Jenn and Josh turned me onto this guy at the beginning of the year, and I can't stop listening to his album. Easily my favorite record of the year so far for 2007... go listen to it then go buy it. Seriously. Now.
30 May 2007
David Vandervelde
Jenn and Josh turned me onto this guy at the beginning of the year, and I can't stop listening to his album. Easily my favorite record of the year so far for 2007... go listen to it then go buy it. Seriously. Now.
25 May 2007
Neil and Randy...
So, in my haste to put together my pretentious "check me out I listen to Thelonious Monk and The Beatles" diatribe, I omitted two of the greatest living songwriters on the planet: Neil Young and Randy Newman.
So, mea culpas all around... and I will say, with just a little smugness, that I am glad I grew up in a generation when you could hear cats like these on top 40 pop radio. Seriously, could you imagine "Heart of Gold" or "Old Man" - both bona fide hit singles - on a Top 40 station today? (answer: no, no you couldn't). "Heart of Gold" actually went to number one on the singles chart - maiking it the only time a Neil single would be on the top of the hit parade. Anyway, everything cost a nickel back then too... it also snowed as I walked uphill to go to school obviously, blah blah blah... Goddam kids today don't understand the struggle.
Anyway, sit back and enjoy the two videos below, won't you...? Thanks much.
So, mea culpas all around... and I will say, with just a little smugness, that I am glad I grew up in a generation when you could hear cats like these on top 40 pop radio. Seriously, could you imagine "Heart of Gold" or "Old Man" - both bona fide hit singles - on a Top 40 station today? (answer: no, no you couldn't). "Heart of Gold" actually went to number one on the singles chart - maiking it the only time a Neil single would be on the top of the hit parade. Anyway, everything cost a nickel back then too... it also snowed as I walked uphill to go to school obviously, blah blah blah... Goddam kids today don't understand the struggle.
Anyway, sit back and enjoy the two videos below, won't you...? Thanks much.
22 May 2007
Go ahead, I'd mock this post...
So, welcome to the most self-important post yet (ever? by anyone?). I'm sitting home watching the tube (and prepping to eat two of the aforementioned Trader Joe's Chicken Chili Verde Burritos) and my mind naturally turned to making a mental list of the albums I have listened to the most in my life. And episodes of Get Smart. And today's meal at lunch. Fucking A.D.D. What? Never mind...
Anyway, forgive the indulgence... but there are literally a handful of albums that I could not live without... and since I never did one of those "desert island" lists, I felt somehow compelled to make one... Feel free not to give a shit about what follows... I probably wouldn't.
THE BEATLES "Meet the Beatles": Predictable? Probably. But like many others, it all started here for me. Pop music that was like candy - I literally listened every day. Several times. Easily the record I have listened to most in my life. Don't like the Beatles? Think they were overrated? Blow me.
FRANK SINATRA "Sings for Only the Lonely":
I actually can't remember how I first heard this. I think it must have been at my pal Adam's in high school. Adam was my record buddy... we constantly listened to music together. Learning pop, country, soul, funk, rock, punk, and jazz. I rejected jazz - i didn't get it. I went to an Ornette Coleman concert at the Palace when I was 19 (again, probably with Adam) and it literally gave me a headache. So, unconsciously really, I kind of backed into jazz through vocal standards. This Sinatra/Nelson Riddle disc is probably one of the most romantic albums ever made - perfect for bliss and heartache. Although I actually am a much bigger Tony Bennett and Dean Martin fan when it comes to that era's singers, Frankie easily made one of the most powerful records of his time. As for my pal Adam... he was and is an incredible guitarist. He went on to have a really nice career making music. He is still one of my best pals. I'm a lucky guy.
THE CLASH "London Calling": In 1982 I ditched school with a bunch of pals to go see The Who play at the Colosseum - with the Clash as the primary opening act... I knew very little about the Clash. Sad to admit, but true. I knew a couple of songs, but I had never listened to an entire album. Seeing the band was one of those "nothing is going to be the same after this" moments. The world's greatest live rock & roll band? Probably.
