Poised to be the next "it" song on forthcoming basketball mixtapes near you, "Winner" is the first single from Jamie Foxx's Body.
With his all-too-familiar Midas touch, Justin Timberlake easily turns the beat into pure gold. T.I.'s contribution doesn't hurt either, completing a trifecta of pop-R&B fascination.
Stream the song in static video format below:
Friday, August 27, 2010
Usher - 'There Goes My Baby'
After Michael Jackson left us a little more than a year ago, it was hard to imagine anybody filling the void he left behind in any capacity whatsoever.
Although Usher (along with Ne-Yo) has been compared to MJ ever since he first broke out, "There Goes My Baby" channels the King of Pop in such a delicate and sophisticated way, one might easily confuse the song for "Human Nature" Part II, instead of the original track it truly is. Certainly, Usher has not ascended the same throne Jackson once reigned upon. But maybe--just maybe--Usher has at least carved out a sizeable fiefdom in the Kingdom of Pop with this latest single.
Watch the video for 'There Goes My Baby' below:
Although Usher (along with Ne-Yo) has been compared to MJ ever since he first broke out, "There Goes My Baby" channels the King of Pop in such a delicate and sophisticated way, one might easily confuse the song for "Human Nature" Part II, instead of the original track it truly is. Certainly, Usher has not ascended the same throne Jackson once reigned upon. But maybe--just maybe--Usher has at least carved out a sizeable fiefdom in the Kingdom of Pop with this latest single.
Watch the video for 'There Goes My Baby' below:
Sunday, August 22, 2010
2AM Club - 'Don't Worry'
2AM Club delivers a mellow blend of Stevie Wonder and Prince on their savory single, 'Don't Worry.'
To see what I mean, stream 'Don't Worry' below:
Monday, August 09, 2010
John Mulaney - 'Best Meal I've Ever Had'
Here at The Lonely Note, we don't get many chances to post on comedy tracks. But this routine from John Mulaney combines music and comedy in such a clever way it was well worth publishing.
Listen to 'Best Meal I've Ever Had' below:
Listen to 'Best Meal I've Ever Had' below:
Thursday, July 22, 2010
80/35 Music Festival Recap: Day 2
Please note: The following is a rather-delayed followup post to my Day 1 review of the 80/35 Music Festival.
July 4th was to rain as July 3rd was to sun. It's often said in Iowa that "if you don't like the weather, wait 5 minutes" - and Independence Day was a perfect example. The day started out overcast, turned to drizzle, then briefly to a monsoon, then back to a drizzle, cleared up for a while, and then finally set into a pleasant mist just in time for Day 2 headliners Modest Mouse.
The crowd did not seem deterred, sticking it out through many an act on both the main and side stages. Fiddler Sara Watkins (of Nickel Creek) and Oklahoma indie band Evangelicals suffered the brunt of the rain, but the fans hung around. The bands expressed their gratitude to the steadfast audience . Some concert-goers wore the free festival ponchos, others toughed it out and reveled in their puddles, accepting the nature of an all-weather festival. A river rushed through one side tent, causing volunteers and bands to move soggy equipment to higher ground.
Des Moines' own Christopher the Conquered played early, but put on one of the highest energy shows of the whole weekend. Somewhere between the piano rock of Ben Folds and the squeals of Freddy Mercury, Christopher the Conquered belted out a piano-driven opus. Whether he was pounding the ivory or conducting the band from a ladder in the crowd, it was tough for any band to match the grandiose theatricality and talent of Christopher and his gyrating horn section.
Veteran Chicago band Califone played a terrific set of noisy, experimental post-rock jams. One friend at the show remarked that she liked to imagine all the group's members were "classically-trained musicians who decided to form a band." The members certainly had that seasoned, professorial quality. Multiple drum rhythms and layered guitar and keyboard created a gradual wall of sound that was simultaneously ear-piercing and undeniably bluesy. With a calm demeanor and wicked chops, Califone was amongst my favorite acts of the weekend. For a considerably mellower listen of the band's "All My Friends Are Funeral Singers", look no further than below:
The Cool Kids brought a bass groove so deep, it shook the windows at the volunteer headquarters nearly 2 blocks away from the main stage. The hip-hop duo delivered a playful set of rhymes, while fans nodded to the beats and waved their hands (and drinks) in the air.
