Celebrating Lifes Rich Pageant

On the 29th anniversary of the release of Lifes Rich Pageant allow me to expound further on why Lifes Rich Pageant is so damn good. Why I have owned it on CD, LP, remastered deluxe CD, and remastered for iTunes. It explains why I have seen this band 10 (11, 12?) times, why I took a pilgrimage of sorts with Peter Sklar to Athens to visit R.E.M. and why being a fan has meant so much to me. If it was available as a title, it would be the name of this under used blog. Lifes Rich is an old friend who always greets me. 

Look at the album art.

Like most early R.E.M it's cryptic, mysterious, it's missing an apostrophe in Lifes, it's the only R.E.M. album produced by Don Gehman, it has half of Bill Berry's face on the cover with his giant eyebrows. I love the font. Side A is referred to as the Dinner Side and Side B is the Supper Side. As usual there were no lyrics included, and on this album the track order is deliberately in the wrong order and leaves off Superman and Underneath the Bunker. Some of the tracks listed have a small quote from that track to the right of it as a tease or a reminder. Others are a comment on the track, Stipe even laments his throat hurts after I Believe. Almost every track comes in under 4 minutes and the whole album is under 40 minutes (fitting perfectly on one side of C90 for you tapers). It's an album that defied all conventions to me, but set a new standard.

This is the album that truly set R.E.M. as my band, as the one that mattered over all other bands to this day. I don't quite recall how I found it in 1986 - maybe it was Fall on Me on MTV https://youtu.be/lf6vCjtaV1k or maybe it was a review in Rolling Stone http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/lifes-rich-pageant-19860828 and possibly it was Neil Rigler but playing that CD from the first roar of Begin The Begin it catapults (pun intended) R.E.M. from the mysterious southern jangle into indie rock territory with Bill Berry's ferocious drum playing. Quickly followed up by the call to action in These Days this one-two punch with Peter Buck's driving guitar, Stipe's ever mysterious lyrics, and Mike Mills harmony easily cements this in my rock hall of fame. And just as your adrenaline is coursing through your veins, the album tones back to easily the most gorgeous of R.E.M. songs Fall on Me. Look, I've been a fan for 30 years now of this band, and I'm still not sure what it means, but each time that initial guitar strums, I'm right back at the same place loving this album.

Cuyahoga continues the gorgeous melody telling a tale of an America that no longer exists, with refrains about "take a picture here, take a souvenir." Just listen to Mike Mills bass playing that keeps you flowing down that river and then Berry's drumming brings you back to attention. Hyena puts us back into 4th gear. There's some sweet piano in the introduction and the band moves us forward haunting with "the town is safe again tonight" and that the only the only thing to fear is fearlessness, harmonies swell and there is something oddly heroic about Hyena. All under 3 minutes.

And then there's Underneath the Bunker. It's not listed. It makes no sense. It's like a track from some obscure foreign film. It has Stipe singing likely through a megaphone. It has a sense of humor. It closes out the Dinner side

Supper begins with The Flowers of Guatemala. How gorgeous is this track! It's a slow dance that builds up to it's lush conclusion. It sounds like it refers simply to a trip and a moment overtaken by just lush greenery. I think just like this album "there's something here I find hard to ignore, there's something that I've never seen before". And Mills harmonizes so perfectly with Stipe seguing into another Buck solo into the tracks high point before resting gently with the same guitar jangle and triangle ending that started the track. Underrated in the R.E.M. canon and simply perfect.

I Believe starts with a banjo reminding us that these are southern rockers after all. Stipe convinces us that he believes in coyotes and change. Buck's jangly Rickenbacker continues throughout the song. It's shiny and happy in the right way.

What if we give it away? has earnestness in Stipe's voice throughout a solid track then also ends with a note that sounds like the question Stipe asks throughout the song. And as you contemplate the question, the band roars back with a barn-burner Just A Touch. It starts with feedback, Stipe railing on about the world and name checking people we don't even know. It moves like a Jerry Lee Lewis song on an old wooden roller coaster. Seriously. It rumbles and rattles throughout, old timey piano playing, hoots and hollers abound and it ends with the proclamation "I can't see where to worship Popeye, love Al Green, I can't see, I'm so young, I'm so goddamn young" You're exhausted after the ride and leave the Jerry Lee roller coaster shaken but wanting more.

