tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1698685320072999272024-02-07T00:19:33.582-05:00The Mad Archivists' ClubMusic, Media and Modern Life – among other things – by Bill LindsayBill Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07436983406944924970noreply@blogger.comBlogger252125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-169868532007299927.post-40069324130223835302013-05-24T23:42:00.002-04:002013-05-25T12:16:01.768-04:00Say No More<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">After 4 years (to the day) and more than 250 posts, it’s time to move on to some other things. I’m not necessarily finished with this blog forever, but I am putting it on ice for awhile. Maybe I'll pick it up again someday. But, for now, I won’t be updating it anymore. I have some other things to focus on in my precious little free time.</span><br />
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I started this blog with the intent to write about:</span><br />
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My keen interest (professionally and personally) in the radically changing world of media – particularly the written word.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My passion for music – new, old and in between in a range of genres.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Miscellaneous other stuff of interest – whether funny, quirky, sardonic, beautiful, humbling or otherwise thought-provoking. </span></li>
</ol>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://madarchivistsclub.blogspot.com/2009/05/why-this-title_27.html" target="_blank">In the beginning</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, this blog was 50 percent about music, 30 percent about media and 20 percent miscellany. Over time, however, it gradually morphed to being focused primarily on music. The reason for this was two-fold: </span><br />
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">First, as my job became increasingly demanding, I had less time to research and then write thoughtful and (I hope) insightful commentary on the transformation of the mediascape as it relates to “journalism” as we've historically known it. And, after putting in long hours every day working in media communications, I wasn’t that inclined to do so in my few free hours.</span></li>
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Second, in my professional life I’ve come to appreciate the value of tracking and using data (of all sorts) to inform decision-making in order to improve efficacy and get the most value or impact out of the effort put forth. When it came to this blog, the data was quite clear: The music posts garnered <i>a lot</i> more traffic than other topics.</span></li>
</ul>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There you have it. But now it’s time for me to do some other things. (Though in the back of my mind, I do wonder whether I’ll be able to resist the occasional post when something really compelling prompts me to do so – we’ll see.) </span><br />
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In the meantime, I would like to think that at least some of what I’ve created here will continue to have some relevance or appeal, and that you might find a few posts that strike your fancy even if they have collected some dust. So feel free to browse the archives (see the chronological index at left and below that a keyword index to post topics). And</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> please comment if you’re compelled. I will continue to monitor and respond to those.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />Thanks for reading. Peace.</span><br />
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Bill Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07436983406944924970noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-169868532007299927.post-57275377258828094062013-04-21T22:45:00.002-04:002013-04-28T16:34:32.409-04:00A Good Feeling at The Met<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Glenn Mercer led The Feelies through an exuberant set at The Met.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Feelies made what has become their annual visit to New England this past weekend – I've caught the band’s springtime visits for the past four years. This time around was supposed to be a two-night stay, starting with a gig in Cambridge on Friday. Of course, that was canceled due to the Greater Boston area being in lockdown as the manhunt for the Boston Marathon bombers played out only a few miles away.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Fortunately, for those of us who had planned to see the Cambridge show, we had another chance the next night when the band made its first Rhode Island appearance in more than two decades. They quintet graced the stage at The Met in Pawtucket, R.I., a great venue that has recently upped its game booking wise. It really has all that The Paradise in Boston has to offer (except the legendary history) but with easier parking, better sightlines, cleaner restrooms and friendlier staff.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Though the Jerseyites made no direct reference to the traumatic and surreal events the area had endured over the past week – they’re not really much for stage banter — they were spurred on by the enthusiasm of the crowd and delivered a much needed celebration and return to normalcy.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Context aside, it was a typically wonderful Feelies show, featuring two sets and a lengthy series of encores. They played most of the old favorites (“Slipping Into Something,” “Higher Ground,” “Away” “Deep Fascination,” “Crazy Rhythms” <i>et al</i>) and more recent standouts (“On and On,” “Nobody Knows” and “Time Is Right”). A special surprise was the rarely played “Decide” from 1991’s <i>Time for a Witness</i> album.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As usual, The Feelies offered up their own unique take on more than a half-dozen covers by the likes of The Velvet Underground, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, The Stones, The Stooges, The Doors, Television and R.E.M. They slipped The Velvets (“There She Goes”) and Dylan </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(“Seven Days”)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> into their main sets – ending the first set </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">with a particularly vicious rendition of the Dylan tune</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> – then packed the four or five encores with the rest. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Most notable of these were two covers that I had never heard the band do before. The first was The Stones’ “Get Off of My Cloud,“ seemingly a bit out of character for them, but so was “Seven Days” only a few years ago and now it‘s nestled comfortably in their repertoire. The other was R.E.M.’s “Shaking Through.” The Feelies’ R.E.M. connection goes way back – Peter Buck production and opening shows for the Athens quartet back in the mid ’80s. I’d heard them cover “Carnival of Sorts (Box Cars)” several times, but never this <i>Murmur</i> track. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Despite the interesting covers, though, it’s The Feelies’ sometimes manic, sometimes melancholy, but always melodic pop that keeps me coming back each time. I hope they reschedule the Cambridge show before another year passes.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>SET LIST</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>The Feelies at The Met, Pawtucket, R.I. 4/20/13</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>First Set:</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• It’s Only Life</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Who Loves the Sun</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• For Now</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• instrumental</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Change Your Mind</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• There She GOes</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Invitation</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Nobody Knows</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Should Be Gone</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Let’s Go</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Again Today</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• The High Road</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• On the Roof</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Seven Days</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Second Set:</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Deep Fascination</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• On and On </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Decide</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• <a href="http://youtu.be/hVbTsxGT3pg" target="_blank">Higher Ground</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• For Awhile</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• The Final Word</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Way Down</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• <a href="http://youtu.be/N_vhdbYOW8c" target="_blank"> Away</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Slipping Into Something</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Doin’ It Again</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Time Is Right</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Too Far Gone</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• <a href="http://youtu.be/JDbTbiPOyKk" target="_blank">Raised Eyebrows</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• <a href="http://youtu.be/JDbTbiPOyKk" target="_blank">Crazy Rhythms</a></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Encores:</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• <a href="http://youtu.be/3NrtriZx9Ik" target="_blank">Get Off of My Cloud</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Waiting</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• <a href="http://youtu.be/nnAGZg3kwGc" target="_blank">Shaking Through</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• See No Evil</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Sooner or Later</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• I Wanna Be Your Dog</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Everybody’s Got Something to Hide (Except Me and My Monkey)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Paint It Black</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Take It As It Comes</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Fa Cé-La</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span>Bill Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07436983406944924970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-169868532007299927.post-69397571571339431802013-04-13T15:10:00.000-04:002013-05-14T08:29:45.566-04:00G.P. and The Rumour Rock Rhody<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I saw Graham Parker play live last night for the third time in the last 7 months. My wife and I caught him for a solo set on our wedding anniversary back in September. Then a friend and I saw his much-anticpated reunion with his original backing band The Rumour in December. Last night, it was another gig with The Rumour, this time at The Met in Pawtucket, R.I., with a few friends and my teen-age daughter. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">With a rare all-ages show, I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to introduce her to G.P.’s impassioned live performance, song-writing acumen and witty banter. Of course, judging by the crowd, the “all ages” on the ticket meant you were welcome no matter how ancient you are! At nearly 18, my daughter was the youngest one there – by a lot. Regardless, she dug it, too.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In the December gig, it was obvious that the reunification with The Rumour inspired Graham not only to rock out, but to emote in ways that I’ve seldom seen him do in the dozen or so concerts I’ve seen over the last 25 years. (And as great a backing band as The Figgs have been for him on occasion over the years, it seems there’s just no substitute for his original compadres.) That was even more obvious last night at The Met. Graham was dancing and gesticulating like I’ve never seen him. And though there was plenty of gray hair on stage, the singer’s energy did justice to the “angry young man” legacy. He did, however, smile a lot more than back in the day.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">This video hardly does justice (sound or vibe wise) to the superb, energetic show Graham Parker and The Rumour delivered last night at The Met.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As in December, guitarists Brinsley Schwarz and Martin Belmont were both in fine form, trading the many memorable vintage-toned melodies that are hallmarks of some of Parker’s best songs. While the six-stringers tend to get the most attention, the rhythm section of Andrew Bodnar and Steve Goulding played with deft touch and keyboardist Bob Andrews rocked the Hammond B-2 and impressed with essential – and very under-appreciated, I think – harmony vocals. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The set list followed a similar tack as the late fall tour, with a few variations and perhaps a little less emphasis on the new album (the impressive <i>Three Chords Good</i>) and a little more on G.P.’s ample catalog of hits.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Things kicked into gear just a few songs in with the “controversial” (G.P.’s description) “Coat Hangers,” leaving little doubt about singer’s politics. Many highlights followed, including a particularly soulful “Black Honey,” a vibrant, edgy and elongated “Protection” and “Don’t Ask Me Questions,” which G.P. aptly introduced by saying, “Nobody plays this shit like The Rumour!” He’s right.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One of the most telling memorable moments came during the last song of the main set, “Local Girls.” I looked over the crowd to my left and saw Mike Gent – who opened the show and has backed G.P. in various guises for the last decade or so – dancing and singing along with abandon. Just another punter in the crowd inspired by G.P.’s brand of smart pub rock pop. Of course, a few minutes later Graham pulled him up on stage to join in on vocals for the rousing finale of “Soul Shoes,” which was propelled to the finish by Bob Andrews’ pounding Hammond.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Mike Gent of The Figgs joins G.P. for some impassioned vocals. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On this second tour since reuniting and recording the critically acclaimed <i>Three Chords Good</i> last year, G.P. and the boys seem to be riding high on the exposure of the band’s appearance in Judd Apatow’s 2012 film <i>This Is 40</i> (with G.P. even plugging the freshly released blu-ray edition of the movie, which features a documentary on the band). The fact that they all seem to be genuinely enjoying this second run 30 years on begs the question as to whether they might be game to do another album together – sooner rather than later.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My brief chat with Brinsley after the show as he cleared his gear off the stage and the crowd thinned out gave reason for hope. To my encouraging “you guys should do another album!” comment, he replied, “</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yeah, we were just talking about that.”</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Get to it boys!