Let’s Hear It For “About a Boy”

The early 2000’s. Wow. We were all trying to chill… either from too many club drugs ( not me, but those of you who were.. it’s cool. Why didn’t you share more?), 9/11 ( me and a lot of other fine folks,) and the whole buzzkill of Y2K.

I mean, we passed both 2000 AND 2001 with out one robot trying to kill us all. Not counting Dick Cheney. I don’t think he was a cyborg yet.

And in to that mix, came all sorts of great, but chill things. Like “Chill Lounges” and “Chill Music.” New frontiers in folk and mellowness.

And Badly Drawn Boy. Another guy who I heard more about than heard, another Brit, his video with the kids’ braces stuck together spoke to a wholesome romantic wistfulness.

And then he did the soundtrack for “About a Boy.”

You may have figured out I’m a Nick Hornby fanboy. Yes, yes I am. And save for the fact that it’s impossible to make a decent film of “Fever Pitch”, the other movies based on his work have been purty damn awesome. Even better, “About a Boy’s” screenplay was written Peter Hedges, a former teacher of mine.

One of the nicest guys you could hope to meet. EVER. You read "What's Eating Gilbert Grapes?" Go back. Buy some of his other stuff.

Anyway,  BDB was a great choice for the movie, a fun mix of odd characters in odd situations, finding themselves in London.

And the CD was one of many found at an FYE in Kingston, NY, as we were rushing to find new cd’s to play in the rental car during a good but challenging recent vacation.

I was going to give this 3 stars, but a second listen bumps it up to 4.  BDB get’s some different styles in this cd, it’s not mopetastic at all. And it works brilliantly with the film.  

But I don’t often see listening to it for it’s own sake. Plus, where the hell is “Santa’s Super Sleigh?” REALLY! But it does stand out better as a CD for it’s own sake then I first realized.

Get this if you are a fan of the film or a Badly Drawn Boy fan. It won’t let you down. If you are looking to learn about Badly Drawn Boy, I’d say track down his other albums first, but swing back to this.

Artist: Badly Drawn Boy.

Album: 19
Year: 2008
Date Listened in Tour: 4/22/09
Rating: ****
Best Song:Silent Sigh

Oi, Adele, you got Soul?

You know, England never lost soul. I mean, Soul & R&B in the US have splintered into so many different directions and sounds… there is not a distinct modern US Soul Sound. Feel free to disagree with me… you are probably right.

But the English have held on to Souls circa mid-60’s on for much longer then the US has. Underground events when desperate souls cross the isle and join each others for dance ins’. Don’t believe me?

Evidence: Nick Hornby’s “Juliet Naked. Read it.

Then see “Blue Juice”- a 1995 Welsh Surf movie. Yeah.. you can stream it. No worries. You’ll notice that as time gone on, Sean Pertwee.. the actual male lead of the flick, has been pushed aside for Catherine Zeta Jones and Ewan McGregor.

That’s not the point. The point is you’ll see over the views there is an English soul scene that I just don’t think is here in the states. I know there are amazing soul musicians and bands… just not that lingering scene.

So when people are shocked by the waves of English Blue Eyed Soul singers ( never mind that the UK is racially diverse and has talented people of all backgrounds sharing music), they shouldn’t be. Save for their press and relations with contested territories, the Brits have had soul, and always had soul.

Now, Adele… she goes beyond the hype. And yes they’ve tried to hyper her up. And yes… they’ve likely been pressuring her some to fit the more standard image of a pop singer. Or just held pictures of Duffy in front of her saying “YOU SHOULD LOOK LIKE HER!”

No, she shouldn’t.

The fact that Adele is a singer and a writer who made two brilliant albums out of utter heartbreak give her cred. The fact that she sings with undeniable soul.. both in style and in practice,  give her cred. For the fact she gets’s so many different sounds as young artists in just two albums, give her cred.

AND FOR GOD SAKES! GET HER A GOOD MAN WHO INSPIRES HER AS MUCH AS EVERY ASSWHOLE WHO GAVE HER THESE TWO ALBUMS! SHE DESERVES IT!

4 out of 5. Damn fine, and you need to own her stuff.

Artist: Adele

Album: 19
Year: 2008
Date Listened in Tour: 4/22/09
Rating: ****
Best Song: First Love

Artist: Adele

Album: 21
Year: 2011
Date Listened in Tour: 7/18/11
Rating: ****
Best Song: Set Fire To The Rain (special praise for her cover of The Cure’s “Lovesong.”)

