Social Networking Via Napster? I Laugh

Eliot Van Buskirk at Wired's music weblog Listening Post wrote something so out-of-wack, so bizarro that I immediately yelled, "BS!" to my computer monitor. What did he write? This,

With all of the RIAA's bellyaching about the volume of files shared over these networks, it's easy to forget that one of the reasons people were so excited about Napster back in the day was the social networking aspect. I'm sure I'm not the only one who used to search for a few key, obscure band names and then add anyone who was sharing them into my Buddy List. To find new stuff to listen to, all I had to do was browse these buddies' collections.

People didn't give a damn about the "social networking aspect" about Napster 1.0. Napster was popular because you could download lots of music for free. The buddy list was to easily find sources of free music. Napster users could have cared less about making friends with those on their buddy lists. If they never talked to them but got access to lots of cool music they were happy.

Napster wasn't like weblogs, social news sites like digg, and MySpace are where people with common interests do more than let each other know they could download the new CD they just ripped to their computer.

To claim Napster 1.0 was ahead of its time is just a way for Eliot to justify Napster 1.0's existence and ignoring the massive copyright-infringing used with the technology.

"RIAA-Proof Music Sharing" [via Scripting News]

Dave Mustaine is No Fan of the U.N.

Let me preface this by stating the political opinions of famous musicians and celebrities have as much weight with me as President Bush's opinion of the greatest hard rock band ever*--and there is a correct answer. Still, I laughed when I read Dave Mustaine will title the next Megadeth album United Abominations:

"I was watching TV and saw the trucks that said 'UN' on them and said, 'Man, you are so uncool, ineffective, anything," the singer/guitarist said in a recent Billboard interview.

"I thought, 'Wow, I've got to run with this. I got it -- United Abominations, 'cause it's an abomination what they're doing!"

Let's see: Oil for Food; the Congo sex scandal; the unpaid parking tickets; the food and wine looting in 2003; the bloated price for renovating its headquarters; its inability to get anyone to disarm Hezbollah. The U.N. is a sad joke as well as an abomination.

"Megadeth Targets United Nations on New Album"

The greatest hard rock band ever would be the mightly Led Zeppelin. IV or the first disk of Physical Graffiti is my evidence.

Dixie Chicks Documentary to Come Out this Fall

Here's another documentary I don't want to watch:

The politically charged documentary "Dixie Chicks: Shut Up and Sing" has been picked up for worldwide distribution by the Weinstein Co.

A release is tentatively scheduled for the fall, possibly right before the November elections.

The film revolves around the aftermath of singer Natalie Maines' statement at a 2003 London concert, where she said, "Just so you know, we're ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas."

It chronicles death threats, political attacks and radio boycotts against the country trio, and that could make the film a political hot potato as well as potential ammo should longtime Democratic party supporter Harvey Weinstein become involved in the fall political campaigns.

Individuals who escape from the world's problems through music show their displeasure at musical artists who use their platforms to bloviate. Yet what the movie will do is show all the Chicks in their Jesus Christ pose.

"Dixie Chicks Documentary Could be Election Issue"

UPDATE: DJ asks why were the Dixie Chicks picked on when people like Neal Young have harshly criticized the administration. I think the Chicks received such a strong reaction because it came out of no where. Previous to Natalie Maines' remark the Chicks were looked at as non-political. Natalie said her thing fans got ticked, and she continued. Her fellow Chicks backed her so much that they posed for that Entertainment Weekly cover. They didn't have to back down from their feelings. They could have refrained from shoving their views in their fan's faces and things might have turned out better.

"AirTap!"

Here's another musical interlude courtesy of Erik Mongrain.

Page & Plant Go to the "Crossroads"

I give you this musical interlude courtesy of Jimmy Page and Robert Plant.

Open Letter to Dixie Chick

Phelony Jones deals out a reality-based slap to Natalie Maime's face:

To the media, you are porn. You're eye candy. To the rest of us you're just The Fat One with the fat mouth, but to the media, you're a peep show.

"Dear Natalie"

Dixie Chick Doesn't Understand Patriotism

Dixie Chick Natalie Maines demonstrates she's a typical celebrity who hasn't learned to keep her mouth shut when it comes to things other than her craft:

The Chicks can't hide their disgust at the lack of support they received from other country performers. "A lot of artists cashed in on being against what we said or what we stood for because that was promoting their career, which was a horrible thing to do," says Robison.

"A lot of pandering started going on, and you'd see soldiers and the American flag in every video. It became a sickening display of ultra-patriotism."

"The entire country may disagree with me, but I don't understand the necessity for patriotism," Maines resumes, through gritted teeth. "Why do you have to be a patriot? About what? This land is our land? Why? You can like where you live and like your life, but as for loving the whole country… I don't see why people care about patriotism."

Love of country is alien to her. And she wonders why fellow musicians and fans shunned her band.

It's not that Maines shouldn't talk politics period, it's that she's a moron on the subject. Stick to the music!