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>SET LIST</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>G.P. & The Rumour</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>The Met, Pawtucket, R.I. 4/12/13</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• White Honey</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Fool’s Gold</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Howlin’ Wind</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Coat Hangers</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Three Chords Good</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Long Emotional Ride</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Lady Doctor</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Get Started, Start a Fire</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Black Honey</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Snake Oil Capital of the World</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Soul on Ice</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• A Lie Gets Halfway Around the World</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Watch the Moon Come Down</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Discovering Japan</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Don’t Get Excited</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Protection</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Stupefaction</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Local Girls</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Encores:</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Passion Is No Ordinary Word</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Don’t Ask Me Questions</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Soul Shoes</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>Bill Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07436983406944924970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-169868532007299927.post-8453780719450428022013-03-10T21:05:00.002-04:002013-05-19T10:45:57.206-04:00Eilen Jewell's Understated Treasure<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="217" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1e2JxqW1UD8" width="385"></iframe></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Nearly two months have passed since the occasion, but I don’t want to let the wonderful shows Eilen Jewell and her band played at Fall River’s Narrows Center for the Arts back in mid January go by without some recognition. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The two sold out performances featured plenty of country twang and upbeat folk highlighted by the tight band's superior chops and Jewell’s prowess as a songwriter and singer. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Her between song storytelling added to the folksy vibe while showcasing her understated humor and genuine charm. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Eilen’s crisp vocals really shone on the few Loretta Lynn tunes where she really cut loose with extra exuberance. Among her many own tunes, standouts included “Queen of the Minor Key,” “Bang, Bang, Bang,” “Warning Signs,” I’ll Remember You,” “Only One” and “If You Catch Me Stealing.” </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>SET LIST</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Eilen Jewell at The Narrows Center, Fall River 1/19/13:</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Radio City</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• I Remember You</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Warning Signs</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Heartache Boulevard</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Reckless</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Restless</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Only One</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Too Hot to Sleep</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Deep As Your Pocket</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Why I’m Walking</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Santa Fe</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Dusty Boxcar Wall</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• <a href="http://youtu.be/kjcGXJKvLNw" target="_blank">Satisfied Mind</a></span><br />
• Home to Me<br />
• Rain Roll In<br />
• High Shelf Booze<br />
<div style="font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAycpD0AU9c" target="_blank">Fist City</a></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9J9kOP_Asdg" target="_blank">Bang Bang Bang</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• I’m Gonna Dress in Black</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Shakin’ All Over <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(with bits of Paint It Black and Daytripper)</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Encore:</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• <a href="http://youtu.be/1e2JxqW1UD8" target="_blank">Queen of the Minor Key</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• If You Catch Me Stealing</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>Bill Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07436983406944924970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-169868532007299927.post-59842624640263213352013-03-10T20:32:00.002-04:002013-05-19T10:45:43.119-04:00Music in Mexico on the Road to the Mayans<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="217" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/QFl8N_KgDxY" width="385"></iframe></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A pleasant ride through the Yucatan countryside on our way to see the Mayan ruins in Coba. No getting lost, there’s only one very straight road through the jungle with just a few humble hamlets along the way. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Not quite so many Gringo tourist-targeted money traps on this route. In fact, as depressing as some of it was (definite Third World feel), it was good to see some parts of the country outside the sphere of the tourist trade.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Apropos music by Los Lobos and Los Straightjackets. We listened to some Santana, Rodrigo y Gabriela and Clash on the way, too. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span>Bill Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07436983406944924970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-169868532007299927.post-9630663162317404112013-01-13T20:29:00.001-05:002013-01-19T14:02:29.704-05:00The 20 Best Albums of 2012<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<h4>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">B</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">efore 2012 recedes over the horizon in the rearview mirror,
here’s my (fourth) annual list of the best releases of the year. As usual, presented roughly in order from No. 1 through 20.</span></i></h4>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3-XfJwgHnzCx9c7-VAX3Mher3qKw0iBrvSDXgCxKcgoBZ_y_DoLpZXW6D2Imvm9IIWSUfxjf9Mx7tJr9FJGIG0Kzk0YyQetKULSDT_lpUhrMmFMmLoeKrEXzcItJUUq6f5IASjDrLK1k/s1600/1+Lee+Ranaldo+-+Between+the.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3-XfJwgHnzCx9c7-VAX3Mher3qKw0iBrvSDXgCxKcgoBZ_y_DoLpZXW6D2Imvm9IIWSUfxjf9Mx7tJr9FJGIG0Kzk0YyQetKULSDT_lpUhrMmFMmLoeKrEXzcItJUUq6f5IASjDrLK1k/s200/1+Lee+Ranaldo+-+Between+the.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Between the Times and the Tides</i></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b> – Lee Ranaldo – </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There’s not necessarily one clear standout track on
this album. Typically, that would be cause for wonder: “How good can it be
then?” Well, every song on this album
is really good. On top of that, it’s
one of those sum-is-greater-than-the-parts affairs. From the “Paint It Black” opening
riff cum Big Star-ish jangly pop melodies of “Waiting on a Dream” onward, this
first solo offering from the formerly youthful Sonic swims deep in pools of
R.E.M.-ish power pop with its undercurrent of whimsical, carnival-esque
characters (especially “Off the Wall”).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Athenian influences are fleshed out
by hints of Wilco, Jonathan Richman and others. Besides the opening track, another
high water mark is “Xtene As I Knew Her,” which starts out as a simple pop tune
but quickly assumes epic instrumental proportions with multi-layered waves of
guitar channeling Neil Young’s electric tone and Dave Lowery's vocal twang and lyrical dexterity. There’s a nod
to George Harrison in the chorus of “Fire Island (Phases),” before the song
evolves into a Wilco-like coda, complete with Nels-like lead guitar trills. Several
songs wave the alt.country banner on a bouncy pop staff (“Hammer Blows,” “Lost”
and “Stranded”). Meanwhile, “Shouts” suggests a more upbeat version of R.E.M.’s
“King of Birds” with a touch of Brain Jonestown Massacre thrown in for good
measure. (Dig the backward guitar!) Another stellar song, “Tomorrow Never Comes,”
bounces with neo-psychedelic guitar and lyrics that evoke Robyn Hitchcock. Despite these many reference points, this is album is full of original and sophisticated song writing enhanced by accomplished instrumentation and production.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I wish I had heard this album before I caught Ranaldo and
his band opening for M. Ward in May. As good and eye-opening as that
performance was, I would have enjoyed it all the more had I heard this album first.
Then again, the opening slot served its purpose, I immediately went out and
bought the CD! If you love indie pop with great guitar and cool haunting songs,
you’ll be hard pressed to top this one among 2012’s releases.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">
<!--EndFragment--></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWukcwIZONjvua3x0x7jwswtmynxADcAvZ9rmiGbYCDIDCySt3PHh8eDLucNNRYyyuVHoNtA43aXunCG2U4RYgg_i-dCwOtfTmFTwjXti0bt1Ay976tXtIPffjfU8LT9l45CfgLBxBZYM/s1600/2+Jack+White+-+Blunderbuss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWukcwIZONjvua3x0x7jwswtmynxADcAvZ9rmiGbYCDIDCySt3PHh8eDLucNNRYyyuVHoNtA43aXunCG2U4RYgg_i-dCwOtfTmFTwjXti0bt1Ay976tXtIPffjfU8LT9l45CfgLBxBZYM/s200/2+Jack+White+-+Blunderbuss.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Blunderbuss</i></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">– Jack White</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b> – </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Eclectic as you would expect, less minimalistic than
the White Stripes, a bit rawer than The Raconteurs, but more tuneful than The Dead
Weather, Jack White’s first solo album lives up to high expectations. From the funky
riffage of the femme fatale tale of “Freedom at 21” and the jaunty folk pop of
“Hip (Eponymous) Poor Boy” to the Robert Plant-Alison Krauss-esque “Love
Interruption” and the languid fiddle and piano-driven folk of the epic title
track, this album has it all – or, stated otherwise, it’s all over the map
(hence, the title). There’s even some humor in the mix (the faux Brooklyn accent
injected into the cover of “I’m Shakin’”). But it’s the guitar – in it’s many
different guises – that remains front and center
throughout. And, as we’re accustomed to, White’s characteristic quasi-falsetto,
double-tracked vocals are never far from the fore. The most prominent nod to
the past – or playing it safe – on this record is the single “Sixteen
Saltines,” the most Stripes-like song on the album. It’s a good one, though.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yes, White has switched the theme from red, white and black
to blue, but he’s found a new gimmick in that all of these songs were recorded
in alternating sessions with all male and then repeated with all female backing
musicians. The results were integrated in the mix. Jack must’ve liked the
effect – or at least the buzz-worthiness of the image – since he took the
concept out on the road with him, playing with the ladies one night and then
the men the next. (I saw him with the female troupe in Boston.) Regardless of the color scheme or the gender of his team, White has continued to find artistic as well as commercial success.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJ4ePinUyDNKbg7_BkiI0dcQ3WP33hV3L4mOpZ-nxKKsEEA_PiKN6rZ7Q3hw3euBA6zeOcVOiYLhHqK826vAb6R9M5N5aQI4B_xRZiL-lliZnU9h8P-d773o0_hacoLfIM1A4HrvuYAc/s1600/3+Scott+Lucas-+Blood+Half+Moon.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaJ4ePinUyDNKbg7_BkiI0dcQ3WP33hV3L4mOpZ-nxKKsEEA_PiKN6rZ7Q3hw3euBA6zeOcVOiYLhHqK826vAb6R9M5N5aQI4B_xRZiL-lliZnU9h8P-d773o0_hacoLfIM1A4HrvuYAc/s200/3+Scott+Lucas-+Blood+Half+Moon.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Blood Half Moon</i></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">– Scott Lucas & The Married Men</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b> – </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">To
the unfamiliar, this third release from this side project of the Local H
singer/guitarist, is a bit like The Wallflowers meet The Beatles. That means
the pop hooks abound and they’re nuanced with either searing rock melodies or
plaintive Springsteen-esque narratives. The haunting fiddle coursing through many of the tracks gives the sound a unique stamp and provides an emotive undertone of despair that counterbalances the chunky rock
guitar riffs. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Purposeful or not – and I’m sure not – other songs evoke a sonic reminiscence of old personal favorites of mine, such as The Church (“Out of the
Boat”) and the greatly under-appreciated Boston 1980’s band Push Push (“Old
Worries”). Overall, Lucas and Co. update The Wallflowers/Gin Blossoms formula for power pop – sharp guitar leads, strong melodic hooks, driving rhythm and worthwhile
lyrics – for the new millennium in a manner similar to last year’s
favorites Kurt Vile and The War on Drugs. Best of all, the album ends with an
epic throwdown of “Ain’t No Grave,” a declarative, bluesy rant that would make
Johnny Cash proud.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6tE5qUDfbM7Hvwuvld6ej3n4Pbgyrz3rt2Hz25FnV-2muobLeCc637JNsYE11ONRs7otFqJXGUid0y6FnSM0kZjNgUtmPoJjXNq_GLs8ASj0EuwOHm-uwf2xIW4H3QAjEy9Ml2oV7CpA/s1600/4+Mark+Cutler+-+Sweet+Pain.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6tE5qUDfbM7Hvwuvld6ej3n4Pbgyrz3rt2Hz25FnV-2muobLeCc637JNsYE11ONRs7otFqJXGUid0y6FnSM0kZjNgUtmPoJjXNq_GLs8ASj0EuwOHm-uwf2xIW4H3QAjEy9Ml2oV7CpA/s200/4+Mark+Cutler+-+Sweet+Pain.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sweet Pain</i></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="font-weight: bold;"> – Mark Cutler</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>
– </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This Rhode Island legend continues to crank out tuneful, heartfelt roots
rock, tinged with country and folk flare with an aplomb that belies his under-appreciated
status on a global scale. This 2012 release features nine new tunes along
with reworkings of four lesser-known gems from Cutler’s considerable back
catalog. All but two or three of the songs are familiar to those who see M.C.’s
many local performances during the course of the year. One of those newer tunes,
the countrified “Nothing Left to Do” is my favorite, but there are many
exceptional tracks, including the seemingly-innocent-yet-sinister-beneath-the-surface
“Come Out to the Woods with Me,” the Sunday morning vibe of “Come Get Me Up”
and the slacker romanticism of “Waste Some Time.” Cutler’s bluesier leanings
are well represented too, particularly on the sardonic opening track, “Salvation Cruise.”</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Among
the older tunes Mark revisits and re-baptizes with his Men of Great Courage, the standouts are his Schemers’ composition, “Walking in the Night,” which remains fresh despite its mid ’80’s
vintage, and the early Raindogs’ song of similar vintage, “Lonesome Pain.” The
latter simmers with the twisted mania of the original – <i>sans</i> Johnny Cunningham’s (R.I.P.) irreplaceable fiddle playing, of
course.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Despite not achieving the widespread recognition that his 30-year-career-long
output merits, Cutler presses on producing top notch tunes played with passion
and recorded with impact but not too much fuss. Though this isn’t my favorite
Cutler record of his considerable catalog (which I have every bit of that I’ve
been able to get my hands on), it stands tall among his better efforts. In
fact, it may be the best representation in one record of the breadth of his
songwriting talent. (So be sure to check this one out, you Nashville cats!)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1U3ZA6KNFdzZj4G0GEBcyag8elgM0pN4ukF0zMbcOsiNLEGXX3nlPwfUZPOg9u2g8KLm2XslPPP3HIhkcU10_wV80xeD_nG9NHhtMOoVj6t4ejth4WWpDaQhPCYgrxzSCCOl5XWEAUZ4/s1600/5+M+Ward+-+A+Wasteland+Companion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1U3ZA6KNFdzZj4G0GEBcyag8elgM0pN4ukF0zMbcOsiNLEGXX3nlPwfUZPOg9u2g8KLm2XslPPP3HIhkcU10_wV80xeD_nG9NHhtMOoVj6t4ejth4WWpDaQhPCYgrxzSCCOl5XWEAUZ4/s200/5+M+Ward+-+A+Wasteland+Companion.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A Wasteland Companion</i></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="font-weight: bold;"> – M.