LINDA RONSTADT "Heart Like a Wheel": We got my brother this record for his birthday when it came out... I remember going with my folks to the mall record store (the Wherehouse?) to buy this. There was a huge poster display on the wall. That night he got in a fight with his then fiance, Terry (now his wife), after too passionately confessing his crush on the lady on the cover. "You're No Good" and "When Will I Be Loved" were all over the radio... country and rock from the same singer (the tag alt-country didn't exist yet)... who was incredibly sexy. I learned more about songs from this record than anywhere else - I heard songwriters Hank Williams, the Everly Brothers, Lowell George, Spooner Oldham and Dan Penn, JD Souther, and others for the first time. It led me to records by Johnny Cash, the Everlys, Emmylou, the Stones, Gram and the Burritos, and the Byrds. Her voice blew my mind - it still does. Tho selling several million copies (and nabbing a few Grammy's, I think), it remains one of the most under-appreciated albums of it's era. Can always put me in a good mood. A perfect record. Most of my friends know I'm a massive LR fan... this is why.
REM "Life's Rich Pageant": I definitely used to be a much bigger REM fan than I am now... but I still listen to this record constantly. Not a clunker in the batch in my opinion. A favorite while driving. Buy it if you don't have it.
NICK LOWE "Labour of Lust": "Cruel to be Kind" was a hit on the radio, so I bought this record... then Nick Lowe changed my life. One of the most important artists and songwriters to me as a teen and today. The Jesus of Cool indeed.
THE PRETENDERS "The Pretenders": Also purchased because of a hit single ("Brass in Pocket") and because I read that Nick Lowe produced one track (the Kinks' "Stop Your Sobbing")... this record, much like X's "Under the Big Black Sun" and the earlier-referenced Clash show, absolutely changed everything I thought I knew about music. Plus, I never heard a girl singer say "Fuck" before. And once I figured out that she was saying "I shot my mouth off and you showed me what that hole was for" I was totally shocked. So I listened to it every day for years. One of the best chick singers on the planet.
THELONIOUS MONK "Alone in San Francisco": Adam had me get this as my very first jazz record. It made me realize that I could understand and enjoy jazz. I love buying this record for people who also suffer from what we'll call "jazz panic". It's incredible.
THE ROLLING STONES "Exile on Main Street": Another predictable entry. But the funnest, rawest record I had ever heard when it entered my consciousness. "Tumbling Dice" is by far my favorite Stones tune. And "Happy" makes me just that...
BEACH BOYS "Pet Sounds": Another obvious choice. But this record has actually driven me to (happy and sad) tears on more than one occasion... "God Only Knows" is the single most romantic song ever written. Ever.
X "Under the Big Black Sun": X means everything to me. The sound of "Hungry Wolf" coming out of the radio for the first time is one of my happiest memories. Seriously, it is. Love at first sight with this one.
Well, that's it... I am a pretentious fuck who likes the smell of my own farts. Not really. Just a little... maybe.
Anyway, forgive the indulgence... but there are literally a handful of albums that I could not live without... and since I never did one of those "desert island" lists, I felt somehow compelled to make one... Feel free not to give a shit about what follows... I probably wouldn't.
THE BEATLES "Meet the Beatles": Predictable? Probably. But like many others, it all started here for me. Pop music that was like candy - I literally listened every day. Several times. Easily the record I have listened to most in my life. Don't like the Beatles? Think they were overrated? Blow me.
FRANK SINATRA "Sings for Only the Lonely":I actually can't remember how I first heard this. I think it must have been at my pal Adam's in high school. Adam was my record buddy... we constantly listened to music together. Learning pop, country, soul, funk, rock, punk, and jazz. I rejected jazz - i didn't get it. I went to an Ornette Coleman concert at the Palace when I was 19 (again, probably with Adam) and it literally gave me a headache. So, unconsciously really, I kind of backed into jazz through vocal standards. This Sinatra/Nelson Riddle disc is probably one of the most romantic albums ever made - perfect for bliss and heartache. Although I actually am a much bigger Tony Bennett and Dean Martin fan when it comes to that era's singers, Frankie easily made one of the most powerful records of his time. As for my pal Adam... he was and is an incredible guitarist. He went on to have a really nice career making music. He is still one of my best pals. I'm a lucky guy.