British quartet The Heavy, known for their hit "How You Like Me Now?", took the reigns to close down the second stage. An unfortunate delay in their setup caused an overlap with main stage headliners, Modest Mouse. Still, The Heavy delivered on the name, bringing along a hard-hitting set of guitar rockers with a horn section to boot. Frontman Kelvin Swaby's soulful bravado and blistering vocals were seemingly aimed at James Brown's "hardest working man in show business" title. A fantastic live band, The Heavy were slightly overshadowed by the dispersing fans hoping to catch the headliners...
Which brings us to Modest Mouse. I gave The Heavy a few well-deserved extra minutes, but after overlapping 15 minutes, I headed back to the main stage. Figuring I would miss the opening numbers from Modest Mouse, I was surprised to find they had also delayed their cue. This allowed plenty of time to locate my friends and find a great vantage point from the lawn.
Opening with recent single, "King Rat", Mouse set the tone quickly. The stage was chock full of musicians and instruments, including two drummers to keep the crowd on their toes. Isaac Brock and company tore right into the crowd-pleaser, "Dashboard" from there. Without dipping much into their classic LP, The Moon & Antarctica, the band still played a deep catalog of songs that spanned many years and bent many genres.
There once was a time when I'd heard "Float On" so many times on the radio that I didn't care if it ever played again, but hearing it live suddenly made it new again. The crowd agreed, cheering the chorus of "All right already, we'll all float on" as if it were the national anthem that Fourth of July.
The band continued to pepper in popular songs between deep tracks, never giving the audience a chance to wander. A heavily applauded encore led to a wonderfully extended instrumental take on "Whale Song" (you can watch the official video HERE), sending sonar guitar squelches into the dark, misty night air. Soaked to the bone, I felt like a part of that ocean, breathing salty, listening to the calls. At times I swore I could understand them. But maybe that was just a contact high sailing in from somewhere amidst the sea of people...
It was another great day and a wonderful closing to the festival's third year running. I give my seal of approval to the hard-working volunteer organizers that have continued to bring a quality music festival to central Iowa.
For photos and more information, be sure to visit 80-35.com.
July 4th was to rain as July 3rd was to sun. It's often said in Iowa that "if you don't like the weather, wait 5 minutes" - and Independence Day was a perfect example. The day started out overcast, turned to drizzle, then briefly to a monsoon, then back to a drizzle, cleared up for a while, and then finally set into a pleasant mist just in time for Day 2 headliners Modest Mouse.
The crowd did not seem deterred, sticking it out through many an act on both the main and side stages. Fiddler Sara Watkins (of Nickel Creek) and Oklahoma indie band Evangelicals suffered the brunt of the rain, but the fans hung around. The bands expressed their gratitude to the steadfast audience . Some concert-goers wore the free festival ponchos, others toughed it out and reveled in their puddles, accepting the nature of an all-weather festival. A river rushed through one side tent, causing volunteers and bands to move soggy equipment to higher ground.
Des Moines' own Christopher the Conquered played early, but put on one of the highest energy shows of the whole weekend. Somewhere between the piano rock of Ben Folds and the squeals of Freddy Mercury, Christopher the Conquered belted out a piano-driven opus. Whether he was pounding the ivory or conducting the band from a ladder in the crowd, it was tough for any band to match the grandiose theatricality and talent of Christopher and his gyrating horn section.
Veteran Chicago band Califone played a terrific set of noisy, experimental post-rock jams. One friend at the show remarked that she liked to imagine all the group's members were "classically-trained musicians who decided to form a band." The members certainly had that seasoned, professorial quality. Multiple drum rhythms and layered guitar and keyboard created a gradual wall of sound that was simultaneously ear-piercing and undeniably bluesy. With a calm demeanor and wicked chops, Califone was amongst my favorite acts of the weekend. For a considerably mellower listen of the band's "All My Friends Are Funeral Singers", look no further than below:
The Cool Kids brought a bass groove so deep, it shook the windows at the volunteer headquarters nearly 2 blocks away from the main stage. The hip-hop duo delivered a playful set of rhymes, while fans nodded to the beats and waved their hands (and drinks) in the air.
British quartet The Heavy, known for their hit "How You Like Me Now?", took the reigns to close down the second stage. An unfortunate delay in their setup caused an overlap with main stage headliners, Modest Mouse. Still, The Heavy delivered on the name, bringing along a hard-hitting set of guitar rockers with a horn section to boot. Frontman Kelvin Swaby's soulful bravado and blistering vocals were seemingly aimed at James Brown's "hardest working man in show business" title. A fantastic live band, The Heavy were slightly overshadowed by the dispersing fans hoping to catch the headliners...
