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Spending Father’s Day with both my kids got me thinking about being a “papa.” One of the first words out of 23 month old Jonah was “rocking.” Amazingly this kid is already practicing his windmills!
My hip teenager daughter Zoe is often in the car helping me click away at the i-pod, compiling songs for my Idelic playlist. When it comes to making the scene Zoe is on the dance floor with LCD, MIA and Edward Sharpe but when it comes to requests she is really about the “oldies.” She seems to go for anything on Specialty Records, go figure!
The weekend left feeling warm and loose but then I came down with a wicked 24 hour flu bug. Thank god my recovery was quick—it left me “extra loose” and grateful for the health of family and friends. A simple thought to inspire this playlist with some cool daddy swagger, soul, and a couple new bands that are filling my cup of late.
Once upon a time in the era of freeform FM (and sometimes AM) radio, upon the very first listen to a freshly minted track spun by this or that DJ whose taste I trusted, I'd become so sonically smitten with a song that I'd be certain to spring for the complete LP, having faith that the 9 or 10 tracks on the balance of the release were just as top notch. Sure, it was a gamble but one that very often paid off.
It happened with The Cars way back when. I played that "Let's Go" 45 on Elektra non-stop. Tear For Fears too. I think it was "Change" that did it fr me. . . Later on, I'm reminded of the first track off the first Jellyfish LP, "The Man I Used To Be." That came over the radio one afternoon when I was tooling around the Jersey Shore with my Dad. And if you know that Jellyfish record at all, it foretold a ton about the high caliber of that LP.
Why am I going on about this you ask? Well, it's because I've had this track stuck in my head by Aussies PVT (formerly Pivot) since it made its appearance in my email in-box last week. I mean, I'm ready to spring for the entire release now, I'm that smitten for some reason.
But this being TVD and all, I'm able to say, "Hey PR Firm...this is great. Let's set up a giveaway and put one of these things into the hands of some very smart TVD reader." And it was done.
We've got PVT's brand new release (it's just out this week) "Church With No Magic" on vinyl of course, to award one of you who comments to this post.
Play their video and/or download the track and let us know if you're sufficiently smitten in the comments, or simply recall a time when you fell for a band off the strength of one track alone where the balance of the record didn't disappoint. Or something else entirely - you guys are a creative bunch.
We'll give you a week to tell your tale and close this one out next Friday. And remember to leave us a contact email address so we can let you know you've won - ok?
"As a born-and-raised, sixth generation Memphian, Ardent Studios is one of the institutions that makes me quite proud to call it my home. It wasn’t until a fateful day 3 years ago when I met producer, Pete Matthews at the mere age of 20 that Ardent would soon become my second home.
I had just dropped out of college in New Orleans, was homesick, angsty, and felt like I was wasting my time in a classroom when all I could dream, think, or speak about was doing music. As soon as Pete Matthews expressed interest in working together, I dropped everything and went running back to Memphis, with the gracious moral support of my parents and just enough money saved up for a duplex above my 90 year-old grandmother, right in the heart of midtown. Independence had never tasted so bittersweet…I finally had my own place, but didn’t know anyone in the city or a have a clue how to go about getting gigs. But as soon as I stepped through the legendary brick hallways of Ardent Studios and was introduced to the staff by Pete, I felt immediately welcomed and part of something to be truly cherished.
Well...I’ll admit, walking through those hallways covered with golden records and album covers and sitting in the studio with the session players over cigarettes and coffee (Dave Smith, Al Gamble, Steve Potts, Rick Steff) was all a bit daunting at first…to say I was green and timid is an understatement. But after working with Pete Matthews and Nick Redmond in and out of the studio for my first two EP’s and watching the way things work and seeing how graciously everyone treated each other...the potential I began to see in music as a life-long endeavor blossomed. A family of friends, supporters, muses, and motivators is what Ardent became to me and remains to this day.
