Monthly Archive

I was going to take today to explore Number 1 Singles all over the world. I thought it would be fun to see the diversity between totally different countries, any country that popped into my head - New Zealand, Canada, Paraguay, Russia. But you know what? It wasn’t fun - the same crap is on every chart I looked at. 50 Cent is everywhere. Rihanna is taking over the world. I have no idea who Sean Kingston is or what he sounds like, but he’s on every chart known to man.

So forget that. (But if you’re curious, Charts All Over The World is a great - and very thorough - list of links to every chart you could think of.) I started just poking around chart sites and came across the BBC Radio 1 Indie Singles Chart (as compiled by The Official UK Charts Company).

It’s more interesting than I would’ve expected, mostly because it reminds me of something I wonder about from time to time. What exactly does ‘indie’ mean? It should, and used to, mean music that has been recorded/released by independent record labels, right? But - just like ‘pop’ used to be short for ‘popular’ and is now the label for things that sound like Britney Spears - ‘indie’ is now used as if it refers to a genre. I’m not complaining about this - I studied linguistic crap, I understand that definitions shift over time - but it is an oddity and one that seems to follow a cycle. ‘Indie’ (under the genre-definition) would, I suppose, include both Bright Eyes and Bloc Party although they sound nothing alike and have nothing to do with each other. Likewise, ‘punk’ (back in the day) referred to both The Sex Pistols and Television - not because they shared a sound exactly but because they came from the same movement. What exactly was ‘alternative’ in the 90s and, if it was a genre, how can something stop being ‘alternative’?

Anyway, that’s all more complicated than that and it doesn’t even really matter, it’s just something I find interesting. I started thinking about it when I noticed that the Indie Singles Chart follows (as one would expect for something based on sales) independent labels and I was struck by the variety of styles on it, which I hadn’t expected. Let’s have a look-see, shall we? (Some YouTube links provided so you can join in the fun.)

First, we’ve got a whole bunch of dance / techno / drum and bass stuff (Samim, Influx UK, Hi-Tack, Frederico Franchi, a Bob Marley remix, and others) which is not the kind of thing I know anything about. I couldn’t tell you if it’s good or not, I just wanted to point out that it’s there.

There’s some emo-y stuff on the list: Motion City Soundtrack’s “This Is For Real” (#22) and Fightstar’s “We Apologize For Nothing” (#1!). Isn’t Fightstar the band that has that guy that used to be in some boy band? Or something like that. I hate to be too snobby but, to me, these songs sound exactly like everything else that sounds like this. There’s Nightwish’s “Amaranth” (#11) which I’m not afraid to be snobby about - this faux-goth metal stuff is just silly and it takes itself too damn seriously. Speaking of which, what is up with this Aiden person? One Love is at #13 - is there anyone else that’s watched this video and wondered if it’s some joke they don’t get?

Then there’s the indie as I’d expect (indie in this case being a genre - see how it’s confusing?) - Iwasacubscout’s “Our Smallest Adventures” (#27 - a very pleasant song) and This City’s “Romantic” (#26), for example.

And the indie bands that are already established favorites: Maximo Park’s “Girls Who Play Guitars” (#20), The Go! Team’s “Doing It Right” (#10), and

   #18 Bonde Do Role - Solta O Frango

And the reissues, some pretty good ones this week: Elvis’ “My Baby Left Me” (#8), and

   #5 T.Rex - Metal Guru

But my favorites are sort of random:

   #24 Carbon/Silicon - The Magic Suitcase

I didn’t know this was around, Mick Jones (The Clash) and Tony James (Generation X) working together. And it’s quite lovely - it sounds a bit like a milder, sing-song-y Clash.

   #7 Reverend And The Makers - He Said He Loved Me

Opinion seems to be divided on whether Reverend And The Makers are any good, but I like this song at least. I don’t know what the rest of their album is like but this is catchy, energetic, and just a little bit different.

