Every once and a while, we'll get sent a song that we aren't in the least likely to play on mvyradio, because it just doesn't quite fit, sonically.
BUT, the song is so entertaining, that it seems worthy of sharing.
Again, I go to the food metaphor: This song is really delicious fried rice, but we're a restaurant serving North Italian cuisine.
So I thought it was worth passing on to you, via the blog.
THEN I saw the video (which I looked up for purposes of writing this post.
Jamming puppet musicians made out of food! And dogs that can't resist eating them!
Deliciously entertaining!
See the video on Youtube.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Monday, April 9, 2012
The Cramps "Bikini Girls With Machine Guns"
My wife and kids and I went over to a friend's house a couple of weeks back. Married couple with a son a little older than our oldest.
With dinnertime rolling around, we decided to order some pizzas. It was from a place that didn't deliver, so John (the other Dad) and I got in his car to go pick up dinner.
On the way out the door, he grabbed an album by The Cramps.
"I haven't heard these guys in years," I smiled.
I mean, I used to hear them all the time on the Florida non-commercial station I listened to, and played them from time to time on my Alternative specialty show, but these days, I just haven't been listening to much Punk-y rock.
That was the impetus for digging out the CD, John told me.
For the last bunch of years, whenever he was in the car, he and his wife and son would be listening to family friendly fare.
And the same for us.
We've been listening to Dan Zanes and Kimya Dawson and other kid albums, but also The Beatles and Queen and silly Pop songs.
Rocking CDs, just for me, had fallen out of rotation. And they had for John too.
So as a treat to himself, when he gets in the car alone, he's been blasting The Cramps.
It's great to be a Dad. But it's also great to be "a drag racer on LSD" from time to time, too.
Hear the song on Youtube.
With dinnertime rolling around, we decided to order some pizzas. It was from a place that didn't deliver, so John (the other Dad) and I got in his car to go pick up dinner.
On the way out the door, he grabbed an album by The Cramps.
"I haven't heard these guys in years," I smiled.
I mean, I used to hear them all the time on the Florida non-commercial station I listened to, and played them from time to time on my Alternative specialty show, but these days, I just haven't been listening to much Punk-y rock.
That was the impetus for digging out the CD, John told me.
For the last bunch of years, whenever he was in the car, he and his wife and son would be listening to family friendly fare.
And the same for us.
We've been listening to Dan Zanes and Kimya Dawson and other kid albums, but also The Beatles and Queen and silly Pop songs.
Rocking CDs, just for me, had fallen out of rotation. And they had for John too.
So as a treat to himself, when he gets in the car alone, he's been blasting The Cramps.
It's great to be a Dad. But it's also great to be "a drag racer on LSD" from time to time, too.
Hear the song on Youtube.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong "I'm Putting All My Eggs In One Basket"
Despite what the song says, it's probably okay to put all your eggs in one basket today---so long as they're hard boiled.
Happy Easter!
Hear the song on Youtube.
Happy Easter!
Hear the song on Youtube.
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Paul Westerberg "Mr. Rabbit"
Every bunny that has hopped through our yard over the last 12 months, according to my daughter, is named "Easter."
She's been waiting for him to drop some dang candy at the house.
Tomorrow, finally!
Hear the song on Youtube.
She's been waiting for him to drop some dang candy at the house.
Tomorrow, finally!
Hear the song on Youtube.
Friday, April 6, 2012
Matthew Sweet "I've Been Waiting"
There's something inherently awkward about doing something for someone who is good at that thing you are doing.
(Go ahead, say it: "huh?")
It's kind of weird cooking dinner for your friend who is an awesome chef.
It's really hard to buy an article of clothing for your friend who is really fashionable.
Or buying flowers for your florist friend.
And it's also kind of awkward, if you are on the other side in this equation---you are the chef, the fashionista, the florist, etc.
Even if you are doing your best to be grateful, if it's something you are passionate about in your own life, it's hard not to see the flaws, the shortcomings, the plain inaccuracies, and have an awkwardness permeate your interaction.
Like when you're a DJ, and a girl gives you a song.
That's what I think about when I hear this Matthew Sweet tune.
I LOVED the "Girlfriend" album. Was very passionate about it. Invested in the songs.
So when I girl I had been seeing for a few weeks told me that "I've Been Waiting" expressed how she felt about me, it was . . . awkward.
