Here We Go Magic’s new CD Pigeons many not be for everyone, but there is something here that I am really enjoying. The texture, the highs and lows. It just seems to fit the place that I am in today.
Here We Go Magic
June 14th, 2010Another year and another decade of music
January 6th, 2010I decided to join the list of many trying to define the best music of the last 10 years aka the last decade.
So, without any future ado:
Best CD for Air travel: Sigur Ros – Anything after ()
Best song that brings me instantly back to Tanzania: Gaudi – Bethe Bethe Kese Kese
Best song that asked me a question that I wanted answered: Daniel Lanois – Where Will I Be
Best CD that I avoided for to long: Radiohead – In Rainbows
Best CD that I wish I wrote: Brian Eno – Another Day on Earth
Best CD with the craziest vocal manifestations: Zawose – Assembly
Best time machine back to old europe: Beirut – Gulag Orkestar
Best frat boy sound: Vampire Weekend
Best aleatoric music: The Books – Lost and Safe
Best song most likely written about my good days: Colin Hay – Beautiful World
Best song most likely written about my bad days: Chris Letcher – Harmonium
Most anticipated let down: Robert Fripp – Exposure (reissue)
Best historic rumor to come true: Brian Wilson – SMiLE
Best singer song writer that used Condoleezza in a song: Robyn Hitchcock – Spooked
Best mass media music if someone knew who he was: Magnet – On Your Side
Best hidden anger management I just got divorced & we just went to war: Nine Horses – Snow Borne Sorrow
Best Resurgence of the 80’s sound of pop: The Postal Service – Give Up
Most impact on opening the musical sound of Africa to popular culture: Amadou & Mariam – Dimanche a Bamako
Master class: David Sylvian – Dead Bees On A Cake
The Brian Eno atmospheric music award: Fennesz – Venice
Most missed guitarist under 100lb (RIP Chris): Chris Whitley & Jeff Lang – Dislocation Blues
Most missed guitarist over 100lb (RIP Joe): Joe Strummer – Global A Go-Go
Best CD of the Decade: The Arcade Fire – Funeral
My musical picks of 2009?
December 27th, 2009
Ah, 2009 is almost behind us, and I have made very few musical posts, my apologies. It has been a busy crazy wonderful year, but on to the larger question. The question that I get asked every day, at least enough that I would comment on it. What were your favorite CD’s of 2009?
I find it a strange question now because very few people measure there favorite CD’s anymore. It has become the favorite song, so I have done both here.
My picks for the best CD’s released in in 2009:
10. Beirut - March of the Zapotec & Realpeople: Holland
9. Compilation - Dark Was The Night
8. Here We Go Magic – Here We Go Magic
7. Julian Casablancas - Phrazes For The Young
6. Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
5. Mr. Anonymous – Mr. Anonymous 2
4. Bishop Allen – Grrr..
3. Patrick Watson – Wooden Arms
2. Riceboy Sleeps – Riceboy Sleeps
1. Sin Fang Bous – Clangour
Honorable Mention:
Easy Star’s All Stars – Easy Star’s Lonely Hearts Dub Band
David Sylvian – Manafon
Fanfarlo - Reservoir
My most listened to songs in 2009 (not necessarily published in 2009):
10. Lights On – John And Anne
9. Felix Laband – Whistling In Tongues
8. Praveen and Benoit – Death as a Man
7. Quantic And His Combo Barbaro – I Just Fell In Love Again
6. Vampire Weekend - Horchata
5. Au Revoir Simone - The Last One
4. Robyn Hitchcock – I’m Falling
3. Julianna Barwick - Sunlight, Heaven
2. Bon Iver – Blood Bank
1. Vieux Farka Touré – Aï Haïra
What Now, What Next (anything is possible)
September 27th, 2009
Ah, It has been awhile my music friends. please expect my apologies for not posting more, I have been focused on larger projects of change.
I though wanted to pass on the summer mix (a little late) that was given to the Magnificent 7 this year. I hope you enjoy, best listened in this order.
