The Morning Benders - "All Day Day Light" from Jack Ferry on Vimeo.
Cool new track from The Morning Benders...
From the album "Big Echo" - available now on Rough Trade Records.
Uplifting!
KW
Waiting
1 day ago
Friday, December 17, 2010
The Morning Benders - All Day Day Light
Cool new track from The Morning Benders...
From the album "Big Echo" - available now on Rough Trade Records.
Uplifting!
KW
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Friday, October 15, 2010
The Constellations - "Perfect Day"
Thursday, April 1, 2010
FEMALE GUITARISTS vs. FEMALES WITH STRAP-ONS
Let me preface this post with a few points:
I like some females...and I don't like some females...AND the same goes for males.
I think that women can get away with certain things that men can't...AND vice versa. But for this post, my focus will be on what WOMEN can and do seem to get away with in regard to utilizing guitars in their live respective performances.
To summarize: My prejudice knows no boundaries.
I think that covers it...so here we go:
There is something about female singers whom unskillfully play guitar that really chaps my ass. I am sure that it is insulting to all musicians...and yes, I believe that this includes males AND females that CAN actually play. There are even people out there--who may not even be musicians--that can recognize when someone isn't proficient with their instrument. (My ex-wife accused me of this once...and I don't even play guitar! Buh dum bum, cymbal crash!)
But seriously, why is it that some women can get away with strapping on a guitar--when they clearly shouldn't--just because they want to LOOK like they know what they are doing.
I will admit that I have also seen the likes of Jon Bon Jovi and/or Mick Jagger with a strap-on (uh, I mean a guitar) and I questioned it all as well. But there is something infinitely more disturbing (to me) about the particular women that I am thinking of whom have pulled this scam on the masses.
If that makes me a misogynist, then I can live with that, but I really don't think that this post is an attack against ALL women, per se. I actually think that it may just be something in the phony swagger--that seems to come with the strap-ons--that actually disturbs me. I think I can safely say that both Mick and Jon have swaggered in the same fashion...with OR without a guitar.
Now don't get me wrong, I know that there ARE great female guitarists out there...but let me save the best for last:
Up first, Madonna:
No offense Madonna, but I wanna see you play guitar like I wanna see Jimi Hendrix dance around with cones on his nipples. Um actually no, I did mean to offend with that bit.
Oh...and Slash called...guess what two items he would like back!
Next up, Alanis Morissette:
(No, my criticism isn't only saved for Maverick Records-based musicians...)
Alanis is clearly talented...but I am not convinced that she could EVER play anything on a guitar that sounds as bad-ass as this picture looks!
Apparently, she has played piano since the age of six, so I can live any live piano-playing that she wants to unleash on us.
The only thing that allows me to look past her inability to play some decent guitar, is her completely obnoxious harmonica solos - I bet the band tried to hide that f'n thing before every gig on that first big tour. Oy Vey!
I mean if I HAVE to choose...go ahead Honey, keep the guitar!
Yet another Canuck, Avril Lavigne:
Well, it's bad enough that Avril claims to be mostly responsible for the songwriting of "her" songs...does she have to add insult to injury by plucking along (live) to some of them as well?!
That Ronnie James Dio bracelet doesn't look bad on her. Ms. Lavigne is actually looking awfully 'Vanity 6' in this little number.
The music doesn't really match the look though, does it.
If the other guitarist's amp were to blow a fuse in the middle of 'Sk8er Boi,' I am fairly confident that the band would be forced to wait for the tech to fix it...and then take it all from the top.
AND...may KW present, Miley Cyrus:
Somebody lost their job over this one - 'nuff said.
Moving right along with the smoothest of transitions...as I (sincerely) promised you earlier--and just to prove that I do appreciate some women--here are several women that CAN wield an axe:
In no particular order, Joan Jett:
This was the night I finally took Joan home to meet Mom and Dad...
