And they call themselves, Led Zeppelin

Dallas Green

Whino-house, July, Julie, and throw-backs

A weird topic keeps popping up. It's name is Amy Winehouse. Let me just say this: I don't get it. Thank God for one of my favorite people, who totally NEVER got the attraction from the beginning, I can roll around in a common mind set around this thing.

Let me point you in the direction of people much more talented.

First - if you like blues/jazz, try Jully Black instead. She's like 20x the artist and talent of the winehouse variety and she doesn't have to be crane lifted into a concert hall half conscious. I heard her this morning on the way in - the song was 7-day fool.


(love this photo by the way)

Second, Neko Case. Formerly of Vancouver-based The New Pornographers (that's a band not career title by the way), she's totally cool and a definite throw back. Check out "Hold On" and you'll see what I mean.

Sleeveface me

I'm much more sedate this morning...After my blast/post on Airborne Confessions, I'm busying myself at lunchtime to navigate around some oddball sites and arming myself with novelty. I think I'm in need of some cheering up - same with the New Yorker because of her little pet mouse went to Heaven last week :(

So here it is: something called "Sleeveface". Flickr's got an entire Pool on the matter and I've sourced the best of them here with this guy.

I just may have to rethink my profile picture and exchange it for this one:


You can tell who's got it going on and who aint but their sleeveface, so be prepared to be terrorfied and impressed by a few of them. I couldn't find Tom Waits or Lee Hazelwood. Email me if need be.

k.d. lang's latest recording, Watershed

Watershed Review (published February 15, 2008 North Shore News)
- Stephanie Kiernan \Rating: 7 out of 10

It’s two years short of a decade since k.d. lang gave way to writing and recording her own music, she now comes to us at the age of 46 without frills, props or stunts, pouring forth Watershed – a collection of 11 original songs.
Whether a case of artistic drought or a self-imposed retreat, there is something more innate and profound yet to be unearthed within her mellow scale and tune. Perhaps it’s her found spiritualism as a Buddhist that accentuates the sincerity of these pieces.
Watershed gently trickles through restrained, tolerant and mild sounds that leave little trace of our Prairie prancing cowgirl. Kathy Lang emerges soulful from her quiet L.A. existence to write, perform and even produce her latest endeavor that will take her on full tour of North American dates including an impressive three-night stand in New York – not too shabby.

From the frisk and frolic of Invincible Summer to the honour of reminiscing Canadian classics on Hymns of the 49th Parallel, not to mention the duets with the iconic Tony Bennett, k.d. lang still reminds us of a throw-back of sorts.

What seems to make this album tick is an inconspicuous blend of all her incarnations – but all softening of edges. Tender jazz influences like the bossa nova reverberation gelling with steel guitar and rustic banjo, plush piano and string congealing magically with her distinguished vocals. From the push off of track one, I Dream of Spring (her confessed personal favorite) melding into Je Fais Le Planche and Coming Home, it’s subdued delivery that is uncomplicated and natural; just as our homespun chanteuse has become - at ease and comfortable in her own skin, unpretentious and ever humble.
Whatever her secret in maintaining such strong appeal, Watershed melds and drifts across a Sunday morning playlist like a meditation, easily absorbed through the most brittle of senses.

Finally - break the dullness and the silence!

Thanks to Dan Johnson who gifted me this iTunes video! Bless your heart for understanding me. Especially after a week where THEY KNOW NOTHING OF ME.

I was confused with their name "Pilot Speed" because I immediately thought of Pilate, a Canadian band, which is in my iTunes (album called "Caught by the Window"). Ah ha! Pilot Speed IS formerly Pilate. Okay. That makes sense. Jared needs to go to their MySpace site - check out the song Into Your Hideout - that's the one I knew them by. I love this little video. It reminds me of that Blur video "Good Song" - a sad little cartoon critter - reminding me more of myself these days :( Anyways, these guys are good and I wish I wasn't working on the Watershed review now - I mean, yeah Watershed's okay, but it's just okay - it's exactly what to expect. A mellow little album for Sunday morning coffee. But that's not what makes me tick. I need guts pouring out on the floor - like this song. Real sad. I need REAL SAD dammit! Don't come to me with your drool. I have enough drool at work. Oh no - that's not drool - those are Drips. Right.

