Etta James 1938-2012

Etta James died last week, news that literally brought tears to my eyes. The first time I heard Etta James, actually heard her, it shook me to the core. The range of her voice embodied the pain of love and flutter of hope that every girl struggles with. Every time I listen to "Anything To Say You're Mine" when she sings "My heart cries for just one little line... anything to say you're mine", my heart plummets in to my stomach and pulls with it, every emotion tied to the sentiments of love. There a very few artist that manage to weave a place like that into heart and she, somehow, walked right in with one line.
The respect she had for herself and her music (remember the Beyonce 'At Last' ordeal with Obama) shines just as bright as her voice. There's something most incredible about a woman who puts her reputation on the line in order to say what she's really thinking and her actions were just as fearless as her vocals.
I feel it's cliche to say things like, "music isn't what it used to be" - every generation struggles with the evolution of music but, when you hear someone like Etta or Aretha or Nina Simone, you can't help but wonder where all the passion went.
Every generation brings with it, the loss of an icon from another era. And the death of Ms. James brings with it, a voice of genuine pain and triumph to a generation lacking in both. I overheard two teenage girls talking about the newspaper headlines. One asked the other, "who is Etta James" to which the other replied, "she sings that one song, 'at last' I think". There was a moment of mixed emotions on my behalf until I realized, she probably wouldn't mind being remembered as the woman who sang 'At Last'. The emotion she put in to the song exemplified the white-picket innocence of love from her era and still rings true to the honest desires of women now. She was a cornerstone of soul music in a period that it was desperately needed and her passion remained with her until the day she died. Etta James was my gateway drug to better soul music and her death is a great loss to the foundation of what makes music so incredible.

Mark Sultan - The Sultan of Swing

After a brief encounter with Hunx and His Punx, I began ripping apart the garage/lo-fi genre with the flare of new love and found Mark Sultan. When i first "discovered" him, i sat on my bed for about two days taking in song after song. Each time, i couldn't deny the shaking of my foot and the airy feeling in my head. It doesn't take much effort to pin down his influences. Every song is full of the same spunk and candor of a genuine love for rock n' roll. It's just that fantastic.

Driving around with his voice and guitar making fuck with my speakers is an experience that makes the ladies knees wobble (mine included). In fact, the entire lo-fi/garage rock genre could brings tears to Apollo's eyes with it's lack of austerity and underlying tones of pure orgasmic harmonies.
Something about the whole genre is raw and honest and much like Jay Reatard (R.I.P.), Mark Sultan is right on the cusp of, "too good vs. not even met his full potential".
I grew up with Oldies and Classic Rock shoved down my throat so when i hear music that clearly pronounces a dedication to either, i'm hooked. Mark Sultan makes it seem so natural and graceful, it's as if it's as simple as an exhale of breath for the guy.

John Maus

There are many a performers throughout music history that have stunned audiences and deserved recognition from music critics galore... but John Maus; he's a different breed. Not that he's an exception to Iggy, Bowie or even Tomata du Plenty but, he's marked his own little spot in the "Music-Performance" section of the industry.
Not only is he a bumbling smart-man; he also happens to embody two of my favorite things in the world... music and philosophy. A Minnesota boy with a philosophy degree from a European school in Switzerland, how can you not even be the least bit interested in what he has to say?
The first time i saw him was in an Ian Perlman video featured on Vimeo (below).

My heart flopped to the floor i fell in love the second i saw him portray the lyrics coming out of his mouth. He's strange, pretentious, smart and talented. It took me a while to find an ear for him but the second we synced- it was all love from there.
I can't say he's for everyone but, that's to say of any musician. What i can say is this, "If you're looking for something but you can't quite scratch the surface of whatever it is, try him."
He's somewhere between 80's goth synth meets i-wanna-dance-naked-and-do-a-lot-of-drugs-after-binge-drinking. There are plenty of hipster labels to be given to the man but an honest listen will set it all straight in your head. He's just that good.

Peachy Memorieez

My discovery of The Unicorns came about during the early stages of MySpace when i "met" a Canadian girl with the alias "Violet" back when it was all about the profile song. She recommended a few select tracks which i still hold dearly and i'd give anything to tell her all about "Clues" and how much better they've worked "The Unicorns" roots than "Islands" ever did.
"Peach Moon" was the song that captivated me and fresh out of my, "punk music for life" stage - the indie gods themselves opened a door for me. I remember recommended the band to a select few and after some fuzzy feedback decided that i should just explore the genre myself.
I recall downloading the entire discography of The Unicorns while my jungled-fevered ex-roommates, who also happened to be proud nudist, were out doing whatever is that nudist do when they're not prancing around naked in their home. This was a time when At The Drive In lyrics still struck a chord somewhere deep inside of me with their lack of meaning. The Unicorns shared the same appeal "Headless body in a topless bar" and "i watched you spill your guts on that brand new dress" from "Gut Stains" are prime examples of this achievement. But unlike At the Drive-In, who i've sadly found myself listening to less and less... and less - The Unicorns still remain dear to my heart for reasons i can't explain. I guess because they opened me up to a whole new world of music and emotions outside of post-breakup angst. Because despite the cheeky sounds, there is still a dark edge that just can't be ignored and i'd still rank them up high on my list of indie bands.



