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I downloaded a song in December last year that I have no recollection of at all. It’s really good and I’d love to know who the artist is, but sadly even when I googled the lyrics I got nuthin’. It got me wondering what other ’songs that time forgot’ were lurking in my folders. Well, there were seven, of which four came from the same unknown artist. I was shocked, these poor bands were playing their hearts out and I didn’t bother to give them their proper names. I figured this could make for an interesting ‘What’s My Line’-type guessing game - I’m nothing if not topical. The problem is that I have no clues or hints other than the actual tunes. I don’t even know if it’s ‘bigger than a breadbox’. Aaaawesome, I just made one elderly person chuckle … if I’m lucky.
OK, let’s play What’s My Band! Here are the four songs (I picked my favorite from the one band with four songs) that keep me up at night. The sad thing is that every single one of these songs are really wonderful! I can see why I wanted them in the first place, so if anybody out there happens to have an idea who they’re from and what they’re called, then for the love of Thor, take me out of my misery.
This is the song that started this whole weird post. It’s amazing and more than deserves a name. It’s a little bit punk, a little bit electronic funk, and a whole lotta mystery. I think the phrase ‘Meter Man’ is repeated a lot, but it could also be Meet Her Man, or Meet A Man.
This Biritsh(?) band and song sound familiar, I have the feeling that if I ever find out who it is by, I’ll be kicking myself. It wavers between stomping and folky & angry and sweet - love it.
Mystery song number three is a fresh take on seventies, feedbacky psychedelia.
This song did get a title, “Silver Streak”, but that didn’t do me any good. It was downloaded three year ago and I still have no idea who the band is. It’s sweeping Americana with canned vocals and a spectacular intrumental Lynyrd Skynyrd-type ending.
If you’re in the mood for a band that doesn’t take itself too seriously but makes great music with a massive sound, Pink Widower is right up your alley. When I was little I used to want a Tiki bar in my living room and have Tiki parties with a Hawaïan shirt and/or grass skirt dress code. Years of watching Magnum, P.I. convinced me that that was the height of class. Now, it sounds more like the start of a seventies Key party, but I’d still love that bar. When I first heard Pink Widower’s “The Crimson Eye”, my old Tiki dream sprung to mind, because it’s a brilliant song that has a slighty sleazy, old wood-panelling feel, but in a good way! My favorite song on the MySpace is “Baby Elephant”, a mellow yet riotous song about a baby elephant. But do not miss “Battledogs” for all it’s poppy and theatrical wonder. Oh, and if anyone out there has some free time, could you listen to “The Golden Well” and confirm whether the chorus really is ‘old man vagina’ …
Now some additional Pink Widower facts for your New Band Day scrap books: It’s a 4 to 7 piece band from Portland, Oregon … Yah, I’m not sure how many members they have, but one of their sites said 4 to 7 so I’m sticking with that. They’re fronted by The Jed, formerly of Six Foot Sloth. Their songs sound fun, but complicated; I would love to know how the layers of hand claps, voices, a brass band, bells, and that instrument that goes kgrrrrr in the opening of “Battledogs” (what is that?!?) come together on stage. Their debut comes out in June on North Pole Records and I think it’s going to be a perfect summer record, so keep your eyes peeled for it.
If the Zany Charts seem extra zany and jumbly today it’s because, to us in the know, it’s Bean’s birthday! Let’s celebrate with the song that was all the rage in the year she was born. When she first saw the light of day, it’s very likely she might have heard the incredible, poppy sounds of Blondie urging the world to call them, since it was the number one song of the year. It was written for the movie American Gigolo, starring a very young Richard Gere as the highest paid lover in Beverly Hills.
The tiny Bean sprout might also have come across the song while watching the Muppet Show with aDawgg, a mere puppy back then. They left out the verse about rolling around in designer sheets, but it’s still the Muppets and Debbie Harry rocking out for the kids to a song about a man-whore, which is just a little bit disturbing:
Lastly, a very special, non-zany chart related, but super festive clip that means a lot to our generation. It’s also a good reminder of why the upcoming “new” Beverly Hills 90210 *barf* could never EVER live up to the old classics. Take it away, Lavoiiine!
You know how hot people tend to travel in packs? Well, the same goes for hot bands. In honor of our upcoming 100best post, we bring you Tennessee’s own Royal Bangs. They released their debut We Breed Champions themselves in 2006, but - here’s where this month’s 100best band comes in - Patrick Carney checked them out on the MySpace, loved what he heard, and is going to release the record on his label Audio Eagle Records on the 13th of May. They’ve been blogged to pieces so don’t take my word for it, but hot damn they’re good. They have a bleepy, organized chaos-y feel comparable to Whirlwind Heat and Architecture In Helsinki, and Modest Mouse around with experimental vocals and odd shifts in mood. They also get the stamp of approval from at least 50% of The Black Keys, which should really be enough to pique your curiosity.
Listen to the Strokesy “Broke Calculator” courtesy of I Rock Cleveland.
Royal Bangs - Broke Calculator
It’s once again time to round up the news-ish! Since we’ve started this post I’m proud to say that we’ve managed to steer clear from commenting on celebrity relationships, because we really don’t give a crap who’s secretly married or not, who’s engaged because she’s pregnant or not. Leave it to me to break this admirable streak, but this love connection made me go whozajiggawhat?!? This news is a bit older, but Devendra Banhart and Natalie Portman, people. That’s almost as strange a pairing as two historical figures from different continents and time periods hooking up, like say … Cleopatra and Mussolini. For the longest time, I’ve had a girl-crush on Natalie Portman, so maybe it’s just jealousy talking but not in a shmajillion years did I expect these two to get it on, to put it grossly. I know she’s been in one of his videos and he made a song for some charity thing she did, but still. I like this couple in an existential sort of way, it reminds me that anything can happen at any time.
I was always under the impression that Bright Eyes was Conor Oberst’s stage alter ego, like Ziggy Stardust, or Mariah’s Mimi, or Lightspeed Champion. But he recently revealed he’s going to be releasing a solo album soon … OK I love his music, but what the hell has he been doing all the other times? I thought Bright Eyes was basically the Conor Oberst show, how much more Obersty can it get? I’m intrigued.
Elvis’ visit to London in 1958 ranks up there with legends like Jesus’ visit to Glastonbury made famous by William Blake’s poem And Did Those Feet. Well, it looks like The King’s feet did indeed touch British soil back then. I bet there’s an old Londoner out there who’s been saying for years that he once shared a pint with him and people would smile, shake their heads, and say ’sure old man, that happened’. Finally vindicated, he must feel pretty good about himself, he probably printed ‘I told you so’ on a t-shirt. Oh, and just so there’s no confusion I’m not comparing Jesus to Elvis, John Lennon’s 1966 snafu taught me better.
The Smashing Pumpkins’ announcement that they may not make another album, is the kind of info we try to cover with the -ish in New-ish. It’s vague and non-descript and oh yeah, I don’t care. I mean, who does? This also goes for Ryan Adams and Lily Allen’s ill-advised new love affair with the peroxide bottle. Apparently working on new albums makes you want to go blonde.
