Lindy Videos

I really think Lindy needs to be promoted more (saw him opening for Tegan and Sara a while ago - see my old "Lindy" post). So that's what I'm doing here.

I just noticed today that he had some live performance videos posted on MSN Entertainment. They just confirmed my former beliefs that this guy is really underappreciated. I would expect to hear his songs on the radio and I don't understand why I haven't yet. I'd really appreciate some feedback on this.

So - can you do me a favour? Please check out the music at the following sites:

http://entertainment1.sympatico.msn.ca/Music/Orange/Lindy
http://lindymusic.com

and tell me what you think (click on "Comments" below)!

Even if you don't like it - I'd like to know why.

Thanks!

Lyrics Programs

I just found this little program a few minutes ago and I already love it! It automatically displays the lyrics for songs you're playing in your music player. The days of misheard lyrics are over!

http://www.evillabs.sk/evillyrics/

There are supposedly also other good lyics programs that I haven't checked out yet:

http://www.viewlyrics.com/
http://www.leoslyrics.com/winamp.php

Fiona Apple - Extraordinary Machine

Thanks Todd for reminding me to comment on this album! There is a lot to say about it. I've read a number of articles online about what all happened behind the scenes and I recommend anyone with interest in the music industry to do a little research on this album.

My favourite articles are the following:
- Allmusic.com's album review
- Rolling Stone interview with Fiona
- FreeFiona.com

It turns out there are two different versions of the album - the first was produced by Jon Brion (who also did When the Pawn) and the second by Mike Elizondo (who's known for his work with Eminem, 50 and many more). The CD you'll find in a music store is produced by Elizondo. But with a little effort you might be able to tickle the Brion version out of Mr. Interweb.

I downloaded the Brion version early this year and wasn't too excited at first. I liked the concept (lots of classical instruments and a fair share of dissonant tones) but it didn't strike me as something refreshingly new. Now recently when I heard the album was actually being released I started to listen to it again. And proving my inability to judge the quality of someone's work, I began to realize it was the some of the best music I've ever heard. People tell me they like beer because of the taste. I don't enjoy beer because I can't get over the taste which I interpret as bitter. But I agree that if I drank more beer I would probably learn to love it. It's not really "bitter" it just has a very strong unique character. It appears bitter to those unfamiliar with it. I think I've ranted about this before on this blog (oh right - Joanna Newsom!), but there's a lot to be said about things that give huge payoffs after investing some time in understanding them. Be it Joanna Newsom's voice, Jazz, beer, or Brion's version of Extraordinary Machine.

(Dear people with writing skills: I'm trying hard to impress you, but writing is not one of my talents. I hope I'm not appearing like an elephant in a tutu to you. If so, let me know and I'll take off the tutu and just write as the elephant that I am)

Elizondo's version of Extraordinary Machine is quite different. He uses less exotic instruments and comparably straightforward percussion, making the album more "accessible" to listeners - and quite frankly I think it sucks in comparison to Brion's version. At least for now. As I've learned, my opinion of albums changes over time. So I'm giving Elizondo's mix a second and probably even a third chance. Being the elitist snob that I am I doubt his work will satisfy my fine tastes. Mu ha ha ha...

Lyrics: I like them. She's good at writing stuff. I like listening to stuff that is well written. It is good. She's also funny.

...I don't understand about
Diamonds and why men buy them
What's so impressive about a diamond
Except the mining...

Or how about

I opened my eyes
While you were kissing me once more than once
And you looked as sincere as a dog
Just as sincere as a dog does,
When it's the food on your lips with which it's in love...

Hehehe... The remaining 90% is probably completely lost on me as an illiterate engineer/computer geek. Some of the words have more than 7 letters! What does she expect of me?

Final verdict: Go out and buy this album if you enjoyed her last two. If I can get myself to enjoy the Elizondo version (the one sold in stores) I might even do so myself.

Also - go to fiona-apple.com - click on Video - and check out all the clips available. I especially like the NYC Virgin Megastore live performances.

Signed, Sealed, Delivered!

Man - this track is going straight to my personal top 10 of this year. I'm talking about a remix of Stevie Wonder's "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" by DJ Smash off of "Motown Remixed." Find this song, crank up your stereo and rock out! It's got more soul than a dump truck full of shoes, hehehe...

I've always liked Stevie Wonder's stuff though some of it can be quite cheesy. There's little cheese to be found on this track though. It's just tight funk with a disco groove. I want to see this song played after a wedding cermony as the newly weds leave the chapel! Somebody help me out!

