Even in February, The Decemberists make great walking-in-winter music.I recently rediscovered this album and have been pretty addicted.
Apparently the song is about a WWII battle, not the French Revolution, but we'll forgive that.
and the war came with a curse and a caterwaul
and the war came with all the poise of a cannonball
and they're picking out our eyes by coals and candlelight
when the war came, the war came hard
~When The War Came
The Decemberists, The Crane Wife
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Saturday, February 13, 2010
2/15/10
So I finally saw Lovedrug on Friday. The concert at Water Street in Rochester, and I went with my big sister (who, as of about a week ago, is a huge Lovedrug fan).
What a fucking amazing concert. They played a great variety of songs, about five of which are new. So, not only did the show make me extremely happy because I got to hear some of my favorite songs live, but I know there's more good stuff comin'. Yay. Really good stuff -- "Premunition" has been stuck in my head since I heard it.
Their chemistry was extremely evident, everyone just really seemed to be on the same page and I could hear every part crystal clear. Noticed harmonies more than I did on the recordings, as well as guitar stuff -- "Happy Apple Poison" in particular sounded fucking kick ass live, and the "We Were Owls" chorus was dead fucking on; in that they gave me chills.
Which is I guess what I really like about Lovedrug in particular -- they're a band with a lot of moments, I think, where things build up to the right place. They do this musically and lyrically which is, I think, important to note.
All my opera studying this semester has taught me that, for Richard Wagner, music cannot reach its full potential without it's partner, poetry. It was SO important to him. He could not write symphonies, apparently.
To Wagner, there are motifs in which the 'profoundest secrets of the poetic intent' are revealed. They're composed of music and poetry, both of which are essentially saying the same thing that sums up an entire story or message or feeling from beginning to end. I don't know. Wagner was a complicated man.
But sitting here, singing Lovedrug songs, I kind of understand that theory. There is something very purging about it, to have music and words so well-aligned. Something that captures a feeling that often cannot be put into any other form, as any art aims to do.
Additionally, I have great respect for any professional musician whose name not everyone knows. To be really good at what you do, and do it as your career, is a lucky match -- especially in a creative field like music or art or writing. You need endless dedication, patience and ambition, as well as the ability to adapt when things don't work out the way you planned. They're currently unsigned, after label problems and they once even had their van stolen on tour -- but they're still writing and recording with good results. Their new material has been so popular and well-received by their fans......sticking to the art, sticking to the craft and continually evolving yourself in it is just the way to go, I think. Nothing more commendable than turning your dreams into reality, which is what I think Wagner was trying to get at most of the time too. Mostly because he was insane and needed to justify it, but it worked.
Bottom line is the concertwas really, really, really good, and so satisfying. Even though they're one of my favorite bands, they still exceeded my expectations in their performance, abilities and attitude. I do wonder, though, if Michael Shepard will make his way back to the piano for any new songs -- I really, really liked his playing at the show but it was mostly for older material. I can't wait to see them again, though, and follow their work as it progresses.
What a fucking amazing concert. They played a great variety of songs, about five of which are new. So, not only did the show make me extremely happy because I got to hear some of my favorite songs live, but I know there's more good stuff comin'. Yay. Really good stuff -- "Premunition" has been stuck in my head since I heard it.
Their chemistry was extremely evident, everyone just really seemed to be on the same page and I could hear every part crystal clear. Noticed harmonies more than I did on the recordings, as well as guitar stuff -- "Happy Apple Poison" in particular sounded fucking kick ass live, and the "We Were Owls" chorus was dead fucking on; in that they gave me chills.
Which is I guess what I really like about Lovedrug in particular -- they're a band with a lot of moments, I think, where things build up to the right place. They do this musically and lyrically which is, I think, important to note.
All my opera studying this semester has taught me that, for Richard Wagner, music cannot reach its full potential without it's partner, poetry. It was SO important to him. He could not write symphonies, apparently.
To Wagner, there are motifs in which the 'profoundest secrets of the poetic intent' are revealed. They're composed of music and poetry, both of which are essentially saying the same thing that sums up an entire story or message or feeling from beginning to end. I don't know. Wagner was a complicated man.
But sitting here, singing Lovedrug songs, I kind of understand that theory. There is something very purging about it, to have music and words so well-aligned. Something that captures a feeling that often cannot be put into any other form, as any art aims to do.
