songs of late

some of the music that's been finding its way into my ears as of late...

I took my son to see Coldplay in concert last week for his birthday. Four lawn seats for a (soon-to-be) 13-year-old and his friends is a much better present than whatever else i could spend that $100 on. It was a much better concert than i expected. I've really loved many, many Coldplay songs for years but wouldn't have gone to the trouble to see them live if it weren't for my son. He loves them, off and on when he's not memorizing Eminem lyrics. The two best parts of the concert were when they went out into the audience and played, perched atop smaller stages in the middle of the crowd. The first time they did one of these little excursions from the main stage, it ended with Chris Martin playing the Hardest Part all by himself at the piano. I didn't even know i'd heard the song before (it's on X&Y, but that version is forgettable).

At the end of the concert they handed out a CD of live tracks to everyone. All of the songs are similar versions to the ones they played in the concert. The Hardest Part is close, but the one we heard was a bit better.

And I tried to sing
But I couldn't think of anything
And that was the hardest part

Listen: the Hardest Part - live, Chris Martin solo

You can download the rest of the live album for free on Coldplay's site: http://lrlrl.coldplay.com/

The other best part of the concert was when they went up on a little stage on the lawn, letting those of us in the cheap seats get up-close-and-personal for a bit, and then played a stripped down version of Billie Jean. You can watch a version of that on YouTube:

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I saw a couple of rockin' country bands play in a bar here locally recently and loved it much more than i thought i would (a continuing theme i guess). For whatever reason I'm finding myself attracted to songs about whiskey, and have even taken to drinking whiskey at times. It's got a kick, and so do the songs. The second band on the bill, the Cheatin' Hearts, mentioned whiskey in almost all of their songs and did shots with the audience between songs. In a twist forced on me by this odd universe, the bass player was someone i knew, the webmaster i took over for at Videomaker more than 10 years ago. He looked the same, but with a cowboy hat.

You can listen to some of their songs on Last.fm, including Stumblin' Drunk

The headliner for that show was Joe Buck Yourself, a loud asshole that put on a great show pounding on his guitar and kicking his bass drum. Most of his stuff was loud and made me want to hoot, holler, and ram into someone. Just a crazy good time. And then he finished with a really beautiful song. It made me buy his CD just so i could listen to it over and over. Support your local musician i guess...

Listen: Joe Buck - Bitter is the Day

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And then... Fiona Apple came out with a new cover, and since it's an old jazz classic, it fits her perfectly.

You know i'll love you
Till the moon's upside down
Don't you remember
I was always your clown
Why try to change me now

Listen: Fiona Apple - Why Try to Change Me Now (mediafire)

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And in other news, MCA has cancer, which made me surprisingly sad, worried, and anxious for my own mortality.

better version of me

this is a version of a beautiful song that i'm sure hasn't been heard enough or by enough people. The original, off of Mermaid Ave Vol 1 as done by Billy Bragg & Wilco, is excellent. This one's excellent too, but it's different, and in some ways better, because it's just Jeff Tweedy. I first heard it playing on a scratchy vinyl record in that movie the Strangers. I'm sure it was never printed to vinyl, but it fit the mood of the scene perfectly so i can suspend my disbelief if necessary.

At My Window Sad & Lonely - Jeff Tweedy solo

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happy songs for a beautiful spring day

It's been way too long since i've posted anything here, so i thought for this little mini-return I'd go ahead and post a collection of happy songs that have been keeping me company the last few months. It's a nice way to bounce and smile on this beautiful spring day. Enjoy...

Port O'Brien : I Woke Up Today
I used to listen to this one in the shower. I first heard it on a podcast from KEXP. It's just about perfect, though i've heard the album version is nothing compared to the live rendition where they pass out pots and pans and other noisemakers to the audience. Makes me want to yell and scream and dance.

in the morning, all i could do was sing

Feist : Inside & Out
I use to listen to the acoustic/unmix version of this one, but it's much more solemn and at this point it's not where i want to return to. This version is closer to the 70's disco original though. i didn't even know it was a cover until it came on the stereo while we were passing out cups of vodka lemonade at Burning Man last summer.

too many lovers in one lifetime ain't good for you

Iron & Wine / Calexico : History of Lovers
I've never really gotten into Calexico, but lately this little collaboration with I&W has grabbed my attention and won't let go.

