Alright... back to this vast endeavour I started! Also I'm going to take a minute here and apologise that I don't edit and proof read my posts enough. Late night postings and early morning postings seem to be my weakness. I suppose it's difficult to type through the bleary eyes, but I'll improve this. Anyways...
N is for Ned's Atomic Dustbin - "Grey Cell Green"
I liked this band a bit when I was in high school, but feared if I went down this road too far with one false move I could have ended up listening to Jesus Jones and EMF. But I confess a particular soft spot for this band, largely due to this super cool girl that used to pick me up and let me ride to high school with her, sparing me the hell of riding the bus. So Becky Balog, this song goes out to you wherever you are! You were a very good friend and I haven't forgotten you for it!
N is for New Order - A Perfect Kiss
I had the good fortune of seeing New Order in concert years ago and it's my second best concert experience just losing out to seeing the Cure the first time. I think what I recall the most is how diligently the band performed their songs. Their attention reached out to the audience, but I think we were the secondary concern to the work they were doing to perform. I don't mean this observation as any detraction against them... it rather impressed me at the time. I picked this video because you can see them at work so well here, feel how labour intense their songs are, and dig Hook's bass in this song... amazing! One of my all time favouite bands, for sure!
In fact, here's live New Order! "Crystal" from The Glastonbury Festival June 25th, 2005, in Somserset, England.
And for anyone needing a reminder of where this band came from, New Order playing Joy Division -"She's Lost Control" for the John Peel Day 2005.
Note to self... I really need to do a post about John Peel one of these days.
That's all for tonight though... off to try this thing people do called "going to bed at a reasonable hour".
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Appreciation... Adrian Tomine's cover for The New Yorker
Last night, I picked up the New Yorker at Barnes & Noble because I love the cover Adrian Tomine did for the new issue. I'm all about supporting brick and mortar stores, especially since I manage one. I'm not an internet shopper... I require at least some human interaction when I wish to shop and the instant gratification of leaving a store with an item I want, even if I had to special order it from the store itself.
Everybody's different though... just my own preference here...
In addition to that swell cover, I enjoyed this Summer Fiction Issue quite a bit. My favourite features being the previously unpublished Vladimir Nabokov short story, "Natasha", and critic, Sasha Frere-Jones' write up about Auto-Tune and how it has transformed what we are hear today in pop music vocals versus the reality of a singer's natural vocal quality.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Frustration... Only time for a quick post!
My time this evening to do anything has really run out on me, so I'll get back to regular posting tomorrow. Not to get too personal here, but I've just had a really rough time today and I'm still a bit of a wreck tonight. I'll bounce back though...
For tonight, the Voxtrot song, "EveryDay" - a song I absolutely love. If I could ever have the opportunity to be in a band and make music, I'd strive for work like this. I think this song is so sincere and yet heartbreaking at the same time. I don't know how I feel about love or trust or the future at all these days, so that's probably me hearing my own "life is these sounds".
Like the previous post I did featuring these guys, this is another homemade fan video for the band, this time by Laura Thibodeaux. This band definitely has a core following of devoted and talented DIY fans!
I'm off to sleep and start over tomorrow.
For tonight, the Voxtrot song, "EveryDay" - a song I absolutely love. If I could ever have the opportunity to be in a band and make music, I'd strive for work like this. I think this song is so sincere and yet heartbreaking at the same time. I don't know how I feel about love or trust or the future at all these days, so that's probably me hearing my own "life is these sounds".
Like the previous post I did featuring these guys, this is another homemade fan video for the band, this time by Laura Thibodeaux. This band definitely has a core following of devoted and talented DIY fans!
I'm off to sleep and start over tomorrow.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Distraction... Video Alphabet "M", Part Two
A few more "M" bands since I wrapped up my previous post a little shy of what I had intended. I wanted to post again much sooner, but getting accidentally locked out of my apartment kind of threw off my day.
Now to the music...
M is for Ian McCulloch - "Proud to Fall"
Echo & The Bunnymen frontman, Ian McCulloch left the band in 1988 to pursue solo work and released the album Candleland in 1989. Released October 3, 1989, this was one of my favourite albums my freshmen year of high school, and I get just as much enjoyment hearing it now. "Proud to Fall" was the first single, I believe. I really enjoyed the single "Faith and Healing" but the video is embarrassing to look at now. I suppose it should have been then too. Considering it probably only ever saw airplay via 120 Minutes, the only viewers subjected to it were those of us desperately trying to enjoy 2 hours of indie/alternative videos on Sunday nights after midnight despite really needing to be up early Monday morning. All others were spared...