Ward</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b> –</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> From plaintive, soft-spoken folk to jaunty pop and rollicking rock
’n’ roll, this album shows off Matt Ward’s masterful musicianship, subtle
songwriting and production skills in all their glory – providing further
reminder of how baffling it is that he’s not a bigger star. Perhaps it’s because
he’s more “artist” than “pop star.” Yet, “Me and My Shadow” is a perfect
example of the effective marriage of those two approaches.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">More piano than
guitar oriented than most of his albums, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>A
Wasteland Companion</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> features original takes on romance, as well as a dose of eccentric
whimsy. There’s also a Buddy Holly-esque ’50s pop element to things (most
notably on “Sweetheart,” featuring Ward’s She & Him companion Zooey
Deschanel dueting on vocals) and a quirky first-person tale of a twisted TV
sound effects man hijacking the airwaves of his station late one night in
“Watch the Show.” And anyone who can pull off covers of both Louis Armstrong
(“I Get Ideas”) and Daniel Johnston (“Sweetheart”), not just with aplomb but
with a confident stamp of ownership, is clearly a force to be reckoned with.
Indeed, after more than half a decade of impressive, highly artistic output, M.
Ward is worthy of much wider notice –
both on record and live. He put on one of the two best concerts I saw in 2012.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggQVd0IHA70DZu70_mj8J2FPVKbj4DKO6SVv4KD3z5L32ENnn45FdTEr07SvWlfe9n6ujcuB5UPxe8IoMeSErhpjEr-3BZK9OGdma2rRxyofijBewgKrpFZrbdjcFEUHyY4exQfQPK7cU/s1600/6+GP+&+The+Rumour+-+Three+Chords+Good.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggQVd0IHA70DZu70_mj8J2FPVKbj4DKO6SVv4KD3z5L32ENnn45FdTEr07SvWlfe9n6ujcuB5UPxe8IoMeSErhpjEr-3BZK9OGdma2rRxyofijBewgKrpFZrbdjcFEUHyY4exQfQPK7cU/s200/6+GP+&+The+Rumour+-+Three+Chords+Good.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Three Chords Good</i></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">–
Graham Parker & The Rumour</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b> –</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">
G.P. has remained musically vital and active in his twilight years, but this
year’s reunion with his original bandmates 30 years nigh on seems to have
injected new energy and given rebirth to the “angry young man.” The reunion was
prompted by G.P. and Co. being asked to appear in Judd Apatow’s new movie </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>This Is 40</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. The musicians’ reconnection
lead to an album and brief-but-spirited tour of small theaters across the
country. (I was front row in Boston!)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The album gets right back to the band’s
old tricks with the kickoff track, “Snake Oil Capital of the World,” a typically
snarky Parker social diatribe matched with musical grit provided by Brinsley Schwarz
and Martin Belmont on guitars and masterful backing vox and keys by Bob
Andrews. The band cruises through the
next few songs, which are solid, respectable G.P. fare, but not wholly
impressive. That said, even middling G.P. tunes are leagues ahead of
most of what’s released – now or back in the day. By the fifth track (the
title track), however, the booster rockets fire and the collection burns from there on
out.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Clever, engaging lyrics and hook-heavy melodies are matched with solid
rhythmic grooves, making “A Lie Gets Halfway ’Round the World,” the provocative
“Coathangers” and the sarcastic-but-sadly-true “Last Bookstore in Town”
formidable additions to Parker’s catalog. Meanwhile, my favorite track, “Arlington’s
Busy,” is a worthy addendum to the honor roll of truly great protest songs. Overall, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Three
Chords Good</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> is a varied, polished and spirited affair from the “Old Soul”
and his gang.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuUMGqVhYLIu663yuFIWFHjjF1LgtxUFf8r7vMiA68f2GFAFE8rotwO-g6mLgzGW1jzZptMWKeQcMvlNf-8drIN3MNh6k57736ybnjpwmRU2sOXQ3GNvD_AgOf5FwHoK0kqftSGh0E9bM/s1600/7+Amadou+&+Mariam+-+Folila.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuUMGqVhYLIu663yuFIWFHjjF1LgtxUFf8r7vMiA68f2GFAFE8rotwO-g6mLgzGW1jzZptMWKeQcMvlNf-8drIN3MNh6k57736ybnjpwmRU2sOXQ3GNvD_AgOf5FwHoK0kqftSGh0E9bM/s200/7+Amadou+&+Mariam+-+Folila.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Folila</i></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b> – </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">Amadou et
Mariam</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b> –</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="font-style: italic;"> </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is the most pop and English-oriented release yet from the
blind husband and wife team from Mali. Featuring guest appearances by
Santigold, members of TV on Radio and the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs, among others, this
album was reportedly recorded twice: once in New York, and once in Bamako. The
two versions were then welded together in a Paris studio. While the
French/Euro-pop atmospherics of this album have been a part of Amadou et
Mariam’s catalog for some time, here they are more pronounced and more
Anglophied than ever before – to the point of occasionally overwhelming the
essence of the duo’s sound. That said, this is still a really good record
regardless.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If you like North African pop, but aren’t a purist, and
you like, say Broken Bells, then most likely you’ll dig this record. Its mix of
world, trance and funk coupled with even more English lyrics than previous
releases broaden the crossover appeal. I fall somewhere between purist and
someone who prefers the more western leanings and I still like this record
quite a bit, even if it’s not quite as “authentic” as previous efforts. And,
worth noting, it’s probably the most danceable record on this list.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWFjhtzqLveLhdNWNGyi3uw9KH-VJpCt47vSU-EuK-Sdvgun-LKs77pW5gN8n94htqC8ssIHSh76dSIgWHpGRjLPY1ubh8XF-T0rcDTajxZ_CFu_JhQNjZsUuuEettKf_C_oSmw19wZ7o/s1600/8+Spiritualized+-+Sweet+Heart+Sweet+Light.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWFjhtzqLveLhdNWNGyi3uw9KH-VJpCt47vSU-EuK-Sdvgun-LKs77pW5gN8n94htqC8ssIHSh76dSIgWHpGRjLPY1ubh8XF-T0rcDTajxZ_CFu_JhQNjZsUuuEettKf_C_oSmw19wZ7o/s200/8+Spiritualized+-+Sweet+Heart+Sweet+Light.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sweet Heart, Sweet Light</i></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b> – Spiritualized – </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Part Brian Jonestown Massacre, part Beatles, this
is one of Spiritualized’s more upbeat, optimistic offerings. It kicks in with
the harmony driven, jaunty pop chords propelling the Dylan-meets-Lou Reed-esque
narrative of a young lady’s dissolution on “Hey Jayne.” The wash of sound
continues through the very BJM-ish “Get What You Deserve” before taking a more soulful
tangent on “I Am What I Am.” The psychedelic orchestral space trip returns on
“Mary,” but then the sound shifts gears again, assuming a serious spiritual,
nearly gospel vibe on the last two songs, “Life Is a Problem” and “So Long You
Pretty Thing.” Despite the possible tongue-in-cheek aspect of these two tracks,
particularly the former (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>a la</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> The Stones’ “Girl with the Faraway Eyes”), they’re
likely sincere sentiments given the hard road band leader Jason Pierce (a.k.a., J.
Spaceman) has traveled throughout his career.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzWXMQW_-w1V1XxiL14CwPuXIBMglsrkcNFA1zKsLfgOU4juITy3SxUanVUGMyqGdpzsXLQiEkgrm1jcrA3eAYnAPR4Iy2Hrq-zjr1LYq0bjPna8rl7qxeldIGtNTCV8bQqzHUPr-RlSg/s1600/9+Patti+Smith+-+Banga.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzWXMQW_-w1V1XxiL14CwPuXIBMglsrkcNFA1zKsLfgOU4juITy3SxUanVUGMyqGdpzsXLQiEkgrm1jcrA3eAYnAPR4Iy2Hrq-zjr1LYq0bjPna8rl7qxeldIGtNTCV8bQqzHUPr-RlSg/s200/9+Patti+Smith+-+Banga.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Banga</i></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b> – Patti Smith
– </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For years, Patti Smith was viewed as the punk poetess laureate, something
like a female Dylan a decade later. But on this latest record, her best in
years, she sounds more like a female Leonard Cohen – especially later-day
Cohen, the dignified, elder, artistic gentleman. Yet, true to her roots Smith
still manages to evoke shades of Jim Morrison (“Banga” and “Tarkovsky”) and
Dylan (“Nine”). There’s also evidence of the influence her friendship with
R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe has had on her music. Her old musical cronies –
guitarist Lenny Kaye, drummer Jay Dee Daugherty, bassist Tommy Shanahan and
even ex-Television man Tom Verlaine – color this record with fresh, but
familiar, sonic hues. Both tuneful and poetic, this is one of Patti’s best
releases since her heyday. The lyrics rule the affair, of course, but this
album is supremely tuneful – even poppy at points. Standout tunes include the
title track, the opener, “Amerigo,” the Wilco-esque “April Fool” (complete with
Nels-like guitar licks), “Maria,” “Mosaic,” “Nine,” the Doors-like psychedelic
atmospherics of “Tarkovsky (The Second Stop Is Jupiter”) and the epic
“Constantine’s Dream.”</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">
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</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMN3itfKseaRcjBTyVm7HzZNasnnOavwXAymygSCBXBhtZW-33lBU8YP1_10T6rtsiBg-RNJVlk2d_M8fxHGbtBx5iCNLd1TbWjWejVRCRu9FgQEpOcxABLjTdBSKEicXfKMBTiT0noNA/s1600/10+Cat+Power+-+Sun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMN3itfKseaRcjBTyVm7HzZNasnnOavwXAymygSCBXBhtZW-33lBU8YP1_10T6rtsiBg-RNJVlk2d_M8fxHGbtBx5iCNLd1TbWjWejVRCRu9FgQEpOcxABLjTdBSKEicXfKMBTiT0noNA/s200/10+Cat+Power+-+Sun.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i>Sun</i></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="font-weight: bold;"> – Cat Power</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b> – </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Chan
Marshall has a storied past, but none of that matters in this shades-of-Sinead
affair (listen to “Manhattan”) with major musical nods to Peter Gabriel’s fine
1980s work in the overall production, synth and guitar tones. The album kicks
off with a Mamas-and-Papas-sixties-folk-pop-meets-21st-century-rhythms-for-a-cosmic-prayer
vibe on “Cherokee.” The stellar songcraft continues on the organic-meets-electronica,
Beth Orton-like tonalities of the title track. Overall, Sun features a variety of sounds, drawing from world music, hip-hop
flavors and even piano ballads. A strong rhythmic sense throughout provides the
foundation upon which Marshall builds fascinating song structures and vocal
décor.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB7ijwn-xpbPTLpxeCqPjqe4ltDJu0F15BCddbweaZ1D_i-dpV4K59XX2uJB31V3mnxD1TDovgHtJNyeNGs8b5nvp0ZmaxJzLPr57Mcv6Z1jnIFKYrErpoU1ij75X7zjgOQ2De3td2SBA/s1600/11+Wallflowers+-+Glad+All+Over.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB7ijwn-xpbPTLpxeCqPjqe4ltDJu0F15BCddbweaZ1D_i-dpV4K59XX2uJB31V3mnxD1TDovgHtJNyeNGs8b5nvp0ZmaxJzLPr57Mcv6Z1jnIFKYrErpoU1ij75X7zjgOQ2De3td2SBA/s200/11+Wallflowers+-+Glad+All+Over.png" width="198" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Glad All Over</i></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="font-weight: bold;"> – The
