Floating Away

Saul Williams @ West Hollywood Book Fair

Yesterday, Saul Williams appeared at a panel at the West Hollywood Book Fair.  I have known of the great Saul Williams for some time.  I have heard several tracks of his and even saw him perform live a while back on Def Poetry Jam, but I was not prepared for the genius that is Saul Williams.

Saul Williams is a poet/spoken word performer/underground hip hop star.  But, beyond that, he is incredibly smart and has brilliant musings on the state of hip hop today.  He appeared on a panel entitled "Beats, Raps and Rants: Hip Hop in Prose, Poetry and Spoken Word" with other artists/poets Jair and Mike Sonsken (aka Mike the Poet).  The panel was moderated by writer/critic Donnell Alexander.

Their conversations primarily focused on the hip hop as an artform.  Not surprisingly, Saul Williams said the most intelligent and thoughtful comments.  My favorite thought had to with his theory on sampling.  He said (and I am paraphrasing) that when an artist chooses to sample a piece of music for his or her own piece, he is making a statement about that song.  For example, if you look at "Ring My Bell" as a philosophy, 30 years later, you might not agree with the philosophy in its entirety, but you agree with one or two points.  So, you take those points and bring them into your music by sampling them. 

Sadly, Saul Williams is not performing in this area anytime soon, but I will be sure to let you know when he does. 

Until then, enjoy these tracks:
MP3: Saul Williams - This Type Love (from Def Poetry Jam)
Read the lyrics for This Type Love here
MP3: Saul Willaims - Black Stacey

Also, all four of them took the time to praise Ras Kass for being the best rapper no one has ever heard of.  I had never heard of him and have listened to a few tracks last night.  More to come on him.

Your Band Could Play with Axl

Are you an unsigned band? Do you think you have the chops to play an outdoor festival put on by KROQ? The unsigned bands I love in LA (Great Northern, Division Day, Sea Wolf, Ferraby Lionheart, Lavender Diamond, Let's Go Sailing) definitely do not read this or probably listen to KROQ but should totally enter this contest.

KROQ is having an open tryout for an opening slot at their Inland Invasion Show in a few weeks.   Bands have until this Wednesday to submit an MP3 and a photo themselves.  KROQ will choose 10 songs by Friday, September 15th and you, wise consumer of good music, can choose one band to open their 2006 Inland Invasion show featuring Guns N Roses. 

This is a great chance for KROQ to prove to me that they are the taste makers they claim to be, but sadly, I think they will choose 10 bands that will be bland.  We will see. I would love to be proven wrong.

Music for Labor Day

Have a great day off by enjoying these fine selections:

MP3: Welcome to the Working Week - Elvis Costello
MP3: Step Into My Office, Baby - Belle and Sebastian
MP3: Work Song - Nina Simone
MP3: Work Hard / Play Hard - Palace Music

The VMAs: Are we outgrowing MTV, or does MTV just plain suck?

The truth is probably a little bit of both.  But if you watched any of the VMAs tonight, you now how much it sucked!  The whole thing.  There was nothing to talk about ... except how bad it was.  I guess we should have expected this, given the crappy logo treatment and graphics.  What ever happened to the days of the giant bobbleheads all over NYC?

Some thoughts, in no particular order:

John Norris.  Seriously.  I can't believe he's a) still on TV and b) still alive.  And c) sweet hair, Norris.

Enough with the Overdrive.  This show is bad enough while watching one feed on TV.  Why on earth would anyone want to go online to view from 30 different cameras?  Stop trying to get America to go to MTV Overdrive.  We've been before.  It sucks.

The director is brutal.  I was annoyed while watching the Emmy's that they give an award to the director of these types of shows.  Seems a little biased.  That aside, this guy is really bad.  While MTV is trying to be hip and edgy by letting us hear the director's bark while going into commercial, his poor directing is extremely noticeable when the audio commentary doesn't sync up with the right visual.

Jack Black.  This one is really sad.  Remember how cool Jack Black was?  He was funny, charismatic, and exciting.  Not anymore.  Although, he was a great choice to host this crappy awards show.  They're both tired, bland, out of touch, and lame.

Jessica, what happened?  You've always been so hot.  Not tonight.  While I'm on this subject, go back to Nick already.

Kelly Clarkson.  Alright, who doesn't love Kelly Clarkson?  Dan and I are both huge fans.  (Not as much as that dude from MTV's new show, My Own, which is a train wreck that you can't stop watching).  But seriously, Best Female Video?  Over Nelly F, Christina, Shakira, and Motherfucking Madonna? 