Oh-oh-oh, check out my new favorite video! If the song doesn’t blow your mind, the crafty visuals will. Embroidery, Mexican wrestlers, monkeys, and totem poles are just some of the things that’ll tickle your retina. Here’s Architecture In Helsinki’s “Like It Or Not”:
I’m pee-my-pants excited over Weezer’s upcoming “red album”. The glorious blue album still makes it into my CD player - how come saying that makes me feel like I might as well have been cranking up the phonograph? - a lot. The stoopid good “Pork & Beans” streamed on their site is reminiscent of the glory days, which is a good thing.
Scott Weiland may have left a big gap to fill with his semi-forced ousting, but to the remaining Velvet Revolvers this is an opportunity to cause a big stir and announce they’re looking for a new singer on the internet. If you think you have what it takes to front Velvet Revolver, tape yourself looking over a big hat covering a bushel of frizzy hair whilst exercising your vocal chords and maybe you’ll be picked to do that for a living. The Pipettes lost two whole members and managed to replace them with much less hoohaw then the aforementioned band.
We end with the lyrical whirlwind that is Nas. The wannabe punk in me loves it when people stir the pot for all the right reasons. No other word could cause this much of a ruckuss and has scholars, politicians, as well as talk shows debating it as much as the N-word. Nas new controversially titled album, that may or may not see a release has had people up in arms for a while now. Nahright gives us a preview of shockingly delicious things to come with “Be A Nigger Too”, if the record will be released. I think we should trust that he wouldn’t just do this for the sake of childish attention, as shown with this song. The track starts with a ‘turn the radio up’, but I seriously doubt it’s gonna be getting a lot airplay. He’s taking the power out of the notorious word, as well as other words offensive to different ethnic groups, in the chorus with dull repitition, except that it’s far from dull. I mean it’s Nas, of course it’s amazing, profound and, dare I say, catchy, but even as a ehm ‘chink n-word’, you won’t find me singing it on any street corners just yet.
Nas - Be A Nigger Too
I once got sucked into one of those book clubs from hell that’d punish me if I didn’t pick something from their crappy selection with monthly packages of books I would otherwise never even consider looking at. It took six months to get rid of them, but when that sweet day of redemption finally came I raised my fists to the heavens and vowed I would never EVER join a club again. Yeh, I’m gonna have to break that overly dramatic vow because Slow Club is definitely worth joining. They’re too stomping to be twee, but so cute, I swear I want to stuff them with cotton candy and take them to Disneyland. They play twangy folk with a rockabilly twist, but have moments of almost boombastic Arcade Fire-type outbursts. Strangely, they’re often hailed as the British answer to the White Stripes - probably because they’re a guy-girl duo, but that’s like comparing apples with … Care Bears. I love them both, but in very different ways. I haven’t heard a song I didn’t go nuts over yet, so I don’t even care if they’ll send me books about the joy of scrap-booking, I want in.
Look them up at Moshi Moshi Records and on the MySpace. While you’re there check out the beautiful “Apples & Pears”, it sums up what makes them special in three and a half minutes.
Slow Club - Me & You
I stumbled across New York band The Postelles during my digital wanderings earlier today, and I fell head-over-heels with their songs. They’re on a European tour at the moment and they’ve toured with Jack Peñate before. They have an EP out on iTunes and their latest single “123 Stop”, produced by Albert Hammond Jr., is out now. They sound a bit like a cross between The Ramones, Bruce Springsteen, and The Libertines but fronted by a fifties rock ‘n roll crooner. In one word they’re lovely, I’m a smitten kitten.
The Postelles - White Night
Oh God. After years and years of nothing but moaning about the profanity and general where-is-this-world-coming-to-ness that is that dirty, dirty hip hop, Bill Cosby offers an alternative. He’s going to have guest rappers on to rap about … sigh … the value of education on his new album. So basically a full CD worth of songs that’ll tell us to ‘be cool, stay in school’. I’m not saying the message is dumb, it’s a good message for the kids, but the holier-than-thou attitude that comes with it is not OK.
Hip hop is a form of music and music is still a form of art. People should be able to express themselves the way they want, whether it makes sense to you or not. There are people out there that make paintings with poop; I won’t look at, or buy their stinky, ass art, but I also won’t start painting toilet bowls to spread the message that poop belongs in the toilet and nowhere else. I said poop a lot in this post, sorry ’bout that. If you’re worried about the children explain to them that songs are forms of entertainment, not recipes to live your life by. Just like Gunther Von Hagens’ Body World Exhibition isn’t an invite to cut people open and look at their still beating hearts.
Erykah Badu ft. Common - Love Of My Life (An Ode To Hip Hop)
Every time I listen to “Tighten Up”, I wish I was a Drell and Archie Bell would yell out, ‘Come on Tamboosh, tighten up on that kazoo!’. Then I’d play a wicked little solo that would make him do that badass Archie Bell chuckle and say ‘Aww yeah, sock it to me now!’. Hmm, a girl can dream, right?
Archie Bell & The Drells have had more hits but this cooler than cool, soul single from 1968 probably still lines their pockets. The Tighten Up was a dance and a call on friends to play some tunes and feel the funk. Yo La Tengo has covered it on their 2006 covers album Yo La Tengo Is Murdering The Classics and managed to make this supafly song sound adorable.
Archie Bell & The Drells - Tighten Up
Yo La Tengo - Tighten Up
I have to admit I haven’t even heard the full album myself yet, but like a kid at a sugar party, I got too excited. Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin’s new album, Pershing came out this week! You can stream it on AOL’s Spinner page or download it from Amie Street. Their last album, Broom, was a 2005 favorite of mine, so this news made my stomach do a double somersault - in a good way. For a sneak-peek of the new stuff listen to this sweetly layered pop song with a misleadingly emo-ish title.
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - Think I Wanna Die
Due to poor ratings, CBS axed their new reality talent show Secret Talents Of The Stars after only one episode. The American public - well, the handful of people that watched - only got a taste of George Takei’s singing chops. Here he is with his version of the country classic “On The Road Again”. I can’t decide whether I think this clip is so bad it’s good or so bad it swung all the way back to bad, but that shirt is awesome.
In the mid-nineties there were so many Grunge bands, my high school had little pockets of people that claimed they supported THE band that was ‘all that and a bag of chips’. On a side note, I’m trying to stay with the nineties feel so forgive the cheesy slang. Everybody agreed that Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Pearl Jam were the most slamminest, but the music pond was overgrown with bands that were soft-loud-softly yelling for attention. I was a bit of a band hopper, every time a great new single came out I didn’t care who it was from, I’d be ‘all over it like white on rice’. But to me, Belgian band K’s Choice hovered very closely to those Grunge greats from the release of “Not An Addict” off their 1996 album Paradise In Me. I still love listening to it, and I still feel like I’m onto something beautiful when I hear it. The hypnotizing intro, Sarah Bettens’ gorgeous raspy voice that monotonously builds up the tension, the dark lyrics that tell the story of a lying junkie, it’s grungy perfection - oh I mean, it’s da bomb!