But How Do I Know What I Want To Know?

So how are the best ways to get a clue about music besides spending too much money for it? True, it’s a touch easier with the internet these days. But what you get in access, you lose in the sheer flood of data. Best ways are to know about music:

1)     Work in it.

2)     Have family in it.

3)     Have a friend in it.

I’ve been lucky enough to have all 3 apply. And while I need to be vague on some details, I recommend spending some time in the industry.. or at least putting some time in supporting an artist or two, or getting in good at a local bar with a good schedule of performances. There is just too much volume of music out there to not have one or two means of getting more than you normally would, or getting access to bands you won’t normally here.

Now, you may not get to hear the biggest in the business. Nor will you love everything you hear. But, you will find some gems to treasure, some bronze trinkets you won’t mind having seen, and some bits of zirconium.

And then there’s Starcode. OH FUCKING GOD THEY SUCK. If you see them run, run as fast as you can.

Seth Adams is a decent singer/songwriter with his band I caught through a club friend. I’m giving them a two for the CD. Which I am struggling over, because they weren’t bad, just didn’t light me on fire. They did a good live show, were great guys, and if you see them on a bill, give them a try.

So don’t take this as a don’t give a try.. just take this as me passing on decent enough artists in the night.

Artist: Seth Adams

Album: Amplify
Year: 2010
Date Listened in Tour: 7/18/11
Rating: **
Best Song: Vermont

 

You've Got The Look, But Do I Want to Know It Better?

ABC was another beneficiary of being an early MTV band. HEY, THEY LOOK GOOD! HEY, THEY GOT VIDEOS! PLAY THE FUCK OUT OF THEM!

One of Trevor Horn’s demon spawn, they seemed English, elegant, oh so New Romantic.

But one thing that I only found out… they were straight out of Sheffield, and they sold out ( or bought in)  for success so hard it makes David Bowie’s early 80’s and 90’s look downright punk.

And by the way, if you aren’t familiar with Sheffield, I can’t say I am, either. I lived in London, where they joke about the rest of the UK far more vehemently than New Yorkers do about all but the most inbred of our fellow Americans. And they take the piss out of Sheffield like you would not belive.

But so much of the English music we swallowed whole in the US came out of Sheffield bands. Don’t believe me? Go see “Made In Sheffield” http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0325767/

It’s on cable. It’s on Netflix, DVD only. You’ll thank me.

So, ABC, by the time we saw them on our MTV were the synthtastic, smoove mother’s working the slap bass like you would not believe. “Posion Arrow” and “Look of Love” are the stand outs, and their retro-50’s,40’s look made them stand out on the screen. They had a second go at the States later, but they were one of the bands of very brief moment here.

The album succeeds on more than just nostalgia and drum machines. Great music, dramatic lyrics and singing. And yes.. it’s got some mild, funk. Very white funk. But funk nonetheless.

Artist: ABC

Album: The Lexicon of Love
Year: 1982
Date Listened in Tour:7/17/07
Rating: ****
Best Song: Posion Arrow

Sure, it’s Scandinavian Vanilla. BUT WHO DOESN’T LOVE VANILLA?

ABBA has been in the background of my life, for most of my life. I remember hearing them as a wee lad in County Bergen, hearing them on the radio, and of course seeing them on TV, especially once or twice on Casey Kasem’s America’s Top 40 show on WNYW.

Then came new wave and the disco back lash. Which, I was swept up in, and gratefully so. Yet.. yet there was some collateral damage. As the over produced, soulless dance music and Osmondization of 70’sa culture was being rebelled against, some acts were caught up in the blast wave of scorn. ABBA and the Carpenters were cast aside. Spit upon, as it were. Fleetwood Mac went popular, and survived the 80’s, arguably, but ABBA was on the dustbin of history. To be mocked at.

They stayed in the subconscious. But it took a couple of things to tip them back into music fans good graces. One, of course.. AUSTRALIA!

“Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.” started the wave of Aussie movies using ABBA joyfully and without shame. And well, those queer gender bending indie Aussie bloke’s and shelia’s seemed to be having so much fun. Speaking of Gay’s Advocating ABBA, real life and incredibly Gay Men Erasure released their “ABBA-Esque “ cd in 1992. Now, if the Kings & Queens of 80’s Dance Pop & New Wave were in on how much fun ABBA was, maybe there was something there.

And, well, all these grunge and indie rock artists started mentioning how much they liked the music of their youth.. the early to mid 70’s.

The era… of ABBA.