"How the Chicks Survived their Scrap with Bush" [via Michelle Malkin]

May the Force Be with You

The All Star Wars Band backed Gnarls Barkley at the MTV Movie Awards. Chewbacca on drums, a storm trooper playing bass, some rebel pilots singing back-up, and Boba Fett standing guard all helping with the song of the year "Crazy."

[via digg]

666

Time to celebrate by banging your head like a maniac. It's National Day of Slayer. No, SLAYER!!!!

UPDATE: Ok, there's a more important reason to remember this date. It's the anniversary of D-Day. I'll have to pop Saving Private Ryan into the DVD player later.

Guns N' Roses Album Out in Fall

Axl Rose said the long-awaited Guns N' Roses album will be out this fall.

Yea right!

When I see it on the shelf in a music department I'll believe it.

"Axl Rose Heralds New Guns N' Roses Album"

Web-Powered Music

For those in-the-know when it comes to online music Pandora and Last.fm are two pretty cool services. With Pandora you pick an artist and out comes a selection of songs that are similar you might like. You can play, pause, or skip to other ones. It's a nice way to get exposed to new (to you) music.

Last.fm is a music social network. After adding a plug-in to your music player of choice Last.fm keeps track of what songs you listen to. It builds charts and recommendations based on all the song data.

My biggest downside to Pandora was it didn't talk to Last.fm. The songs I listened to on Pandora weren't communicated to Last.fm. Real-ity Interactive fixed that.

"Web Service Integrates Last.fm with Pandora"

"France--WRONG!"

This is so bad. So bad I listened to it twice.

[via Instapundit]

2005 TAM Music Awards

Nothing really floored me this year. Plenty of good music was made just nothing that made my jaw drop. Coldplay tried but wasn't consistent. My fave King's X got harder and almost made it. There's always next year.

1. In the Clear by Ivy

   Ivy gave us cool pop, smooth singing, and icy sexiness. This album has lots of hooks and emotion behind the breathy vocals.

2. Body of Song by Bob Mould

   Mould returns to his power-pop sound his fans adore. Crunchy guitars combine with pop hooks. This is how we like our rock and roll.

3. Buzzin' Fly Volume 2 by Ben Watt

   This is the first mix album to get a TAM award. Watt tried to create a concept album around the feelings of New York City after the Sep. 11 attacks. There's haunting poetry, funky beats, and plenty of New York style. Watt succeeds in his task.

4. Confession on a Dance Floor by Madonna

   Yes, she's getting old, but she made a great dance album. It's full of energy and life even though it has some stupid lyrics. Just ignore them and her Flashdance-inspired videos.

5. Speak for Yourself by Imogen Heap

   This woman touches your soul with her voice. That's talent. This electronica has layers of sound but you can still feel Heap through it all. Electronic gizmos or not, this woman is going places.
   

Consuming Confessions

I'm liking the new Madonna album more than I thought. She's jumped to #2 most-played-artist on my last.fm page.

Confessions on a Dance Floor is Madonna back on the dance floor. It has it's share of pop house tunes and good hooks. Just ignore the lame Flashdance look she graces on the album cover.

ARRRGH!!

Two of my fave musical artists King's X and Bob Mould will be in Milwaukee next Tuesday, 11.15. These guys haven't been to Milwaukee in ages, and they happen to be in town at the same time. I smell a conspiracy. Ah, but I have a plan. Mould will be in Madison Sunday, Nov. 13. I'll be in "Circles" on Sunday and "Fly"-ing on Tuesday. And they thought they could fool me.... Ha!

Alt Rock iMix

Do you use iTunes and want some good, rockin' alternative rock (whatever that means anymore)? Check out my iMix.

Selling a Music Player

Apple tries to make its buyers feel cool, hip, and "with it." Dell takes the ironic dork approach mashed up into an Old Navy ad. They both represent their products well. Apple's iPods are sleek and sexy. The Dell DJ Ditty is a grey box with an LCD screen. On style points Steve Jobs' company wins hands down.

[via dapreview.net]

New King's X

Amazon let me down. They've known my purchases for years and years and yet to let me know that Ogre Tones, the latest album from one of my favorite bands, King's X, came out Tuesday. It's one of those albums I'd be surprised to see sitting on a shelf at Best Buy so online is how I'll get it. Jeff Bezos, back to the drawing board.

iTunes Game

I'll play too. Here are the top five most played for me:

1. "Talk"--Coldplay
   
2. "Give It Away"--Zero 7
   
3. "I Have Seen"--Zero 7
   
4. "Eple"--Royksopp
   
5. "Nothing but the Sky"--Ivy
   

Rush Honored

Finally! The Canadian power trio get some much-deserved love. First, Michele, then Cleveland...someday.

"ASV Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: First Inductee"

New King's X

Very, very cool. New King's X! This is really, really cool! Don't believe me? Listen to "Alone."

I've loved the band since high school. They are a power trio in the vein of Rush. Only these guys can all sing, love harmonies, feel the funk, and never felt the need to make 20-minute sci-fi rock pieces.