   #9 Dan Le Sac Vs. Scroobius Pip - The Beat That My Heart Skipped

This is definitely my big prize in all this chart insanity. I’d never heard of these guys before and loved this track immediately. Part spoken word, part rap, part GoldieLookinChain without the absurdity - definitely a pair to keep your eye on.

An there you have it - a failed attempt at a post, a bit of rambling nonsense, and some great songs. What more could you want?

Is it common knowledge that Jerry Garcia plays Harry the homeless guy’s banjo bits in Philip Kaufman’s Invasion Of The Body Snatchers? I had no idea. I was watching the movie earlier today and I really liked Harry’s songs and his dog - NOT the alien doggy pod clone that wears Harry’s face … yuck. But I digress, I looked up the actor, because I thought he might have been a musician. It turns out that though the actor who plays the banjo man is called Joe Bellan, Jerry Garcia is the one who plays over Joe’s ass kicking faux-finger picking. I also learned that it is impossible to find a sample, a name, or even a clip of the banjo song played in the movie. So I’m calling on all you movie buffs and Deadheads out there, if anybody knows anything about it, please do share your awesome smarts.

Here’s a great song that shows off Jerry’s banjo skillz:

   Jerry Garcia - Catfish John

Next month another version of Invasion Of The Body Snatchers comes out starring Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig, called The Invasion. I’m curious what it will be like, because the original movie from the fifties was influenced by the communist witch hunts at the time, and the first remake from the seventies was set against the background of the post-Vietnam, post-Watergate paranoia of (political) conspiracies. I wonder if the current political climate is also somehow represented in this new version. Other than what’s on the IMDB, I don’t know anything else about The Invasion, but they’re gonna have a really hard time trying to top the 1978 one.

   Nine Inch Nails - Survivalism

It’s been 33 years since the Talking Heads formed and whenever I listen to them I still think their work is fresh. Rummaging through their musical corpus it was terribly difficult to pick only a single song I thought worthy of being tapped for Classics. There are so many.

I settled on “Burning Down The House” off Speaking In Tongues (1983), a single that was not only the group’s biggest chart success but broadcast them to a much wider audience via MTV and the Stop Making Sense tour documentary by Jonathan Demme (which I went to see with my father when it was making the rounds in small film houses).

There are Talking Heads songs that can compete with it, but today it is the classic. A refined product of late-70s exploration of the new and different, years in the making by the time it hit us in 1983. Proof positive David Byrne and his partners in crime were the bomb.

   Talking Heads - Burning Down The House

And, as an added bonus you can thank the Bean for reminding me about Tom Jones and the Cardigans showing you just how fresh the song can be after many years. From the 1999 Reload cover extravaganza:

   Tom Jones - Burning Down The House (with The Cardigans)

I bought The Wrens’ 2003 CD The Meadowlands a few years ago and I gave it one or two spins, but then I forgot all about it as is often the case with Backtrack albums. Now that I’ve given it a couple more listens, I have no idea why I never listened to it again. The Wrens hail from New Jersey and play versatile, layered rock music that seems to explore the edges of pop, but never really becomes easy to sing along with. They do have their bouts of emo - a genre that never caught my fancy - but make it up with songs like the pretty, dreamy “Thirteen Grand”, perfect for a lazy Sunday or “Faster Gun”, which sounds more like happy, American, college rock circa 1998 when it was OK to smile on stage.

My vote for stand out songs go to “Per Second Second” and “This Is Not What You Had Planned”. In the first the instruments take center stage and the vocals merely accompany the dizzying, almost psychedelic scenery. Whereas “This Is Not What You Had Planned” is super short, sparse, most obviously recorded in their living room and the best example of the intimate world they build - flegmy coughs and all.

