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.
(part 687 in a 1001 part series)
I’ve really been enjoying the new album by Dirty Projectors, Bitte Orca. It’s a complicated and challenging record, but the complexities are rewarding if you spend some time with these songs.
Take a listen to one of the highlights “Stillness Is the Move” and watch this great new video directed by Matthew Lessner.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMPF6lpM0XM[/youtube]
*Note: You may or may not recall that I first covered Dirty Projectors in 2007 in this Song of the Day review.
Lately, I seem to have gotten back into the routine of watching late night talk shows again. Not sure if it’s because of Conan taking over the Tonight Show, the Roots serving as house band on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon or just a recent string of good musical guests, but there have been some incredible bookings of late.
Here is a quick rundown of a few from just the last week:
The Dead Weather on Conan O’Brien:
Elvis Costello on Conan:
Wilco on Conan:
Sonic Youth on Jimmy Fallon:
St. Vincent on Letterman:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGG6ukPDgVA[/youtube]
and even The Roots themselves debuted a new song on Fallon:
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:”
(part 635 2/3 in a 1001 part series)
Recently saw a phenomenal concert from Grizzly Bear, playing much of the music off their latest album, Veckatimest… including this song “Two Weeks.” The video is pretty great as well:
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:
I admittedly don’t know that much about hip hop, so when I first found this video of “Let The Beat Build” I didn’t know it was originally by Lil’ Wayne (from his 2008 album Tha Carter III). That said, this video is really fantastic.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PglfNDepTyQ[/youtube]
I really love the steadicam work on this video… especially as it elegantly glides through the shot, allowing the camera to reveal each new instrument as they’re introduced in the music. It says that this was recorded and shot all in one take which makes it all that more impressive. Plus the song is admirable for having great hooks played on real live instruments. I don’t know who Nyle is, but based on this track, I’d definitely listen again.
Since the release of Boxer, The National’s brilliant record from 2007, the band has become one of my favorite bands. So when the band’s two nights (Sunday and Monday, May 24 and 25th) at Washington D.C.’s 9:30 Club sold out in less than 3 minutes, I was a little miffed I couldn’t see them without scalping or pulling some strings. The band even lined up a late show on Sunday as well but that was hard to come by as well.
Turns out the band has been debuting some new songs during their recent tour, which makes me even more pissed at myself for not trying harder to get tickets for these shows. From some videos I’ve found around the web, their new stuff looks to be just as great as the music from Boxer and Alligator, not to mention the phenomenal track from this year’s Dark Was The Night compilation “So Far Around The Bend.”
Watch “Vanderlylle Cry Baby” live from Toronto:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TojO3l9CL4[/youtube]
Watch “Runaway” live from Toronto: (or an in-studio performance here.)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMBT11ZmcwI[/youtube]
Watch “Blood Buzz Ohio” live from Montreal:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8qgRgyS9d0[/youtube]
Man, so freaking good. Maybe next time.