Peach Moon



Peach Moon (the version the reeled me in)

I See So Much Funky Shit Aboard The Train

Two years ago, in a spurt of experiencing the life of urban youth via public transportation and ipod; i formed a strong love for Jungle Brothers.
If you've ever been forced to use public transportation, you understand the importance of an ipod. The stiff silence and awkward staring-fixation with random things such a screws or the fuzzy weather-proofing on the train/bus doors in order to avoid eye-contact is alone, enough to drive anyone insane in absence of musical comfort. The only pauses happen when the loud, ignorant asshole steps aboard because, lets not lie to ourselves, they're pretty good for cheap entertainment.
My love for hip-hop and it's associated genres came in to my life shortly before my move to Dallas and exploded in my chest when my truck decided to take a trip to automobile hell and leave me at the mercy of DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit).
I cannot explain the feeling of naturalness in listening to ATCQ, Jungle Brothers, Fugees, Mos Def, etc... on the train. You'd swear they were made for each other like heroin and Nick Cave.
There's one song in particular that really brought it home for me though and that was "Brain" by Jungle Brothers. The first time i ever heard the song was sitting on the floor of my apartment in Fort Worth before moving to Dallas. I had asked my brother a few days before, "What's good hip hop? I'd really like to learn more about it." To which he gave me a laundry list of artist which i chose Jungle Brothers from due to memories of looking through his CD collection when we still lived at home and seeing 3 pgs. worth of sleeves dedicated to them at 4 slots per page.
The first song i heard was, "Brain" which was as random as pushing buttons on a jukebox to songs you've never even seen. The entire room exploded in colors and "i've got so much funky shit inside my brain/i couldn't explain/couldn't explain/you wouldn't understand/i couldn't explain" as it seemed to fit perfectly in to the awkward square of my life at that time.
It still happens, when i feel overwhelmed by thoughts and lost in the shit of our soceity that we all find ourselves in, in deep thought.
All apologies as i realized yesterday that none of the links work to the mp3 downloads (not that anyone is actually reading this), so until i find an alternative, i'll just post videos.
Enjoy :)

Just Sitting Here Watching the Wheels Go Round and Round

After a full night of philosophy, music, politics and discussion of past experiences with the ole bff; i began cleaning up the table of scattered vynils we reminisced over. We bonded over The Beatles in the middle of our Freshman year in high school. True Beatles lovers we were, not the, "i know this song and that song" type. That's a pretty strong foundation if you ask me.
After getting everything in to place, i saw one sitting on the loveseat in my room. I picked it up and saw John Lennon's, "Walls and Bridges" sleeve smiling at me.



I sat down looking at this face for a few minutes and then decided to have a personal guitar session with Imagine. In the history of music, few songs that are truly great are truly credited for their greatness. It warms me to realize that Imagine is one of those songs that is properly credited.
What's even more amazing are the amount of religious people that love the song. It's not about religion or politics yet, it is, it's about the absence of them. John Lennon's abilities as a song writer were tantamount to Kieth Richards' addiction to drugs.
The song has outlasted the generational gaps and built new foundation for each of the generations it's passed through. I can't really say if the song still carries the same meaning it once did because i have nothing to compare the thought to but, my guess is that even if it does, it doesn't run as deep. It's all been said now and regurgitated and overplayed. And John Lennon is dead. The peace movement is over, the music that carried the movement is over and what still exist plays reunion tours... so the message couldn't possibly be the same.
One of the few from the era that has managed to maintain the glow of what i love about the 60's and 70's is Neil Young. Even in his old age, the man is still kicking ass on stage and screaming the message out that John Lennon died for (yes, i'm a conspiracy theorist). When people ask me why i don't like modern pop music, it's not really easy to explain to them that it has no message. It's narcissistic and self-centered. To this response i'm deemed a hipster or music-snob but, to that i say, "listen to Imagine and then listen to your beloved pop music circa 2010". If you can't tell the difference, then you're simply dancing.
The Beatles and John Lennon and George Harrison, they were pop music and they still had a message so, there is no excuse for the majority of pop music to be so vapid.
I have no qualms with music being narcissistic but, not the majority. Music can evoke change and create small ripples. Now, the ripple effect says, "each man for himself".
What the hell happened?

So, after a bit of vented frustration, i give you one of my favorite John Lennon songs:
Watching The Wheels (From Acoustic)

"In 9 hours and 23 minutes, you'll be mine."