K’s Choice - Not An Addict
I was cleaning out one of my old bags for storage and out came Bad. Shamow! I hadn’t listened to the full album in years, so I stopped what I was doing and popped it in my CD player. When Michael sings ‘your butt is mine’, I’m transported back to the first time I saw the “Bad” video and thought he had to be the baddest gangster ever. I was 6 and my only knowledge of gangsters came from cartoon wolves in zoot suits. When it first came out a Rolling Stone review said Bad is a better record than Thriller, I’m not so sure I agree, but it still is very exciting. It debuted at 1 back in 1987 and claimed that spot the next six weeks.
The video for the eponymous single cost more than the “Thriller” video, but where did the money go? Did the dancers’ fees go up that year? Was the cost of studded leather ridiculously high then? Aside from that financial mystery, it is a pretty cool vid. I love that, like in “Beat It”, Michael’s idea of street gangs had more in common with Bernstein and Sondheim’s Sharks and Jets than anything rooted in reality. Here’s the full 16 minute mini movie directed by Martin Scorsese, starring Roberta Flack and Wesley Snipes:
I prefer the Guys ‘n Dolls inspired gangster antics of “Smooth Criminal”, because I have fond memories of me falling on my nose while trying that leany forwardy bit of the video. And I used to love to play the Moonwalker game on my brother’s Sega. It was awesome, I could kill a man with a fedora! I’m actually a bit surprised so many bands have covered this song, because other than ‘you been hit by a smooth criminal’ I still cannot decypher any of the lyrics. What is it about? Who’s Annie? Why does he pronounce the you in ‘Annie are you OK’ like Ricky Ricardo?
The rest of the album is also still thrilling and a stunning walk down Michael’s wacky but wonderful memory lane. Even the lesser known songs, that are generally considered the album’s filler tracks, like “Speed Demon” and the upbeat duet with Stevie Wonder “Just Good Friends”, are great pop songs and balance out the album really well. Whatever Michael’s next otherworldly stunt, there is nothing he can do that could erase the awe-inspiring musical legacy he leaves behind with legendary albums like these under his belt.
Michael Jackson - Bad
Michael Jackson ft. Stevie Wonder - Just Good Friends
There would be no charts and therefore no Zany Charts if Billboard hadn’t made the glorious and innovative decision to document America’s best selling records in a handy weekly list simply named the Best Selling Retail Records 68 years ago. Now Billboard hosts about a gajillion charts selected by theme and genre, it boggles the mind. The Forties were a simpler time, there was only one chart that gave the readers the most popular records in one glimpse. Every self-respecting music magazine all over the world has followed suit since then, and has given us the opportunity to poke fun, scrutinize, and analyze these lists of songs. But it all started with this first chart from the 27th of July 1940.
1 Tommy Dorsey with Frank Sinatra & The Pied Pipers - I’ll Never Smile Again
2 Jimmy Dorsey with Bob Eberly - The Breeze And I
3 Glenn Miller with Ray Eberle - Imagination
4 Kay Kyser with Sully Mason/Trio - Playmates
5 Glenn Miller with Ray Eberle - Fools Rush In
6 Charlie Barnet with Mary Ann McCall - Where Was I?
7 Glenn Miller - Pennsylvania 6-5000
8 Tommy Dorsey with Frank Sinatra - Imagination
9 Bing Crosby - Sierra Sue
10 Mitchell Ayres with Mary Ann Mercer - Make-Believe Island
It’s a regular Big Band-a-palooza! With the exception of Bing Crosby these songs are all credited to the, then extremely popular, conductors and their orchestras. Now the vocalists take center stage, but back then the Big Band conductor was the one that got top billing. This is why different versions of “Imagination” can occur in the same chart. I wonder if there was any rivalry between those that favored the Tommy Dorsey version and the Glenn Miller fans. I imagine Big Band Offs, where the two groups would stand across from each other with their record players and play the different songs while heckling the other side. The sweet and dreamy “I’ll Never Smile Again”, was a huge hit. It topped the charts for 12 whole weeks, but it was only one of forty songs the twenty-five year old Frank Sinatra recorded with Tommy Dorsey. My favorite song here is “Pennsylvania 6-5000″, I LOVE everything about it. It’s to Big Band what The Champs’ “Tequila” is to Rock ‘n Roll, but with the added bonus of a ringing phone.
I normally go for loud, energetic bands, but it’d been a very hectic day and by the end of it I was so relieved to hear $100’s delicate folk songs. This Canadian band doesn’t yell for attention, instead the singer’s voice floats along like she hasn’t a care in the world, all the while accompanied by some impressive finger pickin’ and slide guitar action. This results in songs that aren’t for the ultra cool and cynical, but are just sincere and lovely. They’ve had a serious set back when guitarist Ian Russell was diagnosed with Leukemia in August last year, but I was glad to learn he’s in remission now and feels well enough to start playing again. The first song that made me stop and listen was “Not For Me”, a song that expresses the fears and hopes of a woman on the brink of insanity. But “Marbridar” almost made me forget I was so frazzled earlier today, I accidentally stole a bottle of lemonade.
$100 - Marbridar
Just when I thought I could not get more jealous of all you people who get to go to South By Southwest. The AP tells us that Hip Hop has gotten more and more of a foothold on SXSW. Ice Cube, Bun B, The Clipse, Dizzee Rascal, 2 Live Crew, Talib Kweli, The Cool Kids are just a selection of the mouth-watering acts that grace the festival’s stages. For those of you who are missin’ out as well, let the amazing Cool Kids rub-a-dub-dub some more salt in the wound. Damn, that smarts.
The Cool Kids - Pump Up The Volume
The Cool Kids - ‘88
Is it more embarrassing to be a good rapper but a horrible actor, or a bad rapper but a good actor in a movie about a rap legend? I’m thinking the latter, which is why it’s a good thing they went with an actual rapper to play Biggie Smalls in the upcoming feature Notorious. Jamal Woolard, aka Gravy, aka that guy who got shot in the ass, is the lucky man who gets to play the big man. I’m not saying he’s automatically a bad actor, maybe he’ll pull a Mos Def or a Ludacris and light up the screen like a pro, but it is his first attempt at it so it’s gonna be interesting. In small screen news, Britney is going to play a little part in an upcoming episode of How I Met Your Mother. I’ve never seen the show but to answer the earlier question of what is more embarrassing: Britney is. How come nobody tells her that maybe it’s a good idea to have your shiz together before you go out for a part in a comedy? Geez. Didn’t your momma teach you to stop being the butt of the joke before you make your own?
MusicMagpie.co.uk had themselves a poll and the English public decided that Joy Division’s Unkown Pleasures is the most iconic album cover of all time. Yeah, that sounds about right, especially with the recent attention the band’s been getting lately. But I am surprised to see The Velvet Underground & Nico’s banana isn’t even in the top ten, it would definitely top my list. The only problem with these iconic covers is the superbly creative ways in which their popularity is milked. Remember the Unknown Pleasures inspired New Balance shoes?? Barf. I just don’t see how treading on your favorites band’s image is an expression of appreciation.
Some really good music first saw the light of day these last two weeks starting with M.I.A. & DJ Znobia’s collaboration with Buraka Som Sistema on “Sound Of Kuduro”. It’s absolutely mind blowingly amazing. My first reaction was to bust a move, but then I saw the kids in the video … They shamed me into sitting back down and hoping my headnods were on the beat.
