Thurston Moore – Speak to the Wild
There’s a familiar sound here that’s welcomed and comforting. These guitars sound wonderful.
This is the only song on Side A of the vinyl release. Guess I’ll play it again.
Jennifer Castle – Nature
Everything about this is good: the way the piano is set against the rush of white noise, the long, linear melody with its subtle lifts, and how everything evokes the McGarrigles without feeling like imitation.
Star(e)
We don’t get many opportunities to just watch singers. Video and film editing manages to chop them to pieces. Shots are short, and you can’t ever really study the singer’s face or how they move. You get a sense of the person, but you never get the chance to just stare at them. And isn’t that part of what we want to do with the musicians we love? There’s something to be said for the opportunity to just look without interruption.
In the clip of Dionne Warwick, there’s not a cut in the film until 1:40. You can just watch her walk and sing.
And sometimes, you forget entirely that the camera hasn’t moved at all.
And then there’s this magnificent moment from Sinead O’Connor. Â
cass mccombs – everything…
Cass McCombs channels a Bruce McCulloch monologue.
worthwhile distractions
I’ve been cranking on a deadline at work, so it’s been a good time to discover some new and recent podcasts as well as some new music.
- Mark Maron talks with author Nick Tosches at the WTF Podcast (I wrote about him here.)
- All Songs Considered’s Bob Boilen talks with Beach House about their new single.
- Kim Gordon guest DJs for BBC Radio6.
- Drive-By Trucker’s Patterson Hood tackles the rebel flag at the NYTimes.
- Friends and frequent musical collaborators of mine are working on a project in New Orleans with Rick Nelson (Afghan Whigs, Twilight Singers). It’s called The Saturation, and you can follow their progress on their FB page.
- Nurse With Wound and Stereolab!
And in the meantime, I’m making my way through Rick Bragg’s Jerry Lee Lewis: His Own Story. Bragg’s writing seems like too much poetry and myth-making, but if there’s anyone who can live-up to the tall tales, it’s the Killer. He’s a giant.
Happy father’s day
Head over to Lucinda Williams’ Facebook page and watch this. We can all use this reminder about fathers and compassion.
Ray Charles – Hit the Road Jack
Perfection all around, but particularly at the moment when the close harmonies of “That’s Right!” strike a chord that’s both Raelettes and Andrews Sisters at the same time. Given how little the song changes – the bass and drum count a steady 1-2-3-4 throughout the entire tune – it seems to pivot on those two words.
Listen at 0:38 and 1:17 in the video below.
X-Ray Spex
How did I make it this long without listening to this?
Lou & Kate & Anna
From Lou Reed’s The Raven, “Balloon” is a song as delicate as a schoolyard, the buoyancy of Kate and Anna McGarrigle’s harmonies belying the invitation to destruction.
“If you prick me, I will pop.”
no (new) music 