Additionally, I have great respect for any professional musician whose name not everyone knows. To be really good at what you do, and do it as your career, is a lucky match -- especially in a creative field like music or art or writing. You need endless dedication, patience and ambition, as well as the ability to adapt when things don't work out the way you planned. They're currently unsigned, after label problems and they once even had their van stolen on tour -- but they're still writing and recording with good results. Their new material has been so popular and well-received by their fans......sticking to the art, sticking to the craft and continually evolving yourself in it is just the way to go, I think. Nothing more commendable than turning your dreams into reality, which is what I think Wagner was trying to get at most of the time too. Mostly because he was insane and needed to justify it, but it worked.
Bottom line is the concertwas really, really, really good, and so satisfying. Even though they're one of my favorite bands, they still exceeded my expectations in their performance, abilities and attitude. I do wonder, though, if Michael Shepard will make his way back to the piano for any new songs -- I really, really liked his playing at the show but it was mostly for older material. I can't wait to see them again, though, and follow their work as it progresses.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
2/11/10
I stumbled on this Wikipedia page and kinda died a little. I didn't know song entries could lay out structure, but I guess it depends if you're looking up Zep or "Poker Face" (no offense, luv you so much LG). But I so don't hear music that way, at least not without conscious effort to do so. I wish I could turn it on more, I guess it's just a matter of paying attention.
Anyway, it just got me thinking about how amazing Wikipedia is....they tell you in school not to use it, anyone can edit it, whatever.....but honestly, only because of Google + Wikipedia (and I guess, Mom's Dell credit card) can I know everything about any song, whenever...also, I can know it in FIVE freakin' seconds. Granted, I don't know
So, okay Newhouse, Wikipedia is a bad thing to do, it's bad for journalism and really everything that reporting should involve. But my trivia-geek wins out.
Great fucking song, too. Great playlist of songs, as I quickly discovered, courtesy of iTunes radio station The ANIMAL Rocks:
Stevie Nicks, "Edge of Seventeen"
Pink Floyd, "Time"
John Lennon, "Instant Karma!"
followed by a commercial for psychic reading.
Yessssss, points.
Anyway, it just got me thinking about how amazing Wikipedia is....they tell you in school not to use it, anyone can edit it, whatever.....but honestly, only because of Google + Wikipedia (and I guess, Mom's Dell credit card) can I know everything about any song, whenever...also, I can know it in FIVE freakin' seconds. Granted, I don't know
So, okay Newhouse, Wikipedia is a bad thing to do, it's bad for journalism and really everything that reporting should involve. But my trivia-geek wins out.
Great fucking song, too. Great playlist of songs, as I quickly discovered, courtesy of iTunes radio station The ANIMAL Rocks:
Stevie Nicks, "Edge of Seventeen"
Pink Floyd, "Time"
John Lennon, "Instant Karma!"
followed by a commercial for psychic reading.
Yessssss, points.
Monday, February 8, 2010
2/8/10
Never an overrated song, was only familiar with The Beatles and Smokey Robinson versions but I like this one, too. So sweet, and it sneaks up on you with patience and delicacy.
Obviously I love both M.Ward and Zooey Deschanel, how can anyone not? A fittingly talented pair of songwriters and performers, She & Him is just a good example of a certain kind of music that just ran rampant the past few years, I think they just hit that soothing, quiet, sad folk nail on the head. They got great style, too, pop appeal like crazy but it didn't detract from the product. New album alert: March 23!!!
Also, the labeling tool won't let me put the ampersand in the "She & Him" label. I've half a mind to complain to Blogger.
I don't understand this video, something about love, loving and food? I'm missing something, but the guy at 2:35 made me laugh. So, do I sing this to my food? I don't understand.
Obviously I love both M.Ward and Zooey Deschanel, how can anyone not? A fittingly talented pair of songwriters and performers, She & Him is just a good example of a certain kind of music that just ran rampant the past few years, I think they just hit that soothing, quiet, sad folk nail on the head. They got great style, too, pop appeal like crazy but it didn't detract from the product. New album alert: March 23!!!
Also, the labeling tool won't let me put the ampersand in the "She & Him" label. I've half a mind to complain to Blogger.
I don't understand this video, something about love, loving and food? I'm missing something, but the guy at 2:35 made me laugh. So, do I sing this to my food? I don't understand.
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