Wallflowers</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b> – </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This album offers a harder edged, funkier version of the
sound that first catapulted these masters of the pop hook to prominence in the mid
1990s. Yes, it’s a comeback – after Jakob Dylan’s semi-successful solo
excursions and some personnel changes. And while the genuine Dylan pedigree and
many of the trademark elements of the band’s sound remain intact, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Glad All Over</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> is a notable new chapter. Of
course, it doesn’t hurt to have Mick Jones in tow on two tunes – he adds a bit
of The Clash swagger to the proceedings and his vibe infuses the whole affair,
including their name-dropping Joe Strummer on one tune. “Reboot the Mission,” indeed.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBTPiNFJXJuw4ZyI4IfXe6lDcbLkwWWcwrV3JS6di-mw45DzE7wKHWEnBB3js4x_wNeJjz6QcdqkU_Jx7e9boWzy_vl555F1bunWsb15eVlQGrCdK-JXnOoBHSEU4CdLXnZGxxEhJMCzg/s1600/12+John+Cale+-+Shifty+Adventures.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBTPiNFJXJuw4ZyI4IfXe6lDcbLkwWWcwrV3JS6di-mw45DzE7wKHWEnBB3js4x_wNeJjz6QcdqkU_Jx7e9boWzy_vl555F1bunWsb15eVlQGrCdK-JXnOoBHSEU4CdLXnZGxxEhJMCzg/s200/12+John+Cale+-+Shifty+Adventures.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Shifty</i></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Adventures in Nookie Wood</b></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">
– </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">John Cale</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> –</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In recent years, the
legendary producer and Velvet Underground founder has been conspicuously
smitten with the cutting-edge production techniques heard in contemporary
hip-hop. And though this is not a hip-hop record – it’s more haunting,
beat-driven pop – it does employ some sonic trademarks of the hip-hop groove,
particularly in the beats built around Cale’s beloved MPC loops. Danger Mouse co-produces and plays on the opening track (“I Wanna Talk 2 U”), which these days is an imperative to take notice.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Studio wizardry
aside, what makes this album exceptional is that, at its core, it’s a varied
collection of great songs with a nice balance of funky grooves and compelling
melodies. In other words, these songs could all be effectively delivered sans
all the studio effects on just acoustic instruments, which there are a
surprising amount of on this record. At times, the tunes recall Eno or Bowie
(particularly on “Hemingway”), but overall it is characteristically Cale and
proof that more mainstream listeners should know his post-Velvets output. Fans
of Byrne, Eno or Bowie will surely enjoy this album.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">
<!--EndFragment--></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeueF7v8XU-YQPBiGMU29gxUGxH2SMI2F3XT2QrO5JIypD8qLCHHljOIcvOktmxlg8nwUfKBk1ZgbqhlBF5b1hfsCR-tERIO7hgsTrzTyBznXV2qVjtX5RhsHDAags_I9fS_y9LWrQ3Co/s1600/13+Django+Django.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeueF7v8XU-YQPBiGMU29gxUGxH2SMI2F3XT2QrO5JIypD8qLCHHljOIcvOktmxlg8nwUfKBk1ZgbqhlBF5b1hfsCR-tERIO7hgsTrzTyBznXV2qVjtX5RhsHDAags_I9fS_y9LWrQ3Co/s200/13+Django+Django.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Django
Django</i></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">– Django Django</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b> –</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> OK,
I admit that I was initially compelled to check out this band because my cat is
named Django (after the magnificent gypsy guitarist). Second, they’re from
Scotland, always an additional merit for consideration given my personal
lineage. Ultimately, however, the killer pop hooks these lads pair with arty
rhythms, techno beats, ’80s-style synths and catchy lyrics won me over.
Remarkably, the band balances sounding, at times, like late ’60s Pink Floyd
(“Hail Bop”), </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Sgt. Pepper</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-era Beatles
or even or Canned Heat (“Firewater”), while at other times evoking The
Buzzcocks, The Undertones, Devo, Gary Newman and Kraftwerk. The single,
“Default,” sums up the cynical eloquence of their post-modern perspective:
“Wheels are coming off now, knew that it would fall apart. Take one of the
machine, you’re a cog in a machine, it’s like a default.”</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3KLt5lEyWu2R-bMKiitvy5YafzGPGTARncsUHAvbffpYb3hGSZQL6PRVnD6-03RLKkNayMgsUwsAQFsek6ToptOsvPo7-ZRzB08K-ZObO1Xdm_stqNiz3WwTQLS-iabKpHbqrtdFYS2E/s1600/14+Dr+John+-+Locked+Down.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3KLt5lEyWu2R-bMKiitvy5YafzGPGTARncsUHAvbffpYb3hGSZQL6PRVnD6-03RLKkNayMgsUwsAQFsek6ToptOsvPo7-ZRzB08K-ZObO1Xdm_stqNiz3WwTQLS-iabKpHbqrtdFYS2E/s200/14+Dr+John+-+Locked+Down.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Locked Down</i></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="font-weight: bold;"> – Dr. John</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>
– </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Right from the get go, it’s obvious that producer Dan Auerbach (he of Black
Keys renown) resurrects the funky soul of Dr. J in a way that has seldom been heard
since The Nitetripper’s gumbo was freshly brewed down in the Big Easy.
Contemporary lyrics (“Revolution” and “Kingdom if Izzness”) paired with
timeless grooves make for compelling listening. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Locked Down</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> offers a nice cross section of the artist’s strengths,
from the slinky (“Big Shot”) to the spiritual (“My Children, My Angels,” which evokes
The Stones’ </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Black and Blue</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> track,
“Memory Motel”). Besides the knob-twiddling and assembly of a sonically sympathetic
supporting cast, Auebach’s spikey guitar leads add a lot to the affair,
particularly when they soar over the funky keys, wall of horns and backing vox
on tracks like the tremolo-driven soul of “You Lie” and the righteous closer
“God’s Sure Good.” All in all, this album exudes the funk. Indeed, Dan A. and
Co. have resurrected Mac Rebennack’s groove.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDtM-HFjMUreP9O1Es1UmCdHJCZHvH6W7y5eOIIq84-acmT48O2HT8Zi-8JexRCd6hYCanGpLISVKpngudyZ0FJVGO10vxCECwd-B2EcDRwIZevJDyg_gVSjHrrSjI8YhonYTHO9qRlYI/s1600/15+Bob+Mould+-+Silverr+Age.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDtM-HFjMUreP9O1Es1UmCdHJCZHvH6W7y5eOIIq84-acmT48O2HT8Zi-8JexRCd6hYCanGpLISVKpngudyZ0FJVGO10vxCECwd-B2EcDRwIZevJDyg_gVSjHrrSjI8YhonYTHO9qRlYI/s200/15+Bob+Mould+-+Silverr+Age.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Silver Age</i></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="font-weight: bold;"> – Bob Mould </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>–
</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mould revisits the hard-edged pop of his post Husker Dü band Sugar (his
artistic apex) and produces an aggressively tuneful, vitriol-filled
condemnation of the music industry (“Star Machine” </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>et al</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">). Bob shows us how, along with Minneapolis brethren The
Replacements, he’s the godfather of the full-throttle, guitar-driven pop power
that paved the way for Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Sleater Kinney and others. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Silver Age</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> kicks off with a potent
one-two punch of “Star Machine” and the title track. The sonic assault
continues unabated, but other standouts include a subsequent tuneful tandem of
“Angels Rearrange” and “Keep Believing.” Things wind down just a bit for the
R.E.M.-ish closing track, “First Time Joy.” Nice to see Bob regaining his mojo.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiogc9F8vKiboKkQvYEkz43kR04uBnIHeNnjH9_qsimj4jfnXzEICqWLphxMfAdAKk3Pt7EtjvSRm3QZ4o9pVReNjKOWrRPYr1h-dSYIotlslXILsleAEoKaVDkE7iMthus6lpXc86Y4k4/s1600/16+Royal+Headache.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiogc9F8vKiboKkQvYEkz43kR04uBnIHeNnjH9_qsimj4jfnXzEICqWLphxMfAdAKk3Pt7EtjvSRm3QZ4o9pVReNjKOWrRPYr1h-dSYIotlslXILsleAEoKaVDkE7iMthus6lpXc86Y4k4/s200/16+Royal+Headache.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Royal Headache</i></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="font-weight: bold;"> – Royal
Headache</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> – This Aussie band combines the frenetic rhythms and melodic
sensibilities of late-’70s/early-’80s Brit pop artists like The Jam, The
Buzzcocks, The Wedding Present, Elvis Costello and Nick Lowe with a heavy dose
of the sweaty energy and harmonic sensibilities of Hamburg-era Beatles. The
result is upbeat, propulsive, yet melodic pop that bridges multiple decades
with the essence of pure pop-rock punch. When they’re not channeling the raw,
youthful energy of The Beatles, The Jam or even a catchy combination of The
Faces and Buddy Holly (“Honey Joy”) – which is most of the time – they tap into
the post-modern pop of The Figgs (“Two Kinds of Love”), The Wedding Present
(“Back and Forth” and “Pity”) and Squeeze on speed (“Back and Forth” and “Down
the Lane”). Even the two instrumentals tracks are joyful listens on this one.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKw9YokHIq18Y7y1ENDqkWP1po8Rh1rc3puKspexKxz3rb-ZiU0J6Xwai13kJ7CsYes2oTEjPQ_9UbuQ5rMDBmcFOmmt38t2RkLxQ_LjUYafJ9aoHXxuB65BMYMatySqoh9SkIncQYwAQ/s1600/17+Mark+Lanegan+B+-+Blues+Funeral.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKw9YokHIq18Y7y1ENDqkWP1po8Rh1rc3puKspexKxz3rb-ZiU0J6Xwai13kJ7CsYes2oTEjPQ_9UbuQ5rMDBmcFOmmt38t2RkLxQ_LjUYafJ9aoHXxuB65BMYMatySqoh9SkIncQYwAQ/s200/17+Mark+Lanegan+B+-+Blues+Funeral.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Blues Funeral</i></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b> – </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="font-weight: bold;">Mark
Lanegan Band</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b> –</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> This is an interesting, atmospheric, death-knell blues, pop
exploration that evokes the better aspects of the early ’90s Seattle scene from
which the former Screaming Trees frontman emerged. At times </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i style="font-style: italic;">Blues Funeral</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> is almost trance-like, at others
it recalls the art-rock side of The Church with some hints of U2. Dark-toned
throughout – particularly on the noire-ish “Bleeding Muddy Water” – the
U2/Church-like traits are most prominent on “Gray Goes Black” and “Ode to Sad
Disco.” Lanegan and Co. go more upbeat with the Julian Cope-ish pop rock of
“Riot in My House.” But the indie-rock-meets-deep-blues sentiments are deftly
delivered with Lanegan’s resonant tenor vocals and occasionally clever, Cohen-esque’s
lyrics (“Harborview Hospital”). This is a classic slow burner of a CD.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="font-weight: bold;"><i>Neck of the Woods </i></b><b>– </b><b style="font-weight: bold;">Silversun
Pickups</b> – This impressive fourth effort from the L.A. quartet opens with
shades of Nine Inch Nails and continues with a sound that repeatedly references
Garbage (at their best), especially on “Make Believe” and “Bloody Mary.” That’s
not a bad thing, especially since it’s merely a touchpoint and not a template.