Which brings us to Modest Mouse. I gave The Heavy a few well-deserved extra minutes, but after overlapping 15 minutes, I headed back to the main stage. Figuring I would miss the opening numbers from Modest Mouse, I was surprised to find they had also delayed their cue. This allowed plenty of time to locate my friends and find a great vantage point from the lawn.
Opening with recent single, "King Rat", Mouse set the tone quickly. The stage was chock full of musicians and instruments, including two drummers to keep the crowd on their toes. Isaac Brock and company tore right into the crowd-pleaser, "Dashboard" from there. Without dipping much into their classic LP, The Moon & Antarctica, the band still played a deep catalog of songs that spanned many years and bent many genres.
There once was a time when I'd heard "Float On" so many times on the radio that I didn't care if it ever played again, but hearing it live suddenly made it new again. The crowd agreed, cheering the chorus of "All right already, we'll all float on" as if it were the national anthem that Fourth of July.
The band continued to pepper in popular songs between deep tracks, never giving the audience a chance to wander. A heavily applauded encore led to a wonderfully extended instrumental take on "Whale Song" (you can watch the official video HERE), sending sonar guitar squelches into the dark, misty night air. Soaked to the bone, I felt like a part of that ocean, breathing salty, listening to the calls. At times I swore I could understand them. But maybe that was just a contact high sailing in from somewhere amidst the sea of people...
It was another great day and a wonderful closing to the festival's third year running. I give my seal of approval to the hard-working volunteer organizers that have continued to bring a quality music festival to central Iowa.
For photos and more information, be sure to visit 80-35.com.
Behind The Sample: Copyright Criminals
“I've found you've got to look back at the old things and see them in a new light.”
-- John Coltrane
-- John Coltrane
Last night, I got a chance to watch Copyright Criminals, an intriguing documentary about the history of music sampling.
The film takes a strong look at both sides of the argument over artistic license. Can you really copyright a sound? How many notes of a song can you use before you're "stealing" someone else's life's work?
Some would argue that there are few wholly-original ideas, and that everyone has borrowed from others to get where they are creatively. This is not a new argument. When white men began to play blues-inspired music, they called it Rock 'n Roll and many were left feeling used.
When poor, inner city youths couldn't afford guitars, they improvised on what they had: turntables. Remixing and rapping over layers of old funk records and breakbeats led to a major revolution in music. However, it wasn't until that music gained popularity and made money that anyone took much notice.
Today's legal system of acquiring samples is so expensive that it has created a new disparity. Anyone relying heavily on samples has to be rich enough to pay for them or continue to release the music illegally.
This documentary aired on PBS' Independent Lens some months back. If you're a lover of music history or law, it's really worth your time. You can sample the trailer below:
"Make it New!" -- Ezra Pound
Sunday, July 11, 2010
80/35 Music Festival Recap: Day 1
William Elliott Whitmore performing at 80/35 on July 3rd80/35 Music Festival
Des Moines, Iowa
July 3 & 4, 2010
The streets of downtown Des Moines were abuzz with music this past Independence Day weekend as the third annual 80/35 Music Festival brought in one of its strongest attendances to date.
Saturday kicked off the event, as music lovers filled the streets of Western Gateway Park. The festival grounds were set between Western Gateway's Pappajohn Sculpture Park and the city's Chipperfield-designed public library. Large insurance buildings towered on either side to provide an intimate venue for a crowd amassing more than 17,000.
Two free stages on the side streets supplemented a paid main stage. One free stage was dedicated to Midwest hip-hop and electronic music, while the other combined local and national talent ranging from roots folk to bluesy hard rock. More music was held inside at the Des Moines Social Club and on the streets of the fest's Do More Village.
On Saturday, the main stage featured acts like Spoon, Slightly Stoopid and Yo La Tengo, while the free stages were rocked by bands like Holly Golightly & the Brokeoffs, Earl Greyhound and Solid Gold. More than 25 bands played in the hot summer sun.
I had the pleasure of working both days of the volunteer-organized festival again this year as part of the stage support crew. This year, the free stage I helped at had one of the best lineups yet. I spent the weekend meeting bands, loading gear and listening to free music from backstage - so I had no complaints.