Stop and Stare, One Republic

Moz remembers Heath

Apparently Morrissey dedicated "Life Is A Pigsty" to Heath Ledger. I always knew that would be great for an ode or funeral.

Andy Stochansky

I don't know what's going on with this artist - he's absolutely fantastic but incredibly invisible. Dude, get a website! Put your own music on your MySpace!!! Get a video on YouTube for Stutter!!

His voice reminds me of Ryan Adams, kinda rough and yet pliable. I love the song "Stutter", which gets on the radio once in a blue moon. I'm going to do some promotion of my own on this guy. About the only thing you can try is his wikipedia page and purchase his albums on iTunes.

Oncoming Morrissey

With everything that I write or post on this music site, you'd think I should change the name to MozChords or something. Well, here I go again. For the first time in a while, I visited Morrissey's official website which I found a revised home page, an old black and white of Morrissey floating in a swimming pool with the notation COMING SOON: February 11th - Greatest Hits. Being that I purchase anything and everything Morrissey, it won't bother me that I already have all his albums and I'll buy this one as well. I'm Deeee-voted folks - and a little Demented about it. And besides, I think that a new release justifies a new Review for the NSN doesn't it? I'm sure Goodman will publish it. "Write it and they will come."

In other Morrissey related stories, last night after working with my horrendous back pain all day, all I could manage was a thin crust mozzella pizza and a glass (okay three) of champagne then plunk down on the sofa. Before I knew it, I was out; so I didn't go down to Garvey's. He was having a few folks from work over which included Dubliner, Adrian. About 10 minutes after midnight I get awoken by the phone only to hear that I missed out on how much a Morrissey fan Adrian is. Of course he is. Bugger. And think of all the wonderful things we could have hashed over, and over and over? Somehow a guy from Ireland or England talking about mutual love of Morrissey and The Smiths just makes me feel a bit closer to...God. Anyway, in the haze I think John said that Adrian was talking about the film or video where they follow Morrissey around LA. Well, that would be from "The Importance of Being Morrissey".

Great Lake Swimmers (Ontario band)

John gave me The Great Lake Swimmers, - their Ongiara CD.  It's simply easy to listen to - Sunday morning music that reminds me of Neil Young.  I'd classify it as folk and my favorite song on the album would have to be this one: 

Out of Tune and Off Key-Who Cares?

Flickr Credit



In the history of music, why are there still people who complain about “bad singers”? Bob Dylan doesn’t sound like Andrea Bocelli, but who cares? Bad singers are among my most loved and adored. I’ve had this conversation with a few people in “the know”; people who know music – who wouldn’t be caught dead with Bryan Adams or Beyonce in their iTunes library.

My first example would be Bob Dylan. I don't think I need to type anything more on that. Second, Mick Jagger isn't exactly singing like an angel either. Doesn't stop us from playing Rolling Stones' classics does it?

Feature example: The Arcade Fire’s lead singer, Win Butler, has the vocal timbre that leaves you scrumaging through your purse for Ricola cough drops – at least DB thinks he “needs a cough drop”. Hey dude, that’s the lovable characteristic of the Arcade Fire sound – so what - it’s indulgent and it’s different.

Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips sings off key in most of his songs. Take that “A Change At Christmas” song for starters. Who cares – again I underline this is delectable on their part. Playful and yet very cool at the same time.

just because

Find out for yourself

Remembering Dan Fogelberg...

Well there's too many windows
in this old hotel
And rooms filled with reckless pride
And the walls have grown sturdy
And the halls have worn well
But there is nobody living inside
Nobody living inside...

Gonna pull in the shutters
On this heart of mine
Roll up the carpets and pull
in the blinds
And retreat to the chambers that
I left behind
In hopes there still may be
Love left to find
Still may be love left to find.

