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

Pavarotti, Opera Icon

Tenor Great, opera icon, Luciano Pavarotti, has passed away this day at his home in Modena, Italy. An amazing talent and a larger than life personality, he made opera accessible, consumable and "au courant". He revitalized an art form for modern culture. And nobody - nobody, sings the aria, Nessun Dorma, better. He made Puccini's Turandot in my opinion. While others might argue that Giuseppe DeStefano had performed it best, to me, it is the definitive Pavarotti performance. Nessun Dorma, "None shall sleep".



Ave Maria....simply amazing

Matthew Good on Current TV

I came across this from Miss 604 this morning. It's a feature on Current TV, the fast growing network founded by Al Gore, for Vancouver's Matthew Good and his new release called "Hospital Music". This was filmed back in June on Matt's birthday at a friend's place in Las Vegas. Matt was hosting a private acoustic show for a small group of friends and fans.



I don't care what anyone says, this guy has a great voice and his talent for songwriting is immense. I hope that his new American audience will catch on. "Hospital Music" hit number 1 on iTunes in the first week of its release.

HEY Jared: If Matt Good has any shows in Sacramento - you have to go!

The Flaming Lips, W.A.N.D. gone to the Dells

The Flaming Lips' song WAND has been put to a Dell Computers commercial. How disappointing is that? This is the perfect song for an iTunes ad. Whadda shame.

And after all this, won't you give me a smile?

I was thinking that with all the new music available to consume us, you sometimes have to go back to the classics. The Clash is in my opinion, one of the best. I know it's cliche to say that and it's even more cliche to say that their single "London Calling" is one of the best songs you'll hear, but...it's true. London Calling, their third studio release, is the album you want to have. (I mean, can you think of an original album cover that's been immitated so many times? Or was it Elvis Presley who did it first?) The title track is an anthem, fitful militant beat and all. The album and it's single was released at the very edge of the 1970's - December, 1979. What The Clash invented was a genre of music that was the hub of British punk rock and teetering on rockabillly. They tightened Punk Rock and made it sophisticated. Joe Strummer and Mick Jones are two very different artistic characters. They way in which the two of envisaged their music, the pull and push of creative processes, reflecting the rebellious times they were embroiled in. As a band, The Clash is about musical dichotomy and what is unpretictable in music.



London calling to the faraway towns
Now war is declared - and battle come down
London calling to the underworld
Come out of the cupboard,you boys and girls
London calling, now don't look to us
Phoney Beatlemania has bitten the dust
London calling, see we ain't got no swing
'Cept for the reign of that truncheon thing

The ice age is coming, the sun's zooming in
Meltdown expected, the wheat is growing thin
Engines stop running, but I have no fear
Cause London is drowning and I, live by the river

London calling to the imitation zone
Forget it, brother, you can go at it alone
London calling to the zombies of death
Quit holding out - and draw another breath
London calling - and I don't wanna shout
But while we were talking I saw you nodding out
London calling, see we ain't got no high
Except for that one with the yellowy eyes

The ice age is coming, the sun's zooming in
Engines stop running, the wheat is growing thin
A nuclear era, but I have no fear
Cause London is drowning and I, I live by the river

Now get this
London calling, yes, I was there, too
An' you know what they said? Well, some of it was true!
London calling at the top of the dial
And after all this, won't you give me a smile?
London Calling

I never felt so much alike, like-a, like-a...

Arcade Fire (good Canadian kids)

As Matt Good said about this song, No Cars Go, "it's symphonic". My new favorite song. Go iTune it.

Suede

Or London Suede, the alternative British band of the 90's.

Modest Mouse, "Missed The Boat"

For my current favorite song, I've found two different videos for it. The first sounds better, but the second one is a better video. Fantastic lyrics - little band, getting bigger with big talent. Isaac Brock is not to be underestimated.

Modest Mouse Wiki

MISSED THE BOAT
While we're on the subject
Could we change the subject now?
I was knocking on your ears
Don't worry, you were always out
Looking towards the future
We were begging for the past
Well we knew we had the good things
But those never seemed to last
Oh please just last

Everyone's unhappy
Everyone's ashamed
Well we all just got caught looking
At somebody else's page
Well nothing ever went
Quite exactly as we planned
Our ideas held no water
But we used them like a damn

Oh, and we carried it all so well
As if we got a new position
Oh, and I laugh all the way to hell
Saying yes, this is a fine promotion
Oh, and I laugh all the way to hell

Of course everyone goes crazy
Over such and such and such
We made ourselves a ??
We just used it as a crutch
We were suddenly uncertain
At least I'm pretty sure I am
Well we didn't need the water
But we just built that go god damn

Oh, and I know this all myself
I stood in front for all the people
Oh, and I know this all myself
We listen while life hangs on
And the sound of life's sweet bliss

Was it ever worth it?
Was there all that much to gain?
Well we knew we missed the boat
And we'd already missed the plane
We didn't read the invite
We just dance at our wake
All our favorites were playing
So we could shake, shake, shake, shake, shake