The Des Moines Music Coalition, which has put on 80/35 each of the past three years, created a strong lineup of national headliners, while still providing a large scale venue for showcasing local talent. Local bands Canby and Cashes Rivers were amongst the early bands to play the festival on Saturday.
Minneapolis' Solid Gold had a terrific set of heady, indie-electro rock that brought to mind images of MGMT and just about every Bret Easton Ellis novel. Glammed out songs like "Bible Thumper" and "Who Ya Gonna Run To?" were as melancholy as they were danceable. Echoed harmonies washed over layers of guitar, stirring into soup, yet staying afloat. Solid Gold put on one of my favorite sets of the whole day. Still unfamiliar? Watch the video to their single, "Matter of Time" below:
Des Moines, Iowa
July 3 & 4, 2010
The streets of downtown Des Moines were abuzz with music this past Independence Day weekend as the third annual 80/35 Music Festival brought in one of its strongest attendances to date.
Saturday kicked off the event, as music lovers filled the streets of Western Gateway Park. The festival grounds were set between Western Gateway's Pappajohn Sculpture Park and the city's Chipperfield-designed public library. Large insurance buildings towered on either side to provide an intimate venue for a crowd amassing more than 17,000.
Two free stages on the side streets supplemented a paid main stage. One free stage was dedicated to Midwest hip-hop and electronic music, while the other combined local and national talent ranging from roots folk to bluesy hard rock. More music was held inside at the Des Moines Social Club and on the streets of the fest's Do More Village.
On Saturday, the main stage featured acts like Spoon, Slightly Stoopid and Yo La Tengo, while the free stages were rocked by bands like Holly Golightly & the Brokeoffs, Earl Greyhound and Solid Gold. More than 25 bands played in the hot summer sun.
I had the pleasure of working both days of the volunteer-organized festival again this year as part of the stage support crew. This year, the free stage I helped at had one of the best lineups yet. I spent the weekend meeting bands, loading gear and listening to free music from backstage - so I had no complaints.
The Des Moines Music Coalition, which has put on 80/35 each of the past three years, created a strong lineup of national headliners, while still providing a large scale venue for showcasing local talent. Local bands Canby and Cashes Rivers were amongst the early bands to play the festival on Saturday.
Minneapolis' Solid Gold had a terrific set of heady, indie-electro rock that brought to mind images of MGMT and just about every Bret Easton Ellis novel. Glammed out songs like "Bible Thumper" and "Who Ya Gonna Run To?" were as melancholy as they were danceable. Echoed harmonies washed over layers of guitar, stirring into soup, yet staying afloat. Solid Gold put on one of my favorite sets of the whole day. Still unfamiliar? Watch the video to their single, "Matter of Time" below:
William Elliott Whitmore took the stage with nothing more than a guitar, a banjo and the raspy voice of someone who has truly lived. Whitmore stomped, strummed and howled some of the best Americana this side of the Mississippi. A humble songwriter fueled by moonshine and fascinated with sin and redemption, Iowa's own Whitmore belted out a full set for a hungry crowd. Occasionally, Whitmore would take breaks for a pull of whiskey or free beer offered from an adoring fan. Watch Whitmore's 80/35 interview, with clips of his performance, HERE (via JohnPemble.com).
Earl Greyhound, a New York City power trio of 1970s psychedelic blues-rock proportions, took the stage next. The group roared through songs from their albums Soft Targets and Suspicious Package. The shared vocal duties of guitarist Matt Whyte and bassist Kamara Thomas wailed as loud as anything coming from Jack White's The Dead Weather. Earl Greyhound was definitely a band to hear live for the first time. Visit the band's website to hear them for yourself.
When Spoon took headlining residence at the main stage Saturday night, they brought one of the weekend's tightest, most polished sets with them. Spoon performed much of their 2007 album, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, with songs like "Rhthm & Soul", "Don't Make Me a Target", and "Don't You Evah" shining through. The band also mixed in new songs from Transference, such as "Written in Reverse" and songs from the past, like 2005's "I Turn My Camera On". The latter received heavy praise from the crowd, which danced and cheered. A horn section backing the band added the perfect flavor to cap off the warm, summer evening.
Fortunately, I was able to wrap up my shift in time to sip craft beer and enjoy Spoon's entire performance before eventually heading to after hours with some friends in the downtown bar district. A truly great end to a great day of live music!
Stay tuned for highlights from Day 2 of 2010's 80/35 Music Festival! In the meantime, be sure to visit 80-35.com for photos and much more!