At times, the Pickups conjure the mellower side of U2’s modern sound (“Here We
Are”). But, overall, the sound in this Neck
of the Woods is edgier and more industrial (though still with a pop sheen)
than the band’s previous efforts. “Mean Spirits” evokes a touch of Primus, with
its prominent bass riffing and engagingly spasmodic lead guitar. Then they get
prog-rocky on ”Simmer.” “The Pit” meshes the Garbage with New Order while the catchy
guitar melody dominates “Dots and Dashes (Enough Already).”</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLQM_07D9h9n2b8po93Z3wSBcUeFBXqedNH8Wh_S0T7NHrdZ2SKQIAnsTkvkxtCnBmyXhwcNjfDwPnQdM_ckJCEtyTzdA9kUCr5OFUm7pIITEgLjf3wiBA-VRu0s5nDoaDQ8csP1HOluQ/s1600/19+Santigold.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLQM_07D9h9n2b8po93Z3wSBcUeFBXqedNH8Wh_S0T7NHrdZ2SKQIAnsTkvkxtCnBmyXhwcNjfDwPnQdM_ckJCEtyTzdA9kUCr5OFUm7pIITEgLjf3wiBA-VRu0s5nDoaDQ8csP1HOluQ/s200/19+Santigold.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Master of My Make Believe</i></b><b><i> – </i>Santigold</b> – This quasi rap/pop album is
a bit outside the gravitational pull of my usual preferences when it comes to
styles of music, but the stellar quality and crossover appeal of this second
release from Santi White are undeniable. Yes, there’s the typical somewhat
overblown pop production and some rapping, but there’s plenty of genuine
singing gilded by infectious African and Caribbean rhythms, catchy melodies and
thoughtful lyrics. This is significant and is a big part of what makes this
release stand out in the crowded field of producer-driven pop. Exceptional
tracks include “The Keepers,” “Disparate
Youth” (with its buzz-saw guitar), “This Isn’t Our Parade,” “Freak Like Me” (with
it’s paring of hip-hop beats and choral harmony vocals), and the edgy “Go!”
featuring Karen O of the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs. Like many Top 40 pop and R ’n’ B
albums these days, production is front and center but in this case it doesn’t
relegate the songs and performance to second-tier status. Here, the three
components work together on equal terms and add up to more than the sum of the
parts.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUAWMh-34G-H9bcF81uolokixB5IMtbJ0TiZ9D7sBdSSy_8uQrlTHu2IU5lzDx0MFCHeOXQg8yUJ_xNW7_62CJro6xTqAGypozhXPMqv5WRzOwThJRzH7_OTQE6NkCHxJm2RSBcaWz7Bs/s1600/20+Fiona+Apple+-+The+Idler+Wheel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUAWMh-34G-H9bcF81uolokixB5IMtbJ0TiZ9D7sBdSSy_8uQrlTHu2IU5lzDx0MFCHeOXQg8yUJ_xNW7_62CJro6xTqAGypozhXPMqv5WRzOwThJRzH7_OTQE6NkCHxJm2RSBcaWz7Bs/s200/20+Fiona+Apple+-+The+Idler+Wheel.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div>
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Idler Wheel …</i></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> – </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Fiona
Apple</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> – Space may be unlimited on the internet, but that still doesn’t
justify full rendering of this CD’s title (for the record it’s </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of
the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> … huh?
Right!), but Fiona does things her own way. Always has and this time, perhaps
more than ever, she does </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">what</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> she
wants, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">how</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> she wants. The result is
her most interesting and adventurous album yet. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I haven’t been a big fan of her
previous records, but there’s always been enough there to suggest to me that
she’s more than just a better-than-average Tori Amos/Kate Bush offspring.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This eclectic
offering pairs her gymnastic vocals and adventurous piano playing with artsy muted
percussion in a stripped down songwriterly affair. At times it’s country-folk
flavored (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">a la</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Eleni Mandell), at
others it’s avant garde jazzy (kinda like</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">
</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Laurie Anderson meets Nina Simone) or cabaret noir (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">a la</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Amanda Palmer). But the most forceful impression is that of a Randy
Newman-esque thoughtful, emotional piano-based songwriter. Yes, it’s that good
… at points. The standout track is the album’s closer, “Hot Knife,” which in
addition to the aforementioned even evokes a hint of Tune-Yards’ Merrill
Garbus. Despite all the reference points (I can’t say they’re direct
influences), it all adds up to Apple’s most interesting offering yet.</span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Honorable Mentions:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Celebration Day</i></b> – <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Led Zeppelin</b> – Though it was officially
released this year, this audio and video chronicle of the mighty Zep’s
triumphant reunion at London’s 02 Arena comes half a decade after the fact.
Worthy of recognition because not only does the performance put a definitively positive
exclamation point of closure to the band’s unequaled career, but also for the
band’s killer first-ever live performance of “For Your Life” from 1976’s under-appreciated
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Presence</i> album.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan
Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International</i></b> – <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Various Artists</b> – There have been scads of Dylan tributes and covers
albums (official and not-so) over the years, but this one is remarkable for its
magnitude (4 discs), it’s wide variety of artists from vastly different genres
and the surprising gems to be found among the lot. Yes, there are few outright
wankers (Ke$ha’s faux-tearful take on “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right” and
Lucinda Williams’ surprisingly anemic “Tryin’ to Get to Heaven”), but there’s a
generous supply of unexpected revelations, too. The standouts include: The
Belle Brigade’s rendition of “No Time At All” from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Street Legal</i>, Joe Perry’s “Man of Peace,” Mariachi El Bronx’s “Love
Sick,” Sinead O’Connor’s “Property of Jesus,” Patti Smith’s “Drifter’s Escape,”
the Carolina Chocolate Drops’ “Political World,” Taj Mahal doing his best Tom
Waits impression on “Bob Dylan’s 115th Dream,” and the Spartan banjo
picking and gender-defying masculine vocals of Marianne Faithful’s “Baby, Let
Me Follow You Down.” Stellar performances aside, most of all though, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Chimes of Freedom</i> is yet another
compelling representation of the extent of Zimmy’s genius.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Runners Up:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Day Gravity Stopped</i></b> – The Figgs, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i>No Thyself</i></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">– Magazine,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tempest</i></b>
– Bob Dylan, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Privateering</i></b> – Mark Knopfler, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">How About I Be Me (and You be
You)</i></b> – Sinead O’Connor, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Stars Are Indifferent to Astronomy</i></b>
– Nada Surf, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Storm Corrosion</i></b> – Storm Corrosion,
and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Old
Ideas</i></b> – Leonard Cohen.</span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Previous Best Album of the Year Lists:</span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• <a href="http://madarchivistsclub.blogspot.com/2011/12/20-best-cds-of-2011.html" target="_blank">2011</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• <a href="http://madarchivistsclub.blogspot.com/2010/12/best-albums-of-2010.html" target="_blank">2010</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• <a href="http://madarchivistsclub.blogspot.com/2009/12/20-best-albums-of-2009.html" target="_blank">2009</a></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>What’s your view?</i></span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What do you think of this list? Agree, disagree, have additions? Comment below. If you have your own list, I’d love to see it. Add a link to it in the comments.</span><br />
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Bill Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07436983406944924970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-169868532007299927.post-86598540306741892832012-12-07T23:21:00.001-05:002012-12-08T12:14:53.878-05:00The Truth (About The Rumour) Is Evident<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Graham Parker and The Rumour at the Wilbur Theatre in Boston, Mass. 12/6/12</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Saw a terrific Graham Parker and The Rumor gig at the Wilbur Theatre last night. I've seen G.P. a dozen or so times since the mid ’80s, but I don’t recall ever seeing him so positively agitated. Playing all his early hits, not to mention his latest stellar release (<i>Three Chords Good</i>), w</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">ith the original musicians who helped him mint them seems to have lit a fire under the old sardonic Brit.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">An added bonus was a great opening set by G.P. sometime accompaniests and wonderful band in their own right, The Figgs. Our front row seats didn’t hurt either.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">Being that close, made for an interesting sonic perspective. We caught more of the sound out of the band members’ individual amplifiers (hearing Martin Belmont’s delightfully clean and crisp vintage Strat tone the loudest since his amp was 10 feet directly in front of us). We caught a bit of bleed of the mixed sound out of the back of the stage monitors, as well as from the house PA sound that filled the space behind us in the small theater. Fortunately, Graham’s voice cut through loud and clear, but it did make for a bit of a different effect than one is accustomed to hearing. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">The new and old tunes fit seamlessly, with standout new tracks being the new “Coathangers” (which Graham noted had “stirred up a bit of controversy ... never a bad thing”) and “A Lie Gets Halfway ’Round the World” nearly matching the most inspired classics: “Protection,” “Get Started (Don’t Start a Fire),” “Stupefaction,” “Passion Is No Ordinary Word” and “Don’t Ask Me Questions.” </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">I won’t be surprised to see an official live recording of this 2012 reunion tour before too long. I know I’d buy it. Despite their encroaching geezer-dom, G.P. and the guys proved without a doubt that, indeed, “Passion Is No Ordinary Word” when it comes to their music. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Here’s looking at you, Graham!</span></div>
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<b>SET LIST:</b><br />
<b>The Wilbur Theatre, Boston, Mass.</b><br />
<b>Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012</b><br />
• Fool’s Gold<br />
• Never Gonna Pull It Apart<br />
• Hotel Chambermaid<br />
• Coathangers<br />
• Get Started (Start a Fire)<br />
• Old Soul<br />
• Stop Cryin’About the Rain<br />
• Long Emotional Ride<br />
• Live in Shadows<br />
• A Lie Gets Halfway ’Round the World<br />
• Watch the Moon Come Down<br />
• Discovering Japan<br />
• Nobody Hurts You<br />
• Protection<br />
• Stupefaction<br />
• Local Girls<br />
Encores:<br />
• That Moon Was Low<br />
• Passion Is No Ordinary Word<br />
• Don’t Ask Me Questions<br />
• Soul Shoes (with The Figgs joining in)<br />
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<br />Bill Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07436983406944924970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-169868532007299927.post-18783968493626759912012-11-25T23:09:00.001-05:002012-11-25T23:12:35.064-05:00Mali Men’s Uplifting Blues <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="217" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/l-S4OjBPbhE" width="385"></iframe></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My favorite rockin’ nomads from North Africa made their second visit in two years to The Paradise in Boston last month and, once again, they presented an exotic blend of riff heavy, blues-based, trance rock with an undercurrent of tribal rhythms.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Despite the rampant riffology, overall the music is an upbeat, joyous, trance-like tapestry of melody, rhythm, singing and chanting. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">While many of the songs are indistinguishable to all but the most knowing of the group’s fans (I own six of their CDs yet have a hard time differentiating specific tunes on the fly), there is a definite sense of individual songs. It’s far from some endlessly meandering ebb and flow <i>a la</i> some Grateful Dead shows.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> The band certainly does jam, but most-often in distinct 2- to 6-minute arrangements that, for the most part, adhere to our Western sense of song structures (verse, chorus, bridge, etc.). </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There was no Ibrahim Ag Alhabib, the group’s most recognized public face and legendary founder, this time around. He may be phasing out of his role after 30-plus years leading the band. In last year’s Paradise show, he took the star turn and made little more than cameo appearances during the group’s lengthy set. The blue-robed Alhassane Ag Touhami (I think) took the lead role for most of that show and now he appears to have assumed the role of senior band leader, perhaps now, in turn, to yield the stage in increments to the next generation of newcomers. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One new face – proverbially speaking, given what little you can see of them – this time was a tall dude, dressed in white with black head garb. He sang and clapped in the background for most of the nearly two-hour set, but on a handful of tunes he took the center mic to sing and play more ferocious, and more Western-sounding, electric guitar. He was spurred on by his seasoned bandmates, particularly the funky bassist who wouldn’t have been out of place grooving along to some Motown hits. The tall dude was also the only band member to sport a shiny new Gibson Les Paul on one tune – otherwise there’s a lot of sharing of guitars among the three six-string slingers.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The band’s authentic desert nomad apparel adds to the exotic flavor of things, but it also makes for an interesting juxtaposition considering the desert-meets-the-delta vibe of the music. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I couldn’t help being struck by a thought spawned by the growing appeal of this North African music among American audiences and the anonymity of with its main proponents. If the tribe has as deep a well of talented musicians as it seems, they could outfit several touring groups to be traveling different parts of the North America and Europe through out the year (or at least in the desert off season). Kind of a musical Blue Man group from the Dark Continent. (I suggest that only partially in jest, and certainly with all due respect.) I hope Tinariwen come back for another annual visit next fall.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In the meantime, I’ll be on the lookout for other purveyors of these engagingly semi-exotic sounds from Timbuktu and beyond.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>Bill Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07436983406944924970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-169868532007299927.post-55017725053999573222012-10-20T22:44:00.000-04:002012-10-20T22:51:12.440-04:00Dylan: Tempestuous to the End<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Early reports on Dylan’s new album, <i>Tempest</i> (released on 9/11 like his eponymous debut record and 2001’s
<i>Love and Theft</i>), suggested that it is
his darkest record yet. This notion is belied by the upbeat breeziness of the
album’s two opening tunes. But it is, in fact, a fairly accurate
assessment of the album’s remaining eight tracks.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tempest</i>, even more
