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There seems to be a surge in female voices in indie rock right now. Not just stalwarts like Jenny Lewis, Kim Gordon and Neko Case (Neko is the front-runner for LP of the year, so far), but also new up-and-comers like The Vivian Girls, Dirty Projectors, Bat for Lashes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and St. Vincent.
Rock has always had a unique spot saved for female voices. They tend to be viewed as “outsiders” to the male dominated RnR industry. But I find them to provide a much needed counter-point and very necessary to the overall evolution of sound. Think where we would be without Joan Baez, Ann Wilson or Chrissy Hinde. But even more so than the Classic Rock women, the rise of alternative / indie rock has really produced wonderful female-dominated records. Veruca Salt, the Breeders, Liz Phair, PJ Harvey, Beth Orton and (the aforementioned) Kim Gordon all gave us audio gifts that left an indelible mark on RnR.
It is great to see that tradition on the rise. Go check out these women. If nothing else, download Dirty Projectors’ “Stillness Is The Move” which may very well be the Song of 2009.
Rest in Peace, Mike.
I cannot say I was a big fan of MJ’s music, but I would be remiss to deny his impact on my generation. When Thriller was released, it seems everyone in my elementary school suddenly realized they LIKED pop music – and the LOVED MJ. It was a milestone: the first music that encroached on our internal radar.
My first memory of MJ is the Billie Jean video ( I wasn’t around for Jackson 5 era). Something about how the sidewalk lit up underneath him intrigued me. And the vague / mysterious story of the song / video was really enthralling for someone of my tender age. Even then I could sense it was more than music (chords, lyrics, etc.), but it was a style; a Big Picture type art to transcend all.
Remember when Mtv played music videos and wasn’t just a wasteland of bad reality shows? Back then, MJ videos seemed like Momentous Occasions Not To Be Missed. Beat It, Bad, Smooth Criminal and even Back or White seemed like Events.
I realize he became … eccentric. I realize there are some unanswered questions about improprieties around children. All potentially not good. But, like it or not, MJ became an Icon forever linked with a certain era. At a time like this, it is important to remember that.
Ben Gibbard - Thriller
Chris Cornell - Billie Jean
Alien Ant Farm - Smooth Criminal
Jake Shimabukuro - Thriller
Fall Out Boy - Beat It
I have tickets for this weekend’s Wilco show in Pomona. It got me thinking about live music. I don’t go to many concerts. Indulge me, and let me refresh my own memory. Here are the shows I’ve been to:
Robert Plant – Manic Nirvana Tour
Aerosmith – Pump Tour
Joe Walsh – 1992 /-
Steve Miller – 1992 /-
Bob Dylan – 1993 /-
Pink Floyd – Division Bell Tour
Eagles – Hell Freezes Over Tour
Rolling Stones – Voodoo Lounge Tour
Neil Young – 2003 (wife won tickets on radio)
Wow. Under ten, total. Not that much considering I am a pretty big music fan who lives in the Los Angeles area. Not really sure why live shows are not on my musical radar. I guess it ticket prices are a big part of it.
I enjoy live records. I wore out my copies of Song Remains The Same and Delicate Sound of Thunder. Maybe it was more to do with how I enjoy music: on my terms.
Who knows. But I am excited about seeing Wilco.
I have been experimenting with hooking my PC to my stereo reciever. Why not, right? It makes sense: all my music is now digitial and it should be played on the best equipment, no? Computer speakers don't really cut it.
I had originally hooked the output of my USB audio recording interface (M-Audio MoiblePRE) to the RCA inputs in the reciever. Good, but not great. I had a lot of background hum that was bothersome. Not sure why, bu a quick google led me to believe it had to due with the cables picking up ambiant noise/signals
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I heard an interview with Neko Case on the XM radio program “The Bob Edwards Show”. Wow, what a down-to-earth, irresistible personality. She instantly comes across as someone you would love to just hang out with. Just plain irresistible. What a breath of fresh air in the current climate of either pre-fab pop or inauthentic posturing rock.
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We lost an extremely talented (and extremely under-rated) musician this week: former WIlco member Jay Bennett
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Just picked up this record today (double CD for only $9.99 at Best Buy!?! – not bad at all. They also had Bon Iver “For Emma” on sale for only $7.99
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Since the record recently leaked, Wilco has been streaming their latest record (due out late June). As an avid Wilco fan, I thought I’d share my thoughts.
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Some say the album cover is a lost art in the age of MP3. Sure, there are some great classic LP covers, Like Herb Albert:
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Comment by ACE
on The New Wilco Record: Live Preview
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