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
06.29.2010 - The Lonely Note Twitter Buzz Recap
Here's a roundup of some of the music news we've posted on Twitter recently:
Top 5 Cover Songs By Chuck E. Cheese's Animatronic Band
Last Monday, Tae linked to an L.A. Weekly story discussing the "recent comeback" of the Chuck E. Cheese animatronic band that many children of yore have been dazzled (or terrified) by when visiting the popular children's entertainment chain.
So, what's the big deal about the Chuck E. Cheese band? Apparently, there is a gentleman named Aaron Fechter who will program the animatronic band to perform any song you request for a fee. The article features several Youtube clips of the animatronic performances, including covers of MGMT and Arcade Fire. It is quite a sight.
Passion Pit Covers 'Tonight, Tonight'
Several days later, Tae kept the buzz going strong with a ripe pick from the indie cover tree. Linking to the Levi's Pioneer Sessions, Tae steered us to a video of Passion Pit's Michael Angelakos recording his own rendition of the Smashing Pumpkins opus, 'Tonight, Tonight.'
A video of Angelakos recording the track is available at the Pioneer Sessions page. In my estimation, this cover is one of the better ones I've heard as of late.
The Killers Bring Some Latin Flavor to Their Cover of 'Hotel California'
On Thursday, Steve jumped onto the indie covers bandwagon and led the Twitterverse to a Latin-style cover of the Eagles' superhit 'Hotel California.' The tune was recorded to raise money for the APE Charity.
Although this cover isn't as spectacular as the Passion Pit cover of 'Tonight, Tonight,' the version is still worth at least one spin.
Bret Michaels to Replace Simon Cowell?
Friend of The Lonely Note, Bill Lamb, elaborated yesterday that Bret Michaels is a favorite to replace American Idol's outgoing judge, Simon Cowell. Steve retweeted Bill's post.
Bret Michaels talked at length with Parade about why he should get the job as judge, and Paula Abdul stated that Bret would be "awesome" if chosen, according to Bill.
Thanks for following us. Be sure to follow us on Twitter or like us on Facebook to receive live music updates and headlines as we post them.
Last Monday, Tae linked to an L.A. Weekly story discussing the "recent comeback" of the Chuck E. Cheese animatronic band that many children of yore have been dazzled (or terrified) by when visiting the popular children's entertainment chain.
So, what's the big deal about the Chuck E. Cheese band? Apparently, there is a gentleman named Aaron Fechter who will program the animatronic band to perform any song you request for a fee. The article features several Youtube clips of the animatronic performances, including covers of MGMT and Arcade Fire. It is quite a sight.
Several days later, Tae kept the buzz going strong with a ripe pick from the indie cover tree. Linking to the Levi's Pioneer Sessions, Tae steered us to a video of Passion Pit's Michael Angelakos recording his own rendition of the Smashing Pumpkins opus, 'Tonight, Tonight.'
A video of Angelakos recording the track is available at the Pioneer Sessions page. In my estimation, this cover is one of the better ones I've heard as of late.
The Killers Bring Some Latin Flavor to Their Cover of 'Hotel California'
On Thursday, Steve jumped onto the indie covers bandwagon and led the Twitterverse to a Latin-style cover of the Eagles' superhit 'Hotel California.' The tune was recorded to raise money for the APE Charity.
Although this cover isn't as spectacular as the Passion Pit cover of 'Tonight, Tonight,' the version is still worth at least one spin.
Friend of The Lonely Note, Bill Lamb, elaborated yesterday that Bret Michaels is a favorite to replace American Idol's outgoing judge, Simon Cowell. Steve retweeted Bill's post.
Bret Michaels talked at length with Parade about why he should get the job as judge, and Paula Abdul stated that Bret would be "awesome" if chosen, according to Bill.
Thanks for following us. Be sure to follow us on Twitter or like us on Facebook to receive live music updates and headlines as we post them.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
The Jersey Shore and Enrique Iglesias Team Up for 'I Like It'
When Enrique Iglesias first splashed onto the music scene, he brought with him a brand of Latin pop that was sensitive and soft spoken--a clear inversion to the effervescent and flamboyant Ricky Martin, that other Latin crooner.