My Dad actually loved 'I Love Rock 'n' Roll'...we had the record when I was a kid....and it wasn't me that bought it! I think it was probably a promo from the department store that he worked at, but still.
Yeah, Joan rocks - I wonder if Kristen Stewart is going to mangle her portrayal of Joan in the movie The Runaways. Not that it matters, but I thought Kristen was attractive in 'Twilight,' but her acting seemed hit and miss throughout the movie. She was the one who kept reminding me that I was only watching a movie with cameras, "actors" and a crew. Considering the subject matter of the movie, the "normal" girl should have been the easy sell!
Next, Felicia Collins:
Felicia plays with The CBS Orchestra on The David Letterman Show. The band was previously known as The World's Most Dangerous Band so she MUST have some skills to (now) be in the fold! Those guys are all great musicians.
I wonder if Dave ever put the moves on HER...or maybe the band is considered Paul Shaffer's turf!?
Yet another gifted female, Nancy Wilson:
I can still remember my friends and I ALL drooling over Nancy in the video for 'Never' by her (and her sister's) band Heart. I can listen to 'Barracuda' and 'Crazy On You' nowadays and clearly identify a gifted guitarist...but back then, it was all about the bouncing cleavage in that video.
Hmm, I don't believe that Nancy's curtains matched the carpet in this shot. I wonder what is going on the OUTSIDE of her pants as well! Is that Elvis?!
Lastly--THIS POST IS ALREADY WAY TOO LONG--Lita Ford:
Speaking of Vanity 6 (earlier), along with Denise Katrina Matthews aka Vanity, Lita also had the pleasure of dating Nikki Sixx back in his heroin-fueled days. Man, Nikki wasn't just "scoring" with the drugs!
Lita's biggest hit, 'Kiss me Deadly' was never my favorite track of all time--not even close--but there was no denying that Ms. Ford could aptly manoeuvre her way around the fretboard of a guitar.
I dunno, maybe girls shouldn't become TOO accomplished on the guitar - Check out this video of Kat covering Beethoven meets 'Bark at the Moon':
Whoa.
KW
I like some females...and I don't like some females...AND the same goes for males.
I think that women can get away with certain things that men can't...AND vice versa. But for this post, my focus will be on what WOMEN can and do seem to get away with in regard to utilizing guitars in their live respective performances.
To summarize: My prejudice knows no boundaries.
I think that covers it...so here we go:
There is something about female singers whom unskillfully play guitar that really chaps my ass. I am sure that it is insulting to all musicians...and yes, I believe that this includes males AND females that CAN actually play. There are even people out there--who may not even be musicians--that can recognize when someone isn't proficient with their instrument. (My ex-wife accused me of this once...and I don't even play guitar! Buh dum bum, cymbal crash!)
But seriously, why is it that some women can get away with strapping on a guitar--when they clearly shouldn't--just because they want to LOOK like they know what they are doing.
I will admit that I have also seen the likes of Jon Bon Jovi and/or Mick Jagger with a strap-on (uh, I mean a guitar) and I questioned it all as well. But there is something infinitely more disturbing (to me) about the particular women that I am thinking of whom have pulled this scam on the masses.
If that makes me a misogynist, then I can live with that, but I really don't think that this post is an attack against ALL women, per se. I actually think that it may just be something in the phony swagger--that seems to come with the strap-ons--that actually disturbs me. I think I can safely say that both Mick and Jon have swaggered in the same fashion...with OR without a guitar.
Now don't get me wrong, I know that there ARE great female guitarists out there...but let me save the best for last:
Up first, Madonna:
No offense Madonna, but I wanna see you play guitar like I wanna see Jimi Hendrix dance around with cones on his nipples. Um actually no, I did mean to offend with that bit.
Oh...and Slash called...guess what two items he would like back!
Next up, Alanis Morissette:
(No, my criticism isn't only saved for Maverick Records-based musicians...)
