Places Everyone!

My brother writes to me with this thought: "Why do many American bands name themselves after the town or state they're from -- is this just an American thing or are there UK bands that do it too?"

A quick Google search reveals the sense that yes, this may be an American thing. The obvious examples are Boston, Chicago, Kansas (from Topeka), Alabama, even the MC5 (Motor City 5). And how about America, perhaps the most obvious one of all?

I tried to think of some UK bands that are named for their hometowns. Portishead are from Bristol but are named for a nearby town. Bush were named for the Shepherd's Bush section of London. Oasis took their name from a club in their hometown of Manchester. There's a punk band called London who came from -- you guessed it -- London. But the examples are far fewer. There's no Sunderland, Liverpool or Wolverhampton (although if there were, they'd probably sound like a cross between Wolf Parade and Peter Frampton.)

(More often, the English bands with place names only adopted the place names to differentiate themselves from American acts with the same name: The English Beat, The London Suede, The Charlatans UK. But those don't count -- they aren't the names the bands intended.)

Then there are the bands that take their names from places they're NOT from. The Manchester Orchestra aren't from Manchester but rather the Atlanta suburbs. And likewise the Bay City Rollers were from Scotland, not Michigan. Berlin came from Los Angeles.

So is this an American phenomenon? And what does it tell us? (Perhaps there's a shortage of creativity among these bands?) And what bands am I missing?

Song In My Head

It's hard to believe more than 30 years have passed since OMD's landmark "Electricity" was released. I heard it yesterday on Sirius and thought -- rather obviously -- that the content of the song is still relevant today, despite really sounding like it's from another time. Martin Hannett -- who did some of his best work with Joy Division -- produced the original version for Factory Records.

Songs That Interest Me.

I haven't been able to post much, but here's a newer song from my best of 2010 collection that I heard today - enjoy!

Well, They've Done It

They've brought the 80s back. Not the new wave 80s (where everything's reversible) and bouncy synth pop ruled the day. No, not the good 80s at all. But the yacht-rock 80s with lush production, bad drum machines and (gasp) saxophones. Destroyer's new album Kaputt is filled with all three. I'm a big fan of Dan Bejar's work with the New Pornographers, and I respect the fact that he just doesn't care what people like me think, but this is too much.

Listen for yourself on the title track "Kaputt", and enter a parallel universe where Christopher Cross, Level 42, and Toto are still cool.

Happy Birthday, William Shatner

Today is William Shatner's 80th Birthday. And in keeping with the recent Pulp theme, I am compelled to post Shatner's 2002 cover of Pulp's "Common People". It's just too good.

Pulp to Headline English Festivals

Pitchfork reports that Pulp is set to headline the Reading and Leeds festivals this summer.

It's worth digging into the archives to pay tribute to Pulp. At the 1996 Brit Awards, frontman Jarvis Cocker infamously disrupted a phony performance of Michael Jackson's "Earth Song." Jacko was trying to prove he wasn't a child molester by lip-synching the song posing as some sort of Christ figure while surrounded by children. Bad idea. Cocker called him on his delusional messianic act by invading the stage and - among other things - making a flatulent gesture in Jackson's direction. The police were called into investigate charges that Cocker bumped into some of the kids, but he was released without being charged. For a few days, the British tabloids made Cocker out to be the bad guy, but many in the British music industry called on the Pulp frontman to be knighted for his actions.

Below is the short version, but you can watch the whole performance here.

Alexander the Great

Anyone else loving the new solo album from Edward Sharpe frontman Alex Ebert? Last year's "Home" may have been my favorite single of the year. So far this year, it's "A Million Years." And between Alexander and the folk revival led by Mumford and Sons, 2011 sounds a whole lot like the late sixties.

Song In My Head

I rode the bus to work this morning with a family from Oregon who had never been to New York City. They were very excited about their first trip, and I came away singing this song (for no good reason).

5-10-15: This One Goes To 11…I Mean 40

Trying to remember the artists you were listening to at different points in your life is a good exercise, and more difficult than you might think. Although you probably know the Top 3 artists of your lifetime (for me probably Elvis Presley, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel), picking artists from a particular year is hard. For the artists mentioned above, I have virtually every album them ever released, and I can listen to them at any time. But in between the years I definitely focused on some artists more than others. Here is my 5-10-15-20…up to 40.

