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.