What Now, What Next (anything is possible)
1. Chest Of Drawers / Daniel Lanois 0:24 
2. Transit Lounge / Crowded House 4:26
3. Good Morning Good Morning / Steel Pulse 2:50
4. Advent In Ives Garden / Sin Fang Bous 3:07
5. Daylight / Matt and Kim 2:51
6. Reckoner / Radiohead 4:50
7. St. Peter’s Day Festival / Ra Ra Riot 3:36
8. Cello Song / The Books 3:54
9. Dirt On Your New Shoes / Bishop Allen 2:45
10. Talk About the Passion / R.E.M. 3:24
11. Art / Tanya Davis 2:52
12. The Concubine / Beirut 3:30
13. All the First Pages / Anathallo 5:18
14. Supermellofied / Peter And The Wolf 3:06
15. Drowning Man / U2 4:15
16. Tunnelvision / Here We Go Magic 4:24
17. Ah…, I See / The Books 0:21
18. God Only Knows / Cornelius 4:57
Great Music & Support Amnesty International
May 13th, 2009David Byrne, is donating the proceeds of this live EP to Amnesty International. I never thought I would hear a live version of “Help Me Somebody”, it is a little different without the samples but still enjoyable. You can get all three, no four tracks for $4. Get the tracks
Taking the down beat on a rainy day
May 7th, 2009
Patrick Watson new CD Wooden Arm is a brilliant selection of well crafted songs. Now, I have to say this seems more like a fall collection of songs than spring, but the last few days of rain and fog it feels very much at home with nature right now.
Cello’s bello in and out, harmonized singing, textured sounds and a percussion selection that is not to far out, but walks on a very creative line of rhythms. I highly suggest this CD, if you are looking for a low key selection of songs for a raining day or to play in the background of a working day.
Some music that went through my head
April 29th, 2009
Two weeks ago a gave a talk about my trip and book about Tanzania. One of the subject that hit the cutting room floor for this talk was music or more importantly what was going through my head sonically.
There were many times that I heard a song from “Moonlight In Glory” from the the CD Life in a Bush of Ghosts. There is a speaking part toward the end of the song that I was reminded of almost daily. “Please Mama, Can we stay the night here, we are far from home…”
Another song was Bethe Bethe Kese Kese from the CD Dub Qawwali, which is just that, remixed Qawwali lyrics by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan with a Jamaican dub sound. Yes, it sounds strange, but I have really enjoyed this track.
Then I am left with The Marsh from the CD Whitewater, it is an amazing track acoustic guitar work, with the many highs and lows that take me on a ride of joy, happiness and reflection.
Dark was the Night
March 8th, 2009
This is a collection of songs that 4AD has released with profits benefitting the Red Hot Organization – an international charity dedicated to raising funds and awareness for HIV and AIDS.
Dark was the night, has something for everyone. It really is a who’s who of alternative music. The first disc I am really enjoying the tracks Train Song, Cello Song and Knotty Pine, but I for see that it will be only a matter of time that the rest starts growing on me.
let the cold wind blow
December 22nd, 2008
It must be that time of year. Everything is colder and the New England weather chases me to emotional epic music. The work has pilled up and the need to think and work, during these times I often find the dramatic based music, works the best. In 2009 or should I say this end of 2008 has left us with some great emotionally centering music.
To start your winter of 09 collection of emotional classics, we should start with Johann Johannsson “Fordlandia”. This is a large work that at times reminds me of the music of Arvo Part, ebbs and flows of strings and emotions. Very moving music, is based on string arrangements that can take you to dark places, giving us places to reflect and pushes us forward.
If strings are not for you and you prefer the beeps and cracks of the modern electric sound. Fennesz “Black Sea” takes you for a ride if amazingly full textures of sound, what weave melodic states and emotional friction of sound. This is probably Fennesz most excess-able CD since Venice.
I can not forget looking a Sigur Ros for some emotional solstice. Their CD “Med sud i eyrum vid spilum endalaust” that came out this year hits every energy source know to our being. Laughter and forgetting, reflection and pain can all be found in these tracks that I can not understand vocally, but I don’t need to. I have been hovering around the song Festival and the title track a lot lately.
Happy New Year! and hear is to the hope of more great music in 2009.
Peace.
Cover me
October 21st, 2008
The Ra Ra Riot cover of Kate Bush’s “Suspended In Gaffa” has really got me thinking about what makes a good cover song. Is it the interruption of the track? is it adding something that was missing?
The one thing I do know is what makes a bad cover song, and that is a song that sound just like the original.
So, what’s your favorite cover song?
Mine right now are:
Ra Ra Riot “Suspended In Gaffa”
Broken Social Scene “Horses”
Sun Kil Moon “Exit Does Not Exist”
Carlos Careqa “Psycho maloca”