   The Wrens - Faster Gun
   The Wrens - Per Second Second
   The Wrens - This Is Not What You Had Planned

Recent busyness here at Bean Central has kind of zapped my blogging mojo. Actually, it’s zapped pretty much everything but my Playstation mojo - I’ve barely done anything but play Tomb Raider Anniversary for days. Don’t judge me.

But then I discovered something marvelous hiding in the 100b HQ inbox and I couldn’t wait to post about it. Actually, marvelous doesn’t really cut it in this case - this music is sweeping, catchy, fun, uplifting, sad, huge, quaint, and just darned beautiful. (That may sound like I just strung a bunch of random adjectives together to try to sound writer-y, but have a listen in a minute and you’ll see that they’re all true.)

This is Plushgun - a project started by one Dan Ingala - currently based in Brooklyn - only 8 tiny months ago. Originally trained in classical music before moving on to other academic pursuits, Dan has written, recorded, and produced all of Plushgun’s music so far, with help from some guest musicians. This is a wonderful sound he’s created - part indie pop, part indie rock, part electronica, part soaring classical (electronic) orchestration. Like all of my very favorite music, Plushgun is not a one-genre pony, and definitely isn’t afraid of the dreaded ‘pop’ word. As Dan said, “there is no shame in making music people like, so long as you like it too.” Hear, hear! I couldn’t possibly agree more.

Not that there’s anything bubblegummy about Plushgun - this is pop in the best possible way - ‘Pop’ meaning: music that feels really good. All of the tracks I’ve had the chance to listen to are absolutely stunning - but “Just Impolite” makes my heart soar. Seriously, I listened to it about 4 times in a row.

Dan says that Plushgun is going live, and that he’s got some great musicians to perform with, so keep an eye out for them at your favorite venue. A Plushgun EP should be coming soon and, in the meantime, tracks are available for purchase by Snocap via PlushSpace. Dan’s also working on an album so, Record Deal Guys, get your contracts out, you won’t be sorry.

   Plushgun - Just Impolite
   Plushgun - Dancing In A Minefield

Hmm, I’m not sure if you could call Orange Juice and Edwyn Collins poptastic in the strictest sense of the term. These three songs aren’t knock-your-socks off cheesy. You know, the kind either so poptastic you can’t help but smile or so cringe-worthy they deserve a place in the Poptastic Pantheon. On the other hand, “Rip It Up” - Orange Juice’s only bonafide charter - does push the needle a bit with the blurp-blurps and sax when they take it to the bridge.

   Orange Juice - Rip It Up (Intermediate Edit)

And, if cheesy pop songs are those that, once heard, bury themselves deep in your brain like that slug-worm thing in the Star Trek: Wrath of Khan, well, then Collins’ 1994 beats-bells-guitar hit “A Girl Like You” is a wicked one. I listened to it a few times while preparing for Poptastic Day and I almost regret it. And regret it. And regret it. Oh, the torture of the poptastic!

   Edwyn Collins - A Girl Like You

Finally, few things approach popasticism like Austin Powers and Collins’ contribute to the 1997 Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery soundtrack - “The Magic Piper (Of Love)” - features many classicly poptastic accouterments. Flute jams almost always garner a few poptastic points. But, when horns, slightly oddball lyrics, and a light-hearted feel are added to the mix a strong case is made for Poptasitc Day qualification.

   Edwyn Collins - The Magic Piper (Of Love)

Well, once again, I’ve walked up to the precipice of rule-breaking here at 100b. I’m not sure if these selections completely meet our stringent poptastic criteria. I can only hope our readers will forgive me and enjoy the music!

No fair!! The world is teeming with new bands that leave me absolutely cold and of course they’re planning to stick around FOREVER. Glasgow based The Royal We are amazing, they make beautiful melodic pop music with an edge, they’re unique and they’re supposedly only planning on making one CD. Just the ONE! I was delighted and devastated all in the same two minutes. You cannot dangle such a juicy, sugar-coated carrot in front of me and then tell me I can only have a nibble. That’s mean and more mean. Set for release on the 24th of September, you can pre-order the wonderful single “All The Rage” from their upcoming one and only album over at Domino Records. They are also going to play some farewell shows, so catch ‘em while you can. I doubt they’re coming my way, so let me know how it went. Lucky bastards.