They've been off major lables for some time. When with Atlantic they mesmerised me with Gretchen Goes to Nebraska and Faith, Hope, Love. A lot of people really like the emotional heft and darkness of Dogman. (Me, I'm a sucker for their vocal harmonies.) Please Come Home...Mr. Bulbous was psychedelic but with emotional depth. Their most recent studio album Black Like Sunday had a few good songs, but it was strickly for the hard-core King's X fan. (The songs were ones lying around from the 80s.) I can't say anything about their double-CD live album because I still don't have it. Their new album Ogre Tones comes out 09.27. Now, if you're really gung-ho the band is selling a demo CD from their Dogman sessions.

New Bob Mould

From how much I like the single "Paralyzed" Body of Sound should be a good album and nab a TAM Music Award. It comes out tomorrow. You have a choice of plain old album or the "Deluxe Edition" filled with extras and remixes.

Lonely Butt

Yes vs. Sir Mix-a-lot, "Owner of a Lonely Butt." It rocks!

Pick an Album

In London this fall, bands like Dinosaur, Jr. and the Lemonheads will perform a complete album live. Cool idea. Here are some bands and albums I'd love to see/hear:

• Operation: Mindcrime by Queensryche--I saw them in Green Bay in 1991 when they played this concept album classic. I'd love to see them do it again.

• De-Loused in the Comatorium by The Mars Volta--The album is Rush-on-speed. There would be no letup.

• Faith, Hope, Love by King's X--Metal riffs and Beatlesque harmonies. Gimme, gimme, gimme!

• Pornograffitti by Extreme--Seeing Nuno Bettencourt play would blow me away. And speaking of Nuno, his band Population 1 performed last January on the Late Late Show.

• Led Zeppelin IV--"Rock and Roll," "Black Dog," "When the Levee Breaks," and--yes--"Stairway to Heaven." That would put me in heaven.
  

What album would you want to hear live?

"Don’t Look Back"

A Smart Way to Sell Mixes

Here's a question to my readers who are electronic dance music fans: What's up with Nick Warren's latest Global Underground mix on iTunes? Is it what I think it is: the individual tracks plus Warren's mixes all for one price? The downside of loading all my dance mixes into iTunes is I can't jump from track to track. iTunes can rip them as a single file so I'd have to fast forward to the song I want to hear. Getting the individual songs along with the seemless mix is a great innovation if that's what Apple is doing.

Now if a record company is really smart they'd sell an album along with the individual tracks used to make the songs. That way they'd let budding producers mash things up to their heart's content.

Defending "Stairway"

Michele has always been too harsh when dissing "Stairway to Heaven." Still, I just have to smile at her criticism:

The problem here is also that Zep inadvertently invented a formula for overrated songs: The plaintive singing of cryptic lyrics about five stanzas too long, followed by a guitar solo that makes one envision the guitarist standing on top of a mountain, wind blowing through his hair while his screeching riffs conjure up all kinds of inclement weather because it's that good. And don't get me wrong. I love Zep. But Stairway makes me cringe. Maybe I'm just embarassed that I used to believe this was the greatest song ever written. I also used to believe that you could see the Statue of Liberty in the reflection of a lake on Bear Mountain, but both those beliefs were born of the same drug.

Yeah, the lyrics make no sense, and classic rock stations played it to death. But Jimmy Page is awesome, the song has an epic, bigger-than-life quality and great dynamics, and despite the lyrics the listener can pour anything they want into it. It's an unintentional open-source allegory.

I don't know if "Stairway" is Zep's best song. Some days I'm gung-ho for "Kashmir." Other days is "Stairway." Even once in a while "Rock and Roll" makes its case. (Led Zeppelin IV is the best rock and roll album of all time.) "Stairway" always competes, and nine times out of ten if it pops up on the random shuffle of my iPod, I'll listen to it all the way through.

Live 8

Bob Geldof has done a service with Live 8. It doesn't matter if you agree with all he proposes as a way to eliminate African poverty. He has brought attention to the issue and has gotten many people--important people--talking. But they're not only talking but listening. Bill Gates for one. That doesn't ensure change but it gives us hope.

"Is that Loud Enough for You?"

"Live 8 Rocks the World, but Will It Help the Poor?"

As Long as She Doesn't Open Her Mouth

That's Jessica Simpson I'm talking about.

"Is it "Cool" to "Love America" Again?" [via Wizbang]

Return of Nuno Bettencourt

Nuno Bettencourt will come out from the wilderness when he joins Perry Farrell at Lollapalooza for Satellite Party.

Extreme was one of my favorite hair metal bands. Their debut album was ok but full of metal cliches. Their second disk Extreme II: Pornograffiti was a magnum opus. They put the funk in funk metal, crunched away, and the songs simply rocked. Bettencourt was ripping off the best guitar solos at that time. III Sides to Every Story is many fans favorite album. It's not bad. It has its moments, but I think the band took themselves too seriously. It was too much about every song having to have a moral to it. Porno was loose, funky, and rocked from begining to end--and that includes their ballad "More than Words."

