Archive for the ‘Pop’ Category

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Summer music, life is up!

Tuesday, July 1st, 2008

Thao - We Brave Bee Stings and All - Bag of Hammers

I had a great summer surprise, “thao, We Brave Bee Stings and All”. This is musically fairly simply pop, with nice streaks of atmospheric textures, that give the music a intimate feel. What caught me was her story tell with lyrically frame works that make you think twice about what she is singing about. Bag of Hammers is my pick from the new CD, complete with great runs of words. “Shake the frame of this house /distress the wood make it shout / And as sharp as I sting /As sharp as i sing / It still soothes you doesn’t it / Like a lick of ice cream

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Finding new music is like pulling teeth

Friday, May 23rd, 2008

Sorry for the very long absence. I have been very busy, but more than that, I have not heard any music that really has had any impact on me.

I ran into a bunch of interesting music for short interludes, but no long running classics.

Things to look at if you have not.

Vampire Weekend Vampire Weekend is the summer music selection for right now.

Daniel Lanois - Here Is What Is Daniel Lanois “Here is What is” has been the thinking music, with touches of Eno.

Sigur Rós - Hvarf - Heim and Sigur Ros “Hvarf – Heim” has been my writing music. With memories of travels.

I will write more soon. Sorry for the delay.

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Free Music from SXSW

Tuesday, March 11th, 2008

Yo La Tengo

For the last 4 years, SXSW publishes free music for us to enjoy and consume. This years 3.4 GB of music, being distributed by a torrent file, can be found here. http://hewgill.com/sxsw/
This like all promotions, if you like it suport the artists and buy their music…

I am downloading it now…

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More brillance

Friday, October 12th, 2007


Beirut - The Flying Club Cup

I just love this stuff… watch for the watermelon.

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My past catches up to me.

Thursday, September 27th, 2007

Artist: Brian Eno

Album: Another Day on Earth

Rating: 5 out of 5

Media: CD

Year: 2005

Label: Hannibal

UPC for CD: 031257147521

As I prepare to travel to Tanzania, I realize that I need to prep my ipod for this long trip. It did not take long to start thinking about past trips to China and Thailand and the 24 hour door to door trip and the music that I brought with me to to pass the hours.


Brian Eno - Another Day On Earth

Brian Eno’s “Another Day On Earth” is my traveling CD. A brilliant master work by Mr. Eno that has started to work it’s way back into my life as I start thinking about the big questions of my trip to Tanzania.


Sigur Rós - Takk...

Sigur Rós “Takk…” was a corner stone to my trip to China. It brings back so many smells and tastes from that trip that it is uncanny. A brilliant CD of songs if you enjoy long notes of music that rise, fall and crash like the waves of the ocean.


Thelonious Monk Quartet & John Coltrane - Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall

John Coltrane & Thelonious Monk Quartet lost album of live works “Thelonious Monk Quartet With John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall” was pulled apart note my note turning my skip over to Thailand from Hong Kong. It is the type of CD that just makes you want to play.

I wonder what music will impact this trip?

Posted in Contextual Memory, Pop | No Comments »

makes me hope that there is more…

Sunday, September 9th, 2007

Wolfgags Vault

Category: Personal site

Topic: Live Music

This is where the internet amazes me. That is when you run into a website like Wolfgangs Vault. The Vault consists of live concerts from the late 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. Live Genesis 1975 with Peter Gabriel, Three, King Crimson shows from 1969, Roxy Music, Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd and so much more music streamed for free (some tracks are available for download at a cost).
It is really a fantastic collection of live recordings done from the mixing board.
Enjoy…
wolfgagsvault.com

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Out There

Sunday, September 2nd, 2007

Artist: Luka Bloom

Album: Tribe

Rating: 4 out of 5

Media: CD

Year: 2007

Label: Cooking Vinyl

UPC for CD: 711297481921


Luka Bloom - Tribe

Summer must be coming to a end. My music and the music being released right now, echo the changing of seasons and it’s melancholy feel. One of the more interesting releases is Luka Blooms “Tribe”.
This a very different selection of songs for Luka, thick bass lines with ebo textured guitars that brings a new sound to his work. It is familiar and balanced, new but not jarring and very enjoyable in these cool New England mornings.

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Fred sings Brazil

Friday, July 27th, 2007

Artist: Cornelius

Album: Point

Rating: 4 out of 5

Media: CD

Year: 1998

Label: Matador Records

UPC for CD: 744861030027


Cornelius - Point - Brazil

When does strange turn to really enjoyable? When there is a cover the song “Brazil” that sends you into Terry Gilliam flash backs?

Cornelius, who yes does a cover of Brazil, is on of the modern artist that I have been watching and “Point” is a very approachable abstract almost dance music that explores music in a no conventional almost noise form. He fits somewhere between “The Books” and Fennesz, playing with loops and pressing on with a message of understand the “point” of view. I have to say I hate “I hate hate” thought I have been caught chuckling at the power cords once, I debate if the song is worth the hard-drive space.

I fall into the more laid back songs, Tone Twilight Zone and Brazil on this CD, but there are treats to be found if you are looking for it… Yes I think that is Fred… that Macintosh voice that visits on the weekends…

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David Sylvian – Maria (Live In Tokyo 4/24/04)

Thursday, June 28th, 2007
Rating: 5 out of 5

To the David Sylvian fan’s out there here is a rework of a classic. I really like the samples that are used in this track. David, we need this on a CD…

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I can’t make real life as good as television

Monday, May 21st, 2007

Artist: Jenny Owen Youngs

Album: Batten the Hatches

Rating: 3 out of 5

Media: CD

Year: 2007

Label: Nettwerk Records

UPC for CD: 067003064828


Jenny Owen Youngs - Batten the Hatches

I think one of the hardest things about writing about music is finding a complete CD that you can make a fair comment on. The new / reissue Jenny Owen Youngs CD “Batten the Hatches” leaves me in the flux of trying to find a balance of very bad and really create music.

In the middle of this CD there are three very nice creative tracks (Voice on tape, P.S., Bricks) these tracks at times sound like Joni Mitchell with lyric writing that could take twist like Robyn Hitchcock. They are three very enjoyable folk pop tunes that I am happy to have in my collection.

But regretfully, the rest of the tracks seem deep in the youthful disfunction angst of relationships gone south and the desire to try to create some sort of shock, slim. That just turns the CD into a lost set of pop tunes that fall short.

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