Then the Bean alerted me that the band that makes me drool like a Pavlovian German shepherd by the mere mention of them, The Black Keys, lets us sneak a taste of their upcoming new release produced by Dangermouse. Listen to “Psychotic Girl” over on Stereogum. It’s beyond exciting, so incredibly good it hurts.
Nick Cave also has exciting news, but it’s not music related. He’s planning to finally follow up his deeply disturbing gothic novel And The Ass Saw The Angel. Yay, I can’t wait! It took me a while to finish his book, because you have to be in a certain Tim Burtonesque mood to read it, but I was surprised at how much enjoyed it, so I’m looking forward to the next one.
Some of the news was so crazy that it practically forced me to set up a WTF section:
There’s talk of a Libertines musical. WTF?!? I wonder who’s going to play them?? Obviously, John Barrowman would make a good Carl and Ewan Mcgregor could combine his performances in Moulin Rouge and Trainspotting and channel Pete. Yeah, now the idea of a Libertines musical is starting to grow on me. This is followed up with reports that Pete Doherty is going to talk to teenage drug addicts. I actually think this would be a good way to use his celebrity and crack stained past. Yes, it’s on a TV show, which is a bit mweh, but at least he might help out some people.
Equally baffling but in a whole different screwed up way is the robbery surrounding early nineties industrial rock band Cop Shoot Cop. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a single Cop Shoot Cop song, but the fact that this guy was in a band once upon a time, gives me an excuse to talk about this sad sad attempt at robbery. The former guitarist of the band used, as I understand it, a parfume bottle shaped like a gun for a weapon. You either have to have balls the size of melons or brains the size of a walnut or a screwy fruitsalady combo of both to pull a stunt like that.
The final WTF is no surprise. The Enemy’s frontman continues his career in Twatdom as he criticizes Arctic Monkeys yet again, but adds Muse to the list this time while he drools over Oasis and Manic Street Preachers. I know I’m just generating more heat when I give this guy attention, but I just can’t help being fascinated by the whole thing. It’s just so incredibly pathetic the way he continues to go on about how much the Arctic Monkeys are overrated. Well, at least he’s consistent, when I first wrote about them on New Band Day a while ago, I learned they started their band because they were bored with the “shit people” in their “shit town”. He just branched out to adding successful bands to his shit list. Now that’s growth.
My favorite news this week comes from Wale, an MC and huge Seinfeld fan from Washington DC, has made a Seinfeld-inspired mix tape! I don’t even want to get into the whole Seinfeld-Larry King freak out or Michael Richards not so funny stand up freak out. Let’s just say that now that half the former cast are displaying some questionable behavior it’s good to have a reminder of what made the show great.
And finally some sad news, while The Charlatans enjoy their biggest high so far with their free downloadable CD, The Dead 60s announce they split up. I was never a big fan but I did enjoy them rioting on the radio. If you still want to catch The Charlatans’ You Cross My Path you have five more days to go on over to XFM and snatch it up.
The Dead 60s - Riot Radio
The Flamingos’ version of “I Only Have Eyes For You” from 1959 has an immediate romantic impact. Even before the vocals chime in, the music magically transports you to a warm, fuzzy place, so it’s not surprising it can be found on a long list of soundtracks. From the Sopranos to My Girl (the sugary sweet movie in which Macaulay Culkin suffers a death by bees), this is the love ballad used to underscore romantic moments. When I first heard it in full, I couldn’t remember it beyond the first chorus, even though I’d heard it a thousand times. See, that’s where it normally cuts to the next scene, or where the Time-Life advertisement switches to the next classic hit from the Lifetime Of Romance Box Set.
This song has transformed into an icon of romance. You know when you hear it there are candles, googoo eyes, and slow dances in the near future. That’s why I think it’s Poptastic, not because it’s so bad it’s good, as is usually the case, but because it’s enough already! I’m sure there are plenty of other songs that are fit to take over the torch of love. How about giving The Moonglows’ “Most Of All” a go? Or, instead of a Doo-Wop ballad, how about Bright Eyes’ “First Day Of My Life”? Judge for yourself, could these songs carry a romantic scene just as well as “I Only Have Eyes For You”? I think they do, but what do I know, I think cheese is a romantic gift.
The Moonglows - Most Of All
Bright Eyes - First Day Of My Life
Filthy Little Angels has given us so much free fun with all their themed mixes and here’s our chance to give back! They have only 25 days to raise 600 dollars to fund the pressing of a new 7″ record by The Lovely Eggs vs The Sexual Hot Bitches. Judging from the two songs below this new recording is going to be a hot little piece of dirty rock ‘n roll. So go on, donate at fundable.com and be a part of music history from the comfort of your computer.
The Lovely Eggs - I Like Birds
Sexual Hot Bitches - Floorshow/Fanfare/Don’t Dream It, Be It (from the Filthy Horror Show Mix)
The Voluntary Butler Scheme is Rob Jones’ one man band from Stourbridge. At times he channels The Jackson Five as in “Tabasco Sole”, sometimes he sounds more like The Sweet as in “Trading Things In”, but his lyrics are always witty and I’m always blown away by his abillity to make a big, big sound all on his lonesome. His songs feature ample handclaps and doobeedoos, which is really all I ask from a good song. As far as I can tell he’s had no official releases, but he does have a shorter than short free EP on a seperate page on the myspace. These songs go by so swiftly, they’re more like very good jingles, but he wrote them on his lunch break. Imagine what he can do on a day off!
Hm, what else might make you want to give his work a whirl? He just writes incredibly sweet, clever, but whimsical songs that made me laugh while a super scary storm was passing through my neighborhood. Oh, and he looks hot in that picture. Yep, hotness. An important factor often overlooked by the serious music press. Luckily, I’m neither press nor serious, except when I said he made good music.
The Voluntary Butler Scheme - Baking
Willie Nelson may look like your friendly, neighborhood, hippie troubadour, but he is and always will be a badass outlaw to me. He claims to have been smoking weed since he was ten, and that he even did it in the White House while visiting Jimmy Carter. Now, who else has the balls to do that? Before I get angry comments from concerned parents: All you kids out there, drugs are bad and all that but, come on, that is pretty badass … Besides a true outlaw is not meant to be a role model, so don’t do as Willie does. Though, he may be a law breaking, pigtail sporting, pot smoker, he’s also an environmentally conscious, anti-war, animal loving, philanthropist, and a talented artist to boot. You know what, angry comments be damned. If the rest of the world was more like Willie Nelson, it’d be a better place. Or ar least a very laid-back, chilled out place.
“Sad Songs And Waltzes” from his 1973 album Shotgun Willie is one of my favorite songs. It makes me laugh, because the lyrics are self-depricating, clever and vindictive, but at the same time it’s a beautiful, sad country song as well. All the country essentials are represented, it has a healthy dose of self-pity, heartache and even disappointment in the record industry, but he also manages to take a jibe at his lover turned nemesis. The Ryan Adams produced Songbird, which came out in 2006 has a reworking of the song. The older version highlights the heartache and sadness whereas, the latest seems to be sung with a wink and a smile and relishes in the bitterness of lyrics like: ‘I’ll tell all about how you cheated, I’d like for the whole world to hear’. Here’s the Songbird version, simply because my old Shotgun Willie CD doesn’t sound that good anymore and we’re all about quality, folks.