Here’s the bloody video for “All The Rage”:

Joey Ramone once said that fun disappeared from music in 1974, so The Ramones reacted against the trend of big heavy self-indulgent prog rock bands that all tried to outdo each other in most complex licks and longest dramatic solos. Since 100b would literally not be if it weren’t for the Ramones, all things that helped the birth of the band - even a bad year in music - are in a remote, roundabout way responsible for this here blog as well. Now let’s have a peak at the year that sucked the fun out of music and consequently gave rise to a band that broke all the rules.

Here’s the Top 20 End Of Year US chart from 1974:

20. Blue Swede - Hooked On A Feeling
19. Blue Magic - Sideshow
18. John Denver - Sunshine On My Shoulder

Well, there you have it. These three tunes epitomize Joey Ramones claim that there is no fun in music this year. OK, “Hooked On A Feeling” does have the cool ‘hoogachakas’ at the start, but none of these songs make me want to start a revolution or at the least my own band.

17. David Essex - Rock On
16. Jim Stafford - Spiders And Snakes

I actually kinda like these two songs. “Rock On” is far from rockin’, but - in keeping with the seventies theme - it has a very cool vibe. The Jim Stafford song is just very light and silly and for some reason it reminds me of the Smokey And The Bandit movies.

15. Al Wilson - Show And Tell
14. Stylistics - You Make Me Feel Brand New
13. Maria Muldaur - Midnight At The Oasis

Two very slick seventies soul songs that do absolutely nothing for me and “Midnight At The Oasis”, which sounds cute at first, but inexplicably also makes me feel a bit dirty. I can imagine these three songs as the soundtrack to many a hot, seventies, backseat lovin’.

12. Kool & The Gang - Jungle Boogie

I LOVE this song. From the gong to the funktastic voices and guitar I love the whole thing. It’s impossible not to get swept away by that crazy, grunty, scatting guy. I first heard it as a sample in The Beastie Boys’ “Hey Ladies”, before I was even aware of Kool & The Gang. Feel da Funk y’all!!

11. Aretha Franklin - Until You Come Back To Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do)
10. Mac Davis - One Hell Off A Woman
09. Elton John - Bennie And The Jets

It’s hard to believe that Mac Davis who wrote “One Hell Of A Woman” also wrote Elvis’ “In The Ghetto”. It’s so blah, he’s easily drowned out by the two music greats on either side of him. I think it’s interesting that “Bennie And The Jets” was written as a poppy protest against seventies music. Though it doesn’t make as much of a racket as The Ramones do.

08. Ray Stevens - The Streak
07. MFSB feat. The Three Degrees - The Sound Of Philadelphia
06. Grand Funk Railroad - Loco-Motion

I don’t know what to make of “The Streak”. It is the lyrical version of a Benny Hill skit and celebrates the popular seventies sport streaking. Remember when any outdoor activity or half-assed protest was reason for somebody to run around in their birthday suit? Aw, the “Loco-motion”! Growing up in the eighties, I first heard Kylie’s sweet version when we just knew her as the cute one from Neighbours.

05. Jackson 5 - Dancing Machine
04. Redbone - Come And Get Your Love
03. Love Unlimited Orchestra - Love’s Theme

Bean recently celebrated the Jackson 5 and though this song is not one of their best, it’s still superbly poptastic. The very first lines of that Redbone song sound vaguely familiar to me, because Cindy Lauper sorta stole some of it in “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”, but she changed it to ‘hey now, hey now, what’s the matter with ya, girls just wanna have fun now’. Good times. And this instrumental song by Barry White’s Love Unlimited Orchestra is commonly believed to have been a huge influence on the disco sound that came out the following year. So whether you love, hate or are indifferent of disco this song had a part in the making of it.