Alanis is clearly talented...but I am not convinced that she could EVER play anything on a guitar that sounds as bad-ass as this picture looks!
Apparently, she has played piano since the age of six, so I can live any live piano-playing that she wants to unleash on us.
The only thing that allows me to look past her inability to play some decent guitar, is her completely obnoxious harmonica solos - I bet the band tried to hide that f'n thing before every gig on that first big tour. Oy Vey!
I mean if I HAVE to choose...go ahead Honey, keep the guitar!
Yet another Canuck, Avril Lavigne:
Well, it's bad enough that Avril claims to be mostly responsible for the songwriting of "her" songs...does she have to add insult to injury by plucking along (live) to some of them as well?!
That Ronnie James Dio bracelet doesn't look bad on her. Ms. Lavigne is actually looking awfully 'Vanity 6' in this little number.
The music doesn't really match the look though, does it.
If the other guitarist's amp were to blow a fuse in the middle of 'Sk8er Boi,' I am fairly confident that the band would be forced to wait for the tech to fix it...and then take it all from the top.
AND...may KW present, Miley Cyrus:
Somebody lost their job over this one - 'nuff said.
Moving right along with the smoothest of transitions...as I (sincerely) promised you earlier--and just to prove that I do appreciate some women--here are several women that CAN wield an axe:
In no particular order, Joan Jett:
This was the night I finally took Joan home to meet Mom and Dad...
My Dad actually loved 'I Love Rock 'n' Roll'...we had the record when I was a kid....and it wasn't me that bought it! I think it was probably a promo from the department store that he worked at, but still.
Yeah, Joan rocks - I wonder if Kristen Stewart is going to mangle her portrayal of Joan in the movie The Runaways. Not that it matters, but I thought Kristen was attractive in 'Twilight,' but her acting seemed hit and miss throughout the movie. She was the one who kept reminding me that I was only watching a movie with cameras, "actors" and a crew. Considering the subject matter of the movie, the "normal" girl should have been the easy sell!
Next, Felicia Collins:
Felicia plays with The CBS Orchestra on The David Letterman Show. The band was previously known as The World's Most Dangerous Band so she MUST have some skills to (now) be in the fold! Those guys are all great musicians.
I wonder if Dave ever put the moves on HER...or maybe the band is considered Paul Shaffer's turf!?
Yet another gifted female, Nancy Wilson:
I can still remember my friends and I ALL drooling over Nancy in the video for 'Never' by her (and her sister's) band Heart. I can listen to 'Barracuda' and 'Crazy On You' nowadays and clearly identify a gifted guitarist...but back then, it was all about the bouncing cleavage in that video.
Hmm, I don't believe that Nancy's curtains matched the carpet in this shot. I wonder what is going on the OUTSIDE of her pants as well! Is that Elvis?!
Lastly--THIS POST IS ALREADY WAY TOO LONG--Lita Ford:
Speaking of Vanity 6 (earlier), along with Denise Katrina Matthews aka Vanity, Lita also had the pleasure of dating Nikki Sixx back in his heroin-fueled days. Man, Nikki wasn't just "scoring" with the drugs!
Lita's biggest hit, 'Kiss me Deadly' was never my favorite track of all time--not even close--but there was no denying that Ms. Ford could aptly manoeuvre her way around the fretboard of a guitar.
I dunno, maybe girls shouldn't become TOO accomplished on the guitar - Check out this video of Kat covering Beethoven meets 'Bark at the Moon':
Whoa.
KW
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
SHOEGAZE ROCK: A QUICK INTRODUCTION, IF YOU MISSED IT.
I remember getting this cassette home and putting it on and listening to it over and over - if memory serves (doubts!), I could flip the tape and have it nearly right on cue for "Soon" on the flipside - thank god for the high-tech, auto-search feature on my parents' cassette player. (Coincidentally, "Only Shallow" and "Soon" were my two favorite tracks.) I also remember thinking--especially because it was a tape--that I got one of a bad batch...or something, because of all of the warbled sounds going on...silly me. I still didn't want to take it back (just yet) because it was still so good...even if it was "broken!"
