Yo. Not much news to report other than reader Moorhead has turned me onto the site blip.fm and it’s an interesting addition to the music oriented social networking atmosphere. I could try to explain how it works but I’m sure I would fail. Just click on the link above, watch the video, and you’ll be good to go. Essentially, it’s just another really fun way to discover new music. I’ll be adding the songs I write about here that are available for you to stream, plus some others for fun. You can find a permanent direct link to my blip page on the right in the blogroll and if you decide to sign up for yourself make sure you add holepuncher as a fave (and you do NOT have to sign up to listen). Fun stuff.
Now then. Do you know anything about the British band Tindersticks? I don’t. But I know I like this little number:
That’s a tune called “The Organist Entertains” from their 2008 album The Hungry Saw. They’re not an entirely instrumental band though and it turns out their singer has quite the baritone. Check out “No More Affairs” from Tindersticks’ 1995 self-titled album:
Nice. Good rainy day song. I have to now admit that the name “Tindersticks” reminds me of that band Flickerstick. You know who I’m talking about? They were on – and won – that VH1 reality show called Bands on the Run that aired early this decade and I think only lasted the one season. But it was great! The premise pretty much was built around the notion that whichever band could prostitute themselves enough to get people to their shows and sell merchandise would win. And this was made exceedingly obvious given the lousiness of the only other competitors I remember, an all female wannabe-metal group called Harlow and some pop punk bull crap named Soulcracker (a name which should have immediately disqualified them).
Through some miracle, Flickerstick actually managed to win the whole shebang and I felt very relieved by this. Not only was their music hands-down the most polished and they could actually play their instruments, but they were also by far the most entertaining lot of the bunch. I specifically remember that the bass player cheated on his pregnant wife or fiancee, all under the watchful eye of the camera. Not wise. And then there were all the fights and bickering and drinking and other debauchery, too. In other words, they lived like rock stars and though it was probably to their personal detriment, it no doubt made for entertaining TV. Unfortunately, I can’t find a clip of the show. But here’s a tune from Flickerstick put to some anime crap. It’s called “Smile” from their 2001 album Welcoming Home the Astronauts:
Maybe I’m crazy, maybe the rest of the album was crap, but on the surface I can’t help but think the record company must have blown it with Flickerstick. That song would’ve fit in on alternative radio in 2001 if it had been pushed and I highly suspect that it wasn’t. Too bad. According to their Wiki page, Flickerstick is calling it quits and playing their final two “farewell” shows in Texas tonight and tomorrow. How’s that for timing?
That’s why I’m here. Enjoy the weekend. More Monday…
So, I’m a little late with this today and here’s why: I bought Little Big Planet last night for the PS3. This could be trouble. I’m not a big gamer, but this thing is immediately enjoyable and impossibly cute (that’s right, I said cute). It’s also a ton of fun and crazy addictive. If you have the opportunity you should check it out. And if you have the game let me know. Online shenenigans will occur…
Now then. I heard on the radio that Fats Domino is 81 today and then I also heard a snippet of a song that’s so good, such a classic, and such a sound that will probably never be duplicated in modern pop music. For better or worse we’ve just moved too far beyond this sound to likely ever go back. That’s the natural progression of things and fortunately with music the permanent record is always there to enjoy no matter how antique it continues to become. Here’s “Ain’t That a Shame” from the 1955 album Rockin’ and Rollin’ with Fats Domino:
I’m not sure why all these “oldies” have been popping in my head this week, but I like it. That said, we need a little taste of something from this decade to round things out a bit. I listened to the following song the other day for the first time in a while and now there will be no kicking it out of my head for at least a week probably. Here’s System of a Down with “Lost in Hollywood” from 2005’s Mezmerize. If all you know of System is the insane Armenian thrash political goofball metal, then this track might surprise you a little. It’s kind of beautiful in a way:
I like it when musicians can really take aim at a location in song and Los Angeles is such an easy target. Of course, L.A. has given rock some of its best music so it can’t be all that bad, and at the very least if it inspires scorn at least it’s inspiring. Here’s another L.A. band that’s been in the news recently. You know this one:
I’ve seen videos of the recent show they played and it doesn’t sound bad…but it’s not like it was in 1988 in that video. Stupid time. Always messing things up.
