Zeppelin’s recording world, a glimpse of what's in his head and personality, with his passion for guitar and sound.

All of these worlds seem as surreal as the myth they embody, yet somehow they become tangible people by the end. Like Jack and The Edge's eyes lighting up as Page rips "Whole Lotta Love" (true to original form). Their faces have the innocence of children in awe of their hero...the world's hero.

I will never forget hearing Bruce Springsteen induct U2 into the hall of fame and when he got to his part about The Edge in his speech:

"The Edge. The Edge. The Edge. The Edge. (applause) He is a rare and true guitar original and one of the subtlest guitar heroes of all time. He's dedicated to ensemble playing and he subsumes his guitar ego in the group. But do not be fooled. Take Jimi Hendrix, Chuck Berry, Neil Young, Pete Townshend -- guitarists who defined the sound of their band and their times. If you play like them, you sound like them. If you are playing those rhythmic two-note sustained fourths, drenched in echo, you are going to sound like the Edge, my son. Go back to the drawing board and chances are you won't have much luck. There are only a handful of guitar stylists who can create a world with their instruments, and he's one of them. The Edge's guitar playing creates enormous space and vast landscapes. It is a thrilling and a heartbreaking sound that hangs over you like the unsettled sky. In the turf it stakes out, it is inherently spiritual. It is grace and it is a gift."

He is an effects guru and a master of sound. I have grown fond of The Edge. You would never hear The Edge and NOT know it was him. He has changed the playing field for guitarists, and I know his work has lead to innovation in music and sound. The presence of the Edge's undeniable mastery for sound, has it's mark on the world, and is the clear driving sound behind U2. He embodies an evolution in guitar playing and technology. You can hear him in bands like Coldplay, Radiohead, and all of the world's largest touring acts. They all have a piece of The Edge. Jack and Jimmy wanted to know it all, as did I! (and he can sing too!)

I felt it was sort of ironic to watch this film on the heels of Les Paul’s death, as though it should have read some sort of dedication at the end. Though they strip things down and talk about technology and it’s positive and negative effects, one can’t help but recognize the company these men keep. Les Paul, led them to that path.

From the brilliant documentary, another MUST SEE, Les Paul: Chasing Sound:

And it has only begun to resonate. Like the solid body of Les Paul guitar. It resonates like one of Jack White's many “tone beasts”, with nothing that can hold back what’s coming out. It resonates like the Les Paul in Page’s hands, and Jimmy Page's gift to electric guitarists (and music in general), from his production to performance to his innate command of every style. Led Zeppelin doesn’t get old, only the people do, and/or we do.

Here is the Raconteurs playing "Blue Veins", which sounds curiously like the solos in Zeppelin’s “Since I’ve Been Loving You”:

VS.



Being with my wife, a non-musician, she thought, “It was a well articulated balance between personal and musical history of three amazing guitarists. Extremely entertaining even for a non-musician”...and I was hoping so, as I was kid in candy store! As were all three on film, and the crew no-doubt.

It Might Get Loud is getting louder for me. I can hear it more and more as I think about it. It’s about my quest for tone, and to understand all those before me, with me and after me. It’s to take my place in the evolution of sound, and with inspiration and the ground broken ahead; it invites us all to join the family. Jeff Tweedy, Evan Dando, Paul Simon, and myself included.

If you love art, you should see this film. It’s inspiring to have genius captured and opened up for the world to see.

...there are many details left out for one good reason...YOU SHOULD SEE THIS FOR YOURSELF! I am not going to tell you about each special moment, or about "how it ends"...Enjoy!

In honor of labor...

In honor of this Labor Day, I have randomly selected 10 (or so..) tunes in my collection about “work” or “labor”.

Happy DAY OFF on this LABOR DAY!

We will kick it off with drama. This one goes out to a select few...you know who you are!



This one, is just one I think we can all relate to...




And now, for the TRUE BEGINNING!

Work Song (Paul Butterfield Blues Band)
...I think the labor and work theme ought to be kicked off by some blues-masters! It starts a little bit in...





The Devil’s Workday (Modest Mouse)
... I could buy myself a reason, I could sell myself a job...



Cumberland Blues (Grateful Dead)
...A mine worker’s song indeed, and aptly on Workingman’s Dead from the great American songsters. This live one starts out with "Me & My Unlce"



Working Day and Night (The Jacksons/MJ)
...MJ is everywhere (these days of course), and this one’s is a boogie classic...



The Work, Pt.1 (Prince)
...Ok, so, he is talking about a different kind of work (religious work), on the musically underrated The Rainbow Children in which Prince displays some of his craziest chops and compositional freak-outs...

*There is no video on Prince..I am not even sure I can talk about him legally..

Dirty Work (Steely Dan)
...one of the best memories I have of this song is Tony Soprano in his SUV singing along word for word. This song is obviously a classic, but all the video I found was not so "classic", but this one was!



I’ve Been Working (Van Morrison)
...this is HIGH ENERGY Van, the man...

Gotta buy this one to hear it! :)

Work (Thelonious Monk & Sonny Rollins)
...it’s called “work”, and they make it seem so easy...

Could only find "Work Song" turn the volume up!



Working on a Building (Old & In the Way)
...All-star line-up, classic tune, and heeeeeere's the master!



It’s Just Work for Me (Ry Cooder)
...this one is slinky, and you have to own it to hear it! Go get it!

And the ultimate..
Proud Mary (Ike & Tina)



HAPPY LABOR DAY!

