HELLO COME IN

It’s been a long time since I’ve made one of these (tried last week, but the results were bad). I always enjoy making lists like this because the random nature makes it fun to rediscover old and recent favorites.

Condor Ave by Elliot Smith (from Roman Candle)

While I’ve been a fan of Elliot Smith for a long time, I can’t say I bought many of his albums when the actually came out (maybe the last one or two?). So when you get all of Smith’s albums all at once, its easy to discover a new song you’re not as familiar with. Such is the case with this medium tempo song, which is on one of my favorite records by Smith. It’s very close to the sound on the self titled album that I am most familiar with, so despite Smith’s typical less-than rosy subject matter, it feels warm and nostalgically familiar.

Passenger Seat by Death Cab For Cutie (from Transatlanticism)

This song and album always reminds me of my time in Heidelberg Germany in the fall and winter of 2004. But every time I hear this song I think of my frequent long walks along banks of the Nekar river which separated the ‘old’ and ‘new’ parts of the old mountain town. In retrospect seems sorta depressing to be wandering alone in foreign town listening to Death Cab, but at the time it was the perfect soundtrack for the setting: quiet and introspective.

Come In Alone by My Bloody Valentine (from Loveless)

Certainly the best album of the brief ‘shoegazer’ era of the 90s, and this is one of my favorite songs from that. With rumors and rumblings of the first My Bloody Valentine album in sixteen years, now is just as a good a time as any to rediscover their music, or try them out for the first time if you sadly have not heard. And while there are countless bands now who fall into the “nugazer” genre now (Silversun Pickups for one, who do it amazingly I might add), how can you beat the wall of blaring distorted guitars, layers of feedback and the deeply melodic inflection of the vocals. The overall effect is surreal and affecting.

Masqualero by Miles Davis Quintet (from Sorcerer)

Compared to Miles Smiles and E.S.P., Sorcerer is a bit lesser known for Miles’ second great quintet era. But with a lineup of Wayne Shorter on sax and the piano, bass and drums of Hancock, Carter and Williams, it is hard to state that this is a ‘lesser’ work. Pieces like this one just bleed Shorter’s compositional style. With off kilter harmonic progressions, extended melodic scale tonalities (modes anyone?) and the darkened introspection that the quintet was known for, this song is perhaps an overlooked but worthy classic.

Magnolia Mountain by Ryan Adams and the Cardinals (from Cold Roses)

Discussing Ryan Adams does not have to involve his insane prolificacy, his tumultuous relationship with critics, his stange antics or his recent sobering. While these things have soaked up a majority of the limelight and recent press coverage, at some point it would be nice to perhaps separate the man from the art. Granted, Adams’ songs are brimming with allusions to personal exploits, nakedly exposed to his fans. But songs like “Magnolia Mountain,” the lead off from the double album Cold Roses, and coupled with the even better the Band-esque Jacksonville City Nights, Adams instilled some new confidence in the artist. In the process, Adams has also made the Grateful Dead cool again by finding the best aspects: the dueling guitars, the rambling spirit, and the back to nature (if not slightly hippie) ideal.

The Infinite Pet by Spoon (from Gimme Fiction)

The song opens with a groove reminiscent of many a soul inspired rock tunes of the 60s, namely Booker T. and the MGs. But for a band like Spoon, this is nothing new. Despite being clearly an ‘indie’ band, Spoon still shows some love for that Motown\Stax soul and 60s rock which is a great thing. This song just oozes mood and in the pocket grooves, while still being minimalist and experimental enough to not be a throwback in the slightest of imaginations. Fans of Spoon often remark about the band’s lack of A B structure — that is often without a distinct chorus — but when the songs are as infectious and catchy as this, why even bother taking it to the bridge?

Clouds Solve It (featuring Wayne Coyne) by Ghosty (from Grow Up or Sleep In)

This is a band featuring two high school friends of mine who I used to play the occasional jazz gig or jam session with in college. This band is something of a local Lawrence, Kansas and Kansas City favorite, who I’m always rooting to push to the next level. I even featured them on NPR’s Open Mic (now Second Stage for those keeping track of new NPR Music site) a couple years ago. This band combines all my favorite aspects of indie pop — singable choruses, memorable hooks and some quirky instrumentation — and this song is especially cool because they were able to get Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips to sing on it (likewise they appear on the Yoshimi-era EP Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell). Great short little song.

