feltoblog

Best of 2011 rejects

2012-01-08T09:51:00.000-08:00

On spotify

the ones that didnt make the cut

Hugo

2011-12-31T08:42:00.000-08:00

Every once in a while, you see something so striking, it instantly jumps out at you because it is so different, so intelligent, so good that it is undeniable. I don't "do" movies too often, but Hugo warrants a post. The last time I saw a movie like this was Inception. Why that movie didn't win Best Picture, I'll never know (too much of genre movie?).

If you don't know Hugo, it was originally a graphic novel. But rather than being a comic book collections, it is more an illustrated novel, alternating between prose and art sequences. I have not read it, but Maddy is a big fan (include author Brian Selznick's new book Wonderstruck). So me and her went on a "daddy date" to see it.

First of all, not worth seeing in 3d - doesn't really add anything (although James Cameron said it was the best use of 3d that he had seen). Secondly, the pace is different. I don't want to say "slow" because that doesn't give director Scorsese (yes that Scorsese) credit. I spent the first fifteen minutes wondering how Maddy would sit through two hours, then how I would stay awake. It was undeniably well made, everything from filming to sets. But once I was drawn in, I was entranced. And that is the right word, as the story is about magic: the magic of movies, the magic of youth, the magic of family (in all its forms), the magic of magic. Maddy says the movie follows the novel pretty closely, but with stuff added. But what is added is an enhancement, little details that only add to the story like details in the painting. There are no throw away characters here. I'm told the movie references over 80 classic films - I got maybe 10% of those, but I am curious to figure it out. For instance:

So few films work on so many levels, yet stand out on their own style at the same time. a masterpiece. Maddy agrees. I will have to go read the book now.

A slightly different "hugo" but a classic song:

Pick your "Best of"

2011-12-31T08:36:00.000-08:00

For those of you not on twitter, we start the process of whittling the "Best of" down. Send me any suggestions you may have.

New Car Post aka "Meet the new Boss"

2011-07-09T12:52:00.000-07:00

"Meet the new Boss. Same as the old Boss"
The Who, Won't get fooled Again

I picked up the new car today. The Cayenne Turbo was not dead (yet) but damn close and worth more dead than alive. While she was reliable and a joy to drive and ride in day to day, hidden under the surface was a series of issues which were never cheap (much like an old girlfriend; also like an old girlfriend, the internet is not the best place to buy one!). I will share the tale of her demise another time as that story is not fully ended yet. Here is the new baby:

Now you're saying "Andy that's the same car. same color, same license plate."

Well not quite. Here's a photo of the old car (or same model found on the interweb).

Both are the same blue, but mine is a 2008 Cayenne GTS vs. 2004 Cayenee Turbo. IF you look closely on the back, you can see the badge.

Other than that they are pretty similar. The GTS is designed to look like a Turbo: big wheels, big brakes, big air intakes. But actually has about 95 less hp with the improved mileage traded for performance (still 6.5 0-60 vs 5.0 for the turbo, gas mileage gets up into the 20's so its no hybrid). It's the "Gen 2" so everything from the engine to NAV/radio works better as they have worked out some of the earlier problems (see class action suit). I got good value for the Turbo (worth more dead than alive) so while I hadn't planned on a new car, the hit was manageable. It has all the same features of the old one (adjustable suspension, parking sensor which I have come to rely on). The big upgrade is the twin DVD in the head rest and the panoramic sunroof option (see below) as well as heated mirrors/steering wheel. (back seats still have heating). Maddy says its like riding in a convertible without messing up your hair.

Liz also got a new dream car as they swapped our Kia loaner for a Panamera 4. Never thought she would drive one before I did.

2011 so far (what I've been listening to)

2011-05-28T07:36:00.000-07:00

Create a MySpace Playlist at MixPod.com

A few quick comments on what I've been listening to, before the summer rush of new releases.

I'm usually despairing at this point, because the lack of new releases. But 2011 is so far the year of the disappointing follow up. Its not these albums are bad, they just aren't clicking or haven't clicked yet, like TV on the Radio or Jason Isbell, but I havent given up on yet. Fall into categories like Strokes (not that good), Radiohead (why bothers) or Twilight Singers (well crafted but no there there, I was so excited for this album post-Powder Burns) and some I haven't decided yet (hayes carll, peter bjorn, lupe fiasco). Other notes:

Adele - I have surrendered after resisting the critics but it is that good. no beats, pure emotion. Automatic BOF (best of feltus)

New Guys but high hopes: Bon Iver, Dawes, Death Cab, Volume 2 of Old 97's

Classic R&B - premiere of Charles Bradley (he's like 60), Meters (should of known these guys a long time ago), Fitz - money grabber (already got a spot on BOF)

Aloe Black - Liz hates this song but its the bumper music on the sports talk radio we wake up to every morning and I think its catchy

Baseballs - Elvis-like versions of todays hits by Germans - why isnt this number one?

Hugo - mumford meets Jay - Z. proves the genius of Rick Rubin.

Rural Alberta Advantage - Pumpkins with a dollop of alt country? guy really does sound like Billy Corgan (When we still cared)

!!! - best groove band ever. could listen to this stuff forever. Others misses from 2010 include Janelle Monae (biggest miss but not xx level) and Frightened Rabbit (who did get best album title "winter of mixed drinks" which now go to Apex Manor's "year of magical drinking" because it adds beer and wine as well as a year round theme)

Digitalism - Cut Copy goes into the "listened to but didn't take category" have more hopes for this album. Heck, they make the Strokes sound good (see Forrest Gump)

Yuck - BOF. So they sound like Sonic Youth/Dinosaur Jr. that is not a bad thing - heck this beats the J Mascius solo album. But if you're a hater listen to this one which is more in the Posies/Teenage Fanclub/Big Star category. These guys are 21 and on their second buzz band. There is hope for the future.

Candles - you will never hear of them again (unless they go BOF) and thats too bad.

Baseball Project - Dont call them twinkies (1) return to form of Hold steady's Craig Finn (2) supposedly more "baseball centric" but I think the songs are more "pure" and that makes them more accessible to everyone. Its REM/Hold Steady jangly alternative rock but well done.

from readingpatch.com

2011-05-02T16:42:00.001-07:00

Saturday, April 23, 12:26 p.m. A Haverhill Street resident reported that she received a phone call from someone claiming to be from the constable’s office. He told her that he planned to go to her home to drop off paperwork, and the caller worried that he might not be who he said he was. An officer waited at the resident’s home and verified that the constable was, in fact, a constable.

It seems to me that the easiest way to solve this would have been to call the constables' office. In other news, we still have constables in America. G'day guv'na.

Catching up - Media Apperances last two weeks

2011-04-28T08:43:00.000-07:00

Bloomberg TV video#

The Street.com article

Happy Easter

2011-04-23T17:22:00.000-07:00

On the Quality of Music

2011-04-03T05:22:00.000-07:00

from todays globe (boston.com)

Maybe ‘free’ doesn’t hurt music In the music industry, much of the last decade has been spent fighting the scourge of illegal downloading. While it’s pretty clear that sales have slumped, what’s not clear is whether society as a whole has suffered. In other words, has good music not been produced due to weakened economic incentives? An economist who sits on a National Academies committee on copyright policy thinks the answer is no. To create a consistent benchmark for the supply of new music, he integrated numerous retrospective quality rankings (e.g., Rolling Stone’s 500 best albums) going back decades to see if there’s been a drop-off in the supply of quality music since the advent of illegal downloading. He found no statistically significant change, suggesting that lower production incentives have been balanced by lower production costs.

Waldfogel, J., “Bye, Bye, Miss American Pie? The Supply of New Recorded Music since Napster,” National Bureau of Economic Research (March 2011).

I found the last sentence key. Not the statistical cost but the cost of production part. To extend it, the distribution cost, or at least the barriers to entry, are much lower as well. These are two arguments I don't see the "industry" addressing, much less considering.

Best of 2010

2011-02-20T09:37:00.000-08:00

Best of 2010

Welcome to the 2010 edition. While this is claimed the "best," the decisions to make it are pretty arbitrary, constrained by time, exposure and events. My guess is the rejects would be a pretty good set of songs. Likewise, I've seen 2010 lists with songs I never heard that I enjoyed. So all I promise is a list of songs that will hold up pretty well over time. S0 if you're just here for the music, you can skip to the bottom and download (if you prefer, I can send you a CD or you can get it at Mog.com). You can read my comments or just the list. I look forward to every one's comments.

Random thoughts

If you're read this before, these should sound familiar.

(1) There is plenty of good music out there. Check out this video:

These guys don't even have a record contract so you wont find them on itunes or anywhere else. Going through the blogs, amazon or youtubes (I read a note today from a band saying that they make almost as much from youtube streaming as itunes), it's easier to find new music than ever before. The hard part if taking time to sort through it. Its why putting this list together takes so long. But in the same vein, check out mog.com. I've been on it for a couple of weeks now, but have become a fast convert (thanks to Jessica and Mike). For $5 a month, you can stream any song, any album, any time. ($10 monthly allows you to download mp3's to your iphone, touch or android.) You can create and share playlists. You can do pretty much anything you want except burn cd's. It doesn't have everything and seems slow to add new releases, but covers 98% of what I'm looking for. Ive been waiting for Spotify (European version of mog) to arrive in the US,
but thrilled to have mog. The only problem it adds a huge library of music at your fingertips. Back in the day, you read about a band in the paper or a magazine or if you were really lucky heard it on the radio, then you would have to hunt it down at the right price point - remember the endless flipping through cd racks? Then you could hunt it down on blogs or itunes, which might get you a song or tune until the cd showed up on half.com or the zon or wait for it to show up at the library. Now I go right to mog and in ten minutes have listened and judged. And if I didn't like it, I haven't shelled out $5 or $10 bucks. This is just expanding the exposure and access to music. There is too much good music out there and things like mog.com is just accelerating the pace we can get exposed to it.

(2) The music business. I've read a lot this year about what this. We have a lot of currents here: digital revolution, live nation/ticketmaster and EMI LBO. Bob Lefsetz has frequently had insightful and thought provoking emails/posts (the discovery of Good Old War along warrants a shout out and I apologize for anything I rip off from him in the next few sentences). I would go so far to call 2010 the year of Bob for me. I don't have any answers for the music business. I know the labels dragged their feet and got destroyed for it. Steve Jobs tried to get control in the Apple manner, but blogs have stolen share and I think mog will definitely break the hold of itunes (I am not predicting the end of itunes, at least as long as there are ipods). Apple did prove that people love music and it is important to people. I can tell you don't become a musician to get rich - the odds are against it already and the best you can hope for is a steady paycheck. And its going to take a lot of practice (gladwell's 10k hours) because if you fail to deliver, people will quickly move on (see number 1). And now to make it, you going to have to work harder: more live shows, multiple revenue streams, work the web/social media, sign at the merch table after the show. One guy suggested that "being a musician is something you do before you get a real job like the social service, the Peace Corps or Teach for America." Its a new world out there.

Ben Nichols of Lucero might have it right: "My dad sells furniture in Little Rock and it’s the same as it is with him. He’s just like “if I can get a few more people through the door, sell a few more things, then we’ll be okay.” And I see it the same way, if we can get a few more people through the door and just make a little more money and everybody could be a little more comfortable. Because now there are kids being born and families kind of coming together. So now my main concern is how do I keep this going– to make sure that everybody in the band is taken care of, what do we have to do take care of everybody." Now they got dropped by their major label last year and have been at it for twelve years.

(2b) Old guys (and gals) rock. This is really a corollary to the Leftsetz philosophy. Or just the Gladwell 10,000 hours. Either way practice and experience leads to better music and better shows. Maybe its Woody Allen's "showing up is 90% of success" and if you keep doing it long enough. Nothing worse than buying an album after hearing a great single and being disappointed. Or going to a show after hearing a great album and the band not delivering. But the older you are, the more proactive you have, the better your edge. Look at the Rolling Stones; if you've ever been to one of their shows, you know its worth a $200 ticket. Why? They put on two plus hours where all the songs are great and you will be entertained. Rhett Miller (40+) tweeted that songwriting is easy after your first 100 songs." Now some of guys just start mailing it in. But if ever once awhile you get a gem. The last Stones album or some of the Bob Dylan's recent stuff jump to mind. But someone like Alejandro Escevedo's album this year really stands out. I don't think this is a conterversial view but I'm amazed by how little the media pays attention to quality works because its not from the right demographic or the next "new thing." Sometimes "new to you" like a used car is the best thing.

(3) The death of alt-country. The reality is the term really applied to one good band (uncle t) that ultimately became two really good bands (son volt/wilco..or so I'm told). But every band that has a little twang or harmonies or is a bit throw back gets thrown in this category. Even the guys who are more blues or r&b. My point is the category is a catch all and become unwieldy so it needs to be eliminated. Maybe we dont need categories. If we need to name it, I think I prefer "Americana." (I'm also partial to "blue core" although that might be one band too - Avett Borthers). But now we have British and Scottish bands (luckily no French or Germans yet) playing the "style" like Mumford and Stornaway so America may not be the best base. But until the British have recycled it, is it really validated yet (see rock and roll/Beatles)?

(4) Grammy's (due to my laziness, we get a bonus). Amazingly, they actually seem to be picking relevant choices and impacting music. For instance, Mumford sales have bounced up to 20k a day on itunes and Cee Lo songs went gold. I would consider the first fact good news, the second one shocking and just shows how broken the business is. The minute you heard Cee Lo, you knew it was a hit but still took six months to break out. And Justin Bieber's movie was the story of the week in music. It's almost like the record labels have given up (we know radio quit awhile back). see point 1.