OK GO, was the only bright spot.

Bound Stems

Sometimes it takes a little nudge to get me to listen to stuff.  Nikki talked about Bound Stems a while ago and I read this at Central Village: 

"I'm not sure what it was exactly that got me to finally listen. I must have read something in passing that sparked an interest. But when I got home last night, I made a point to get my ears on this thing. And, only about half way through this thing, I started IMing friends telling them to listen to these guys. I was completely hooked. This is one of the best things I've heard all year. Mark my words." [Central Village]

So, I started listening to and Nikki and Jeff are right.  It's good.  Make a point to listen.  The Chicago band will be making their way west for a night at El Cid on October 6th.  Based on what I have heard of these guys, this will be a great show.  I will remind you again as it gets closer.  Until then, listen to these three songs:

MP3: Andover - Bound Stems
MP3: Wake Up, Ma and Pa are Gone (Live) - Bound Stems
MP3: Refuse the Refuse - Bound Stems

Sunset Junction Preview (Saturday)

As many of our loyal readers know, this weekend is Sunset Junction and there are many reasons to get excited.  I will be heading east on Saturday only as it is (in my opinion) the much stronger lineup.

For the informed, Sunset Junction is essentially a large street fair in Silverlake with 3 stages of music and booths inbetween selling food, crafts, clothing and anything else you can imagine all for $12. 

This year's line up has a varied mix of new rock and old soul.   The great part about Sunset Junction is the organizers do a great job of showcasing local artists who are on the rise.  The afternoon line up on Saturday is a clear example of that,  with Great Northern and the Little Ones playing back to back.

The real highlights here are during the day. But if you want to stay late, hang out at the Bates stage.

Saturday highlights:

Great Northern (Bates Stage 1:30 pm)
I saw these guys almost a year ago and I liked them instantly.  They finally got their act together and gave Sea Level some more EPs.  I am not sure if they have any more, but it has been one of my favorite things this year.  Think Grandaddy with female vocals. 

The Little Ones (Bates Stage 2:15 pm)
Tell all your friends you saw them in 2006.  I saw them 2 Mondays ago for the second time and they continue to impress me with their pop sensibilities and their great stage presence.

Lavender Diamond (Bates Stage 4:30 pm)
Lead singer Becky Stark was that girl in elementary school who ate paste but all the boys loved because she was really cute.  She has grown up and she started a fun little band.  She wears old prom dresses and sings about people breaking her heart.

The Elected (Bates Stage 6:15 pm)
Last year, Rilo Kiley played Sunset Junction.  This year we get spin off The Elected and their super ironic mustaches.  I have had enough of the Elected.  I will be leaving around this time to head to Royce Hall to see Jenny Lewis, Aimee Mann, Mountain Goats, etc.

Millie Jackson (Edgecliff Stage 7:30 pm)
1970s soul singer who apparently is still putting on good shows at 62.

Ashford and Simpson (Edgecliff Stage 9:00)
Former Motown songwriters turned performers.  When I think of them, I think of smooth jams.

eels (Bates Stage 8:00)
eels frontman "E" is a genius.  He is known for trying something new on every album.  His last "Live with Strings" album is very good. 

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (Bates Stage 9:30)
Their song, "Whatever Happened To My Rock n' Roll" describes these guys best.  Serious rock for serious music fans.  I have never seen them live but enjoy all of their albums. 

Redd Kross (Bates Stage 7:00 pm)
Former pop-punk band from the 1970s is doing a reunion thing here and at the LA Weekly Detour Music Festival.  I dont think Mrs. Greenberger (my 7th grade English teacher) would approve of their spelling though.

The End of an Era

I don't remember everything from my childhood, but what I remember, I remember very strongly.  One of those memories is of my father fixing or building something on a Sunday morning.  It doesn't really matter what would he would be working on, but he would have a radio and it would always be turned on to Breakfast with the Beatles. 

I don't make an effort to listen to the show anymore, but it's one of those things that you can always count on.  If I am driving around on a Sunday morning, I know that I can listen to the Beatles.  Well, at least for 3 more weeks:

"After 23 years, the popular Sunday radio show Breakfast with the Beatles is set to go off the air September 3. Host Chris Carter announced the bad news midway through last Sunday’s broadcast: “We can hear the Beatles on a lot of stations,” he said, voice cracking, “but there’s only one Breakfast With the Beatles, and there’s only one Breakfast With the Beatles audience.” Carter then played “Apple Scruffs” by George Harrison — the show’s de facto theme — and invited listeners to call in. Within the first 40 minutes, his engineer logged some 300 calls." [LA Weekly]

The worst part is that 97.1 KLSX is taking its place by filling it up with infomercials and football broadcasts.  Like more people will listen to that than the Beatles?

