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Gem of the Week: Beck’s New Single Blue Moon

22 Jan
beckpic

My ode to Beck Illustration

Beck is back with a new album called Morning Phase which I am anxious to listen to since he’s been out of the spotlight for so long.

This is his 12th studio album set to come out on February 25th. Beck’s last album was Modern Guilt. (2008)

After listening to the new single Blue Moon accessed though his official site the vibe is very acoustic-folk and I like it.

I am looking forward to picking up the new album and checking out the rest of the tracks.

According to Rolling Stone, Beck has been recovering from a back injury and he stated in the article :

“I was in bad shape. There were a number of years where I couldn’t pick up my guitar.”

I was definitely happy to hear that he is on the mend and making music again.

Rolling Stone is also comparing this new album to his 2002 album Sea Change. I haven’t listened through the entire new album yet to say that I agree but Sea Change is Beck’s gold album and my favorite song off it is  The Golden Age so we will see.

What I appreciate about Beck’s style is that he explores blending his influences from hip-hop, classic rock or country into his music. I also love that he releases his albums on vinyl.

I distinctly remember his debut as a new artist on MTV and when the music video for his breakthrough hit Loser first aired back in 1993. I have never forgotten that moment and the video and song had a lasting impression.

The glimpses of cheerleaders in a cemetery and that old man with the guitar was memorable along with lyrics that still ring in my head today like:

“Get crazy with the cheeze whiz.” and “Don’t believe everything that you breathe you’ll get a parking violation and a maggot on your sleeve.”

It’s been cool to see Beck transition over the years from his alternative grunge start to psychedelic and into the folksy mood he projects now and as a fan I love it all.

My heart mostly hangs on to his early 90s stuff from albums like Mellow Gold and Odelay and songs like Where It’s At and The New Pollution are still in my favorites list.

I found a link from BeckVEVO You Tube channel for the video to Loser enjoy flashin’ back to 1993!

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Gem of the Week: Frente!

15 Jan
frente1

My Frente! Albums

Australian pop-acoustic-folk band Frente! is a gem I have dug out from my collection to highlight this week.

I remember the group gained popularity with their acoustic cover of Bizarre Love Triangle by New Order in 1994 and it was such an offbeat cover for the grunge era time.

According to a wiki search the band formed in 1989 and consisted of Simon Austin on guitar, Angie Hart on lead vocals, Tim O’Connor on bass guitar, and Mark Picton on drums.

I haven’t heard anything new from the band since that time but they have a Facebook  band page and are still around and playing shows. However, I did not see anything confirming if the group recorded or released any new material.

My best friend and I loved their cover of Bizarre Love Triangle and we use to wait to hear it on the radio. The music video for the cover was kind of odd too with close up shots of Hart singing while her band members circle her playing their guitars.

I remember also liking Hart’s style. She sported short black hair, a nose ring and had a cool way of dressing by mixing the grunge look with vintage patterns and styles.

The band released one full length studio album titled Marvin The Album which I own but the first album I bought was Labor of Love on cassette.

The tape only had seven songs on it but I bought it then because Bizarre Love Triangle was one of the tracks. I ended up loving all of the songs on that album and it’s now a beat up old tape from listening to it so much. Some great  tracks from that album were Not Given Lightly, Oh Brilliance and of course my favorite song Labor of Love.

Frente! had released a music video for Labor of Love in 1994 too but MTV usually only aired it during  shows for alternative music like 120 minutes.

I think Labor of Love is truly a great song; I love everything about it from the lyrics, breezy soft vocals and lil’ flute solo. I especially love the line:

“And if you want to find me,  Call me, I’ll be far from The cars and guitars and Everybody.”

Marvin The Album is great and it includes Labor of Love too. My favorites from this album are Pretty Friend and Ordinary Angels.

Frente! is a quirky popish acoustic band that you have to listen to a few times to truly appreciate their offbeat strength.

Below is a link from XttraVid You Tube channel for the video of Labor of Love.