Hey. Here’s some advice for this fine Wednesday in February: if you ever get the chance to see Satyricon, GO. Some bands have no swagger, others fabricate it in a way that you can see right through, and then a rare few have it in spades and use it effortlessly to command the stage. Satyricon falls into the latter category. Satyr is a frontman you don’t dare take your eyes off of. And as heavy as the music he sings is, his performance doesn’t come across as assaulting or even polarizing to those of us without tattoos, piercings, eyeliner, pentagram scars, or Storm Trooper outfits (yep, there was a dude there in the whole get up). In fact, they’re oddly inviting. Cool.
But today for some reason I have this song stuck in my head:
That’s “Hurdy Gurdy Man” by Scottish legend Donovan from his 1968 album The Hurdy Gurdy Man. And, yes, I watched Zodiac again recently. Honestly, I think one of the main reasons that this is clearly David Fincher’s best film (and that’s not up for debate, Fight Club freaks) is because of his use of this song during one very memorable murder scene. If you don’t believe me, just check out Donovan’s IMDB page. Since 1990, his music has been used forty-seven seperate times in film and TV, including such great movies as Goodfellas, Election, Rushmore, and Children of Men. I love those films, but unlike Zodiac I can’t instantly recall the scenes in them that use Donovan’s music. I think it just clicked in that one.
Here’s another Donovan tune you might know, and I promise it’s not “Mellow Yellow.” It’s “Sunshine Superman” from the 1966 album of the same name. Enjoy:
Donovan was an icon of the sixties, but he’s still playing with some regularity and plans on releasing a new album soon. He also apparently toured the UK in 2007 with David Lynch who gave a presentation on transcendental meditation. Hmm…In case you’re wondering what in the world that would look like, well you can thank the video age we live in for the following:
How great is David Lynch? Now go unfold some enlightenment. More tomorrow…
Hey. Let’s throw on some soulful jams this morning, shall we? I don’t know that I’ve ever actually put this into words, but the following song is maybe one of my favorite songs of this type of music (or any, really) ever recorded:
Honestly, name one thing wrong with that song. You can’t! It’s impossible. That’s “Bring It on Home to Me” by Sam Cooke with Lou Rawls doing backups, which you can find on his Greatest Hits album. You probably know a couple other Sam songs, too: “You Send Me”, “Twistin’ the Night Away”, “Chain Gang”, “Another Saturday Night”, etc. There are a ton of soul standards attached to his name, but that particular track has always stood out to me. I love the call and response there between Sam and Lou. I’m not the only one either. This song has been covered by everyone from Richard Marx, the Dixie Chicks, The Animals, seperately by both Lennon and McCartney, Sister Hazel, and the Von Bondies. But in the 1980s there would have been no possible way to top the two voices covering it in this rare live version here:
Bon Jovi AND Steve Perry??? Forget it. The world just exploded…Sadly, Sam died way too early at the ripe young age of 33 in 1964. He was shot in a hotel in Los Angeles by the hotel manager who claimed (successfully so, according to the courts) that Cooke threatened her. Naturally, given his celebrity, there’s some controversy surrounding this story which you can read about here. Either way, it’s too bad as the man had only really been active as a singer for less than 15 years. Here’s another one you’ll recognize instantly. It’s “Wonderful World”:
All right then. Enjoy the Tuesdayness. More tomorrow…
I’m tired. What did you think of the Oscars? Yeah, I know – Mickey Rourke should have won. Did I mention I’m tired??? Anyway, Satyricon is opening up for Cradle of Filth tomorrow night. Here’s “K.I.N.G.” – which apparently does not stand for “Kooky Iranian Nimble Giraffes” – from 2006’s Now Diabolical and “Black Crow on a Tombstone” from 2008’s The Age of Nero:
I dig these songs. It’s heavy as crap, has dark theatricality without resorting to the same old-same old paint your face and pretend your dead goth schemes, you can understand what’s being said, and it doesn’t try to blast your fast off with speed. In other words, it fills a much welcome niche in metal.
And I’m still tired. Discuss the Oscars. Something better tomorrow…