Big Misses of Best of 2009
As some many of you are fond of pointing out, I am not perfect. For whatever reason, I never picked up on Metric and their great hooks. I knew I would love the Avett Brothers even if I hadn't assimilated them last January, but to this day, my respect and love of them continues to grow (Paste puts it as 9th best album of the decade). Luckily they put out a love album this year so I can correct my oversight this year. But the missing of the XX was inexcusable. Several of you pointed it out to me, I was aware of them in the blogsphere but still it just didn't register. Still, I was willing to listen again and downloaded the album. Listening beginning to end rather than as singles was a completely different experience. I was blown away. I don't think the album was album of the year (Phoenix) but it was damn close. Mea culpea. My favorite mix up of 2010:

Albums I like so far but haven't spent enough time with:

The Winter of Mixed Drinks, Frightened Rabbit - for the title if nothing else
Feral Fire, Glossary - sounds like the kind of alt country we dig
What We Lose in the Fire We gain in the Flood, Mynabirds - same as previous but with more blues and girl singers
Heart of My Own, Basia Basiat - same as previous but less retro
Everybody, Ingrid Michaelson - the next Neko Case category
Beachcombers Windowsill, Stornoway - English Americana but not as good as Mumford
Broken Record, Lloyd Cole - an old favorite
It's not what I am thinking - Badly Drawn Boy - mellow stuff but great craftsmanship and also win on stage meltdown award
The Guitar Song, Jamey Johnson - think Hank Williams Snr nor Jr. Check out Macon. Gets better with every listen
Steel Hearts, The Only Sons - all country rock of the Tennessee variety
Le Noise Neil Young - same old Neil young but with a Brian Eno twist
The Night Before/After, James - return of an old favorite picks up where they left off
Braille Audreye Sessions - another in that alt country category
Dawes - easy to pass off first time through but find myself checking the ipod after hearing a great song and its them

Albums I like but nothing jumps out

Tidelands Moondoggies
Grinderman 2
Tomorrow Morning Eels
Wake up the Nation Paul Weller
Junip
Sun Came Out, 7 Worlds Collide

Not Making the Cut / Avoid
Junky Star Ryan Bingham - not bad but a let down after last two albums. all slow songs.
Dangermouse/Sparklehouse its growing on me but a tough slog to get there
Midlake - way overrated
Slash - would be great around 1995
Realism Magnetic Fields - a return to their typical songs. not a return to strong songwriting. plus I hear the guy is a real, lets say jerk, which is always disappointing.
Darker Circles Sadies - see Ryan Bingham comment

Recommend but not making it

Drums Here Lies Love - David Byrne/Fatboy Slim
Beck's Record Club - INXS Kick
Stornoway -
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Beat the Devil's Tattoo
Eli "Paperboy" Reed - Come and Get It if you like hornsy R&B from 1962 (see Junior Walker, one of my all time favorites) this is the man
Maximum Balloon
Peter Gabriel
Social Network, Trent Reznor/Atticus Ross
Song of a Gun, Oh Land
Big Wave, Jenny and Johnny
Fixed, Stars
I Liked it better when you had no heart, Butch Walker - This guys a producer best known for girl pop but really needs to do an old 97's album.

Final Cuts

Sleigh Bells - I listen to this and it makes me what to get on the dance floor and spazz out. I say spazz because not really sure what kind of dancing. Its not "dance music" per se - way too hard. But its not industrial or punk so no slam dancing. Not r&b. Not pop. And it doesn't really go with anything else. Like the pixies, its hard to listen to a while album. And live sounds the same as recorded. I don't know what to do with it. It just sort stands on its own.

Aint no Grave Johnny Cash - needs no explanation. a piece of art but his voice is shot. not as good as recent albums but powerful stuff

Ambling Alp Yeasayer - Almost made 2009. Almost made 2010. Sad legacy. But I heard better hooks. I heard better synth music. I love it but had to cuit it.

Brothers Black Keys - Like all of these at this point, hard cuts. I love the evolution from jam/roots rock to more darker/alternative sounds. Needs more stronger hooks, like previous albums

Hurricane J Hold Steady - Same as the black Keys, this album is good but falls short of previous albums and isn't really breaking new ground. We have a little hurricane Josephine too, so a very difficult cut.

Latin America Holy Fuck - my theme song this year with two trips that way. This song will be someones opening credits. But its really more of a good groove.

July flame Laura Viers - a Neko Case substitute but fails on two points (1) Neko has that note/harmony that sinks in to my bones and I instantly love (2) songs are more atmospheric and less song like. Recommend more for a mellow night on the porch.

I should have known it Tom Petty - What a hook. Best Led Zepplin song since three days.
Citizen Broken Bells - Danger Mouse meets the Shins. Solid songwriting but a little too nice. Needs just a little more edge/emotion.
Animal Neon Trees - pop song of the year but last one to go as went with substance over hooks

The songs

Album of the Year

There is no doubt what the best album released in 2010 was: The Cure "Disintegration." Originally released in 1989, this remastered set included the original, another cd of outtakes and a live version of the album. This is one of those albums that immediately transfers you to that time and place when you listened to it two or three times a day. For technical reasons, we have to disqualify it but if you don't own it, whats wrong with you.

As for the real count down, I could of have gotten to 20 or 30 albums but stopped counting. Here we go:

17. Laura Viers - July Flame

16. Black Keys - Brothers

15. Broken Bells

14. Hold Steady - Heaven is Whenever

13 .B.O.B. - Adventures of Bobby Ray not only my favorite rap album of the year, but best album of pop songs

12. Ben Folds and Nick Hornby - Lonely Avenue Another great Ben Folds album. Best Piano player. Funniest songwriter but still can write a song with real emotion or a song with both (Belinda). My questions is why Nick Hornby? I love Nick and enjoyed his new book this year but this album isn't really different from other Ben Folds album. "From Above" seemed to be a little more philosophical than most Ben songs or at least a different thought but I don't see Nick's fingerprints here.

11. Peter Gabriel- Scratch my Back - This album is fairly controversial. No drums, singing cover songs with an orchestra. It was criticized for being too bland and repetitive. In isolation, I can see that - it is not a collection of singles. But no one goes to see the orchestra and then complains that all they did was play violins and woodwinds all night - you have to appreciate the nuances a little bit more and pay attention. More importantly the emotion is amazing. Any one song pretty much washes over you but in order, the emotion builds and builds until it is overwhelming. Gabriel did the same trick on the album about the death of his parents. This isn't that explicit but his interpretation of Bon Iver maintains the original feeling and extends it, as only a true artist can do. Pretentious yes, but still powerful. Finally, his version of the Magnetic Fields "Book of Love" made the Best of a few years back is still one of my all time favorites.

10. Old 97's - Grand Theater Volume 1 - If they had done the double album would probably been much higher. Playing more like a band than Rhett and the other guys than ever. Bringing the guitar and bass to the front makes this more listenable. No advances in song writing but that not what they are really about and they don't need to get better at it anyway. This album is definately for fans and will not turn them into something else, as I don't have any idea what that would be in today's business.

9. Ryan Adams and the Cardinals III/IV - When I heard about this album at the beginning of December, I thought outtakes from last session. Then I listened and was blown away. A little refresher: before Ryan married Mandy Moore and retired from music, he was known for prodigious consumption of mind altering substances and a prodigious output of music, sometimes putting out four cd's worth of work - problem was about half of it was crap. This album while lyracily the strangest of his career has a solid foundation and succeeds as a "concept album" or as singles. I look forward to Ryan's return to us.

8. Good Old War - part of the new Americana movement. These songs are both simple and complex, sad and uplifting. everything music should be.

7. Spoon Transference - I keep waiting for their U2 moment. The best band in America? possibly. no bad songs, blending out blues and r&b with that weird time steps and an alternative sensibility. Each album their fans criticize them for selling out but no U2 moment. Still great work.

6. Alejandro Escoveda Street Songs of Love - a Texan who lives in New Mexico post California punk career who transitioned to Americana and then to back to rock and roll. This is really a straight out rock album, building off Real Animal but with stronger songs. It's just raw and emotionally honest. Alejandro turns 60 this year so a truly impressive achievement.

5. Drive-by Truckers The Big to-Do - These guys churn out an album a year of quality stuff. They have to be the best song writers in America now. But their Southern rock tinged songs are unique and honest. What impresses me most(other than the consistent quality) is that each song is a little story that lets you understand the character, a trick few will attempt to pull off.

4. Mumford and Sons Sign no More - Americana via the UK. they dropped the f bomb before Cee Lo. Yet another collection of all great songs.

3. Black Dub - Daniel Lanois' (Brian Eno lite turning 50 this year) latest project. It sounds as if it came from the future but with old blues vocals. Another December acquisition, if it had come out a few months earlier could very well be at number one. If you don't believe me, check this out. It's worth it.

2. CeeLo Green - The Lady killer - Proving Crazy was neither a one hit wonder nor a Danger mouse project, F U was a monster hit, quite a feat given the title. More amazing was the album, because it's another one with no bad songs, but in a ton of different styles. I think of it as a Motown or classic R&B or a 1950's English pop but then you hear "Bright Lights Bright City" and you're int he 80's. Its light then goes heavy and back again. As I write this, I'm having second thoughts naming it #2. I guess if he did a rock song, that would have sealed the top spot. Next time, I'm sure. Did I mention that he also scores cover (song) of the year with band of horses "what part of forever " on the Twilight soundtrack. And he kills it live. Plus he got Robert Palmer's old band too.

1. Wolf Parade Expo 86 - I flip flopped one and two so much its really a 1a and 1b. This one goes the exact opposite of Cee Lo (or at least a 270) - classic alternative rock. A lot of people are talking 2010 as the year of the 80's revival and throw these guys in here. But its really 80s fringe like Gary Neuman with guitar added, or how I think of 90's alternative. But these are songs that all challenge the listener, whether its a guitar anthem like "nobody's perfect" or a synth driven song like "ghost pressure." But they all rock. It was almost impossible to chose a song from it, so I chose the first single but hard to go wrong here. Supposedly they have broken up, which is too bad really.

Best of 2010

We are Sex Bob-omb - Scott Pilgrim vs. the World - Do you love comics, video games or underground rock and roll? Catch this flick. I dont know if it was under-rated or expectations were set so low that it had to be a pleasant surprise. It's tone is hipster commentary but I think it makes fun of that as well as comic movies and anything else. The comic suffers from extreme decompression (a personal rant of mine) but the movie just skips that, yet retains the feeling of the comic. This really harks back to the video games of the 1980's. Most importantly, the music is written by Beck and performed by the movie stars (as opposed to Kick which was written by INXS and performed by Beck and friends) and it is straight ahead punk aka garage rock aka classic rock and roll with big bass chops.

Rush - BU2B - Concert of the year. Follow instructions. First watch this. Then see live. Finally, listen to sings (BU2B/caravan). You will be converted. I admit I grew up loving Rush. But this is a band that has so much going for it. They are regular guys, but possess both a mind that thinks about stuff as well as a sense of humor. Also, kick ass musicians. Most importantly they are willing to be themselves. I think they lost their path a bit in the 90's but the last album seemed to get back on track (near miss for best of) and then the live album showed they still have it, especially the drum solo. Seeing them live just confirmed it (who else has an intermission "because they are old" and ends with a ten minute skit based on "I love you man"). Finally the single proves they are back. I only chose this song because it was the shorter song (I love the line in the other song "I cant stop thinking big.")

What did my lover say? (it always had to go this way) - Wolf Parade - see above. I pick songs for silly reasons. sometimes its my favorite but often I have trouble picking one song from a good album. I may cop out and take the shortest one (see previous). Other times, its the best hook or the initial riff or the one that sticks in your head. Sometimes its a lyric I like. This one was the first single so I chose it but could have been any song really. Other than the really long name, it was an arbitrary decision.

Lovely and Blue - Ryan Adams - Tough to narrow down from this album. I think this song hits on a whole bunch of those short rules. Great opening riff, but turns into a love song (kind of) but still fast. It really turns is a great example of Ryan Adams song in two and a half minutes. And I love the song of the guitar

Slight Figure of Speech - Avett Brothers - Technically from last year but they did release a Live album this year (plus several bootlegs). This is shorter and has the best rap of any song (see about 1:10).

The Dance Class - Old 97's - My favorite song on the album. Love the guitar and Rhett does a great job on the chorus.

Tender Heart - Alejandro Escevedo - What a great rock album and this song just rips. And at 60. A good representation of what the album sounds like.

The Fourth Night of My Drinking - Drive-by Truckers - another arbitrary one ("Santa Fe" stands out for personal reasons) but love the idea of a four day bender as well as I do love anything with slide guitar.

Home - Edward Sharpe and the Magnetec Zeros

"Alabama Arkansas I love my Ma and Pa." Watch the video of a cover version and I think you will get the song. I had cut this originally but brought it back. But the song does feel like home.

I believe in You - Black Dub - First single but chbas* (*could have been any song)

Little Lion Man - Mumford and Sons - The minute I heard it, I knew it had a place.

Robots - Dan Mangan - I had the video last year, here is the official release from 2010. Its a nice folk song about robot love. That's so weird you have to love it. "Robots need love too; they want to be loved by you."
Thats some dream - Good Old War - This is a song that I chose for the song. I love the album too but this one is special. It's a sad song, but I also find it uplifting. It makes me want to cry but another part is smiling. Not very many songs can get the emotion both ways at the same time.

Airplanes - Part II - B.o.B. with Eminem - Pop/rap song of the year. Great hook with great guest spot from Eminem (whose album dropped last year). Also seems to make sense.