7 Songs

7 Songs I have been thoroughly enjoying recently:

MP3: Middle Distance Runner - Sea Wolf
MP3: Waxing / Waning - Great Northern
MP3: Tonight Will Be Fine - Teddy Thompson
MP3: Tickets to Crickets - Ferraby Lionheart
MP3: Words - Kelly Stoltz
MP3: Clouds - The Long Winters
MP3: Music Maker - The Chosen Few

Also, my reign as guest blogger at Indie Dont Dance has come to an end.  My last post is up now.  Thanks for the memories.

The First Half of 2006

There has been some great releases so far this year. Here are several that I can't get enough of:

Cold War Kids - Up in Rags EP  [BUY]
Quote that sums them up best: "Overall, The Cold War Kids could be the Southern equivalent of a chemically-sedated, early Modest Mouse fronted by Jack White." [I'm Just Sayin is All]
Best lyric about alcoholism: I promised to my wife and children / I'd never touch another drink as long as I live / But even then it sounds so soothing / This will blow over in time / This will all blow over in time. 
MP3: Cold War Kids - Hospital Beds

Regina Spektor - Begin to Hope [BUY] 
Quote that sums her up best: "Drawing lyrical inspiration from cereal boxes, orca whales, crappy Guns and Roses ballads and the pain/joy of everyday life, Spektor has found a niche in a world with too many Fiona Apple clones." [Kingblind]
Best lyric about Axl Rose solos: “On the radio / you’ll here ‘November Rain’ /  that solo’s awful long / but it’s a good refrain, you’ll listen to it twice / because the DJ is asleep” [On The Radio]
MP3: Regina Spektor - Fidelity

The Metal Hearts - Socialize [BUY]
Quote that sums them up best: "The wonder duo reminds me a lot of a slo-core Pinback. Downbeat melodies, slow tempo and minimal acoustics get this track grooving at just the right amount." [The Test Pilot]
Best lyric about infatuation: "I've been infatuated with you though we've never met / I've got a picture of you I can't forget / It's been like this for me since day one / I feel alone / I feel like midnight's sun" [Midnight's Sun]
MP3: The Metal Hearts - Disappeared

Islands - Return to the Sea [BUY]
Quote that sums them up best: "This album is about all life on earth, evolution, disaster, freedom, love. "Humans" and "Volcanoes" in particular come from that rare breed of song whose imagery is able to be immersed in both the present and the classically universal." [The Mass Is Secretely Obsessed . . . ]
Best lyric about climbing into a whale: "I climbed into the blowhole / In the ribs I found you / With a wick we lit a flame / Now look at the smoke that it blew" [Swans]
MP3: Islands - Don't Call Me Whitney, Bobby

Figurines - Skeleton [BUY]
Quote that sums them up best: "They make that patented Built To Spill quirky tunefulness their own on Skeleton, then throw in some slanted Pavement enchantedness and a couple of forlorn Neil Young slow dance moments to keep people guessing." [RegnYouth]
Best lyric about trying to win back a girl: "I parked a bike down the aisle / Had conversation for a while / I long for the ghost towns and July / Your heart still belongs to the new guy" [Ghost Towns]
MP3: Figurines - Rivalry

Other releases I have enjoyed this year:
Voxtrot - Mothers, Sisters, Daughters, Wives EP
Destroyer - Destroyer's Rubies
Guillemots - From the Cliffs EP
Division Day - Beartrap Island
Band of Horses - Everything All The Time

Kyle Andrews

I have thoroughly been enjoying Amos in Ohio by Kyle Andrews all day.  Kyle is a Chicago native, but now living in Nashville and you definitely hear some of that in his music.  When listening to his cd, I clearly hear both cities influenced.  There is a lot of indie rock on this album with the fluttering sounds and such, but also a lot of Nashville.  The songs are very songwriter oriented and there is the slightest bit of twang.  I think they are pushing him as some new Conor Oberst, and I hear that at times, but you definitely hear some Amos Lee and eels at times too. Its nice music for a sunny day.  

Kyle on Myspace
An Interview with Kyle from Sixeyes

MP3: Kyle Andrews - Please Respond
MP3: Kyle Andrews - Self Help Tapes