Tiny curtains open and we heard the tiny clap of little hands
A tiny man would tell a little joke and get a tiny laugh from all the folks
Sitting drifting around in bubbles and thinking it was us that carried them
When we finally got it figured out that we had truly missed the boat

Oh, and we carried it all so well
As if we got a new position
Oh, and we owned all the tools ourselves
But not the skills to make a shelf with
Oh, what useless tools ourselves

The Magic Numbers "Hymn For Her"

The Magic Numbers, Hymn For Her

As I wandered past through the old grey house
And the children laughed for they'd found me out
And the silly things I do when I'm around you
Make for wanting to believe that I had found you
And if Sunday rain
And if Sunday rain
I don't wanna know
Just like I won't forget your face
When I awake to find you here

Oh my lover won't you get away?
Love or loathe, I need to feel again
It won't hurt to find love in the wrong place
I've been hurt before, but all the scars have rearranged
It won't hurt to choose the path that we all walk along

Oh my lord I pray for just one day
Love or loathe, I need to feel again

It won't hurt to find love in the wrong place

I've been hurt before, but all the scars have rearranged

It won't hurt to choose the path that we all walk alone

When you love, and your love, it could never lie
Oh, when you love, and your love it could never die
Oh, when you love, and your love it could never lie
Oh, when you love, and your love it could never die

Oh, hymn for her

It won't hurt to find love in the wrong place
I've been hurt before, but all the scars have rearranged
It won't hurt to find love in the wrong place
I've been hurt before, but all the scars have rearranged
It won't hurt to choose the path that we all walk along

Oh my lord I pray for just one day
Love or loathe, I need to feel again

Seasick, Morrissey

The Pernice Brothers

Closer to Paradise, Patrick Watson

Train Song Link Here

Right away one can't help but notice the steady piano chord emulating resonance of a moving train on "Closer to Paradise" - with some other instrument echoing a train's whistle drifting off down some country railway track. What imagery has been created in this piece of music. Brilliant.

Sorry, can't embed the song, but the lyrics are just amazing

TOOK IT ALL - Sarah Harmer

You said I could have it all
You said it to me
With your eyes so wide, excited
I stop to see what you mean

In the drone of afternoon traffic
On a slope that's slippery
In the relative fear, invited
That keeps us company

We took it all
Without taking it away
We shook it
It didn't blow up in our face
This life's abundancy came clear to me

These hands are holding a kite of worry
That floats high and circles a pivot of fear
In the wind are the words that say "There's no time! Hurry!"
So we grab what we can
We think The End is near

We took it all
Without taking it away

We shook it
It didn't blow up in our face
This life's abundancy came clear

We can get back up
We can move from this ground
To where there is enough of everything
What has opened up this crevice at our feet
Has created a new sense of urgency

Without taking it away
We shook it
It didn't blow up in our face
This life's abundancy came clear

Joy Division film "Control" set to go and I can't wait!

Trailer:




The BBC interview/review has background on the film encircling the life and death of Ian Curtis.

More Smith Tales to come

PS June 13

It's hard to listen to a hard, hard heart
Beating close to mine
Pounding up against the stone and steel
Walls that I won't climb
Sometimes a hurt is so deep deep deep
You think that you're gonna drown
Sometimes all I can do is weep weep weep
With all this rain falling down

Strange how hard it rains now
Rows and rows of big dark clouds
When I'm holding on underneath this shroud
Rain

It's hard to know when to give up the fight
Two things you want will just never be right
It's never rained like it has to night before
Now I don't wanna beg you baby
For something maybe you could never give
I'm not looking for the rest of your life
I just want another chance to live

Strange how hard it rains now
Rows and rows of big dark clouds
When I'm holding on underneath this shroud
Rain

Strange how hard it rains now
Rows and rows of big dark clouds
When I'm holding on underneath this shroud
Rain

Strange how hard it rains now
Rows and rows of big dark clouds
When I'm still alive underneath this shroud
Rain Rain Rain

Music in the Workplace

Lip Dub - Flagpole Sitta by Harvey Danger from amandalynferri on Vimeo

my foolish boat is leaning, broken lovelorn on your rocks

On the floating, shipless oceans
I did all my best to smile
til your singing eyes and fingers
drew me loving into your eyes.
And you sang “Sail to me, sail to me;
Let me enfold you.”
Here I am, here I am waiting to hold you.

Did I dream you dreamed about me?
Were you here when I was full sail?
Now my foolish boat is leaning, broken lovelorn on your rocks.
For you sang, “Touch me not, touch me not, come back tomorrow.”
Oh my heart, oh my heart shies from the sorrow.
I’m as puzzled as a newborn child.
I’m as riddled as the tide.
Should I stand amid the breakers?
Or shall I lie with death my bride?
Hear me sing: “Swim to me, swim to me, let me enfold you.”
“Here I am. Here I am, waiting to hold you.”

Song Seven, Interpol

I LOVE THESE GUYS. John, I need to do the article.

Playlist