A few years ago VH1 had a reality series where they tried to reunite bands of the past. One of them was Extreme. They ran around the Boston area finding Gary Cherone, Pat Badger, and Paul Geary. Those three were ready and willing to reunite. All that was needed was Nuno. VH1 flew Gary to Los Angeles to talk to Nuno. It was a disaster with Nuno refusing to even be shown on camera. That was the last I heard about the guitarist. Let's hope Nuno can still shread like he used to.

"Farrell Bringing Satellite Party to Lollapalooza"

Pink Floyd Reuniting at Live 8

Roger Waters and the rest of Pink Floyd have patched things up enough to play at Live 8 next month in London.

In other Live 8 news Blur's Damon Albarn thinks the show are "too damn Anglo-Saxon." Typical Lefty artistic stupidity. How, suppose, would Bob Geldof get oodles of attention for his poverty-fighting campaign if a bunch of unknown African singers performed? Live 8 is a political event as much as a musical one. Affirmative action need not apply.

"Classic Pink Floyd Lineup to Play Live 8"

"Live 8 Concert Criticized as 'Too Anglo-Saxon'"

First Impressions: "ES"

Satoshi Tomiie's new mix album ES, like any good dance mix collection, has a theme. The theme of it is the return of acid house (if it actually ever left). Throughout most of the tracks was that distictive squelchy, squiggly, fuzzy acid synth that typified the dance music of the late 1990s. Along with the acid vibe was a prominent progressive feel. It feels like something coming out of a New York City club where the music is harder, and the dancing more serious.

ES starts with Kevin Freeman's "Time for Revolution." Part of the revolution is one of production. This song feels like it was made in Freeman's bedroom studio (if he has one). I don't mean that in a bad way. The technology to enable artists to make music practially anywhere expands sonic experimentation. All music lovers should appreciate that. "Revolution" goes for the old school, Kraftwerk, Derrick May sound. There's a lack of a distinctive bass drum, acid flourishes, and sirens. This is a good, entertaining start to the mix. What would be more entertaining would be something more carnal.

"Revolution" mixes beautifully into Pastaboys' "Tribute." It's still techno but incorporates dark, progressive sounds. Sexy vocals tell you to "Shake your body down" and "Do it to me, I'll do it to you." Combine that with a minimal melody that attatches to the bass and goes straight to your hips, and you have something almost erotic.

Avenue D's "You Love This Ass" and Bush II Bush's "Piano Track" loosen things up and move into the house range of dance music. A couple uneventful tracks pass until we come to Peace Division's "Peaces of Gold." Here we have something dark and sexy with a nice synth build up that makes it epic sounding. Think a dark, house version of Moby's "God Moving Over the Face of the Waters."

Chab's "You And Me" (Satoshi Tomiie ES Edit) and Maskio's "Wait (I Know What You Need)" take us to a progressive level. Texture replaces melody with driving bass and weird, hypnotic vocals. I swear Smegol is telling me, "I know what you need" on the Maskio track.

JheReal's remix of Uppfade's "Friday Loops" is a funky, wide open house song. This is the definite arm waver with ass-shaking bass. Later on Beckers' "Fake" continues the positive energy output with driving keyboards. And if you pay attention to the lyrics (and are old enough) you'll recognize them from Living Colour's "Desparate People."

For a mix released in the summer ES doesn't have any smiley, cheery tracks--Ibiza trance this ain't. Regardless, ES' combination of styles (dare I lable it "tech progressive?") and middle-of-the night vibe should provide ample listening value.

Renaissance Woman

In a display of musical talent and giving Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice performed in a charity concert at the Kennedy Center:

Rice's rare and unpublicized appearance at the piano marked a striking departure from her routine as America's No. 1 diplomat. A pianist from the age of 3 she played a half-dozen selections to accompany Charity Sunshine, a 21-year-old singer who was diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension a little more than a year ago.

The soprano is a granddaughter of Rep. Tom Lantos, D-Calif., and his wife Annette, who Rice has known for years. The Pulmonary Hypertension Association, formed in 1990, presented the concert to draw attention to the disease from which more than 100,000 people are known to suffer.

Intelligent, cultured, talented, even rather sexy. The lack of executive experience keeps me from jumping on the Draft Condi bandwagon.

"Rice Takes to Stage to Aid Ailing Soprano"

A New Year's Gone Awry

Alex Lifeson had one really bad New Year's Eve in 2004. He, his son, and his son's wife got into an altercation with hotel security and local police. What started with four felonies got eventually worked down to misdemeanors with suspended sentences. Lifeson is still furious and is now suing.

"Rush Guitarist Lifeson Sues and Speaks"

Ozzy Digs 'Em

Touring with both Britney Spears and Ozzy Osbourne. Jada Pinkett Smith's band Wicked Wisdom will take claim to that bit of trivia. Ozzfesters will just love this band.

"Osbourne Defends Wicked Wisdom's Ozzfest Slot"

People Actually Bought That?

Rob Thomas' solo album has been certified platinum. Over one million people own that album. I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

"AC/DC's Back In Black Tips 21 Million Mark"

That Other Big Secret is Still Secret

One 1970s mystery has been solved with the announcement of Deep Throat, but another one still remains: Who is Carly Simon singing about in "You're So Vain"?