Ride were an amazing band that made me decide to stick with the studio recordings for this post. Most of the live versions of this track just don't do the song justice. There WAS one live version that I thought was "good"...but it's just not comparable to the original. The point of this "introduction" is to blow you away...and this recording should do just that.
Shoegazing oddballs Lush were also pioneers of the sound, but they strayed away from it toward the end (we won't go there). I can remember all 4 of these songs blowing me away. For me, this track was actually the first of the lot - it was on a double cd sampler (sadly, the name escapes me at the moment) that also contained Buffalo Tom's "Birdbrain" - another mindblower...but for another time/genre.
Swervedriver ended up being one of my favorites of ANY genre - I just saw them (again) at Coachella last year and they were as good as ever. There is an ongoing debate as to whether or not they belong in this genre - I think they do. They were from the Thames Valley which referred to the towns roughly following the course of the River Thames which flowed between Wiltshire in the west to London in the east. Bands like Ride were from this area as well, so they all got lumped in together...and like I say, rightly so, IMO.
Without Swervedriver, the success of Alan McGee--and his label Creation Records aka: the HOME of Shoegaze--might not have ever come to be: It was Swervedriver that (first) hit pay dirt for Alan McGee - A&M records paid Creation $350,000.00 for the rights to release Swervedriver's music under the moniker of their label...
As I recall, McGee used this money to bankroll Oasis...and this last ditch effort to save the label succeeded--as you may recall--Oasis went on to become HUGE! Somewhat ironically, it was mostly My Bloody Valentine's album Loveless and its never-ending production that landed the label into financial jeopardy in the first place. Apparently, it takes around 2 years to get that "broken cassette" sound...
While Loveless didn't make anyone filthy rich, the album did make a big impact as far as influence is concerned. You might say that the only thing that was actually broken, was the mold...
...as it turned out, my tape was just fine.
Ahh, full circle.
KW
PS. If this post was news to you and you still don't "get it" in this spoon-fed matter, I guess you were better off missing it the first time around.
"Only Shallow" by My Bloody Valentine from the album Loveless released: November, 1991 - Creation Records. Produced by Kevin Shields and Colm Ó Cíosóig.
Ride were an amazing band that made me decide to stick with the studio recordings for this post. Most of the live versions of this track just don't do the song justice. There WAS one live version that I thought was "good"...but it's just not comparable to the original. The point of this "introduction" is to blow you away...and this recording should do just that.
"Leave Them All Behind" by Ride from the album Going Blank Again released: March, 1992 - Creation Records. Produced by Alan Moulder.
Shoegazing oddballs Lush were also pioneers of the sound, but they strayed away from it toward the end (we won't go there). I can remember all 4 of these songs blowing me away. For me, this track was actually the first of the lot - it was on a double cd sampler (sadly, the name escapes me at the moment) that also contained Buffalo Tom's "Birdbrain" - another mindblower...but for another time/genre.
"De-Luxe" by Lush from the album Gala released: November, 1990 - 4AD, Reprise Records. Produced by John Fryer (tracks: 8 to 13) , Lush (tracks: 8 to 13) , Robin Guthrie (tracks: 4 to 7, 14, 15) , Tim Friese-Greene (tracks: 1 to 3) * This album was actually a compilation of several separate sessions/recordings.
Swervedriver ended up being one of my favorites of ANY genre - I just saw them (again) at Coachella last year and they were as good as ever. There is an ongoing debate as to whether or not they belong in this genre - I think they do. They were from the Thames Valley which referred to the towns roughly following the course of the River Thames which flowed between Wiltshire in the west to London in the east. Bands like Ride were from this area as well, so they all got lumped in together...and like I say, rightly so, IMO.