But you don't get more - you get Swan Swan H - not hummingbird, H. A spooky campfire tale about something long gone where the whiskey is water and the water is wine. Pump organ or accordion plays in the background and we're left to question what noisy cats are we. Seriously. Just as Dinner ends with the Bunker, Supper ends with this track that sounds like a relic from long ago.

And then you think we're done. At least the album's listing would suggest otherwise. But this strange low scratchy radio transmission begins in a foreign language (which after the interweb came along I discovered was from a japanese string pull Godzilla doll and says "This is a special news report. Godzilla has been sighted in Tokyo Bay. The attack on it by the Self-Defense Force has been useless. He is heading towards the city. Aaaaaaaaagh...." that then introduces a song that has become my ring tone and even once or twice my intro music at our own big event. The guitar strums, the drums kick in, and Mike Mills sings in that great nasely voice that "I am Superman and I know what's happening ... I can do anything" and it's about how he's better than the guy some other girl is going out with. It's a 1969 song written by The Clique but forever ingrained in my R.E.M. soul. I even saw it played at Rutgers in 1987 (10,000 Maniacs opened). It's a perfect rock-pop single.

There are better R.E.M. albums, there are more perfect R.E.M. albums, some are lush, some are critically acclaimed. But this one - this is my favorite. I believe in Lifes Rich Pageant and love all 38 minutes of this each and every time.

Give it a listen today. And listen loud.

https://itun.es/us/8fQuZ

https://open.spotify.com/album/5utjCgJfaqaOqfHGMzD9cB

The Lady Killer - Cee Lo Green as James Bond

ok, i love LOVE the Cee Lo Green. i can't believe i waited this long to get it. what a cool album. everything you liked about gnarles barkey but without the weirdness (which wasn't bad to begin with).

i don't know if this was concept behind it, but this album sounds like the great unreleased (and un asked for) soundtrack to The Black James Bond. Strings, excitement, drama, it's damn cool. not Shaft cool, but martini shaken' not stirred cool. i see the opening sequence with silhouetted naked girls dancing to the tune of Bright Lights Bigger City (it even has the same string coda found in many of John Barry's famous theme musics from bond films). the surf style guitar riff in the opening and closing Lady Killer Theme (the name of my unfilmed Black Bond movie) is reminiscent of the famous 007 theme. Love Gun and Wildflower are perfect for any plot. Heck, they could be the names of the Bond villenesses.

sure it's not all bond music - there is plenty of al green like 70's soul to appeal to those of you looking for that and that works as well.

double 0 soul is just damn cool. worth the download.

top of 2010

2010 surprised and disappointed me. i looked forward to new releases from spoon and arcade fire and tho' everyone else loved it, i didn't. they both obligatorily make my top 20 list because of some great tracks, but neither lived up to prior efforts. uber-dj marc ronson also made his return with a retro-80s album that is a great retro 80s (and perhaps case study for his new duran duran) but is just that, a great retro 80s album. its not nearly as good as his 1st two releases.

so, as the year wore on (and it wore on this year) i sought out something that really grabbed me. for the first time in a long time, my top picks were suggested by good friends and i became the recipient of music, which is a great treat.

all told, when i created my "best of" playlist formula i was pleasantly pleased to see what showed up and became a great best of playlist - but sadly, not a best of album list. so i await 2011 with hope.

2010 albums

there are a few great must buy albums, however, none of which i am ready to call "album of the year"

Pickin' Up The Pieces - Fitz & The Tantrums

i love this sound. i've been waiting for something fun for so long, and it fell into my lap courtesy of Doug - great call. a touch of daryl hall meets sharon jones meets a lounge in a remake or sequel to swingers. what a fun album of just cool music to groove to. the standout is MoneyGrabber but the whole collection is great. here's to 2011 and my hopes that they can cut their rate and play the BCAC 25th Anniversary Gala. Check out their sound (and even download a free mp3 of MoneyGrabber) here

The XX

technically a 2009 release, but the self titled The XX is a terrific disc. It's atmospheric without being boring; it's engaging without being overwhelming; it's familiar but also fresh. its a great listen. Intro and VCR keep catching me over and over again and i really love the album. Thanks Scott for the recommendation. check it out here

