OT: New Music?

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Tue Nov 28, 2006 11:39 pm

On the subject of new music, has anybody picked up the My Morning Jacket dvd that came out a few weeks ago? I've heard great things but haven't had a chance to pick it up yet. They played before a few Pearl Jam shows I saw earlier this year but I missed 'em...and have regretted it since.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Nov 28, 2006 11:50 pm

GTHobbes wrote:On the subject of new music, has anybody picked up the My Morning Jacket dvd that came out a few weeks ago? I've heard great things but haven't had a chance to pick it up yet. They played before a few Pearl Jam shows I saw earlier this year but I missed 'em...and have regretted it since.

Yep. I obtained the double live record, "Okonokos," about two weeks ago. It's really good stuff.

Jam bands or jam-influenced bands like MMJ are much better live than in the studio, I think.

Take care,
PK

GTHobbes · Post by **GTHobbes** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 12:22 am

Thanks PK...actually, I was particularly interested in the dvd. Some fan reviews I've seen said that the dvd is 2x better than the cd, but I don't know the specific differences between the 2 or if they're just blowing smoke. I'll post back whenever I do pick up the dvd.

Badger_Fan · Post by **Badger_Fan** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 3:53 pm

I just picked up the following:

Sparklehorse
Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs 60s covers album
The Wreckers
The Drive-bys latest
Regina Spektor
Neko Case's latest

Haven't had a chance to listen yet, but I'm excited to hear what's in there. Also, wasn't somebody here going to check out a Hold Steady show in Iowa around now? Did it happen yet? How was it?

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 4:58 pm

Badger_Fan wrote: Haven't had a chance to listen yet, but I'm excited to hear what's in there. Also, wasn't somebody here going to check out a Hold Steady show in Iowa around now? Did it happen yet? How was it?

It's December 9. I can't wait.

sfz_T-car · Post by **sfz_T-car** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 5:15 pm

It only includes a few bars of new material, but it's technically a new release, so I'll mention it in this thread. The Beatles' "Love" is worth a listen for anybody who likes pop music.

It fits somewhere between a remix and a mashup, but it's much more subtle and tasteful than a soundtrack for a Las Vegas Cirque du Soleil production has any right to be.

"Love" brings a fresh approach to songs everybody has heard a thousand times before. I've heard things in it that I don't remember ever hearing before. It'll never supersede the original recordings of course but it's a lot more interesting listen than the aforementioned Sweet/Hoffs covers album.

The leaked Bloc Party album is a pretty big disappointment. I loved "Silent Alarm" but the new album sounds like a step backwards in almost every area. Maybe they'll improve it somehow for the Feb release date but I'm afraid the second album jinx may have struck again.

I'm also enjoying Bob Mould's new "Blowoff" project. It's not the greatest thing Big Gay Bob has ever recorded, but dance music is an interesting career turn for a guy who's never stagnated. "Blowoff" is more successful as both dance and rock music than his previous two albums. The easy and lucrative thing for Mould to do would be to rent separate buses, agree to disagree with Grant Hart and go back on the road with a reunited Husker Du. I suppose it's admirable in a way that he hasn't done this.

Post by **ScoopBrady** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 5:18 pm

It's not new, but I've been listening to a compilation of music by Loius Prima and Keely Smith. Outstanding stuff.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 6:28 pm

I don't know what to think of "Love."

While it's a very cool album and a cool concept, it could have been so much more. It's not George and Giles Martin's fault -- it's Vegas' fault.

Since this was created as the soundtrack for the Vegas show "Love," some of the mash-ups border on too much kitsch, too much gloss.

For example, "Something" sounds like elevator music with the emphasis on all of those strings in the background. The mash-up lacks the passion and poignancy of the original. And the intro to "Here Comes the Sun" is just cheesy as f*ck. Nothing can top Harrison's simple intro.

Other songs, like "Eleanor Rigby," "Help" and "I Am the Walrus," sound hardly any different other than a few studio tricks and cleaner sound.

I've read reviews that indicated the Martins were too reverential with the material and didn't push the mash-up far enough. That's true to a point, but I think the confines of a Vegas-style show -- and all the campy excesses that are expected with those productions -- limited the Martins' daring more than reverence.

Either way, this is a cool record with fine sound. But it could have been so much more. It's more of a remaster than a remix or mash-up, and honestly, I'd rather hear remasters of the original tunes if the mash-up is this tepid. Again, Vegas' fault, not the Martins'.