than most Dylan offerings, is all about the words. The music, while adequate, mainly
just sets the groove over which the Bard’s verses – and there are many! –
unfold. Music wise, there are few hooks, memorable
melodies or “catchy“ tunes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For many, that may be fine, since Dylan really is about the
wordplay and the message. For me, though, the coupling of those things with
poignant music is what distinguishes Dylan’s most lasting work from the rest of
the chaff, and there's no denying: the musical muscle – in the songs – not the musicianship – is a bit lacking on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tempest</i>.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">That said, there are a few unsuspected standouts musically,
even little things like the maracas on “Early Roman Times”;
the downshift of the rhythm section that segues into the some tasty,
understated lead guitar in the coda of “Duquesne Whistle” and the
interplay of the various stringed instruments on “Scarlet Town.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">With so much focus on the words, though, I do wonder how
much of the verbiage is Dylan’s doing and how much came from the pen of
co-lyricist Robert Hunter (he of Grateful Dead renown). The themes certainly
echo Dylan’s particular – some might say peculiar – views. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In talking about this new batch of songs to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Rolling Stone</i> a few weeks before its
release, Dylan said that he initially thought he was going to do a religious
album, but it turned out to be something else. I’m not sure how true that
is. It’s not unlike Bob to be coy about such matters. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I hear definite religious aspects in much of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tempest</i>. No, it’s not the overt
proselytizing of Dylan’s notorious late ’70s Born Again phase as heard on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Saved</i> or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Slow Train Coming</i>, but there is definitely an apocryphal vision
running through much of the album that represents Dylan’s ongoing fascination
with the End Times. That’s OK, though. Done right, it’s good subject matter.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For me, the peak of the album comes about midway through with
the one-two punch of “Scarlet Town” and “Early Roman Kings.” The former, the album’s
best track, is a dark, banjo and haunting fiddle-driven folk ballad. The latter, though lyrically one of the better songs, is an endlessly chugging blues, enlivened only by the swampy organ and effect-laden harmonica bursts. The
band churns away beneath Bob’s verses of dispirited, ill-fated people living
in a depraved world. Dylan still digs Armageddon.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There are two parlor ballads that evoke images of the 1890s:
the album’s jaunty opener “Duquesne Whistle” and the tale of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Titanic</i> told in the album’s title track. Dylan goes on to croon romantically over weeping pedal steel on the ’50s-ish pop ballad tonality of “Soon
After Midnight.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The rest of the way, though, the music is bluesy vamps,
shuffles (“Narrow Way”) and pulsing banjo-propelled dirges (“Tin Angel”) mixed
with haunting, minor key, folk ballads. The one exception is “Pay in Blood,” which
sounds like a mid-tempo, modern-era Stones song with multi-layered instrumentation
featuring prominent electric piano and guitar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Overall, <i>Tempest</i>
is a decent, listenable, modern era Dylan album. It ranks above <i>Modern Times</i> (2006) and <i>Together
Through Life</i> (2009), not quite on par with <i>Love and Theft</i> (2001) and nowhere near <i>Time Out of Mind</i> (1997). A Gentleman’s B.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Bill Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07436983406944924970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-169868532007299927.post-29906172853358681092012-10-20T17:54:00.001-04:002012-10-20T22:53:08.413-04:00A Broad View of GP’s Repertoire at the Narrows<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Graham Parker does an acoustic take on "Heat Treatment," the title track from his debut album with The Rumour in 1976, during his 9/29/12 </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">performance at the Narrows Center in Fall River, Mass.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Last month, my wife and I made seeing Graham Parker at the Narrows Center in Fall River part of our 22nd anniversary celebration. It seemed fitting since we’ve enjoyed many GP shows – solo and with various bands – together over our years.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This Saturday in late September was no exception. Despite claims of being under the weather and not exactly road ready – it was one of only two shows he was doing on this stint, having added the Narrows to his trip to Cambridge for a commemorative event at the famed folk club Passim – Parker sang as soulfully as usual and regaled the audience with characteristic humor and sarcasm. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Narrows is a great venue for fans and perfect for the likes of GP’s solo shows, which </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">he’s made an annual habit of bringing to the old warehouse-cum-artists’-studios in recent years.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> When out on his own like this, Parker adeptly accompanies himself on acoustic and electric guitar, harmonica and even kazoo – the latter more than once! But mostly it’s about the songs; and, yes, to a lesser degree, the banter.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This show was particularly notable in that besides a handful of the requisite – and welcomed! – favorites, Parker dug deep into his back catalog, pulling out several songs I’d never heard him perform in any of the previous dozen or so times I’ve seen him live. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Another highlight was the debut of a catchy riff-based tune from the yet-to-be released GP and The Rumour album. Throughout the evening, the noted singer/songwriter and former angry young man spoke with a mix of disbelief and enthusiasm about his former band’s upcoming reunion tour. I know I’m excited; I already have my tix – front row! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Wanting to end his performance on an upbeat note, Graham Parker performed “Life Gets Better” from his 1983 <i>The Real McCaw</i> album. Of course, as you’ll see in the video above, GP being GP, he couldn’t resist injecting a bit of cynicism into one of his most optimistic songs. Despite that, it holds a nice sentiment for an anniversary celebration. Happy anniversary, baby!</span></div>
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Bill Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07436983406944924970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-169868532007299927.post-9869305180539208422012-08-13T23:09:00.000-04:002012-08-13T23:09:24.321-04:00Hindenburg<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdftHV52ffmvcOY1zv6UB4Sz5XSZQDvB2ChFhwMbHL1OJAKUNC29c2WZ_PRDseq_8OVp6HIkUOvUHPTIYqFzJol8MkVgV-TeAxXK8TD0v5_nQ638k6ouWDTAtiC1z3KHGw7F2Us728fuI/s1600/Hindenburg+over+Boston+1936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdftHV52ffmvcOY1zv6UB4Sz5XSZQDvB2ChFhwMbHL1OJAKUNC29c2WZ_PRDseq_8OVp6HIkUOvUHPTIYqFzJol8MkVgV-TeAxXK8TD0v5_nQ638k6ouWDTAtiC1z3KHGw7F2Us728fuI/s320/Hindenburg+over+Boston+1936.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The Hindenburg over Boston, a year before the crash.</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I’ve long been fascinated with the Hindenburg crash. Not sure why. I suspect that there are a number of factors that come into play. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yes, there’s the iconic association with my favorite rock band of all time, but there’s also my interest in history. Then there’s the relevance of the locale. The airship crashed about 25 miles from where I grew up and, I recently learned, it also routinely flew over my adopted home of Boston and eastern Massachusetts during its 17 Atlantic crossings prior to incendiary ends at the Naval Air Station in Lakehurst, N.J. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Perhaps most of all, though, it may be the archetypal nature of the story, one of man stretching his mastery of the universe only to be humbled by the ultimate authority of nature (in this case in the form of static electricity).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Anyway, the point of all this is The Atlantic recently published a <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2012/05/75-years-since-the-hindenburg-disaster/100292/" target="_blank">fascinating collection of a few dozen photos</a> in tribute to the 75th anniversary of the Zeppelin’s disastrous end in May 1937.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>Bill Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07436983406944924970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-169868532007299927.post-32224601447438878982012-08-12T15:53:00.003-04:002012-08-12T15:53:46.421-04:00Life in an Infographic<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I recently came across this interesting depiction of musician Jack White’s life (so far anyway) depicted as an infographic:</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">From <a href="http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/1000words/2012/06/infographic-the-illustrated-life-of-jack-white.html" target="_blank">Paste Magazine</a>, 6/14/12.</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It’s not a particularly inspired graphic, as these things go, but it does kind of make me contemplate what the infographic depiction of <i>my</i> life would look like at this point in time. Hmmm ... perhaps a future post.*</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">* Yes, I know there are various apps and tools that will suck all your digital pictures, updates, status posts, etc., from their various repositories and spit out a personal “life story” museum exhibit, but there’s no actual curation involved, so it’s quite arbitrary – not to mention that unlike younger folks, a not insignificant portion of my life did occur back in the analog age.</span><br />
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<br />Bill Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07436983406944924970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-169868532007299927.post-3070798024513108792012-07-11T08:47:00.000-04:002012-07-11T23:26:33.165-04:00Biased Media? Biased Readers!<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here's <a href="http://www.niemanlab.org/2012/06/how-do-you-tell-when-the-news-is-biased/" target="_blank">a fascinating article</a> I just came across from the Nieman Journalism Lab about media bias, or rather how <i>we</i>, as information consumers, <i>perceive</i> media bias. Proof yet again, that context matters – and, in this case, it really matters! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">How do you determine when news is biased? Food for thought.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, Verdana, Helvetica, Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span>Bill Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07436983406944924970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-169868532007299927.post-13527163545574971092012-07-10T08:46:00.002-04:002012-07-15T11:08:14.879-04:00The Wall Revisited<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Roger Waters and band perform “In the Flesh?” at Fenway Park, 7/1/12.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">So after a 32 year hiatus, I caught my second performance of Pink Floyd’s <i>The Wall</i> last week. Of course, a bit has changed since the first time. Back in February 1980, it was the original full (though not necessarily chummy) Pink Floyd putting on what seemed at the time a highly theatrical rock concert in the canyon-esque confines of the Nassau Coliseum.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">This time, of course, it was Roger Waters solo – OK, plus the backing of 12 hired guns, including a few recognizable names (G.E. Smith, Dave Kilminster and Snowy White on guitars), who were obviously more beholden to do the master’s bidding than his former bandmates. It was also staged in gargantuan proportions at Fenway Park (one of a handful or two ballparks to host Waters’ extravaganza of sight and sound this summer).<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">In fact, songs and a bit of the storyline aside, the two shows are largely incomparable. Floyd’s original was epic in its majestic power and artistic reach. Waters’ new version is a bombastic sensory overload. Even the themes have evolved, with the modern rendition emphasizing the anti-war and Big Bro gov. aspects to far greater extent, while downplaying the personal paranoia and psychosis storyline of the original.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">Yes, there were puppets, though fewer in the outdoors stadium, perhaps for fear the wind would set them careening around the city. Yes, there was projected animation, much more of it, in fact. That's because there was a whole lotta wall to fill. The Wall itself had to be three to four times the size of the original arena version, running from foul ball territory in left field all the way to Fenway’s famed centerfield triangle. The Green Monster was dwarfed.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">The stage itself extended forward nearly to the infield dirt between second and third bases, leaving just a smattering of people in front of the stage since the Red Sox don’t allow concert fans to tread on the diamond itself.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">Forty-two projectors flashed some familiar but massively expanded visuals on the Wall stage left and right, as well as on Floyd’s old circular screen above the drum riser and even on centerstage itself when the wall was completed, with portions opening up to reveal glimpses of the band behind during the second set.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">The visuals were constant and relentless. At times, they even overshadowed the massive sound, something that never really happened the first time around. In fact, the whole show exuded a dense, busy and freneticism that was not there in the first, but undoubtedly fitting for of our times.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">Of course, even without David Gilmour’s searing guitar and sonorous singing, there were musical highlights (though the famed “Comfortably Numb” wasn’t one of them – that classic just isn’t the same without ol’ Dave singing his parts and wailing that epic guitar solo from atop the Wall. Waters and Co. did, however, deliver rousing versions of “In the Flesh,” “Another Brick in the Wall,” “Empty Spaces,” “Young Lust” and others. Thankfully, the Brechtian climax of “The Trial” seemed a bit abridged. All in all, Waters’ Wall is still a spectacle worth seeing – even from the other side of 30 years.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="217" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/La2vGphqYew" width="385"></iframe></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Roger Waters and band perform “Young Lust” at Fenway Park, 7/1/12.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">See “<a href="http://youtu.be/Gb1yY7Xdpu4" target="_blank">Another Brick in the Wall</a>,” too. </span><br />
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">You know what they say: Never underestimate the power of stupid people in masses. This is something most of us intuitively know. Now here is </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2012/apr/09/improbable-research-human-stupidity" target="_blank">some science to prove it</a>.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"> ... This is too good to ignore!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">I particularly like No. 4:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">“Non-stupid people always underestimate the damaging power of stupid individuals. In particular, non-stupid people constantly forget that at all times and places and under any circumstances to deal and/or associate with stupid people always turns out to be a costly mistake.”<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">Does that not suggest the “non-stupid” are, in fact, stupid, too ... and, therefor, not really “non-stupid” to begin with?
