Category: helloMike

Christmastime Is Here…

Charlie Brown Christmas

I came across this great article on Pop Matters that analyzes the holiday classic A Charlie Brown Christmas. Here Will Layman talks about the soundtrack’s origins and success, including my own favourite, “Christmastime Is Here.” He even contends that it is the most well known and universally loved jazz albums ever. And I cannot disagree. More people will recognize the music to this than they would to that of even Miles or Coltrane. And while its’ a far cry from A Love Supreme, nor does it hold a candle to anything Duke Ellington, Mingus or Monk ever wrote, I could listen to this record any time of year.

For other interesting X-Mas albums this year, check out this list NPR compiled.

Old Things that are New to Me — Christmas Time for the Jews…

Not headed home for holiday time this year due to work which isn’t so bad except for one thing: Christmas time can be pretty quiet and dull when most people leave town or spend time with their families.  So while watching an SNL rerun from last year, just saw this pretty great TV Funhouse song:  Christmas Time for the Jews.

[youtube]M3a3_nFRTfE[/youtube]

This song perfectly captures all the glorious things that happen when all the Jews run the town, while the X-Masers are nestled in bed with their sugar plums and calling birds.

Best Albums of 2006

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So here it is. The list. Well at least the list as it was cobbled together with twine, duct tape and ample amounts of chewing gum. I am pretty confident that these few were my favourite albums this year and while glancing over I realize there are few obscure picks here, it was a pretty great year for popular rock music overall.

If you read this and have comments or suggestions, or your own list feel free to add to this chain, or to send an email to bestmusic2006@hellocomein.com. So without further ado… read on.

Belle & Sebastian

10) Belle & Sebastian — The Life Pursuit
After hearing this album, it was apparant the recent staleness of the last few albums had subsided. The band sounds rejuvenated and trying new approaches to their Scottish chamber pop. Very few opening tracks stayed with me like this album’s “The Act of the Apostle Part 1.” A great catchy album worthy of road trip sing-a-long when you’re looking for that boost of energy.

Sparklehorse
9) Sparklehorse — Dreamt for Light Years In the Belly of a Mountain
This might the one questionable vanity pick I am championing higher than it probably deserves because I really love this the melancholy vibe so much. As a relative sequel to the previous It’s A Wonderful Life, not much is radically different, but that is not a bad thing. Nice to have Mark Linkous back to writing these darkly morose yet wonderfully warm, orchestrated dirges.

Regina Spektor
8) Regina Spektor — Begin to Hope
Probably one of the most perfectly constructed pop songs of the year is that of the lead track, “Fidelity.” The album is richly emotional and cinematic. Regina’s voice can be so sharp tounged and funny, with an adorable fragility underneathe. Add that to her dexterous piano arrangements and you have an album that is lovely and delicately fun.

Juana Molina
7) Juana Molina — Son
Sometimes it’s hard to believe that Molina was once a comedian on Argentinian television. But only because her free form songs are so lushly exotic and romantic. The surreal electronic swells and burbles border on experimental pop yet they compliment the intricate guitar work and seductive yet hushed voice. A perfect record for a quiet late night road trip. That is if you drive through the Midwest late at night and you like songs in Spanish sung by beautiful women.

Cat Power 6) Cat Power — The Greatest
As I look at this list more closely, it seems the albums that resonated the most are female singer songwriters. And this one by the fragile and often tormented Chan Marshall is a great example. There is something appealing about singers of this ilk (Fiona Apple for instance) because you feel like in some way you are strangely intruding on some painful personal experience. Yet the motifs they explore to exercise that pain are universally thematic. Marshall is backed by Al Green’s Memphis Rhythm Band on this soulful collection. Cat Power has never sounded better: strong, vibrant and perhaps a little less anxious.

M. Ward
5) M. Ward — Post War
Finally an album that is not only about the war (or at least a war) but a world afterwards. Matt Ward’s songs are filled with poignent vignettes and song structures that harken back to a long forgotten era of music. His attention to old song styles and mysterious melodies are further benefited by Ward’s gravelly husk of a voice and impressive guitar work.

Neko Case
4) Neko Case — Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
Further exploring her love for Southern country roots music, Case slinks and slides through this new collection of entrancing and engaging tunes. Case’s elegant voice is instilled with a beauty that is both cinematic and hard worn that make it easy to relate to such as the highlight track “Star Witness.”

3) Jenny Lewis — Rabbit Fur CoatJenny Lewis
While a fan of Lewis’ indie pop band Rilo Kiley, I always found some of the arrangements a bit straight forward. The songs I was drawn to were the more personal quiet moments that unfolded the more private moments. In her solo debut, Lewis has crafted a series of intimate songs that also tackle the bigger questions of love, religion and God. The music takes on a gospel country feel especially when joined by the equally lovely and transcendent Watson Twins whose backing vocals shimmer and emotionally swell underneathe each titular phrase. This is a nearly perfect character study and glimpse into Lewis’ mind and a great sign of music to come.