One of the most unforgettable evenings at Ardent was the night they asked me to play some tunes for their "Ardent Presents" series in the famed Studio A. Intimately captured, and warmly lit, the entire evening was a stirring of songs, storytelling and an amazing, captivated audience. If only every gig could be as tightly connected to the audience as the Ardent Presents series is...everyone truly feels as if they are a part of history in-the-making. Leave it to folks like Rachel Hurley and Jody Stephens to come up with such a stellar way to capture Memphis' present music scene.
Shooting forward to the present, I have released two EP’s with Pete, with several of them getting placed in indie films and TV pilots, and I have recently released my first full-length album (completely self-produced). If it weren’t for my experience with Ardent Studios and the amazing staff, I honestly don’t think I would possess the industry know-how or the confidence in myself and my craft that allows me to carry on today as a successful musician/songwriter/producer. And for that, I am forever indebted and forever grateful." —Grace Askew
Enter to win Grace Askew's CD "Until They Lay Me Down To Rest" by simply leaving a comment, your name, and a contact email address in the comments to this post. We'll choose one winner each Friday for that week's giveaway which ALSO includes the entire Ardent Music catalog. (That's just 2 artists at this point, but hey, who's counting?)
To hear more great Ardent Sessions please visit Ardent Presents.
The idea of making “travelin' music” is a loaded concept. We all have a “sound” we like to ride to. I created this mix thinking about the journey to Austin ahead.
SXSW has been an annual pastime—not only the music conference itself but for the listening prior. The weeks leading up to SXSW are always filled with intense listening. It’s a time to refresh the palette so to speak, and I challenge my current “pile of records” to either stay or leave. I take in as many new releases as I can and dig back in my crates.
Finally for my muse, I posed myself 2 questions: When it comes to music, what does Texas mean to me and what’s the reason we make the schlep to Austin every year for SXSW?
The simple answer is in this mix…cool bands and great songs.
Ty Segallplayed DC9 last night. "This is the first time we've played here." He told us. He began an Obama at the Circus joke, paused for effect, then delivered a chill punchline, "Now here's another song."
The band's demeanor was laid back but their amps were loud and vicous. They took their time in between songs sipping beers and adjusting pedals. The pace didn't bother the crowd, who danced and head banged along to the righteous lo-fi garage tunes. Many songs ended perfectly within two minutes. They played a few oldies from the Castleface LP and other singles, as well as new ones off the most recent Goner release, Melted. And! And! A Jabbers cover! Way to get the scumbags moving!
I spoke to Ty briefly after their set. A very friendly and gracious dude! He writes all his songs himself and records in his friend's studio basement. He had no future releases planned but will work on new songs after this short tour. If you haven't already, check out the new LP on Goner. It simply rips. And it comes with a free MP3 downloads. Nerds.
Ray Silva (singer) | I was always bugging my mom to use her turntable when I was about eight years old. She finally got tired of me DJing so she got me my own stereo from the swap meet. Something I could beat up and blast in my own room. I played out all the Beatles and Zeppelin I could get my hands on. I liked the live tracks the best, It felt like I traveled through time a little bit.
Will Oraha (guitar) | I remember how much I loved listening to my dad's records, from the Beatles to Santana and one of my favorites was Thriller. Later on down the road I started to collect my own vinyls but the thing with my vinyls wasn't so much as to listen to the damn thing, but more so to listen to it as I manually slowed the rotation of the record or sped it up at times. I was extremely fascinated with how warped of a sound I could create. I would go to the extreme from trying to melt the record to scratching certain grooves to make it skip. As far as me and Atlantic Line's sound? I think that kid that's still trying to warp the sound that comes out at times.
Noah Alexander (drums) | Growing up in a small town in Indiana didn't provide much entertainment or offer a ton of creative outlets. The way I coped with the corn field backdrop and the never ending variations of the mullet was to shave my head and dive deep into the straight edge hardcore scene. Collecting seven inch records from the touring bands was my window into the world. It was amazing for this cow-town kid to see these pictures of the California SXE style, learn about the New York Vegan movement, or collect the limed edition colored vinyl of my favorite Florida screamers. The records were full of political and social views that opened my mind, made me question the status quo, and started the dreams of going and seeing these places. The DIY nature of the hardcore scene greatly influence the approach I take when presenting my art, and I am forever grateful for all of those amazing little records.