Z: "Big Gay Bob" -- now that's funny.

I still lament the demise of Sugar, one of the best power pop bands I've heard.

Take care,
PK

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 6:38 pm

Not sure if this album has been mentioned, but Los Lobos' new record, "The Town and the City," is damn good.

It's a shame that Los Lobos will be remembered in the annals of American rock for its cover of "La Bamba" because it has been one of the most durable, consistently good American bands of the last 20 years.

I've also shed some of my whiteness and obtained TV on the Radio's "Return to Cookie Mountain" based on recommendations here. Very interesting stuff. A challenging listen, which I like.

Take care,
PK

sfz_T-car · Post by **sfz_T-car** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 7:03 pm

Well, if you want a more radical reworking of The Beatles, there's always the Grey Album. The Martins could have taken more risks but they chose not to. What's left is very listenable although the effect is more like stripping a layer of grime off a fresco than chopping it into bits and making a collage out of it.

I'm not a big CDS fan, but the "Love" show has jumped to the top of my list for the next time we go to Vegas--unless Don Rickles is in town.

Los Lobos is a great band who have never made a bad album. OK, maybe "Colossal Head" isn't that great. "Town and the City" is better than "The Ride" because it's more about the band that the guest stars.

Speaking of great LA bands with longevity, Fishbone has a new album out, their first studio release in five years. It's pretty good but they've always been a band best experienced live.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 7:14 pm

sfz_T-car wrote:Well, if you want a more radical reworking of The Beatles, there's always the Grey Album.

True. And I think that's too far. I guess I'm just a picky bastard.

sfz_T-car wrote:The Martins could have taken more risks but they chose not to. What's left is very listenable although the effect is more like stripping a layer of grime off a fresco than chopping it into bits and making a collage out of it.

Excellent analogy, man.

Take care,
PK

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 7:17 pm

sfz_T-car wrote:.

Los Lobos is a great band who have never made a bad album. OK, maybe "Colossal Head" isn't that great. "Town and the City" is better than "The Ride" because it's more about the band that the guest stars.

Interesting, "Colassal Head" is one of my favorites, especially Maricela and Buddy Ebsen Loves the Night Time.

You're right about their ridiculous batting average of great albums, though. The only one I am regularly underwhelmed by is "This Time." They are one of the great bands of all-time, and the only band that I've seen more than 10 times live. Never a bad show, either.

EZSnappin · Post by **EZSnappin** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 7:24 pm

RobVarak wrote:
sfz_T-car wrote:.

Los Lobos is a great band who have never made a bad album. OK, maybe "Colossal Head" isn't that great. "Town and the City" is better than "The Ride" because it's more about the band that the guest stars.

Interesting, "Colassal Head" is one of my favorites, especially Maricela and Buddy Ebsen Loves the Night Time.

You're right about their ridiculous batting average of great albums, though. The only one I am regularly underwhelmed by is "This Time." They are one of the great bands of all-time, and the only band that I've seen more than 10 times live. Never a bad show, either.

I second the Colossal Head love. I can't get enough of either that or Kiko, and I love the Latin Playboys stuff.

sfz_T-car · Post by **sfz_T-car** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 7:51 pm

EZSnappin wrote:
RobVarak wrote:
sfz_T-car wrote:.

Los Lobos is a great band who have never made a bad album. OK, maybe "Colossal Head" isn't that great. "Town and the City" is better than "The Ride" because it's more about the band that the guest stars.

Interesting, "Colassal Head" is one of my favorites, especially Maricela and Buddy Ebsen Loves the Night Time.

You're right about their ridiculous batting average of great albums, though. The only one I am regularly underwhelmed by is "This Time." They are one of the great bands of all-time, and the only band that I've seen more than 10 times live. Never a bad show, either.
I second the Colossal Head love. I can't get enough of either that or Kiko, and I love the Latin Playboys stuff.

OK, now you guys have done it. I'll have to dig out Colossal Head again. I think it's on a cassette. As I remember it, the songs were buried in the mix, which put me off at the time. It almost seemed to be trying to be too clever like Mitchell Froom's solo albums. Maybe it's aged well.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Wed Nov 29, 2006 8:12 pm

EZSnappin wrote:I second the Colossal Head love. I can't get enough of either that or Kiko, and I love the Latin Playboys stuff.