The Poloroid Song - Allo Darlin' - I'm pretty sure this is a new one for most people. From the beginning, I'm tapping my foot. These guys are usually pretty funny (see "Henry Rollins don't dance") but this one is little more serious. A solid first album.

From Above - Ben Folds and Nick Hornby

As much as I love this album, I don't see Nick Hornby's influence. This song is the exception. The idea that your soulmate is walking right by you, and you don't even know it seems both sad and unrealistic at the same time. Ben can right a killer sad song, but this seems a little subtle and a little meta for him. And watch the video as it is one of the funniest things I ever seen., because this is how he is in concert.

Fuck You - Cee Lo Green - see above/below

The Mystery Zone - Spoon - CHBAS* but I picked this one as it seemed to fit in with the others songs, at least as much as any Spoon song can pls the line "the information troll." And this guy an "old" guy, pushing 40.

Ready to Start - Arcade Fire - "album of the year" according to Grammy doesnt make my top 20. The album is fine but the songs are anthems, and, after the setup, fairly predictable. But I love this one - its sounds like a Smith's song updated for the 90's. I heard on the radio and it took me two months to figure out who it was (even though I bought the album for $4 the day it came out). Plus what better song to end with? That final half cymbal at the end.

Song of the Year

Is there any question? Cee Lo's album is a tour de force and this song went off like a bomb. 40+ million you tube views? Covered by Gwyneth on glee? Stuck in your head forever? check check and check. More amazing it is cowritten by Bruno Mars. This guy was everywhere this year (the last guy to show up this many times on the best of list was Kanye West). Cee Lo, B.O.B. (uncertain how to punctuate him - comma or not), Knaan (waving glag official song of the world cup), solo, Billionaire (another Glee song), Flo rida - a truly amazing run. while his solo stuff is not my cup of tea, i can recognize talent. So hats off to Cee and Bruno for their accomplishments.

Download Best of 2010

Best of 2001

2011-01-08T04:40:00.000-08:00

[note from 2011: Stumbled across this burned disk today]

Cover of the year :
Ben Harper – Sexual Healing/the drugs don’t work

Concert of the Year :
Bruce Springsteen and E-street band reunion

Album of the Year
A close call with strong efforts from Bob Dylan, Ben Folds and New Order (despite what the critics say). But hands down winner is Old 97’s Satellite Rides. A perfect blend of country, pop and rock. Not a bad song on it. Really.

Misses :
Good Rocking Tonight (various), Live in New York - Bruce (see Youngstown), Sting Fragile 2001, The Strokes Is this it (too soon), Creed My Sacrifice (a little over the top)

The list:
Pete Yorn - Life on the Chain
Perry Farrel - Happy Birthday Jubilee
Cake - Short Shirt Long Jacket
Kirsty Maccoll - In these Shoes
Gorillaz - Clint Eastwood
No Doubt - Hella Good
Looper - Mondo 77
New Order - Someone Like You
South - Broken Head I
Bakara - Black Hawk Down
Radiohead - I might be wrong
John Hiatt - The Tiki Bar is Open
Bob Dylan - Po' Boy
Old 97's - Designs on You
Ben Folds - Zak and Sara
Ben Folds - Still Fighting
Old 97's - The Question
Train - Drops of Jupiter
Dido -Thank You
Coldplay - Dont Panic
G Love - Unified
DMX - The prayer IV

More Notes from 2011:

I loved that DMX album but it was "Do You" that I loved. can still remember rocking it int he red CRV. still love it.

Two songs from two artist? I was crazy back then. I didnt even get the onus disk for Satellite Rides until years later and found my favorite song. "Talking to you is like long division."

If I was going to pick two songs from Ben Folds, how could I leave off my favorite. It is a bit of a downer, but a good heart. It ended up on the 2002 edition so I guess I make up for it.

Where's John Mayer's "no such thing" loved that song. Bought the album for that reason alone.

In the same vein, where's Chemistry by Semisonic? I suppose I had to choose between this and John Mayer, and choose neither.

As far as hopeless pop music, where is Shakira? in the pop music hole? I still love the sound of her voice in the chorus.

Complete misses: The Strokes? no excuse. Really didn't start listening to Jay Z until next year so I missed "The Blueprint." Both of them get plenty of representation in later years. Still a couple of years until Matt introduced Chris Knight. no TMBG - well it was a weak album so I will excuse that one. But cant excuse leaving out "hashpipe."

Overall: Looking back nine years, it holds up pretty well. It sounds different: less alt country, more techno, world music more blatant. Organization is an issue. two songs when you like the shorter one better? PArachutes was from 2000, but maybe 2001 was when i listened to it. I see four songs that should have made it that I reasonabley missed and with tweeks, probably should have gotten three of them on there (lose one ben folds, one old 97's). But even the one hit wonders (dido, train, looper) hold up well.

Conclusion: not to pat myself on the back, but it holds up well. I look at the 2002 edition and it crushes this one, but given the choices of 2001, it holds up. so hopefully the upcoming 2010 edition does as well.

Final cuts Best of 2010

2011-01-01T09:16:00.000-08:00

Final cuts have been done. Figuring out song order, writing it up but we will be done in a reasonable time. In the meanwhile, enjoy the playlists. Press play.

Create a MySpace Playlist at MixPod.com

Best of 2010 more rejects

2010-12-31T12:28:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year. Its getting hard to make cuts but here's the latest. Its a little more eclectic, but i think that reflects the quality and difficulty of making cuts. Press play.

Create a MySpace Music Playlist at MixPod.com

First group of Rejection Best of 2010

2010-12-26T09:50:00.001-08:00

Just press play. I think I fixed the volume. First set of rejections of Best of 2010. While I think this a great set of songs, they had to go. "Santa fe" is a great song and a great place. two "new" Smiths instrumentals but too old (1980's). New Twilight Singers but too new (2011). I actually think its a decent play list. Enjoy. Still taking suggestions for 2010.

Create a MySpace Playlist at MixPod.com

Old 97's at Bowery Ballroom, New York, 12/9/10

2010-12-11T11:34:00.002-08:00

On Thursday, I finally realized a dream. I always check to see what shows are in town when I travel on business (time permitting). Well it finally paid off as I was able to see the Old 97's in New York. This all started when Liz's friend Nicole invited her down to see one of the shows. Liz was too "busy" but when I realized the date intersected with my travels (San Diego, Houston, Miami, NYC plus layovers in Atlanta and Albuquerque), I jumped on the opportunity. Despite being "sold out" I was able to get tickets off ticketmaster and, despite logistical confusion, me and Nicole headed off to the show.

We showed up a little after 9:30. The place was full but not crowded. Being from Boston where the main act starts at 10, I kept thinking we were late only to be reminded its new york so everything starts later. Fair enough. It was quiet upstairs so we got a beer and strolled upstairs to find a spot for the show. Amazingly (and unfortunately), Hayes Carll was finishing the last few songs of his set. He seems to be in good form and the crowd was enjoying it, but we had missed most of it. Moral of the story: new york isn't as late as it seems. We made our ways up to the balcony and ultimately staked out a good spot.

We ended up to the two guys I will refer to as the Old 97's version of Jay and Silent Bob. Really nice guys they had driven four hours from upstate New York for the show. Jay from Texas but had fallen for the Old 97's in college in Florida. He warned us he would sing along to all songs and "dance" to all songs (he delivered) as well as filling us in on Old 97's trivia. His wife has seen the show the previous night but was watching the kids tonight (how cool is that). His bearded friend danced (the Silent Bob double thumbs up dance), disappeared and spent the encores asleep on a couch. The best part was the disposable camera they had that no one could determine if you could get film developed still. Nice guys.

Every Old 97's show I've been to (actually two old 97s shows but four or five Rhett Miller) is like a sixth grade dance. Everyone is there, but sort of slow to start. By the end, everyone is dancing and having a good time and doesn't want it to end. Now maybe this is a New York/Boston phenomenon although Rhett denied that "New York was too cool for school." The thing that I really love is that I'm one of the younger people at the show. I'm hanging out with my peers. After the show, I talked to the two Moms (one with two, one with three) and the merch guy and his fiance who had gotten engaged that day. Also no a-holes, just people who are having a good time but not "too far gone to care" to pay attention to anyone else (notice the old 97's reference). Alas Dori, having fans from Texas means there are going be some tall ones, but still good people. We even spotted Kenneth from 30 Rock in the bar afterward.

The last time we saw the Old 97's, I was amazed how much Ken Bethea's guitar playing added. They guy can play and saw that again on the new songs (the show was a little heavy on songs from the last two albums, including the new one). The rumor afterward was Rhett was losing his voice and while he talked less than usual (mixed feelings on that one), he belted out his songs and did his incredible (so I'm told) double jointed hip/butt wiggling.

But the real revelation was Murry. He sang lead on more songs than I remembered (even though he fumbled the lyrics to "color of a lonely heart" explaining he's been feeling too happy lately). But they turned up the bass and it really provided the foundation for the band and showed he was the heart of the band, or its at least its soul. Nicole thought it was very "punk", which is pretty accurate although I would say "honky tonk" is equally important. By the time we made it to Barrier Reef/timebomb, the whole crowd was feeling it. For encores, Rhett did a couple solo numbers and was then joined by the band for a cover of Driver 8 and a few more of their songs. Everyone could have stayed for another hour or two but no one left feeling cheated.

Despite the longest coast check line of all time, we got out pretty fast into the frigid New York air and "home" to the weirdest hotel I ever stayed in. It was worth the five hours of sleep I got.

A few videos from the previous night (Same place/band / different day)

This is basically the angle we saw the show from:

Murry:

for John Lennon

New York Times take

Annual Plea

2010-12-11T11:28:00.000-08:00

As we zoom in to 2010's home stretch, I am hard at work already on the "Best of." (aside: I enjoy immensely the fast that people just refer to it as "best of" without putting anything in front of the "of"). My first goal is to get it out before the customary March release. Secondly, there were several misses on my part the border on inexcusable. So get me your play lists, suggestions, nagging...whatever it takes.

Annie Jr.

2010-08-30T10:22:00.000-07:00

Haven't had a chance to post any photos from Maddy's performance as Pepper in Annie Jr. but here is the post from Creative Arts, including a slide show.

http://creativeartsforall.blogspot.com/2010/08/scenes-from-summer-musical-annie.html

Blog worthy "wort get acquired by the ZON" plus monkey rapping

2010-06-30T17:16:00.000-07:00

Another Traveling Theatre Performance

2010-06-07T18:25:00.000-07:00

Last week they performed for the Red Hat ladies at the Reading Senior Center. Maddy is in the very last picture.

http://creativeartsforall.blogspot.com/2010/06/reading-red-hat-ladies.html

One more performance in a couple of weeks at the Creative Arts Spring Arts Night.

Josie performed in her first piano recital last week. She just started taking lessons in March and was excited for a chance to show her stuff. Her teacher even pointed out to the audience that she was a beginner. He seemed really surprised/excited that she wanted to participate. She did great and wasn't nervous at all. Sorry no photos. Camera died.

Traveling Theatre Performance @ RPL

2010-05-24T09:47:00.000-07:00

The Traveling Theatre has been doing a lot of performances these days. Here's Creative Arts' blog posting about a recent performance, along with some great photos.

http://creativeartsforall.blogspot.com/2010/05/traveling-theatre-troupe-perfoms.html

Small Bathroom Project

2010-05-21T17:17:00.000-07:00

Yes, both the bathroom and the project were small. We decided that I was sick of plunging out 'cloggers' as a friend of ours calls them. Time to replace the first generation low flow toilets with the new and improved ones. One for upstairs, one for downstairs.

So, on recommendation of about a million people, we went with Toto toilets. Downstairs we went green with the dual flush model; you can choose between the .9 gallons per flush or the more standard 1.6 gallons per flush. You figure out which you want to use when...

While we were at it, we decided to replace the hulking vanity in the downstairs bathroom. It was water damaged at the bottom from years of toilet overflow (see 'cloggers' discussion above). And we saw a really space saving design at our friends' Mike & Lisa's house, so we got the name of it and bought ourselves one.

Everything was installed yesterday. It was so cute when people asked us if we were going to do it ourselves.

Here are the before and afters...

See what was hidden behind the old vanity! Such a cool discovery. Of course, there is a slight reaching problem for the children, so we will be coming up with a different option for them. You can't really tell from the pictures, but it is so much roomier now! We are really happy with how everything turned out.

We decided against gutting the whole bathroom. 50s retro pink & black tile are coming back, baby! www.savethepinkbathrooms.com

What I've been listening to (part 1 2010)

2010-05-08T08:59:00.000-07:00

Let's start with a book:

Steve Almond's "rock and roll will save your life"

(cool web site as well)

We discovered Steve when me and Liz listened to the classic Candyfreak (aka the chocolate underbelly of America) on a trip to Vertmont. As much as we enjoyed it, I had no idea how much we had in common. For instance, his daughter is Josie and she calls him Papa.

This book profile his life as a "drooling fanatic." What is a DF? We are people who love music. We always have music on in the background. We always are looking for the next thing as well as trying to sell our freinds/colleagues/complete strangers. Our back catalog triggers memories more powerful than a Proust madeleine. Steve does a much better job (and much funnier) than I can do justice. But I am pretty sure if I ever run into Steve (he lives in Somerville and we have all the same haunts ie the late Disk Diggers), we'll have plenty to talk about. I'll be able to set him straight on some muscial choices. But as proof of my own DF-ness (pronounced deft-ness?), it sent me scrambling to the internet to check out his recommendations. And he does agree with me on the ability of Dave Grohl over Kurt Cobain.

