MOG - jensized's Posts

Since it's about that time of year...

jensized — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 23:50:34 GMT

Jazz was born in New Orleans. True story. Anybody who'll try to tell you otherwise just doesn't know. See? Wikipedia agrees.

Dixieland music is a style of jazz. Dixieland developed in New Orleans at the start of the 20th century, and spread to Chicago and New York City by New Orleans bands in the 1910s, and was, for a period, quite popular among the general public. It is often considered the first true type of jazz, and was the first music referred to by the term jazz (before 1917 often spelled jass).

I've been listening to a lot of Preservation Hall lately, because every Friday afternoon when I drive home from work WEVL plays a show called "New Orleans Big Beat" and it always puts me in such a great mood. Preservation Hall, as the name implies, has been instrumental (heh, heh, unintentional pun there) in keeping the spirit of NOLA jazz alive. I love it.

The Preservation Hall Jazz Band derives its name from Preservation Hall, the venerable music venue located in the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter, founded in 1961 by Allan and Sandra Jaffe. The band has traveled worldwide spreading their mission to nurture and perpetuate the art form of New Orleans Jazz. Whether performing at Carnegie Hall or Lincoln Center, for British Royalty or the King of Thailand, this music embodies a joyful, timeless spirit. Under the auspices of current director, Ben Jaffe, the son of founders Allan and Sandra, Preservation Hall continues with a deep reverence and consciousness of its greatest attributes in the modern day as a venue, band, and record label.

The building that houses Preservation Hall has housed many businesses over the years including a tavern during the war of 1812, a photo studio and an art gallery. It was during the years of the art gallery that then owner, Larry Bornstein, began holding informal jam sessions for his close friends. Out of these sessions grew the concept of Preservation Hall. The intimate venue, whose weathered exterior has been untouched over its history, is a living embodiment of its original vision. To this day, Preservation Hall has no drinks, air conditioning, or other typical accoutrements strictly welcoming people of all ages interested in having one of the last pure music experiences left on the earth.

The PHJB began touring in 1963 and for many years there were several bands successfully touring under the name Preservation Hall. Many of the band's charter members performed with the pioneers who invented jazz in the early twentieth century including Buddy Bolden, Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong, and Bunk Johnson. Band leaders over the band’s history include the brothers Willie and Percy Humphrey, husband and wife Billie and De De Pierce, and famed pianist Sweet Emma Barrett. These founding artists and dozens of others passed on the lessons of their music to a younger generation who now follow in their footsteps like current band leader and trumpeter John Brunious.

(from http://www.preservationhall.com)

Rumors swirling about Police reunion

jensized — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 04:29:15 GMT

http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Music/01/04/music.police.reut/index.html

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the release of "Roxanne," the single that broke the Police in the United States.

"Discussions have been underway as to how this will be commemorated," reads a post on Sting's Web site (http://www.sting.com) attributed to a spokesperson at the band's A&M Records label. "While we can confirm that there will indeed be something special done to mark the occasion, the depth of the band's involvement still remains undetermined."

Oh yeah, and

jensized — Mon, 25 Dec 2006 05:46:20 GMT

MSTRKRFT is coming to Nashville in March!

They are opening for John Digweed and I don't give two shits about that, but I would love to see MSTRKRFT, whether they're playing live or deejaying.

Great albums from 2006

jensized — Mon, 25 Dec 2006 05:44:12 GMT

Transcribed from my blog:

Stereogum's "Gummy Award" winners and Pitchfork's year-end lists (which as always, are saturated with uber-obscure albums that nobody but Pitchfork's staff has even heard, as if to prove how cutting-edge they are), are up. Of course, upon perusing these lists, I'm always forced to meditate on what my year-end favorites are. So without further ado, here are some records that I really dug on this year. Since every album has different little nuances that make it great, it's really impossible for me to choose which is, say, number one, or number ten. So they're not in any sort of order.

