The Look Back

This was the first week where I’ve received a number of new releases that are all very, very good. I’ve got a backlog of music at this point to sift through in the next few weeks that I am very much looking forward to.  I’m now off for a half day Friday from work and a relaxing weekend spent waiting for the Angels ALDS series opener later next week and their future World Series title.  Go Angels, boooooo Red Sox! 

Jace Everett – Bad Things (Club Mix)

If there is any other fans of the new HBO show “TrueBlood” you will know this song.  It comes from the album “That’s the Kind of Love I’m In” which dropped in 2005 so it is a little late coming.  It’s been a song that I’ve wanted to include here since the show first aired a couple weeks back.  It took a little sleuthing to find a source but I finally did and here it is.  This is the “Club Mix” version which isn’t exactly like the theme song but it is close enough.  Definitely not what I was anticipating a “Club Mix” to be when it involved a series about vampires.  Think Blade and that rave scene at the beginning.    

Phoenix – If I Ever Feel Better

I can’t believe I haven’t posted this song previously.  This is a modern classic and in keeping with the theme so far, it was used on last week’s episode of Entourage.  Yes, I watch the show.  Yes, I know it isn’t really that great but it is a guilty pleasure.  I am also guilty of being one of those people who goes, “hey, I was just there the other day!!!” whenever they go to some place I recognize in LA.  This is a breakup song, remember how much I like those, but it is the most up beat and cheerful song ever for that genre and probably why it gets referenced even 6+ years after it’s release. 

Stars – A Thread Cut With A Carving Knife

This is just a teenage depression song.  I’ve never really listened too much by Stars in the past.  Then this EP came along which seemed much more approachable than their previous LP.  I was amazed at the lyrical play with this song and how great the story was.  While not being relatable to me it still struck a cord. (As to cliché’s in my writing apparently.)

Delta Spirit – Strange Vine

The girlfriend turned me on to Delta Spirit this week. I’d heard the name and seen the various blog postings about them earlier this year but had honestly never listened to a single song.  I was very surprised when I finally listened to it that I hadn’t been turned onto it prior.  It is spot on to what influences my musical tastes and thus a very fine album in my opinion.  I can see why this is getting to be popular outside of the blog and indie realm. 

George Strait – The Chill of an Early Fall

Yes, another George Strait song.  What can I say; I recently got his “Top 50 of all time” CD and have been going through some of the songs I don’t recall from country radio circa 1987-1995.  This is one such song.  I can’t really say that I have ever heard a bad George Strait song.  Yes, he plays into a lot of the typical country music stereotypes with his songs etc but he still manages to pull off a sound that is not your typical “music row” sound.  He and Dwight need to collaborate on something soon. Though in saying that I’m sure I will get corrected (hopefully) on how they have actually done three albums together. 

It was Park(ing) Day 2008 today across the country, including Laguna Beach here in Orange County. (And as Grace pointed out, yes, this is one of the Whitest things imaginable.)  I just got back in the office and have no time to do a full five songs.  Enjoy this Brian Wilson song to close out the last weekend of the Summer.  I’ll be at the MGMT/Spoon/Beck show tomorrow night at the Hollywood Bowl to close out the season in what looks to be a very nice way.  Enjoy.

Brian Wilson – Southern California

Yes, college football season is fully upon us now.  USC vs. Ohio State this weekend should be a great game.  I do not have a great interest in the results but I’m looking forward to a heated game.  If you don’t enjoy college football you should probably double check your passport and determine if you are actually American.  </broadgeneralizations>

Department of Eagles – Herring Bone

I wrote about these guys a few weeks back. After hearing the entire album I have to say it is taking the place of Grizzly Bear in my regular rotation.  Speaking of which, I should go back and listen to that album again. 

Detektivbyrån – Honkey Tonk of Wermland

A random find online that seems to have quite the following across the pond.  They are a Swedish electronica and folk trio from Gothenburg and rumor has it they had to go into debt to produce this album.  There seems to be quite a few acts out there which are completely instrumental.  It isn’t generally my first choice in music but this album does grow on me.  Yet without anything to really sink my teeth into time after time I don’t know that this will keep my interest more than a couple months.  That makes it sound as if the music is bad, which it isn’t.  It’s not you, it’s me.  You’ll make someone really happy someday. 

The Streets – Everything is Borrowed

What’s with the Streets coming out with all of these sentimental/reflective songs the last few years?  He really seems to have gone through a growing up process right in front of our eyes/ears.  Babies in his videos rather than girls?  Talking about things after this lifetime vs. talking about hooking up with celebrities.  There are still a number of fun tracks on this album but this really takes it for me. 

Blitzen Trapper – God & Suicide

This group out of Oregon has always been described as folk/country/indie/alt-country/hippie/rock/experimental or any number of other genres that no band every truly fits into.  It’s seemed like something I should definitely be into but I could never get into their last album.  When I just received this album I figured it would be more of the same but it really wasn’t.  There is a great deal more country inspired tunes on here and I can see this as being easily on my top albums of the year list come December/January. 

The short week didn’t really feel too short.  It’s also been as hot as it was anytime this summer which doesn’t do much to help my opinion of summer.  The one redeeming aspect of this is that college football has started.  NFL/Fantasy football season starts this weekend, I’m ready. 

Cold War Kids – Something is Not Right With Me

I’m sure they played this song when I saw them back in April at a benefit show here in Costa Mesa.  I was really excited about the new material I heard at the time but this song didn’t do it for me as much when I first heard it.  Another hook filled song but I’m hoping the rest of the album comes together a little more.  Only a few more weeks to wait for this eagerly anticipated album. 

Vampire Weekend – Walcott (Insane Mix)
A better take than the original in my opinion.  I’m likely seeing these guys live for the first time in a couple weeks.  Not really as excited as I originally thought I would be since it is at the Wiltern and they are also playing at the Glasshouse.  While it might not have alcohol, it is a much smaller and intimate venue to see a band such as this. 

The Mountain Goats and Kaki King – Thank You Mario but Our Princess is in Another Castle

I just saw this today on the big PFork and it really caught my ear.  I’ve not listened to much Kaki King before but this makes me want to explore more.  I never knew the following the Mountain Goats had until I saw them a couple months back at the First Friday event at the LA Natural History Museum.  It was a great venue for the band and the audience was die hard Mountain Goat fans.  I’m not as familiar with his back catalog and the set was taken almost exclusively from pre-Get Lonely.  Continuing the rambling/stream of consciousness appeal of this post, I also managed to listen to Get Lonely twice on the way back from Paso Robles two weekends ago. I’m not sure why I gravitate to that album, perhaps because the emotions it wells up are some of the strongest I have ever felt in my life.  Doesn’t really matter if they are bad emotions, it’s just reassuring to know there are things you get through in life that make you much stronger after the fact. 

Gram Parsons – Love Hurts

Simply put, I didn’t know Gram Parsons ever recorded a version of this Everly Brothers song.    It’s a great song and done perfectly by Parsons and Emmylou Harris.

Patsy Cline – Walkin’ After Midnight

This has a summer to fall transition appeal to me for some reason.  I was thinking about this song this week a few times and just had to listen to it again.  I likely heard it on a random TV show (probably Mad Men reruns) as this seems to be a staple of the tv/film soundtrack medium. My parent’s didn’t listen to much “classic” country growing up and I seem to remember disparaging comments about Patsy Cline as a kid.  I could be completely incorrect but I don’t really discuss much music with my mom and dad unless I know they like it.  Similar to when I said I might be attending a Glenn Campbell show and my mom would then bring that concert up in every phone call for the next month.  Best to leave it alone.