Misses from 2009

Avett Brothers - I and Love and You - I thought I would love this one and it has delivered as promised. Basically a punk version of alt-country bluegrass (or maybe the other way around)

XX - XX - Biggest screw up of last year. I listened back in the fall but didnt grab me. I understand why: it is minimalist and understated or maybe just "chill." But repeated listens, its catchy hooks (but did I mention understated) worms into your subconcoious. Someone described it as eavesdroping to a couple arguing in the room next door, but that doesnt really get the sexual tension (maybe its eavesdropping on either hook up, make up or break up sex). But clearly a big miss on my part.

Metric - Fantasies - A more radio friendly mix up of electronica and rock and roll and blues. Love gimme sympathy ("beatles or rolling stones")

2010

The Hold Steady - Heaven is whenever - The greatest rock and roll band since, well its been a long time. My first take was this was Rick Springfield to previous Bruce Springsteen outings. It is definatly more 80's sounding than the 70's sound of the previous outing. The exit of keyboardest Franz Nicolay has pushing them to the back and the layered sound of horns and non-rock and roll instruments pushed back which is fitting now they are a foursome. They are still there just more subtle. After several listens, I think it makes sense as an evolution and songs like "Hurricane J" and "Soft in the center" speak to me as much as anything else they have put out. Can't wait to see them live again (is is just me or is the cover art just a little too similar to RRWSYL's cover if if less literal?).

Spoon - Transference - One of the top bands in America today, they deliver another great one with this one. I beleive I jinxed them if this was to be their U2 moment to explode on the mainstream. But the album is fantastic beginning to end. One of those albums tough to pick a favorite song or even a couple.

Beck's Record Club - Kick - A cover album of INXS with ST. Vincent and others? Just as the Hold Steady is engineered to be irresistable to someone like me (with muscial experience of classic rock and pop of the 70's to 80's hard/arena rock to 90's alternative - an interesting question I will have to return to), this "album" is punching so many of my musical buttons from so many era's, i cant stop myself.

Johnny Cash - American IV - It's Johnny f-ing cash! no need to say more. Also recommend the graphic novel I see a Darkness. It goes a little easy on him but captures the history.

Drive By Truckers - the Big To-Do - Another band that can write a song that instantly grabs me. That they have four different writers/singers that can do that it is amazing. But I guess deep down inside, there's a southern rock in my DNA.

Ciao My Shining Star - A cover album of Mark Mulcahy songs, the main man in Miracle Legion and Polaris. I would recommend the originals (see links) but this album is like a reunion of 1992.

Holy Fuck - Latin America - Now thats what I call techno.

Laura Viers - July Flame - originally a Neko Case knock off, but find myself checking the touch everytime she come on. She's like an alt-country Sundays.

Serge Gainsburg - Monsieur Gainsburg - Even though he's French and the Dandy Warhols based their carreer on his stuff (my opinion), or maybe because of those two facts, this is amazing stuff from the 60/70's featuring Bridgette Bardot. Think an avant-gard Roxy music with too many cigarettes. But still good.

Black Rebel Motor Cycle Club - Beat the Devil's Tatoo - I dont know why but I love everything these guys put out.

Undecided (as I can download music faster than I can listen and more importantly digest):

Peter Gabriel - Scratch my back - Widely panned but enjoying the pureness of his voice out in front

Slash - Slash - classic guitar

Yeasayer - first single really grabbed me but not fully digested

Mos Dub - caught him on Austin City Limits - it was his sophistication that caught me off gaurd.

Kate Nash - seems good but might be too cute second time around

Ike Reilly - from RRWSYL and free at amazon.

Dawes - alt-country

Here Lies Love - David Byrne and Fatboy Slim - what a collection, each track featuring a different female singer. With 20+ songs, a bit to sort through but I like it.

Clem Snide - Meat of Life - re-united after breaking up post album which I think was two years ago, more of the same, and that good.

Broken Bells - Danger Mouse lastest this time with the Shin's dude.

Coming Soon

Wolf Parade - Tim turned me on to these guys and new album coming out

Sharon Jones - ordered the new one but not received yet

SXSW - I downloaded a ton of music from bands associated with this but am working my way through

Black Francis - NonStopErotik - If I need to explain this to you, and you are over 30 or under 50, please go elsewhere.

B.o.B. - I dont mean the single here

7 world collides - a double album charity from Finn and Friends - a lot to work through

Great Charity facts/hints from mint.com

2010-04-22T09:34:00.000-07:00

Genius...Granite State of Mind

2010-04-02T14:27:00.000-07:00

SuperSecretProject — March 31, 2010 — Yeah. Yeah, Imma up at Conway
Now I'm down in Manchester
Next to Adam Sandler
But I'll be woods forever
I'm the new Salinger
Cuz I could live anywhere
But I choose to live here
The middle of nowhere
I used to shop in Salem
Next to Rockingham Park
Right there up on 28
Youll find Canobie Lake Park
Bring me up to Portsmouth
the saloon at State Street
Catch me up at Gilleys after closing for some late eats
Its not the kangamangus
The Kancamagus
Its a scenic byway
That I like to drive in August
Now Im down at Bedford
Home of Seth Meyers, yeah
Also Sarah Silverman
were funny motherfuckas here
We like to say whatsup guy, its the way we say hi
In February it is good to know a plow guy
It is shaped like a key, also where I like to ski
Tell by my belt buckle that I most definitely from...

NEW HAMPSHIRE
LAND WHERE THERES NO INCOME OR SALES TAX
THERE S NOTHING MUCH TO DO
HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
THESE TREES WHERE LEAF PEEPERS DRIVE TO
MAPLE SYRUP IS PRO-DUCED
THIS IS NEW HAMPSHIRE, HAMPSHIRE, HAMPSHIRE

Catch me up at Loudin, at the Speedway for the race yo
I made the flannel shirt more famous than a scarecrow
Dont drink and drive here, listen to what I say
even though we put our liquor stores right on the highway
You can drive Mount Washington
hike up Mount Monadnock
in 1787 we invented the alarm clock
Concord Coach, Dartmouth Coach, DowneasterAmtrak
On Squam Lake, Henry Fonda taught yall how to act
Derrys Alan Shepard, first guy in a spaceship
Its a pity Christa McCaulliffe didnt make it
Didja hear about the ice storm in December of 08
I went without power for eleven straight days!
You can buy a handgun
You can buy some fireworks
Sandwich Fair, Rest in peace Daniel Webster
Americas Stonehenge, long live the dairy trade
Long live the old man
I'm from the Granite State thats

NEW HAMPSHIRE
PLACE WHERE STONYFIELD YOGURT IS MADE IN
AND COW TIPPINGS SO COOL
HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
DSL SERVICE IS BRAND NEW
YOU MIGHT EVEN SEE A MOOSE
HERE IN NE W HAMPSHIRE, HAMPSHIRE, HAMPSHIRE

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep

Thats some Robert Frost, hes our most famous poet
It was actually written up in Vermont but its associated with
The 603, where its a fact I
Dont know any Hispanics and just one black guy
You can go to Bike Week thats up in Laconia
In the winter months hit the notch in Franconia, home of
B-O-D-E our Olympic Ski Champion
He faced high pressure like my man Al Kaprielian

NEW HAMPSHIRE
IF YOU DONT WANT TO WEAR A HELMET
THERES NOTHIN THEY CAN DO
HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
MARKEYS VERSE BROWNS ON THE SEAFOOD
TELL ME WHICH ONE WILL YOU CHOOSE
WHEN YOURE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE HAMPSHIRE HAMPSHIRE

NINTH STATE RATIFIED OUT OF ALL FIFTY
IT CAN GET COLD
BUT STILL THE AUTUMNS VERY PRETTY
WHEN THIS SONG MAKES ME RICH,
I'M A MOVE TO RYE
EVERYBODY PUMP YOUR FISTS AND YELL
LIVE FREE OR DIE! LIVE FREE OR DIE!

IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
STATE WHERE TRIPLE H THE WRESTLER HAILS FROM
THAT GUY WOULD DESTROY YOU
IF YOU KNOCK NEW HAMPSHIRE
ITS JUST LIKE OLD HAMPSHIRE BUT NEW
WERE OUT OF JOKES TO DO
ABOUT NEW HAMPSHIRE, HAMPSHIRE, HAMPSHIRE

twitter feed

2010-02-27T10:01:00.000-08:00

for those who are not on twitter, you can rss these feeds as we're posting here on the fly more often:

http://twitter.com/afeltus

http://twitter.com/lfeltus

should I tweet this post?

Squirrel alert!

2010-02-25T20:43:00.000-08:00

for: bram / rbs

to purchase

for those not on twitter:

2010-02-25T20:41:00.000-08:00

http://www.wickedlocal.com/reading/features/x593976377/The-plays-their-thing

Maddy Feltus, a 9-year-old Killam student playing the Goose said she had done a lot of acting before and had no shyness about being on stage.

“I just feel comfortable,” she said. She liked playing the Goose, “because she talks a lot and I talk a lot. Sometimes I just go on and on,” she said.

That sentiment was echoed by Tim Sanford,

The play's their thing - Reading, MA - The Reading Advocate

2010-02-25T16:42:00.001-08:00

The play's their thing - Reading, MA - The Reading Advocate

Posted using ShareThis

Maddy does the news

2010-02-03T11:41:00.000-08:00

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/killamnewslive

password koala

Best of 2009

2010-01-30T09:32:00.000-08:00

2010 The year that was

Yeasayer said (tongue in cheek) that they want to make music to "make you feel inadequate, like you're not cool enough to be listening to [this] music." That's the goal of

Best of, as well. Unfortunately, once you have listened, digested and internalized, the coolness becomes part of you. Sorta of a musical communion. Well that's the goal. The reality is this is what the inside of my head sounds like, ex-bonds, my girls (much louder), cars (even louder if done correctly) and all the stuff of day to day life. The words here are just a bonus. Trends and thoughts:

(1) Quantity: I've said this in the past and I'll say it again: there is more music out there than ever. Part of that is the ease that technology has spawned. Go to your favorite blog, right click and whammy new music!!! I've exposed to more songs than I can listen to. I think Tim Duff hooked my up with about 30 songs one day in November that I have listened to only a few times - not enough. Fcuk buttons, School of Seven Bells, Lupe Fiasco mix tape - these don't even get mentions but come highly recommended, but there is so much out there if you have time to look and listen.

(2) Bootlegs: This discovery clearly contributed to the above problem in number one, but there are numerous blogs where you can download bootlegs. Not quite the live experience, but variations of all you favorites. It's a chunk of hard drive but I love it. Check out http://www.archive.org/: 35 shows by Spoon, 388 by DBT or 338 by Smashing Pumpkins. Strange remixes, obscure covers, all of various quality (and these are 100% authorized and legal. - other sites have a more questionable legal). Or go narrow: http://joydivision-neworder.blogspot.com/. Or by local: nyctaper.com (guess here) or http://dclivetracks.wordpress.com/ featuring the 9:30 club (you know what I'm talking about). A great way to discover music.

(3) Paying for Music: I've already paid a fair amount for music although I have long spent the bulk of money either at concerts or used (half.com), but this year I joined the download revolution and not just the free stuff. Amazon.com got this rolling. $5 for an album = hard to go round. $7 for new release = can't be beat. Then came emusic.com which while lacking the choices of the majors (call it 75%) wins on price (basically .50 a song on subscription model). Wait until spotify.com arrives: unlimited, every song of music on demand for $150 a year, via computer, ipod or mobile. In a year, I spend somewhere between 5 and 10 times that much so it's a no-brainer. Europe has it, it'll be here soon.

Hard Cuts (In ascending order of angst)
U2 - not a really a tough cut. Trying to split the difference between the last two albums and doing neither well. Can't figure out of they are trying to artistically stretch or just self-indulgent.

Rhett Miller - Liz will kill me but this just doesn't measure up to previous stuff. Okay "happy birthday don't die" goes into Joy Division territory and "another girlfriend" is witty but not as musically interesting as previous outings or Old 97's. Bring back Jon Brion! Please!

Those Darlins - This album grows on me with each listen. There is more going on than appears, but the songs don't grab me as strongly as some of the others. Check out the animation

Datarock - I love the red jumpsuits and great party music but I don't know if its really that original, at least musically, but fun.
Eels - another one of those albums that I feel I should spend more time with. I like it but nothing over the top that has to be on the list.

Eliot Brood/Dan Mangan - check out preview. I love these songs as obscure live Canadian alt country that's not really country, but not really 2009 and that's enough to push them down the list. The video here doesn't make the song make any more sense but it sure makes me laugh.

Monsters of Folk - a great idea, a finely executed and enjoyable album but as with all super-groups, balances is essential and the album is so well-balanced nothing stands up. In any other year, would have made the list easy. Still growing on me.

Morrissey - Album was actually good if not new ground. Overshadowed by fantastic live show on the BBC (above) - have not heard Swords yet but assume more solid live performances.

Garage Rock - Plenty to go around Band of Skulls, Dead Weather (Kills plus White Stripes on drums). I think the best I found (actually Liz found) was the Kills. This is more bluesy than rock, but it just doesn't sound as fresh as it did ten years ago even if still enjoyable. Maybe Jack White needs to start playing the guitar again.

Miss Li - Bourgeois Shangri-la - designated Apple one hit wonder of the year. But Cage is a better song in the one-hit wonder category.

There are maybe ten or twelve - AC Newman (of the New Pornographers) needs a little more polish (we are now down to the part of the list that is actually painful to make these choices).