It was awkward because I didn't feel the same way she did.
That is, I realized that she liked me more than I liked her.
But also, I think I understood the song in a way that was different from her. I cared about it deeply. And I wouldn't have said, "this song expresses how I feel about you" unless I felt equally as deeply, about the person I was sharing the song with.
For her, the chorus of "I've Been Waiting" simply expressed an excitement about really liking someone. I don't know if she dug any deeper than that.
You can check out the neat video below, where Matthew Sweet talks about the genesis of the song, but even years before I saw this, or knew the actual story, I understood that this song was about a depth of feeling that I didn't share with the person sharing the song with me.
Awkward.
Hear the song on Youtube.
Matthew Sweet discusses and performs "I've Been Waiting"
(Go ahead, say it: "huh?")
It's kind of weird cooking dinner for your friend who is an awesome chef.
It's really hard to buy an article of clothing for your friend who is really fashionable.
Or buying flowers for your florist friend.
And it's also kind of awkward, if you are on the other side in this equation---you are the chef, the fashionista, the florist, etc.
Even if you are doing your best to be grateful, if it's something you are passionate about in your own life, it's hard not to see the flaws, the shortcomings, the plain inaccuracies, and have an awkwardness permeate your interaction.
Like when you're a DJ, and a girl gives you a song.
That's what I think about when I hear this Matthew Sweet tune.
I LOVED the "Girlfriend" album. Was very passionate about it. Invested in the songs.
So when I girl I had been seeing for a few weeks told me that "I've Been Waiting" expressed how she felt about me, it was . . . awkward.
It was awkward because I didn't feel the same way she did.
That is, I realized that she liked me more than I liked her.
But also, I think I understood the song in a way that was different from her. I cared about it deeply. And I wouldn't have said, "this song expresses how I feel about you" unless I felt equally as deeply, about the person I was sharing the song with.
For her, the chorus of "I've Been Waiting" simply expressed an excitement about really liking someone. I don't know if she dug any deeper than that.
You can check out the neat video below, where Matthew Sweet talks about the genesis of the song, but even years before I saw this, or knew the actual story, I understood that this song was about a depth of feeling that I didn't share with the person sharing the song with me.
Awkward.
Hear the song on Youtube.
Matthew Sweet discusses and performs "I've Been Waiting"
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Beck "Looking For A Sign"
Sometimes I wish that I could post these songs, without revealing the name and title.*
Because I think you'd get a kick out of listening to this song from the soundtrack to the movie "Jeff Who Lives At Home,"** and trying to guess who it is.
But because his name is right up front, well, never mind.
Still, would you have guessed that this is Beck?
Maybe not the first time through, but certainly on second listen, you can pick out his voice. And there are some sonic flourishes that are noticeably Beck-ian.
What I find most remarkable about Beck, after nearly 20 years of listening to his output, is the ease with which he moves from sound to sound on his various albums. It's amazing that the guy who made "Midnight Vultures" is also the guy who made "Sea Change," and made both those records sound distinctly like a Beck album.
I'm a huge Elvis Costello fan, but even with Elvis, even when he does a great album that leans Country or R&B or Classical or whatever, it general feels like "Okay, here is Elvis, trying to work within a particular style."
For some reason, I never get that sense from Beck.
It never feels like he's "putting on" a style. He's just making the record sound like the songs warrant.
So when he does the acoustic-y, downbeat stuff, he's not trying to sound like a singer-songwriter, to explore that style. He's just making Beck songs, and these happen to be quieter, sadder and strummy-er.
It's quite a feat.
Hear the song on Youtube.
See the movie trailer of Youtube.
* I suppose I could create my own, unnamed Youtube videos, but that's going a long way, just to prove a point.
** This is the 2nd Jason Segel-related post this week!
Because I think you'd get a kick out of listening to this song from the soundtrack to the movie "Jeff Who Lives At Home,"** and trying to guess who it is.
But because his name is right up front, well, never mind.
Still, would you have guessed that this is Beck?
Maybe not the first time through, but certainly on second listen, you can pick out his voice. And there are some sonic flourishes that are noticeably Beck-ian.