02. Terry Jacks - Seasons In The Sun
01. Barbra Streisand - The Way We Were

No offense to Terry Jacks’ fans, but does anybody else want to kill themselves when they listen to “Seasons In The Sun”?!? The line that does it for me is ‘Goodbye papa, it’s hard to die when all the birds are singing in the sun’. Barf. I do appreciate “The Way We Were” for its misty, water-colored movie connections, it is a classic and La Streisand at her best.

Alright, with the exception of some kool funkalicious bands and familiar pop greats, this was not the most exciting year in music. Especially rock ‘n roll, once resurrected out of sex, youth and rebellion, had lost its dangerous edge and boisterous spirit and turned into a boring, lazy, beast of burden. No wonder The Ramones were pleading for shock treatment to get themselves out of the musical cul de sac that was 1974. Two years later they brought back the fun with their short, choppy, energetic debut so jam-packed full of disorganized joy that it inevitably rang in a new era.

   The Ramones - Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment

Back in the day, grunge was the shiznit. Ah, to think of those times again. When it was acceptable to look like a bum. When plaid flannel was de rigour. Good times. Good times, indeed. Actually, good grunge and much about that scene is still the shiznit.

Most probably think of Nirvana and Pearl Jam when they harken back to those days of yore. For me, though, among the flood of great, good, and downright upsetting groups coming out of Seattle between 1990-1994, Alice In Chains really stands out. Dark and introspective lyrics over heavy metal-esque instrumentals. They really left an impression on that time in my life.

And, when I think about Alice In Chains I always think of “Rooster”, off the 1992 release Dirt. It might not be their best song or even my favorite (that’d be “Man In The Box”). But, the track got significant videoplay and I watched MTV a lot back then (before MTV become less Music Television and more Moron Television). The rooster pecked and crowed its way permanently into the recesses of my brain, where it still lurks today.

   Alice in Chains - Rooster

If you’re just a casual fan and don’t already know, check out the Wikipedia write-up about the song’s background and meaning.

Interested in what Alice In Chains is up to now? Visit the official Alice In Chains site.

It’s easy to think of The Cure as completely depressing, but they have made some really wonderful, heartwarming songs. “Just Like Heaven” isn’t really one of them. It fools you into thinking it is, until you hear the last verse. But even with its incredibly sad ending, play it loud so it fills the room and it feels like you’re in a grassy field on a sunny day, spinning around in circles and laughing with someone you love.

   The Cure - Just Like Heaven

I can’t even remember buying this 25-track, RZA-produced soundtrack. It must have been an informed impulse purchase. Samurai? Black samurai with an afro? RZA produced the soundtrack? Cool. Sweet. Cha-ching. Going through the collection for Backtrack preparations Afro Samurai jumped up and down until I gave it another listen.

For the uninitiated - like I originally was - Afro Samurai is an anime adaptation of a manga series. The five-parter originally aired earlier this year in the U.S. (on Spike TV) and U.K. (on Adult Swim). Not only is the soundtrack produced by the RZA, Samuel L. Jackson is the voice of Afro Samurai.

Sadly, I haven’t seen it yet myself. The soundtrack was enough to get me started. However, having listened to the album again, I think I may have to get me a little some of that. Even more fun - if true and if it ever comes to fruition - there may be an actual Afro Samurai movie starring Jackson. Ladies and gentlemen, the hardest working man in showbiz!

You can get yourself a copy of the DVD at Amazon (U.S.). Denizens of the U.K. need to wait until next month (according to the page at Play.com). I’ve just pre-ordered mine.