The Decemberist - Hazards of Love - I love this album but its a concept album that needs to be listened to in its entirety so I can't pick one song

Wale - Finally the album came out and we were all disappointed, despite working with TV on the Radio (check out TV in the radio with K'naan). but his mixtape "back to the feature" was better (check out "letter" with Mark Ronson and John Mayer on preview), both musically and lyrically. Who gives away their best stuff, and then charges for the throw aways?

Fireflies - Owl City - Love this song including bubble pops. But Postal Service did it way back when and Death Cab had better songs this year. Cool "animation."

DC Comics and Milkshakes - Art Brut - actually more of a lifestyle than a song.

Yeasayer - Ambling Alp - really a 2010 song

Andrew Bird - Fitz & Dizzyspeels - Something about this weird song makes me happy. And the lyric twists are either bizarre or awesome or both.

Elvis Perkins in Dearland - Shampoo -Second best band name of the year (first being the Ska Skank Redemption) what a great hook, great tempo but I think in the genre, there are better versions.

The Cribs - Johnny Marr has had a helluva run lately (hell this plus modest mouse ep is a helluva a year). He performs the same role here that he performed with Modest Mouse: smooth out some edges, add layers to the sound, adding just enough to take the band to the next level. Now that level is not the same as MM, but still this is straight rock and roll and a pleasure.

Death Cab for Cutie - Meet me at the Equinox - the heir to Geddy Lee, but partially represented.

The Final Cut
Street Sweeper Social Club - 100 Little Curses - It's not Rage but maintains the intensity, the politics and unique guitar. It's not as nuanced as Rage but still recommended. A good time to remark on shows of the last year. Summer line up of Street Sweeper, NIN farewell and Jane's Addiction is tough to beat. Drive by truckers and Hold steady is right there too. For drunken fun, Lucero is tough to beat. Another highlight was Bruce Springsteen. I think this was the fifth time I've seen him live. The first time was one of the best concerts I ever saw but each show declined since then (although he always gave it three or so hours). This show restored my faith. Much more musical, less hits, great playing, intensity, on-stage marriage proposals, Dropkick Murphys and Ramones songs:

Have but have not listened enough to judge:
Avett Brothers - I and Love and You - Yes shame shame. A lot of blogs picked as best of the year. Listened to it on a plane. Seems pretty good, definitely unique sound. Weirdest video of the year (music starts at 1:35)

Felice Brothers - Yonder is the Clock - Apparently, I have issues with brothers - more of a musicians favorite
George Strait - Twang - It's gd George Strait
Todd Snider - The Excitement Plan - another blog favorite
Bob Dylan - Together through life - have not even listened yet but looking forward to it. Bob get better with age. Last two album were complete gems.
Fanfarlo - feel once I see them live, I will fall in love
Dinosaur Jr - no excuse
Morphine - at your service - given the guy dies 10+ years ago, I suppose it doesn't count as 2009 but still a unique gem after all this time.

Julian Plenti aka Interpol side project - new album of Interpol next year
AA Bondy - another well reviewed but will have to investigate more.
Scott Biram - pulled from others best of 2009

Looking forward to next year:
Spoon - the best band in the world today. Their songwriting has been inching towards the main stream with each album yet remaining weird and wonderful. Will 2010 be their U2 moment?
Teenage Fan Club
Reckless Kelly
Strokes
Arcade Fire (this band is growing on me)
Gorillaz
Peter Gabriel (covers album with orchestra arrangements produced by Bob Ezrin)could be the most glorious diaster of the year, but Pete usually pulls shit off
Drive by Truckers
David Byrne and Fatboy Slim (featuring female singer line up doing concept album on Imelda Marcos)
Yeasayer
Magnetic Fields - promised to be pop songs
Hold Steady - big question although they are working on Chuck Klosterman movie

The Best of 2009

Blackroc - This is Black Keys with various rappers. If you remember, their last album evolved to what we might call alternative country blues. They took it to the next step as a rap album. The incredible thing is unlike most things that sound good in theory, they pull it off. Album hasn't been out a month but probably a top ten.

Ryan Bingham & the Dead Horses- hey hey - Definite top ten album, no bad songs. Its country with an edge. Love this song, fires me up, makes me feel like square dancing and having a beer.

Cage the Elephant - ain't no rest for the wicked - designated one hit wonder of the year. Great attitude.

Them crooked vultures - Led Zepplin plus Nirvana's drummer plus Queens of the Stone Age but mainly Led Zep, a hard rock album with alternative drum riffs. A throw back. Could have been any one of half dozen songs.

Ida Maria - How do I describe Ida? Think Bjork (Ida is Norwegian) backed by the Strokes and the weirdness dial turned down to about an 8, plus the Sundays for intensity and melody. She can write a great pop song ("I like you so much better when you're naked" see preview), alternative songs or a classic rock ("everybody's always alone"). An amazing talent. A top ten album and rising star, I hope. I got some criticism of the song and it might have been a weak choice on my part but I liked the contrast to "laughing with." Plus live version kicks ass. And she chews tobacco. Would Iggy Pop make it better?

Moondoogies - alt country via Kentucky. Love these guys melodies but they still rock

Delta Spirit - Top five album. Both bluesy and alternative. Yet feels natural and real, yet slightly off. Love it. Could have been trashcan or any other song. Hopefully, we can look forward to a long career with these guys.

Neko Case - What can I say? That voice, that red hair, that car. But really that voice just blows me away. This is isn't new ground from "Fox Confessor" but still a great album with no weak links. Usually not a red head guy but I'm in love. If she ever comes knockin'... needless to say, top ten.

Grizzley Bear - This is one of the bands I'll call the new harmonies. Think beach boys plus prog rock on an alt-country base. But the music is usually pretty constructed and complex. It started with My Morning Jacket but was everywhere this year, think Fleet Foxes or Elvis Perkins in Deerland. But I think these guys put together the strongest album and the most complex melodies. Cheerleader didn't really do it for me, but "two weeks" got me and this one got me hook line and sinker. Top ten album.

One Fast Move - Jar Farrar and Benjamin Gibbard. Jay Farrar is the leader of Son Volt who dropped American Central Dust, a return to form for them. Problem is I can't choose one song because they are all good. Top Ten Album. Ben Gibbard is the leader of Deathcab for Cutie who put out that insanely catchy song on twilight soundtrack as well as a great ep which sounds very different from their usual stuff. Another couple of songs and it could have been album of the year (I got over hating myself for liking them a few years ago but it took a lot of work). One fast move is a collaboration between the two and allows me to kill two birds with one stone.

Laughing With - Regina Spektor - Regina was the next hot thing a few years ago, but I never really bought it. But this song really grabbed me. I love the tone and the hook and the piano. The rest of the album I can take it or leave it but sometimes all you need is one great song.

El Paso - Jason Anderson - I think I found this guy at the alt country site but its not alt country. More like Bruce Sprinsteen updated for the post modern 2000's. He a local Boston guy. I love the simple but multi-layered sound. But I really love the exuberance that he sings with.

What are you willing to lose - Lucero - Major label premiere from the boys from Little Rock. They advance their song by adding a horn section, but it is still their sound. A top ten album and still a great (albeit drunken) time.

Rabbit Heart - Florence and the Machine. Sorry Bats for Lashes but this album is just a notch higher. Credit Flo's Kate Bush-esque vocals with sufficient alternative rock. But they had me at the Kate Bush thing. Good song too.

Lisztomania - Phoenix -Album of the Year, not a bad song. Phoenix has been kicking around for a few years, putting out good stuff but never getting the mix between techno, French and pop quite right. But with this album it all came together for a perfect set of songs.

Franz Ferdinand - tough choice to pick one song. If any album was ever to re-mixed, it was "Tonight." And they complied with remix album "Blood." The album (or should I say both albums) is a great alternative album with a dance backtrack. I really wanted to use the 8 minute "Lucid Dreams" which is one of the freakiest headphone tracks since Pink Floyd (go to about 4:30 in the song). Why hasn't the ipod era created better headphone songs?

Nothing to Worry About - Peter Bjorn and John - Usually there a lot of songs I hear and instantly know that I will be playing that song in my head for the rest of the year. This year, not so much. But this song got me the first time I heard it. Folk duo plus drum machine (last album) = overrated. Folk duo plus Kanye album (this one) equals awesome. I dare you to not tap your foot.

I wish I knew Natalie Portman - K-os - Nothing brings you closer to your musical heroes than finding out you have the same obsession, in this case me, K-os and Natalie Portman. I could go on and on about N.P. or V for Vendetta or how the English don't get the superhero comic or comics is just a medium. But simple point is rap is a medium and K-os is one who has pushed it to the unusual spaces in it, but still writes catchy "pop" songs. Wish this guy got more appreciation from, well anyone.

ABC's = K'naan (with Chubb Rock) This guy is really interesting - born in Somalia, came up as local rapper, learned English and moved to America. You'll know him this summer as his song is the official song of the World Cup (whatever that means). The lyrics vary in quality but the right DJ (like here) this stuff really pops. A lot of potential here.

Empire State of Mind - Jay-Z w/Alicia Keys - There have been a lot of comments about this song being the new "New York New York" (that sounds like a stutter but we are referring to Frank here). That might be overstating it a bit, time will tell, but it still is a kick ass track. The album is uneven and I respect Jay-Z for taking chances, even if he ends up on his arse here and there. But this one is gold. My favorite part is the shout out to "60 state street" which is where I have worked for 15 years, although in Boston not NYC.

The Missing Track

As some of you have noticed, there is an extra song that is listed but not on the CD. Here it is. Modest Mouse is suppose to have a real album this year but I love this weird guitar solo in this one. Thanks for making it this far. Here is your reward. follow to link:

Whale

Likewise, make sure you visit the "preview" with live options:

Best of 2009 Preview

Thanks again for your support.

Whale Song

2010-01-21T19:00:00.001-08:00

04 The Whale Song.mp3

Funny Neil Gaiman

2010-01-04T16:40:00.001-08:00

Best of 2009 Update

2010-01-02T10:01:00.000-08:00

List is completed in a record time. Now completing sequencing, liner notes, artwork, production.

No idea who Chris Packham is but amusing nevertheless

2009-12-30T13:12:00.000-08:00

Best of 2009 Preview

2009-12-28T12:48:00.000-08:00

"Best of" is an labor intensive project that is just getting underway (I promise to get done sooner or later). I had toyed with the idea of making everything liver versions (I've gotten into bootlegs this year), remixes or mash-ups. The problem with this is the quality is widely uneven. So I will be giving you the usual hard copy version.

but until then, I've uploaded a series of bootlegs, remixes and mash-ups. All of this stuff is off the grid, so I don't think I am stealing from anyone. You can listen at the sight or download.

It's a decent set of music, one that I would feel good about putting out as a "Best of." But I know you readers/listeners demand more than good enough so I will agonize and make the hard choices to get the best "best of" that I am capable of. In the meantime enjoy:

http://www.box.net/shared/bmstqxntxg

Bonus points: who can name the most bands without using the internet (post here).

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-26T05:25:00.001-08:00

Best of 2009 preview?

2009-11-23T17:26:00.000-08:00

kos vs. GTO

Plus I always had a thing for Natalie Portman.

awesome photos!

2009-11-23T13:25:00.001-08:00

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/11/national_geographics_internati.html

Unemployment Animation

2009-11-23T07:14:00.001-08:00

http://cohort11.americanobserver.net/latoyaegwuekwe/multimediafinal.html

Very cool

Daylight Savings plus Government

2009-11-02T10:13:00.000-08:00

Victory for Rock Art

2009-10-31T11:09:00.000-07:00

Quoted by Reuters

2009-10-29T16:17:00.001-07:00

http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN2938091420091029

They Fight Crime

2009-10-29T06:44:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine posted this link on Facebook.

http://www.theyfightcrime.org/

It is so much fun! Here's a little flavor of what you'll find...

He's a one-legged coffee-fuelled jungle king searching for his wife's true killer. She's a green-fingered communist stripper from Mars. They fight crime!

He's a leather-clad crooked romance novelist on a mission from God. She's a time-travelling belly-dancing hooker on her way to prison for a murder she didn't commit. They fight crime!

Star Wars Uncut

2009-10-27T16:27:00.000-07:00

Star Wars: Uncut Trailer from Casey Pugh on Vimeo.

"Ripped:how the wired generation revolutionized music"

2009-10-18T06:24:00.000-07:00

An interesting take on digital media. Picked it up with out realizing it was written by one half of the excellent podcast http://www.soundopinions.org/. This is more from the artist side. Not quite a how to manual as much as this how some artist has used the Internet. Author Greg Kot doesn't really take strong moral positions although he does seem to think of it as downloading as "stealing" and he definitely comes across as the critic who knows more than you, at least musical taste-wise. But in an industry searching for answers, he's looking too and doesn't claim to have figured it out. Really a collection of stories of how individual artist are looking at/using the Interent and how the business is trying to cope. It was interesting to get the back stories, say Metallica's view on the Napster incident, looking back. All in all, an interesting read.

buy at amazon

Buy at half.com

Of course, I got it from the library and you can try there, too. Does that count as stealing? Or just irony?

Boycott Hansen's Natural Drinks/Monster! Save Real Beer

2009-10-16T16:13:00.000-07:00

His language is a little over the top (stuff about "corporate America"), but Monster Energy is out of line here. So buy a Rock Art, not Monster Energy Drinks. This guy has always had Libertarian leanings so a good guy who deserves our support. Plus Rock Art is a great beer. I might go crack the Vermonster int he basement right now!

BTW Hansen's products include Hansen's natural soda, Junior Juice, teas, Blue Sky and Fizzit and, of course, Monster Energy notes.