What I find most remarkable about Beck, after nearly 20 years of listening to his output, is the ease with which he moves from sound to sound on his various albums. It's amazing that the guy who made "Midnight Vultures" is also the guy who made "Sea Change," and made both those records sound distinctly like a Beck album.
I'm a huge Elvis Costello fan, but even with Elvis, even when he does a great album that leans Country or R&B or Classical or whatever, it general feels like "Okay, here is Elvis, trying to work within a particular style."
For some reason, I never get that sense from Beck.
It never feels like he's "putting on" a style. He's just making the record sound like the songs warrant.
So when he does the acoustic-y, downbeat stuff, he's not trying to sound like a singer-songwriter, to explore that style. He's just making Beck songs, and these happen to be quieter, sadder and strummy-er.
It's quite a feat.
Hear the song on Youtube.
See the movie trailer of Youtube.
* I suppose I could create my own, unnamed Youtube videos, but that's going a long way, just to prove a point.
** This is the 2nd Jason Segel-related post this week!
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Rickie Lee Jones "Youngblood"
Welcome to another segment of "Let Me Ruin This Song For You."
(If you missed the first entry, you should probably read this)
I know that "Youngblood" isn't a widely known tune.
In fact, I'm not sure that I've ever heard it on a station other than mvyradio. And even we only play it occasionally.
Maybe that's why it's only recently that I make this connection . . .
For years, I've had the nagging sensation that "Youngblood" sounded like another song I knew. But I couldn't place it.
Until now.
Uh, does it not share a riff (and I use the term "riff" lightly here), with the theme to the TV show "Golden Girls"?
Yeah, sorry.
Hear Rickie Lee Jones on Youtube.
Hear the "Golden Girls" theme on Youtube.
(If you missed the first entry, you should probably read this)
I know that "Youngblood" isn't a widely known tune.
In fact, I'm not sure that I've ever heard it on a station other than mvyradio. And even we only play it occasionally.
Maybe that's why it's only recently that I make this connection . . .
For years, I've had the nagging sensation that "Youngblood" sounded like another song I knew. But I couldn't place it.
Until now.
Uh, does it not share a riff (and I use the term "riff" lightly here), with the theme to the TV show "Golden Girls"?
Yeah, sorry.
Hear Rickie Lee Jones on Youtube.
Hear the "Golden Girls" theme on Youtube.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Andrew Bird "The Whistling Caruso"
It was my wife's birthday this weekend, and how psyched was I that her brother gave her "The Muppets" on DVD?
Answer: Very psyched.
I'm definitely a life-long fan of Sesame Street/The Muppets, and am also a big fan of actor Jason Segel, who stars in the film, and co-wrote it too. And many of the songs were written by Bret McKenzie of the band Flight Of The Conchords. AND the film is filled with don't-blink-or-you'll-miss-em cameos---there's Mickey Rooney! Was that Feist? Look at the drummer, it's Dave Grohl!
But the craziest little tidbit comes at the end of the film.
(SPOILER ALERT)
Young, nervous Muppet, Walter, finally gets the nerve up to perform on the Muppet Theater stage, and his performance is . . . whistling.
Which I thought was odd.
But then the song builds and the whistling becomes so amazing I said to myself, "I wonder if they're creating the whistling with some kind of synthesized instrument. Because the only person I know who could pull off a performance like that is Andrew Bird."
Guess what? I scanned the credits (mostly to see if Animal would appear, yelling "Go Home!"). It WAS Andrew Bird.
Yeah, yeah, you say. Big deal. Whistling. Anyone can whistle.
Take a look at your socks. Because in 60 seconds, you're going to have to search elsewhere for them, as they will have been knocked off.
Listen here:
Walter, performing "The Whistling Caruso"
And I'd be remiss if I didn't point you to Bret McKenzie's Oscar winning tune "Man Or Muppet"
Hear it on Youtube.
Lots of great songs on this soundtrack . . .
Answer: Very psyched.
I'm definitely a life-long fan of Sesame Street/The Muppets, and am also a big fan of actor Jason Segel, who stars in the film, and co-wrote it too. And many of the songs were written by Bret McKenzie of the band Flight Of The Conchords. AND the film is filled with don't-blink-or-you'll-miss-em cameos---there's Mickey Rooney! Was that Feist? Look at the drummer, it's Dave Grohl!
But the craziest little tidbit comes at the end of the film.