Henry Pope (Bass) | My first memories of music centered around old Fisher Price record player jettisoned in the corner of a room that my brother and I shared. We had two records. One was a Disney record that had the songs about The Pirates of the Caribbean, The Haunted Mansion, and It's a Small World. The other record had a song that we played religiously...we had no idea who it was or what the lyrics really were but, we loved the rhythm and vocal melody. I loved that fact that the song made me happy and made me want to dance. Years later I realized that song was Looking Out My Back Door by Creedence Clearwater Revival.
My teenage years were marked by a collection of punk, hardcore, and breakbeat records...I poured through Maximum Rock and Roll and ordered tons of seven inch and rare imported vinyl. By the time I got to college and my had palette expanded accordingly, I stumbled upon the mother load of vinyl collections. A certain tall slender female had EVERYTHING from Duke and Coltrane to Zappa and the Stones...I spent a hazy Colorado summer behind drawn curtains exploring everything while delving deep into an aural well. Now days, I am addicted to the vinylizer patch in Reason...always hoping to make tracks "sound good"....
The Posies premiered their first song “Licenses To Hide” off their anticipated new Ryko LP 'Blood/Candy' (September 28) on spin.com this week, but we're the first to have the actual download for your right-clicking. The single features angelic guest vocals from Lisa Lobsinger, lead singer of Reverie Sound Revue and vocalist of Broken Social Scene. In addition to Lisa Lobsinger’s contribution, Blood/Candy is brimming with cast of guest musicians and “for the first time in their 23-year career,” according to a recent NME.com feature. Kay Hanley of Letters To Cleo lends her voice on the ethereal “The Glitter Prize,” UK punk legend and ex-Stranglers frontman Hugh Cornwell contributes his pipes on the opening track, “Plastic Paperbacks,” and Paco Loco of Australian Blonde and Paco Loco Trio makes an appearance on “Enewetak.” The band also recruited Grammy-nominated string arranger Phil Peterson, who has played on recent albums for Owl City and Nada Surf.
The Posies begin their international tour in Spain on September 28, the same day their album lands in the U.S. The band will travel across Europe and the United States until the end of 2010. U.S. tour details will be announced soon.
This year’s SXSW conference in Austin was an amazing convergence of all things “music.” Being a long time SXSW attendee and music bizz “insider,” I knew to expect thick, drunken crowds and lots of “walk-about.” More than anything else I saw tons of great friends. I think all of “us” spent all week walking in circles.
I arrived back into the arms of Laurel Canyon drained. I know I had seen some great music but I was humming not a note. What comes to mind was an expression Don, the lead guitar player from my old band use to use…
“Blown out by rock”!
Upon putting together this week’s mix, I had not a clue what I wanted to hear. I was moody. By chance I stumbled on the Soul Coughing album El Oso. “Circles” seemed like a fitting muse and I started playing off a theme of being drained & lost.
I had just gotten the new Pavement greatest hits album and had read the lengthy press bio on what an important band they had become. It reminded me of moving to LA, after spending the late 80’s in east village NYC. I had been friends with Mark Ibold and was excited to see the band’s 1st LA show.
Funny, back then I often felt a bit lost as a New Yorker in LA. There has never been a time since then that I stopped listening to the songs of Steven Malkmus. It will be surely cool to have Pavement back for one more summer “babe!”
This week in the “mix” a dose of new bands, Portugal The Man is sounding pretty cool. Lo-fi teenagers from Chicago, The Smith Westerns have a buzz coming of out Austin. So does LA’s Fool Gold, don’t sleep on band leader, Luketop’s solo album “Friends.” His song “Lord, Save Me From This Valley” is at the top of the set. Sultry Jonneine Zapata sums it up with the question, “What are we gonna do?”
