Sunday Spins
on some Sundays... squirrel will sit down, have a cup of coffee, listen to a record, and let you know what he thinks about all of it.
Tuesday, July 14, 2020
American Utopia
I know it's Tuesday, but in times like these does it really matter? not to me.
If you know me... really know me... you know that I tend to take responsibility for my problems. I think of it as a silver lining to depression and anxiety. I may have a very low self-opinion, but it makes it easy to blame myself when things go wrong. However, we're in a special circumstance right now. Things outside ourselves are really fucked up. I can see that I did what I could to do right by my family and my employer (maybe not myself... but that's a different story for a different platform). these are the thoughts and feelings that lead to me deciding what to spin thisAM while applying for jobs online.
David Byrne - American Utopia
Some of you may be familiar with the Broadway show of the same name... this is the album that would later become that show.
I love David Byrne. I used to want to be him when I grow up. Now I'm not sure what I want to be. That's a hard thing to deal with at almost 42 years old. I also love Brian Eno. the liner notes of American Utopia say that it's "Based on original tracks by Brian Eno", and Eno performs on part of the record too. The collaborations between those two have resulted in some of my favorite music.
Like many people, when I saw the title of this album I assumed it was sarcasm or satire. Mr. Byrne must have assumed that would be the case because he explains his intention on the back cover of the sleeve. I highly suggest you go read it for yourself, but I'll quote one line here.
"We look around and we ask ourselves - well, does it have to be like this?"
So yeah... things are fucked up. Things have been fucked up. Things will be fucked up. But this album is about what I'm striving for... questioning hopefully. To David Byrne, the utopia is about seeing the issues, acknowledging them, and working toward a better reality.
Musically this album is what I've come to expect from Bryne/Eno. The arrangements are at times very dense, but somehow always have room to breathe. Byrne's vocal performance is full of the quirks that have been his trademark my entire life. He can be contemplative, combative, self-deprecating, hopeful, joyful, silly... you get the idea. He does a lot with his voice, but it's always unmistakably and undeniably David Byrne.
The record opens with a lovely piano and calm vocal part, which slowly starts to swell with swirling synth and background vox. Suddenly a pulsing rhythmic synth part breaks the mood as a mechanical vocal deadpans the song title line "I Dance Like This." The back and forth between these two seemingly disconnected parts continues throughout the opening track and sets the listener up for the twists and turns of the rest of the album.
The instrumentation on this record is all over the place - in a very good way. Drum machines, sitars, synths, guitars, live drums, various percussion, strings... I don't even know what else. I'm sure I'm forgetting something. It makes the album somewhat hard to describe here. I guess that's why I've spent so much time on how I'm feeling and what the album means rather than how it sounds. Again, I think that's a good thing. Music is wonderful for helping me feel my feelings. Sometimes it's the only thing that brings things close enough to the surface for me to deal with them.
I don't really have anything else to say about this. Go check out those videos of the show. Go listen to the album. Think about the world around you. Think about how it can improve, and how you can help it do so. Try to keep your head up, and I'll try to do the same.
Until next time. Do cool shit. Listen to more records. Take care of yourselves and each other.
-squirrel
Sunday, July 21, 2019
The Valentine LP - Whestus
When I put this record on thisAM I had no intention of posting about it... but here I am on a Sunday morning with a cup of coffee listening to a record so I thought I'd just drop you a line.
I wasn't into Wheatus back in 2000 when "Teenage Dirtbag" was a thing. My life kept me pretty busy in those days and I guess I just missed it. Anyway, around 6 or 7 years ago I came across them somewhere online. I think it was Twitter. I was (and still am) on a quest to listen to just about anything and form my opinions based solely on the music rather than any pop culture significance or what my small strange social circle thinks... and something about Wheatus, and specifically the music they were making at the time.
The sort of DIY aesthetic (from the hand written mailer it came in, to the lack of a bar code on the jacket, to the production of the music) takes me to a time and place where bands make music for the love of making music. It's not about slick marketing and pushing units. It's about the music. It's the reason we all started doing this in the first place. For that I love this record.
Speaking of the music... the songs themselves are really good. They're personal, complex, and witty. Not just lyrically... the music itself shares those qualities. Instrumentation ranges from quiet acoustic guitars and vocals that sound like they were recorded in an empty room with the singer in one corner and the Mic in another to dirty, fuzzy, blown out walls of noise... vocal performance ranges from soft harmonies to what I can only describe as squeals. There are key changes, time changes, and overall tonal changes in a few of the songs. It's a lot of fun for a nerd like me to ride this ride.
Well... I didn't start writing until side 2, so we've reached the end of the record. That's my time for the day. Hope you're doing well and enjoyed this unexpected interruption.
Until next time... do cool shit. Listen to more records.
Cheers!