Fab Fifteen...

Sometimes your ipod has the same brain as that psychic dj who plays everything you’ve been talking about or are listening to...

Oh, it’s YOUR ipod...not so brilliant after all...

Here is a great playlist that begins in African roots and Jazz and travels through cover songs, the Blues, Jazz, Soul, Fusion, Acoustic music and even the gospel of New Orleans in just 15 tracks. I pressed shuffle, and this is what came out!

Imagine it were 20?

Check out these tracks!

Abominwé (Lionel Loueke)

• Abominwé by Lionel Loueke

More Lionel Loueke music on iLike

Djiribah (Mamadou Diabate)
*just a video of Mamadou Diabate, a genius..




I Am Your Mind (Roy Ayers Ubiquity)




Body Heat (Quincy Jones)




Sunny (Bobby Hebb)
*this song is THE BEST!




Hey Jude (The Beatles)




Down in the Flood (Derek Trucks Band)
*Ripping Dylan cover!



New Orleans (Herbie Mann)
*Couldn’t find this one, you’ll have to check out the record Memphis Underground (seminal jazz record for me), but here is his smoooooth take on Sunny!





Honky Tonk (Miles Davis, Evolution of the Groove)
*video is from the Isle of Wight festival in 1970 on a DVD known as Electric Blue




...interview from 1982....





Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out (Eric Clapton)
*The Great Bessie Smith’s amazing voice..



And JANIS!




Sundown (Wes Montgomery)
*Video is Wes’s “West Coast Blues”, but check out Sundown on Wes’ California Dreaming



(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction (John Scofield)
*Are you watching Keith Richards?



Peggy Sue (Buddy Holly)




Wildflowers (Tom Petty)
*Get Wildflowers, the album...here is a live Breakdown!




He’s Gone (Grateful Dead, Dicks Picks Vol.1)
...nothin’ left to do but smile, smile, smile...




Can’t Find My Way Home (Bonnie Raitt, Live 2-22-1972 Sigma Sound Studios Philadelphia, PA)

Top 5 Songs I've heard at a wedding (that wasn't mine)...

I gotta say, with all this talk about divorce rates, I do spend a considerable amount of time at weddings. All have seemed successful and thus far, most are living happily ever after. Amen.

Throughout all of my suit up to get down affairs, I have heard some interesting music, to say the least. Some choice and elegant, some laced with tradition, some that light up the dance floor, some...are just awful.

So far, here are the top 5 songs I've heard at a Wedding (that was not my wedding, because then for political reasons I'd have to name 5 from that night...see, like now...As (Stevie), 2001 (Deodato), Santana Medley (Black Magic Woman/Oye Como Va/Soul Sacrifice..not kidding), All Night Long (Lionel, not unique to the party, but it was a mover and a shaker and there was a percussion jam that led into Late in the Evening), At Last (Etta James, one of my favorite singers and closest friends sang it to us, and it was just extremely special...end longest aside ever...)

So, in honor of all I've heard, from "Hora to Horror" here it goes. And in honor of a very special friend's anniversary, I will begin with truly one of the best musical moments I can remember at a wedding...

Ring of Fire (Johnny Cash, under a tent, in front of the Tetons in Jackson Hole, WY, the ultimate hora of the west. I never saw this one coming, but man, people were splitting their pants, that I am sure of...)

And here is a really unique version of that song!



I Believe (when I fall in love) (Stevie Wonder, I have to say I did recommend this one, and while it is right for the first dance for its perfect lyrical content and poignant beauty, it also drops into a serious Stevie groove that can get everyone out on the floor...awesome first dance.)



This one is actually a 2 for 1 deal as they came nearly back to back in the same wedding...

The Man in Me (Bob Dylan, this was one of the greatest wedding moments I've witnessed. The groom, a huge Dylan fan, and non-musician, marrying a killer singer, gets on guitar, and sings his ass off. Perfect for a Dylan tune which can suit nearly anyone's voice, as the bride's brother stepped in for the guitar solo. Perfection.)



Vs.

The Bride, serenaded the entire party, but really sang to her brand new husband with all she had. It was amazing that on her wedding day she had it all together to even take the stage and room by storm. Wowza. This one was a scorcher.
I Got a Thing For You (Jim Bianco)



Wake Up (The Arcade Fire, Ok, so I wasn't actually at this wedding but do know the couple well and went to college with the groom. We have all mutual friends, most of whom were there. The couple entered the party as Mr. and Mrs. for the first time from a balcony with this tune playing. The friends and party all cheered and sang the "whoah's" in unison. Talk about energy to kick it off...)

Killer version of "Wake Up"



And last, but certainly not least...

Joy and Pain (Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock, not only was everyone singing every chorus at the top of their lungs, but soon after, the band's power went out and no one left the dance floor and the party took over by singing their way back into the chorus. Dancing, singing as one, the power came back and the band joined the party! Throwin' down.)

Five Trax I Heard This Week, and really enjoyed...

Five tracks I heard this week that I really enjoyed:

Check em out!

White Winter Hymnal (Fleet Foxes)
...love this band, and this entire record....


Jenny Dont Be Hasty (Paolo Nutini)
...love the way he wraps his lyrics round her body and I...


Map of the World (Jack Savoretti)
...get ready world...for this guy...


Growing Up (Peter Gabriel)
..the man....


Prepare Your Coffin (Tortoise)
...they have a song for every mood, and I think this video captured this one!