Musical Hangups: The Hooters – All You Zombies
Written by: Matt Wardlaw
Peter Chakerian and I were trading text messages yesterday about a new double live album from Philly rockers The Hooters.
The talk made me pull out my copy of the Hooterization retrospective to provide the soundtrack for my drive to the Beachland Ballroom last night. On the drive over, I became reacquainted with "All You Zombies." Without a doubt, "All You Zombies" is one of my favorite tunes from the 80's, and is one that I often forget about.
The new double live album looks mighty tasty!
P.S. - Happy Mother's Day to all that fit the description!
CommentsYoutube Fun – Surrender To Me
Written by: Matt Wardlaw
I'm enjoying the closing moments of the weekend after being in the suburbs of Pittsburgh today. I came home to find a link to my friend Michele's "most awesome 80s playlist ever."
For some reason, that made me think of Zander and Wilson, and "Surrender To Me." We don't need first names here. But in case you're confused, I'll tell you that when Cheap Trick and Heart toured together this past summer WITHOUT breaking out "Surrender To Me".......well, I was mad. Actually, I'm still a bit frosted.
Rather than go into my collection for the Tequila Sunrise soundtrack, I decided to hit up Youtube instead. Which is where I found this.
This is where some dude decides to play "Surrender To Me" on his turntable and film it. And film shots of both the front and back jacket of the LP while panning back to reveal......his stereo system. To be fair, it could be a chick....but I'm going to assume that it's a dude.
My blog, my rules.
I'm not judging. I might film something similar myself. Difference is, I wouldn't post it on Youtube.
Actually you're right, I totally would.
Anyway, here's your random 80s flashback for tonight. Enjoy!
CommentsSong of the Moment – Fountains of Wayne – I Know You Well
Written by: Matt Wardlaw
Today, my friend Denise made me think of Fountains of Wayne....who have a song that as it happens, is called Denise..
I was so happy to see FOW twice last year....including a great back to back of FOW and Cheap Trick to kick off Virgin Mobile Festival 2007 in Baltimore.....Power Pop HEAVEN!
Don't dismiss these guys as that Stacy's Mom or Radiation Vibe (for you older cats) band - check 'em out, and pick up an album....I suggest Traffic and Weather or Welcome Interstate Managers.
So many great smart ass lyrics and 80s pop culture references.....
And of course this song features very few of either - instead, it is a good example of the other thing I really like about Fountains of Wayne - the introspectively deep side - see songs like "I-95," "Troubled Times," and this one...
Fountains of Wayne - I Know You Well
This morning under awaking glow
The sun filled our room like December snow
Like morning through an old window
There's a place in your head I will always know
To the same world born two of a kind
If it's on your mind, it'll be on mine 'cause
I know you well
Like the soil in the ground
Grass grown in the shadow of a bell
And if the bell will never toll
You and me grow old
I hope we'll live to tell
How you know I know you knew I know you well
Fountains of Wayne - I Know You Well (from Out-of-State-Plates)
(not bad for a B-side!)
P.S. - bug me, and perhaps I'll post some of the cool Fountains of Wayne live stuff that I've got.
Relevant Links:
Purchase Out-of-State-Plates from Amazon - CD or MP3
CommentsSong of the Moment – Blue Rodeo – Glad To Be Alive
Written by: Matt Wardlaw
As it often happens, this one came up on my Ipod this morning as I was getting ready for work.
For those that are unfamiliar, Canada's Blue Rodeo are led by the core of singer/songwriters Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor.
Generally, I'm more of a Cuddy guy, but I definitely have a healthy amount of love for the Keelor stuff too. If it says Blue Rodeo on the label, I'm a fan, no matter who is singing the lead vocal on a particular track.
From a songwriting standpoint, they've both racked up quite a few fan favorites that are still staples in the live set, and in Keelor's case, "Hasn't Hit Me Yet," from Five Days in July eventually evolved into a full-on mutual singalong, as Keelor now will go out into the crowd (or at least near the edge of the stage) to sing the first part of the song off-mic with the help of the Blue Rodeo fans in attendance.
"Glad to Be Alive" comes off of the 2002 release Palace of Gold, which wasn't immediately a favorite of mine the first time that I heard it, but has become an album that I've really developed a love for in the years since it was released.
This one sounds great on a Friday morning.....
Blue Rodeo are back in the U.S. next month for another rare series of U.S. dates that include shows in Chicago and Detroit, and a great double bill for NYC Blue Rodeo fans - The band is booked at the Highline Ballroom with The Sadies opening!
Relevant Links:
Blue Rodeo official site
Jim Cuddy official site
Greg Keelor official site
Purchase Blue Rodeo's Palace of Gold from Amazon - CD or MP3
Purchase the latest Blue Rodeo album Small Miracles - CD or MP3
Purchase the Blue Rodeo Stereovision DVD (live/rare performances) - DVD
Purchase Five Days in July - CD or MP3
Purchase Greatest Hits Vol. 1 - CD or MP3
Purchase Greg Keelor's Aphrodite Rose - CD
CommentsSong of the Moment – Del Amitri – A Better Man
Written by: Matt Wardlaw
Remember how we were talking about Del Amitri, and some of their best material winding up in B-Side Land instead of on the albums? I heard one of those songs (on my Ipod) as I was out today driving around sunny suicidal Cleveland.