Willie Nelson - Sad Songs And Waltzes
And as a bonus, check out this really great cover by CAKE from their 1996 album Fashion Nugget. In this version the lonely trumpet compliments the gloom beautifully.
CAKE - Sad Songs And Waltzes
The Mules Present ‘Pick Your Own’ might just be the most delicious mix of new bands I’ve ever heard. It came out last October, but I hadn’t had the pleasure of hearing it before. It features the “cream of London’s young musicians” according to the CD jacket, and it’s no lie. If all the lovely reviews from last year haven’t suaded you to get it yourself yet, let me channel Mr.T and say, I pity the fool. Just as I pity myself, the queen of fools, for not getting it sooner. ALL these songs and all these bands make me want to crawl into the CD and hug each and every one of these people. Most of these bands, like Lightspeed Champion, Johnny Flynn & The Sussex Wit and Eugene McGuinness, already enjoy their fair share of Indie fame, as did this CD four months ago. So if you’re like me, and you find yourself thinking what the kids are talking about right now - while you’re wondering when you stopped being one of those kids - and you don’t read Drowned In Sound religiously and thus haven’t bought this CD yet, this is the bandwagon to jump. I promise it’ll be the best two bits you’ll spend all year.
I wasn’t going to highlight any of these bands individually, because they’re all worth your equal and lavish attention. But, if not for their sweet tunes then out of sheer gratitude, you have to go check out our beauteous host and instigator of the magical congregation that is the Pick Your Own compilation, The Mules. They open the CD with their own “This Is Your Life”, it’s celebratory, serious, and danceable all at the same time, and a wonderful start of great things to come. So go on over to their sites and give them their due props.
You can buy and sample it on kartelcreative.com.
The Mules - This Is Your Life
When I was in high school I took this early Fleetwood Mac CD from my uncle without asking, because his CD collection was so ridiculously big yet all he seemed to play were the latest Celine Dion or Mariah Carey or other pop diva. So I figured he wouldn’t miss it and the, ehm, nine other discs I rescued from a dusty death, and he never did. My lack of remorse at the time stems from the fact that I fancied myself the Mozes of Music rather than a sneaky thief. I’ve stopped setting free other people’s music carriers since then, but I’ve failed my teen self because I sort of forgot about this one as well.
Looking Back On Fleetwood Mac is a sixteen song record of the band’s hits from their first successes as a blues band, generally known by Fleetwood Fans as the ‘Peter Green Led Era’. It’s not an ‘official’ compilation, which just means it was dirt cheap, but it does feature most of their big hits like “Black Magic Woman” and “Need Your Love So Bad”. I was only vaguely aware of their pre-Stevie Nicks days, thanks to their songs featuring in commercials and on movie soundtracks. I’ve since learned that they were really big during the British Blues Boom in the sixties and that they’ve had eleven personnel changes in total. And that their steady blues rhythms will lull you into a perfect state of cool contentment like a tall frosted glass of lemon iced tea.
I have to admit that Fleetwood Mac’s bluesy era is not my favorite, though this Cd is all I have to rate it by, so that might not be entirely fair. I was, however, pleasantly surprised by “My Heart Beat Like A Hammer”, which ironically makes it onto most ‘Worst Of Fleetwood Mac’ lists on the web. Like most of their songs at the time, it follows traditional blues patterns, but it has that touch of originality that made me do a double take, and wonder whether this cheapo compilation might have left out more of these little gems.
Fleetwood Mac - My Heart Beat Like A Hammer
I was actually looking for the songs that are most frequently used in movies, but so far I haven’t come across an accurate list yet. I always wonder who picks the songs for some of these movies, because if “Respect” comes on during another female empowerment scene, in yet another chick flick, I swear I’m gonna switch genders. I might come back to the most overused songs later, but it needs some digging around. Instead, let’s have a look at the songs that topped the American Film Institute’s list of best songs featured in movies.
1. “Over the Rainbow”, The Wizard of Oz (1939)
2. “As Time Goes by”, Casablanca (1942)
3. “Singin’ in the Rain”, Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
4. “Moon River”, Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)
5. “White Christmas”, Holiday Inn (1942)
6. “Mrs. Robinson”, The Graduate (1967)
7. “When You Wish Upon a Star”, Pinocchio(1940)
8. “The Way We Were”, The Way We Were (1973)
9. “Stayin’ Alive”, Saturday Night Fever (1977)
10. “The Sound of Music”, The Sound Of Music (1965)
Mmm, dusty. The majority of songs on the AFI’s list of a hundred are from long before Tom Hanks was known as more than just ‘the curly haired one from Bosom Buddies’. It seems, the more we get to the top of the chart the older the tunes get, but I guess it has to have the weight of many years of success and reverence by the general public to truly earn the title of classic, at least according to the AFI. Most of these songs set a mood of sad reflection or hope for the future. So if you want to write a hit movie song be sure it will sound good over a close up of a pondering Barbara Streisand, a jubilant Julie Andrews, or a sullen Humphrey Bogart.
Here are two bands that proof that a truly great songs will always be celebrated:
Happy Mondays - Stayin’ Alive
The Flaming Lips - Over The Rainbow
This one goes out to the Bean over in Germany. All the most important German phrases are in this song: if you want to attract some attention just say ‘Hast du etwas Zeit für mich, dann singe ich ein Lied für dich’. And when you see a bunch of German Trekkies you can say ‘Hielten sich für Captain Kirk’. See, a phrase for every occassion! When in doubt think of this song and you’re set, baby.
Nena - 99 Luftballons
I came across a beautiful band that is sure to make you smile on a dark, dark day. The London based Tom Hatred & his Angryband are melancholy and sweet and their songs inspire dreamy moments of nostalgia without ever having heard a note of any of them. Inspired by fifties Rock ‘n’ Roll, folksy pop, love, death and heartbreak Tom Hatred has me dancing to lyrics that would have otherwise hurled me into a deep depression if it weren’t for the shake-your-ass and tap-your-feet quality his songs have. His voice ranges from deep Nick Cave-ian to dreamy and flighty. I want to lock them in a box and keep them all to myself, but that’s just selfish and a little bit creepy, so check them out on their Space and Face and let them bowl you over with their wit and charm too.
They haven’t had any releases yet, but for now you can listen to a good EPs worth of song on their sites. They’re all little gems of lovely, but my favorite is the rockabilly-ish song “From Here It’s Hard To Tell”, it’s fast and bouncy and eloquently ‘disses’ the vain and vapid. The band can also be found on The Mules amazing compilation of new bands from October last year called Pick Your Own. More on that later …
OK first off, the most exciting news I’ve heard since I learned about deep fried mars bars, the New Kids On The Block are getting back together after 13 long years!! But Tamboosh, aren’t you sick of all the reuniting late eighties/early nineties bands? Uh yah, but this is NKOTB!! I was soooo an NKOTB-er between the ages of nine and ten. Yup, that is what I called myself. They are the pop equivalent of a black velvet painting, and they’re probably more like Old Men In The Suburbs by now, but they are Pop pioneers. Good God man, I played their cassette - that’s right, cassette - until it started to sound like an old news reel. I went so far as to buy a video of a behind-the-scenes look at the band. I would give my left pinky toe to still have that video, but my stupid, skanky friend (yes, even at ten) ‘borrowed’ it and never gave it back. She definitely didn’t have the ‘right stuff’. Zing!
