10 - The 90s

For the last few weeks Ms. Ladd and I have been reminiscing through a lot of memories. The loss of a friend and his love for hip hop(throw your hands in the ayerr if yous a true playerrr), the rediscovery of the show "The Wonder Years", and most recently the band 'Savage Garden' (like a chica cherry colaaa). Oh the days of the babysitters club, mary kate & ashley, nickelodeon, Cher and Dion in Clueless, brandy vs. monica, britney vs. christina, backstreet boys vs. nsync, and the glory days of Total Request Live (when MTV ACTUALLY played music) and the battle of the rock bands Blink182, Limp Bizkit, KoRn, Kid rock, and who could forget.. Sisqo's Thong Song (which has recently become popular again).

This is in no way a 'Best of the 90s' list, but it is a list of songs that bring back a lot of memories, for better or for worse. Enjoy.

just a friend - biz markie - 1989
we got the jazz - a tribe called quest - 1991
real love - mary j blige - 1992
Dream - the cranberries - 1993
red light special - tlc - 1994
big poppa - biggie - 1994
sabotage - beastie boys - 1994
hold my hand - hootie and the blowfish - 1994
always be my baby - mariah carey - 1995
just a girl - no doubt - 1995
1979 - smashing pumpkins - 1996
one headlight - The Wallflowers - 1996
I want you - savage garden - 1997
How's it gonna be - third eye blind - 1997
all my life - k-ci and jojo - 1998
faith - limp bizkit - 1998
I want it that way - 1998
the boy is mine - brandy and monica - 1998
got the life - korn - 1999
baby one more time - britney spears - 1999
genie in a bottle - christina aguilera - 1999
(I know.. but you can not deny their star power...)

09 - Raheem DeVaughn

... was on NPR tonight. Say whaa?

Any one who is familiar with my Palmer Station playlists may know the name Raheem Devaughn or at least the song 'Woman' which made it's debut in the Antarctic during LMG 0802 (then again you may not remember it...). Some rolled their eyes and doubted my vision into this man's talent. Well guess what.. All Things Considered just affirmed that I knew what was up!



So tonight, Raheem DeVaughn hung out with Guy Roz and talked about his new record 'The Love and War Masterpeace'. When asked about the concept of the record, Raheem responded:

'The Love and War Masterpeace is just that... we're all in a place internally where we are trying to master our own peace'...'everything is pretty crazy right now. I wanted to make a record that capture those moments, but was also uplifting at the same time'

He has always written socially conscious music, and is especially known for his respect and reverence for women, but the novelty of this record is the political messages embedded within. According to NPR, this song 'Bulletproof' has been compared to Marvin Gaye's 'Inner City Blues'




There are also spoken-word interludes throughout the record featuring the voice of Dr. Cornell West, who is a professor of African American studies at Princeton. From what I have heard so far, it adds fluidity and a real dimension of depth to the album. But fear not, it still has the traditional fabulous R&B love flavor. Listen at your own risk... I take no responsibility for the good vibrations that result (... okay, maybe i'll take just a little credit)

08 - Vieux Farka Toure

Son of Ali Farka Toure, I believe he has officially surpassed his father in popularity. While his father awakened the world to the sound of soul and blues that can be found in Mali, Vieux has made it modern and delivered it to the mainstream.

I first had the chance to hear him at Bonnaroo, which is quite conscious of including world music in their vast musical repertoire. I now own his album Fondo and it's quite amazing. Below is only a small sample of his sound, but I am in the lab working and jamming to it, and if you decide to listen to more I think you'll find that he's got what it takes to make the day go by pretty smoothly.

Artist: Vieux Farka Toure
How I found it: Bonnaroo
Style: West African soul/blues/rock
Favorite Album: Fondo
Song picks: Fafa, Ai du

Testimonial - Ben Harper

(I wrote this over a week ago and never posted it)


He's a prolific musician and chances are you know his work. 'Steal my kisses' was all the rage in '99 and 'Woman in you' was in almost every playlist I made from highschool through college. His list of collaborations is long and distinguished < insert joke here >. He's a two time grammy winner, plays a mean slide guitar, and writes socially conscious music to go with his activist resume. But of his qualifications, what endears his music to me most is the unparalleled, mind blowing, soul liberating experiences I have had at his live shows. I'm going to share with you two experiences which I hope compel you, by ANY means necessary, to see him LIVE.