(SPOILER ALERT)
Young, nervous Muppet, Walter, finally gets the nerve up to perform on the Muppet Theater stage, and his performance is . . . whistling.
Which I thought was odd.
But then the song builds and the whistling becomes so amazing I said to myself, "I wonder if they're creating the whistling with some kind of synthesized instrument. Because the only person I know who could pull off a performance like that is Andrew Bird."
Guess what? I scanned the credits (mostly to see if Animal would appear, yelling "Go Home!"). It WAS Andrew Bird.
Yeah, yeah, you say. Big deal. Whistling. Anyone can whistle.
Take a look at your socks. Because in 60 seconds, you're going to have to search elsewhere for them, as they will have been knocked off.
Listen here:
Walter, performing "The Whistling Caruso"
And I'd be remiss if I didn't point you to Bret McKenzie's Oscar winning tune "Man Or Muppet"
Hear it on Youtube.
Lots of great songs on this soundtrack . . .
Monday, April 2, 2012
Dead Milkmen "Instant Club Hit"
I was thinking about other people's record collections---I do that sort of thing.
You can often learn a lot about someone from the contents of their record collection. That is, if they are the kind of person who buys a fair number of albums.
But what about the folks who don't buy a lot of music---generally, they are somewhat inscrutable via their record collection, because a) there's not a lot of data to be mined, and b) they tend to have the same handful of albums.
I mean, if you are my age and you went to college in the late 80s/early 90s and you had a friend who only had 10 CDs, odds are pretty good that their record collection contained, several, if not all of the following:
Bob Marley/Legend
Boston/Boston
Steve Miller Band/Greatest Hits
Paul Simon/Graceland
R.E.M./Out Of Time or Green
Something by The Beatles
U2/The Joshua Tree
Van Halen/1984
Prince/Purple Rain
INXS/Kick
In other words, they probably owned some pretty conventional, crowd-pleasing, easily-consumed records.
Which is why my girlfriend's best friend was a bit of a mysterious anomaly.
She literally only had about 10 cassettes, but they were the kinds of albums that you weren't going to run into by accident. Hip stuff that you didn't really hear on the radio, or blasted from speakers at a frat party. Music that you would have to dig to find.
And if you were the kind of person who would dig to find music, in theory, you'd have to be passionate enough about it, to want to get more than just 10 cassettes worth.
Her entire music collection didn't fill a shoebox, but it was through her that I learned the phrase, "You'll dance to anything by The Communards!"
Hear the song on Grooveshark.
You can often learn a lot about someone from the contents of their record collection. That is, if they are the kind of person who buys a fair number of albums.
But what about the folks who don't buy a lot of music---generally, they are somewhat inscrutable via their record collection, because a) there's not a lot of data to be mined, and b) they tend to have the same handful of albums.
I mean, if you are my age and you went to college in the late 80s/early 90s and you had a friend who only had 10 CDs, odds are pretty good that their record collection contained, several, if not all of the following:
Bob Marley/Legend
Boston/Boston
Steve Miller Band/Greatest Hits
Paul Simon/Graceland
R.E.M./Out Of Time or Green
Something by The Beatles
U2/The Joshua Tree
Van Halen/1984
Prince/Purple Rain
INXS/Kick
In other words, they probably owned some pretty conventional, crowd-pleasing, easily-consumed records.
Which is why my girlfriend's best friend was a bit of a mysterious anomaly.
She literally only had about 10 cassettes, but they were the kinds of albums that you weren't going to run into by accident. Hip stuff that you didn't really hear on the radio, or blasted from speakers at a frat party. Music that you would have to dig to find.
And if you were the kind of person who would dig to find music, in theory, you'd have to be passionate enough about it, to want to get more than just 10 cassettes worth.
Her entire music collection didn't fill a shoebox, but it was through her that I learned the phrase, "You'll dance to anything by The Communards!"
Hear the song on Grooveshark.
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Aaron Neville "Everybody Plays The Fool"
Just a reminder that today is April Fools Day. Perhaps you've been horns-waggled before, but I hope you don't get fooled again.
Or, in the words of our former President, "Fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again."
Hear the song on Youtube.
Hear President Bush's speech on Youtube.
Or, in the words of our former President, "Fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again."
Hear the song on Youtube.
Hear President Bush's speech on Youtube.
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