Sunday, November 23, 2008
A message from Frank:
"I believe that people have a right to decide their own destiny; people own themselves. I also believe that, in a democracy, government exists because (and only as long as) individual citizens give it a "temporary license to exist" - in exchange for a promise that it will behave itself. In a democracy you own the government - it doesn't own you. Along with this comes a responsibility to ensure that individual actions, in the pursuit of a personal destiny, do not threaten the well-being of others while the "pursuit" is in progress."- Frank Zappa
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Coldplay
I'm listening to alot of Coldplay this week because Tracy and I will be seeing them at the Pepsi Center in Denver on Friday night.
I've been a Coldplay fan for awhile, probably since the beginning with "Parachutes." They've really grown into a band that knows their craft; they have some of the catchiest, yet challenging melodies on the music scene. While I think on a whole that their "X&Y" album showed them at their best in this area, their newest disc "Viva la Vida" is full of goodness. "Strawberry Swing" and "Cemetaries of London" are classics, Coldplay-catchy and edging into previously uncharted territory. I hope to see them both performed at the concert. If I had to guess about the performance of new material I'd say there'll be judicious sampling and lots of keyboards played by each member of the band. In other words, I'll be interested to see how they manage to pull of some of the new songs in a live setting.
My only issue with the latest album is the sound quality. The overall sound is a bit washed out and reverb-drenched, and the vocals, when they are at the appropriate level in the mix, seem a little sharp and grating; this is not a Chris Martin issue, mind you, it's a mixing/recording issue.
Viva la Vida!
I've been a Coldplay fan for awhile, probably since the beginning with "Parachutes." They've really grown into a band that knows their craft; they have some of the catchiest, yet challenging melodies on the music scene. While I think on a whole that their "X&Y" album showed them at their best in this area, their newest disc "Viva la Vida" is full of goodness. "Strawberry Swing" and "Cemetaries of London" are classics, Coldplay-catchy and edging into previously uncharted territory. I hope to see them both performed at the concert. If I had to guess about the performance of new material I'd say there'll be judicious sampling and lots of keyboards played by each member of the band. In other words, I'll be interested to see how they manage to pull of some of the new songs in a live setting.
My only issue with the latest album is the sound quality. The overall sound is a bit washed out and reverb-drenched, and the vocals, when they are at the appropriate level in the mix, seem a little sharp and grating; this is not a Chris Martin issue, mind you, it's a mixing/recording issue.
Viva la Vida!
Friday, November 14, 2008
A true Earworm...
For the past 24 hours I've been singing a song that I literally have not heard or sung since the 1st grade.
Isn't it wierd how things just jump out of your brain's file cabinets unbidden and (sometimes) unwanted? I can't for the life of me think of what could have brought this particular tune out, but there you go. Mysterious things happen in the recesses of the human psyche.
My elementary school music teacher, Ms. Hintz, gave us this... And I guess it just keeps on giving. My daughters love it (just the first verse... That's all I could remember until I found the lyrics online).
Today, the rocker has gone retro... Like, back to Temple, NH elementary school retro...
Anyway, for your pleasure... Senor Don Gato.
Senor Don Gato
(English Version)
Written By: Unknown, Copyright Unknown
Oh Senor Don Gato was a cat
On a high red roof Don Gato sat
He went there to read a letter,
Meow, meow, meow
Where the reading light was better,
Meow, meow, meow
'Twas a love note for Don Gato
I adore you wrote the lady cat
Who was fluffy, white and nice and fat
There was not a sweeter kitty,
Meow, meow, meow
In the country or the city,
Meow, meow, meow
And she said she'd wed Don Gato
Oh, Don Gato jumped so happily
He fell off the roof and broke his knee
Broke his ribs and all his whiskers,
Meow, meow, meow
And his little solar plexus,
Meow, meow, meow
Ay Caramba cried Don Gato
Then the doctors all came on the runJ
ust to see if something could be done
And they held a consultation,
Meow, meow, meow
About how to save their patient,
Meow, meow, meow
How to save Senor Don Gato
But in spite of everything they tried
Poor Senor Don Gato up and died
And it wasn't very merry,
Meow, meow, meow
Going to the cemetery,
Meow, meow, meow
For the ending of Don Gato
When the funeral passed the market square
Such a smell of fish was in the air
Though his burial was slated,
Meow, meow, meow
He became reanimated,
Meow, meow, meow
He came back to life, Don Gato!