Phew, what a bombshell. I got to wind down with some not-so-surprising news. Like Pete Doherty not showing up at his solo gig. These next headlines have less to do with music and more to do with the public’s hunger for sensational stories. You’ll be shocked to learn that Amy Winehouse is on drugs, people. A day doesn’t go by that we’re not given some supposedly new insight into the drama that is Amy’s and Britney’s life by the ‘press’. I’m not claiming the paparazzi made them turn to mind altering substances, but it doesn’t help. This latest tidbit prompted more informative debates about the wickedness of crack and such. Oh, and of course there’s the news that Suge Knight was named a member of a notorious Compton gang by the police. Again, shocker. He has been associated with that same gang ever since I can remember, but apparently now it’s news. I don’t think some people understand what the word news means. Pete Doherty showing up for a gig, Amy Winehouse sober, Suge Knight, beloved member of the boyscouts, now that’s news!
While Suge Knight accuses the police of using his name for publicity, The Enemy pull a similar stunt by calling the Arctic Monkeys dull. Do you really have to pull a Gallagher and slag off other bands to stay in the news? How is this in any way productive? They only upped the pressure on their following releases. They better be flippin’ brilliant, because todays XFM/NME darlings are tomorrows fodder for future up-and-coming bands to call dull.
Moving on to more surprising things. UB40’s lead singer is quitting the band. Ehm, did everybody know that they were still together??
Ah, a week doesn’t go by without me peeing myself over some free mp3s. This time the providers of the delicious swag are The Charlatans, who plan to give away their CD next month, and One Little Indian, label of Dan Sartain, Jesse Malin and Asobi Seksu among others has a free CD featuring their artists on eMusic.
NME reports that Busta Rhymes escaped prison. No, not in a daredeviling Michael Scofield kinda prison break; he got away with a fine and community service for assaulting his driver and a fan. Foxy Brown didn’t have as much luck when her petition for early release was denied.
Oh for crap’s sake. How many times do you think a person should be allowed to nickname themselves?!? I thought that once was enough, ok maybe twice, because when you’re bald and named Curly it’s kinda funny, but when your hair grows back and it’s straight it’s just weird. In those rare cases it’s OK to change your name again, but P.Diddy takes the cake. He went from Puff Daddy, to P.Diddy, to Diddy, and now he wants the world to call him Sean John. Come on, pick one and stick with it, man. I’ve had it, I’m just gonna call him Hey-Diddle-Diddle from now one. So there.
New Kids On The Block - You Got It (The Right Stuff)
My all-time favorite nineties movie soundtrack is from the movie Panther. It was directed by Mario Van Peebles in 1995 and it chronicled the story of The Black Panther movement … or so I’ve been told. I have to admit that erm, to this day I still haven’t seen the movie, but the line-up for the soundtrack was so spectacular I just had to buy it. The movie’s theme “Freedom” is incredible, it’s anthemic and empowering and I always get goosebumps when the chorus kicks in. Though I haven’t seen the movie yet, I can’t imagine its impact can be more powerful than this song. The list of contributing artist is a who’s who of popular female artists from the nineties, some I’ve never even heard of:
Aaliyah, Felicia Adams, May May Ali, MC Lyte, Amel Larrieux, Az-Iz, Blackgirl, Mary J. Blige, Tanya Blount, Brownstone, Casserine, Changing Faces, Tyler Collins, N’Dea Davenport, Da 5 Footaz, E.V.E., Emage, En Vogue, Eshe & Laurena of Arrested Development, Female, For Real, Penny Ford, Lalah Hathaway, Jade, Jamecia, Jazzyfatnastees, Billy Lawrence, Joi, Brigette McWilliams, Milira, Miss Jones, Cindy Mizelle, Monica, Me’Shell NdegéOcello, Natasha, Nefertiti, Patra, Pebbles, Pure Soul, Raja-Nee, Brenda Russell, SWV, Chantay Savage, Sonja Marie, Tracie Spencer, Sweet Sable, TLC, Terri & Monica, Vybe, Crystal Waters, Caron Wheeler, Karyn White, Vanessa Williams, Xscape, Y?N-Vee, Zhané.
Oh man, I totally forgot about the Jazzyfatnastees and Y?N-Vee! What great band names. Anyway, I’m not sure this song belongs on Poptastic Day, now that I think about it. It definitely suits the Classics better because it’s just too good and I love it so very much, but once I listened to the song again I couldn’t wait to do this post, so here it is:
Various Artists - Freedom (Theme From Panther)
The video shows all these amazing artists in action:
Today, ladies and gentlemen, I climbed my Everest, I harpooned my big white whale, I Avada Kadavra-ed my Voldemort! I passed a class that I was so sure was going to be the death of me. To wind down from all the exam stress I’ve been watching Harry Potter, but it’s time to really celebrate and everybody knows nobody brings the house down like The Carpenters. Harry Potter and The Carpenters … man, do I walk on the wild side. Booyeah!
I used to be a little bit embarrassed about my deep deep love for some of The Carpenters’ hits because their songs are on the cheesy side, but their version of “Superstar” especially is almost impossible not to love. It was originally a soul song by Delaney, Bonnie & Friends (featuring Eric Clapton) who called it “Groupie (Superstar)”. The original is actually really wonderful too, but I first heard and fell in love with it performed by The Carpenters. As usual, Karen’s voice is so sweet, deep and crisp, but I always get the feeling she’s straining to keep her emotions under the surface, which is heightened by the knowledge of the tragic way her life ended. The song is about a groupie who has to love her idol from afar, now that he’s moved on to bigger, better things, but not before he whispered sweet nothings into her gullible, vulnerable little ear. The lyrics express such excrutiating loneliness and longing, I can’t help but get swept away by the agony of it all. It’s pure lyrical beauty and I don’t care who knows it.
The Carpenters - Superstar
And here’s an amazing feedbacky version by Sonic Youth:
Sonic Youth - Superstar
stellastarr*’s debut was one of the high points of 2003 to me. It’s filled with uplifting songs that seemed to be inspired by early grunge, Pulp, and John Hughes movies. The perfect experience from start to finish, they could break my heart and lift it up at the same time. So when their follow up Harmonies For The Haunted came out two years ago, you better believe I was there with bells on. When I brought my precious copy home and listenend to it, I remember being a bit disappointed, because they seemed to have lost a bit of the silliness and playfulness. As a result, I only listened to it a couple of times and whenever I felt like listening to the band I invariably reached for their debut. I don’t think that’s entirely fair of me, I was so in love with their first album it was almost impossible to follow it up by my standards.