-squirrel
Sunday, February 10, 2019
New Location
Sunday, July 8, 2018
Led Zeppelin - Coda
How was that for cramming a bunch of Led Zeppelin references into one paragraph? I know it's cheesy, but I really enjoyed doing it. The sentiment is still true. I was concerned about how to follow up the last blog, which was probably the most well-received (by the few people who read it) piece of writing I've ever written. That is what caused me to put off writing the next one, at first. Then life happened, I started sleeping in on Sundays, the recording of the podcast ground to a halt (we've started up again, and will hopefully get on a regular schedule and start releasing shows soon), and this just got put on the back burner.
A friend of mine suggested all those months ago that my next Sunday Spins be a Led Zeppelin album. I told him that I loved the idea, but I didn't want to do something big like II, IV, or Houses of the Holy... I wanted to do an album that gets very little love (at least from what I've seen). I wanted to write about Coda.
Here's just a little bit of background for those unfamiliar. This is the band's final studio album (hence the name). It's made up of unused material from previous recording sessions spanning their career. It was released 2 years after the death of John Bonham, in part to fulfill contractual obligations to Atlantic records. Jimmy Page has also stated that it was in response to the popularity of bootleg material being shared among fans. I'm not going to go into detail as to which songs were recorded when and all that stuff, but if you really want to know a quick something search will give you all the information you desire.
So, without further ado... let's drop the needle on Led Zeppelin's swan song (had to get another one in there). I present to you, Coda.
I bought my copy of this record at a local shop that's no longer in business, and frankly, I'm not shocked or upset by that. I was really excited when they opened, but I only went in there twice and was disappointed both times. Anyway, it's interesting to me that at the beginning of the record it's horribly noisy and scratching, but as soon as the music starts with the first snare fill of "We're Gonna Groove" it sounds really clean. It's almost like they cleaned all but the outermost edge of the disc. The song itself is a funky bluesy tune that's signature early-Zep. Frenetic drumming, bouncing walking bass lines, tons of guitar, and Robert Plant's signature howl about a woman.
Next up is something a little more interesting. "Poor Tom" starts out with drums as well. My brother refers to this as a Bonzo album. The drums are definitely front and center on many of the tracks. I wonder if that has anything to do with the fact that he passed away. Perhaps when Jimmy Page was producing the album he subconsciously gravitated toward drum-heavy mixes. Or perhaps it's just that Bonzo was so great that my ears subconsciously gravitate toward his playing. But I digress. After the drum intro, the vocals come in first, much more mellow, followed by acoustic guitars, subdued bass, and a generally chill vibe. I really like this song. It feels like a group just sitting around on a lazy afternoon jamming. There's some cool harmonica work on it too.
"Poor Tom" may feel like a group jamming, but the next track - Willie Dixon's "I Can't Quit You Baby" - really is a group jamming. I know I said I wouldn't bore you with these details, but this was recorded during soundcheck at Royal Albert Hall in 1970. Again, it's Zep doing the blues thing that made them famous (and infamous). At least Willie is credited in the liner notes this time. Anyway, this one really makes me miss playing in a band. There's something really genuine about a group of people who groove together doing just that. Although I prefer the less bluesy original tunes in their catalog, I could listen to Led Zeppelin jam out old blues tunes like this all day and be totally happy.
Side one concludes with "Walter's Walk". It's a good song, with some interesting vocal doubling/harmonizing, but overall it feels more like an unused track than anything else on the album to me. It's a pretty straightforward rocker that, in my opinion, doesn't really showcase the full spectrum of the band's talents.
Excuse me while I flip the record and get some more coffee... be back in a minute...
[muzak version of "Stairway to Heaven" plays while you wait]
My "5 cup" coffee maker only fills my mug twice. weird.
The record is flipped, and it's time to fill my ear holes with "Ozone Baby". This is another pretty straightforward song that definitely sounds like it's later in their career. The drumming is a little more subdued on this one, as is the guitar, but John Paul Jones is laying down some really tasty bass with fatty tone for days. That makes my day. JPJ is one of my all-time favorites, so anytime he's laying it down I'm here for it.
"Darlene" is, on its surface, more of Zeppelin being Zeppelin... bluesy, shuffling, and about a woman. But once again, there are some really great things going on in the rhythm section. One of the things that I've always found interesting about Zep is that they're known as a guitar band, but for me, it's always been about JPJ and Bonzo. Each of them is a powerhouse on their own, but when you put them together magic happens.
Speaking of the powerhouse that is John Bonham, how about a drum solo? The highlight of the album for me is "Bonzo's Montreux". This four-minute and fifteen-second song in which Bonham plays "Drum Orchestra" and Page added "electronic treatments" is a true testament to just how great a player Bonzo was. I wish I had the words to describe how this makes me feel. I want to dance, I want to bang my hands on tables, I want to sing along with the drums. I want you to go listen to this tune right now. Seriously... leave my site and go listen to it. I don't even care if you come back to finish reading this. It's that important to me.
