Some oldies for this week's belated picks. As much as I would have loved to have posted live performances (some are really boss!), the sound quality is generally lacking, so I'm going with the better audio quality video stills:
The Sonics - Have Love, Will Travel
Probably one of my more favourite songs from this genre:
13th Floor Elevators - You're Gonna Miss Me
Love that fuzzy guitar sound:
The Electric Prunes - I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night)
And now, from the ladies. Such a great voice:
Brenda Holloway - Every Little Bit Hurts
2 Live Crew sampled this song extensively on one of their songs:
Barbara Acklin:
Friday 27 January 2012
Monday 23 January 2012
Jay's mini-picks, Jan 23 2012
So just a teaser here... 2 tracks, both amazing in their own right.
First, 'Colder Weather' by the Zac Brown Band is one of the best country songs I know of. The songwriting is stellar, and the build-up and release interweave with the story.
"When I close my eyes I see you
No matter where I am
I can smell your perfume through these whispering pines
I'm with your ghost again..."
Gold.
And, a special bonus, live from Red Rock (naturally...!)
Second track, a Canadian band called Hey Rosetta!. This track was featured on the CBC TV show 'Heartland' (keeping with the country theme) but is more of a folky-rock but still upbeat number. This has been one of my personal favourites for a few years now.
Until next time...!
_jh
First, 'Colder Weather' by the Zac Brown Band is one of the best country songs I know of. The songwriting is stellar, and the build-up and release interweave with the story.
"When I close my eyes I see you
No matter where I am
I can smell your perfume through these whispering pines
I'm with your ghost again..."
Gold.
And, a special bonus, live from Red Rock (naturally...!)
Second track, a Canadian band called Hey Rosetta!. This track was featured on the CBC TV show 'Heartland' (keeping with the country theme) but is more of a folky-rock but still upbeat number. This has been one of my personal favourites for a few years now.
Until next time...!
_jh
Sunday 15 January 2012
Moody 1 (Jay's picks 2012-jan-15)
So many moody songs, so little time. How do you narrow it down? It is the age old question... so, rather than over thinking things, let's get to it.
I just discovered this album yesterday, Bon Iver by you guessed it, Bon Iver. Besides the distinct and haunting melodic character each song seems to possess, every track from the album seems to have a stunning video to go along with it. This week's selections by me are bookended by two BI tracks, Holocene (which is up for a couple of Grammys this year, if I'm not mistaken) and Calgary. I just can't believe I never listened to this album sooner...!
Next up, a Radiohead track. I haven't followed these guys too much lately. Kid A was really my last obsession with them but the latest crop of tracks shows restraint, poise, and incredible craft of song-smithing. Add to it exponential technological advancements in the last decade that allow a wide range of homemade bootlegged remixes, you have Reckoner, the Paul Keeley Remix. Pretty much beats just layered over the track, it fits the mood of the track and shows the same level of consideration that the original track exhibits.
The next selection is Wonderwall, a cover of the great Oasis classic, this one done by Ryan Adams. I haven't heard this track covered well often, but this version in my mind captures the essence of a highly successful remake. It forges its own identity btu retains enough of the original to still be the track. Haunting, beautiful, and memorable. I think I first heard this onThe OC a few years back...
I have to beat Jer to the punch on this one. Sorry Jer..! The video, like the track is so well written and assembled...
And without any further ado, the bookender:
See ya' next time...!
I just discovered this album yesterday, Bon Iver by you guessed it, Bon Iver. Besides the distinct and haunting melodic character each song seems to possess, every track from the album seems to have a stunning video to go along with it. This week's selections by me are bookended by two BI tracks, Holocene (which is up for a couple of Grammys this year, if I'm not mistaken) and Calgary. I just can't believe I never listened to this album sooner...!
Next up, a Radiohead track. I haven't followed these guys too much lately. Kid A was really my last obsession with them but the latest crop of tracks shows restraint, poise, and incredible craft of song-smithing. Add to it exponential technological advancements in the last decade that allow a wide range of homemade bootlegged remixes, you have Reckoner, the Paul Keeley Remix. Pretty much beats just layered over the track, it fits the mood of the track and shows the same level of consideration that the original track exhibits.
The next selection is Wonderwall, a cover of the great Oasis classic, this one done by Ryan Adams. I haven't heard this track covered well often, but this version in my mind captures the essence of a highly successful remake. It forges its own identity btu retains enough of the original to still be the track. Haunting, beautiful, and memorable. I think I first heard this onThe OC a few years back...
I have to beat Jer to the punch on this one. Sorry Jer..! The video, like the track is so well written and assembled...
And without any further ado, the bookender:
See ya' next time...!