The Five Ghosts - Stars

While Arcade Fire and Spoon disappointed, Stars snuck in with a new release that stayed true to formula and just found its way into my heart. it's a tender pop album with all the hooks and harmony that makes them a unique sound with touches of the smiths and the cure and enough melancholy to make you smile. this disc i can listen through start to finish and just want to hear it again. Enjoy the melodramatic pop here

Contra - Vampire Weekend

VW's new release opened 2010 and makes me smile. they retained the great hooks from the first disc yet expanded the sound to be even more global and fun. bits of the clash, talking heads, paul simon and any best of africa disc make its way here. truly enjoyable and worth listening to loud. try it out here

Dark Night of the Soul - DangerMouse & SparkleHorse

This technically came out in 2009 but was never released. Like DangerMouse's epic and illegal Grey Album you had to find it and download it and like the grey album it was worth the hunt. Finally released in 2010, it stands as the final work of SparkleHorse who collaborated with a group of some dark twisted David Lynch like artists (including David Lynch) to put out a real freaky collection. Guest vocals by Flaming Lips, Frank Black, Iggy Pop, and the like complete the dark sound. It's challenging but it's great. Visit the website http://www.dnots.com/ and sample the music and explore a brilliant site that works like an ancient pop up book with pull out tabs, mini movies, and all sorts of beautiful weirdness.

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy - Kanye West

Haters, say what you want, but the critics are right in this one - this is a brilliant album. kanye's ego is overblown here and it comes out all over this album which will standout among many releases for years to come. this is no ordinary rap album, its much more. everyone guests on it and it comes together in some monumental movie like production. tracks like Power and All of The Lights are outstanding and among Kanye's best. You can hear it anywhere, but explore his ego filled site here and download even more Kanye for free.

Honorable Mentions

I liked The Fall - Norah Jones which came out towards the end of 2009. it has some great hooks, it shows a strong evolution as a musician and fills out her catalogue and a sunday morning nicely. i love the lead single chasing pirates, if only because it's a blatant rip off of miss you by the rolling stones which i immediately downloaded as well. Hear tracks from The Fall and her new duets re-release here

I just downloaded The Lady Killer - CeeLo Green which will be great, but i haven't heard it all yet. And i've just discovered lungs - florence + the machine which after listening to it stream all day in my office, i just need to go buy. it' s like tori amos meets arcade fire, but in a good way, really. listen here

Songs of 2010

sure, i downloaded plenty of kei$ha and katy perry and some of that other stuff that has come to be known as my children's music. it's fun, it gets played all the time in the car and that's all we'll say. if you do want the best of that sound which i don't share with the kids, download Uffie (featuring Pharrel Williams) ADD SUV. it's an addictive trashy club song that npr suggested and is worth the .99 cents.

Top Songs

Fuck You / Forget You - Cee Lo Green

Harold T. Wilkins, or How to Wait for a Very Long Time - Fanfarlo

Money Grabber - Fitz & The Tantrums

All of The Lights - Kayne West

Bang Bang Bang - Mark Ronson

Chasing Pirates - Norah Jones

It Happened Today - R.E.M.

Dead Hearts - Stars

Hey, Soul Sister - Train

VCR - The XX

Ready To Start - Arcade Fire

Levi Johnston's Blues - Ben Folds & Nick Hornsby

Tighten Up - The Black Keys

The High Road - Broken Bells

Little Girl - DangerMouse, SparkleHorse and Julian Casablancas

Home - Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

Dog Days are Over - Florence + The Machine

American Slang - The Gaslight Anthem

Empire - Jukebox the Ghost

All I Want - LCD Soundsystem

The Sound of Sunshine - Michael Franti

Angel Dance - Robert Plant

Horchata - Vampire Weekend

New Gaslight Anthem - just in time for top down driving

One of my favorite sounds of summer returns with a new release. The Gaslight Anthem evokes everything great about Jersey rock. You can listen to NPR's stream of the new release American Slang here http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127405836.

This is a great band that you just love more and more each listen. and for those of us who really enjoy rock history, they recall characters and lines from great songs by springsteen and counting crows. I'm sure the new album will add to the storytelling.