"Wearing and Tearing" is the final track of the final studio album by what many people consider to be one of the greatest rock bands of all time. Although recorded later in their career this song could have fit in on just about any of their previous albums. It's fast, gritty, and energetic. I don't know if they recorded this live in the studio or if they multitracked, but it has the feel of a band pushing each other to the limits. There's very little in the way of studio trickery or anything like that. It's just pure, unadulterated Rock n Roll.
And with that, the record is over. I'm left both satisfied and wanting more. Luckily I have shelves full of albums for my listening pleasure. I can't wait to share them all with you. Until next time... do cool shit. Listen to more records.
Cheers!
-squirrel
Sunday, November 5, 2017
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - Skeleton Tree
I guess what I'm trying to say is I don't like Sundays. They typically put me in a bad mood. Today is no exception. Before you start flaming me and saying #FirstWorldProblems, let me assure you that I know. There are people who have it a lot worse than I do... I have it pretty good, in fact. But when I think of others and their far-worse problems it just reminds me how fucked up the world is, which doesn't help my mood any. So let me focus on my own petty problems. If you just don't want to read about it, guess what? You're in luck. I'm going to quit complaining, drink my coffee, and talk about today's record. After all, I started writing this blog to give myself a reason to slow down and relax on Sundays (you see how that worked out)... so that's what I'll do.
My squirrel mug is full, my tube amp is warm, and the lighting is just right. Today's coffee is a k-cup (i know, i know... but when you're in a hurry you do what you gotta do) called Dark Magic. It's pretty good but a bit one dimensional. Sort of earthy with a little bite to it. It's a go-to coffee for days when I need to just grab a quick cup (which ends up being most weekdays... and Sundays).
The record I've selected today is the latest from Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. It's their sixteenth studio album entitled "Skeleton Tree". The album was recorded in 2014 and 2015 in England and France, mixed in London and released in 2016. I bought it the day it came out. Apparently, the first pressing had some issues, because I ended up with two copies that skipped in the same place, but the lovely people at Indy CD & Vinyl helped me out. They were able to do a deep cleaning on my second copy and get it to playable (but still with a couple minor skips) state. They're my local shop, but if you want to buy from them online they recently began doing that. Cool people with a cool place... I highly recommend supporting them any way you can.
I've gotten way off point... This band has been around for a long time. I think their first album came out in the mid-80s. I first caught wind of them quite late and in a way that may surprise some of you. You may remember a movie called "Scream", which prominently featured the song "Red Right Hand". That was my introduction to the band, but it wasn't until much later that I started to explore the rest of the discography. Over the last few years, I have become a big fan and am systematically filling in the gaps in my collection. I only have 4 of the 16 studio albums so far, but I'll get there eventually. At this point, I could go into the history of the band, why I like them, and what's so important about Alternative Post-Punk Art Rock, but my coffee is almost gone and I really just want to listen to this record. So let's drop the needle.
But wait.... first I have to fold some laundry (fucking Sundays, am I right?)
One of my only complaints about this record is that I would like some time to breathe between "Distant Sky" and "Skeleton Tree"... maybe just 2 more seconds before the slowly swung acoustic guitar and drums come in to announce the final, title track. This is a simple song, but possibly the most produced on the record. "Sunday Morning, Skeleton Tree, Pressed against the sky. A jittery TV glowing white like fire". Maybe that's why I picked this record. Maybe because it calms me down. It's sad, heartbreaking, and painful... but something about it just makes me feel better.
Well, my coffee is long dry and the record has spun. Thank you for taking this Sunday afternoon to listen to a record with me. Until next time... do cool shit. Listen to more records.
Cheers!
-squirrel
Monday, October 16, 2017
MDC! Show review and Smoke Signals
It was a seriously great night. My other brother and I got together beforehand and hung out for a while, then headed to the show. I wasn't sure what to expect from the three other bands who were on the bill, but I was not disappointed.
First up was Fastidio, a local Latin punk band that I wish I would have heard of before now. I've been out of touch with the local scene for quite some time, which really needs to change. These guys tore it up and set the mood for a kick-ass show. I highly recommend checking them out if you get the chance.
Next was another local band. I've been meaning to see them for a while, but this was my first chance. Think Tank describe themselves as alcoholics with nothing better to do, which may be true... but they're more than that. They're an energetic, entertaining, female-fronted punk rock tour de force. They have some demos up on soundcloud (link on their facebook page). Go listen now. I'll wait.....
I hope you enjoyed that. I certainly did. I also enjoyed the next band on the bill. They're on tour with MDC, so it's no surprise to me that they were fucking good. The Elected Officials is an anarcho-hardcore band from Austin, TX and Santa Fe, NM. I don't know what to say about this band besides they're fucking good. I know I said that already... but I want to make sure you know. I feel like political punk went out of style for a while, but if The Elected Officials are any indication of what's out there right now I'm excited. The world needs more bands like this.