"It's about Mark Felt!" Simon, 59, joked by phone Wednesday from her home in Martha's Vineyard, referring to the former FBI official who has said he was Deep Throat.

Vain was a No. 1 hit in January 1973, six months after the Watergate break-in that led to President Nixon's downfall.

But unlike the Watergate principals, Simon says she'll never reveal the answer, not even when she or the song's subject dies. "I don't see why I ever would. What would it advance?

Well, if Simon could get Dick Ebersol to cough up $50,000 I'm sure she could sell the answer to someone for a $1 million who could then make it public and donate the cash to charity.

If the vain man is Warren Beatty will we be hearing from him when he's 90, old, decrepit, and forgotten?

"You Probably Think this Story's About..."

[Added to OTB's Beltway Traffic Jam]

Now this is a Mash Up

Jewish reggae hip-hop sounds like a one-hit wonder/fad but Matisyahu has a strong voice and some serious skills. Check him out on the Jimmy Kimmel Show.

[via karmagrrl]

No NIN

What do politically opinionated celebrities do they don't get their way? They quit. Trent Reznor pulled his band Nine Inch Nails out of the MTV Movie Awards because the music channel wouldn't let them perform in front of a picture of President Bush. Reznor, in language fit for an arrogant psudo-intellectual, said, "Apparently, the image of our president is as offensive to MTV as it is to me." Please. More likely MTV was worried the Bush-hating Reznor would do something with the image causing negative publicity to drop on the network.

Michele isn't boycotting NIN. Good.

"Nine Inch Nails Drops MTV Show over Bush Backdrop"

A Review in the Raw

Michele does a version of First Impressions with the new Weezer album.

"Weezer's Make Believe: a Review as It Happens"

Most Overrated Album

According to Michele's readers it's Elephant by The White Stripes. I can't say much about it. I can only hum "Seven Nation Army" and don't know any other songs. I never got into the whole garage band scene. Thanks to all of you who voted for Nirvana's Nevermind. You tried.

"Overrated Albums: Poll Winner"

Vote More

What's wrong with you people? Nevermind isn't winning. Quit reading this and vote!

Stuff the Ballot

Vote for Nirvana's Nevermind as the "Most Overrated Album."

Mitch Likes Springsteen

Mitch Berg likes Bruce Springsteen.

But, it took 2,300 words for him to say so.

As I commented there, I'm no fan of Warren Zevon. Maybe I just don't get the joke, or perhaps it's because it's used as the theme for a radio show from 9a-12p on am1500, KSTP in Good Old St. Paul/Big Time Minneapolis, that I am forbidden from mentioning. The mere sounds of Zevon sends my hand to the radio dial and screams to fill the air to prevent my ears from hearing the hosts come on the air.

iTunes' Most Famous Customer

President George Bush.

Surprise surprise. No Dixie Chicks.

"Tunes for the Freewheelin' George Bush" [via Althouse]

New Bob Mould in July

Awesome! Awesome! Awesome!

Any new Bob Mould music will make me happy. But what kicks it up a notch (damn Emeril!) is Body of Song will "employ a guitar-heavy full-band approach." Bob will be rockin'. Sweet!

"Yep Roc Announces Release of New Bob Mould Album!"

New Alan Parsons

New Alan Parsons. That's good to hear.

"New Alan Parsons"

CBGB Update

The problems of legendary NYC music club CBGB are more complicated than just increased rent. The club has financial and legal problems with its landlord Bowery Residents' Committee. That organization cares for NYC homeless. At one point CBGB owed the committee $300,000 in back rent. Ironically CBGB could be made homeless itself.

What side will city liberals fall: will they back the rock and roll culture and history of CBGB or will they go with their guilty conscience and support the homeless organization?

"Home of Punk-Rock Battles for Its Home"

I Don't Buy It

Fred Durst isn't hate hackers even though one of them stole a sex video from his home computer. He actually said this is "causing awareness for homeland security."

To me this just reeks of a publicity stunt. If that was Durst's plan it's working.

"Fred Durst Says: My Cellphone was Not Hacked"

I Did It All for the Publicity

How convenient. A washed up rock star has a porno tape put on the internet. Even better it gets tied into Paris Hilton's hacked Sidekick. Call me cynical, but I think Fred Durst did this for a little more than nookie.

"He Did It All for the Nookie"

CBGB's Priced Out of Market

The legendary New York City club/hole in the wall may close to due rising rent. CBGB's might be the victim of its own success. By being the birthplace of American punk music its hipness made it a desirable location. Thus rents rose. Now, the owner is paying $40,000 a month in rent. Unfortunately that's economic dynamism in action. Sometime in the future we'll find out about another club in a dank, dark part of some city that will makes its mark on music. Then we'll watch this dynamic happen again.

"Heebie-Jeebies"

The Grammys

I have more interest in the Pro Bowl than watching this year's Grammys. Like I'll ask when the Oscars are on in a few weeks, just tell me who won.

