Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Fragile

Not many words today. I have just been thinking about this song again lately. This is from back when Sting was both interesting and relevant. The album was ...Nothing Like the Sun. The year was 1987. The song is Fragile.


Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Haitian Fight Song

I thought this tune would be appropriate for today, as we are about to hear from our racist in chief talk about the state of our "union". Remember, Haiti is one of the shithole countries that he does not want immigrants from, so I thought I'd pick this little Mingus tune out to represent them. Plus, I felt like playing a little Mingus anyway. The main bass riff is one of my all time favorites, and they way he played that upright... Goosebumps all the way. The man was a musical genius who suffered from ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease), which is such a cruel disease, gradually robbing him of his ability to play the bass. But we do have the recordings, and Haitian Fight Song, which originally appeared on the album The Clown, recorded in 1957 and released in 1961, is one of his finest.

When talking about it, Mingus told Nat Hentoff, who wrote liner notes to the album, "I'd say this song has a contemporary folk feeling. My solo in it is a deeply concentrated one. I can't play it right unless I'm thinking about prejudice and hate and persecution, and how unfair it is. There's sadness and cries in it, but also determination. And it usually ends with my feeling: 'I told them! I hope somebody heard me." (http://aln2.albumlinernotes.com/The_Clown.html) And what a solo it is... And what a song...


Monday, January 29, 2018

Hotel St. Pauli

So today's song is the final song that plays over the end credits of Hotel St Pauli, one of the worst movies I have seen. The year was 1988, and Wam & Vennerød is a Norwegian moviemaking duo that operated similarly to the Coen brothers - albeit without the quality the Coen brothers consistently display. Svend Wam directed the movie, while he and Petter Vennerød produced it. According to the duo, the movie is about the universal themes of life, death, and love. It is a pretentious piece of crap, if I remember correctly.

But the song, the title track, is so incredibly amazing that it never left the back of my mind - and every now and then it shows up in the front of my mind as well. It has a sense of yearning, or maybe it's a sense of loss? Much like yesterday's song, I am sucked in by the mood more than anything. I keep hearing the song in my mind, and when I searched, I found this copy of it - from the end credits of the movie itself. As this clearly is digitized from an old VHS tape, the quality isn't the best, but I think the song still comes through. This is once again Anne Grethe Preuss, but this time as a solo artist, with the song Hotel St Pauli.


And... If you should want to watch the movie (I am thinking I should do it again to see if I think it is as bad as I remember it), it is available - without subtitles, unfortunately - on YouTube.

Sunday, January 28, 2018

Tango

So... I have had a couple of songs on my mind lately. They are sung by the same artist - in this first one, she was in a band, while in tomorrow's song, she was a solo artist doing the soundtrack for one of the most maligned movies in the history of Norwegian cinema (and it was maligned for good reason). We are going back to the 80s right now, and there was this incredibly tall blonde Norwegian singer who just had finished with one band, Veslefrekk, and started a new one called Can Can. The singer's name was Anne Grethe Preuss, and she was (and still is) indeed an artist when it comes to music.

I have been reading up a little bit about Can Can - I knew they only released two albums (En Lek I Forhold and European Rainbow), but what I really read that made perfect sense was that they were more interested in a musical concept than writing very traditional songs. The lyrics are only there to compliment the music - and while the lyrics to today's song, Tango, are great (although you do have to understand Norwegian to see that), it truly is the mood of the music that sucked me in back in 1984 and has stayed with me ever since then. This is simply great.


Saturday, January 27, 2018

Albatross

Today's song holds a special significance to me. In my own personal mythology, my dad introduced me to this song a long, long time ago, and has been a favorite of mine ever since. I was originally planning on playing this on his birthday, back on December 30, but I took an extended break, and his birthday came and went. That was 4 weeks ago today, so this could be an ok day to bring it back out again. This song is by the British blues band Fleetwood Mac, which really is a very different band than the Fleetwood Mac most Americans are familiar with. Sure, the rhythm section is the same with Mick Fleetwood on drums and John McVie (the Mac in the band name) on bass, but the rest of the band is very different. They started out with three guitarists who also sang: Jeremy Spencer (slide guitar), Peter Green, and Danny Kirwan, but none of those three were present for the megasuccess of the 70s. However, it shouldn't be a surprise to anyone that I prefer this earlier version - with strong, solid blues and rock. And then there is Albatross. This instrumental has the innate ability to soothe my soul - and today I hope it soothes yours as well. Especially my dad. Because he's a pretty special guy.