Feist Concert

I started this entry a while ago and left it as a draft - now it's time to wrap it up and push it out. It's not as complete as I wanted, but better than nothing...

Excellent excellent concert. I would pay more than $20 to see the same concert again.

First opener: New Buffalo - thought she was great after hearing the first two songs then after a few more I realized I didn't like her too much after all. She acts quite strange on stage, doing a sortof pouty-face upset 10-year-old thing. The thing that disturbed me the most was the lack of variety in the songs. I bet it's hard when you're the only one on stage, but I'm not sure if you can use that as an excuse...

Second opener: James Collett
http://www.arts-crafts.ca/jasoncollett
One of the best opening acts I've heard (probably better than Lindy even). Never heard of him/them before, but was thoroughly impressed. Dan and I did the "sounds like..." and came up with the Wallflowers, Blue Rodeo, Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones. They definetly act like the Stones on stage - same kind of strutting around, wide mouths, and possibly other stuff.

I highly recommend checking these guys out if you appreciate solid rocking Folk/Rock bands.

Feist:
Too talented to be true. Her first appearance on stage was drumming for James Collett. She didn't do anything extraordinary as a drummer, but she drummed. Then, starting her set, she sang (obviously) and played guitar. Again, the guitar playing wasn't anything extravagent, but it was 100% solid. Her voice on the other hand was more than solid - better than the recordings I've heard. Lots of vocal tricks, truely creative variations on melodies (likely improvised) and all that with that little something that makes her voice so unique.

She used vocal loops for a few songs where she layered over five different harmonies on top of each other (recorded live one after the other). They all fit together like puzzel pieces. It was to the point where I thought what she's doing up there with the melodies is beyond what I can follow. I'd have to listen to it a number of times to be able to follow everything that was going on.

Most of the songs sounded nothing like the versions on CD. Completely different arrangements and different rythms. It was good for almost all of them except for a few where I thought they should have been left in their original arragement. But others would probably disagree with me on this.

Altogether, I'll just repeat what I wrote earlier. I would pay more than $20 to see the same concert again. I would probably feel comfortable at $30 and say no above $40. As a reference point, I don't like paying more than $1.50 for a cup of tea ;)

Jamie Cullum - Twentysomething

This isn't a new discovery, but it would be wrong to not mention this disc here. I've been listening to it for a few months now and still think it's great. I first heard about him on the radio when they played "I could have danced all night." It's still one of my favourites. But every song on this album is just plain solid. And he's still young so I'm guessing there's more to come.

This is not everyone's music. It's jazzy pop. If you don't like Harry Connick, Jr. or Norah Jones - don't waste your time on it. But if you can handle all that jazz, take this disc for a spin.

Over and out.

Bruce Springsteen - Devils & Dust

I'm just talking about the song here, not the album. After seeing the video I started thinking - ok - the Bob Dylan associations are just too strong to be a coincidence. Now I've looked into it a little more and it appears there is a definite link to Bob Dylan's "With God on Our Side". You might be, like, duh... sorry I'm a little slow some times.

Anyway - awesome song - both Bruce's as well as Bob's "With God on Our Side". The first time I heard Bob's song I was blown away. I've said it before, but Bob seems to know what he's doing. I didn't know up until now that Bruce also knows what he's doing. Major props guys.

Damien Rice - O

Oh yeah - guitars, cellos, violins and vocals with an irish accent. Need I say more? I only heard about this album this week although it's been out for a while. I'm a little late on this one. Daniel told me his female friend have been raving about Damien for some time already.

Unfortunately I'm in a much too positive mood these days to fully enjoy it. Maybe I'll have to wait for the fall to take all the melancholy :) Parts of "The Blower's Daughter" have been bouncing around my head now since I first listened to it. "Cannonball" is impressive as well. I was wondering what "Volcano"sounds like - now I think it reminds me of Natalie Merchant's "St. Judas" off Motherland. I really need to listen to that album again some time (i.e. download it again).

I really feel like these days I have no problems finding excellent new music with little effort. Audioscrobbler.com is one reason, CKUA (radio station here in Alberta) is another. For example I am currently putting off checking into bands like The Killers or The Postal Service, just because I've already got so much new stuff to work through. Fortunate I am.