TV on the Radio
2) TV on the Radio — Return to Cookie Mountain
This was one of the most anticipated records of the year and yet for me, still lived up to the initial hype. It is by far the most interesting and unique sounds of the year. I have waxed on and on about this band all year in many forms so I am not sure what else to say about the futurist noise cluster of rock, hip hop, doowop and soul. The songs are not simply a collage of static-filled soundscapes. When you strip them down, the record proves to be a fully thought out collection of real pop songs. While I enjoyed the first album, this one will surely be difficult to top. There really is nothing else like it this year.

1) The Decemberists — The Crane WifeThe Decemberists
Upon first listen, I knew this would be an album that stayed with me the rest of the year. As soon as the chorus to “The Crane Wife 3” came in, the song was so instantly recognizeable and memorably catchy. I was already singing along as though I had heard it many times before. And for me, who has trouble hearing lyrics, that is saying something. The band has made the segue to major label success without any noticeable murmur or palpatation. One would expect them to make a quick and easy album that treads on the waters of the past, but that is not the case here. Colin Meloy and company have pushed the boundaries of their literary minstrel indie folk sing-a-longs by incorporating traces of prog rock and fusion that would give Jethro Tull or Yes a run for their money. Not only was this album stellar, but the band delivered one of the most memorable and unpretentiously fun nights of live music I can remember in a long time. When it comes down to it, The Decemberists have that perfect mix of superior songcraft and great showmanship. I eagerly anticipate this band’s next tour and next album. I know I’ll be there.


Mike’s SPECIAL BONUS!… albums that might have made my top ten but barely missed and deserve some attention and love (i.e. the runner-ups) in no particular order:

Bob Dylan — Modern Times
The Walkmen — Hundred Miles Off
Emily Haines & the Soft Skeleton — Knives Don’t Have Your Back
Tilly & The Wall — Bottoms of Barrells
The Flaming Lips — At War with the Mystics
Camera Obscura — Let’s Get out of this Country
Beck — The Information
Thom Yorke — The Eraser
 The Black Angels — Passover
Joanne Newsom — Ys

hello.music round one — I am the king of sad retorts

hello.music

About two months ago, I came up with this shell of a song but have been stuck since then trying to figure out a good structure to lengthen it to normal song length. Its running a bit short now.

Here is I Am the King of Sad Retorts

[audio:https://hellocomein.com/soundbox/hellomusic_mike/I%20Am%20the%20King%20of%20Sad%20Retorts.mp3]

This song feels overly Ben Gibbardy and I am even afraid I ripped off that bass piano line from Death Cab…but i havent checked yet b\c I am afraid of my imitation. But I think this tune might be able to have some potential once I figure out a chorus part and write some lyrics. I think I am already hearing the vocal melody in my head, but I might just be humming in a Death Cab-esque style.

I think this is the point where we need to start refining what we have and I dont know, maybe record some lyrics. As we are quite music based in nature (at least I am) I think this will be our major turning point in developing shimmering sparkley pop songs for the eager public.

So I still have a few challenges:

1) I need to find out what the structure is so I can write the correct amount of lyrics.
2) I need to write lyrics and vocal melodies for this past songs and record to see how all of that fits together.

So thoughts?

hello.music week one — introductions

An explanation: We here at hellocomein have been attempting to create music and build towards an album for about a year now. The problem is, we dont live in the same city. Or even time zone. So how can a band write music cross-country? Well that is part of this experiment. Over the course of the next few months we will attempt to collaborate by means of technology andwith a little help from accute telepathy we might be able to hash out something interesting.

Here is what we plan to do: Every week or so we will try to post either a new song we’ve been working on, or an existing song that has seen any major changes. In the course of our blog we will talk about what we are going for, where we want it to go, and make any critiques and commentary of the other member’s music.

I think it will be interesting to see how our music progresses and how it takes shape by allowing this blog to serve as a linear timeline for various songs and motifs. The end goal is to have an album of songs that all three members will have contributed ideas and tracks (as we will share the master tracks). Who knows, we might have mulitple versions of songs based on each member’s interpretations and contributions.
So join us, each week in the conversation: make comments and tell us what you like, what you dont and so on. Should be fun.

NPR’s Five for Friday — Pancake Mountain

Yet another featurette on NPR’s Five for Friday You can check it out HERE.

Nothing Syrupy About This Pancake Mountain

by Michael Katzif

The goat is the one on the right. The human is Bright Eyes, aka Conor Oberst, the Nebraska singer-songwriter. Pancake MountainOkay, so there’s this goat puppet named Rufus Leaking. (Get it, get it?… Sigh.) And he gets to hang with George “One Nation Under a Groove” Clinton, the Flaming Lips and even the seemingly angry musician Henry Rollins. And then there’s Captain Perfect, a cape-wearing sidekick who does not live up to his name. If this sounds like a flashback to the nutty world of Syd and Marty Croft, you’re not far off. Enter Pancake Mountain, an offbeat variety show that has both kids and parents alike tuning in to watch the mayhem.