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Gem of the week: RUN DMC Christmas in Hollis

25 Dec

Wishing everyone in the blogosphere a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year 2014! Enjoy this gem of the week from RUN DMC in 1987! I promise this is the last Christmas video favorite I’ll share for the season! This link is from RUNDMCVEVO You Tube channel of a great classic.

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Gem of the Week: Avicii

4 Dec

The worldwide hit song Wake Me Up by Swedish DJ Avicii, has a catchy vibe that made its way into my current favorite’s list.

After hearing this song played at least twice a day on the radio during my drive to work, I came to appreciate the eclectic styles it blends.

An article on Billboard.com stated:

“The song has sold 1.9 million downloads, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Parent album “True” debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 two weeks ago and has sold 77,000 copies.”

Wake Me Up is co-written by american soul singer Aloe Blacc who performs the vocals and features acoustic guitar by Incubus guitarist Mike Einziger.

I love Blacc’s lyrics they are well written and inspiring. I especially like the verse:

” Wish that I could stay forever this young

Not afraid to close my eyes

Life’s a game made for everyone

And love is the prize”

The song is refreshing and new fusing artists from alternative, soul and electronic backgrounds, who pulled together this catchy hit.

You can listen and learn more about Avicii from his official site.

 

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Gem of the Week: Toad the Wet Sprocket

20 Nov
Outside The Show In Royal Oak, MI

Waiting outside of the Royal Oak Music Theatre

Alternative rockers Toad the Wet Sprocket make a strong comeback releasing latest album New Constellation on October 15th, breaking their 16 year hiatus.

The interesting aspect was that the band turned to Kickstarter to finance the new album.

” With a goal to raise $50,000 through Kickstarter, the band members figured it would take a couple of months to raise the funds, but their fans surprised them by donating the entire amount in only 20 hours. ” as stated from an article on TheSpectrum.com.

According to the bands official website, their quirky name came from a Monty Python comedy sketch and even though the band had success in the 90s selling platinum albums they ended up going their separate ways in 1998.

Now that they are back together I couldn’t wait to listen to the new album and I’m impressed with the songs on New Constellation.

The album is a good revival with a more upbeat vibe blended with their classic melodic style.

So far I like the tracks: The Moment and Rare Bird which carry a more melancholy tone and I seem to always be attracted to those tracks first! The last track on the album is Enough, which is my current favorite and I think it is the most catchy ballad.

The band is currently on tour and performed in Detroit this past Thursday at the Royal Oak Music Theatre. I had been looking forward to going to this show because I was really into them in the 90s and I have the albums (1991) Fear and (1994) Dulcinea.

I had a great time at the show and the mood was laid back and mostly acoustic.  The band mixed up the set alternating between playing old and new songs. They even played tracks off Fear which put a big smile on my face. The encore included their big hits Fall Down and Walk on the Ocean.

During my own conversations with people at the show, I would pick up bits of conversations between other fans who chatted about being in their 30s and reminisced about the grunge era.

It was cool to hear that other fans felt the same way I did especially since this show has been a long-awaited reunion.

Going back to reflect on the album Fear, I loved every single track especially: Walk on the Ocean, Hold Her Down and Butterflies. Fear is one of my top favorites in my music collection. I actually like it better than their follow-up album Dulcinea.

Although that album has some gems with Fall Down and Something’s Always Wrong.

In 1994 I watched the cult classic teen drama My So-Called Life and I remember Fall Down was played in one of the episodes. That song always makes me think of 1994 and of the show every time I hear it.

I am happy that I could lend support to the band. I will gladly fork over my money to pay to download their music and to hear them perform live because they are worthy.

 

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Gem of the Week: Macklemore and Ryan Lewis

6 Nov

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis pumped up the crowd with a fun and high-energy filled show on Saturday at the Palace of Auburn Hills, MI.

Last year the Seattle-based rapper (Macklemore) and producer/DJ (Lewis) performed at St. Andrews Hall in Detroit to a small group of fans. ( 800+  capacity)  This year at The Palace the Hip-Hop duo performed to over 6,000 fans, quite a jump and I’m happy for their success!