What I'm doing tonight is playing around with my new Dell notebook to get it ready for CPAC.

"Grammy Live Blogging (sort of...)"

UPDATE: While not actually watching the show I'm reading about it. Britney Spears won her first Grammy by beating out the Chemical Brothers and other for best dance recording. Grammys voters made up for it by giving Loretta Lynn an award for her song "Portland, Oregon." If you haven't already, go get Van Lear Rose. It's a great album by a classic country artist for those who think they won't ever like country music.

"Britney Spears Claims Her First Grammy"

"Loretta Lynn Wins First Grammy in 33 Years"

New New Order

"Krafty" is the first single from the upcoming New Order album Waiting For the Siren's Call. This will have to do until the album comes out in April for us in North America.

"'Krafty' New Order Confirmed For Coachella 2005"

New JEW Video

I'm not one to mention music videos--I do remember when they were actually on MTV--but the video for the Jimmy Eat World song "Work" is set in Madison.

2004 TAM Music Awards

1. Van Lear Rose Loretta Lynn

   She may be old, but Loretta Lynn can rock. It helps to have The White Stripes' Jack White helping with production and bringing in a backing rock band. But what shines on this is album Lynn's storytelling. It starts off in the title song with a lovely tale of her mother and father's courtship. "Portland, Oregon" is a great duet with White about love while drunk. "Have Mercy on Me" is a country/rockabilly gumbo song. "Women's Prison" may seem cliche for a country artist, but Lynn tells the story so well to make it a four-minute musical novel.

2. Ethnomixicology Outernationalists

   What a wonderful mix of world music chants and instruments, funk, rock, and dance beats--and that's just in one song on this hour+ mix. In the late 80s, REM's Michael Stipe thought the future of music would be indigenous sounds fused with cutting-edge technology. Ethnomixicology fulfills that prediction.

   "Mash ups" may be hot with The Grey Album and Jay-Z's and Linkin Park's joint effort, but Ethnomixicology literally embodies the concept. We need a new term to describe music of such diversity. How about a "mix-up?" You may think that the combination of sounds should be a mistake, but the music sounds too good.

3. How to Dismantle and Atomic Bomb U2

   This album had the most hype with it prior to release. This was supposed to be U2's first "rock" album. What the previous ones were, I don't know. Then with rocker "Vertigo" becoming the theme song for the iPod fans were expecting big things.

   All the typical U2 sounds are here: The Edge's one-of-a-kind guitar; Bono's passionate voice; a flawless rhythm section. The songs pack energy, heart, and sheer love for making music. "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own" changes pace with beautiful honesty and Bono's hitting a few high notes. With a song titled "Love and Peace or Else" you may think it's a threat. Instead it's a cry. "We need love and peace," sings Bono in this mid-tempo burner. U2 offered no letdown from All that You Can't Leave Behind.

4. Hot Fuss The Killers

   Until recently I though power pop was dead. Sugar is no more, and it's been years since the Goo Goo Dolls put out an album that incorporated power to their pop. Pop punk has the guitar crunch. But the vocals are as whiny as the songs' lyrics. So I had to look elsewhere for my pop rock fix. The retro sounds of The Killers grabbed me. Hot Fuss contains hooks, tough guitar riffs, and the Moog syths that transport you to 1983. "Mr. Brightside" and "Somebody Told Me" are full of lyrical wordplay which adds to the subject's troubled psyche. The band is from Las Vegas, but they sound like 80s Euro pop. You can hear echos of The Smiths, The Cure, The Jesus and Mary Chain, and New Order, especially in Brandon Flowers' vocals.

5. Crimes of Passion Big Head Todd & the Monsters

   This album is a slow burner on the heels of the rockfest Rivera. BHTM have done this before. After their Sister Sweetly album they came back with Strategem. In both cases the follow-up album is more subdued, but not less interesting. BHTM kind of tricks you with "Dirty Juice" the first song on CoP. While not a full-throated rocker, it's got an addictive groove. Next, you come to "Beauty Queen." The smoky jazz vibe in this one assures you the band has taken a break from high-powered rock and roll. This song like "Drought of 2013" and "ICU in Everything" are the type that requires multiple listenings to really appreciate. Todd Park Mohr tells some good stories in these songs, and his precise, unexpected guitar playing shows the breadth of his talent. The best song is "Imaginary Ships." The dynamic soundscape created is heartbreaking, sublime.

   Posted by Sean Hackbarth in Music at 09:03 PM | Comments (0)

First Impressions: "Like You Like an Arsonist"

Thank God for iTunes. It's how I discovered a real treat in Paris, Texas new album Like You Like an Arsonist. I adore good power pop (think Goo Goo Dolls and Sugar), so when I listened to PTX's "Bombs Away" I knew I needed to immediately get the rest of the album. All these songs are tight. They ripple with energy. One qualm with my first listen is the lead vocals aren't super dynamic. There's no sign of the annoying whining that plagues pop punk and no Pavement droning, but Scott Sherpe is no Bob Mould. Another flaw is there are few real guitar solos. There are some moments when a riff is repeated, but Nolan Treolo and Nick Zinkgraf can play. They could have stretched out a little.

