Here’s a new Song of the Day essay, looking at John Vanderslice’s “Too Much Time” from his new album, Romanian Names. To read the full review and hear the song click here!
Continue reading NPR Song Of The Day: John Vanderslice, ‘Too Much Time’
Again, I have a few new things go up this week on NPR:
For NPR’s jazz blog, A Blog Supreme, I wrote a quick blurb about Kansas City artist and musician Mark Southerland, and his incredibly weird saxophone creations.
I also wrote a remembrance of jazz bass legend Ray Brown, who died July 2nd 2002, seven years ago today.
And finally, I shine a spotlight on a song by Talking Heads in honor of the Fourth of July.
Had a couple new things go up on the NPR blogs in the last week or two, but thought I’d continue to share them here as well.
Last week, I interviewed the filmmakers behind a fantastic new jazz documentary Icons Among Us. In part one, I talked with one of the co-directors Michael Rivoira for NPR’s jazz blog, A Blog Supreme.
In part two, I talk with the executive producer, John Comerford.
On the All Songs Considered blog I wrote a quick bit about a new Beck project, where he and bunch of musicians and friends will start covering albums in their entirety, starting with the classic The Velvet Underground and Nico. You can read that, and see the first song “Sunday Morning” here.
Since I heard Beck cover this song, I have been revisiting this album, and even learning to play “Sunday Morning.” It’s such a great simple pop song. Check out this cool, rare footage video of an early version of the song:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cWzxJvgWc8[/youtube]
UPDATE 6/26: Beck has posted the second song from The Velvet Underground and Nico, “Waiting For My Man:”
Wrote another piece for the NPR jazz blog, A Blog Supreme today (well I wrote a few weeks back, but finally published for the fans).
This week, a look at Fiona Apple’s glorious cover the Cy Coleman-by way of- Frank Sinatra standard “Why Try To Change Me Now.” Read that piece here.
I have a new post on the All Songs Considered blog about Paul Simon’s recent performance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon alongside The Roots and Antibalas. Read that post here.
Or just watch the video if you want below:
So I am now one of many NPR Music dudes now writing for NPR’s new jazz blog A Blog Supreme. As such, here is my first post, about a recent show in San Francisco where pianist Brad Mehldau and drummer Matt Chamberlain performed music from the grunge era. Read on here.
No, this is not becoming a Flaming Lips fan blog, but, I did do a blog entry over at the All Songs Considered Blog today in honor of the tenth anniversary of their amazing record The Soft Bulletin.
Hard to believe this album came out ten years ago this summer. [ENTER I’M FEELING OLD JOKE HERE]
Here’s a new Song of the Day essay about Papercuts’* song** “You Can Have What You Want” from its new album, You Can Have What You Want. To read the full review and hear the song click here!
Continue reading NPR Song Of The Day: Papercuts, ‘You Can Have What You Want’
(part 567 in a 1001 part series)
Last week I was introduced to a great new unknown band called The Antlers. The new album Hospice is a dark orchestral and electronic pop album that recalls Arcade Fire’s bombast and the quivering and mannered voice of Antony. The song that sold me was the opener “Kettering.” But this one below really blew me away this morning while eating breakfast and reading the news; it’s much more joyful and upbeat musically, though of course a hint of sadness in the lyrics.
UPDATE 3/11: Just saw The Antlers perform live tonight at The Black Cat for probably 35 people tops. We were taping the show for NPR Music to put up at a later date, but all I can say is wow. Going in, didn’t know what to expect: For as intricate and full a sound they have on the album, I was curious if they would be able to recreate it live, or if they would adapt the material. Many bands like this often end up a tad underwhelming or pale in comparison.
But The Antlers — with only 3 members (guitarist\vocalist, drummer, keyboardist on a Fender Rhodes) — managed to capture the songs but expand upon them in new ways…usually in a wash of guitar feedback and heavily distorted Fender Rhodes fed through a myriad of pedals and a Korg mini synth. Although the set was quite short, it definitely was pretty great. They’ll be a really good band if they keep it up. I shall post a link to audio when the concert goes live on NPR Music.
Here is the one photo I took:
There’s another Song of the Day essay: Crystal Stilts’ songs “The Dazzled” from Alight Of Night. Faithful readers might remember my post awhile back about lesser known 1960s group The Seeds, who I discovered while researching another band. This was the group. To read the full review and hear the song click here!
Continue reading NPR Song Of The Day: Crystal Stilts, ‘The Dazzled’