Below i pasted an article from NPR last summer about Gaslight that really captures their spirit. Enjoy!


http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=105778626
June 23, 2009 - Nearly a year after its release, The Gaslight Anthem's The '59 Sound is still winning converts one at a time: Released with little fanfare, it took off at a pace that seems glacial amid so many instant phenomena. Often compared to Born to Run-era Bruce Springsteen — or maybe Jimmy Eat World performing Replacements songs — the New Jersey band sounds best on car radios during long drives, when gutty rock 'n' roll benefits most from an air of life-and-death profundity.

There's no shortage of life, death or profundity in "The '59 Sound," a mile-wide, top-down, hook-laden beast of a summer anthem. But as swollen and adrenaline-infused as it is, it's really a song about the last music each of us gets to hear in our lives — and, by extension, what it means to die young without having to "hear the rattling chains in the hospital walls."

It's that air of tragedy that makes "The '59 Sound" seem like more than a simple rock barn-burner: When Brian Fallon sings, "Ain't supposed to die on a Saturday night," he captures the way a summer night behind the wheel can positively burst with youthful abandon, ever-present danger and fragile promise. With almost overpowering intensity, the song does exactly the same.

1st listen - new gorillaz; Black Joe Lewis

hey all - take a vacation on the plastic beach

Gorillaz, the cartoon superband fronted and created by Blur's Damon Albarn is back with a 3rd album that continues whatever it is that was started by Clint Eastwood back in 2001. Blending elements of hip hop, trip hop, chillout vibes, and beach music from some strange future, "Plastic Beach" pleases and provides a completely different soundtrack to your day. i'm going thru my first listen courtesy of npr.org and i find it completely enjoyable and totally unexpected.

certain to be heard all summer, streaming this week until the album drops next week

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124114812

oh - and if this form of electro-trip hop isn't your thing; go old school with my current favorite song "Boogie" by Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears. It's like watching James Brown, Otis Redding, and the Blues Brothers all at once. if i could hire those guys to play my 40th birthday party, i would do it in a heartbeat.

http://www.blackjoelewis.com/

vampire weekend preview

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122213523

wow. it's as much fun as i hoped it would be. vampire weekend's new album contra lives us to expectations. sounding like a cross between paul simon's graceland, talking heads '77, a touch of Yaz (in a good way), a sprinkling of english beat, a flashback of the clash's sandinista (a great lp if you don't already have it) and a touch of spoon - its a fresh way to start 2010.

or, just listen to it here...

New Decade - New Posts - New Commitment?

ok fans, its been sometime since i regularly posted to these pages, but that doesn't mean i listen to less music, nor does it mean i haven't stopped answering (or asking) the question

what are you listening to?

so - i'm back, hoping to at least post once a month and share it with all of you - sounds like a noble exercise and resolution right?

to start off the decade, i want to share and implore all of you to listen to the great podcasts out there. your ipod will automatically download and sync up, or you can go straight to the source.

my 2 favorite podcasts are by npr's genious bob boilen (mad props to you bob) - npr's all songs considered and npr's live podcast. he definitely has one of the great jobs in the universe. where else can you get discussion, recommendations, and tracks of the great new music each week. the live podcast is a weekly concert that you wish you could be at. it's fun on your ipod while walking the dog or driving in the car, even better on your home system.

right now, i'm listening to ray davies of the kinks and his live version of the KinKs Choral Concert. Other than his dumb kkk remark in the beginning (englsh humor?), its an incredible collaboration and reinvigoration of one of the great catalogues in rock history. i only wish my own temple's choir could sound like this (and do the same music). the choral version of you really got me is just mind blowing. its all gorgeous and fun and makes you recall how great the kinks are.

listen today
http://www.npr.org/rss/podcast.php?id=510253

watch a clip on you tube here


and if you are looking for my single of the moment - it's edward sharpe and the magnetic zero's "home". a delightful little song that is very poi dog / polyphonic spree like and its a treat to listen to. watch the live podcast here and then download the single today.

and although i listen to a lot less kids music at home now that the kids are all disneyfied - i do want to give congratulations to our friends at milkshake for their first grammy nod for "great day" which really is a great kids album. if by some chance you know or are a grammy voter, please consider this great album.

look for vampire weekend to come out in 2 weeks and spoon the week after that,

till next time,

adam