For more information, please visit:

http://www.rockartbrewery.com/

Update to profile - twitter now on feltoblog

2009-10-16T09:10:00.001-07:00

See title. See blog.

Short write-up in Barron's this weekend

2009-10-11T09:13:00.000-07:00

2009's Big Winners See Slimmer Pickings Ahead

only works if you have a subscription

Beer Fairy (new Lucero)

2009-10-04T21:37:00.001-07:00

Lucero "What Are You Willing To Lose?" from Lucero on Vimeo.

I suppose that heading could be taken two ways. At Least. Andy

leaf peekers guide

2009-09-28T08:13:00.001-07:00

http://www.yankeefoliage.com/foliagemap/

Best Definition of Feltus yet

2009-09-24T16:24:00.000-07:00

http://www.ancestry.com/facts/feltus-family-history.ashx

I like the distribution/graph.

Nick Hornby on Mp3 blogs

2009-09-07T12:31:00.001-07:00

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/sep/06/nick-hornby-mp3-record-shops

If you're flying....

2009-08-24T10:22:00.001-07:00

http://infobeautiful.s3.amazonaws.com/planecrash_960.gif
(or click on graphic for full page)

http://infobeautiful.s3.amazonaws.com/planecrash_960.gif

Lyric of the Day

2009-07-28T12:39:00.000-07:00

She's my coked up, botox girl

Band: Wombats
Song: Patricia the stripper

Castle exchange

2009-07-27T17:01:00.000-07:00

Papa: We go every year as a family,

Josie. Really?

Papa: We've been going since Maddy was 5 and you were 2.

Josie: I've been going longer than her?

Dan and Andy on CNBC

2009-07-21T17:07:00.000-07:00

Notes

2009-07-19T09:00:00.000-07:00

Some alt-country updates on my blip.fm postings. Thanks to Sunday Morning Come Down. Good stuff.

In my search today, came accross this blog post

http://swill-merchant.blogspot.com/2009/07/my-ever-diminishing-hipness.html

It reads:

I have never claimed to be cool. Ever. But now I think even the last remaining particles of hipness in body are slowly dying a slow, uncool death. And I am OK with it. I just don't have the time,energy, or desire to unearth the latest MGMT remix or the next big thing(usually some obscure Brooklyn band.) I am at peace with my lameness and I choose to listen to stuff like Charlie Mars.No, Mr. Mars doesn't reinvent the rock n'roll wheel nor does he have superstar indie bands lining up to remix his songs. He just makes really, really good music and I really like his album 'Like A Bird, Like A Plane'...and as the song below displays, he can make something as simple as listening to a classic Pink Floyd record sound so inviting

Hits a little close to home. Now, I a spend as much energy (not as much time) as any hipster looking the latest and the greatest, but he lands a punch on the hipster scene good for a standing eight count. Charlie Mars aint the next big thing, but point taken.

RIP

2009-06-30T05:54:00.000-07:00

This is the picture Dave Navarro is using for his twitter icon currently. You know who the guy on the left is. The guy playing guitar is Dave of Jane's Addiction. Picture from 2002 at the Appollo. What's up with the expression on Dave's face?

Freak Folk

2009-06-28T16:34:00.001-07:00

Interesting article in Globe today on "americana" music

http://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2009/06/28/new_generations_indie_sound_is_grounded_in_folk_roots/

The "genius" of Apple

2009-06-21T13:02:00.000-07:00

For father's day, the girls got me the ipod touch (32g!). Yes!!!

What a beautiful package. Now if I can get it out. Whoever designed the packaging is a true sadist. I thought Chinese toy packaging was tough. Who says America cant do things "better"? Who says apple isn't the best?

Better yet, was the protective case for "ipod touch 2th gerneration." No really. I tried to take a picture of the box but lettering too small. "Made in China" was properly spelled.

Murder Map for NYC

2009-06-19T09:07:00.000-07:00

http://projects.nytimes.com/crime/homicides/map?hp?th&emc=th

check your neighborhood

If you have kids...

2009-06-17T11:51:00.000-07:00

Mary Ellen, this is for you (thanks, dori for the link)

www.kcanedo.blogspot.com

lol

Photos from Baxter SP Maine XC Ski Trip

2009-06-13T17:21:00.000-07:00

Maine Photos

A little late, but some great shots of Katahdin.

Maddy Poem: haiku?

2009-06-13T07:08:00.000-07:00

Chipmunk standing still
not doing anything
moving down the fence
then gone

Notes from Wednesday Night Box Set

2009-06-08T13:08:00.000-07:00

June 4 - NINJA tour at Mansfield

I tend to go to shows with two groups: median age 50's or 30's. this was the latter, my peeps. guys short hair, baseball hats. girls long hair, fashion sense just a little off. some goth here and there. plenty of left over piercings and tattoos but people with families and jobs. i can honestly say i was the only person there wearing sandals (even though they are keens, does that count?).

Street Sweeper Social Club

Tom Morello's new band and it basically the return of Rage Against the Machine with an extra guitar. And that's great. The stage was tiny and band grouped together close. i've never seen a guitarist who was so much of the energy of band. It was strange with great woods half full and the sun still out. but a great band with high energy. i've always like the idea of reap0metal but so few people do it well. so its great to have these guys doing it right. if you go, make sure get their early to catch their set.

Nine Inch Nails

Even with sssc's equipment off, stage was small and backstage was packed. great woods was full now, but strange to see NIN with the sun still up. They started at 7:45 and play an hour and a half. this could be described as essential NIN, the stripped down version. Trent plus three guys, fog machines, feedback and alot of keyboards for them to play. Last tour was elaborate lights/video/laser show and most of that was gone. We still had lights triggering epiliectic fits, but 10 of them rather than 100 (overhead lights were cool though). Whenever I seen NIN, I always find myself wondering how much is "live" versus computer tracking. Regardless, Trent always pours his heart into it, he mostly sang and played piano. This was not a mainstream set, focusing more on the internet releases. apparently, he must play "hurt" every show. Highlights included Happiness in Slavery and Gave Up for that the kind of set it was: guitar, beats and vocals. The first time I saw him was similar: loolapalooza at great woods in the middle afternoon (and rain). Out of the six times I've seen them, this wasn't the best, but Trent always brings it.

I have a new theory on Trent. He's about five to ten years behind us emotionally so he blends a mix of authenticism and nostalgia for my peers. When I was twenty five and all he did was pain and anguish, it fit me emotionally, even if that wasn't my life. Now, Trent's getting married, (he twittered during Jane's set about how much he missed his girlfriend), starting a family, trying new things in business and music and maturing. He actually talked about it on stage (I wouldn't call him chatty but in the past he said one or two words a show, now he does speeches), about how these songs were a bad place for him, a place he doesn't like to go to, but is beyond that place now and helped him get to where he is now, which i think is how i feel about NIN.

Jane's Addiction

Stage cleared out finally opened up somewhat, although the backstage was still overflowing. It took a while to get going. They opened with "three days" my favorite jane's song but tough to play a ten minute song off the bat and get people to groove to it. they seemed a little stiff and first few songs where a bit of a slog, playing more obscure songs (whores, pigs in zen, ...then she did) - this is the reunion tour with original bassist so playing only old songs. But by the time they hit "mountain song" they were in the moment

Perry was at his weirdest. Bitching out the mosh pit for throwing stuff at him (funny moment though when Dave approached him afterwards and Perry added on "please don't throw stuff at David, too). Let me see if I can get this riff right "you respect a man for his toughness. boston is a tough man. the colonist came over here. doing their own thing, hanging with his woman. he wants to have a cup of tea. what do the british do? tax him!!!! (like THEY always do) he just wants to drink his tea and be left alone. so what does he do?? Boston Bruins....POW!!!! the revolution...America...that's why I love Boston." Later, he announced "good night" but drummer Perkins kept playing; "stephen, what are you doing?"then ripping into ripping in ted just admit it. Perry Farrell is the only person I know who could wear an gold lame jump suit and not remind you of Elvis at all!

After that they played "ocean size" and it hit me, why I liked this so much. NIN does one thing: pain, anger, negative emotion. That is here too but there is also love, happiness and beauty here. This was pure joy, but a complex goulash version as the music washed over you, an old friend who while a little rusty still knows the way to your heart.

Thank you, David Navarro for being the best guitarist since Van Halen.
Thank you, Perry for putting your ego on hold, your weird feminine dancing and wonderful weirdness. You have never not had something memorable to say.
Thank you, stephen perkins for never over doing the drums but never doing underdoing it either. You are the heart of this band.
Thank you, Eric Avery for burying the hatchet with perry. you don't seem to like him very much but you bass lines elevate this band back to its prime.

We'll see what come next.

Bootlegs of tour:

http://bootlegsfrombucklberry.blogspot.com/2009/06/janes-addiction-camden-2009.html

http://bootlegsfrombucklberry.blogspot.com/2009/06/nine-inch-nails-noblesvill-2009.html

Added June 8th: Obviously, I enjoyed this as I keep adding to the blog. This is now third or fourth version. Like the extra track, box set, you just keep coming back. But I got at least one Perry rant, Trent woe is me and Morello solo.

from Mansfield

the throwing incident (about two minutes in)

watch at least first five seconds:

In case you don't watch CNBC Asia..

2009-05-30T15:30:00.000-07:00

Listen closely for when i say "arh-ahhhg..."

And no, the white arrow is not some strange nose prosthetic.

first Trimester (of 2009) listening

2009-05-27T06:31:00.000-07:00

Start of the year is usually slow but there;s stuff out there (an ongoing theme) and here's my sweep.

Summary of what I'm listening to. I've tried to embed the blip.fm player but if it doesn't work, check out my page at http://blip.fm/invite/afx. I'm a big fan of this. It makes sharing music easier, but discovering music is easier than surfing from blog to blog. But just listening is a blast, too. I'm using blogs more to track down bootlegs and obscure tracks than to discover new music since tuning in to this. (use prev/next to toggle songs)

2008 Leftovers :

Big miss from last year: Last Nick Cave. Not a bad song on it (thanks, Dori).

Still growing on me: Reckless Kelly (less alt and more country), Amanda Palmer

Not really taking: santogold

Enjoying but uneven: Does it offend, you.

2009:

Best Soul: Raphael Saadiq

Song of the year (so far): Nothing to worry about, Peter Bjorn and the other guy

Alt. Country: Centro-matic (pick on line bootleg), Moondoggies

Neko Case : not new territory but worthy addition to the catalog

Favorite Mashup: http://jaydiohead.com/

Jason Anderson : sorta of a modern day Springsteen but more varied style. check out Somerville show at http://www.jasonandersonswebsite.com/albums.html

New Morrissey - not new ground, but quality songs for an old dude. Check out live radio show he did for the BBC if you care

New U2 - intrigued by the direction (ignore boots) but undecided yet

Delta spirit - heads to "best of 2009"

throwback pick: Grandpaboy - westerberg does the Stones (go with deadmanshake - mono is just regular westerberg which is fine) (and if you're in my generation and don't know who Paul Westerberg is, go read another blog!)

Been digging: Franz Ferdinand - takes there alternative funk deeper into club. It's pop but very danceable. For a good time.

Rising fast: Phoenix

Return of the greats: Los Fabulosos Cadillacs (el matador possibly best song ever)

Avoid: new Bruce Springsteen (but go see live)

The future: Bat for Lashes, Rhett Miller, Jason Isbell, Dinosaur Jr., Gomez ?

Upcoming shows: Rhett Miller (5/16), Nine Inch Nails/Jane's Addiction (6/3)

On TV

2009-05-27T04:39:00.001-07:00

Thursday night 7:00ish EST on CNBC

Also check out last weekends Barron's in the current yield column.

wsj - my mom complained that I wasn't posting my press

2009-05-15T05:21:00.001-07:00

http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20090514-717593.html

Star Wars fans

2009-05-12T13:06:00.000-07:00

http://www.thinkgeek.com/stuff/41/tauntaun.html

This is so neat, I might buy one.

Vacation list

2009-05-06T16:30:00.001-07:00

We are trying to figure out where to go on vacation: New York, Washington/NoVa, Memphis/St. Louis, California, New Mexico. We cann't get a straight answer from the girls so we sit down with Maddy to write a pro/con list. From Maddy:

New Mexico.

Pro's: Native, Ruins, Good food, Josie's god father, never been there

Con's: Swine flu

Blip me

2009-05-03T10:09:00.000-07:00

Saw this on a trent tweet. Say five times fast. A neat way to share music and get the conversation going. But will experiment with how to embed on layout but don't get your hopes up.

How cool is this ?

2009-05-01T08:37:00.000-07:00

http://www.mcctheater.org/shows/08-09_season/coraline/index.html

http://www.mcctheater.org/currentseason.html

This has something for every kind of nerdiness: music (magnetic fields), comics (neil gaiman) and kids books.

And its a musical.

I wanna be sedated!

2009-04-23T08:02:00.001-07:00

The title of that is not because today is "take your kid to work day," Maddy is at the office and I need some help (although that is all true - say hello, Maddy - "Hello, Maddy"). It's my intro to my Bruce Springsteen concert.

Now usually when you see an artist in concert for the first time, it tough not to enjoy them (if they have even a little talent/skill). My first Bruce Springsteen concert was like that. Classic songs, incredible energy, three hours of intensity but joyful. This was when he first returned to touring in 98/99. Then I saw him two more times and it turned out what appeared spontaneous was choreographed and planned. not to take away from the mans work ethic, it was still a little disappointing to know what was going to happen next. He played the same hits, did the same speeches, same guitar solos. Like watching the same movie over and over.