Friday, January 26, 2018

Easy Money

Another type of albums I don't include in my favorite albums are the live albums. There weren't really all that many of them that I listened to last year, but one of them was King Crimson's Live in Chicago. It was recorded June 28, 2017 and it was released October 14, not even 4 months later. And it is spectacular. Way spectacular. The band this time had 8 members - once again led by founding (and only constant) member Robert Fripp on guitar and mellotron. Original member Mel Collins was present on woodwinds and mellotron (and backing vocals), long time member Tony Levin on bass (man, I worship at this man's musical feet), Jakko Jakszyk on lead vocals and guitar, and then the four drummers: Bill Rieflin (although he now plays keyboards of just about any kind), Jeremy Stacey, long time collaborator Pat Mastellotto, and percussion hero Gavin Harrison. It is a monstrous lineup, and they play so amazingly well throughout that this is one of my absolute favorite live albums of all time. One of the classic King Crimson songs was originally released on the album Larks' Tongues In Aspic from 1973, where it opened side 2, and it has grown into one of my favorites - and this version is amazing. Easy Money.


Thursday, January 25, 2018

Man Of War

Like I have said before, my favorite album of 2017 was really released in 1967 - and 2017 was really a year of great re-releases. The expanded version of Radiohead's OK Computer from 1997 (OKNOTOK) was another great release of 2017. The second album are the outtakes and b sides - and they are the stuff ordinary bands dream of releasing. The second track on the second disc of the OKNOTOK version of OK Computer is Man Of War, and one of the things that made me pick this is the wonderfully "dirty" guitar sound that is one of the things I really like about Radiohead.


Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Nobody's Lonely Tonight

My second runner up for favorite album of the year was Chris Stapleton's Songs From A Room Volume 2. I had insanely high expectations to the first volume, which was released in May last year, due to the greatness of the album Traveller from 2015. Volume 1 did not live up to my expectations - it was good, but not great, so when Volume 2 dropped at the beginning of December, my expectations were down a little bit. But after spending most of December listening to Christmas music (it's just a tradition I have - I load my car with Christmas songs and that's what I play), I finally started listening to it - and it's great. Really great. It has some raucous rockers, some more straightforward country - and then there is this little blues number. Not a traditional 12-bar blues, but definitely a ballad from the blues tradition. Nobody's Lonely Tonight has a bleak outlook on love and what it's all about, but if you listen to the emotion here - and the emotion in the guitar - I dare you to not get goosebumps. This is a live version from Jimmy Kimmel Live - and it showcases just how great a traditional power trio can be: Guitar, bass, and drums - and with the guitarist being a spectacularly emotional singer as well. Wow. Just wow.


Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Sacred Horse

My first runner up as favorite album was the new album by Enslaved, simply named E. Progressive metal seems to be the genre they fall under, but the genre is less important to me than the quality of the music, and to me, it is simply outstanding. I have played the opening track, Storm Son, before, but my favorite track after many a listen is Sacred Horse. New keyboard player Håkon Vinje gets a workout that moves my mind in the direction of the late, great Jon Lord on this track, and it really shows how well he fits in with the rest of the band.

Enslaved is a band that mixes clean vocals (also Vinje's duty now) with the growls of Grutle Kjellson (bass/vocals) - and the growls are very unique. Grutle's style is very harsh and not deep enough to be the more traditional Cookie Monster sound, but on E, they fit better than ever. The only other original member is Ivar Bjørnson (guitar and backing vocals), while lead guitarist Terje "Ice Dale" Isdal has been with them since 2002 and drummer Cato Bekkevold has been with them since 2003. Enslaved of 2017 sounds very different from the band that recorded and released Vikingr Veldi in 1994. I love their evolution. I became aware of them with the album Ruun in 2006, and their ability to add in soundscapes and melody in addition to building and building and building on a riff (as heard on today's song) makes them uncannily heavy hitters. Today's song, Sacred Horse is a tour de force of everything I like about them. Enjoy!