Isn't it wierd how things just jump out of your brain's file cabinets unbidden and (sometimes) unwanted? I can't for the life of me think of what could have brought this particular tune out, but there you go. Mysterious things happen in the recesses of the human psyche.
My elementary school music teacher, Ms. Hintz, gave us this... And I guess it just keeps on giving. My daughters love it (just the first verse... That's all I could remember until I found the lyrics online).
Today, the rocker has gone retro... Like, back to Temple, NH elementary school retro...
Anyway, for your pleasure... Senor Don Gato.
Senor Don Gato
(English Version)
Written By: Unknown, Copyright Unknown
Oh Senor Don Gato was a cat
On a high red roof Don Gato sat
He went there to read a letter,
Meow, meow, meow
Where the reading light was better,
Meow, meow, meow
'Twas a love note for Don Gato
I adore you wrote the lady cat
Who was fluffy, white and nice and fat
There was not a sweeter kitty,
Meow, meow, meow
In the country or the city,
Meow, meow, meow
And she said she'd wed Don Gato
Oh, Don Gato jumped so happily
He fell off the roof and broke his knee
Broke his ribs and all his whiskers,
Meow, meow, meow
And his little solar plexus,
Meow, meow, meow
Ay Caramba cried Don Gato
Then the doctors all came on the runJ
ust to see if something could be done
And they held a consultation,
Meow, meow, meow
About how to save their patient,
Meow, meow, meow
How to save Senor Don Gato
But in spite of everything they tried
Poor Senor Don Gato up and died
And it wasn't very merry,
Meow, meow, meow
Going to the cemetery,
Meow, meow, meow
For the ending of Don Gato
When the funeral passed the market square
Such a smell of fish was in the air
Though his burial was slated,
Meow, meow, meow
He became reanimated,
Meow, meow, meow
He came back to life, Don Gato!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Something I'm Diggin'...
Checking out O.A.R.... They seem pretty cool, a little reggae and jam-band influence... They've been on my "must check out" list for awhile, and lots of my "customers" say I need to learn some. So I'm investigating. Anybody got any suggestions...?
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Traveling Wilburys
Okay, dominating my iPod's output this week is the recently remastered and boxed collection of Traveling Wilburys albums (vol.1 & 3... I know, they skipped vol. 2). I hadn't heard any of this stuff since it came out in '88, aside from the couple of radio staples that we still hear in the supermarket from time to time.
DAMN! This stuff is a joy to listen to.
If you don't know about the Traveling Wilbury's here's a brief recap: George Harrison (of the Beatles... Duh) was in the process of making his immensly successful Could 9 album with Jeff Lynne (ELO) producing. He wanted to write a B-side for the initial radio single, so he called his friend Tom Petty (who was holding onto George's guitar for some reason) to help him out. Jeff and George called Bob Dylan to see if they could use his studio to record. Roy Orbison happened to be tracking for his most recent album... Well, the upshot is that by a "simple twist of fate" (as Dylan coined the phrase), the unprecedented combo was formed... The song, "Handle With Care" was such a joy for the quintet to write and perform that they just kept going. The result is some of the coolest energy ever caught on record.
What I love is that the songs, while fantastic, are second to me... What I get mostly when I listen to this is five friends having fun and nodding to one another's unique talents: The arrangements and instrumental versatility of Jeff Lynne, the easygoing attitude of Tom Petty's songwring and melodic sense, the the grandeur of Dylan's persona and his presence, George Harrison's singular voice, impeccable playing and his gravitas, and the unimaginably beautiful tones of the one and only Roy Orbison. There is a positivity to these recordings (especially vol. 1) that just hits me.