bonnaroo 2007
I spent a lot of time at the bluegrass tent, mostly because John Paul Jones of Led Zepellin produced over half the bands and was playing mandolin with them to boot. Rumor 'round the tent was that he would be playing with Ben Harper and I knew that was a show I couldn't miss. When Jones finally made his entrance, he started accompanying with the mandolin. But then.. he picked up the bass.. and he began playing the haunting, groaning intro to Dazed and Confused, and to this day, when I play the video clip and remember that moment electricity runs through my entire body - head to toe. It sounds cliche, but the moment was truly transcendent. Ben's strikingly emotive voice, the gravity of hearing a legend like John play brought the song to life in a way I had never experienced before. It took me back in time. It was a place in time that I had obviously never been, but I somehow felt connected to it. If I had to pinpoint the instance where I first truly understood what it meant to love music, that would be it.

The song 'Better Way'
The performance of this one song stands out in my mind more than any song i've heard at any other show, save the one listed above. I'm going to paint a picture, and when i'm done, close your eyes. Play the song. Turn it all the way up, and picture you're there with me.

A concert in an intimate outdoor theater on the leeward side of a hot NC summer. It's the release tour for 'Both Sides of the Gun', an album inspired by a nation discontent with recent government action and inaction, most notably in the wake of Katrina. Barefoot in the grass, enveloped in a warm sticky humidity, and standing in a light rain that had been persisting for hours, they start to play 'Better Way'. There is an undulating fog of mist and smoke hanging over the crowd, which is suddenly filled with a fluorescent purple light pouring from the stage. Light threads visibly between hundreds of hands and fingers outstretched in the sky. Ben sings, pleads to us, his voice in the air as thick as the mist and as palpable as the rain drops falling on our hands and face. He comes to the end of the stage, the people surrounding him, reaching out to him, they begin holding him up.. he screams:

"Reality is sharp it cuts at me like a knife
Everyone I know is in the fight of their lives,

and I believe there's a better way!"

An anguish so genuine it brought tears to my eyes...

Yes I believe there's a better way...




I also recommend watching the music video.

07 - Farewell Milwaukee

Holy crap. So i'm new to the party, but Pandora brought this group up today and i'm HOOKED.

Their sound is reminiscent of Caedmon's call (for those who know them) and the lead singer kinda sounds like Keith Urban. It's folky/rocky/truthy/sad-happy/fairly pop-y.. and o-so-accessible.

I don't know much, but I know they have a new fan in me.



And I love the album art (click for their myspace)

06 - People Under the Stairs

After 2 weeks of 80s this 50 degrees feels cold as hell. But i'm on the back porch anyway...still writing, drinking a beer and chillin' out with PUTS... People Under the Stairs.

These cats are chill as hell. Double K does the beats and the rhymes and Thes One ryhmes, produces, and handles the bi'ness. They have a style similar to A Tribe called Quest and Jurassic 5 with a purer form of DJing than most groups today. Their beats are fresh and funky and their lyrics are well constructed with humor, puns, poetry, and inspiration. At the same time, they still hold onto their Cali origins.. I feel that i'm cruisin' the palm tree lined streets of LA right there with em.

True to their lyrics in "Montego Slay":
'two cats making it fat it's like that
with a rap similar to a pi-ti-pat of a cat'

Artist: PUTS - Thes One and Double K
How I found em: Bonnaroo
Favorite Album: O.S.T., Carried Away
Song picks: The Outrage and Beer

(But I LOVE Montego Slay, San Francisco Knights, Empty Bottles of Water.. actually everything from OST)



This next song is hilarious.... plus they sample the 'Price is Right' theme (1:53)... which is ridiculous

sometimes Chimay.. yell it like TIMMAY
You like hangin' on twitter.. and we like BEER

Sampler

Fun songs for the day

... and as always, for optimum enjoyment.. turn it all the way up!!

Soul - Crown City Rockers


In Search of - Miike Snow


Lisztomania - Phoenix


Lights and Music - Cut copy


Half Mast - Empire of the Sun


Hot night hounds - Annuals

05 - Deer Tick

If it's good enough for Neko it's good enough for me.