THE CLASH "London Calling": In 1982 I ditched school with a bunch of pals to go see The Who play at the Colosseum - with the Clash as the primary opening act... I knew very little about the Clash. Sad to admit, but true. I knew a couple of songs, but I had never listened to an entire album. Seeing the band was one of those "nothing is going to be the same after this" moments. The world's greatest live rock & roll band? Probably.
LINDA RONSTADT "Heart Like a Wheel": We got my brother this record for his birthday when it came out... I remember going with my folks to the mall record store (the Wherehouse?) to buy this. There was a huge poster display on the wall. That night he got in a fight with his then fiance, Terry (now his wife), after too passionately confessing his crush on the lady on the cover. "You're No Good" and "When Will I Be Loved" were all over the radio... country and rock from the same singer (the tag alt-country didn't exist yet)... who was incredibly sexy. I learned more about songs from this record than anywhere else - I heard songwriters Hank Williams, the Everly Brothers, Lowell George, Spooner Oldham and Dan Penn, JD Souther, and others for the first time. It led me to records by Johnny Cash, the Everlys, Emmylou, the Stones, Gram and the Burritos, and the Byrds. Her voice blew my mind - it still does. Tho selling several million copies (and nabbing a few Grammy's, I think), it remains one of the most under-appreciated albums of it's era. Can always put me in a good mood. A perfect record. Most of my friends know I'm a massive LR fan... this is why.
REM "Life's Rich Pageant": I definitely used to be a much bigger REM fan than I am now... but I still listen to this record constantly. Not a clunker in the batch in my opinion. A favorite while driving. Buy it if you don't have it.
NICK LOWE "Labour of Lust": "Cruel to be Kind" was a hit on the radio, so I bought this record... then Nick Lowe changed my life. One of the most important artists and songwriters to me as a teen and today. The Jesus of Cool indeed.
THE PRETENDERS "The Pretenders": Also purchased because of a hit single ("Brass in Pocket") and because I read that Nick Lowe produced one track (the Kinks' "Stop Your Sobbing")... this record, much like X's "Under the Big Black Sun" and the earlier-referenced Clash show, absolutely changed everything I thought I knew about music. Plus, I never heard a girl singer say "Fuck" before. And once I figured out that she was saying "I shot my mouth off and you showed me what that hole was for" I was totally shocked. So I listened to it every day for years. One of the best chick singers on the planet.
THELONIOUS MONK "Alone in San Francisco": Adam had me get this as my very first jazz record. It made me realize that I could understand and enjoy jazz. I love buying this record for people who also suffer from what we'll call "jazz panic". It's incredible.
THE ROLLING STONES "Exile on Main Street": Another predictable entry. But the funnest, rawest record I had ever heard when it entered my consciousness. "Tumbling Dice" is by far my favorite Stones tune. And "Happy" makes me just that...
BEACH BOYS "Pet Sounds": Another obvious choice. But this record has actually driven me to (happy and sad) tears on more than one occasion... "God Only Knows" is the single most romantic song ever written. Ever.
X "Under the Big Black Sun": X means everything to me. The sound of "Hungry Wolf" coming out of the radio for the first time is one of my happiest memories. Seriously, it is. Love at first sight with this one.Well, that's it... I am a pretentious fuck who likes the smell of my own farts. Not really. Just a little... maybe.
19 May 2007
17 May 2007
Some blogs are bigger than others...
My pal and coworker Josh and I were both independently inspired to start blogs... when I visit his page today (Married... with Blogen) to read his highly publicized first entry I discover something... the kid has written a great think-piece touching on Uncle Tupelo, hippies, and Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd, all tying nicely into a tale of a Band of Horses DNA split. I, on the other hand, have posted three YouTube videos and a picture of Brown Sugar Cinnamon PopTarts.