Chew on these lyrics for "A Better Man".....
Yes I know, things have changed
Once we were lovers, now we ain't even friends
And maybe love, don't ask me why,
Is something for which I ain't qualified
You say, "I can't even see the boy you were (baby)
And I don't think it's good to even be here anymore"
That's Justin Currie for ya, and "A Better Man" is one fine moment out of many in the Del Amitri catalog.
Del Amitri - A Better Man
Relevant Links:
Del Amitri B-Sides lyrics from The 5th Fret
Purchase Del Amitri's B-Sides - Lousy with Love from Amazon - CD
Purchase Del Amitri's Hatful of Rain (Greatest Hits) - CD
CommentsSong of the Moment – Van Halen – A Year To The Day
Written by: Matt Wardlaw
I saw this post, and I chuckled.
Had to share it with you all.
Hey internets, here's a SONG FOR FREE, SONG FOR FREE, everybody download now! It's 8 minutes and 35 seconds of... wait, what is this song again? Has anybody even heard it before? Seriously. Actually, I'm shocked that the band was able to create an album as transcendent as 1984 after getting lost in the black hole that is "Year to the Day". But hey, at least it's a relevant title for our purposes. And over eight minutes to boot. 8:35 in fact, perfect numbers. Yeah they are.
Most of you know that I am a fan of the Van Halen III era, and that is a pretty exclusive fan club that nobody was battling to be a part of. I was shocked to find someone blogging about music from the album, and in fact, it's part of a series:
EAR FARM's 8+ is a weekly feature that showcases songs longer than 8 minutes. In the recent past these songs were featured on EF's 8+:
Kraftwerk - "The Telephone Call"
Neutral Milk Hotel - "Oh Comely"
George Gershwin - “Rhaphsody in Blue"
Múm - "Smell Memory"
Tool - "Lateralus"
Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks - "Real Emotional Trash"
Iron Maiden - "Seventh Son of a Seventh Son"
Mandy Reid - "Tornado"
To see a full list of every song featured in EAR FARM's 8+ click HERE.
CommentsSong of the Moment – Pearl Jam – Love Boat Captain
Written by: Matt Wardlaw
We're gonna take our time tonight....
I'm watching the Pearl Jam "official bootleg" DVD Live At The Showbox , a DVD as you can probably guess of their show from the Showbox in Seattle, captured on December 6th, 2002.
The gig starts off in a mellow place...."Small Town," "Off He Goes," and "Thumbing My Way"....how awesome is that?
I email my friend Matt, a former radio co-worker, longtime friend, and huge fan of R.E.M. and Pearl Jam. I have to let him know that I'm watching "PJ right now."
In a voicemail that he left me about two years ago, still in my phone, he called to let me know that he was "listening to R.E.M. right now, and had to let me know, because I was the only one that would appreciate it."
I connect with people on different levels and different things musically.
With Matt, we connected on that mutual love of Pearl Jam and R.E.M. He helped me to find the appreciation and love for Pearl Jam's No Code, and showed me letters that he had gotten FROM Eddie Vedder, handwritten, and with one, a setlist that had art doodles drawn on it by Vedder.
"Love Boat Captain" is a song that hits me like a ton of bricks every time I hear it.
I loved it immediately when I heard the Riot Act album for the first time, and it spoke musically to me at the time of the ongoing mystery of my relationship, and as Jackson Browne says, "my stunning mystery companion."
Nearly two years removed from that relationship, "Love Boat Captain" remains, part of the musical soundtrack that continues to guide me through everyday life.
The Showbox performance of the song, is an especially good one...check it out, and take your own trip....
Pearl Jam - Love Boat Captain
Friendships and relationships come and go - I'm grateful for those that endure, like the great friendship that I share with Matt.
Celebrate the good friends and good things in your world!
CommentsSong of the Moment – David Wilcox – Mango
Written by: Matt Wardlaw
David Wilcox - Mango (live in Utah)
Talkin' 'bout old love.......and "found songs."
Song of the Moment – Mark Knopfler – Back to Tupelo
Written by: Matt Wardlaw
Mark Knopfler - Back to Tupelo
around the time of ‘clambake’
that old dream’s still rolling on
sometimes there’ll be the feeling
things are going wrong
the morning star is fading
lord, the mississippi’s cold
you can still be marlon brando
and the king of rock and roll
but it’s a ways to go
back to tupelo
I must really like this song, because it keeps coming up on shuffle on my Ipod.
Mark is back out on the road this summer. If you haven't had the pleasure of seeing his live show, you should absolutely go. Mark's performance on the Shangri-La tour is way up there on my list of favorite concerts I've seen.
And speaking of Knopfler.......oh, those wacky guys over at Popdose.
Relevant Links:
Shopping List:
Shangri-La (the album that contains "Back to Tupelo.")
CommentsSong of the Moment – The Verve Pipe – Villains
Written by: Matt Wardlaw
The Verve Pipe "Villains"
The Verve Pipe - Villains
Every once in a while, a song will come up on my Ipod that I've forgotten about, or don't think of often. This is one of those songs.
Relevant Links:
Read more about The Verve Pipe
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