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>Bill Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07436983406944924970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-169868532007299927.post-82873440990071712722012-06-30T11:23:00.000-04:002012-07-06T00:34:57.053-04:00Two Walls Better Than One<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Pretty amazing to see this transformation ... and I thought the Stones’ stage set at Fenway a few years back was elaborate—damn thing looked like it had functional plumbing inside its faux apartment facade—but Roger Waters’ Wall hits another level entirely.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It’ll be interesting to see if the ol’ Fenway field is left with the same scars that Wrigley suffered a few weeks ago. </span><br />
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<br />Bill Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07436983406944924970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-169868532007299927.post-17687236625967722042012-06-13T20:30:00.001-04:002012-06-13T20:31:32.817-04:00The 'Boys Do Yeats Proud<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Waterboys’ 2011 release, <i>An Appointment with Mr. Yeats</i>, was a heartfelt – if hit or miss – reinterpretation of several of the famed Irish writer’s verses (the poet himself referred to his poems as “songs” for they were, in fact, lyrical). In honor of what would be the poet’s 147th birthday, here’s a stripped down version of “Mad as the Mist and Snow” – one of the strongest tunes on Mike Scott and the ’boys’ Yeats collection – recorded live in France earlier this spring.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Dig the masks, too – another Yeats fascination.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>Bill Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07436983406944924970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-169868532007299927.post-24782316170501053932012-06-11T08:43:00.001-04:002012-06-11T08:44:16.105-04:00Live and Local!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Like Neil Young said, “Live music is better, bumper stickers should be issued.”</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhPPUR3pHE0p3lLAiRATGKNNKx0fz2g7DAt77QxhJej7w-0rRXgg-jQyHN3o9JL6w2M53N6vRxMSLIW_7JJGngFDNt_TZDUCYmFGpS8gadGKMpP0HOh-F1xky78pCCcKbHVhvQExHyho/s1600/live+music.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhPPUR3pHE0p3lLAiRATGKNNKx0fz2g7DAt77QxhJej7w-0rRXgg-jQyHN3o9JL6w2M53N6vRxMSLIW_7JJGngFDNt_TZDUCYmFGpS8gadGKMpP0HOh-F1xky78pCCcKbHVhvQExHyho/s320/live+music.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />Bill Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07436983406944924970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-169868532007299927.post-69022211444693181862012-06-09T22:00:00.000-04:002012-09-27T18:45:04.086-04:00Groovin’ NBA Ad<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As a both huge music fan and a dedicated basketball fan, I love this recent NBA commercial:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="217" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/10X7ogM16fM" width="385"></iframe></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The athletes’ expressions are a perfect mimicry of musicians’ emotive facial contortions. A good use of Sam and Dave’s classic tune, too.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>Bill Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07436983406944924970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-169868532007299927.post-62580608839787266732012-05-22T08:38:00.002-04:002012-06-11T08:39:46.314-04:00The Feelies Touch Boston<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicSyxzAKdc028tsJTBJsot2OJ8UnnaqMeO16K44vgCy5IA8I3UX3rlg_Ky1zf95Gnb9D9R5nNkSso2HtyB-K-aiFeI-V4SqYbkJ062fm_PGGMd-GqOBJZDn8pBG4rT1oUBpkt2ry0dfh0/s1600/Feelies-Paradise3-5.12.12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicSyxzAKdc028tsJTBJsot2OJ8UnnaqMeO16K44vgCy5IA8I3UX3rlg_Ky1zf95Gnb9D9R5nNkSso2HtyB-K-aiFeI-V4SqYbkJ062fm_PGGMd-GqOBJZDn8pBG4rT1oUBpkt2ry0dfh0/s320/Feelies-Paradise3-5.12.12.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Feelies at The Paradise Club, Boston, 5/12/12</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A small but enthusiastic crowd took in a characteristically lengthy, slowly-building set from The Feelies in what appears to be shaping up as an annual visit to Beantown. Almost exactly a year from the band’s last area appearance at Cambridge’s Middle East, the Jerseyites this time took the stage at The Paradise.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">The two sets featured 34 songs, representing a wide selection from the cult heroes’ back catalog, as well as nine songs from 2011’s <i>Here Before</i>. True to form, they also sprinkled in quite a few choice covers, which included most of the usual selections and one surprise in Dylan’s “Seven Days.” </span></span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="291" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/21_ZH0Fy9CE" width="385"></iframe><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>SET LIST</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>The Paradise Rock Club, </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Boston 5/12/12</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><i><b>First Set</b></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Bluer Skies*</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• For Now</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• There She Goes</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Invitation</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• <a href="http://youtu.be/8luDUN-Y-Us" target="_blank">Nobody Knows</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Should Be Gone</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Let’s Go</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Again Today</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• For Awhile</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• The High Road</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• <a href="http://youtu.be/21_ZH0Fy9CE" target="_blank">On the Roof</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• When You Know</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>Second Set</b></i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Deep Fascination</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• On and On</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Higher Ground</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• The Final Word</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• <a href="http://youtu.be/S_XIAn28P_A" target="_blank">Away</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Slipping (Into Something)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• <a href="http://youtu.be/G5eR0ko2SdA" target="_blank">Doin’ It Again</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Way Down</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Time Is Right</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Too Far Gone</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Raised Eyebrows</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Crazy Rhythms</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>Encore</b></i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• <a href="http://youtu.be/UOsILgFs1z4" target="_blank">Seven Days</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Box Cars (Carnival of Sorts)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• <a href="http://youtu.be/fE7C3SVr7VE" target="_blank">Paint It Black</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Take It As It Comes</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• <a href="http://youtu.be/SM_Xu97HubM" target="_blank">Fa Ce-La</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• Everybody’s Got Something to Hide</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• <a href="http://youtu.be/tprxh26GwTE" target="_blank">She Said She Said</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• I Go to Sleep in Your Arms</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• <a href="http://youtu.be/Zk-2p8vWHXk" target="_blank">Later On</a></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">• So Far</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">* Not sure if this was the opening track since I arrived mid song on this one.</span><br />
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<br />Bill Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07436983406944924970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-169868532007299927.post-42213730900080276162012-05-15T01:27:00.002-04:002012-06-11T08:40:04.662-04:00M. Ward Rocks ... Sublimely<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="291" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/pg-PSUmDcKM" width="385"></iframe></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">M. Ward, House of Blues, Boston, 5/8/12</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">I finally got to see Matt Ward perform recently at Boston’s House of Blues. I’ve long anticipated this based on the facts that I’ve long heard from discerning muso friends that he puts on a good show and that I own all seven of his studio releases.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">Despite all this, I didn’t really know quite what to expect in terms of which of the Portland, Ore., singer/songwriter’s multiple incarnations would come to the fore in concert this time around: The folky singer/songwriter, the lyrically sharp crooner, the closet rocker, the folk guitarist with the tasteful country jazz flare? I was fairly confident that it would be a lot more formidable than his pop forays as part of She & Him (with Zooey Dashanel) or the rootsy singer/songwriter supergroup Monsters of Folk (with Bright Eyes’ Conor Oberst and My Morning Jacket’s Jim James). With regard to the latter, I was one the mark; as to the former, Ward’s performer featured a bit of it all.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">The guy is an accomplished pop craftsman, an emotive singer with a truly unique voice (one that takes some getting used to for some), and a masterful guitarist who avoids flamboyance despite his impressive chops. His tuneful constructions featured spritely finger-picking forays and he even played a few instrumental songs, both solo and with his quartet of drums, bass and acoustic/pedal steel. And you don’t cover John Fahey unless you’re serious about your guitar playing – and quite confident in your ability to pull it off. Ward didn’t disappoint at all.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">His set list was perfect as far as I’m concerned, if surprisingly weighted toward earlier works, particularly 2006’s </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Post War</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> release. Bafflingly, he featured only three songs from the just-released </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>A Wasteland Companion</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. But he played nearly all my faves from his robust catalog.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">What did it sound like? Well, for the uninitiated, it’s American country-folk with hints of rock and a notable jazzy undercurrent, most evident in Ward’s crooning and his modal chording. There are shades of Paul Simon, Leonard Cohen and Buddy Holly, mixed with a bit of country twang, folk melody and rockabilly spirit, all filtered through modern production with genuine artistic sensibility. Though slight in stature, make no mistake: M. Ward is musically a man of great substance and taste.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">Throughout 80 minute set, his fingers danced across both acoustic and electric guitars, and he even tickled the ivories for one song on the otherwise neglected piano at stage left toward the end of the evening. Besides the Fahey cover, Ward dusted off his transformative slow acoustic rendition of Bowie’s “Let’s Dance,” featured on 2003’s </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Transfiguration of Vincent</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, rollicked through a bouncy version of Buddy Holly’s “Rave On” and kicked off the encore with Chuck Berry’s “Roll Over Beethoven” (see video above).<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">Ward may not yet be a household name – though the Dashanel partnership would be the fast track to that if not for the pseudo-anonymity of the duo's collaborative moniker – but he’s got far reaching appeal that should resonate with the masses, not just critics and connoisseurs.</span><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>SET LIST</b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i>M. Ward, House of Blues, Boston 5/8/12</i></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Post War</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For Beginners</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I’m Gonna Give You Everything</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Chinese Translation</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Rollercoaster</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Fuel for Fire</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">guitar instrumental</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Let’s Dance</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Helicopter</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Magic Trick</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me and My Shadow</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I Get Ideas</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Primitive Girl</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Requiem</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">John Fahey song</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">Fisher of Men</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">Rave On</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Encore:</i></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"> Roll Over Beethoven</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"> Big Boat</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Bill Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07436983406944924970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-169868532007299927.post-15237966988061269892012-05-10T18:58:00.002-04:002012-05-20T12:46:37.509-04:00Hitting “The Wall”<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIKXvMqZ2DOeucMJJYLtFjuSaQglUMc1ugu-tGiJFBlNgujooQl-617dfHA6qdkctCKauX9Y0FzhAf6SD5vaBoO7Kas3Z8HDa5wDZ1RwZth9GL7M9DkgS6M17coOeI6EaxXUk4f-k6EE/s1600/PF-The+Wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIKXvMqZ2DOeucMJJYLtFjuSaQglUMc1ugu-tGiJFBlNgujooQl-617dfHA6qdkctCKauX9Y0FzhAf6SD5vaBoO7Kas3Z8HDa5wDZ1RwZth9GL7M9DkgS6M17coOeI6EaxXUk4f-k6EE/s320/PF-The+Wall.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">I’ve been listening to the new remastered release of <i>The Wall</i> this week. Pink Floyd’s monumental 1980 CD has been on my mind lately not just because of this new issue, but also because I just bought tickets to take my teenage daughter to see Roger Water’s updated rendition of the spectacular personal dystopia at Fenway Park this summer.