Monday 9 January 2012
Fuzz, Feedback & NOISE (jer's picks 01/09/12)
I'm going with a theme for this week's post...
Jesus and Mary Chain - Never Understand
One of the most obvious choices for this week's theme is the Jesus and Mary Chain, and while they toned down the noise later on in the band's career, many of the tracks off Psychocandy were just like this one, but this is one of the more feedback-laden numbers on the album:
My Bloody Valentine - Sometimes
Also associated with shoegaze, My Bloody Valentine knew how to make some interesting sounds come out of their guitars and the results are sometimes spectacular, like this song, one of the more popular off the Loveless album:
A Place to Bury Strangers - I Know I'll See You
Following in the footsteps of these older bands is a new-ish band called A Place to Bury Strangers, and this isn't their loudest song, but it's their most popular:
Suicide - Cheree
Another noise band from the early 1980s was Suicide, who, at times, is almost hard to listen to. But there's a certain fascination and beauty I find with their songs, a bleakness that is projected from the heart. This is more of a quiet song but if you want intense, check out Frankie Teardrop, which clocks in at over 10 minutes long. Wow:
The Castaways - Liar Liar
And I'm throwing in this 1960s gem, as certain aspects of the song seem to have influeced some of the above bands. I wonder what people thought of the screaming back then in the song? And just for the record, for the longest time I thought this was sing by a woman...
Jesus and Mary Chain - Never Understand
One of the most obvious choices for this week's theme is the Jesus and Mary Chain, and while they toned down the noise later on in the band's career, many of the tracks off Psychocandy were just like this one, but this is one of the more feedback-laden numbers on the album:
My Bloody Valentine - Sometimes
Also associated with shoegaze, My Bloody Valentine knew how to make some interesting sounds come out of their guitars and the results are sometimes spectacular, like this song, one of the more popular off the Loveless album:
A Place to Bury Strangers - I Know I'll See You
Following in the footsteps of these older bands is a new-ish band called A Place to Bury Strangers, and this isn't their loudest song, but it's their most popular:
Suicide - Cheree
Another noise band from the early 1980s was Suicide, who, at times, is almost hard to listen to. But there's a certain fascination and beauty I find with their songs, a bleakness that is projected from the heart. This is more of a quiet song but if you want intense, check out Frankie Teardrop, which clocks in at over 10 minutes long. Wow:
The Castaways - Liar Liar
And I'm throwing in this 1960s gem, as certain aspects of the song seem to have influeced some of the above bands. I wonder what people thought of the screaming back then in the song? And just for the record, for the longest time I thought this was sing by a woman...
Sunday 8 January 2012
Jay's picks, Jan 7 2012
Ok, this is my first entry. I'll start off with what is probably one of my favourite songs ever. Even 15 years later, this track sounds as good as it did when it was released back in the day. From a songwriting point of view, the lyrics tell a story which is matched by the rise and swell of the backing music. This, in my mind, is an amazing song and so is an ideal way to start all of my selections with.
Next track is another fave (as they should all be, right??), by Damian Rice. A sad song, no doubt...
I feel the need to switch it up a bit. No more sad songs for today. This is a prog house track, decent but the images in the video are stunning. Very nicely done.
The next one can only be watched in the wee hours of the morning, while still under a mild alcoholic spell. Lousy version but nicely done, good beat, catchy, no?? Nick Junior!!?! Really? Saaaaaaay whaaaaat!?!
How do you top that? You don't - you mix it up, that's what...! I hope you recognize the beat and some of the other samples in this one... this is a great funky way to end off the selections from this week.
Enjoy!!
_jh
Next track is another fave (as they should all be, right??), by Damian Rice. A sad song, no doubt...
I feel the need to switch it up a bit. No more sad songs for today. This is a prog house track, decent but the images in the video are stunning. Very nicely done.
The next one can only be watched in the wee hours of the morning, while still under a mild alcoholic spell. Lousy version but nicely done, good beat, catchy, no?? Nick Junior!!?! Really? Saaaaaaay whaaaaat!?!
How do you top that? You don't - you mix it up, that's what...! I hope you recognize the beat and some of the other samples in this one... this is a great funky way to end off the selections from this week.
Enjoy!!
_jh
Tuesday 3 January 2012
Something different...
Ok, so I'm not on Facebook. Before your heart stops beating, I have some reasons for this which I won't go into right at this second. This has made staying in touch with my friends + family quite difficult, so this blog will be a way that I can share music (and I'll put an 'etc' here for now because I think this can be an organic thing...) with my bro. This will be a repository of sorts and will hopefully allow us to track each other's musical interests over time and maybe, just maybe even share some really cool trax. Thanks for participating in this little experiment...!
_jayhmental
_jayhmental
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