But I got call from a buddy who had to unload some tickets at face value, I took a flyer. And boy am I glad. This show was either for the fans,t he guys who want to hear the fifth cut from side two of 1980's album ("born to run" is must own, musical masterpiece and then I loose track) or people like me who just want to hear good music. He played some hits, but over three hours focused more on obscure tracks. This allowed me to focus more on the music and playing than on the songs.

This was a revelation. This is a great band, but not necessary great musicians (although guitarist nils loghren and drummer Max Weinberg are). The key to "born to run" is the layered effect: piano on guitar on sax on drums on keyboards. Each part doesn't have to be technically challenging, but with four guitars, two keyboards, one base, one sax, one drum kit, three singers (and sometimes accordion, extra guitars and banjos) it's tough to pull off. More like an orchestra than a rock band. So I was able to sit back and enjoy the music, rather than singing along. Both the playing and writing.

Now, Bruce is a great performer and a legend for a reason. I would describe him as the link before Bob Dylan and Elvis, combined with a shrewd musical mind. His work ethic as a performer is incredible. A great voice (why aren't there any good alternative singers?). He's got a way with words that is like a poet (i.e. the opposite of sadness is "joy", not happiness) even if his message is a bit pedantic (I've never turned to entertainers for political guidance as they are not the most disciplined thinkers or factcheckers). His charisma is undeniable and he loves being at the center of things (see Elvis). But he is clearly much stronger with a backing group. They make both him and the music better. Whether its a folk song, rockabilly or straight rock song, his (and the bands ) layered approach comes through. I don't want to say genius, but he's been doing this for thirty years for a reason.

One of the more spontaneous moments was when he took suggestions from the audience. This is usually requests for Bruce songs, instead they play the Ramones. It took a minute to figure out the chords and then they ripped into it.

At the end, they brought on Boston's Dropkick Murphys. One of them asked his girlfriend to marry him, then they jammed to a Bruce song followed by A Pete Seeger song, Irish style. I'm pretty sure no one will see Bruce/Ramones or Bruce/Dropkick Murphys nexus again for a long time. This is what music is suppose to be: spontaneous joy, not corporate rock.

The night really captured what appeals to me about a Bruce. He's a lefty, liberal, cheatin' sob, but a great musician and an incredible performer. You get your moneys worth, there is no doubt.

Give it a listen. Once of these has 96 bootleg concerts to choose from (that's over the top but you gotta love the internet):

http://theultimatebootlegexperience.blogspot.com/search/label/Bruce%20Springsteen

http://captainsdead.com/you-can-trust-your-car-to-the-man-who-wears-the-star.html

http://addictedtovinyl.com/blog/2009/03/21/bruce-springsteen-the-e-street-band-10-years-back-still-burnin-down-the-road/

"Thanks for coming out on a weeknight"

2009-04-17T16:39:00.000-07:00

Me and Liz went to see Lucero at the Paradise Thursday night. A couple of pina colada margaritas, burritos and a big starbucks for me and we were ready for a late night with the hipsters.

Titus Andronicus opened up. What can I say about them? The less the better. They're from New Jersey. They were loud. They played indy punk. There were potentially one or two good songs in there. Did I mention they were loud?

Lucero is a band Liz discovered, I believe on Last.fm. Could have been Pandora. They're from Little Rock by way of Memphis. They are somewhere between alt-country and Southern rock (not really sure the difference anymore). They're more Murry Hammond than Rhett Miller, but don't take it too seriously. Here's my top ten list:

1. Slide guitar on 90% of the songs. I don't know why but I love the slide guitar. It makes everything better.
2. After Titus left the stage, I told Liz that I felt bad for opening act at the Paradise because they have to pack up their own equipment - no roadies. Then these fat redneck guys come out and start setting up for Lucero. Turned out they were the band - no roadies. How cool is that?
3. The personality of these guys is your crazy Southern uncles. A bunch of guys you meet in a bar at one in the afternoon and spend the day shooting pool and drinking beers and doing shots (it's been a while for me.) At one point, they pulled a fan out of the audience to sing a Replacements cover and I came off as fun, not staged.
4. The Paradise was packed (but not sold out). But when the music started, there was a phalanx of 100+ people pumping fists and singing along. Bear in mind this is a band that I have never heard on the radio. But you got a 100+ rednecks in Boston singing along?
5. Lead singer Ben Nichols has a great voice and a great accent. More of a growl than singing, his drawl is out of my youth (Little Rock/Memphis) and makes me feel at home. But the banter is superior. Funny, amusing and comfortable, but not staged. Sure the excessive drinking helped. But nice guys. They wrote a song called "shut up play your guitar" which is either self-referential or down to earth sentiment.
6. "Whats next? How 'bout a drinking song? Oh who am I kidding? They are all drinking songs." nothing to add here.
7. Hard working. They hit the stage a little after 10 and played until 12:20. Going to bed at 1:30 wasn't good for us but worth it.
8. Solid musicianship. They are not eddie van halen or the best rehearsed band. The drinking didn't help either. But top to bottom, they can all play great riffs.
9. I don't know what their songs are about. They're about war, family, girls, love and drinking (see above). Not exactly sure the specific content, but I do enjoy listening. Next time, I'm going to learn the words so I can drink beer and sing along.
10. Did mention the slide guitar?

So two and a half hours of ass-kickin' tunes. Highly recommended. When they come to your town, spend your $15 dollars. It's worth it. A couple of videos:

Update: blog with pictures from Boston show (and downloadable mp3)

http://ryanssmashinglife.blogspot.com/2009/04/live-photography-lucero-in-boston.html

Contra NPR

2009-04-12T19:01:00.000-07:00

http://blog.wfmu.org/freeform/2009/04/ten-things-i-hate-about-npr.html

lol...by the end, it's clear he's a hater but makes some funny points along the way. writing on a college radio blog in nyc too.

Like live music but gotta work:

2009-03-26T17:04:00.000-07:00

I suggest you check out:

http://www.wers.org/events/Local-Music-Week-2009.cfm

Quite a list with some "stars" from our youth.

big music day. New Neko Case is sublime. Plus ripped Cory Brannon, Jesca Hoop, Nick Cave and some G-love (all of which I actually bought the CD).

Never liked Arcade Fire but this looks outstanding (my favorite book when I was a kid):

Follow up for best of

2009-03-17T15:25:00.000-07:00

http://stereogum.com/archives/mp3/ben-folds-goes-to-college-for-a-cappella-lp_059051.html

apparently an all a-capella album of Ben Fold songs!!!

Request for Music Information/Opinion

2009-03-02T16:21:00.000-08:00

Any thoughts on Bat for Lashes?

On a separate note, I sent out a dozen "best of" cd's and got one comment back (thank you, dori). I know the posting is long, but it will take you less time to read and respond than it took me to write much less compile. I know yall can do better.

Link:
http://feltoblog.blogspot.com/2009/02/best-of-2008.html

"green" way to cook pasta

2009-02-25T08:50:00.003-08:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/25/dining/25curi.html?th&emc=th

"green" way to cook pasta

2009-02-25T08:50:00.001-08:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/25/dining/25curi.html?th&emc=th

NIN/Trent interview

2009-02-22T11:17:00.000-08:00

Bram - interesting comments on music industry

http://blip.fm/profile/guilty/blip/3974282

Little Mermaid Show

2009-02-21T11:07:00.000-08:00

Some pictures and videos from Maddy's latest play, the Little Mermaid. The sound is bad, the lighting in bad but Maddy did her best work. Second biggest part of the show, she carried it as she got all the big jokes and showed great range. Not perfect,but every time she gets a little better and this was her best work. Maddy played the Sea Witch (aka Ursala) so almost all her scenes were at her cave, hence the bad lighting.

A couple more pictures. Maddy with her new cousin Grace (b. February 14th).

Josie swimming class (peek week):

Good Neko Case article

2009-02-17T11:40:00.000-08:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/15/magazine/15neko-t.html?th&emc=th

Maddy is Ursula

2009-02-16T15:33:00.000-08:00

February school vacation play is "the little mermaid." She wanted to be the little mermaid, but Ursala was her second choice. Oh, given its not a Disney production, she "the sea witch" not Ursala. Performance Friday at 5.

Best of 2008

2009-02-14T12:33:00.000-08:00

Best of 2008

Well, I started with over 1,500 cuts and worked it down to this little collection. Some of that whittling was easy, some difficult but it was fun to look back. Last year I didn't finish until the beginning of March so we'll try harder this time. I toyed with the idea of only having live tracks, but decided to save those for the "special edition." We ended up with two cds: the audio version and the "extended mix" which includes some hard cuts, covers and live songs.

Lessons of 2008:

(1) There is plenty of good music out there. I had 1,500 new mp3's in 2008, whittled that down to the best 150 songs and then it took a month to get it down to one CD. I like a little bit of everything but even if you look at a substyle of those songs, you'll find a dozen of so songs to satisfy you. Patterson Hood of the DBT has said that the break down of the recording industry is actually good for music, even if it doesn't enrich the musicians because of the choice it had created. The hard part is putting in the time to figure it all out.

(1a) I'll add one more reason: dissonance. I love pop love songs and teenage angst as much as anyone, but pushing 40, my interests and emotional range have expanded (a little bit) and (other than country music), the "business acts" like everyone is single and 21. Escapism is fine sometimes but given my prodigious consumption of music, we need a little more. I suppose I could just listen to techno, but I want something with a little more soul. I imagine it reflects the times, but a lot of the music I listened to this year was preoccupied with faith and family.

(2) It's all connected. Take the dude in "the bird and the bee." He was the main guy in Geggy Tah (ten points if you remember them) and went on to play for everyone, including Beck and the Red Hot Chilis. He also has become an in demand producer for artists such as Jenny Lewis and Lily Allen (less responsibly, he also did the latest Jessica Simpson, Pink, Britney Spears and Kylie Minogie). It's all connected. Ben Nichols (Lucero) is on the new Hold Steady (as well as J Mascus on ukele). Ben Folds produced the new Amanda Palmer (of Dresden Dolls). Hayes Carll opened up for Old 97's last tour. Trent (NIN) shows up everywhere even without a record label (rumor new Janes Addiction tour plus album produced by Trent). This is one of the reasons I think it's a great time to be a music fan even if you're too broke or have too many kids (the magic number is one, see previous posting) or dogs to go see every show you'd like.

(3) Old guys rock. I don't know if that's because I'm older, because of changes in the industry or just a fact. But my favorite music is being produced by my peers. Craig (Hold Steady) is 37 going on 38. Patterson Hood is 44. The Old 97's and Beck are turning 40. Ben Folds and Trent are in their 40s and Robert Smith is in hitting 50. Even the "new" music I'm listening to (Amanda Palmer, Strokes, Death Cab for Cutie) are all 32, which puts them closer to me than college kids or the average professional athlete.

Next year:

Ben Nichols solo - Lucero (the next Old 97's via Little Rock/Memphis)
Duke Spirit - a more bluesy version of Hold Steady movement
Army Navy - if you love Teenage Fanclub, Cheap Trick or Big Star
Raphael Saadiq - remember Toni Toni Toni? now doing soul music
Santogold - yes, I am late to the party
Morrissey - gotta listen at least

Bon Iver - on a lot of people's list. "Skinny Love" is a great song which sucked me in. I only really started getting the rest when mixed in with Jeff Buckley and Ryan Adams and I got it. His cover of "your love" is as good as "skinny love."

The Moondoggies - the name alone
Does it offend you, Yeah? - recommended
David Byrne and Brian Eno - hard time tracking this one down
Neko Case - can't wait. her voice is perfect.
Rhett Miller - "acoustic" and sure to be Liz's favorite of the year
Janes Addiction ??? !!!!

Most overrated: Vampire Weekend Great unique sound, tons of Boston references, but really need to learn write more than one song. A little emotion wouldn't hurt either. Loved it at the beginning of the year but didn't hold up to repeated listening. Capper is must be number one on more peoples "best of 2008" list which by definition makes it overrated. (Check out Peter Gabriel/Hot Chip cover. Hot Chip is up here in the overrated category too but is it meta if you cover a song that name checks yourself or just arrogant, Mr Gabriel?).

Runner up: She and Him. The idea is great: indie singer/songwriter/guitarist M Ward (I discovered him a few years back on NPR) and kooky indie actress with crossover appeal Zooey Deschanel (now engaged to the dude from Death Cab) seems like a great idea. Reality: not only boring but lets down both of their reputations.

Other Misses:

Latest REM comeback album - please stop trying. You get our hopes up and then...

Ryan Adams - This guy can write a song and apparently does so nonstop. This album album is good (check out Fix It) but after listening, doesn't really leave anything memorable or that sticks out. Apparently he will hang it up in March as he does not feel appreciated

Beyonce

Dido - Who would have thought Jon Brion could make a boring album?

Portishead - comeback but sorta of like the Ryan Adams album

Dandy Warhols - another comeback. Typical in that no two songs sound alike but this is not like 13 tales where every song blew you away. Good but need more to re-carve your space.

Juliana Hatfield - once again glad you're back but I need more

Matthew Sweet - up there with REM in the "why why" category

Magnetic Fields - I get what you are doing with "distortion" (punk/guitar), it's just not what you are good at.

Niel Diamond - Rick Rubin albums - not a Johnny Cash revival

Alanis Morrisette - while you are underrated because so many people overrate you, this uneven album doesn't reach the highs of your best work (oddly this shows up the same day I downloaded bootlegs of Hunter S Thompson and Modest Mouse)

Eric Avery - I'll go see Jane's in concert anytime but please no more albums

Weezer - there were some bad albums last year

Phantom Planet - at least, they had the good taste to break up afterwards

Gnarls Barkley - probably biggest disappointment but Crazy was lightening in a bottle

B-52's - glad you're back but...

