The Look Back

Before I head out for the weekend I had to post a few quick Easter songs.  I felt I had to diversify my hipster blog from everyone else who is posting the hot new Pitchfork Recommended track of the week. Enjoy these offerings from Gene Autry (Original owner of my Anaheim Angels) and Perry Como (Ask your grandparents). 

Gene Autry – Easter Mornin’

Gene has an interesting voice that is more of that say/sing variety.  I like it and appreciate these tracks.  Others find it grating and would rather listen to a local art/noise band.  I will choose a mash up of the two.  This is the least traditional Easter song of the three and probably created in 5 minutes after waking up from a hang over. 

Gene Autry – Peter Cottontail

A more traditional offering that I remember from random Easter morning Disney channel cartoons that they can’t seem to put on DVD for me to remenise with.  The one I’m really looking for is branded with the “PAAS” characters which are more familiar to the cheap Easter egg dye you buy at the grocery store.  How these guys were deemed deserving of a 30 min animated feature, I’ll never know but I want it. 

Perry Como – Easter Parade

This is the more traditional Easter song that your grandparents are sure to associate with Easter. (Along with Easter bonnets and Easter clothes.) Now Easter is pretty much just another excuse for JC Penny’s to hold a “Late Night Friday” and “Early Bird Saturday” clothing sale that all the house wives clamor for.  I hope this helps get you in the spirt and you dye a few eggs tomorrow night and wake up to some great candy from the Easter bunny.  Oh yeah, and go to church you heathens! 

I’m heading up North for the weekend but not before throwing out these gems. Happy Easter.

Silver Jews – San Francisco BC

Off the new album out next month from the indie loved Silver Jews. Often described as “country inspired” you will really notice it here on this narrative. I haven’t done my research yet to determine all the references which really end up being half the fun on tracks such as this.

Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks – Gardenia

I found Pavement late in the 90’s so I can’t claim to have been along since the start. I have finally found a track that really makes me think back to those original Pavement recordings with Mr. Malkmus and the band. This track is a great kick off to spring with its floral references and poppy sing along appeal.

Animal Collective – Water Curses

Following up their extremely well received “Strawberry Jam” record of 2007 is this track off their yet to be released EP of the same name. Definitely in the same spirit as the later album, as it should be with the B sides that make up the majority of the album. People seem to be going nuts for this online but I’m still not certain all these people actually listen to Animal Collective or if they just like the idea of what listening to Animal Collective means. (They also get a couple White People Points for the band being from Baltimore and for The Wire having been based there.)

Man Man – The Ballad of Butter Beans

Xylophone love here. Another fun spring song that really stays with you. I’ve yet to see these guys live in concert but from what I’ve heard I am definitely missing out on some fun. The all white attire and eye white should be reason enough. The lyrics here are a little lax in my opinion but the musical accompaniment really shines.

Punch Brothers – Punch Bowl

Chris Thiles of my favorite country/bluegrass band of all time, Nickel Creeks (I hate that they sound so similar to Nickel Back as I always get really excited when I hear “Nickel” and then have to get let down when they finish with “Back”.) new band. Chris is somewhat of a bluegrass prodigy as he has been making records since he was 12 years old. This band formed after/during the anti-climactic devolvement of Nickel Creek and during Chris’ recent divorce. This song doesn’t speak much of that but previous albums go into great depth. Some may say this is undeservedly labeled as “country” but really, what music isn’t undeservedly labeled something it really isn’t? Just listen and make a determination for yourself, there are no dumb opinions.

thingswhitepeoplelike already covered it, sorry.  I am definitely a white guy (who wishes he started that page.) but I found this on youtube and had to share. 

Arrested Development YouTube

Please pray for a movie. (and that I pass section D)

Every year I say I’m going to buy my SXSW badge in September and make the trek to Austin. I never do it. Maybe that will change this year…or not. With that in mind, I’m still here in (not so) sunny Southern California blogging about a rather eclectic mix of new and old tunes. Hoping to get out next Friday to the Orange County Museum of Art to see the Broken West.

Tokyo Police Club – Your English is Good (Link removed at Saddle Creek’s request)

From the soon to be released Elephant Shell album. I still find it hard to believe they didn’t have a full length album until now. Without throwing around words that really don’t mean a lot (yes, I’m well aware that I use them too.) they have put together a very nice indie pop album which I will play on repeat for quite some time and then lose interest in. Seeing them live really didn’t do anything for me. Their energy is hard to describe other than it appears as if they are as nervous as a college freshman in a beginning speech class. They have their instruments to hide behind and put on what you would expect a rock show to include but they have absolutely no in between song banter. (For the record, I measure just about all “between song banter” against John Vanderslice who is the master in my mind. If for no other reason than his 2 minute rant about how meaningless encores are and how he wouldn’t be doing one.) My opinion obviously doesn’t transcend the masses as they are playing two sold out shows in a row at the Troubadour next week so what do I know?