Seek inspiration in daily affairs
Now your soul is improper
and requires repairs
And the voices you hear at the
top of the stairs
Are only echoes of unanswered prayers
Echoes of unanswered prayers.

Well there's too many windows
in this old hotel
And rooms filled with reckless pride
And the walls have grown sturdy
And the halls have worn well
But there is nobody living inside
Nobody living inside... 

Got Morrissey?

They say there's too much caffeine in your blood stream And a lack of real spice in your life



Last night I had John, the construction handy man in to fix one of my dimmer lights (yes I really do have a strong conviction for dimmer switches) and he noticed my Morrissey albums on the hallway table. "Oh who's M-o-r-r-ees-y?" Oh God I thought. This guys got to be at least 50 and he doesn't know who Morrissey is? And even worse, he didn't know who The Smiths were, adding further frustration in my attempt to explain who Morrissey was. I know. There's so much ignorance in the world it's shocking. I pointed to my refrigerator door where my beloved is stuck and then I took him over to the iMac and pulled up some classic Smiths for him to hear - you know, in hopes that something might jog loose in his brain. But nothing did. Poor old soul. This got me thinking this morning about a list of favorite Smiths' songs. A list of must haves and "must get" - as in "do you get it?".

So here goes in no particular order (other than scrolling through my iTunes and the fact that I placed "There Is A Light" last because it really is my absolute favorite Smiths' single), song titles and album:


Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now (Louder Than Bombs)
The Headmaster Ritual (Meat Is Murder)
Rush And A Push And The Land Is Ours (Strangeways, Here We Come)
Well I Wonder (Meat Is Murder)
Bigmouth Strikes Again (The Queen Is Dead)
I Know It’s Over (The Queen Is Dead)
This Charming Man (The Smiths)
Hand In Glove (The Smiths)
Still Ill (The Smiths)
Half A Person (Louder Than Bombs)
What Difference Does It Make? (The Smiths)
Ask (Louder Than Bombs)
Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others (The Queen Is Dead)
Shoplifters Of The World Unite (Louder Than Bombs)
That Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore (Meat Is Murder)
There Is A Light That Never Goes Out (The Queen Is Dead)

The More You Ignore Me

Classic Moz.

The Best Of 2007

Friday afternoon Mr. Goodman at the NSN emailed me to let me in on his annual list of Top Ten Albums. The lists will be published in the December 14th issue.

These are NOT in order - it's hard enough to narrow things down to ten selections you'd recommend as "must-haves", never mind giving them priority or preference. But I will clarify that the reason LCD Soundsystem makes my list is that James Murphy is a brilliant musician and songwriter whom deserves recognition for this 2007 critically acclaimed recording. It's certainly not for everyone.

If you must surrender to the loathsome consumerism of the season, then I recommend straightening out someone's horrendous music collection with anyone of these gems.

1. "We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank", from Modest Mouse - released March 07


2. "Cease To Begin" from Band of Horses - released October 07


3. "In Rainbows" from Radiohead - released October 07


4. "Hospital Music" from Matthew Good -July 07


5. "Shine" from Joni Mitchell - released September 07


6. "Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga" from Spoon - July 07


7. "The World Is Yours" from Ian Brown -September 07


8. "Neon Bible" from Arcade Fire - March 07


9. "The Reminder" from Feistk - March 07


10. "Sounds Of Silver" from LCD Soundsystem - March 07

Songs from Cat Power's Jukebox Revealed

The amended title of Chan Marshall's eighth (!) album has been revealed. No longer entitled "Covers Record 2", she discloses the tracklisting and artwork for "Jukebox", and a release date of January 22, 2008. Though the Cat Power album is almost all but cover tunes, she's included two original recordings, "Metal Heart" and track four "Song To Bobby", for her adoration of Bob Dylan.