Their popularity has soared with the debut album The Heist producing big hits like Thrift Shop and Can’t Hold Us.

I like The Heist album a lot and the show opened with the song Ten Thousand Words. A few songs into the set he performed Same Love along with vocalist Mary Lambert, who sings on the studio version too.

Macklemore sported a Detroit jersey as fireworks, confetti and wild stories filled the stage. He also incorporated old school elements like beat boxin’ and freestyle rapping into his show.

He kept things interesting in between songs by going into goofy long-winded tales, including more sincere matters like his recovery battling drug addiction.  He definitely has storytelling  ability as he kept myself and the audience engaged each time.

My favorite story was after a few songs he started talking about how he arrived in Detroit early and decided to go to Lake Michigan. He took in the view of the lake and decided to take his clothes off and jump in. While he is in the lake he noticed two guys going through his things who then run off with his clothes. So here he was standing alone and naked in the lake. Now, at this point in the story the crowd and myself knew it was leading into a some type of punch line and we were waiting for it!

He continued saying how he noticed an old lady feeding birds and he went over to her. She told him to get on her back so she could carry him. He hesitated as she was so old but he did it.  As the woman starts carrying him off he asked her where she was taking him. The old woman replied that he had no clothes so she was taking him to the thrift shop. He goes right into performing the hit song and I loved the whole interlude even if it was a goofy way to introduce Thrift Shop.

My appreciation for Macklemore’s humble gestures took a step further when during his encore he took a few minutes to introduce everyone on stage with him.  He started introductions from his back up dancers to his trombone, cello and violin players. He was very sincere in giving recognition to everyone that is part of his live show.

Also, he performed his biggest hit twice! It was awesome and I have not seen an artist do that before. He started telling fans that it was near the end of the tour and he would not be back until next year so he wanted to hear Detroit go crazy one more time and he went into performing Can’t Hold Us again.

I loved the live show and I look forward to the future of Macklemore and wish the duo continued success.

 

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Gem of the Week: Tenacious D

16 Oct

After seeing Tenacious D appear on Jay Leno this past Friday, I found out the comedic rock duo who gained a cult following since 2006 are back with a new album called Rize of the Fenix.

Tenacious D is actor Jack Black and musician Kyle Gass who both play lead guitar/vocals bringing an acoustic driven sound complimented with comedy skits and theatrical touches.

I checked out Rize of the Fenix which is their 3rd studio release. It’s pretty gritty and includes the usual comical and raunchy skits with Flutes and Trombones and Classical Teacher.

 I liked The Ballad Of Hollywood Jack And the Rage Kage which they performed on Leno.  My favorite song from the album is Senorita but I’m drawn to anything with spanish influence.

I love tenacious D’s comedy and I think they are effective in paying tribute to the legendary rockers before them.

I’m happy they are back with new material since I had not heard anything new from them since their 2006 music comedy film and 2nd album soundtrack, Tenacious D: In The Pick Of Destiny.

Black and Gass also refer to themselves under stage names used in the film with Black as JB or Jables and Gass as KG or Rage Kage.

During their appearance on The Tonight Show,  Jay Leno asked if Black’s film career interferes with the band and Gass dryly replied:

“Uh yeah it has Jay!”

Black laughs and says the song they will be performing later addresses that situation:

“The friction that happens when Jables goes off and does his hollywood thing.”

Tenacious D will also be performing this weekend at Festival Supreme bringing a line up of musicians and comedians together in Santa Monica, CA on October 19th.

As Gass said on Leno this is their first festival and it’s exciting as he is pretty sure it’s not been done before.

Black stated that the line up includes comedians such as Adam Sandler, Sarah Silverman and Zach Galifianakis.

“We’re gonna be down at the beach man, Santa Monica pier.” Black stated.

Check out the Supreme Festival line-up and details on Festivalsupreme.com.

You can listen to the new album on the bands official website Tenaciousd.com the player is in the upper right corner.