Robert Plant & Alison Krauss – Killing the Blues

This one completely caught me off guard. Stunningly beautiful album from two seemingly opposite front (wo)men. I know JC Penny’s is using this in a commercial so I am obviously a little late to the party but this is a damn good party. The pedal steel is evident on virtually every song and the vocals balance surprisingly well.

Leonard Cohen – Everybody Knows

I had to include something for my favorite new inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Sure, it’s one of his bigger songs and sure, it was used in American Gangster but it is a great song. Especially powerful in our current society as much so, if not more so, than in the original time of inception.

Kathleen Edwards – I Make the Dough, You Get the Glory

A great find. I knew very little about Kathleen Edwards until I was sent this CD. I know she probably wouldn’t like the title but she has some very good 70’s/80’s country music on this album. Heart felt narratives as well as the jilted lover who is looking to say “F U” one last time. The steel guitar is here and really makes this. I think she is labeled more under the “alt-country” title only because I doubt she is played heavily on modern country radio. (Of course she isn’t considering country as she writes her own music and doesn’t hail from Nashville and write songs about tractors being sexy.) This is a fun track if for no other reason than she gives a shout out to both Wayne Gretzky and Marty McSorley. Hence solidifying the fact that she is Canadian.

Mark Chesnutt – Goin’ Through the Big D

This is the “official” country song of the week. I had to go back to a song I LOATHED growing up as they seemingly played it every 2 hours on the radio. (Knowing what I know now, they probably DID play it every 2 hours.) Quintessential 80’s country radio hit. Great hook, solid instrumental and steel guitar just so you know it is “country”. Other prerequisites met include 1) scorned by a woman 2) divorce 3) Texas. I’ve listened to it constantly at work this week so as to get that same feeling I had back in 89.

First off, my thoughts go out to the family of former M.I.A. punk founder Mike Conley. He was found dead early last Thursday morning in Chicago. He was the owner of my favorite bar in OC, Avalon. He was one of the driving forces behind the rebirth of West side Costa Mesa and will be missed. Memorial is set for Sunday at Detroit Bar.

On a happier note, congrats to David for winning the signed Johnathan Rice vinyl and tshirt. Check your inbox for more details. The week flew by and I never did get a chance to post last weeks mix. Thus I’ve rolled it over to this week. I got out to two shows in the last week. Grizzly Bear with the LA Phil Harmonic at the Walt Disney Concert Hall on Saturday night and then last night I got out to see Division Day at Detroit bar again. (Note to Detroit bar, PLEASE allow the headlining band to go on before 11:30pm on week nights. There are some of us who enjoy good music and still have to work normal 8-5(7) jobs.) Grizzly Bear was outstanding, with the exception of the two odor filled teenagers sitting in front of us who were drinking a 40 of King Cobra and trying to record the entire set with their camera phones. If you haven’t made it out to see any performances at the WD Concert Hall you really need to get on top of that.

Crystal Castles – Alice Practice

I was thrilled to hear they will be gracing Westside Costa Mesa on Aril 11^th at Detroit Bar. Sadly, HEALTH won’t be playing but it is sure to be a good show none the less. 8-bit sounds layered under frantic vocals and somehow syncing the two perfectly. This is my favorite track off the “whatever the hell it will be called here” CD due out sometime this year.

Kate Nash – Foundations

If iTunes was working on my laptop at work you would have seen that this was my number one most played song for the last week. Addictive and playing on the “super happy upbeat music associated with heartbreaking lyrics” card. When I first heard it I thought it was a Lily Allen rip off but then I thought better of that and realized Lily Allen doesn’t have the patent on “English girl sing/say songs”. This would be my pick of the month for addictive songs.

A Place to Bury Strangers – Don’t Think Lover

I kept seeing these guys pop up on my recommendation charts and blogs late last year. I naively passed them off as being another screamo outfit due to their name. WRONG! (well, mostly) They are definitely dark but the frantic guitar work and pedal shifts make for something unique.

Fleet Foxes – Sun Giant

This had to have been recorded in a church in the Appalachian Mountains. Beautiful and yet the simplest lyrical progression on the entire list. Subtle string work near the end are the only instrumentation in the entire song and it would have probably taken you 2-3 listens to even pick up on that unless I said it here. You get so sucked into the sound and effects you forget the rest of the pieces that are “missing”. I don’t know that I’ve ever found an EP to be better than the LP but in this case I am saying just that. Both are very nice and are sure to be on a LOT of bloggers Top XX of 2008 come November.

Josh Rouse – My Love Has Gone

I put Media Monkey on random and got this song once this week. I forget how great Josh Rouse’s Nashville album is until I run across one of his songs such as this. Steel guitar is in full effect and you get a very nice contemporary alt-country song out of it. Worth the download for all you anti-country music people out there.

(Image courtesy http://www.losanjealous.com)

Just last week I made a pithy little remark regarding bacon wrapped hot dogs outside the Wiltern in LA.  Just like the Sega CD and LA Gear shoes it appears the bacon wrapped hot dog is now just a piece of nostalgia in LA.  (Article) We must now settle for boiled hot dogs minus the crispy bacon.  Next thing you know they are going to stop people from breaking into cars and stealing iPods.  They take the fun out of everything.