Gareth – Page 162 – The Designer Monologues

February 5, 2010April 19, 2010

Friday Music

Here we go…

First up, a request in honor of ‘s birthday! She asked me to track this down from last week’s Grammy Awards… A special tribute to Les Paul, featuring Jeff Beck on guitar, and Irish rockabilly kitten Imelda May on vocals (and, to answer our question — she sang live over a multi-track recording of her own voice doing backing vocals, as a tribute to the fact that Les Paul invented the multi-track recorder, and had recorded this song in 1951 with his wife doing all the vocals!): Jeff Beck and Imelda May – “How High The Moon.”

If you’d like to hear what Imelda May’s own stuff sounds like, here’s a track from her debut album Love Tattoo — an ode to the upright bass: Imelda May – “Johnny’s Got A Boom-Boom.”

Watched a documentary on HBO this week called “This is my Africa”, featuring various famous Anglo-Africans (including Chiwetel Ejiofor and Colin Firth — who was raised in Nigeria) talking about everything from food to language to music. Very cool. The section on music introduced me to the following Nigerian artist. Born Bukola Elemide in Paris, her family moved back to Nigeria when she was two. She perfoms under the stage name Aṣa (pronounced “Asha”), which is Yoruba for “Hawk.” Great sound — a mix of jazz, soul and reggae. This song speaks of the problems facing Africa, which everyone is ignoring. A very compelling mix of urgent, socially-conscious lyrics, with a laid-back sound. Aṣa – “Fire On The Mountain.”

Rob Zombie’s new album is out — the first one that he’s actually recorded with his touring band, instead of just doing all himself. It’s presented as a “sequel” to his solo debut, and the full title is Hellbilly Deluxe 2: Noble Jackals, Penny Dreadfuls and the Systematic Dehumanization of Cool. This track is based around the brilliant fake movie trailer that he did for Tarantino and Rodriguez’ Grindhouse: Rob Zombie – “Werewolf Women of the SS.”

Massive Attack also has a new album, their first in seven years. I haven’t listened to much of it yet, but this track grabbed me pretty much immediately: Massive Attack – “Girl I Love You (feat. Horace Andy).”

…and lastly, a blast from the past which I heard again this week, reminding me of how much I like it. Delerium – “Silence (feat. Sarah McLachlan).”

There you go. Enjoy!

January 29, 2010April 19, 2010

Must-See TV

Remember when Obama said, during the State of the Union, that he was planning on meeting with Republicans and Democrats soon?

Well, today, he went to the House Republicans Retreat and engaged in what can only be described as the US equivalent of Prime Minister’s Question Time. CSPAN has the video. You need to watch this.

He engaged them, on their turf, in an open exchange of ideas. Not only did he come off as the adult in the room, but he showed the difference between debate and obstruction… and well, just fucking mopped the floor with them. Totally dismantled wingnut ‘gotcha’ questions with aplomb and a smile — made them look like idiots. He needs to do this, with *both* sides, on a regular basis. Knock some rhetorical heads and start demonstrating the “presiding” part of the word “President.”

Today’s back and forth was such a dramatic scene that GOP operatives are already talking about how huge a mistake it was to allow cameras at the event and Fox News decided to cut away from the event before it was over, despite planning a full broadcasting block around it.

Wow. More of this, please.

January 29, 2010April 19, 2010

Friday Music

Here we go….

Another excellent track from the FIFA10 soundtrack from a New Zealand band — I was surprised to discover that this was a fairly recent (2008) song, because it sounds like something from the late-80s/early-90s Britpop scene. Good stuff: Cut Off Your Hands – “Happy As Can Be.”

We’ve been watching the second season of the BBC’s supernatural drama, “Being Human”, and dreading the forthcoming “American version” being produced by Syfy. Here’s an amazing indie/folk tune which featured in the second episode, and features some fairly well-known Shakespearean lyrics: Mumford & Sons – “Sigh No More.”

Sticking with the folk vibe for a moment — Suzanne Vega’s first album has always been my favorite of her work, because of that stripped-down, singer-songwriter folk sound. One of my favorite tracks from the album: Suzanne Vega – “The Queen and the Soldier.”

Some blistering social commentary hip-hop from Brooklyn MC PackFM, who uses samples from the 70s sitcom theme to blast us for complacency in the new “Obama era” — well worth a listen (language NSFW): PackFM – “Happy Days.”

We turn to earworms that I must exorcize: first, this brilliant send-up of bombastic “epic” fantasy/SF-based rock — exactly the sort of thing by 13-year-old D&D-playin’ self would’ve thought was AWESOME — which still remains the second-best thing Jack Black has ever done (behind Kung Fu Panda, since you’re asking). All that, plus mind bullets. Man. Tenacious D – “Wonderboy.”

I’m apologizing for this in advance. The rarely-heard vocal version of the theme to “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century”, which was played over the bizarre softcore dream-state opening credits of the pilot film: Kipp Lennon – “Suspension.”

Don’t hate.