Coddle some men, they’ll remember you bitterly
Fuck ‘em, they’ll come back for more

the Beatles : the Ballad of John & Yoko
I would have posted Ob-la-di Ob-la-da but that would just be too clichéd, even though i think it's just about the happiest song ever recorded. This one gets to me too, though i guess some people still hate Yoko Ono enough to never listen to it.


Jessice Lea Mayfield : You've Won Me Over
I found this lovely songstress on someone's top albums list for last year and feel hard enough to actually go shell out some cash for her album. This isn't the happiest song on the list (which is why i buried it in the middle) but it makes a nice, serene smile steal its way onto my face.

Come get me drunk
Tell me I'm pretty
Tell me you want me by your side

Two Gallants : Steady Rollin'
I'm sure i've written about Two Gallants in the past, at least once. If not it's because i didn't want to just gush all over the internet like a drunken schoolgirl. Most of their songs are deep and dark and remind me of old mossy oak trees in front of southern mansions. This one's a little brighter.

But if you should e'er need me,
I'll go where'er you lead me.

K'naan : If Rap Gets Jealous
Along with Port O'Brien, this is the other song that first made me think of posting this list. It's attached to people/time/memories but the love is still there. Someday i'd love to run into this dusty foot philosopher out in the real world.


Modest Mouse : Styrofoam Boots/It's All Nice on Ice, Alright
I got to see Modest Mouse with my son again a few weeks ago. They didn't play this song, but when it gets going it does a good job of capturing the rowdy bliss that they bring to their stage shows. That and i love the absurd conversations Skyelar and I have had over the meaning of the lyrics.

Well all's not well
but i'm told that it'll all be quite nice
you'll be drowned in boots like Mafia
but your feet will still float like Christ's
and i'll be damned
they were right
i'm drowning upside down
my feet afloat like Christ's

i'm not well

These are my two current theme songs. The chorus on the first fits well. The second one i listen to every time i get in the car....


Harvey Danger - Flagpole Sitta



Ben Harper - the Drugs Don't Work (Verve cover)




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Bad Woman ISO Fun Summertime Tunes....

With summer already off to such a *fine* start (to be read sarcastically...) I thought I'd post some funky tunes to lighten up my mood.

Dubbing in the Backseat -- The Upsetters
This is another from the Stranger Than Fiction Soundtrack...

http://download.yousendit.com/A77A3654043145B7


Amy Winehouse -- You Know I'm No Good
I just heard this on KWOD the other day for the first time. It's such a bad woman song...."I cheated myself, like I knew I would."

http://download.yousendit.com/8059748B678A163E

Grant Lee Phillips

I haven't heard this song in years and decided to download it for ol' times sake. The only airplay it ever received was on a local pirate radio station, Radio Paradise. Radio Paradise played an esoteric selection of music that was never boring. You all may remember that in response to 9-11, Clear Channel Communications (which owns a huge bulk of radio networks and stations) came out with a list of 100+ songs that were banned from corporate-owned airwaves because of their content. Most of it was downright ludicrous and the whole thing was blatant censorship. (Ala the bumpersticker "The media is as liberal as the corporations who own them.") Radio Paradise, who usually played mellow songs like this one by Grant Lee Phillips, gave Clear Channel the middle finger and played Rage Against The Machine instead.

Humankind
http://download.yousendit.com/EAC88AF779F5355D

Heavenly -- posted just for sappiness sake
http://download.yousendit.com/B5D1A249695EA0BC

Whole Wide World...Wreckless Eric

This tune is from Stranger Than Fiction -a surprisingly cute movie that my son and I just watched last night... The soundtrack is really good, an interesting assortment of songs. I don't know anything about this artist but I'll have to investigate further (via Limerwire, of course :-) )

Enjoy!!



http://download.yousendit.com/1F2C8A2E193414B5