5

Promised Land – Elvis Presley

One of the first artists I remember listening to was Elvis. My father had every album he ever put out, and we listened to them all. Although far from his best, Promised Land’s title track is one of the catchiest songs I’ve ever heard. Like many songs in Elvis’ catalog, the song was originally written by someone else (Chuck Berry), but Elvis put his own stamp on it. Elvis had the unique gift of making you believe he lived every moment of every song he sang, and "Promised Land" is no exception. You still see Elvis’ version of Promised Land popping up all over the place, like in the movie Men In Black. There are other great tracks on here that only a true “E” fan would know like “It's Midnight,” “Your Love's Been a Long Time Coming” and “You Asked Me To.”

Photographs & Memories – Jim Croce

Another artist who died too soon. This compilation was released after Croce’s death in 1973, and it is simply fantastic from start to finish. I would make my parents play “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” over and over until this album wore out (but it never did). The first time I saw Invincible in the theater and it opened with “I Got A Name,” I knew it was going to be a great movie. Some of my favorite songs on here are the lesser known one like “Lover's Cross” and “One Less Set of Footsteps.” Along with Bruce Springsteen (who had about 35 more years to prove his worth) probably the best singer/songwriter of his generation.

10

America’s Greatest Hero – Joey Scarbury

I’m going to keep it real here and not pretend like I was a critic for Rolling Stone at 10 years old. When I had a chance to buy my first record, it was the single of “Theme from The Greatest American Hero (Believe It or Not).” I couldn’t tell you one other thing this guy has done, but I still love this song whenever it comes on the radio.

Private Eyes – Hall & Oates

At this point in my life, I was all about 45” singles, and one of the other ones I wore out was “Private Eyes” by Hall & Oates. I couldn’t tell you another song on this album, but I had singles of “Rich Girl,” “Maneater” and many others by this classic Philly duo.

15

The Smiths and The Cure albums on Court’s list are definitely in my picks from this time. Here’s two more.

Pretty In Pink Soundtrack – Various Artists

My first introduction to a wide array of new wave artists. Besides being a huge fan of John Hughes and the film, I think this soundtrack really made a statement about the counter-culture at the time. The track listing below really says it all – The Furs, The Smiths, Echo, New Order…I defy you to find a better soundtrack for its time (except maybe The Lost Boys).

1."If You Leave" (Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark)

2."Left of Center" (Suzanne Vega/Joe Jackson)

3."Get to Know Ya" (Jesse Johnson)

4."Do Wot You Do" (INXS)

5."Pretty in Pink" (The Psychedelic Furs)

6."Shellshock" (New Order)

7."Round, Round" (Belouis Some)

8."Wouldn't It Be Good" (Danny Hutton Hitters)

9."Bring On the Dancing Horses" (Echo & the Bunnymen)

10."Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want" (The Smiths)

Ocean Rain – Echo & The Bunnymen

So I was thrilled this past Christmas when my wife got me Rock Band 3 and “The Killing Moon” was on there. When I was 15 I played the air guitar to that one over and over. This is just a great record, and probably Echo’s best front to back. These guys were so ahead of their time. I still remember going to school and telling people just getting into U2’s Boy what I was listening to, and they had no idea what I was talking about. Two years later (when the self-titled Echo & The Bunnymen album came out), they knew. “Thorn of Crowns” is another personal favorite from this record.

20

Heart-Shaped World – Chris Isaak

Bleach – Nirvana

Storm Front – Billy Joel

Although all these albums technically came out in 1989, I wasn’t really focused on them until 1991. I had Bleach in 1989, but the buzz around Nirvana’s follow-up (Nevermind) was really starting to build at this time, and I started listening to it again. Obviously, Nirvana became one of the biggest acts in the world, but this album remains a great example of their power-punk roots. For me, Bleach is Nirvana at their purest; although Nevermind is certainly the better album, this record exemplifies what I will always remember about them.

Heart-Shaped World was really an anomaly at the time. Most people wrote Isaak off as a one-hit wonder for “Wicked Game,” but this album (and his sound) is so much more. Mixing rockabilly with rock and country in the style of Elvis and Roy Orbison while still adding something new and different is what makes Isaak great. I’ve seen him many times and his live show is not to be missed.

I’d been into Billy Joel since 1988 (along with Bruce Springsteen), but Storm Front and the ensuing tour really put me over the top. He did a stretch of six concerts at the Spectrum in Philly in this time frame, and I think I went to three. Seeing songs like “Captain Jack” and “Vienna” live in my hometown along with new classics like “We Didn’t Start The Fire” and “The Downeaster Alexa” was really when I came to see that Joel had the talent and charisma of a superstar.