Deer Tick opened for Neko when I went to see her in Charlotte a few months ago. In terms of opening acts, they would be what urban dictionary might call 'the shit'. Their sound is unpretentious, a rock/folk band with nuances like the occasional violin, and they're music is inspired without being overly dramatic. Lyrics with real stories and just a dash o' poetry. Plus John McCauley's voice has an edge to it that really makes the whole thing just.. work.

However, I think my favorite thing about them is their personality. Most specifically John. The whole band was pretty stoned during the show but John provided commentary between songs (and even during songs) that left me in stitches the entire show.

They may not gel with you immediately, but I think if you give them a chance they'll grow on you. But if you go to a show, you are guaranteed a good time.

Artist: Deer Tick
From: Providence, RI
How I found it: Neko Case's opening act
Favorite Album: War Elephant
Song Picks: Ashamed, These Old Shoes

This gives you a sample of how talented and humorous he is..



I just found this animation for this song.. really sweet!

04 - Jack Rose

An artist gone too soon.

I'm not going to say much, as the music speaks for itself (and i'm a little busy right now), but Jack Rose is a phenomenal guitarist. He plays 6-string, 12-string, and lap-slide guitar using open tuning. It's a beautiful sound, and depending on the piece that can mean 'happy' or haunting.

Artist: Jack Rose
From: VA originally, PA mostly
Style: Inspired by Ragtime, Country-Blues
How I found it: His posthumous fame, NPR weekend edition did a feature in honor of his passing (12.05.09)
Favorite album: As 'Dr Ragtime & Pals' - (Self-Titled)

03 - The Fairfield Four

I am a child of the South. There are a lot of things about the South I was not brought up with because I was also a child of 'Yankees'. None the less, there are some things that you absolutely can not escape appreciating, especially in North Carolina.

Green. Sweet tea. Carolina beaches. Rocking chairs. Shuttered windows. BBQ (don't try to fight with me on how to prepare it). College Basketball (Let's go Duke) Porch sittin'. Sundays. Story tellin'. Bluegrass. Gospel.

There is so much history in the South. Jump on 58 and head down to the beach. Charleston. Savannah. The small towns. The farm land. The old men who have lived simple lives and still have the most harrowing of stories. If you don't live in the South, it's hard to describe how rich a space it is. I've been in it my whole life and have recently been reflecting on my place here. One thing is for sure, no matter where I end up, I know I will always have a place to come back to.

I am looking out onto a beautiful Sunday morning through giant white shutters, trees filled with green and purple buds, sun shining, listening to the soulful sound of a southern gospel group, The Fairfield Four. This group is the sound of the South. The history of southern gospel music is rooted in the revival movement and features messages on how God is the solution to everyday problems. This typically "quartet" style group with tenor-lead-baritone-bass members is easy to appreciate, Christian or not.

Artist: The Fairfield Four
From: Nashville, TN
Style: A capella Gospel group
How I found it: My pops
History: Started as a trio in Nashville' Fairfield Baptist Church in 1921 and have had a total of 16 members. They perform mostly as a quintet now and were featured briefly in O Brother Where art Thou.

02 - Ten Years Gone *My song*

I don't think I can go any further with this blog until I explain 'My song'. Perhaps it is a fallacy to believe that I can sum the whole of my existence into a single song. Especially this early in my existence. And maybe it is. But that doesn't mean that I haven't tried. And that doesn't mean you shouldn't either. It's an excellent soul-searching exercise.

I can recall the moment that I discovered 'my song'.. drivin down the road about 3 years ago, wind in my hair, listening to a song I had heard a thousand times before. Then it hits me. The great philosopher Bob Marley once said, 'One good thing about music is that when it hits, you feel no pain.' There is wisdom in his argument, but I fundamentally disagree. I know plenty of songs that when they 'hit'... I feel pain. Everywhere. My chest, my eyeballs, my gut, my throat, my toes, the very top of my skull. Ten Years Gone is one of those songs. When I was listening to it that day, it was like I was hearing the song for the first time. I heard an aching in his words, what he lost, what he still has, what he remembers, what he learned. I didn't just have one emotion, I think I felt all of them.

Pain. Love. Sadness. Hope. Remorse. Longing. Joy.