This is truly world-stopping news: One’s taste in music is linked to one’s personality. It is a fact of science, according to Professor Adrian North of Heriot-Watt University, who undertook a large study examining the relationship between taste in music and personality traits.
BBC News reported on this study here, and you should read the article if only for the description of heavy metal fans as “quite delicate things,” who are neither “suicidally depressed” nor “a danger to themselves and society in general.” Phew!
The article also presents a handy rubric of musical tastes and their corresponding personality traits. I thought it might be fun to look through some #musicmonday tweets and find ones that exemplify these important findings.
First up: Indie. According to the study, people who listen to indie have low self esteem, an abundance of creativity, do not work hard, and are not gentle. (Excuse me, I have to go throw my Vampire Weekend albums into a bonfire now.)
What luck! The first indie #musicmonday message I’ve come across is by Twitter user @party_sloth. Sloth! This is too easy. Partying is often a pretty creative activity, especially if, like mine, your parties involve a lot of Pictionary. And partying is certainly never gentle. @party_sloth tweets that he is “addicted to Menomena – Mines right now.” Addiction is generally contra-indicative of self-confidence, so there you have it. With one tweet and one user name, we see the truth behind Professor North’s study.
Let’s move on to “chart pop” next. Twitter user @bellavalentine2 wants her followers to listen to Eminem and Rihanna’s “Love the Way You Lie,” and adds that “Boys should never, NEVER hit girls.” (No snark: Endorsed. Maybe not the song, I haven’t heard it because I am not, apparently, a “chart pop.”)
The music/personality study says that chart pops have high self esteem, are not creative, are hardworking, outgoing, gentle, and not at ease. Based exclusively on one tweet and a username, I’d say we have conclusive proof that all chart pops are as the study describes. Bellavalentine clearly thinks she’s hot stuff, or she wouldn’t call herself “Bellavalentine,” no? And the “2” at the end indicates someone else had that username first, so there’s your lack of creativity. Her tweet suggests that she is working hard to push her gentle message, and is doing so in an outgoing way. And she’s tweeting about something she doesn’t like in the world, so she’s clearly not at ease. Professor North has done it again!
I think one more tweet from one more genre should provide conclusive evidence that North’s findings are correct. How about the “gentle creatures” listening to rock/heavy metal? (I’d do opera, but not many Twitter folk are #musicmonday-ing the Magic Flute, believe it or not.) Rockers, according to the study, are characterized more by what they don’t have than by what they do: low self-esteem, not hard-working, and not outgoing are hallmarks of the heavy metal type. But they are also creative, gentle, and at ease. They’re manatees, basically, is what this study is saying.
Twitter user @BLOODTREES certainly seems to fit the type! First of all, his username is in all caps, which suggests a low-self esteem need to assert himself. BLOODTREES recommends “Putrid Blood (Thrash Metal from Serbia) http://youtu.be/5hAzO5DzQ9s #metalmonday #musicmonday #metal.” I appreciate the extra hashtags—I would never have guessed that Putrid Blood was in any way a metal song without them. She’s tweeting instead of working, so she must have a poor work ethic, and Twitter is inherently not an outgoing activity. The pieces are certainly falling into place. She’s listening to music from Serbia, which is definitely creative, unless of course she is from Serbia. Blood is associated with menstruation, and menstruation is a feminine, and therefore gentle, trait, so the repeated use of the word “blood” seems to indicate a gentle spirit. As for at ease: Her username has the word “trees,” which reminds me of hammocks, and everyone knows that lying in a hammock is a great way to feel at ease.
Thus proved! Hooray science!
Role #mmodel: @EricGM, describing my Thursday and Friday: “Bouncing Souls ‘Anchors Aweigh’ and ‘Ghosts on the Boardwalk.’ Gaslight Anthem ‘American Slang.’ #musicmonday,” If you’re nice, I’ll tell you about my Gaslight Anthem concert experience.
My #musicmonday pick: Sometimes I’m a manatee and listen to metal. Today: Sin Dios’s Alerta Antifascista. (h/t to the brilliant, profane No Gods No Vegetables for this band and, honestly, any metal I find my manatee brain enjoying.)