Now that I’ve required a proper amount of distance from both albums, it turns out the follow up to stellastarr* is a great piece of work. Maybe it’s not as exuberant and enthusiastic, but it’s equally surprising and poppy. It eases you in with “Lost In Time”, a love ballad with a big, big sound. My favorite is definitely “Damn This Foolish Heart”. It plays with your feelings as the mood swings up and down like a bipolar seesaw. They’re now working on their third album which will be “faster, less mid-tempo, more energy, more rock, slightly more aggressive”, according to lead singer, Shawn Christensen. So faster, agressive rock … sounds deeelicious to me!
stellastarr* - Damn This Foolish Heart
Happy New Year everybody! 2007 was named Year Of The Dolphin by the United Nations Environment Programme, it was Year Of The Pig in the Chinese calendar and, my favorite, European Year Of Equal Opportunities For All! I didn’t know years got themes, is that new? I like it, it sounds like a communist hippie came up with it. I have no idea what they thought was going to happen after they gave the year such a magnificent moniker. I don’t think anybody else knew the EU thought up themes for us either, so I have a feeling that we didn’t get more equal opportunities than other years, but it’s a nice sentiment. This year’s theme is Intercultural Dialogue! Right … or as they say in Swahili: Vizuri. Anyway, it’s still a little early for nostalgia, but let’s have a look at the songs that rocked our world last year.
Here’s the World’s Top Ten most popular singles of 2007 according to the United World Chart:
10. Mika - Grace Kelly
9. Plain White T’s - Hey There Delilah
8. Justin Timberlake - What Goes Around Comes Around
7. Avril Lavigne - Girlfriend
6. Timbaland ft. Keri Hilson & D.O.E. - The Way I Are
5. Maroon 5 - Makes Me Wonder
4. Gwen Stefani Ft. Akon - Sweet Escape
3. Fergie - Big Girls Don’t Cry
2. Nelly Furtado - Say It Right
1. Rihanna ft. Jay-Z - Umbrella
All in all a good bunch! I do however have an inherent aversion to Fergie and Avril Lavigne’s lyrics are so painfully bad that it hurts me a little to listen to it. Oh and, “Hey There Delilah” makes me yawn. It’s monotonous and dreary, there’s no change in mood or pace, but it’s good music for pondering life, or ending it. Alright I’m sorry, I started out positive but it turned into a bitter moan fest. The rest really is testimony that 2007 was not a bad year in Pop music, maybe a bit unadventurous, but not bad at all. We got Mika who sounds like a Bee Gee channeling Freddy Mercury with “Grace Kelly”. And there’s Gwen Stefani who shows a hint of Kylie post-Neighbours with “Sweet Escape”. It doesn’t touch Gwen’s best work, but it is sweet. I didn’t really get Akon’s popularity, but he does deliver the good pop, so one of my new resolutions is to stop bitching about him. And then there’s Justin. He could sing about the traffic, for all I care, and I’d listen to it and like it. But there can only be one who rules all! This year Rihanna sang her way into our collective cerebella-ella-ella. Though “Umbrella” is a great song, I can do without the barrage of cover versions by Biffy Clyro, McFly, My Chemical Romance, fellow chart mates Plain White T’s, that pretty Youtube chick and more, Mandy Moore.
Filthy Little Angels’ elves have been hard at work to bring you this year’s albums filled with Christmas songs by various unsigned bands. Go on over to their site and unwrap the 60 tracks they have up for free. Thank you Filthy Little Santa!
For a taste of the Filth check out ShiSho’s sweet cover of Sufjan Stevens’ C-h-r-i-s-t-m-a-s gem. I have a weak spot for ShiSho so I’m biased, but I think I might like their version better than the original. The second song is The Housewives’ cute, but pervy rendition of an old Christmas favorite of mine.
ShiSho - Get Behind Me Santa
The Housewives - I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
You can download “Baltimore” from Stephen Malkmus And The Jicks’ upcoming album Real Emotional Trash for free from Domino records.
When I was around ten I would run home right after school to catch my favorite zany high school sit-com, Saved By The Bell. Now, I’m talking about the original series, not the lame new class/college crap that came after it. Zack, Kelly, Slater, Jessie, Lisa and everybody’s Top Two, token nineties nerd Screech, would get into crazy adventures, which all took place either on school property or at their local diner, The Max.
The best episodes, which goes for any show, are always the ones that amuse and educate. My favorite edutainment episode is called “Jessie’s Song”. It’s the one where Jessie gets hooked on caffeine pills, because she has to cram for an exam and star in an aerobics-inspired music video with her two girlfriends, while singing their own catchy pop song. Understandably, the pressure is too much and after a good 25 minutes she finally cracks in Zack’s arms singing “I’m so excited” over and over again, but ends with a tearful “I’m so scared”. It was and still is one of the most heartbreaking moments in TV history. It taught my generation to just say no to caffeine and that spandex looks good on everybody.
To my utter disappointment I can’t find Jessie, Kelly and Lisa’s song anywhere, which is a pity because it is a stunning piece of Poptasticity. I did come across the video, so here is “Go For It!” by Jessie And The Hot Sundaes. I think it really is sung by the actors and I’m sure it would have launched their Pop careers if it weren’t for that poor, brainy, crackhead Jessie. It looks like a high school version of “Let’s Get Physical” and shows a dim spark of Elizabeth Berkley’s later role as scantily clad, gyrating showgirl in Showgirls:
I never understood why Wham!’s “Last Christmas” is so popular, because I thought that had to be the most depressing Christmas song. Then the other day I came across a serious contender for the title. In your right hand corner we present John Denver’s “Please Daddy (Don’t Get Drunk This Christmas)”!! They always say the suicide rate goes up during the Holidays and I have a feeling this song had something to do with it. It’s about an eight-year-old who pleads to his dad to not repeat his Seasonal Souse Fest, because he doesn’t want to see his momma cry. Most depressing line: ‘You came home at a quarter past eleven, fell down underneath our Christmas tree’. Ho-ho-ho, Merry Christmas!
John Denver - Please Daddy (Don’t Get Drunk This Christmas)
I totally spaced out and walked around thinking it was Tuesday ALL day yesterday. That happens a lot lately, I wonder if I should worry. So I’m late and very sorry, but let’s finally have a look at some of the headlines that kept the world’s tongues a-waggin’ the last few days:
- Tuesday morning, Ike Turner passed away at the age of 76. The soul legend is known for his troubled past, but will be remembered for his musical legacy.
- Eddie Vedder teams up with John Legend to work on the soundtrack of the Howard Zinn documentary The People Speak.
- The Cure donated an autographed guitar with a special message to be auctioned off, to help fund the West Memphis Three’s cause. The auction started Monday and ends on the 24th. For more information check out the comment under aDawgg’s West Memphis Three Awareness Day post. What a wonderful gesture, I hope it’ll make a great bundle of money. God bless us, everyone.
- The White Stripes might never tour again? Oh good Lord, say it ain’t so!!!
- I never really understood why you would want Britney’s old chewed up gum or Mariah’s half eaten sandwich or Elvis’ sweat in a jar, but one happy fan got off the phone with Gorringes Auction House the lucky winner of a lock of John Lennon’s hair which set him/her back a measly 48 thousand dollars.
- Sons And Daughters are coming back with a tour and a new single next year. Huzzah!