1. T.I. - "King" This is the first "rap" album I've ever bought. Yeah, I own some De La Soul and Common and stuff like that, but that's a different breed. There are so many hot tracks on this record-- from "What You Know," which, despite its omnipresence on the airwaves, never got old; to "Top Back," which makes me bounce a lil', though, due to my lack of thug vernacular, I have no idea what he's talking about. Plus he brings in other heavy-hitters like Common, Young Jeezy, Jamie Foxx, Pharrell... somehow T.I. makes typical hip-hop subjects like ho's and blow sound a little classier. Favorite track: "Goodlife"

2. Sonic Youth - "Rather Ripped" Let me start by saying that Kim Gordon is older than my mom. And although I love my mom, she stopped rocking in about 1982, if she ever rocked at all. "Rather Ripped" proves that Kim & co. have still got it, even if she dresses like a soccer mom and dances onstage like the people we make fun of at Memphis in May. Oh, and I'll always prefer Thurston's vocals. Naturally a band known for being experimental will take some eyebrow-raising turns, and over a span of 25 years, it's impossible to expect every record to be a classic, but this one comes damn close. Favorite tracks: "Jams Run Free"/"Pink Steam"

3. Thom Yorke - "The Eraser" Call it a solo album, call it a Radiohead album minus the rest of the band, call it whatever you want, it's still good. I had been getting antsy, as three years have lapsed since "Hail to the Thief," but this is enough to tide me over until the next Radiohead release, if such a thing ever exists. "The Eraser" puts Yorke's hauntingly beautiful voice in the forefront, so that you can't help but absorb the lyrics. And the minimalist bleeps and blips layered over drum machine and piano sound incredible in headphones. Try it. Favorite track - "Analyse"

4. MSTRKRFT - "The Looks" Death from Above 1979's "You're a Woman, I'm a Machine" was my favorite album of last year. It may even be my favorite album ever. Seeing Max Weinberg tearing it up on the drums during "Romantic Rights" was probably one of the most incredible things I've seen on television. So I was disappointed to hear that such a promising band had called it quits so soon. These guys seriously kicked so much ass. It's okay, though, because there's always MSTRKRFT (pronounced "mastercraft"), which is kinda like the Wilco to DFA 79's Uncle Tupelo, I guess. Anyway, after remixing several DFA tracks for "Romance Bloody Romance" in addition to Panthers, Bloc Party, Annie, and Juliette & the Licks, MSTRKRFT finally released their LP of original material, and it's got that disco-electro-indie-sleaze-house I love. DFA 79 may have been short-lived but I'm looking forward to what else MSTRKRFT has to offer in the next few years. Favorite track: "Street Justice"

5. The Flaming Lips - "At War with the Mystics" Has everyone forgotten about this already? I am 100% positive it came out this year but I haven't seen it on ANYONE's lists. HELLO? THE W.A.N.D.? IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE? The FLips are another band that has been around forever and still continues to produce quality songs and a mind-blowing live show. I already gush about these guys so much on here, so I'll spare you. Favorite tracks: "The Wand"/"Pompeii am Gotterdammerung"

6. Grizzly Bear - "Yellow House" All the indie rock these days seems to be coming from three places: Brooklyn, Austin, and Montreal. Grizzly Bear are from the Brooklyn camp. I confess, I just got this last week, and I am kicking myself for not checking these guys out a little sooner. This album's characterized by lush, melancholy instrumentals and soft vocals. It's a little bit of Elliott Smith mixed with the Arcade Fire and one more ingredient I can't quite place. Favorite tracks: "On a Neck, On a Spit"/"Colorado"

7. Justin Timberlake - "FutureSex/LoveSounds" Hate all you want, anybody who says they haven't sung along to "SexyBack" is a damned liar. It's no "Justified" but it's hot as hell. Too bad "My Dick in a Box" isn't on it though. Favorite tracks: "Pose"/"Chop Me Up" (feat. Three Six Mafia!)

8. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "Show Your Bones" I have heard so much negative hype about this record, how Karen O went all west-coast, how the YYYs' sophomore effort is somehow bad because it's not "Fever to Tell Part 2," how the band is in shambles, blah blah blah. Although I may contradict myself by saying this (by the virtue that I found the Decemberists' "Crane Wife" hard to swallow because it was just so "un-Decemberist"), would the Yeah Yeah Yeahs really be a good band, if all their albums sounded exactly the same? Yes, "Fever to Tell" was an incredible album, inspiring girls everywhere to strut around like Karen O and study Vice's "Do" lists for fashion tips or whatever, but "Show Your Bones" is great in its own way. Not worse, not better, just DIFFERENT. The differences between the two make a YYYs record for every mood, and that's okay. Favorite tracks: "Turn Into"/"Honeybear"

Pandora's Psychic Music Box

jensized — Sun, 17 Dec 2006 18:12:01 GMT

http://www.pandora.com.

Enter an artist, and the "music genome project" streams songs it thinks you will like based on your entry. It enables you to customize your station with an "I Like It" vs "I Don't Like It" button. It's been pretty accurate so far; to test it out I made Arcade Fire and Yeah Yeah Yeahs stations.

My ~20 Favorite Songs of 2006

jensized — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 00:44:08 GMT

In no particular order:

Band Of Horses - The Funeral Hot Chip - Over and Over Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Turn Into TV On the Radio - Wolf Like Me The Flaming Lips - The W.A.N.D. Midlake - Young Bride Sonic Youth - Jams Run Free Thom Yorke - Skip Divided Sufjan Stevens - The Henney Buggy Band Cold War Kids - Hospital Beds Beck - No Complaints Justin Timberlake - My Love ft T.I Justin Timberlake - My Love (DFA mix) T.I. - What You Know Silversun Pickups - Lazy Eye The Twilight Singers - I'm Ready Yo La Tengo - Mr. Tough MSTRKRFT - She's Good For Business Karen O (Feat. Peaches) - Backass Peaches - Downtown

This week: Christmas with Sufjan; Yodeling.

jensized — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 18:56:21 GMT

I highly recommend Sufjan Stevens' Christmas compilation "Songs for Christmas." It consists of the Christmas EPs he's recorded as gifts for friends and family dating back to 2001. There are five discs, only one year is skipped (2004, when Illinois was priority, apparently). The set comes with comics, pictures (including one of SS and his family), all the lyrics, guitar tab, stories, and it's in a cute box. This is one album I would discourage against purchasing on iTunes.

Also among my acquisitions this week is the new Gwen Stefani CD "The Sweet Escape." I haven't given it much of a listen but on first hear it's much more 80s-tinged and sounds more in the style of No Doubt than L.A.M.B. did. At least to me. I don't know. Like I said I haven't given it much of a listen.

And I refuse to be judged for the fact that I do indeed own both GS albums, as well as both of Justin Timberlake's cds. There is no shame in guilty pleasures.

Aristocrunk!

jensized — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 04:46:34 GMT

Last night was the release party for our friend's cd "Aristocrunk." Typically I hate going to Newby's but I had a blast. Basically it's two white dudes rapping about how rich they are. Very tongue-in-cheek because I have known "Lord T" for a couple of years and he is in fact definitely not rich. anyway, there are songs and videos on their myspace for the listening pleasure of all. And here is a blog entry about them all the way from San Francisco. FANCY.

PS Al Kapone is the SHIT too.

Good thing I don't miss anyone.

jensized — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 18:07:14 GMT

I recently blew the dust off some of the music I listened to four, five, six years ago, when I didn't really trust anything that came from the States. I'd forgotten how poignant this song was. To me it's a modernized version of "I'm So Tired" from the Beatles' White Album.

"TV Movie" Without you my life has become a hangover without end. A movie made for TV: bad dialogue, bad acting, no interest. Too long with no story and no sex. Is it a kind of weakness to miss someone so much? To wish the day would go away? Like you did yesterday. Just like you did yesterday. And I can't think of a way to get through this pain. To be happy again to make it all alright and I know it must be bad cos sitting here right now, all I know is I can't even think, I can't even think of anything clever to say. So I say: why pretend any longer? Cos I need you here with me. It's obvious that I miss you so much so please say you're gnna stay. So please say you're gonna stay. So please say you're gonna stay. The night is getting darker now and there's nothing on TV but I'll sit tight til morning light. Yeah, I'll wait until the day. Until the day that you say you're gonna stay.