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
R.L.M. | 7.8.25—8.10.10
Background here and here. (Hug your moms for me, ok?) We'll return tomorrow.
From day one, I had a vision when it came to the blog that a vast percentage of you who were office/cube bound during the day would be delivered some sort of sonic relief by the music posted here daily, as if it were a radio station of sorts.
That vision finally crystallized only about six months ago with the addition of our Friday feature, Jon Sidel's 'The Idelic Hour' which literally IS a radio show, produced exclusively for The Vinyl District, direct from the studios of an internet radio giant in Santa Monica, CA.
Jon's off for some much deserved R&R this week and we thought we'd take the opportunity to reintroduce you to the show via some well chosen reruns, now that we're streaming the show as well as offering it as a podcast download.(And I have NO idea what took so long to stream the show. I'm an idiot.)
All this week, it's The Best of TVD's Idelic Hour with Jon Sidel. —Ed.
First broadcast 5/27/10: Greetings from Laurel Canyon!
Memorial Day weekend is here. Does this mean summer or June gloom?
It’s coming up on a year that I’ve started doing radio shows and it only seemed obvious to use this week’s holiday as the inspiration for a playlist. Fact is, every day is Memorial Day on my turntable! It’s all about paying tribute the great artists and songs of the past while celebrating the new. By mix’s end it was really about just “keeping on keeping on!’
I did start my week thinking on a commemorative tip. I noted recent anniversaries of departures and arrivals; Miles Davis, Sonny Boy Williamson, Ian Cutis, Frank Sinatra and Johnny Guitar Watson.
Ultimately, I felt these angels sitting on my shoulder whispering “play us some new cats!” So indeed, this week’s hour is loaded with new releases from Midlake, Dead Weather, First Aid Kit, Luther Russell, School of Seven Bells, LCD Soundsystem, Toro Y Moi, The Cults and Flying Lotus.
As I recall, it was a hot summer’s day in 1990 that I got a call from Perry Farrell. He and Casey, his longtime girlfriend and creative partner were in an editing room working on their film “The Gift.” Perry sounded completely stoned. I remember thinking “and I thought I was strung out … this guy is wacked!”
What I thought was so wacked was Perry's description of a “utopian” rock festival he called Lollapalooza. Right off the bat I loved the name. He wanted to work together creating a tent, a psychedelic circus of sorts, that would go hand in hand with a stage featuring our generation of bands. I loved his dream and sarcastically suggested he take a few more “hits” and keep this “Lolla-whatever” nod going.
I’ll be dammed, but a year later I drove up to the Lollapalooza stage in my Chevy Impala convertible and dumped Gibby Haynes right into a Buthole Surfers set. Perry’s dream turned into a grungy explosion and launched a bunch of our friends into stardom.
Many of those band’s moments have come and gone but it seems Perry and MWA have done a cool job revitalizing Lollapalooza. What became a bit of an over-commercialized bummer now feels like a well thought out rock festival whose festival grounds and diverse line up competes with any world-wide. Welcome back Soundgarden and The Strokes!Arcade Fire playing their brilliant new album, MGMT and tons more.
Tune Yards - She is a very surprising artist. She's got wild, feminine creativity. She is quite raw and childlike. Her voice is striking. She is not completely accessible. . .even for my taste and I like that.
White Denim - I like the way these boys twist and turn. The guitars take an original view on themselves. It’s neat messy music.
MIA - I don’t care if she moved into Brentwood with a Hollywood tycoon. . .MIA rules in her domain. Although I haven’t heard her new record yet. . .I am really hoping that she has held the standard.
Ike and Tina - I love early Tina. . .man. . .if I had pipes like hers.
The Shins - James Mercer is a great songwriter if you ask me. I never really know what he is talking about, although I know all the words to his songs. I like that.
The Clash - I can’t believe I never saw this band live. . .I don’t believe I have actually lived.