"Duel" by Swervedriver from the album Mezcal Head released in August, 1993 - A&M Records. Produced by Alan Moulder (yes, him again...and yet another reason to "lump" Swervedriver in with the rest.)
Without Swervedriver, the success of Alan McGee--and his label Creation Records aka: the HOME of Shoegaze--might not have ever come to be: It was Swervedriver that (first) hit pay dirt for Alan McGee - A&M records paid Creation $350,000.00 for the rights to release Swervedriver's music under the moniker of their label...
As I recall, McGee used this money to bankroll Oasis...and this last ditch effort to save the label succeeded--as you may recall--Oasis went on to become HUGE! Somewhat ironically, it was mostly My Bloody Valentine's album Loveless and its never-ending production that landed the label into financial jeopardy in the first place. Apparently, it takes around 2 years to get that "broken cassette" sound...
While Loveless didn't make anyone filthy rich, the album did make a big impact as far as influence is concerned. You might say that the only thing that was actually broken, was the mold...
...as it turned out, my tape was just fine.
Ahh, full circle.
KW
PS. If this post was news to you and you still don't "get it" in this spoon-fed matter, I guess you were better off missing it the first time around.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
ARCADE FIRE IS THE NEW PEARL JAM.
Arcade Fire is the new Pearl Jam: Everybody wants to sound and look like them for ten years...
What's really strange is that Pearl Jam weren't considered to be "hip" for a long time after grunge (I guess they still aren't)...yet, I actually think that their (fairly) recent number called "the Fixer" is way better/cooler than most of this Modest Mouse and Death Cab for Cutie stuff that all pretty much sounds the same; I never really jumped off a cliff for either of these bands?!
I liked Arcade Fire when they took the world by storm (and I still do) - It reminded me of bands that I enjoy(ed) a track or two from like the Water Walk or the Dream Academy, except more sustainable with more depth (Although, "Life in a Northern Town" was fairly huge). But the thrill is gone and the scene is dying right in front of our eyes: Jared Leto is even coping their schtick for chrissakes! You know - skinny jeans, light scarves, flowers, hankies, tweed jackets with elbow patches, four drummers and (generally) pseudo-artsy to a fault.
With the latest wave of these bands, it's like the hippies have now all got jobs at the library...and yet they STILL can't read the writing on the wall. It's done folks. Are you around 30 and still trying to pull this off? Then I am talking to you. Jared is hovering around 40...but he is hanging with kids ten years his junior. There's nothing wrong with that...but you are a Jared-come-lately, if you are following this lead.
I don't mean to bash Jared - but he's not a true musician. His songs pale in comparison to people that have dedicated their life to the craft. He can sing, But I know he fancies himself as more than just an American Idol prospect...but he is wrong in doing so. He should stick to acting - I liked him in Requiem for a Dream and even in American Psycho...even though it was (maybe) a bit more than a bit part. I hated Fight Club - One of the biggest cop out endings of ALL time...but that wasn't his fault. Anyway...
Truth be told, if it's the Canadian, indie, library-like looks that really gets you going, there was a Canadian band that was doing this type of thing in 1988. In fact, their song and video (below) rivals, if not surpasses, the best of the best of this Arcade Fire-inspired scene...OVER 20 years earlier:
Now that's a song! I shouldn't live in a world in which people can't recognize this...maybe I SHOULD go jump off of a cliff...
...or walk the plank, in this case.
(I sheepishly ask you, "Was that too cutesy?"
Yeah, I know: Amateur hour.)
Anyway, throw the f'n dog a bone: Try to find a way to pay money to acquire this Plasterscene Replicas track. Their music wasn't ALL this good--frankly, none of their other stuff even came close--but this kind of craftsmanship should be properly rewarded...even if it only struck them once.
It's funny...you could even argue that the name of the band itself was ahead of its time by making a reference to emptily duplicated things like (let's say, I dunno) art or music.
Or who knows - maybe they were big Bladerunner fans or something? (That's "Replicants," I know...but still.)