Lindy

I might be posting this just because I don't want to work, but ignore that for now. I was just browsing through my previous posts and found my comments on Lindy who opened for Tegan & Sarah. I thought - hmmm - I was really impressed by this guy - I wonder if I still appreciate his music. So I go back to his web site, start listening to the _entire album free_ off the site and conclude:

Give this dude some radio play!

He's great! Yes, he sounds a lot like other people, but he's still solid as a rock. That deserves some recognition. I've heard _nothing_ about this guy anywhere. Why? Maybe he's not being promoted? Maybe people don't like him? It all seems very strange to me. How can you invest the amount of money necessary to make an album sound this good and not manage to stir up some more commotion? Let me know if you figure out an answer to any of these questions...

Back to work.

Beck - "Everybody's gotta learn sometime"

I mentioned that I like the song from the end of "Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind." But I never looked in to who did it. Well, they just played it on the radio this morning. I would have never guessed, but it's Beck! Whodathunkit?

It's good stuff. And quite unBeckish to my knowledge. Good work Beck!

Hmm... now that I'm listening to it... it reminds me of Aimee Mann's stuff in the movie Magnolia... hmmm... any reasons for this???

The Shins

I'm afraid my tastes are becoming stranger every day. Now I'm listening to the Shins, who I one month ago probably would have dismissed as "yet another alternative/indie group that makes weird music just to be different (and without much talent)". Well now of course - after listening to their two discs over five times - I'm hooked. The melodies are stuck in my head, and probably especially because they sounded so weird at first, I now love being able to follow along with them in my head. It's like a good jazz solo that you only really appreciate once you know it inside and out.

The Shins seem completely different than all the other stuff I've listened to in the past. Most of the melodies and chord sequences appear strange. I'm wondering - where did they get their whole thing from? They sure must have listened to other stuff than me, cuz I couldn't imagine coming up with something like this. If they listened to different stuff than me, how can I come to appreciate their music without listening to the stuff they listened to? Know what I mean? Lost you? Sorry ;)

Check em out! I wouldn't say it'll "change your life" as stated in Garden State, but with some effort it might do something you didn't expect.

Alison Krauss - The Scarlet Tide

I've always liked cellos and every once in a while I'll come across a song that features a cello. The interesting thing is that in every case I remember, I really like the song. Off the top of my head I can't think of many... the Much Afraid by Jars of Clay has a fair amount of strings and I think some cellos in a few songs. Good album.

Anyway, there's a cello in this song and I think it's awesome. Other than the cello there's just a piano, Alison Krauss and another vocalist. Very simple arrangement, but very powerful. I've listened to it many times and it still amazes me.

I was recently reading an interview with Ben Harper and he was talking about how he wants his slide guitar playing to sound like a cello. He even says "It's my opinion that every great guitar player wants to sound like a cello." That might be stretching it a little. But still, there's something about the sound of a cello that surpasses other instruments. It's strong and delicate at the same time. I don't know any other instruments that have that same quality.

Tegan & Sara Concert

I was at a Tegan & Sara concert yesterday night at Red's. It was really great. I was hoping for a rock-out type concert with loud music, and that's what I got. The only thing that bugged me is that it sounded like the speakers were constantly distorting the sound. My best explanation would be the sound-guy thinking "aah these kids just like it loud, anything else doesn't matter". From the Sting concert from way back I know that it is possible to have great sound even at high volumes, but maybe the equipment at Red's isn't suited for that. Anyway, for all sound guys out there - Quality over Quantity - people will love you for it!

Then, there was the opening act. Lindy. I thought that guy was simply amazing. My first response was - this is one of the best preformers I have seen in a loong time. His voice and songs reminded me of David Gray, Coldplay, maybe even a little Nirvana. A friend thinks he's a Goo Goo Dylan. Whatever he may be, I am surprised that I never heard of him before. He's even got music videos on his web site! What's up with that? They're even good. Wow. Now, listening to the music again all I can think is why weren't Tegan and Sara opening for him rather than the other way around? :P

Frou Frou - Let Go

Have you ever felt like you wanted to set speakers up all around town and blast a song through all the streets? Well that's how I feel about "Let Go" by Frou Frou right now. It probably has something to do with being played at the end of the movie Garden State, but maybe it's just a good song.

Can a movie make a song sound better than it would be without the movie? Or do some directors just know how to pick good songs at appropriate places in the movie?

I remember I think I liked the song at the end of "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind." But I never looked into it closer.

Either way, I'm enjoying Frou Frou's music right now. For some reason I don't expect it to last to long. Is there some saying about a flame burning bright but short? Insert that here.