It's wild knowing a band this good was in my neck of the woods (Madison, WI). Too bad for me it took me this long to discover them.

Below are some thoughts about some of the songs while going through my first listen.

• "White Eyes": Has machine gun, Ramones-like riffs and a dab of vocal harmony.

• "Your Death": The fluttering notes at the beginning immediately signal no break from the fast pace. Big thick guitar chords in the chorus. I could live without the tempo shift just before the chorus.

• "Strike My Heart": The intricate guitar layering and interplay are the key to this song.

• "One Hot Coma": Do I detect a snarl in Scott Sherpe's vocals.

• "Hip Replacement": More neat guitar combinations. Power chords with harmonies and stacotto swipes of the strings.

• "Better Off": The intro riffs drip with power pop purity. Melody and crunch unite to become fist-pumping, tune-humming yummyness. This is the most "emo" of the songs so far. That's probably because there are moments of sparse guitar work where I can focus on the lyrics.

• "Gemini": Jumpy. Slightly off-kilter rhythm guitar makes for a cleaver change of pace.
  

Buy the World Some Coke

Mediaguru tells a story of The Smithereens coked up. I wonder if lead singer Pat DiNizio was high when he ran for the U.S. Senate on the Reform Party ticket?

By the way, The Smithereens are a highly underrated band. They have a knack of balancing great pop hooks with muscular guitar crunch. I was hooked with "Girl Like You," and I've never looked back. Go get their greatest hits collection.

"Smithereens=Cokeheads" [via ASV]

An Outrage!

Today, five new inductees were announced into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. U2, The O'Jays, Percy Sledge, The Pretenders, and Buddy Guy made it. Who missed out? Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five, the J. Geils Band, and Conway Twitty. Another glaring omission is the Canadian power trio Rush who this year celebrated 30 years as a band. They're a band that has progressed from Led Zeppelin metal to art rock to 80s rock/pop to the stylized music they make today. Through it all there has been fine musicianship, great songs, and intelligent lyrics.

Not to pick on The Pretenders--they had their time in the late 70s and 80s, but Rush has consistently put out interesting music that stretches their abilities and their listeners ears. And would the Hall of Fame seriously consider The J. Geils Band? They had two songs, "Centerfold" and "Freeze Frame." That earns you an "as seen on TV" greatest hits collection, not a place in Cleveland.

According to an "expert," Rush isn't in the HOF because Rolling Stone magazine doesn't like them. So it's Jan Wenner's fault. There is a petition 22,000+ have signed, so I'm not the only upset Rush fan.

"U2, O'Jays Top Rock Hall Inductees" [via Althouse]

Escape

Oddly, it's December and my neck of the woods hasn't yet seen snow fall. Wisconsin has a reputation for being one of America's iceboxes so no hint of snow yet is a surprise. If it's because of global warming then I'm even more anti-Kyoto. I bring up the weather, not because I love writing about it, but because a new dance mix album is out. Escape: St. Barth's transports you to a place of sand, sun, and warm, fun house music.

The highlights of this mix include Martin Solveig's "Rocking Music (Joey Negro Dub Mix)" that lives up to its name. It has a great groove and beat with a bouncing bass. GusGus's "David (Tim Deluxe Mix)" entertains with a simple happy synth topped by standard female house vocal. Tim Deluxe does it again with his own "It Just Won't Do." The song has a horn theme where even Sam Obernik's vocal sounds like a horn. The Supermen Lovers' "Starlight (Dub Version)" adds a retro touch to the mix. It brings a funky disco feel with soulful singing and traditional song structure. Near the end there's Lee Cabrera's "Shake It (Move a Little Closer)." It's sweaty, sexy, and makes you want to dance close to someone. This song best captures the summer vibe.

Escape: St. Barth's is not serious progressive house. This is fun, smiley house with plenty of hooks but little cheese which a mix invoking the summer could easily "melt" into.

[Added to OTB's Beltway Traffic Jam.]

New U2

How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb is in my hands. All the hype along with a brilliant piggy back on Apple's iPod got me excited. But the U2 website was streaming the album so I listened and was let down. This is suppose to be U2's rock album. (If so, then what kind of music were they putting out before?) Nothing else besides "Vertigo" got my heart pumping. It's not that the album is bad, I haven't listen to it enough yet, but I have to change my expectations. For those of you who don't know if they should get HTDAAB here's Mark Saleski's review.

"U2 - How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb"

I Feel Like I'm in an Apple Commercial

A surprise was waiting for me when I got home from work: my new iPod. The 20GB model now has 4300+ songs on it--it took about 90 minutes. At one point tonight I had my iPod in one pocket and my digital camera in the other. I've joined the Gadget Geek Gang, and I don't know how to feel about this. Maybe I'll figure it out while I'm reading The Pentagon's New Map.

[Yes, this post became a virtual Amazon.com commercial. It's Friday, I'm having fun, and hardly anyone's reading this.]