Cat Power – Jukebox Tracklist:

1. Theme From 'New York, New York' - (Written by Fred Ebb/John Kander)
2. Metal Heart - (Written by Chan Marshall)
3. Ramblin' (Wo)man - (Written by Hank Williams)
4. Song To Bobby - (Written by Chan Marshall)
5. Aretha, Sing One For Me - (Written by J Harris/Eugene William)
6. Lost Someone - (Written by James Brown/Bobby Byrd/Lloyd Stallworth)
7. I Believe In You - (Written by Bob Dylan)
8. Fortunate Son - (Written by John Fogerty)
9. Silver Stallion - (Written by Lee Clayton)
10. Dark End of the Street - (Written by Chips Moman/Dan Penn)
11. Don't Explain - (Written by Arthur Herzog, Jr./Billie Holiday)
12. Woman Left Lonely - (Written by Spooner Oldham/Dan Penn)

So what is CAT POWER? Cat Power is the stage name of Chan (pronounced Shawn) Marshall, a talented and shy singer-songwriter from the Southern United States. She's been recording her music since 1995. Some critics have cited her as the reluctant musician because of her severe stage-fright and live performance abrupt 'slip aways'. Her early live performances had been muted and tainted by influence of alcohol, making concerts messy and unprofessional. As of late, sober and fully committed to her craft, she's brought new life to a polished delivery. Perhaps the success of 2006's "The Greatest" allowed this to happen.

Her music is all encompassing - Folk, Soul, Blues, Funk, Indie-Rock. Her influences are far and wide - as reflected in her upcoming album. I for one, will be making this a must CD purchase and I'd even take a chance to attend one of her shows - slip away or not.

DISCOGRAPHY:
Dear Sir CD/LP(10") (reissued CD/LP(12") 2001, Plain recordings)
Myra Lee (1996, Smells Like Records)
What Would the Community Think (1996, Matador Records)
Moon Pix (1998, Matador Records)
The Covers Record (2000, Matador Records)
You Are Free (2003, Matador Records) US #105, UK #157
The Greatest (2006, Matador Records) US #34, UK #45, CAN #63, AUS #26
Jukebox (2008, Matador Records)

The Crash Course in Morrissey

Tomorrow - James

Morrissey picked for his lyrical humour

Jim Rome piped in to Morrissey-Solo.com to make notice of MSN's music editor's favorite examples for best humour in lyrics.
Wittiest Lyrics was the headline and according the music editor, James Hurley, "People who dismiss Morrissey as miserable miss the point spectacularly. Quite simply, he's responsible for some of the wittiest lyrics ever committed to tape. While it would be foolish to try to identify a single example as his best, the wonderfully knowing self-deprecation of "I used to dream and I used to vow / I wouldn't dream of it now" captures his essence perfectly."

So, there you have it.

"Sweetness I was only joking when I said I'd like to smash every tooth in your head"

Monday Music Advice

Listening to CBC 690 on the way home this afternoon, I caught Jon Siddal's "Chartsurfer". Today he reminded me to play an oldie from my iTunes, "Wichita Lineman" sung by Glen Campbell.

The song was written by legendary composer, Jimmy Webb - an absolute genius and a keystone in the music world. Wichita Lineman was first recorded by Glen Campbell in 1968 - as was a ton of other great Jimmy Webb music, including Richard Harris' breakthrough album, "A Tramp Shining".

Webb also wrote "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" - another huge hit for Campbell. Glen's voice back in the day was quite different than what he sounds like in recent decades. I don't know what it is back then - his voice was higher and sweeter, more precise in its sound.

So do yourself a favor and play "Wichita Lineman" and see what we're missing in music today...

Over Rivers, Farms and State Lines...

Flash back Thursdays

I almost forgot about Flashback Thursday until I was watching Much More Music tonight. There he was. Classic, hot, great lid, suit, English, Robert Palmer (January 19, 1949 - September 26, 2003) doing his platform performance, "Addicted To Love."

There are a few YouTube video links that can't be embedded but are worth clicking on to (in private - you don't want people to think you actually listen to this stuff).