M is for Menswear - "I'll Manage Somehow"
Fans of Franz Ferdinand and The Kaiser Chiefs may benefit in checking out this band, but really Menswear were just one of the briefly burning stars of Brit-Pop that looked good, gave us some catchy singles and were then no more. They wanted to be a band in the wake of the success of bands like Pulp and especially Blur, and for the year of 1995 these charming men truly were stars. But for these darlings of Brit-Pop that year and their good favour quickly faded after a few strong singles, one full length album, and then nothing until a Japanese only release in 1998. I'd be curious to know what they're doing now.
M is for Monaco - "What Do You Want From Me?"
For a time there every member of New Order had a side project going and for bassist, Peter Hook, this was his second effort. His first side project, Revenge, recorded two albums but gained little acclaim with fans or the music press. However, when Hook got the nerve to take another go at a musical life beyond New Order, he tapped Revenge guitarist, David Potts, to join him again for Monaco. They recorded two rather decent albums, but called it quits in 2000. Hook rejoined New Order, and the band soon after released their 2001 album , Get Ready.
M is for Morrissey - "My Love Life"
How could I hit "M", and not include Morrissey! Seriously!
I saw Morrissey at the Tower Theatre in 1991, and I really wish to see him in concert again. I thought for a time I was moving on from his music, but his songs and his work with The Smiths is just something I always come back to.
As an extra... live Morrissey doing one of my favourites "Now My Heart Is Full", from the Reading Festival in 2004.
To those "who rush to danger and wind up nowhere" a song for you...
Now to the music...
M is for Ian McCulloch - "Proud to Fall"
Echo & The Bunnymen frontman, Ian McCulloch left the band in 1988 to pursue solo work and released the album Candleland in 1989. Released October 3, 1989, this was one of my favourite albums my freshmen year of high school, and I get just as much enjoyment hearing it now. "Proud to Fall" was the first single, I believe. I really enjoyed the single "Faith and Healing" but the video is embarrassing to look at now. I suppose it should have been then too. Considering it probably only ever saw airplay via 120 Minutes, the only viewers subjected to it were those of us desperately trying to enjoy 2 hours of indie/alternative videos on Sunday nights after midnight despite really needing to be up early Monday morning. All others were spared...
M is for Menswear - "I'll Manage Somehow"
Fans of Franz Ferdinand and The Kaiser Chiefs may benefit in checking out this band, but really Menswear were just one of the briefly burning stars of Brit-Pop that looked good, gave us some catchy singles and were then no more. They wanted to be a band in the wake of the success of bands like Pulp and especially Blur, and for the year of 1995 these charming men truly were stars. But for these darlings of Brit-Pop that year and their good favour quickly faded after a few strong singles, one full length album, and then nothing until a Japanese only release in 1998. I'd be curious to know what they're doing now.
M is for Monaco - "What Do You Want From Me?"
For a time there every member of New Order had a side project going and for bassist, Peter Hook, this was his second effort. His first side project, Revenge, recorded two albums but gained little acclaim with fans or the music press. However, when Hook got the nerve to take another go at a musical life beyond New Order, he tapped Revenge guitarist, David Potts, to join him again for Monaco. They recorded two rather decent albums, but called it quits in 2000. Hook rejoined New Order, and the band soon after released their 2001 album , Get Ready.
M is for Morrissey - "My Love Life"
How could I hit "M", and not include Morrissey! Seriously!
I saw Morrissey at the Tower Theatre in 1991, and I really wish to see him in concert again. I thought for a time I was moving on from his music, but his songs and his work with The Smiths is just something I always come back to.
As an extra... live Morrissey doing one of my favourites "Now My Heart Is Full", from the Reading Festival in 2004.
To those "who rush to danger and wind up nowhere" a song for you...
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Distraction... Video Alphabet "M"
I've been preoccupied with a lot of old movie watching several nights this week and some nights out after work with friends, so the blogging has really kind of suffered.
I am getting back to it today though, so...
M is for The Manic Street Preachers - "Motorcycle Emptiness" & "Everything Must Go"
I'm giving The Manics two videos because they deserve it! For a band that declared once in an interview that "all bands should break up after releasing one album", I am glad they're still with us making music, especially after all they've endured as a band. In 1986, these guys started out as a quartet comprised of James Dean Bradfield(vocals, guitar), Nicky Wire(bass), Sean Moore(drums), and Flicker(rhythm guitar) as a band originally named Betty Blue. However, in 1988, Flicker left the band and the group changed its name to the Manic Street Preachers, and a replacement for Flicker was found when Wire's fellow classmate at Swansea University, Richey James, was upgraded from their driver and roadie to rhythm guitarist in the band.