I dug Kiko, too.

Take care,
PK

Badger_Fan · Post by **Badger_Fan** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 12:06 pm

This probably deserves its own thread, but here goes. Somebody pointed me to a website than any classic rock lover has to check out.

http://concerts.wolfgangsvault.com/

It's basically a bunch of concerts that you can stream online that are simply incredible. Right now I'm listening to Bruce Springsteen live at Winterland from December 15th, 1978. The sound quality is incredible and it's blowing me away. There's everything from Dylan and the Band on here to Ozzy in 1981 with Randy Rhodes on guitar. Check it out and prepare to be blown away.[/url]

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 12:42 pm

Badger:

Thanks to the link to the Concert Vault. Man, that is a MEGA site!

I'm listening to Robert Cray live from Austin in 1987 as I type. Excellent sound quality and free, too!

I'm in love. Between sites like this and streaming radio stations, the Internet is a music haven for a desk jockey like me.

Take care,
PK

Badger_Fan · Post by **Badger_Fan** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 12:51 pm

They mention in one of the pages that they should have downloads available in the coming month or two. My guess is that they'll be paid somehow, but some of the shows would be worth it. Glad you're enjoying it.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Thu Nov 30, 2006 12:58 pm

It's not that tough to record streaming audio with a variety of freeware apps out there, so I'm good.

Thanks,
PK

Badger_Fan · Post by **Badger_Fan** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 10:09 am

Were you able to do that? Somebody on the message board that I got the link from said that they had some sort of protection on that, but that could have just been protection from downloading.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 10:16 am

Badger_Fan wrote:Were you able to do that? Somebody on the message board that I got the link from said that they had some sort of protection on that, but that could have just been protection from downloading.

I didn't try. I read the forum post in which site proprietor Wolfgang doesn't want people to leech the shows.

This may strike some as shocking from me, but if a guy working this hard to preserve these great live shows online doesn't want people to leech the files, I'll probably refrain from recording the sound.

I have a lot more good faith toward a guy like Wolfgang who really loves music than the RIAA.

Take care,
PK

sfz_T-car · Post by **sfz_T-car** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 1:03 pm

"Wolfgang" is a reference to the late promoter Bill Graham. His given name was Wolfgang Grajonca before he emigrated from Germany.

Graham's booking business was acquired by Clear Channel and is now a part of Live Nation. The archive of tapes that are in the vault were bought from Bill Graham Productions separately and have no current business association with BGP, CC or Live Nation.

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 1:11 pm

sfz_T-car wrote:"Wolfgang" is a reference to the late promoter Bill Graham. His given name was Wolfgang Grajonca before he emigrated from Germany.

Graham's booking business was acquired by Clear Channel and is now a part of Live Nation. The archive of tapes that are in the vault were bought from Bill Graham Productions separately and have no current business association with BGP, CC or Live Nation.

Cool. Didn't know that.

I admire the apparent devotion to music, and not the big chase for money, shown by those who run this site.

Take care,
PK

sfz_T-car · Post by **sfz_T-car** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 8:50 pm

Ryan Adams just released eleven albums worth of new stuff on his website. It must have been on a dare or something. He seems to have spent more time thinking of the song titles than he did on writing or recording them, although "Hillbilly Joel" and "Grim Reaper Sandwich Shoppe" are worth a LOL.

I can't seem to delete the Adams produced Willie Nelson album "Songbird" off my Nano. A lot of it doesn't work, but some of it hits the mark. Willie tames some of Adams' excesses and everybody in the band seems to be thrilled to be working with Nelson. I don't think it's possible for Willie to make a bad album. He11, I even listened to his reggae record for a while.

Jimmydeicide · Post by **Jimmydeicide** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 9:00 pm

sfz_T-car wrote:Ryan Adams just released eleven albums worth of new stuff on his website. It must have been on a dare or something. He seems to have spent more time thinking of the song titles than he did on writing or recording them, although "Hillbilly Joel" and "Grim Reaper Sandwich Shoppe" are worth a LOL.

I can't seem to delete the Adams produced Willie Nelson album "Songbird" off my Nano. A lot of it doesn't work, but some of it hits the mark. Willie tames some of Adams' excesses and everybody in the band seems to be thrilled to be working with Nelson. I don't think it's possible for Willie to make a bad album. He11, I even listened to his reggae record for a while.

Carolina rain is an awsome song, ony one ive heard.