- Art Brut merges with Blackbox Recorder to become The Black Arts and release a Christmas single called “Christmas Number One”, while Sir Cliff tells the world that he won’t be making anymore Christmas songs. So great news all around!
- Time for some stuff I don’t give a crap about: Pete Wentz is all bitter and whiney like a wee girl over the ‘Grammy snub’. Britney is considering a role as the Virgin Mary in some movie. Hm, Britney Spears pretending to be a virgin? What a stretch.
- YAY for all things gratis! Okkervil River give us a free download album filled with cover songs. You can get it over on Pitchfork, because the massive downloading frenzy crashed their web server.
- Some new releases set for 2008: Big Boi is planning on releasing a solo album. The Kooks plan a Spring release for their new album Konks. Foals announce their album and track titles. Morrissey reveals he is to release a new single as well as a new fifteen track greatest hits album in February next year.
- And the weirdest news this week, if not ever: Sufjan Stevens might pose for French Playboy. Only time will tell whether this is a joke or not, but keep your eyes peeled for Le Playboy of coming February. Though seeing as how he’s a man and all, wouldn’t he be in Playgirl? … Or will this story take an even juicier turn with a gender-bending revelation coming from the ’supposed’ man? I should probably stop, this is how vicious rumors start. All I know is, I hope we do get us some X-rated pictures, because whenever I see that picture of him in the dad-shirt and the suspenders, my mind inevitably turns Dirrty. Sufjan? More like Sufyum-my! On that lame and disturbing note, we end our bi-monthly News-ish Roundup with a song from the Indie Adonis himself.
Sufjan Stevens - A Good Man Is Hard To Find
Update following Drowned In Sound’s update: This just in, Sufjan will sadly not expose himself in French Playboy. Or any Playboy. It was all a big fat tease. And the sound of a million indie girl hearts breaking can be heard all around the world. I’m sad.
Not too long ago the Macarena came up in a recent post and the subject of dance fads brought along the Soulja Boy Dance craze that’s been sweeping the world lately. I didn’t know it was as popular as it is until I saw a ten minute segment on a BBC show about it the other day, which involved a man, who probably is a bit more mature than Soulja Boy’s target audience, doing the dance in a Flashdance type outfit. It was special. Anyway, it got me thinking about all the Hip Hop hits that came out lately that had some sort of dance especially designed for it.
Fear of looking like MC Hammer, or worse, a teeny bopper and consequently losing their hood membership card, made the head-nod and the C-Walk the only approved moves among serious rap artists of the early and mid-nineties. Hip Hop purists, who look back fondly at that time when ‘Hip Hop had something to say’, are less than amused with the new wave of fun, flighty rap songs who encourage all the zany dancing. Especially, Hip Hop from the South of the US has been accused of “killing” the industry with the introduction of Crunk and Snap. Their songs are said to be low in quality and lyrical content, but why can’t there be a serious, deep side as well as a simple, booty shaking side to Hip Hop and everything in between? Such a versatile medium surely can contain the full spectrum of entertainment? I like that many recent artists just want to see their audience dance to their music. It’s part of a grand tradition of songs that set off dance crazes. The Twist, the Jerk, the Mashed Potato were all great songs with great dances and I’m glad that our generation will have some dances to look back on as well to mark the time other than that darn Macarena.
I’m gonna try to list most of the biggest songs that sparked dance crazes from the last three years. Most of these dances are mixed and matched, and combined with the dancer’s own personal styles. Now, I’m sure I’ll miss a lot of the dances around but I’m no dance expert so don’t take it personally if I don’t mention your favorite song or dance. Alright, here they are with either a link to the video or an mp3:
Huey - Pop, Lock & Drop It (video)
I suspect that Pop, Lock & Drop It from the summer of 2006 like “Laffy Taffy” and “Salt Shaker”, is just another way to have girls shake their stuff, but cleverly disguised as a fun dance move. The dance is not that complicated, but it is hard on the thighs.
DJ Webstar & Young B - Chicken Noodle Soup
The Chicken Noodle Soup dance, originally from Harlem, inspired this song and it became last year’s summer hit. It sounds a bit like a cross between The Buckwheat Boyz’ “Peanut Butter Jelly Time” and anything by Fatman Scoop, but both the song and the frantic dance are soso catchy.
Terror Squad ft. Fat Joe & Remy Ma - Lean Back (video)
Released in the summer of 2004 “Lean Back” fast became HUGE, and one of the few moves here that everybody can do, all you gotta do is lean back and rock away with some attitude.
Jason Foxx & The Hood Presidents - Aunt Jackie
A hit from earlier this year and my absolute FAVORITE song and dance in this list. It has an old skool flow, it’s funky and contagious and it makes me yearn for those days when I was little and we used to have block parties just for us kids in the summer in my neighborhood. Growing up sucks.
Dem Franchize Boys - Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It
This group from Atlanta popularized The Snap Dance. I’m not sure this song counts as a dance fad song, since the Snap Dance came first, but it fast became so popular when the song first came out in 2005 that the move is now also known as the Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It.
Lil’ Mama - G-Slide (Tour Bus) (video)
I loved the strong beats of Lil’ Mama’s poppy, high school themed hit “Lipgloss” from this summer, which also had a dance of the same name, but “G-Slide” actually calls on the people to do the dance. A beat is set to the children’s nursery rhyme “The Wheels On The Bus” and in a cute, fashion Lil’ Mama tells us how to do The G-Slide.
Crime Mob ft. Little Scrappy - Rock Yo Hips (video)
This song has the familiar booty glorifying lyrics, but it has a really cute dance for the ladies and those brave men in touch with their feminine side.
Unk - Walk It Out
Yet another Atlanta native who came out with a catchy song and dance at the end of the summer of 2006. The basics of the Walk It Out steps are fairly simple, but once people add their personal touches it can become a pretty spectacular dance.
The Cupid Shuffle came out at the start of this year and actually looks a lot like the Electric Slide when danced with a bunch of people. It’s pretty easy to follow, just let your feet do what the lyrics tell you and you’re there.
Down aka Kilo - Lean Like A Cholo (video)
Leaning like a cholo looks an awful lot like leaning back and doing the rockaway, except with your elbows out. But far be it for me to criticize a cholo, so lookin’ good and keep on leaning!
Young Dro - Shoulder Lean (video)
Yet another way to look cool while leaning and swaying.
3rd FLO aka Heizman Boiz - Do The Heizman (video)
The Heizman uses an American football move and is named after John Heisman, a famous American college football player and coach who also lends his name to a trophy that looks like a little bronze guy doing that move. This dance should be used when the person you’re hitting on has a bad case of halitosis if you go by the lyrics. I couldn’t find out a whole lot more about 3rd Flo, but I did learn that they’ve been signed to J Million Records and are working on their debut album.
Luch Millions - Bunny Hop
I’m almost scared to talk about Da Bunny Hop, not to be confused with the wedding dance from the fifties by the way. People seem to be very territorial when it comes to the origin of dances. Anyway, I hope I got this right, this dance originated in New Orleans, but other cities including Atlanta have put their own twist on the move as well. Luch Millions’ “Bunny Hop” is the more popular song, but it should be noted that Da Entou