Kate Bush - Naturally. . .'The Dreaming' is one of the best records ever made..but if you want to hear an obscure yet truly brilliant song search "Emptying The Bull Ring" by Kate Bush.
Elbow - I have seen Elbow shows like. . .35 times. . .seriously. . .I love every time. They put on one of the best live shows I have ever seen. Way to go boys.
Jaime T - I like this kid a lot. . .He loves The Clash. . .you can tell. . .He is blending hip hop. . .punk. . .reggae. . .rock in with his own bag o tricks. . .I like his band. . .They’re in it to win it.
Paul Simon - Always makes me feel at home. No matter how long it has been since I have heard a tune of his. . .it always comes back to me. I grew up on his music so I guess its stitched in there.
Saul Williams | Saul Williams, who I always knew as a spoken word Poet for the hip hop generation, appeared in a dive bar in Austin, Texas with his punk band. BEST SHOW I HAVE EVER SEEN !!!
In my mind Saul (and friends) make true punk music. Punk music...not the Vivienne Westwood tailored tartan wearing mohawkins screaming about Anarchy through safety pinned lips (which is all good and fine) but rule breaking music. Music that is defiant, rebellious, aggressive, smart, of its own and home grown. This music was all of those things.
Saul is a wordsmith. He comes with a message. In this show he brought what I knew he could already do. . . spit mad lyrics, but I wasn’t expecting him to come out as a native war chief rocker dressed in battle garb ready to take on the stage like an enemy attacking. He had with him two other rock eccentrics. One who played the MPC and the other played the guitar. Visually they were impressive. Sonically I had never really heard anything like it before. . . or since. I won't try to describe it more than I already have. . . because I won't do it justice.
What I can say though is that it caused me to get that mean look on my face and bang my head. Good shit. Good Hard music blended with Saul's mind bending lyrics and physical presence makes for my kind of show !!! Well, one kind of my kind of show anyway. He (they) is (are) a must see. . .
The Ditty Bops | I am in Love with these girls. I know Amanda and Abbey (The Ditty Bops) personally and I can say that knowing them in their life beyond the stage only spreads further my vision of them as true artists.
Their whole life is a work of art. Every element if you ask me. So when you see them on the stage, you see in full bloom the life they are leading. It's a delightful world that they occupy and create day after day. Full of imagination and laughter. Their music is sweet and simple but not uncomplicated or innocent. They can be dark and meddlesome as well.
Going to one of their shows is like taking a row boat through a miniature haunted fun house on a rainbowy day. They refuse to grow up. Thank goodness. Oh, and did I mention that they are fit? Very good looking girls those Ditty Bops!!
Abbey plays the guitar and piano and Amanda plays the mandolin, guitar and other gadgets including helium balloons. Their shows are theatrical and amusing. Amanda is always smiling and Abbey inevitably has something witty to say. The world is a better place with the Ditty Bops in it. Go see em...go get young again !!!
I'm reminded of that old Steve Martin line, "...It's like those French have a different word for everything."
But in this case it'd be Russia's Mumiy Troll who in effect are the Russian version of any huge act that you can name over here in the States or the UK. The Moscow foursome are quite simply the biggest band in their home country. Some fun factoids as examples:
Mumiy Troll's video for Vladividstok 2000 was the first video featured on Russian MTV when it went live in 1998 (i.e. Russia's "Video Killed the Radio Star.")
Mumiy Troll was dubbed "the most dangerous band in the world" and banned by the local communist party in their early days.
Mumiy Troll is so big that they coined their own genre - rockapops - which young Russian bands have been emulating for years (not to mention signature hair styles and clothes.)
Ready to jump aboard? Mumiy Troll open a very rare North America tour next Wednesday night (8/11) right here in DC at The Black Cat and we've got a pair of tickets to see the band on us.
Check out the video, download the Mp3, and let us know who you think the band most resembles out of our current crop of homegrown heroes in the comments to this post and the most insightful of the bunch wins the pair of tickets. It's that simple.
We'll choose our winner next Tuesday (8/10) and remember to leave us a contact email address!