What we have here, ladies and gents, is a full-on case of Blog envy. I mean, I have stuff to say... loads of stuff. Why, just try it sometime without telling me... you know, just bring up a "topic" and watch me riff... politics, television, infections, pop tarts, you name it. But, somehow, trying to write something deep and profound on my very first blog site is no easy task. Pressure is on, and I am shooting literary blanks.
Soooooo... here is alls I got:
1. TV is good. It is not cool to say you don't watch it.
2. Trader Joe's has excellent Chicken Chili Verde burritos (wrap in a paper towel, 90 seconds on high, flip, repeat. I recommend La Victoria medium green taco sauce to complete the experience. Delicious.).
3. Dane Cook is NOT funny. Nor is Karl Rove.
4. The movie the 300 sucked balls. So did this season of 24, unfortunately.
5. LA punk rock is waaay better than NY punk rock (unless you are really into drum circles and world music. See "David Byrne," below).
6. Smoking is bad... but delicious. And kids, it does make you look cool. You choose: cool or tracheotomy? You know what to do. Black lung, shmlack lung...
Somewhere in the distance a dog barked...
What we have here, ladies and gents, is a full-on case of Blog envy. I mean, I have stuff to say... loads of stuff. Why, just try it sometime without telling me... you know, just bring up a "topic" and watch me riff... politics, television, infections, pop tarts, you name it. But, somehow, trying to write something deep and profound on my very first blog site is no easy task. Pressure is on, and I am shooting literary blanks.
Soooooo... here is alls I got:
1. TV is good. It is not cool to say you don't watch it.
2. Trader Joe's has excellent Chicken Chili Verde burritos (wrap in a paper towel, 90 seconds on high, flip, repeat. I recommend La Victoria medium green taco sauce to complete the experience. Delicious.).
3. Dane Cook is NOT funny. Nor is Karl Rove.
4. The movie the 300 sucked balls. So did this season of 24, unfortunately.
5. LA punk rock is waaay better than NY punk rock (unless you are really into drum circles and world music. See "David Byrne," below).
6. Smoking is bad... but delicious. And kids, it does make you look cool. You choose: cool or tracheotomy? You know what to do. Black lung, shmlack lung...
Somewhere in the distance a dog barked...
13 May 2007
Making a difference.
7:30 am - feet on the floor
8:00 am - two pop tarts. brown sugar cinnamon, natch.
10:00 am - food buying excursion
11:30 am - freakbeat
1:00 pm - burrito
2:00 pm - couch
3:00 pm - feet on the floor, part deux
4:30 pm - rockaway
6:00 pm - los feliz/the unheard music/beer
9:00 pm - the echo/whiskey
9:45 pm - taix/salad/steak/fries
11:00 pm - sherbet
1:00 am - south park/news radio/tivo.
1:15 am - see "8:00 am"
1:57 am - three dog night/david vandervelde
8:00 am - two pop tarts. brown sugar cinnamon, natch.
10:00 am - food buying excursion
11:30 am - freakbeat
1:00 pm - burrito
2:00 pm - couch
3:00 pm - feet on the floor, part deux
4:30 pm - rockaway
6:00 pm - los feliz/the unheard music/beer
9:00 pm - the echo/whiskey
9:45 pm - taix/salad/steak/fries
11:00 pm - sherbet
1:00 am - south park/news radio/tivo.
1:15 am - see "8:00 am"
1:57 am - three dog night/david vandervelde
11 May 2007
Same As It Ever Was...
I really don't care much for that Blue Man Group. No siree. I bet David Byrne likes 'em tho.
I really don't care much for that David Byrne fellow.
I really don't care much for that David Byrne fellow.
08 May 2007
Flying Burrito Brothers - Christine's Tune (Devil in Disguise)
At some point I will actually write something... in the meantime...
07 May 2007
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