Well, in my good 3-month absence of this blog, i've had quite the musical journey. As is always the story with me. You know how it is when you love music, you just keep looking and finding until your ipod/collection no longer feels stale.
Then, a week and half later, you're ravaging cyber space for music like a deaf woman(/man) with new ears.
Recently, it's been David Bowie (again). My love for David Bowie goes back to finding a copy of The Labyrinth covered in dust at my grandmother's house when i was about 6 years old. Afterwards, i went home and grew an obsession with my neighbor's mom who looked like "Jareth" (pre-David Bowie knowledge) and had that great 80's metal hair minus the spandex with visable package.
The many faces of David Bowie is more comforting than say, the many faces of Bob Dylan. Why? Of course, what music-lover couldn't adore Bob Dylan and his many eccentricities and his ability to weave a fucked up story in to a catchy song? But unlike Bob Dylan, it seems that David Bowie has been consistently strange in one type of character. It's as if his character shifts forms and David Bowie just flows with it. Bob Dylan, however, just changes his character completely. See "I'm Not There" to confirm this statement.
David Bowie just has that touch, that ability to make an impression on anyone. You either love him or you love to hate him. He's just that great.
David Bowie is the number one sexy man in my life... something that should make my boyfriend very uncomfortable. I think it probably makes my mother a little uncomfortable. Even my skullet-headed bestfriend, metal-god of drums who loves Bruce Dickinson and spandex and creepy men and theatrical rock-gods - thinks my lusty obesession for David Bowie is a bit strange. But really, who couldn't love a man who parades around in gray spandex snatching up babies to appease the woman he loves?
Who couldn't love a Goblin king who twirls magical balls full of dreams between his fingers long before Fushigi? Who couldn't have such a strong sexual desire for the original martian to this world? For Ziggy Stardust? For Major Tom? Who couldn't love a man who's package alone can hold the weight of an electric guitar?


With that, i offer you this:

Lightening Frightening (From The Man Who Sold The World)
and this
Oh! You Pretty Things! (From Hunky Dory)
and this
Ashes to Ashes (From Scary Monsters)

12 yrs old vs 24 yrs old

Yesterday, 80's hardcore was like a big, warm hug for me.
My iPod's shuffle playlist has been more than kind to me the past few days, unbelieviably kind to me. Usually we quarrel over a "wtf" factor but not the past two days, nooooo.
In a spurt of anger, i got Reagan Youth, Ramming Speed, Fleas and Lice, Bad Brains and Jerry's Kids all in a row (perhaps not in that order). Once i calmed down a bit, I got The Buzzcocks, Elton John, Paul Simon and Gogol Bordello.
I am so happy with Apple right night, i could dump all of my savings in to their stock.
Buuuuut, i'm poor.
Anyway, Bad Brains has been unshuffled for a long while for some reason so, yesterday when they popped up, my heart did that little flutter and "BOOM!" an explosion of all those shitty feelings i've been burried under came about. I got my first Bad Brains CD in the 8th grade and i remember the hipster dork telling me all about Bad Brains vs. the Straight Edge movement and my dad laughing at us over in his country section, pft.
Silly dads.
Anyway, i remember it came down to a choosing between Bad Brains or Minor Threat and yup, i picked the weeders.
And look here, they're still curing spurts of anger like teenage angst never knew.
No unfair mentioning of Minor Threat, they too, know all about the anger but, something Bad Brains does to my "innards" could never be touched by Minor Threat.
I mean, can you listen to the full Banned in D.C. album and not wanna start "thrashing like a maniac"?
So, here ya go,

Bad Brains - Big Take Over

oh, that's b.s.

The first time i heard Electric Funeral by Sabbath, i was with one of my bff's and he said, "Dude, this is the kind of song you fucking kill your family to".
And then, he did the neccessary stabbing motion. Fan. Tastic.
What is it about stoner metal that makes you feel dark but relaxed? I've always been able to write or (attempt to) draw when i listen to the B.S. They are able to energetically take you to that dark place without leaving you there. Something (if you've read anything prior to this) you might have noticed i really value about bands and musicians and such. The ablity to excite deep emotions without the plunge in the aftermath.
The other thing i love about Sabbath is that they're a great vynil band. Vynil in general sounds great but something about Sabbath on vynil is penetrating. I wish the first time i had ever heard "Paranoid" was sitting on some shag carpet, smoking some nasty 70's schwag and thinking, "oh my god, it does not get better than this."
Of course, anyone who listens to Sabbath manages to travel there mentally and not many do it better than Black Sabbath.
The sound of the sixties and seventies "flashbacks" for me, rests on the harmonies of Sabbath, The Doors and, Hendrix. There are plenty of others but, those are the ones that really take me there. The ones that will make me want to roll down my windows and say, "fuck the a.c." even though i'm one of those people that absolutley hates heat and sweats very, very easily.
Anyway, for those angry moments that you find yourself in; take this little pill and mentally make some slow stabbing motions in the direction of your enemies... or your family but, hopefully not.

Black Sabbath - Electric Funeral