I am glad that Tenacious D is still performing their talents for rock fans as well as being rock fans themselves.

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Gem of the Week: P.M. Dawn

25 Sep

“Reality used to be a friend of mine ‘Cause complete control I don’t take too kind,” Prince Be.

These classic lyrics from the 1991 song by P.M. Dawn, Set ADrift on Memory Bliss, still inspires me today as it did during the 90s.
 
The group comprised of brothers Prince Be (lead vocals) and DJ Minute Mix; they had a cool image from the bizarre way they dressed to the deep thought-provoking lyrics in their songs.
 
According to the fan site www.pmdawnonline.com, Prince Be stated the meaning of the group name was an the idea that in the darkest hour comes the light.

I researched to find updated news about them and I found this online article posted September 28, 2011 from The Stranger.com.

The article basically stated that DJ Minute Mix is pursuing a solo career and the groups cousin Doc  G stepped in his place.  Also, Prince Be has suffered from health issues after having three strokes and is still trying to recover.

I wish Prince Be full recovery and I only have fond memories listening to P.M. Dawn on the radio during my preteen middle school days!

Their classic 1991 album, Of The Heart, Of The Soul and Of The Cross: The Utopian Experience, set it off with the hits: Set Adrift on Memory Bliss and my favorite Reality Used To Be A Friend Of Mine.

All I know is that when I listened to P.M. Dawn I heard mellow and smooth vocals with lyrics that I could comprehend unlike the hip-hop/r&b music that I hear playing on the radio today!

P.M. Dawn wrote the type of songs that you could relate too and I will not forget them.

I have linked the classic video from Djbuddyloverootsrap You Tube channel below.

http://youtu.be/B9K3bTZgdHY

 

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Gem of the Week: The Pogues

18 Sep

The Pogues are pioneers for blending celtic irish folk and punk rock genres together.

In recent years bands like Flogging Molly and Dropkick Murphys have taken the irish/punk sound mainstream but before them was The Pogues!

I think The Pogues music has become overshadowed and their songs are a bit underrated too; but they are a great band.

One of The Pogues most well rated album is their 1985 release Rum, Sodomy and the Lash. They do a great cover of an anti-war song titled, The Band Played Waltzing Matilda.

Also, the 1991 movie My Own Private Idaho included the song The Old Main Drag on their soundtrack.

A couple noteworthy songs that I like are, Lorca’s Novena (featured in the 1997 movie Grosse Pointe Blank) and Dirty Old Town.

You can read more about the band from their official site, but in a nutshell they formed in 1982, Shane MacGowan is the frontman, who was notable for his trademark bad teeth until 2009 when he finally got dental work done. Here is a photo of his trademark teeth posted on TheGloss.com.

According to the statement on the official website, as of April 2012 guitarist Philip Chevron has revealed that his head and neck cancer has returned.

“The Pogues are on a prolonged time out, emerging only in support of matters relating to their 30th anniversary this year,” according to the statement.

I was sad to learn that Chevron is battling cancer and I hope he stays strong.

I have linked  a music video from Zinerytee You Tube channel below.

 

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Gem of the Week: Sufjan Stevens

11 Sep

I stumbled across an artist named Sufjan Stevens, who does a stellar R.E.M. cover of The One I Love!

Since R.E.M is my favorite band, I always click on any You Tube video involving R.E.M.

Good thing I clicked on this video otherwise I may have never discovered another lil’ gem.

Stevens is a mix of Indie/Pop/Folk style; he has a soft croon to his voice that reminds me of a young Bob Dylan.

According to his bio from Asthmatic Kitty Records, he is from Detroit, Michigan and his most well-known concept state albums are Illinois and Michigan released in 2004 and  2005.

I checked out other songs on You tube from him ; his version of the gospel song Holy, Holy, Holy is really good too.

Stevens covered The One I Love well and made it his own which is impressive!

Please check out the link below of The One I love cover from Pat Mcinnis You Tube channel.

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