I’m not saying it was the final moment, but just as Pope John Paul II finally forgave Galileo, Elvis Costello also redeemed ABBA, citing their great harmonies and intricate melodies. And that was it.

ABBA was forgiven. For their own music. Argue amongst yourself about whether CHESS deserves acclaim or condemnation. Don’t own it, never seen it, won’t say.

My interest was piqued by “Priscialla” and “Murielle’s Wedding,” and when I got ABBA “GOLD”, well I was instantly converted by the sheer pop joy. Yeah, it’s cheese. Yeah, it’s Eurovision Crack. But it’s the finest of cheeses, and the finest of European crack.

The drug, not the… never mind.

ABBA could get points off, because after you a buy one of their best of’s, you probably won’t feel the urge to buy the actual albums. But you need ABBA in your collection.And with the amount you will replay even their best of... 5 stars, all the way.

Artist: ABBA

Album:Gold
Year: 1992
Date Listened in Tour:7/15/09
Rating: *****
Best Song: Knowing Me, Knowing You

Where The HELL did I get this Nu Groove From?

You know, people tell me a lot that I should rip all my CD’s, sell ‘em, and let the wonders of modern technology keep my music easily accessible.

Plus, think all the space I would open for hats and shoes.

WELL, THEY ARE SO DAMN WRONG.

I mean, I am backing up my CD’s, obviously. But as with photography, digital music is more easily lost, misplaced, and harder to sort. A physical CD, even one that ain’t important, can still be placed in order, and played in order.

Digital only songs, you have to wait about 3 years into a your Grand Tour before realizing, OH CRAPPE! I forgot “AAC Savoy’s Savoy Nu Groove Sampler!”

This is a small EP disc. Focuses on the mellow, some remixed  jazz classics and some St. Etienne. ( And I don’t care how dance music for old people St. Etienne can be, you DO NOT MOCK ST. ETIENNE!)

I think I grabbed it at a Housing Works street fair. CD dumpster diving is one of my favorite things.. and why I mourn the passing of Tower Records AND Virgin Megastore in NYC. Yes… there are a lot of great indie and smaller owned record shops to go to.

But swimming in row upon row of discounted CD’s for me was like being Scrooge McDuck swimming in his money. OH THE FEEL OF THEM UPON THE SKIN! OH, THE JOY OF FINDING THAT IMPORT CD FOR LOW, LOW PRICES!

Anyway.  If you see this, grab it, burn it, and then donate it to your local library or charity, and give someone else the joy of finding this nice little find.

Artist: AAC- Savoy

Album: Savoy Nu Groove Sampler
Year: 2006
Date Listened in Tour:6/20/10
Rating: ***
Best Song: Basement Boys Present Mudfoot Jone - Everthing's Gon' Be Alright

Something’s inside. It might be on Fire, it might be a parasite, but I like it.

One of the nice things about being into music, but not living in it, is seeing bands, liking them, but being able to ignore most hype and possible bullshit surrounding them. 

As well as the full on devotion of their fan armies. 

AFI, or A Fire Inside, are a band I’d heard bits of, but never really heard. I knew some people dug them, didn’t know why. Then I think I saw them on the American Music Awards.. some where on TV they didn’t quite belong.

And they genuinely rawked. At least a bit.

Do I have a yen for Goth? Uhm.. have you seen the amount of black I own beyond what I need to work?

Do you know the preponderance of Goth chicks I have whirled around like a black moth to a dark flame?

And add in a little pop sugar, cyanide or aspartame if you want it a little poisonous, and oh mi god!

Are you ready to see how much I dig Evanesence when I get around to them?

A.F.I’s music has an energy that can’t be denied, and they work the fan base like few do. They take themselves just seriously enough, because they know there are people who need to take them way more seriously.

Am I converted? No. I haven’t grabbed more of their albums since I got these two. But if you are looking for a little meat ib your emo, I recommend them. If you are looking for a safe cult to be part… you could do worse. AFI won’t take all your money and tell you to leave your family.

 I gave both CD’s three stars originally, because while, good, I just don’t see my self re-listening to them much. And that is the key to the Grand Tour’s ratings. It’s not just how good an album is… it’s the odds of me having a sudden yen to put it on again and play through. Having replayed AFI while writing this..  no. They’re there, they’re good, they got some great longing in their lyrics, but I guess they just don’t reach the “eternal teenager suffering for the girl with too much eyeliner” in me as much as they do other folks.

