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

Where did the decade go?

Best of the decade, already? Where did the decade go? It seems so anti-climatic after the millenium turnover. But reviewing music from the last 10 years is much more manageable. Maybe because its only 10 years, maybe because i can sort my itunes by decade and most often played. maybe its because i listen to far less then i used to.

that said - here's the first stab at the decade in review - your thoughts are always appreciated.

in no current order:

Radiohead - In Rainbows
Arcade Fire - Funeral
Thievery Corporation - Richest Man In Babylon
Death Cab For Cutie - Plans
R.E.M. - Accelerate
Vampire Weekend
U2 - How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb
The White Stripes - White Blood Cells
Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
Green Day - American Idiot
Mark Ronson - Version
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - 100 Days, 100 Nights
Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am
The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots
Bebel Gilberto - Tanto Tempo
Robert Plant & Alison Kraus - Raising Sand

topless driving

perhaps i had premature midlife crisis. in any event, i have a great wife and she gave in and encouraged me to buy it. so now, we own saab convertible. its great to be back in a saab. ignition in the middle, and drives like no other car - regardless of what GM did to it, good and bad.

but with xm, and cd, and ipod inputs - what to listen to? what are your topless driving songs?

sure - i love Webb Wilder's Tough It Out, most anything by Springsteen, last year's REM Accelerate. But what am i missing - help me build the play list

return of the fire

I was reminded of a great band this morning - The Arcade Fire. I heard them on Morning Joe as background music (and Ageless Beauty by Stars yesterday, maybe right wing Joe Scarboro likes the Canadians?). Anyway, listend to Funeral today and still stands out as one of this decade's best recordings.

read the NYT article from 2007 here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/04/magazine/04arcade.t.html

apparently, a new album could be forthcoming sooner than we all thought. arcade fire must be in the air as this was released this week: http://www.nme.com/news/arcade-fire/45573

but if you can't wait - here's a mp3 posted of their cover of the clash's guns of brixton: http://tasteslikecaramel.wordpress.com/2009/04/14/the-arcade-fire-discuss-album-3/

E Street Band - soul stompin' earth shakin' air conditioner quakin' philly phantic breakin' greatest show on earth

I've seen a lot of great live music in my time. I was in the VIP section at Central Park for S&G's concert, I saw the Joshua Tree tour, I've seen the Buena Vista Social Club, Bring On The Night, MM&W at CBGBs, and R.E.M. too many times to count. But never before have I been as awestruck as finally seeing the E Street Band live.

Wednesday Night at the Spectrum in Philly i got to participate in the spectacle, revival, and live show that Bruce has been putting on for over 30 years, and it really was worth it. We should all be so good at that age.

Sure, the crowd was a true South Jersey crowd and the Spectrum deserves to be torn down, but every minute was a thrill ride. Bruce and the E Street Band entertain, enthrall, and invite you to participate. No stage set, no fancy U2 spinning lemon, no pyrotechnics, just a bunch of guys and gals from the Jersey shore still rocking.

My favorite moments:
Spirit In The Night - a true classic
a great reworking of Johnny 99
Raise Your Hand - as good as it sounded from the 75 bootleg i have
London Calling - the stump the band request which delivered
Thundercrack - sounds as fresh today as ever.
Hungry Heart - i also have same wife and kids in Baltimore, and seeing Bruce pass the mic to his mom for a verse in the audience was priceless
Thunder Road into 10th Ave Freeze Out - classic live bruce
American Land - one of my favorite Bruce songs to begin with, even better seen live (get it from Live In Dublin)
and the real treat that made the whole night worth it -

Kitty's Back - how often can you say you saw this classic 70s gem live. The band jamemd for close to 15 minutes thru Kitty showing that they aren't just a rock band, not just a bar band, but a phenomenal set of musicians.

PS on the night - Sklar and I close to 18 years ago took a day off from camp and went to the stone pony to see Clarence play a solo show. Max Weinberg joined Clarence on drums that night and they saluted Max because he and his wife just had a baby boy. Guess what - 18 years later, that baby played the second half of the set on drums for Max and was a killer drummer. Proud papa Max stood by us at the soundboard to take it all in.