The Washington D.C.-based cable-access program is the brainchild of filmmaker Scott Stuckey and a small group of friends who serve as the show’s actors, designers, writers, artists and puppets. Stuckey created the show to combat what he describes as “dumbed down” children’s TV programming. “Dumbed down” it is not, as can be seen on the new DVD set, fourth in a series.

Pulling its name from the theme song by a D.C. indie rocker, Pancake Mountain has grown into something of an institution, both for its oddball sketch comedy (Miss Manners teaches the art of sloppy eating) and as a place for musicians to reach a much younger audience — like ages three to ten. Each episode is framed around a dance party: a rock sock hop for tots featuring a who’s who from nonmainstream music scene, including Nebraska’s singer-songwriter Bright Eyes and Metric’s Emily Haines.

A highlight of the DVD is actress Juliette Lewis, who doesn’t always seem to be in on the joke. “Do actors make good musicians?” Rufus awkwardly asks Lewis, who fancies herself a singer. “Before you answer,” he adds, “let me say two words: Corey Feldman.”

Michael Katzif, a podcasting guru and music writer for NPR, scours YouTube for old Stevie Wonder performances on Sesame Street.

Best old song that is new to me

Before I drop my Best Albums of 2006 list later this week, I thought I would share something else… perhaps a new feature: Best OLD song that is NEW to me. I am still amazed when I only recently find out about songs or bands that seemingly everyone has known about forever. So from time to time it might be cool to highlight some of these older things and say why I like them.

In the innaugural segment I figure I will show off my favourite old, but new to me song of 2006: “Age of Consent.” I first heard New Order‘s “Age of Consent” from Power, Corruption & Lies probably two years ago when someone introduced me to the band and dumped a few albums onto my iPod. But I mostly listened to Low-Life and the first cut, “Love Vigilantes” and was perfectly happy. Then earlier this summer I saw a trailer for Sofia Coppola’s new film Marie Antoinette.

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Now Coppola amazed me with her previous two films and the soundtracks she collected so naturally the trailer was going to have more of the same. As the infectiously catchy opening notes and driving beats trickled in set to the images up on screen, you could tell the approach of her period piece drama was going to be a bit different. The film looked to compare the glut and overzealous materialism of 18th century France with the 1980’s party scene.

I knew I had heard this song and this band and even as I sat through the rest of the movie I was ACTUALLY seeing, I was still trying to figure out who this was. When I got home I searched my iPod for all my new wave music. In hindsight, given the title of the song, the album and the band who wrote it, the song worked perfectly to set the energetic tone and theme of the film.

To me there is something cool about rediscovering a song you might have overlooked thanks to someone’s great taste in setting it to the perfect scene in a movie. This song stayed with me the rest of the summer and fall as something of a go to for early morning wake up calls and late night walks home. It is now easily my favourite song by New Order.

Check out this live studio performance from 1984:

[youtube]0VcGJZpfl1c[/youtube]

Some additional observations from this video:

1) Notice lead singer, Bernard Sumner’s guitar f-ups at the beginning, playing a whole step up on the neck. Whoops.

2) Notice said singer’s crooning vocals sliding and dragging behind the beat.

3) Notice cute synth girl in the dress. Somehow attractive even in that 1984 haircut.

4) The good thing about the recent few years of 80s retro fashion\art revival is that we can pick and choose the best from the era and ignore the rest…like singer’s high shorts and previously mentioned bob haircut of synth girl.

5) I want to play this song. The hooks are incredibly catchy.

TV on the Radio…again.

TV on the Radio...best album of the year?As the end of year best-of lists begin to surface from every music rag and blog, I thought I would show a sneak peak of an artist who will surely be near the top of mine: TV on the Radio. As if anyone needed more evidence why this band is so great, and why their latest album, Return to Cookie Mountain, is leaps and bounds one of the best of the year, take a listen to this.

In a rare stripped-down, in-studio performance, TV on the Radio play songs from that record on the Interface a podcast associated with AOL Music’s blog Spinner.com.

“Province” might be one of my favourite songs all year so it’s cool to hear it from a different perspective. It definitely provides insight into their creative process and reveals that beneath all the sonic atmosphere and instrumentations is the nugget of a perfect pop song.

TV on the Radio — Province:

[audio:https://hellocomein.com/soundbox/TV%20On%20The%20Radio_Province.mp3]

TV on the Radio — Young Liars

[audio:https://hellocomein.com/soundbox/TV%20On%20The%20Radio_YoungLiars.mp3]

EDIT: Check out another stripped down performance of TV on the Radio from World Cafe which includes a great reinterpretation of “Wolf Like Me.”

What are your favourite albums of 2006? Weigh in at albums2006@hellocomein.com