Addicted To Love is a great music video - pure in form actually. There are other YouTube video versions of this song but with crap audio so you really have to cut and paste this link into your web browser. Sorry - hate to make ya all work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0U5JfGYx4c

Also if you can get it to play on Radio Blog, then turn it up. I don't care - it's does have something doesn't it? Or maybe it's just those wry lyrics.

Fire It Up!

Loving this new album from MODEST MOUSE more and more.



Is there enough? Is there enough? Is there enough?
Is there enough?
Fire it up, fire it up
When we finally turn it over
Make a B-line towards the border
Have a drink, you've had enough

Fire it up, fire it up
If you need some conversation
Bring a magazine to read around
Our broke down transportation

Fire it up
Is there enough?
Fire it up, fire it up
When we find the perfect water
We'll hang out on the shore
Just long enough to leave our clothes there

Find enough, find enough
Oh we ate all of the oranges
Off the navels of our lovers
Grabbed a book and read the cover

It honestly was beautifully done
Like trying to hide the daylight from the sun
But even if we had been sure enough it's true we really didn't know
Even if we knew which way to head but still we probably wouldn't go

Fire it up, fire it up
We pushed off we're rolling boulders
Crashing down the mirrored stairways
Two of lifes best mind canaries

Fire it up, fire it up
When we fix the carburetor
Then we'll push off once again
In an hour or so later

It honestly was beautifully bold
Like trying to save an ice cube from the cold
But even if we had been sure enough it's true we really didn't know
Even if we knew which way to head but still we probably wouldn't go

Well we always had it all

A fav

Back in 2003 I caught this song on a Victoria radio station. I called in to find out what it was and that night raced to two different A & B Sound locations to purchase The Roots. I don't know anyone who can resist it.

Monday Music Advice

The Jayhawks are one of my favorites. I got introduced to them by my friend Steve Jones. I'm super rushed at the moment - should have done this last night. From 1986 until their final recording "Rainy Day Music" ino 2003, the dynamic blend of roots rock and folk melody and harmony has entranced. Personally, the Rainy Day Music recording is one of my favorite CDs.

Jayhawks might not be together but you can catch some of former drummer, Tim O'Reagan's solo stuff with the link below.



The Jayhawks - Wiki Link
Lost Highway Records - The Jayhawks
Lost Highway Records Tim O'Reagan

Flash Back Thursday...Episode 1

The Cars - need I say more?
The photo above is your Queue get that album off iTunes. The music video below is of "Since You're Gone" -- not on the album above.


The Cars Official Site
The Cars MySpace Site

New Modest Mouse - Top Notch...

I'm finally getting around to listening to this entire album and I have to say, it's fantastic. Love these chumps. I drove from Kelowna to Vernon to Kelowna to Vancouver and I'll never hear this song without thinking of that sunny drive.

To answer a question
It'll probably take more
If you're already there
Well then you probably don't know
Well we were the people
That we wanted to know
And we're the places that we wanted to go
It's hard to get hold of
And hard to let go
Always something we look for
From the day we were born
Instead we're the people that we wanted to know
And we're the places that we wanted to go
Yeah we're the places that we wanted to go
We're the places that we wanted to go

Always asking a question
And I don't want to know
Like the wind across strings
That had finally let go
And the people you love
But you didn't quite know
They're the places that you wanted to go
Bark at the neighbors
And then bark at the dog
Sniffing the wind
Whimpering for someone to know
But we were the people that we wanted to know
And we're the places that we wanted go
Yeah we're the places that we wanted to go
Yeah we're the places that we wanted to go

It was not the intention
But we let it all go
Well it messed up the function
And sure fucked up the flow
I hardly have people that I needed to know
'Cause you're the people that I wanted to know
All this scrambling around
Hunting high and then low
Looking for the face love
Or somewhere to go
I hardly have places that I need to go
'Cause you're the places that I wanted to go
Yeah you're the places that we wanted to go
Yeah you're the places that we wanted to go

You're the people that we wanted to know
Shouldn't have to ask
You shouldn't have to ask
'Cause we are your real place