11 posts tagged “music”

Medeski Martin and Wood are one of those groups that consistently demand heavy rotation from me.  Jazz and funk and hip-hop and about everything else all thrown together.  The first album I ever heard of theirs was Shack-man, and I've devoured pretty much everything they have done before or since.  They are one of the few groups that I buy discs by without listening to.  I just assume it is going to be awesome.

When Combustication hit in 1998 my jaw dropped and still remains my favorite disc of theirs.  I can still remember giving it a first spin when I hit track #6: Whatever Happened To Gus?  Spoken word over an awesome MMW track.

read the rest here...

If you knew me from between the years 1990 to probably 1996 or so you would know that there was no human larger on earth in my eyes than Eric Clapton.  I idolized that man.  Sure, Stevie Ray Vaughan probably was a better gunslinger but he didn't have the history.

I've often thought that Eric Clapton was a bit overlooked.  The Yardbirds, The Bluesbreakers, Cream, Derek & The Dominos, Blind Faith, and then a super long solo career.  He's been around forever and played in two bands with Ginger Baker who must be one of the ugliest humans alive.  Hell he even played lead on While My Guitar Gently Weeps by The Beatles people.

You could go on and on about the different albums this guy has put out.  If you had to pick a best it would probably be Layla from the Derek & The Dominos days.  But I have to pick a favorite (sometimes much different than a best) for me it would have to be (no reason to cry).  This record, originally released in 1976, has it all.  Blues, country, rock, songs written by members of The Band, and even a duet with Bob Dylan. 

I should go ahead and mention here that most people hate this record, if they have ever actually listened to it.  Rolling Stone... hated it.  My old high school buddy J.J. (another Clapton nut)... hated it.  But then again J.J. hated The Band (a major sin in my book) and described this album as "What happens to people when they hang out with The Band." 

For me the album just always sounded like something recorded in your kitchen with a bunch of drunk friends.  Look at the album cover.  Old EC is sitting there with a bottle of Jim Bean and a Budweiser can.  I guess in some way I think this is the type of album I would have always wanted to record.  An album fully of drunken fun with my friends.

Well if I'd ever stuck with one instrument for longer than 6 months.  And actually learned how to play an instrument.  And had any talent. 

All the above being said, skip track #2 "Carnival"... it sucks :-)

Music-wise, what was the first 45, single or download you bought? 
Submitted by Paddy Melt Wagon.

P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) by Michael Jackson.  It was a 45.

No sense in trying to lie and say I'd bought something cooler.  

Show us which album tops your best of 2007 list so far.

Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

Spoon

This one is tops to me so far this year.  Over the past couple of years I've really become a big Spoon fan.  Their last album, Gimme Fiction, stayed in my Jeep forever.

Show us the last album you listened to.

White Chalk

PJ Harvey

1. Don't Make Me A Target - Spoon
2. Friends of P - The Rentals
3. Red Light Indicates Doors Are Secured - Arctic Monkeys
4. I'm Shipping Up To Boston - Dropkick Murphys
5. Sunken Waltz - Calexico
6. He Lays In The Reins - Calexico / Iron & Wine
7. Trance Manual - John Vanderslice
8. Blue Diamonds - The Long Winters
9. You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb - Spoon
10. Icky Thump - The White Stripes
    

1. Don't Make Me A Target - Spoon
2. Wake Up - The Walkmen
3. Icky Thump - The White Stripes
4. C'Mon C'Mon - The Von Bondies
5. Little Cream Soda - The White Stripes
6. The Ruby Ring Man - Page France
7. Time To Go - John Vanderslice
8. The Black Light - Calexico
9. I'm Shipping Up To Boston - Dropkick Murphys
10. Pioneer To The Falls - Interpol

According to last.fm...

1 Calexico
2 Loose Fur
3 Spoon
4 Arctic Monkeys
5 Neko Case
6 Medeski, Martin and Wood
7 Rogue Wave
8 Broken Social Scene
9 The Walkmen
10 Wilco
11 Squirrel Nut Zippers
12 Mission of Burma
13 Uncle Tupelo
14 Aphex Twin
15 Tool
16 The Shins
17 The Beatles
18 Jeff Tweedy
19 Ricky Gervais, Steve Merchant and Karl Pilkington
20 Dwight Yoakam
21 Dave Matthews Band
22 Gillian Welch
23 Southern Culture on the Skids
24 Phish
25 Thom Yorke

If I had to pick a favorite album... it'd be Fox Confessor Brings The Flood by Neko Case. 

What song or lyrics are stuck in your head at the moment?  What album is it from?
Submitted by Lox Ly. 

Doublewide and Live

Southern Culture on the Skids

Banana Pudding by Southern Culture on the Skids.  From the Doublewide And Live album.  Awesome stuff.

My favorite line:  "Something funky with the skin on top.  Something funky that's what I got."