While you wait, find the way of the warrior with these tracks from the soundtrack and peruse the Afro Samurai website for goodies:

   The RZA - Certified Samurai (ft Talib Kweli, Lil Free, Suga Bang)
   The RZA - Just A Lil Dude “Who Dat Ovah There” (ft Q-Tip, Free Murd)
   The RZA - Fury In My Eyes / Revenge (ft Thea)

Official Afro Samurai website

Not so long ago, 100b received Murder Mystery’s (self released) debut album, Are You Ready For The Heartache Cause Here It Comes in our inbox. It being the first thing I’ve found in there that I was really excited about (yup, we listen to every tiny thing you send us, folks), I scooped it up right quick and claimed it for myself.

I imagine a lot of people will cry Strokes when they first hear Murder Mystery, and there’s no denying that there is a Strokesian element there (understandable since Are You Ready … is co-produced by Strokes guru JP Bowersock). Although the tracks available on myspace were more than enough to get me interested, they initially gave me the impression that Murder Mystery’s similarity to The Strokes is more than it really is. Listening to the full album (a lot) shows that Murder Mystery is even better than I’d originally hoped. There’s some early Beatles and Buddy Holly hiding in there, maybe a little Motown and other assorted 60s pop goodness (I swear I hear a little girl group stuff going on), some Beach Boys details, a few 1977 CBGB’s moments, and some excellent handclaps (I’m a big fan of handclaps). You might like them if you like any of those bands mentioned above, The Cribs, The Blood Arm, The Detroit Cobras, Belle & Sebastian, The Modern Lovers, Stellastarr* … Are You Ready is a lovely combination of sounds, feels happy and uplifting - and, maybe it’s just me, but I find it kind of cosy somehow.

As with anytime I try to post about music I really like, I never feel like I’ve been able to do it justice. I always end up letting the music itself do the talking because it’ll probably convince you better than I can.

   Murder Mystery - What My Baby Said
   Murder Mystery - Baby, You Can Write Me A Letter

Are You Ready For The Heartache Cause Here It Comes is available from Insound or for download through SNOCAP at MurderMysterySpace.

(Edit: oopsy, I messed up the link to Murder Mystery’s official site. It’s all better now, so go check them out!)

I guess one of these creatures is Cary Pratt of Prairie Cat, but I’m not entirely sure what is going on in this picture. Well, at least now I know what my next nightmare is gonna look like.

The wonderful Catbird Records recently co-released Canadian one-man band Prairie Cat’s debut album Attacks!. Here’s a little taste of the seven song gem. It’s perfect for a lazy afternoon or a Monday so horrible that it needs its own anthem of Grumpy. I don’t know how to describe this song, but if it was a drink it would be over-sugared strawberry Kool-Aid, because it has a yummy familiar flavor, but it’ll zap anybody right out of their state of apathy with its quirky sweetness and alien, luminescent coloring. If you like what you hear you gotta be quick like a prairie cat (ha, see what I did there?) to get your hands on one of the 100 pretty special hand-painted versions.

   Prairie Cat - Grumpy Forever

The Jackson 5 are one of those rare groups that perfectly balance that line between Classic and Poptastic. Few will deny that they made some of the best pop music of all time - all peppy melodies, funky 70s beats, and the catchiest damn tunes around. And no matter how depressing today’s Michael Jackson gets, the Michael Jackson that existed back then was one of pop history’s greatest performers. Music that makes people feel this good will never go out of style.

On the other hand, the Jackson 5 was just a tiny bit silly - the outrageous outfits, the choreographed dance steps, and lyrics like:

Reading, writing and arithmetic
Are the branches of the learning tree.
But without the roots of love every day, girl,
Your education ain’t complete.
Teacher’s gonna show you how to get an A!
(”ABC”, 1970)

Oh, dang! That’s some skillful writing right there. And I never really thought about it before today, but is there anyone else that finds it a little odd to have a 12-year-old boy warning his girl about being trampy or else “someday [she'll] be all alone” (”The Love You Save”, 1970)? Boy, kids sure do grow up fast.

   Jackson 5 - ABC
   Jackson 5 - The Love You Save