Monday, January 22, 2018

In Every Dream House (There's A Dream Of Something Else)

OK, so I lied. Kinda. But not quite. I couldn't do a top 5, so I was going to do top 6. Then I realized I definitely had a top 7. And now, here I am with what looks like a top 10. Three more albums could make it a Baker's Dozen, so why not? So... Without further ado, here are my 13 favorite albums of 2017. They are not necessarily the best albums, like I said before, but they are indeed my favorite albums:

  1. Motorpsycho - The Tower
  2. Enslaved - E
  3. Pallbearer - Heartless
  4. Mastodon - Emperor of Sand
  5. Chris Stapleton - From A Room Volume 2
  6. Steven Wilson - To The Bone
  7. Tyminski - Southern Gothic
  8. Robert Plant - Carry Fire
  9. Roger Waters - Is This The Life We Really Want
  10. The Dream Syndicate - How Did I Find Myself Here
  11. Ed Sheeran - ÷
  12. Primus - The Desaturating Seven
  13. Mike Oldfield - Return To Ommadawn
And then there is the other caveat I have: the albums of numbers 2-13 aren't necessarily interchangeable, but they change from day to day. 

BUT - the main thing for me is that Motorpsycho with The Tower once more delivered a great album. It is an album that has been on heavy rotation for me over a long period of time this year. It is their first with drummer Thomas Järmyr - and, contrary to the last time they lost a drummer and decided to release a double album, this is one heck of an album. I think the fact that they did get their drummer aboard before recording it has something to do with it - but for me, that is just pure speculation. However, it does seem like Bent Sæther (bass/vocals) and Hans Magnus Ryan (guitar/vocals) need to play off a live drummer in order to get things to groove properly - and this album grooves big time.  Especially on the track In Every Dream House (There's A Dream of Something Else). The Tower is my favorite album of 2017.


Saturday, January 20, 2018

Rakkauta Al Dente

So I am still not quite ready with my list of my six favorite albums from 2017... My problem is that I wanted to make it a top 5, but I end up with 6 and I can’t seem to cut it down further - so I am punting again... One of the more overlooked albums came from the Finnish band Circle. I have been aware of them for a little while, but I haven’t been following them closely. However, I did pick up Terminal, their latest album from 2017 - and to me it is a bubbler. The opening track, Rakkauta Al Dente, is a hypnotic song, with a riff building and building. The vocals start out screaming, but they also change. I love this song, and the album is strong - but not quite in my top ten for 2017.


Friday, January 19, 2018

Feel It Still

OK, so I really don't know too much about this band. They came out of the blue with a song that I simply can't get enough of. Portugal. The Man. Great band name. And to me, they delivered 2017's song of the year - which is a great excuse for me to postpone my favorite albums of 2017 yet one more day... The song is pretty simple, and when I read that the singer was inspired by the classic Please Mr. Postman it made all too much sense. It is timeless, yet original, and it's played by what looks like a band of nerds. I have started listening to Woodstock, which is the album the song is from, and it is interesting and original. I know that I will be exploring this band over the course of the new year, but for now, I will enjoy their great 2017 single Feel It Still - although I found a stripped down version of it to share...


Thursday, January 18, 2018

Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Take 9)

My favorite record release of 2017 was released in 1967. I really can't describe how exciting the super deluxe boxset of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart Club Band by The Beatles is for someone like me. Let's start with the box set. It has the music (more about that in a bit), a big, thick book about the album, the cover, the road there, and the songs (and pictures of the handwritten lyric sheets), cutouts of insignia and mustaches to make your own Sgt. Pepper uniform, a replica of the Being For the Benefit of Mr. Kite poster (this one is truly exciting, as you can look at it and find where John Lennon got the inspiration for his song), and a record store promotional poster replica. All really neat stuff...

Then there is the music. The 2017 mix is spectacular, and having the mono mix is nice, but... The earlier takes, listening to how they built the songs and tried things out. Feeling like you are listening in to parts of their creative process. Wow. Just wow. I am a lucky man, as Christine, my lovely girlfriend, knew how badly I had wanted this since its release and got it for me for Christmas. Getting both the girl and the music is a nice little perk, I must say...

So today, I will celebrate this release. One of the earlier takes of a song I like from this box set is the title track, Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. This is take 9, and you can hear more of the raucous guitar in here. I love this song, I love this album, I love this box set - and I love my Christine.



Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Bastards

I had some eye-opening moments this last year musically speaking. I am thoroughly enjoying Ed Sheeran and find his latest album ÷ to be a joy to listen to. Rag'n'Bone Man released Human, which is a great song, but the album wasn't quite that great (still good, though, by all means). But the biggest surprise for me was Kesha's album Rainbow. I have gained massive respect for her as an artist. She has grown up a lot, it seems, as this album is not dominated by the party anthem (although Woman is a ton of fun). I have already played Praying, so today I will play the acoustic opener, Bastards, which really sets the right tone for the album. I am so glad I decided to really listen to her this time around, because this is good stuff.


Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Lights Of Home

So I am back again after an extended winter break. Yesterday was a teaser, but now it's time to summarize 2017 for me musically. I have all sorts of good ideas, but before I start with what I will call the musical missteps (The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly), I just thought I'd mention that I have abandoned the dating part of the titles - the dates for the posts are already listed anyway, so I thought I'd make it simpler on myself. Nothing wrong with that. And, I will try to post as often as possible, but I make no guarantees of frequency.

BUT, I have thoughts about 2017. Let me first acknowledge that the world is still around despite DJT's best attempts to change that. And then let me acknowledge that as much as I think I should be an absolute authority on music and that my word goes, there is no way I can make a claim to the best recordings of any year or time - but I can list the favorites I heard (and/or purchased) over the course of the year. And so I will start with a trio of records I had great expectations to, but that simply fell so flat that I barely listened to them more than once - if I even got that far. I am naming this segment after the classic spaghetti western featuring Clint Eastwood: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.

First off: The Good. U2's album Songs of Experience. I am actually liking the lyrics on this album. But the music... It leaves a lot to be desired. For instance, the single, You're The Best Thing About Me, really sounds like a bad Coldplay song - like one of the Coldplay songs where they try too hard to sound like U2. And the melody lines are way too predictable all the way through - with the stadium rock choruses. I know, for a lot of people it is safe U2, but to me it just sounds fake. It sounds like U2 is trying to sell us an album filled with fake plastic trees (and I am not talking the Radiohead song here, as that is a great old song). They are becoming the old people trying to dress young to still be cool. I want a good balls out rock'n'roll album - and their last one, Songs of Innocence, could have been that album, which became clear to me when I watched the songs performed live at the Paris concert. Songs of Experience isn't horrible - although it is a stretch to call it The Good - but the gimmick was too hard to resist.

Then there is The Bad. Queens Of The Stoneage decided to hire a "hip" producer and make their music danceable. Mark Ronson made Villains a shitty album. Or maybe Josh Homme did it himself and needed someone to rubberstamp the crap. After all, they have been very up and down in their releases, at least as far as my taste is concerned. But with Villains, they really hit a new low for me. I just don't like the songs. I don't like them trying to be dancey. ...Like Clockwork was such a return to form for me that Villains is an even bigger letdown than it needed to be. I can't listen to it. It's just a matter of opinion, and I get that, but this was bad to me.

And then... The Ugly. Beck. I can't stand his new album. Colors. He spent a lot of time to "get everything right." WRONG. I can't say anything else about it. I can't listen to it. It is everything that is wrong with pop music wrapped into one album. And I used to love Beck.

Of course, there were worse albums than these three released this year. At least I assume so. I just haven't bothered listening to those albums. But U2, Queens of the Stone Age, and Beck have all released some great albums and songs - and so to me, they were the three biggest disappointments of 2017. Because I wanted and expected more. But at least Songs of Experience by U2 functions as muzak. And the song Lights Of Home really touched me for some silly reason (and there were other songs that did as well). So I think I can share that one. And then maybe tomorrow we can look at some positive surprises as well...



Monday, January 15, 2018

MLK

Today is Martin Luther King day here in the US. Back in 1984, U2 released the album The Unforgettable Fire, which featured two songs about Martin Luther King Jr: Pride (In The Name Of Love) and MLK. Pride (In The Name Of Love) shouldn't need any introduction, as it really was the song that lifted them from a well-known band to beginnings of the superstardom that was cemented with the later album The Joshua Tree. The song MLK, however, is quite different. Where Pride is rousing and exhilarating, MLK is contemplative and meditative. Pride is almost a call to action, while MLK is a call to reflection. And I feel reflective, contemplative, and meditative today...