Almost a WOW

Way Out West could have been thought of as Nick Warren's gig when he wasn't zooming across the globe DJing. That certainly seemed like it when he and fellow DJ and producer Jody Wisternoff wrote "Intensify" on their second album of the same name. Three years later WOW has a new album. The dance vibe is still there but the twelve songs on Don't Look Now feel more like actual songs, not just dance tracks. Drums and guitars join the synths, drum machines, and computer cut-ups. But what really lifts this album is the new third member of WOW. Omi is what Warren and Wisternoff call their "secret weapon." She's not your standard issue dance track diva. Her voice is warm and breathy. Imagine a deeper sounding Kirsty Hawkshaw, and you'll be in the ballpark. Omi's emotional connection to the lyrics carries the tracks "Anything But You," "Don't Forget Me," and "Just Like a Man."

The songs are full of air. That's a compliment. They're full of space and breathe. They fit perfectly with Omi's voice. The music matches the vocals. That's a big aesthetic plus.

I don't want to say Don't Look Now is bereft of the energy needed for a good electronic dance album, because it's not. "Anything But You" immediately kicks it with a strong break beat. "Fear" has an ex-Echo and the Bunnymen drummer flailing away. "Killa" starts with an big space-filling synth intro followed by a pumping break beat.

Don't be surprised with all the trance elements. Nick Warren is/was one of the best trance DJs in the world. Fans of BT's Emotional Technology will find no complaints with this album. Both are similar sonically in their use of break beats and vocals. WOW tops BT because of Omi's emotional depth.

Giving Don't Look Now a big WOW may be going too far. The last few songs felt too similar and began to melt together in my brain. It is a solid album that lets electronic music fans know artists want to stretch the boundaries of this limitless genre. Given the talent, they can succeed.

Reuters Gets It Right

Friday night was the beginning of the Vote for Change tour. Bruce Springsteen, R.E.M., Pearl Jam, and others going to battleground states to sing songs and get John Kerry elected. The tour's name is merely a euphemism. These rock stars don't want change in the abstract. They want a particular kind of change--namely the defeat of President Bush. The tour should be named "Vote for Kerry." At least in their headline Reuters points it out for readers.

By the way, I'm so furious as these artists for mixing politics and music in such a partisan way (see Alice Cooper) that I will no longer buy their music new. If I find it used, I'll jump on it because my cash won't be headed their way. They're speaking out which is their right, and I'm speaking out by not financially supporting them.

"Rockers Mix Music, Politics at Pro-Kerry Concerts"

First Impressions: "Creamfields"

This is the first in what I hope will be an on-going series where I listen to an album for the first time and jot down my first impressions--hence the name. An album that doesn't have a great first impression shouldn't imply it's no good. Maybe at the time of my first listen I'm not in the mood for music genre (or in no good mood at all). It's possible for an album to "grow on a person--like mold." [Ten brownie points to the first person to tell me what sit-com that quote came from.] Conversely, an album that has a good first impression may not have the staying power of, say, Sugar's Copper Blue. Individuals evolve, and their tastes evolve with them. The first victim is Paul Oakenfold's new two-CD dance mix Creamfields.

The first disk is filled with hands-in-the-air trance that's full of melodies and hooks but isn't cheesy. Oakenfold's forte is picking excellent songs you can dance and hum along to. These songs send me to the version of the massive Creamfields festival running wild inside my head.

Disk 2 starts off with a more moderate pace and a break beats. "One Day" by NuBreed & Luke Chable sounds more like a electronicized pop song rather than an dance anthem. Things get revved up with Girl Nobody's "Cages" and continues on with The Sneaker's "Scatterbomb." Oakenfold gets back to the epic trance sound with Stel & Good Newz's "Particle" and his remix of U2's "Beautiful Day."

Creamfields is a solid dance collection. It contains melody, vocals, and plenty of irresistible, body-grooving rhythms.As long as Paul Oakenfold sticks to mix albums he's fine. It's when he does solo projects that we should cringe.

Beatallica Revealed

Ever since a weird combination of Metallica and The Beatles started floating around the Net last year, all we knew about Beatallica was they were from the Midwest. I figured their home was Chicago given the Windy City's population and bigger music scene. Nope. Michael Brandenburg, A.K.A. Krk Hammettson, and his fellow four horsemen all call Milwaukee home.

"Meet the Milwaukeeans Who Meld Metallica, Beatles"

Hornsby Over Kerry

Here's my theory of what will happen tonight: With Clinton, Obama, and Edwards setting the bar high, the expectations are that John Kerry will look lifeless compared to them. However, he will deliver a good speech. The man has been public speaking since he was a high school debater. However, the talk will be that he found a way to rise up to the level of Clinton, Obama, and Edwards. Thus, Kerry will get high praise for just a good performance.

I'm skipping out on watching John Kerry's speech live. I'll be savoring the sweet sound of Bruce Hornsby.

UPDATE: I didn't get to see Hornsby because the show sold out. Since I could still buy tickets last night I figured I was okay. Instead, I saw Napoleon Dynamite.