25

Blind Melon – Blind Melon

The song “No Rain” really just reminds me of this time in my life. Out of college, but not really set in the world. I remember going to see these guys at the University of Baltimore right after this album came out. This album has so many great songs, “Change” being one of the greatest songs that never really got radio airplay. An album that always makes me happy.


Third Eye Blind – Third Eye Blind

Another album that is nothing but pure joy to listen to - “Semi-Charmed Life” is the hook that gets you, but you keep playing this album for the deeper cuts like “I Want You,” “The Background” and “Motorcycle Drive By.” One of my favorite lyrics of all time comes from this record: “New York City’s evil, the surface is everything, but I could never do that, someone would see through that.” An album that will always remind me of summers at the Jersey Shore.

Stranger Than Fiction – Bad Religion

I was listening to this album and every other album Bad Religion had put out at this time. The title track and “Better Off Dead” being my favorites. I saw them every time they were in town. I particularly remember a great show at the 9:30 Club in DC. Without question, the greatest punk band of all time.

30

Tracks – Bruce Springsteen

This is right before The Rising came out and Bruce was touring relentlessly. I’ve been a fan of Bruce for a long time, but during the tours in support of Tracks Bruce was playing songs he hadn’t played in over 20 years, and it really made me rediscover his whole catalog and appreciate him in a way I hadn’t before. Take a song like "From Small Things" for example, it could have been a hit for any other artist, but Bruce didn't think it was good enough to include on any of his albums. That's what make Bruce so great, his attention to detail.


Morning View – Incubus

A great band with a really unique sound. I started listening to them right before this album came out and have been hooked on them ever since. “Mexico” is a beautiful song.

Maroon – Barenaked Ladies

A band that is all about good times, and that’s what I remember about their music - spending good times with friends. The kind of good times you can’t really get back once you have children of your own. For me, BNL will always be about those times. Credit to my wife for really loving this band and making me love them more.

35

Stadium Arcadium – Red Hot Chili Peppers

A double album is something few (if any) bands can pull off. Stadium Arcadium should be a blueprint for bands trying to put out a double album. So many different sounds and fantastic musicianship. I could listen to “Wet Sand” ten times in a row and not get bored.

From Under The Cork Tree – Fall Out Boy
 

When I say Fall Out Boy to most people I don’t get a positive reaction right away, especially from music snobs. “Sugar We’re Going Down” made me buy this album, but I love this album for every other song. Fall Out Boy are like musical candy - the more you listen, the more you want.

40

Well, I’m not 40 yet, but I will be soon, so here’s what I’m listening to right now.

American Slang – The Gaslight Anthem

I And Love And You – The Avett Brothers

American Slang is not the musical classic that is The ’59 Sound, but its pretty close - I can’t find one person who doesn’t like “The Boxer.” The Avett Brothers are still relatively unknown, but when songs like “January Wedding” and “Tin Man” are your ‘B-sides’ they won’t be for long. Buy both of these albums immediately - you will not be disappointed.

5-10-15-20

Pitchfork has a great feature where they ask musicians what they were listening to at five-year intervals in their life, starting at age 5. They call it 5-10-15-20. And while five-year intervals may cause a lot of great music to fall through the cracks, the end result is a useful snapshot of an artist's musical influences.

I've been working on my own list, and it's not as easy to do as it looks. Here goes:

5

Genesis - A Trick of the Tail
I had the benefit of an older brother and a musically interested father for my earliest listening years. I think "Squonk" was one of the first songs I remember really liking, no doubt because of the little drawing of the Squonk on the album's liner notes. A Trick of the Tail won the "Harson Award" for album of the year in 1976, the year I turned five. (For the uninitiated, the Harson Awards were given out by my family between 1975 and 1980 for the best music of year. Pink Floyd was pretty much guaranteed to win any year they released an album.)

Jethro Tull - M.U.
Jethro Tull was big in our house as well, and the idea of a flute in a rock band was novel even to my young ears. M.U. was a 'best of' album, so I got a heavy dose of "Aqualung", "Thick as a Brick", "Skating Away" and other Tull classics as a kid. Maybe that's why I didn't share my roommate's enthusiasm for Tull in my freshman year at college.

10

Rush - Permanent Waves
Again, very much influenced by my brother and father. When I was 10, my brother was 16 and into Rush. So I listened, too. And that's why this is so funny to me.