And finally, the moment I had been waiting for... MDC took the stage. Dave Dictor sounded great. The band sounded great. The energy in the room was electric as I made my way to the front of the stage (not without some slam-dance style contact with other humans... normally not my thing, but this was a special occasion). Highlights of the show for me were (of course) "John Wayne Was A Nazi" and when Sophie from The Elected Officials joined the band onstage for "Mein Trumpf".
I'm very glad I took the opportunity to nurture my inner punk rock kid on a Sunday night in October. This is a night I'll remember forever. Thanks to all the bands, my brother who introduced me to punk rock as a young child, and my other brother who attended the show an rocked out with me.
Sunday, October 8, 2017
Eno & Hyde - High Life
But I guess we're here to talk about a record. This week's selection is a collaboration (just like the coffee... that was actually a coincidence... neat!) between Karl Hyde (best known for the band Underworld), and the Man, the Myth, the Legend.... Brian Eno (can you tell I'm a fan?!?), who is best known for being awesome. Seriously, though, if you don't know Eno you should do yourself a solid and check out his stuff.
Honestly, I don't know anything about Karl Hyde. I bought this record based solely on my love of Brian Eno's work (both behind the scenes and as an artists), especially the album he made with David Byrne of The Talking Heads several years before this album. I wasn't disappointed. Although when I'm in the mood for Eno I often reach for one of his solo records, this one is quite good as well. Let's drop the needle and dive in.
One of the things I really like about this album is that while it maintains the cool experimental vibe that a fan would expect from Brian Eno, it's also quite accessible. It opens on the track "Return" with guitars, drums, and bass (building upon each other in that order) playing simple rhythms, the vocal melody is soothing yet melancholy. Any Catalog listener will come to find out that opening tracks mean a lot as far as my album experience goes, and this one definitely starts out well. What I love about it is throughout the nine-minute length of the song the sixteenth note guitar rhythm never stops. It loops through the whole songs as other parts come and go, finishing in a swirl of looping synths and new rhythms that completely change the way the song sounds and feels by the time it's over. Normally I wouldn't spend so much time on a single song here, but the thing is 9 minutes and I was still typing.
For a listener who is less into epic pieces of experimental looping, I would still suggest certain tracks on this album. "Slow Down, Sit Down, Breathe" (track 2) is still a loopy experiment, but it's shorter and more vocal driven. In fact, the record is broken up into pairs of shorter songs and longer songs, with the exception of Side D which contains 2 songs at just under six and just under eight minutes. I guess what I'm saying is if this album sounds at all interesting but you're unsure about committing to multiple songs over 8 minutes, check out songs like "Slow Down, Sit Down, Breathe", "DBF", or "Moulded Life" before diving into a song like "Lilac", which in my opinion is the highlight of the album. Clocking in at 9:24, it's the longest song here, and I love all 564 seconds of it. Again, you have loops that are maintained for the duration of the tune, broken up and reinvented by other layers of instruments and voice. It seems like it would make for a simplistic sonic palette, but that couldn't be further from the truth. This album is full of depth and movement. Every time I listen to it I hear something new. Right now is actually the first time I've ever listened to it on headphones, and I'm kicking myself for not doing so before. I've shut off everything but this music and these words. The coffee is gone, and it's just us now. "Moulded Life" is currently making me want to get up and dance... that's right. I've been chilling this entire time, but at the end of Side B, it's time to boogie.
Side C... time to crack a beer. How did it take me this long to realize I should drink a High Life while listening to High Life? I don't know what's wrong with me. The album really changes for me at this halfway point. There are elements of Fusion, Disco, and Rock mixing together, there's a song where Eno and Hyde are both crediting as Backing Voice, but nobody appears to be singing lead. The whole thing starts to feel even more experimental, but in all the right ways. Some experiments do fail, but not these. I'm really digging the tremolo, glitchy, almost underwater sound of this Backing Voice.... and bring on the fuzzy synths. I can't tell if it's being programmed to sound like that or if it's an old piece of analog gear with dirty electronics (in a good way).
"On a Grey Day", the first song on the final side of the record (only released on the vinyl version, from what I understand) brings things down to a chilly slow minimalistic mood that you expect from the title of the track. Personally, I wouldn't call it sad. The calm, introspective feel is continued through the "Cells & Bells", the album closer.
This album is actually quite a journey. The harmony vocals of "Cells & Bells" (words by poet Rick Holland) are filling my ears as I reflect on the last 45 or so minutes and think "Has it really only been 45 minutes?" Thank you for coming with me this evening. I hope you give this one a spin some Sunday.
Peace, Love, and Respect.
-squirrel