Artist: AFI

Album:Sing The Sorrow
Year: 2003
Date Listened in Tour:7/16/07
Rating: ***
Best Song: Silver and Cold

Album:December Underground
Year: 2006
Date Listened in Tour:7/17/07
Rating: ***
Best Song: Prelude 12/21

An Album Less Ordinary

Original Soundtracks, or OST’s as you will see them referred from this point on, are another potential sticking point. Do you them file them under the film title? Muscial Coordinator/Conductor? Director’s name? What if it’s a TV show instead of a film?

After all, Wes Anderson, Sophia Coppola, and Cameron Crowe have given us albums as important, and sometimes better, than their films. Their music are part of their movies from the ground up. Other movies bear the mark of great coordinators and writers. Alan Silvestri has touched so many OST’s, lifted some moneys up by his writing, or at least got paid trying to, he could have a good dozen or so titles organized if his name alone.

YES…. I WILL KEEP AN ALAN SILVESTRI COUNT! LET IT BE WRITTEN!

Oh.. I’m the one writing it. Good to know.

Anywhoo.. I’ve chosen to keep it simple. OST’s will be sorted by their titles, if in a series (film,tv or otherwise) chronologically.

And now… A Life Less Ordinary.

Like most alternadudes, I was pulled into Danny Boyle’s work early on. I saw Shallow Grave  at the Warner Theater in Ridgewood, NJ, at a late night showing with my dad, and loved this shit. Trainspotting…. OH MY FAHKING GOD WHAT AN AMAZING MOVE!

Then.. hey, Ewan was a star! He was doing a movie with Cameron Diaz, who was still CAMERON FUCKING DIAZ, and it was in UTAH! And there were cool articles about it in Rolling Stone.. and then it disappeared. I finally saw it while visiting friends in Boulder, CO taking a down day and marveling at their new fangled digital cable. It was heavily pixilated, required constant changing of channels, but it was the future.

And this movie… it was good. Not great. I could have done without the claymation. But it had Cameron Diaz, Ewan AND Holly Hunter. (Who I’ve had a crush on since Broadcast News, and whose awful TNT show I will ignore.) But it stuck to it’s off kilter feel, looked great, and fit in nicely with his previous flicks.

And the soundtack… ah, sweet, sweet soundtrack. One that has travelled with me either on CD or on iPod almost everywhere for years, to travel to or to get some exercise on. One that has so many different styles, plus that nice late 90’s heavy bass/not quite club ecstasy music feel. Boyle always has always had great music woven into his films. In this case his team Debra Mannis-Gardner doing clearances and David Arnold doing great orignal music. (thanks the cd booklet and IMDB!) And this was no exception.

True, it’s not the 2 CD wonder of Trainspotting 1&2, nor the worldmusic smash hit of Slumdog Millionaire. But like the movie that spawned it, it was a unique gem that you want to go back to.

Again, and again.

Artist: OST

Album:A Life Less Ordinary
Year: 1997
Date Listened in Tour:7/4/07
Rating: *****
Best Song: either “Deeper River” by Dusted, or “A Life Less Ordinary” by Ash. Honestly, there are so many amazing songs on this CD, fighting over which one is best would be an eternal war.

And a worthy one

Tripping down the Trail of the Dead.

… And You Will Know Them By the Trail of The Dead are kind of like Guided By Voices, or Mission Of Burma. They are a band you are more likely to have heard of, than most likely heard. They are most likely listened to by people cooler and more in the know than you.

Not necessarily hipsters… just people more in the scene.

I remember hearing about them in the 90’s , but never really hearing them. And then, a Trail of the Dead album mysteriously appeared amidst a huge trove of Jazz and Roots rock my LJ and RL friend, RockRadar, bestowed on me.

And finally, I knew them.. ok, you can guess the rest.

Psychedelic, distortion, very sort of 90’s sound. You might think of Mercury Rev as similar sounding, and worth listening to if you dig them. And they are good.. only problem is, as with a lot of psychedelic jam masters, the album merges into one giant mood swing which you can’t really pick songs out of.

I’ll have to listen to them deeper to really pick out a favorite song. Will they be in my more immediate replay list? No. But I can assure you this Trail of Dead smells sweet, and is worth going down if you want to explore some more modern prog/psych rock that by no means sucks.

And yes… it’s out alphabetical order on the blog, but deal.

Artist: … And You Will Know Them By The Trail of The Dead
Album: The Tao of The Dead
Year: 2010
Date Listened in Tour:10/18/10
Rating: ***

Best Song: to be determined.