Tough Cuts

Nikka Costa - She does the retro Nancy Sinatra and I love it but better tracks last year

Rage Against the Machine - A cappella at RNC

Big Blue Ball/Peter Gabriel - I like it but it's twenty years old. Maybe it'll make it in as kids pick.

Flight of the Conchords

Guns and Roses - Chinese Democracy - It's fascinating to me. It's like a hair metal relic remixed by Trent. It's completely out of place in 2008 (or '09) but they don't make them like this anymore. I don't know.

Duke Spirit - Jefferson Airplane meets Concrete Blonde=heavy blues, alternative guitar and a big female voice a la Siouxsie. If only they wrote better songs. They either need to go epic or get some hooks. Still like 'em. Not to be confused with Delta Spirit.

NIN - two albums "ghosts" and "the slip" The problem here is that these are both albums for fans; I don't think anyone heard it and was converted. The slip is probably fourth best album. It's more immediate and less crafted than any other NIN album "Ghosts" on the other hand comes off as a series of musical doodles.

Ting Tings - too catchy to be overrated

The Killers - guilty pleasure. I know they've got talent and can write good songs. Instead, they write arena anthems and I hate myself for humming along.

"I'm amazed" My Morning Jacket - not my favorite Southern rock but a great song

"Drama Queen" Switches. One hit wonder doing alternative Stones. Speaking of which, whatever happened to "The Virgins"?

The Dodos (say Jodi) Big epic, serious songs. Very enjoyable.

Brooklyn Go Hard! Jay Z plus Santogold - a tough cut indeed.

Russian Futurist "Let's get ready to crumble" a perfect pop confection a la lightening seeds but wont even rise to one hit wonder status.

Reckless Kelly - Actually not a great album but a couple of good songs like "bulletproof" but Hayes Carll definitely the superior country album.

Birdmonster / Deerhunter - blogsphere favorites. Solid songs.

The Kooks - Best cover band ever? YES (see Coldplay cover)! Write catchy songs? yes. Great band/songs. Not quite.

Coldplay - "The new U2"? Well at least until the real U2 comes back. But to cement the status they hired U2's favorite producer (Brian Eno). This is actually fine, it just doesn't match the surprises of Clocks or sublimeness of A Rush of Blood to the Head. They have talent but there are too big now for us to ever really see anymore than glimpses of it (see U2). They have an amazing talent for timing. Remember when Rush came out a year after 9/11? There is a great line in Violet hill : "Was a long and dark December, when the banks became cathedrals." Prophetic or just eerie.

Daniel Lanois - Brian Eno's partner. Has a long stream of quality productions ignored by the mainstream. Too mellow, too few hooks.

Ben Folds - an album that at first brush seems like a disaster. But the more I listen, the more I like. The melodies are incredibly catchy. We spent a night on youtube listening to a cappella versions of "you don't know me." "Bitch went nuts" is funniest anti-PC song ever.

Gutter Twins - Greg Dulli (afghan whigs, twilight singers) and Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees, Queens of the Sone Age) seems like a great idea but never really clicked with me. Actually, I think Mark Lanegan with Isobel Campbell is superior. However, thier version of "down the line" is not as good as the Twilight Singers' version, but still amazing.

"Party and Bullshit" Notorious BIG - I'm an old school rap fan even though this is really 90's (2nd gen?). The secret here is remix/production work by Ratatat who had a solo album. Why aren't these guys the biggest producers in the world? That's all I got to say.

The Do - weird stuff from France. Good nevertheless.

The Gaslight Anthem - the first band (or label) to try jump on Hold Steady band wagon. Basically, the Hold Steady if they listened to Buffalo Tom rather than Afghan Whigs (that's a compliment to both of them). Still, some good stuff.

Album of the year:

The Hold Steady "Stay Positive"

I can't say enough about this band. With each album, the music is simpler and more accessible. So initially, I liked it but it was my least favorite HS album. The more I listened, it really grew on me. I've described this band as a cross between Bruce Springsteen and Afghan Whigs that fans of both will like and I stand by that statement. This is the most pure rock and roll band out there. They put on the most high energy show and if you see one band, this it (I can't stress this enough). This is more like going to a big show back in the 80's. It's okay (no encouraged) to not just sing along but dance. I don't mean pogo style, but a joyous jig. By the end, you will be exhausted.

The title is "stay positive" and the point is the only time you say that is when things aren't going right. A the same time, it's about getting successful and famous, in indy terms at least. Well known enough that the occasional stranger comes up to you and there are a couple hundred people out there who really like you or hate you but 99% of the population doesn't have a clue who you are. Nothing is weirder or more flattering than when a stranger starts asking your opinion because they know who you are, but it doesn't happen often enough to feel normal. Success and stress go hand in hand. Craig hasn't stopped thinking about faith and love either. The songs are a little more streamlined as to be more accessible but neither the music nor the lyrics are compromised.

A must see live band. http://holdsteady.blogspot.com/ has an extensive collection of bootlegs (dare I say complete). Chicago, Beta Bar and NPR World Cafe are recommended.

Album of the year (1b)

Brighter than Creations Dark - Drive-by Truckers

This is a band that I never really fell in love with, despite many recommendations. Too southern rock, not country enough, not enough hooks. Then I heard some bootlegs of songs from the new album and was drawn in instantly. Seeing them live just made me seek out the old stuff which I of course loved. Musically, these are not the most interesting songs. But there is a vibe and energy that attracted me. However, the lyrics speak to me more than any band since Everclear. They are addressing a lot of the same issues as the Hold Steady and Everclear (family, the world, religion, struggle, doubt, everyday life and the interesection of each), but in a way that is more age appropriate for me and closer philospohically/culturally. I would call it "post-Southern" but "post-Christian" or "post-Liberal" would work as well. There is not a bad song on the new album. Old stuff: How can you not love "too much sex, not enough Jesus" from Pizza Deliverance. The new album remains a masterpiece, but I am fully converted to the Truckers. Any other year, it would have trashed the competition. They also score points as a backing band, last year with Bettye Lavette, this year for Booker T. Not too shabby.

(Check out Internet Achive for DBT, Hayes Carll and others live shows).

Other Favorite Albums:

(3) Death cab for Cutie "Narrow Stairs" - I always put these guys in the "what the kids are listening to" category (not a compliment). The minute I heard "I will possess your heart" with its huge base line, catchy but stalker-ish refrain, it struck me as a little weird but very catchy - just my speed. Then I heard the 8 minute version rather than the radio edit. Nirvana. Every song on the album matched that.

(4) TV on the Radio "Dear Science" - This is actually an album in the sense that it works better as a whole than an individual songs. The first album didn't do anything for me, but this one is both an 80's revival and progressive at the same time.

(5) Robert Plant/Alison Krauss "Raising Sand" - This is actually more a T-bone Burnett album than the either of the two singers. It's old blues songs but updated to a future sounding, but mystical and country as well. Not a bad song on it. Three sentences won't do justice to it. For once, Grammys got it right (or as best as they can do).

The list:

"Brand New Start" Little Joy - strokes side project, I would call Brazilian Lounge

"Let your loss be your lesson" Robert Plant/Alison Krauss

"Tuolumne" Eddie Vedder from Into the Wild - Read the book, listen to the album, both are much better than the movie (which is okay but a let down compared to the book).

"Skinny Love" Bon Iver (aka good winter) - Great song. Cover of "your love" amazing too.

"I will possess your heart" DCFC - those with audio version only get the shorter radio-edit version.

"Lovecraft in Brooklyn" Mountain Goats - like Bob Dylan goes electric. All songs are solid as always, but electric guitar gives it more edginess.

"It's over" The Cure - I can hear you all snickering out there but all I ask from the oldies is that they make an effort. If I have to wait ten years a la Peter Gabriel to get it right, that's okay just don't churn out crap expect me to like it. And the Cure are true professionals with a solid set here, with songs written in the 80's, 90's and 00's. Don't hate them because its not as good as "Disintegration." I like this song because it sounds like late 80's Rush (but not Geddy Lee).

"Breaking it Up" Lykke li - Remember the Swedish craze in indy music? (I understand if you don't). This is sorta post-Swedish buzz. I put int he same category as Santogold and all. But whenever this song came on the mp3 player, I had to listen.

"I got mine" Black Keys hired a new producer and tried to sound like alternative rockers but they are still a blues band at heart (and sometimes push into jam band territory). This is their best roadhouse number.

"Gamma Ray" Beck - Danger Mouse may have missed with new Gnarls Barkley album but they hit it on this one. This should like T-Bone Burnett produced Beck - a sorta of near future sound. But catchy (like the whole album).

"The Freestyle" Wale - Wha-lea. In a light year for rap, anyone who can ryhme "oksana baiul" intelligently is impressive. Interesting background music, from Menahan Street Band to Santogold to Seinfeld. A true talent.

"Superstar" Lupe Fiasco - called a rapper but really a skate-kid. Every song sounds different, from rap to alternative styles. Something that grabbed me right away.

"Foundation" Kate Nash - I find Ms. Nash hard to describe. She is intelligent and funny, but honest and direct at the same time. I guess "genuine" and "talented" will do. But she sounds like someone I would date.

"Leeds United" Amanda Palmer - Another great album, but took me a while to warm up to as the drums are weaker than the Dresden Dolls. Tough to choose one song. "Who needs love when there's law and order?" I like this one for the horns.

"You, me and the Bourgeoise" the Submarines - My favorite ipod commercial song of the year. The Submarines truly distress me. They are such a strong band. Sometimes he sings, sometimes she sings. Sometimes its singer-songwriter, sometimes it techno, sometimes straight ahead rock and roll. And because they don't have a consistent sounds, none picks them up. So in five years we'll look back and say who were they? And that's a shame, given the talent.

"Here's to the Halcyon" The Old 97's - Liz's choice but still damn good album. It's been 7 years since there last all new release but this is a return to form.

"The Righteous Path" Drive by Truckers

"I've been everywhere" Hayes Carll - Best country album of the year. Opened for the old 97's last year and DBT this year (everything is connected).

"GfC" Albert Hammond - Another Strokes side project. Heard on the radio one night (wers.org) and liked it immediately. Good rock song.

"Halfway Home" TV on the Radio

"Stay Positive" The Hold Steady - good advice and amen.

"Project Rant" Pat Duff is the only movie star I know really!!!. Check out The Project. What the hell is a McGuiness?

Omission: Don't know how I forgot this. A must watch movie for music fans is "Once." Street busking and duets in Dublin are amazingly heart felt and beautiful. One part musical one part opera one part U2 fantastic. The duo now records under the name "Swell Season." I just caught them playing on Austin City Limits and was blown away. It reminded me of my glaring omission. Backed up a local children's choir (is that Patterson Hood on slide guitar?), it took me a while to place the music but drew my attention away from my reading immediately. They even bring up Daniel Johnson (subject of another music lover DVD documentary "The Devil and Daniel Johnson) for a song. Absolutely wonderful.

One more thing: We did music, we did movie music, how about music books. Check out Appetite for Self Destruction. An interesting book on what happened to the music industry in the last ten years. My points; (1) Steve Jobs is a genius and I'm a PC guy (2) What's the big deal? There was a technology shift that disrupted a profitable business. This has happened to every other business in the IT era - auto, financials, newspapers. Change is inevitable (3) The medium is not the message (4) This could be a good thing. I could go on but we can discuss off-line if you care to.

One final extra: A few selections from extended CD (click through to download zip file)

Best of Preview

2009-01-24T04:30:00.000-08:00

http://twangville.com/1124/best-albums-of-2008-official-twangville-picks/

I am hard at work on Best of 2008 but I really can't argue with this list.

Merry Christmas - follow Santa's trip

2008-12-24T06:13:00.000-08:00

This service paid for by your tax dollars. Its important to track Santa if we need to launch ballistic missles against him.

http://www.noradsanta.org/en/home.html

(via http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10128642-2.html)

That time of year

2008-12-13T07:38:00.000-08:00

Getting a head start on the best of 2008. All the blogs are rolling out their best of 2008 so I better get going. I got a list in my head but please send/submit your own suggestions. It's not too late for me to find new music.

The Feltus Family Book

2008-12-08T10:09:00.001-08:00

http://books.google.com/books?id=zD5MAAAAMAAJ

Liz found this today. Pretty cool.

Page 36
-
611.6 Robert Emmet, married to Beatrice Liebenrood

Maddy's Christmas List to Santa

2008-12-02T17:18:00.000-08:00

For those of you who have been asking...here is an excerpt from it. The whole thing is way too long. Ah to be a kid again!

American Girl...

Mia's 2-in-1 skate outfit (or probably any outfit)
Singing star set
Feel better kit for dolls
Rolling Suitcase
Ruthie, Samantha, Kirsten, Julie (Seriously. And that's after she edited it. Felicity did not make the cut)
Nutmeg or Jip (only if she gets the dolls whose pets these are, of course)

Littlest Pet Shop

Armadillo
Seal
Mouse VIP
Littlest Pet Shop Fitness Club

Penguin Webkin

Easy Bake Oven - yes they still make these and no I don't want you to get her one. As my mother would say, "If you want to bake something you can use my oven". Yes, the scars from childhood linger.

'tis the season

2008-12-02T16:04:00.000-08:00

The arrival of the first Christmas card. And the winner is....

Laura Yavanian,

one of three people who admit to reading this blog.

Happy Thanksgiving

2008-11-27T06:49:00.001-08:00

A little song

Turkey upclose:

And our pilgrim (from colonial day)

And the classic:

http://feltoblog.blogspot.com/2006/11/newmexican-thanksgiving.html