I actually thought about including "the Fixer" in this post as well...but Cameron Crowe's video is heavily guarded against embedding by Pearl Jam and Island Records. Is somebody out there actually purchasing the video single (is there such a thing?) that they have to pull this type of move? They should advertise within the video, if they must...then the more places it ends up, the better off everyone is, no?
No (further) comment.
KW
What's really strange is that Pearl Jam weren't considered to be "hip" for a long time after grunge (I guess they still aren't)...yet, I actually think that their (fairly) recent number called "the Fixer" is way better/cooler than most of this Modest Mouse and Death Cab for Cutie stuff that all pretty much sounds the same; I never really jumped off a cliff for either of these bands?!
I liked Arcade Fire when they took the world by storm (and I still do) - It reminded me of bands that I enjoy(ed) a track or two from like the Water Walk or the Dream Academy, except more sustainable with more depth (Although, "Life in a Northern Town" was fairly huge). But the thrill is gone and the scene is dying right in front of our eyes: Jared Leto is even coping their schtick for chrissakes! You know - skinny jeans, light scarves, flowers, hankies, tweed jackets with elbow patches, four drummers and (generally) pseudo-artsy to a fault.
With the latest wave of these bands, it's like the hippies have now all got jobs at the library...and yet they STILL can't read the writing on the wall. It's done folks. Are you around 30 and still trying to pull this off? Then I am talking to you. Jared is hovering around 40...but he is hanging with kids ten years his junior. There's nothing wrong with that...but you are a Jared-come-lately, if you are following this lead.
I don't mean to bash Jared - but he's not a true musician. His songs pale in comparison to people that have dedicated their life to the craft. He can sing, But I know he fancies himself as more than just an American Idol prospect...but he is wrong in doing so. He should stick to acting - I liked him in Requiem for a Dream and even in American Psycho...even though it was (maybe) a bit more than a bit part. I hated Fight Club - One of the biggest cop out endings of ALL time...but that wasn't his fault. Anyway...
Truth be told, if it's the Canadian, indie, library-like looks that really gets you going, there was a Canadian band that was doing this type of thing in 1988. In fact, their song and video (below) rivals, if not surpasses, the best of the best of this Arcade Fire-inspired scene...OVER 20 years earlier:
Now that's a song! I shouldn't live in a world in which people can't recognize this...maybe I SHOULD go jump off of a cliff...
...or walk the plank, in this case.
(I sheepishly ask you, "Was that too cutesy?"
Yeah, I know: Amateur hour.)
Anyway, throw the f'n dog a bone: Try to find a way to pay money to acquire this Plasterscene Replicas track. Their music wasn't ALL this good--frankly, none of their other stuff even came close--but this kind of craftsmanship should be properly rewarded...even if it only struck them once.
It's funny...you could even argue that the name of the band itself was ahead of its time by making a reference to emptily duplicated things like (let's say, I dunno) art or music.
Or who knows - maybe they were big Bladerunner fans or something? (That's "Replicants," I know...but still.)
I actually thought about including "the Fixer" in this post as well...but Cameron Crowe's video is heavily guarded against embedding by Pearl Jam and Island Records. Is somebody out there actually purchasing the video single (is there such a thing?) that they have to pull this type of move? They should advertise within the video, if they must...then the more places it ends up, the better off everyone is, no?
No (further) comment.
KW
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
'BASEBALL FURIES CHASE THEME'
By Barry de Vorzon - genius-like instrumental!
He also wrote "Nadia's Theme" which was rereleased by A&M for the television soap opera, 'The Young and the Restless.'
I'll never think of Victor Newman in the same way again.
Hmm, you know...
If you shaved that moustache and gave him a cap and a shiner...
Nevermind.
It takes a sick mind to actually follow the train of thought of this post...so did you hop aboard?
If you know whom (both) the Baseball Furies AND Victor Newman are...then you're right there with me...
Get a job, Sicko!
KW
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