With his new single, entitled 'I Like It', Enrique trades in the reluctant charm of his former self for intrepid confidence. He summons the likes of Miami's Pitbull and Seaside Heights' very own Jersey Shore cast to aid in his musical rebirth. Without reservation, he lifts a line from a famous Lionel Ritchie single, and utters brazen lyrics of his own:
'I Like It' is an exhilarating contrast to Enrique's former hits, including 'Bailamos' and 'Hero.' The beats and hooks are masterfully crafted. And the chorus is infectious, to say the least. Perhaps the song's greatest moment is during the bridge, when Enrique delivers a dynamic falsetto that arouses a sonic similarity to Michael Jackson (albeit with a little help from auto tune).
Watch the energetic video for 'I Like It' below:
With his new single, entitled 'I Like It', Enrique trades in the reluctant charm of his former self for intrepid confidence. He summons the likes of Miami's Pitbull and Seaside Heights' very own Jersey Shore cast to aid in his musical rebirth. Without reservation, he lifts a line from a famous Lionel Ritchie single, and utters brazen lyrics of his own:
"My girlfriend is out of town / And I'm all alone.
Your boyfriend is on vacation / And he doesn't have to know."
'I Like It' is an exhilarating contrast to Enrique's former hits, including 'Bailamos' and 'Hero.' The beats and hooks are masterfully crafted. And the chorus is infectious, to say the least. Perhaps the song's greatest moment is during the bridge, when Enrique delivers a dynamic falsetto that arouses a sonic similarity to Michael Jackson (albeit with a little help from auto tune).
Watch the energetic video for 'I Like It' below:
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Magic Kids - 'Summer'
Fertile with rich vocals, nuanced layers of strings and percussion, as well as a vibrant dose of understated passion, 'Summer' strives to be the low-key foil to the usual peppy and breezy tunes that often dominate the "songs of summer" category. (See Katy Perry).
You can stream 'Summer' below.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
M.I.A. - 'XXXO featuring Jay-Z'
Friday, June 11, 2010
Semi Precious Weapons - 'Semi Precious Weapons'
Spouting one of the best opening lyrics of all time, Semi Precious Weapons makes a glamtastic debut with its vanity-titled track of the same name. The video maintains the song's ostentatious theme, handily featuring imagery reminiscent of Plato's Retreat and The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
The band's Myspace page says Semi Precious Weapons was "voted NYC's Best Band-Village Voice Readers Poll." And the band's Allmusic.com page states lead singer Justin Tranter was inspired to be a rock star by Disney's portrayal of Aerial in The Little Mermaid.
Check out the video to 'Semi Precious Weapons' below. You might not be able to pay your rent, but as long as you're gorgeous, that's okay.
The band's Myspace page says Semi Precious Weapons was "voted NYC's Best Band-Village Voice Readers Poll." And the band's Allmusic.com page states lead singer Justin Tranter was inspired to be a rock star by Disney's portrayal of Aerial in The Little Mermaid.
Check out the video to 'Semi Precious Weapons' below. You might not be able to pay your rent, but as long as you're gorgeous, that's okay.
Wednesday, June 09, 2010
The Constellations - 'Felicia'
A Manzarek organ riff drives the entire beat and melody of this soulful serenade. Equal parts funk, equal parts indie rock, 'Felicia' is a stylish romp in the land of alt-rock.
Stream 'Felicia' below:
Stream 'Felicia' below:
| the Constellations - Felicia .mp3 | ||
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 | Found at bee mp3 search engine |  |
Monday, May 10, 2010
Forgotten Gem: Ancient Grease - Women and Children First
Our personal music discoveries are very non-linear. One day we might be listening to a leaked single from an upcoming release, and the next, might stumble across a great album that's been covered in dust for half a century. The latter is true for me in this particular story. While working a few weeks back, I met a man around my parents' age - an avid vinyl collector of many years. We discussed music for probably half an hour. He told me of an interesting record he'd pleasantly uncovered at a garage sale or flee market by some band called Ancient Grease.
The cover was a vibrant splash of psychedelia, and the wordplay of the moniker was enough for him to shell out a few dollars to give it a chance.
A little research of my own led me to the band's lone album, Women and Children First, dating back to 1970. As a name like Ancient Grease would imply, the record is sludgy and raw; full of gritty blues-rock, but also some wonderfully proggy pop ballads.
The opening track, "Freedom Train", sounds like it could have been a Howlin' Wolf-meets-Grand Funk Railroad collaboration. It even branches into riffing McCartney's squeals from "Hey Jude."