What this actually says about me I've scrutinized only minimally. Through the process of learning how to be an 'educator' I have found that I am a 'Global Learner', meaning I can see the big picture and easily reach conclusions, but I struggle when trying to articulate how I got there. I feel a deep connection to the essence of the song but internally I wrestle with the specifics of why. So here is my crack at the specifics.. as best as I can tell you:

I have taken most strongly to the first 3 lines 'then as it was, then again it will be etc.' It is technically a song about Robert Plant's first love who made him choose between her, and his music (obviously he chose the latter). It was a love so powerful that even though it's 'ten years gone' still stirs profound emotion. It's about finding your soul mate 'we are eagles of one nest, the nest is in our soul' ... and yet you're left gut wrenchingly heartbroken knowing that it will never be, 'Flyin' skys of fortune, each have separate ways', completely confounded by the mess left in the wake of your choices 'kinda makes me feel sometimes, didn't have to go' and yet you still come out alive.. and breathing.. 'changes fill my time, baby that's alright with me' still mindful of your pain 'in the midst I think of you and how it used to be', but ultimately still capable of love.

You hear this story not only in the lyrics, but perhaps more significantly in the music itself. The guitar seems to say everything the lyrics do, even culminating in a finish that is as triumphant as the revelation of love itself. Plant, Page, Bonham, Jones... maybe i'm putting them on a pedestal, but in the end what this song amounts to for me is a great work of art. My favorite work of art. It may or may not prove to ring completely true, but I can probably let you know in ten years.


Ten Years Gone - Led Zeppelin

Then as it was, then again it will be
An' though the course may change sometimes
Rivers always reach the sea
Flyin' skys of fortune, each have separate ways
On the wings of maybe, downing birds of prey
Kind of makes me feel sometimes, didn't have to go
But as the eagle leaves the nest, it's got so far to go

Changes fill my time, baby, that's alright with me
In the midst I think of you, and how it used to be

Did you ever really need somebody, And really need 'em bad
Did you ever really want somebody, The best love you ever had
Do you ever remember me, baby, did it feel so good
'Cause it was just the first time, And you knew you would

Do your eyes not sparkle, Senses growing keen
Tastin' love along the way, See your feathers preen
Kind of makes makes me feel sometimes, Didn't have to go
We are eagles of one nest, The nest is in our soul

Fixin' in my dreams with great surprise to me
Never thought I'd see your face the way it used to be
Oh darlin', oh darlin'

I'm never gonna leave you. I never gonna leave
Holdin' on, ten years gone
Ten years gone, holdin' on, ten years gone

01 - Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

(I've decided to start the 'tracks' over each month)

Hello Spring!

And say hello to Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. This wacky multi-member band will get your toe tapping and put you in the best of moods, no matter the circumstance or season. But since we have been granted this beautiful day, I now gift you the songs to make you beebop your way through it. Enjoy!

Artists:
* Alex Ebert - vocals, guitar, percussion, piano
* Jade Castrinos - vocals, guitar
* Nico Aglietti - guitar, synthesizer, keyboards, vocals
* Stewart Cole - trumpet, percussion, keyboards, tenor ukulele, vocals
* Tay Strathairn - piano, vocals
* Aaron Older - bass, vocals, banjo, percussion
* Josh Collazo - drums, percussion, vocals
* Orpheo McCord - percussion, vocals
* Nora Kirkpatrick - accordion, vocals
* Christian Letts - guitar, vocals

Auxiliary Talent

* Chris Richard - vocals, percussion
* Anna Bulbrook - violin, vocals
* Aaron Embry - keyboards, piano, vocals
* Tyler James - piano, vocals
* Ryan Richter - guitar, lap steel, vocals
* Michael "FARF" Farfel - announcer, general laugh man, management

From: Sunny California (of course..)
Style: Folk/Indie/a tad bit psychedelic
How I found it: indiestreetcred.com
Favorite Album:Their one and only album, Up From Below
Song Picks: 40 Day Dream, Home
Fun Wikipedia anecdote: After breaking up with his girlfriend, moving out of his house, and joining a 12-step program for addiction, Ebert began work on a story about a messianic figure named Edward Sharpe. According to Ebert, Sharpe "was sent down to Earth to kinda heal and save mankind...but he kept getting distracted by girls and falling in love." Ebert later met singer Jade Castrinos in Los Angeles. In the summer of 2009, as Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, Ebert and Castrinos toured the country with a group of fellow musicians in a big white school bus.