We’re near the end of the first week of the Writer’s Guild strike, and while we have yet to feel much of the effects (beyond the lack of new episodes of the Daily Show, Colbert Report and Conan O’Brien… and other, less funny late night comedy programs), its only a matter of time before more shows cease production and the networks will be forced to go to reruns. Or worse, develop more unscripted shows (reality shows, game shows and so on).

It is thought that that the movie industry won’t have as much impact until next year, when we will find out how many crappy scripts the movie execs have stockpiled. And as next year’s television season becomes more in question, this thing in the short term could seriously impair the perceived new ‘Golden Age’ of television. Whether you watch much television or not, the last few years have seen a great rebirth of shows worth watching.

But for those unsure about what to do when the nightly or weekly fix of programming dries up, I have come up with a list of activities to get through the hard times.

1) Catch up on tv shows on DVD and internet. Seems like a no brainer, but there are plenty of things to watch that you probably missed or never heard of. Like Northern Exposure or Soap or Battlestar Galactica.

2) Finally find time to talk to your kids about the birds and the bees. I mean they are 19 now.

3) Flip and rotate the cushions on your couch so the indentation is less noticeable.

4) Stage your own television production or make your own film. Certainly there are enough fan fiction scripts out there to last a lifetime. Get creative… you can finally shoot that Scully\Dr. Huxtable\Jake and the Fat Man team up you’ve always dreamed of. Just as your parents to borrow their video camera sometime…you know the one daddy keeps hidden behind the painting in his bedroom that mommy doesn’t know about (sorry kids).

5) Get to know your neighbors. Haven’t you always wanted to overturn your nearby evil corporation or local government? Why not invite your neighbors over to have a lemon bar, some orange drink and stage a coup? Bring the kids! Their tiny hands are great for soldering the small wires on your plastic explosives.

6) Play in a rock band. Everyone at some point has wanted to play an instrument, or play in a band with fellow musicians. Its pretty durn cheap and easy these days to buy some equipment, record some music and put on the internet where no one will hear it and less will care at all. Just ask us! Music made by three, ignored by dozens!

What are you doing during the writer’s strike? Let us know here or at notelevision@hellocomein.com

Literally at the last minute I got an instant message from the NPR crew that they had extras on the guest list for the New Pornographers’ show at the 9:30 Club. Here are five stray observations from the show (not a review) — which you can hear on NPR here.

1) Neko Case puts the band over the top.

No shocker with this “revelation,” and no slight to A.C Newman but the last time I saw New Pornographers (when they opened for Belle and Sebastian), it was a completely different band. That night they were without Case and singer Dan Bejar and a few members were sick and overall the show was lacking, despite Newman’s efforts to hold it all together.

The difference between then and this show was staggering. Having Neko there pushes this band from good to great. Case added everything from stage presence and banter with Newman to her stunning vocal harmonies and leads on songs like “The Bleeding Heart Show.”

2) What is the deal with Dan Bejar?

Granted the guy also leads Destroyer and the super trio Swan Lake, so his free time must a rarity. But really what was up with him walking on and off stage all night. Every third song Bejar would slowly saunter on stage and sing, beer in hand. He barely contributes much on the new album The Challengers, so perhaps his lack of stage involvement is normal.

Frequently Case and Newman would ask “where’s Dan?” and at one point Newman even told him to “play the glockenspiel or play something.” I definitely sensed some tension there. Anyone else notice this or have any insight? Or will we have to wait until the VH1 Behind the Music special in ten years?

3) Does EVERY song have an anthemic peak?

Not that I’m complaining on this one…I could sing along to their choruses all night. But really does every song need a huge peak tailored for the last song of a set or an encore? It was never tiresome, but slightly predictable after a few songs in a row.

4) Less is less. But less is refreshing.

When it came to stage decoration, the band didn’t have much beyond a simple lighted sign and matching Orange amps. In fact even the drums were paired down to a minimal 4 piece, 2 cymbal set…almost the epitome of restraint in rock shows. Also with next to no stage antics and the bare minimum of banter, it was refreshing having the focus be simply on the ten people simply playing music… a nice change.

5) The Saturday before Halloween should’ve had better costumes.

Not much creavitity out there on the night before Halloween. Saw an “Anderson Cooper,” a few fiber-optic devil horns and a milk maid. Oh yeah best costume goes to the guy with the red leather Michael Jackson “Thriller” jacket. But if he paid as much as this dude on eBay is asking for a pleather replica, this better not be a ‘once a year’ outfit but a “I wear this every freaking day” jacket.