In 1990, The Manics descended on the British music scene in stark contrast to the bands that were part of the musical landscape of the UK at that time. House and Techno music was dominating UK clubs and the trends of Madchester (fusion of acid-house dance rhythms and melodic, psychedelic pop, and Shoegaze (atmospheric and ethereal "dream pop" played by musicians that gazed at their shoes more than they did any audience) were what largely comprised the independent music scene. These self described "Generation Terrorists" took their attitude from The Clash, borrowed much of their image from the Glam rock of the 70s, and amalgamated punk, glam, and hard rock into a sound all their own. All went mostly well for a time, but Richey James' act of self-mutilation, carving the words "4 Real" on his arm with a knife during an interview with Steve Lamaq for the NME, was the beginning of the mental instability and self destruction that would follow for James. He suffered with alcohol abuse, anorexia, and continued self-mutilation before his disappearance on February 1, 1995. On the eve of an American promotional tour, James checked out of his room at the London Embassy Hotel, drove to his Cardiff apartment, and without his passport, credit cards, or other personal items, James simply vanished. He was quickly reported missing but only his car, a silver Vauxhall Cavalier, was ever found 13 days later, abandoned with a spent battery, on the Severen Bridge outside of Bristol, an apparently notorious spot for suicides. Eventually James was declared "deceased" by British Police, but his family turned declined the option to have James declared as such, and instead have opted to have his case remain open as a missing person. There have been reported sightings of Richey James in the years since his disappearance, but none of these reports have produced any evidence of James' condition or whereabouts.
Personally, I remember seeing the ads in British music magazines about his disappearance and always hoped he maybe found some way to just disappear and start a simple life somehow, somewhere, but I doubt James found that kind of peace in life.
The band was certainly broken over the loss of James, but his passing didn't end the Manics, and they returned as a trio for some shows in December 1995, and then released Everything Must Go in May of 1996. Their sound has evolved over the years, especially as they adapted with the rise of Brit Pop in the 90s. They've released four other albums since 1996, with the most recent release, Send Away the Tigers, being in the fall of this past year.
So the two videos here cover a bit of their history, with "Motorcycle Emptiness" includes James, and "Everything Must Go" for their time since his disappearance.
M is for Mansun - "I Can Only Disappoint You"
This isn't the most exciting video, but I love this song. It's my favourtie song from their last official studio album, Little Kix. The band's first release Attack of the Grey Lantern was an incredible debut for the band and also the music scene in the UK during the wane of Brit Pop, as their sound at that time clearly embraced rock more than pop. This set them apart from the crowd at the time, putting them more in line with artists like Suede and the aforementioned Manic Street Preachers.
M is for Maximo Park - "Books From Boxes"
One of my favourite songs from one of my favourite albums from 2007. I associate this album a lot with my life last summer as I played it so much it was becoming a bit of a soundtrack for me.
M is for My Bloody Valentine - "Knows When"
If my mention of Shoegazer bands was new to you, then let this video be part of your introduction. I came to discover this band in 1989 thanks to two guys who had a radio show on WDCV 88.3FM, the radio station of Dickinson College, in Carlisle, PA. I grew up in a very rural area, attended a small high school, and knew very few people into any kind of music that was "different". But fortunately there was this college radio station just 35 miles away, "over the mountain" as people around here say. So thank you Chad and I think the other guy's name was Mike! I used to have all these hours of blank tapes worth of their radio show I had recorded, but they're probably all lost now. I used to sit in my bedroom and listen to them over and over, and I made notes of what the band's names and song titles and album info if they mentioned that were, and then I'd try to get my mom or someone to take me to record stores to find the stuff. Not an easy endeavour in Central Pennsylvania. Fortunately, the discovery of the old Blue Train records store in State College, PA and the Tower Records store on South Street, in Philadelphia, PA helped me acquire a lot of rare music, as did old mail order catalog companies like Burning Airlines.
Damn, those were good times...
Okay... lots of other "M" bands, so maybe a part two later today! Off to do Sunday afternoon type things!
I am getting back to it today though, so...
M is for The Manic Street Preachers - "Motorcycle Emptiness" & "Everything Must Go"
I'm giving The Manics two videos because they deserve it! For a band that declared once in an interview that "all bands should break up after releasing one album", I am glad they're still with us making music, especially after all they've endured as a band. In 1986, these guys started out as a quartet comprised of James Dean Bradfield(vocals, guitar), Nicky Wire(bass), Sean Moore(drums), and Flicker(rhythm guitar) as a band originally named Betty Blue. However, in 1988, Flicker left the band and the group changed its name to the Manic Street Preachers, and a replacement for Flicker was found when Wire's fellow classmate at Swansea University, Richey James, was upgraded from their driver and roadie to rhythm guitarist in the band.