Other tracks like "Mother Grease the Cat" and "Eagle Song" are bluesy prog rockers in the vein of Zeppelin, while "Where the Snow Lies Forever" is a slow-burning keyboard beauty. "Mystic Mountain" could have almost been a hit for CSNY.
The songwriting is solid throughout, with some of the tightest moments found in the middle of the LP. The talent was definitely there, yet Ancient Grease never really caught on.
Further reading suggested the band's actual name was Strawberry Dust and got their start in South Wales as an engaging live cover band.
Another Welsh band, Eyes of Blue, had found success and helped Strawberry Dust write and record the album. When the record was picked up by Mercury Records in 1970, the band was apparently quite surprised to see it credited to the name Ancient Grease rather than Strawberry Dust.
Not only did the record company quietly change the band's name, it never really put any promotion behind the album -- instead choosing to focus all of its energy on Rod Stewart's debut, An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down.
Without support for the album, Strawberry Dust/Ancient Grease returned to playing local shows in Wales until disbanding.
The members went on to play in other groups for several years until singer Graham "Morty" Mortimer and lead guitarist Graham Williams reformed as Racing Cars. Racing Cars went on to become most well-known for its 1977 hit single, "They Shoot Horses Don't They?"
So there I found myself, listening to Ancient Grease's Women and Children First for the very first time, forty years after it was recorded... and really enjoying it.
I'm fascinated by the reasons some artists become famous while others toil in obscurity, so I found this group's history particularly engrossing.
(For an even further breakdown of the band's lengthy story, click here)
You can preview one of the album's highlights below:
Ancient Grease - "Mother Grease the Cat"
Friday, May 07, 2010
Two Door Cinema Club - 'I Can Talk'
Squelching guitar provides an atmospheric backdrop. And clever use of tone and cadence provide the otherwise jaunty lyrics with a stratum of sophistication well beyond that of other Gibbard soundalike--Owl City.
Stream 'I Can Talk' below**:
**This audio stream will expire 30 days from publication.
Thursday, May 06, 2010
A Silent Film - 'You Will Leave a Mark'
Stream the fantastic 'You Will Leave a Mark' below:
A Silent Film - 'You Will Leave a Mark'
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Civil Twilight - 'Letters From the Sky'
Civil Twilight originated in South Africa before transplanting to the United States several years ago. Lead singer Steven McKellar's vocals invoke tacit comparisons to the snide and dramatic vocals of Thom Yorke (Radiohead) and Brian Molko (Placebo).
Stream the video to the understated, but rousing, single, 'Letters from the Sky,' below:
Stream the video to the understated, but rousing, single, 'Letters from the Sky,' below:
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Violent Soho - 'Jesus Stole My Girlfriend'
Digging deep into the bag of song tricks that made Pixies and Weezer famous, Brisbane's Violent Soho presents a sludgy, grungy, shoe-gaze of a tale with their single, 'Jesus Stole My Girlfriend.'
You can stream the song below:
Saturday, April 03, 2010
Stone Temple Pilots - 'Between the Lines'
You may stream the new single below:
Stone Temple Pilots - Between The Lines by Atlantic Records
Friday, April 02, 2010
Artist Spotlight: GLINT
Glint is a progressive electro-rock quintet hailing from New York City. The band's heavily layered, futuristic sonics have drawn comparisons to Muse, as both share a knack for bombastic rhythms and ethereal melodies.
I was first introduced to Glint last year when the song "Damaged Goods" was featured as an iTunes Free Discovery Download.
The group's new, self-titled EP features the single, "Freak." The track continues to follow the band's trademark for arena-sized synth anthems. You can preview the track below and download it for free.
GLINT - "Freak" (Radio Edit) mp3
Click HERE to watch a video of the band performing "Freak" live in concert.
Glint is currently on tour in the United States. For more information on the band and to learn where you can buy their music, visit http://www.glintonline.com/
MP3 download provided courtesy of Big Hassle Publicity
I was first introduced to Glint last year when the song "Damaged Goods" was featured as an iTunes Free Discovery Download.
The group's new, self-titled EP features the single, "Freak." The track continues to follow the band's trademark for arena-sized synth anthems. You can preview the track below and download it for free.
GLINT - "Freak" (Radio Edit) mp3
Click HERE to watch a video of the band performing "Freak" live in concert.
Glint is currently on tour in the United States. For more information on the band and to learn where you can buy their music, visit http://www.glintonline.com/
MP3 download provided courtesy of Big Hassle Publicity
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