So, I’ve recently stumbled on some new music that I really like, but of course that’s because it’s music that isn’t afraid to go in new (old) directions. It may sound confusing, but how uncool has it been in the last 20 years to sound like prog-rock at all? Correct, very. But throughout that time I’ve still always harbored a love for progressive rock, in all it’s ‘indulgent‘ grandeur. The argument against prog rock has always been that it’s over-indulgent, which I never understood because I figured music would be the perfect place to indulge. It’s every other facet of life that we must curb our indulgences…but why not let’s make the music freer than we?
All right, now that I’ve confirmed that I’m a dork, I wanted to turn you on to some examples of new Indie bands who aren’t afraid to borrow from some of rock’s taboo past. All of these bands had albums that just dropped this month too, that I recommend any and all of. Let me start with this video from a duo called MGMT, who have a prog thing going on in their music. They’ve got something pretty magical going on…this video will prove that… See the video for “Time To Pretend” here.
And here’s the same song performed on Letterman, with capes, mind you…
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqzoRQv2UIU&rel=1]
Now check out this band, Black Mountain, who have a heavy prog thing going on. Their new album, In The Future, is one of my favorites right now. Check out them performing ‘Wucan‘ at ATP…wicked riffin’…
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhvE-D9osY8&rel=1]
And here’s Vampire Weekend whose album just dropped today, who are not afraid to use African rhythms, rock-style, like the Talking Heads did…and Paul Simon. The Dirty Projectors kinda have the African thing going on too, but first check out this brand-new Vampire Weekend video, and dig their style…
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XC2mqcMMGQ&rel=1]
Click on through to the other side, to see the amazing Dirty Projectors video, as promised…
I thought it was pretty cool this morning when I found this here blog was getting referrals from the U.K.’s Guardian popular music blog, who are linking to my post from way back in November regarding Sparks’ upcoming 21 albums in 21 nights tour. I guess I’m a legitimate news source now. HA!
The link to NewmRadio is in the text ’20 studio albums over 20 nights‘ right under Ron Mael’s picture. Check it out here…
Whilst I was there I read a fun piece about genre-naming and Vampire Weekend, the band who once opened for our buddies, Frances, and who are blowing up, full-stop. Have you guys heard them yet? What do you think? Read about them here… and the review is here…
Btw, anyone see any good shows lately?
Did the White Stripes ‘jack’ a riff from Urge Overkill? Wow, I just noticed this as the White Stripes “Girl, You Have No Faith In Medicine” from the Elephant album came up on shuffle. I thought to myself, ‘strange, I didn’t know I had an Urge Overkill bootleg on my iPod,’ and then I soon realized it’s not Urge Overkill at all…but the White Stripes.
Take a listen to the two and tell me that the White Stripes’ riff on this song doesn’t sound an awful lot like Urge Overkill’s riff from “Positive Bleeding” (from their ’93 Saturation album, which is a brilliant album, btw). Click the album cover to hear…
Well, what do you think?
The band, Family, is certainly one of the Best Bands You’ve Never Heard In Your Life. They formed in England in 1967 and consisted of the late Ric Grech on bass, who would later join the supergroup Blind Faith. The other members of Family that defined their progressive-psychedelic sound were guitarist John “Charlie” Whitney and singer Roger Chapman, whose unique vocal style was described as “bleating vibrato” and “an electric goat”. With a few personnel changes through the years, Family went on recording great albums until 1973. The song I’ve got for you right now is from Family’s first album from 1968 titled Music In A Doll’s House, and was produced by Dave Mason of Traffic fame. It is also notable that the Beatles were recording what became their self-titled album, better know as the White Album, during 1968 and were originally intending to call the album A Doll’s House, but changed it after the release of Family’s Music In A Doll’s House was released in the summer of ’68. So here’s one of the Best Bands You’ve Never Heard In Your Life…Family, with “Hey Mr. Policeman”….
Who played keyboards on Black Sabbath’s ‘Sabbra Cadabra’?
Wow, I just found out Heath Ledger died yesterday in Manhattan at age 28. How sad. I think he was a great actor. Here’s a clip from I’m Not There…
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAzWccKfDbw&rel=1]
Which album was the first released by Bob Dylan after his motorcycle accident in 1966?
Well, in honor of the newly-born Reese Elizabeth Paciorek, I want us all to list 5 songs that are great kid songs. The first 5 songs you think of that have to do with kids… written for kids, performed by kids, about kids, lullabies, whatever! Just make sure to list your 5, so the Paicorek’s can start finding the stuff and turning Reese into a music-lover like the rest of us! Click through at the bottom of this precious picture to see my list and to add yours…
Yo, The Upright Citizen’s Brigade just launched a funny-ass new comedy site called UCBcomedy, that’s got stupid-mad fresh comedy videos. But also what they gots is the hippest of the hoppest in new non-black hip-hop crunk-stylee rap artists. Word it up please, nephew of mine…
(I believe there’s some masturbation going on in this clip, see if you can spot it)
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMrwHdHq3RE&rel=1]
What Broadway play did David Bowie star in? (1981)
…East Village Radio