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I’ve resisted previous opportunities to see Waters’ brick-by-brick revisitation mainly because the very first concert I ever saw was Pink Floyd’s last U.S. performance of the masterpiece in Long Island in 1980. The real deal: hard to top that! Hence, I’ve been reticent to risk tainting that memory with a lesser construction. But friends with discerning musical tastes who have seen Waters’ performance have assured me that I would not be disappointed. And it was hard to resist the idea of the old ballpark’s famed Green Monster mutating into Waters’ psycho-barricade.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">But back to the reissue of the original CD. Yes, the original two record set does sounds a little bit crisper in the is new version, but I bought it for the “work-in-progress” band demos for the album included on the third disc, not for the marginal modernization of the originally released material.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">The band sketches of these songs we all know and admire (if not love – that sentiment doesn’t seem quite fitting for most of these twisted tunes, somehow) are interesting in that they are evidence of how much the band and producer Bob Ezrin worked on the material in the studio. That is to say, the raw songs weren’t much akin to the polished gem they became. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">Waters’ stuff is all idea and little execution. Gilmour’s parts are predictably much more polished musically, but not fully developed—in fact, the demo version of “Comfortably Numb” is surprisingly weak. Wrights keyboard parts are interesting, when they’re noticeable.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">Perhaps unlike many listeners, I usually enjoy demos of well-know masterful works for what they reveal about the raw essence of the songs, the initial inspired impulse that, eventually refined, yields something for the ages. Somehow this batch of demos doesn’t quite leave me with that feeling or appreciation. Again, it does drive home how far the songs came, but mostly it leaves me wondering how the band got from this ... to that!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1px;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;">So, ultimately, I guess these demos are revealing, just not in the ways that I expected or which will lead me to repeated listening.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 1px;"><br /></span><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Bill Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07436983406944924970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-169868532007299927.post-6165790042151191112012-04-28T22:46:00.000-04:002012-05-28T00:23:09.202-04:00Trampled Under Turtles’ Feet<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMaEN9UHBQyVpgMBymGcRKeUzpdfSXpjNw6OseI_Snh5tVikIyz-YRj8C_p-DTtDJYd1T4NW-_IGy9ruqezMiks4i0Vm8cwPbLumLNsRXiyl04YaSVrQ89cTGBcFBk16DmlvixKA0gULs/s1600/Trampled+by+Turtles-Paradise4.18.12-FLc.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732968946811202450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMaEN9UHBQyVpgMBymGcRKeUzpdfSXpjNw6OseI_Snh5tVikIyz-YRj8C_p-DTtDJYd1T4NW-_IGy9ruqezMiks4i0Vm8cwPbLumLNsRXiyl04YaSVrQ89cTGBcFBk16DmlvixKA0gULs/s400/Trampled+by+Turtles-Paradise4.18.12-FLc.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 259px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms'; font-size: x-small;">The Paradise Rock Club, Boston, 4/18/12 (Another Sick Frank photo)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">I saw some rockin’ bluegrass last week at The Paradise courtesy of Trampled By Turtles. It was the third time I’d see the string-slinging quintet from Minnesota, but the first time I’d seen them performing standing up, which clearly</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"> put extra kick in their boots. Of particular note was Ryan Young’s alternatively frenetic and hauntingly forlorn fiddle. Young sparred playfully with Erik Berry’s lickety-split mando melodies and machine gun-like chording. When all five musicians put pedal to metal they accelerated into an acoustic rave up that would’ve made The Yardbirds proud.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The ecstatic sell-out crowd was well familiar with the Turtles’ catalog, singing along with singer/guitarist Dave Simonett on many old faves (e.g., “Codeine,” “Darkness and the Light” and “Wait So Long”), while fervently persistent in their unrequited requests for others (“Whiskey”). It’s worth noting too that six songs from the just-released <i>Stars and Satellites</i> record fit right in with the Turtles’ classics, despite the overall mellower tone of the new collection.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">For the uninitiated, the cumulative sound of Trampled By Turtles live suggests something like the Del McCoury Band meets Uncle Tupelo with a dash of Fisherman’s Blues-era Waterboys and a pinch of Ramones. All that is to say that not only do these guys have the authentic bluegrass chops to hold their own at any ’grass fest, an earned maturity and confidence means they comfortably and effectively transcend the genre. They were right at home in rock environs and they ripped the joint.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The Turtles really hit stride a few songs in with “It’s a War,” from their great 2010 release</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><i> Palomino</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">, and the intensity rarely waned—whether they were playing fast or slow—for the remainder of the 100 minute set. They concluded the main set with a jangley, R.E.M.-ish rendition of “Separate,” followed by a buoyantly rousing “Wait So Long” and an epic “Alone,” the latter featuring all five members of openers These United States joining in on backing vocals. The North Country quintet returned for a frenzied run through “Feet and Bones” before signing off with a somber, lonesome-fiddle fueled “Again.”</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><b>SET LIST</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><b>The Paradise Rock Club, Boston, Mass. 4/18/12</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Midnight on the Interstate</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Help You</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Risk</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Widower’s Heart</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">New Orleans</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It’s a War</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Darkness and the Light</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(?) Still in Love with You </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">High Water</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Victory</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Codeine</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Don’t Look Down</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Empire</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Bloodshot Eyes</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Walt Whitman</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Separate</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Wait So Long</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Alone</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"><i>Encore:</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Feet and Bones</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Again</span></span><br />
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</div>Bill Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07436983406944924970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-169868532007299927.post-235870669471946002012-04-06T22:33:00.005-04:002012-04-06T23:13:12.049-04:00Nope, Not Intoxicated at All!<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">I first came across this video when it was referred to in an <a href="http://paidcontent.org/2012/04/03/drunken-cop-car-serenade-back-on-youtube-after-copyright-claim/?utm_source=General+Users&utm_campaign=3dfa71bfec-c%3Amed+d%3A04-05&utm_medium=email">article on Paid Content</a>. The story detailed the copyright issue EMI asserted over the posting of this police cruiser surveillance video on YouTube after it was submitted as evidence in the legal proceedings related to the incident preceding the footage. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">Seriously? I know EMI is a huge (read, idiotic) corporation passively overseeing the demise of a dying enterprise, but surely even the suits who once ruled Britannia’s recording biz must realize that this viral video phenomenon can do nothing but possibly prompt the sale of a few more copies of Queen’s iconic “Bohemian Rhapsody.”</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">Anyway, all that aside, the video <i>is</i> entertaining. It can’t possibly have helped the defendant’s case in court. But forgive the singing and you have to admire his unimpaired memory and perseverant rendition of the tune Wayne and co. immortalized in another backseat performance. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><iframe width="385" height="291" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/fqymcJRSbxI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Bill Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07436983406944924970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-169868532007299927.post-2188433391129931402012-04-01T01:45:00.020-04:002012-04-06T22:30:33.519-04:00Wild Flag’s Pop Power<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmG962A7MxM2cvw7gNf2yUUqbWKHeFC5K6a7jdqKqCnP7F_mfe_CLfNUr8gxggLO7wFSEp6Twv1uMHYfid67L5Wv_6Jicn7glcpxOk67EvlRXKh8bnRBYZyT_40Yb1kERJtJlAjdcmAWM/s1600/wildflag_johnclark_sunny_sm.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmG962A7MxM2cvw7gNf2yUUqbWKHeFC5K6a7jdqKqCnP7F_mfe_CLfNUr8gxggLO7wFSEp6Twv1uMHYfid67L5Wv_6Jicn7glcpxOk67EvlRXKh8bnRBYZyT_40Yb1kERJtJlAjdcmAWM/s400/wildflag_johnclark_sunny_sm.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726307529615813154" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:'trebuchet ms';font-size:85%;">Wild Flag: Mary Timony, Janet Weiss, Rebecca Cole and Carrie Brownstein</span><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">I saw a very good performance by Wild Flag at Boston’s Paradise Rock Club tonight (the new band’s third Beantown appearance in just over a year). These ladies really know how to nail melodies – not just on record but live, too. Tonight’s show was a little less punky indie rock and, somewhat surprisingly, a bit more neo-psychedelic at points than I expected. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">I loved last year’s debut album, but some of the video clips I had seen of live performances (undoubtedly from their early gigs; they’ve been together little more than a year) seemed very energetic, but less nuanced in the playing and melodic sensibilities (which are a major part of the band’s allure). But, tonight, the power pop prevailed.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">The harmony vox were exceptional, expertly handled by keyboardist Rebecca Cole and drummer Janet Weiss, providing a soaring sweetness to the sound while also instrumentally delivering a gritty verve that energized frontline. Cole, in particular, was impressive in providing a vibrant undercurrent of keys, but her backing vocals practically carried the band. Then again, Weiss’ drumming almost stole the show. I’m tempted to say she’s the best woman drummer I’ve ever seen; not because that qualification is needed, but because female rock drummers are a rarity. Suffice to say she’s a great rock drummer: period. That notion is supported by the fact that she has been an in-demand guest on many albums since her days with Sleater-Kinney.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">Fellow S-K alum, singer/guitarist Carrie Brownstein is undoubtedly the most well-known of this Portland, Ore. and Washington, D.C.-based quartet, not only because of that previous bands’ noteworthiness, but nowadays even more so for her key role in the IFC show,<i> Portlandia</i>, in which she co-stars with <i>SNL</i>’s Fred Armison. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">Brownstein and Mary Timony, formerly of Helium, trade off both lead guitar and lead vocal duties. Brownstein’s singing is more distinctive, but Timony, though more traditional in approach, is no slouch. Guitar wise, their styles are also different, but very complementary. Before tonight’s concert, I was more familiar with Brownstein’s approach, but I was really impressed by Timony’s melodic, neck-traversing leads. All together, the band reminded me of a more urgent and feminine version of Television (think “Friction”), and not just because they performed “See No Evil” during the encore.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">Having only one album to draw upon, and not expecting them to dip very deeply into their previous bands’ catalogs, I wasn’t anticipating a terribly long performance (the roughly 75 minute show was fitting and satisfying). There were a couple of new songs performed, though not identified as such. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><iframe width="385" height="291" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/XNdx04XHw6I" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';font-size:85%;">This audience video (not mine) features a snippet of Carrie Brownstein’s new song (“Can’t Fill the Void with the Void” maybe?), the most bluesy sound of the evening. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Overall, the 16-song set was well-paced, though it did seem to take three or four tunes to get the energy level fully amped up. (Brownstein, sipping tea throughout, mentioned that she had a sore throat and fading voice, but her singing was powerful and unaffected for the most part.) The band really hit stride on “Boom.” It was soon followed by a pleasantly surprising extended jam on “Glass Tambourine” – </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;">one of the aforementioned</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;"> neo-psychadelic moments, conjuring hints of Hendrix and Traffic. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;">Other stand outs included “Future Crimes,” “Racehorse” (the other really extended jam, this one a bit too long perhaps) and the set closer “Romance.” They finished off with an encore of “Endless Talk,” the previously cited Television cover “See No Evil” and a spirited version of Fugazi’s “Margin Walker.”</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:georgia;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">I can’t wait to hear Wild Flag’s next release and see them again. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><b>Set List: The Paradise Rock Club, Boston 3/31/12</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">Electric Band</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">Short Version</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">Black Tiles</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">Winter Pair</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">Something Came Over Me</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">Boom</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">Glass Tambourine</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">new Carrie song: Can’t Fill the Void with the Void </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;">— maybe</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">new Mary song: Cool Reaction </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;">— maybe</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">Future Crimes</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">Nothing</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">Racehorse</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">Romance</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><i>Encore:</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">Endless Talk</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">See No Evil </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;">(Television cover)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">Margin Walker </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;">(Fugazi cover)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></div>Bill Lindsayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07436983406944924970noreply@blogger.com0