Year 6's mix

Or the year i lost control of the track selection
or the year Disney reigned supreme

yes, welcome back to the blog to read all about the year 6 cd - Abby & Sophie: The Musical. Inspired by and based on High School Musical and all that it has done to our home.

If you are just joining us, welcome to what was once a blog and cds create to have music that I the parent will enjoy listening to, rather than having Raffi shoved under my fingernails like fine shards of bamboo. For 5 faithful years i produced for you the listener, our friends and family, cd's that were listenable, fun, full of new music and different.

welcome to 6. the juggernaut known as High School Musical (heretofore HSM) landed in our home last year and has changed the way we do things. it led to listening to and watching the movie often and then opened the door to yes, Hannah Montana.

Now admitedly, my girls still love Dan Zanes and Laurie Berkner, and Lisa and Milkshake. But they wanted the songs for this year and the cd shows it.

i will add that all is not lost. as much as we like HSM, we also like The Pogues, REM, Bruce, Elvis Costello and a host of other fun things. But for now - the musical.

although each track needs little explanation, as always the liner notes are here. The track listing:

1. What Time Is It? - HSM2
   so, what time is it? it's time to change what we listened to in our home. like the sound of the joshua tree being cut down, this song heralded a new age for us.
   
2. Good Morning Baltimore – Hairspray
   baltimore, represented strongly here. a great way to start the day
   
3. Pumpin’ Up The Party – Hannah Montana the reigning queen of pop in our home - its great to see the kids lip sync along to this. i don't think they "get" the show yet
4. I’m a Believer – Smashmouth / Shrek by the way, the eddie murphy version is no longer available on itunes. maybe that's a good thing?
5. Land of a 1000 Dances - The Commitments so i have some influence still. The Commitments is a great soundtrack, and this comes from CD2. not a movie to see with your kids yet, worth seeing yourself, and both cds are tremendous. they form the cornerstone of our "Dance Party" at home which enables the kids to drop from exhaustion.
6. High School Musical – HSM3 mercifully, the last song in the trilogy. zac efron does not discover that darth vader is his father.
7. That’s How You Know – Amy Adams / Enchanted makes a repeat appearance, but perfect for a musical.
8. I Like To Move It – Will I Am / Madagascar2 oh yes, we hear this a lot in our home now. i have little comment, but its fun to dance to.
9. Who Said – Hannah Montana
10. Do-Re-Mi – Julie Andrews / Sound of Music musicals invite the classics, and this is no exception. a great soundtrack for your family.
11. Start of Something New – Zac & Vanessa / HSM
12. The Best of Both Worlds – Hannah Montana
13. Pump It Up – Elvis Costello & The Attractions originally this was to be the pump up mix with songs from our dance party, but the musical is the king now. this song was requested by our kids, and comes from This Year's Model EC's 2nd full length release with the Attractions. Great music for everyone.
14. Humuhumunukunukuapua’a – HSM2
15. Good Morning – Gene Kelly / Singin’ In The Rain my favorite musical, my kids love this song as well. Gene Kelly Donald O'Connor and Debbie Reynolds form a sweet show for all to watch.
16. Kiss The Girl – Little Mermaid dare i say, legendary?
17. I Wan’na Be Like You – Louis Prima / Jungle Book - use this song from the jungle book to explore more by Louis Prima, like Jump Jive and Wail.
18. The Happiest Song I Know – The Laurie Berkner Band not a musical, and perhaps not tolerable after the 50th listening, but it remains the most requested song in my kids playlists.
19. Best Days – Matt White / Shrek3 a really enjoyable song over the closing credits, that is probably more for you than them
    
20. Cruella DeVille – The Replacements / 101 Dalmations i'm a huge 'mats fan. each year i have snuck a song by paul westerberg and the replacements on a cd. why should the musical be no exception? enjoy, it comes from Stay Awake a modern disney compilation from the late 80s and appears on their Nothing for All Bsides compilation.

post your comments, tell me what you like and what your kids like!