Check it out. Cue up "You're Not Alone Anymore" and tell me that isn't one of the finest songs ever recorded... Roy Orbison nails it. "Heading For The Light" is just wonderful, a George Harrison original that Paul McCartney should rightly praise as Beatles-worthy. "Tweeter and the Monkey Man" is pure Dylan, which may not be your cup of tea... But just the fact that these guys rally around it and make it as baffling and twisty a folk crime story as any gunslinger ballad or epic song ever created is just sweet. SWEET, I say.
I love it!
DAMN! This stuff is a joy to listen to.
If you don't know about the Traveling Wilbury's here's a brief recap: George Harrison (of the Beatles... Duh) was in the process of making his immensly successful Could 9 album with Jeff Lynne (ELO) producing. He wanted to write a B-side for the initial radio single, so he called his friend Tom Petty (who was holding onto George's guitar for some reason) to help him out. Jeff and George called Bob Dylan to see if they could use his studio to record. Roy Orbison happened to be tracking for his most recent album... Well, the upshot is that by a "simple twist of fate" (as Dylan coined the phrase), the unprecedented combo was formed... The song, "Handle With Care" was such a joy for the quintet to write and perform that they just kept going. The result is some of the coolest energy ever caught on record.
What I love is that the songs, while fantastic, are second to me... What I get mostly when I listen to this is five friends having fun and nodding to one another's unique talents: The arrangements and instrumental versatility of Jeff Lynne, the easygoing attitude of Tom Petty's songwring and melodic sense, the the grandeur of Dylan's persona and his presence, George Harrison's singular voice, impeccable playing and his gravitas, and the unimaginably beautiful tones of the one and only Roy Orbison. There is a positivity to these recordings (especially vol. 1) that just hits me.
Check it out. Cue up "You're Not Alone Anymore" and tell me that isn't one of the finest songs ever recorded... Roy Orbison nails it. "Heading For The Light" is just wonderful, a George Harrison original that Paul McCartney should rightly praise as Beatles-worthy. "Tweeter and the Monkey Man" is pure Dylan, which may not be your cup of tea... But just the fact that these guys rally around it and make it as baffling and twisty a folk crime story as any gunslinger ballad or epic song ever created is just sweet. SWEET, I say.
I love it!
Can it be done?
Is it possible for people to remain friends if they are passionately opposed to one another in one particular subject, for example, politics?
I'd really like to know!
I'd really like to know!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Welcome to the Earworm Gazette!
Hi all!
This is where I hope to post stuff about music. Mostly music, anyway. My desire is to have a running commentary on all things that are taking place in my life concerning that sensitive spot that lies between my ears and my heart and my hands.
This might include a "Currently Spinning" column, or a review of an album or DVD, pictures and commentary from a show, or just some shameless self-promotion. In any case, I've got alot of great music in my iPod, on my CD shelf, in my DVD collection, and in my brain, and I enjoy putting it all out there for folks to see.
...And don't be surprised if you see something political (rarely, I hope... Not good for my health), a yummy recipe, or just random, unrelated thoughts on here. It is, after all, my blog, and I'll blog what I want to!
Stay tuned!
Chris
This is where I hope to post stuff about music. Mostly music, anyway. My desire is to have a running commentary on all things that are taking place in my life concerning that sensitive spot that lies between my ears and my heart and my hands.
This might include a "Currently Spinning" column, or a review of an album or DVD, pictures and commentary from a show, or just some shameless self-promotion. In any case, I've got alot of great music in my iPod, on my CD shelf, in my DVD collection, and in my brain, and I enjoy putting it all out there for folks to see.
...And don't be surprised if you see something political (rarely, I hope... Not good for my health), a yummy recipe, or just random, unrelated thoughts on here. It is, after all, my blog, and I'll blog what I want to!
Stay tuned!
Chris
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