In 1990, The Manics descended on the British music scene in stark contrast to the bands that were part of the musical landscape of the UK at that time. House and Techno music was dominating UK clubs and the trends of Madchester (fusion of acid-house dance rhythms and melodic, psychedelic pop, and Shoegaze (atmospheric and ethereal "dream pop" played by musicians that gazed at their shoes more than they did any audience) were what largely comprised the independent music scene. These self described "Generation Terrorists" took their attitude from The Clash, borrowed much of their image from the Glam rock of the 70s, and amalgamated punk, glam, and hard rock into a sound all their own. All went mostly well for a time, but Richey James' act of self-mutilation, carving the words "4 Real" on his arm with a knife during an interview with Steve Lamaq for the NME, was the beginning of the mental instability and self destruction that would follow for James. He suffered with alcohol abuse, anorexia, and continued self-mutilation before his disappearance on February 1, 1995. On the eve of an American promotional tour, James checked out of his room at the London Embassy Hotel, drove to his Cardiff apartment, and without his passport, credit cards, or other personal items, James simply vanished. He was quickly reported missing but only his car, a silver Vauxhall Cavalier, was ever found 13 days later, abandoned with a spent battery, on the Severen Bridge outside of Bristol, an apparently notorious spot for suicides. Eventually James was declared "deceased" by British Police, but his family turned declined the option to have James declared as such, and instead have opted to have his case remain open as a missing person. There have been reported sightings of Richey James in the years since his disappearance, but none of these reports have produced any evidence of James' condition or whereabouts.
Personally, I remember seeing the ads in British music magazines about his disappearance and always hoped he maybe found some way to just disappear and start a simple life somehow, somewhere, but I doubt James found that kind of peace in life.
The band was certainly broken over the loss of James, but his passing didn't end the Manics, and they returned as a trio for some shows in December 1995, and then released Everything Must Go in May of 1996. Their sound has evolved over the years, especially as they adapted with the rise of Brit Pop in the 90s. They've released four other albums since 1996, with the most recent release, Send Away the Tigers, being in the fall of this past year.
So the two videos here cover a bit of their history, with "Motorcycle Emptiness" includes James, and "Everything Must Go" for their time since his disappearance.
M is for Mansun - "I Can Only Disappoint You"
This isn't the most exciting video, but I love this song. It's my favourtie song from their last official studio album, Little Kix. The band's first release Attack of the Grey Lantern was an incredible debut for the band and also the music scene in the UK during the wane of Brit Pop, as their sound at that time clearly embraced rock more than pop. This set them apart from the crowd at the time, putting them more in line with artists like Suede and the aforementioned Manic Street Preachers.
M is for Maximo Park - "Books From Boxes"
One of my favourite songs from one of my favourite albums from 2007. I associate this album a lot with my life last summer as I played it so much it was becoming a bit of a soundtrack for me.
M is for My Bloody Valentine - "Knows When"
If my mention of Shoegazer bands was new to you, then let this video be part of your introduction. I came to discover this band in 1989 thanks to two guys who had a radio show on WDCV 88.3FM, the radio station of Dickinson College, in Carlisle, PA. I grew up in a very rural area, attended a small high school, and knew very few people into any kind of music that was "different". But fortunately there was this college radio station just 35 miles away, "over the mountain" as people around here say. So thank you Chad and I think the other guy's name was Mike! I used to have all these hours of blank tapes worth of their radio show I had recorded, but they're probably all lost now. I used to sit in my bedroom and listen to them over and over, and I made notes of what the band's names and song titles and album info if they mentioned that were, and then I'd try to get my mom or someone to take me to record stores to find the stuff. Not an easy endeavour in Central Pennsylvania. Fortunately, the discovery of the old Blue Train records store in State College, PA and the Tower Records store on South Street, in Philadelphia, PA helped me acquire a lot of rare music, as did old mail order catalog companies like Burning Airlines.
Damn, those were good times...
Okay... lots of other "M" bands, so maybe a part two later today! Off to do Sunday afternoon type things!
Friday, June 6, 2008
Frustration... Busy, busy, busy...
With work and too many other things that I'm trying to complete, I am unfortunately falling really behind on posting this week. I should be back on track with the weekend though, so stay tuned until then!
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Fascination... Asian Images in Film on TCM Tonight!
I'm taking a break from the video alphabet blogging, because Turner Classic Movie is showing an assortment of silent films and a talkie or two tonight to kick off their feature this month on Asian Images in Film.
Tonight's films include the silent pictures:
The Cheat(1915)
Broken Blossoms(1919)
The Dragon Painter(1919)
Mr. Wu(1927)
The talkies include:
The Bitter Tea of General Yen(1932)
The Mask of Fu Manchu(1932)
I'd enjoy blogging more about these films another time. For now though, I'm off to watch some movies!
For more information on this month's schedule of pictures on Turner Classic Movie, visit their website.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