Steeleye Span - Please to See the King
This 1971 release by English folksters really opened my ears to other types of music. Traditional songs like "The False Knight on the Road" likely were the seeds that grew into my appreciation for Celtic and Scandinavian folk music as I got older. I can remember driving on the back roads of Bucks County with my father, listening to this record on 8-track tape.


15

The Smiths - The Queen is Dead
By 15, I was finding my own way, musically. The Queen is Dead still ranks - to me and many others - as one of the greatest records of all time. It has endured for 25 years and still sounds as good today as it did when I was 15. Even if you were inclined to dislike the Smiths, you'd have a hard time after hearing the opening title track.

The Cure - Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me
Unlike The Queen is Dead, I can't say this album has endured. That said, I listened to it constantly back then. Now I only listen to the lullaby version of The Cure's greatest hits -- with an occasional spin of "Boys Don't Cry" for the kids -- and I'm rediscovering things I loved about the band.

20

Big Audio Dynamite II - The Globe
I was always a big Clash fan, but I wasn't a snob about it. I liked Mick Jones a lot and even Joe Strummer regretted firing him. So I gave BAD a fair chance, and they didn't disappoint. By 1991, and with a new lineup, they had perfected a dancey, electropunk groove that didn't sound like anything else. "Rush" and "The Globe" are classics and so are album tracks like "Green Grass" and "Can't Wait". They played a terrific New Year's Eve show in New York that year that remains one of the greatest concerts I've seen.

Nine Inch Nails - Pretty Hate Machine
I saw the first Lollapolooza a couple of times in the summer of 1991 and when Trent Reznor and company rocked. This record brought brought an industrial sound to the mainstream, even if it wasn't truly an industrial record. But Reznor found great commercial success by making edgy songs like "Down In It" and "Head Like a Hole" instantly palatable to a radio audience. And now he's winning Oscars.

25

Beck - Odelay
Mr Hansen at his absolute best. We have the Dust Brothers to thank for taking this album in an upbeat, hip-hop direction when it was meant to be more somber and acoustic. From the chunky opening bars of "Devil's Haircut" through the shimmer of "Jack-Ass", the result is pure gold.

Oasis - (What's the Story) Morning Glory
I'm may have been 24 when this record came out -- it's kind of hard to figure. There are six bonafide classics on this record -- "Some Might Say", "Roll With It", "Morning Glory", "Wonderwall", "Don't Look Back in Anger" and "Champagne Supernova" and it's no surprise these guys dominated 1995 and 1996. At the time, I was into Oasis over rivals Blur, but as Winston Churchill said, "There are two kinds of success -- initial and ultimate." And ultimately, I preferred Blur to Oasis.

30

The Strokes - Is This It?
I resisted the hype that surrounded these guys for a long time, but succombed after seeing them in a double bill with The White Stripes. They won me over with a tight set and the album was just as strong. And while they never were able to match the intensity of this album, I'm still interested in hearing what they sound like now.

Gorillaz - Gorillaz
Damon Albarn is one of the few artists who consistently makes interesting music. The first Gorillaz album was very much that, with hip-hop, Latin, dub and world influences drawn into Albarn's stew. Throw on a kick-ass single, "Clint Eastwood", and an animated band and no surprise I was hooked.

35

The Fall - 458489 A Sides
In 2007 I was in Amoeba in Hollywood buying obscure Fall records for my brother. I didn't know the band so I asked him what I should buy for myself just to get a flavor. He told me to start with this record, basically a compilation of their more accessible singles from the 1980s. It's a terrific collection, with enough sneer and snarl as you'd expect from Mark E Smith but also enough pop songcraft to keep a novice like myself interested. I played this record constantly, and my addiction to the band only grew from this point on. Hear what I'm talking about in two songs: "Hit the North" and "Cruiser's Creek".

Bill Monroe - 20th Century Masters
Bill Monroe pretty much invented bluegrass, so when I was on a bluegrass kick, this is where I started. Plenty of classics here, including "Blue Moon of Kentucky", "Uncle Pen", "Molly & Tenbrooks", "Footprints in the Snow".

The New Pornographers - Mass Romantic
Here's a band that never got big in this country, despite being critical acclaimed -- and despite being absolutely brilliant. Perfect pop songcraft, melody and harmony abound here, with the great Neko Case providing killer vocals on "Letter from an Occupant" and the title track.

My Dad's the Nuge!

What if you woke up one day to learn that your biological father is Ted Nugent? That's what happened to a 42-year-old Brooklyn man. Ted Mann, who was adopted as a baby, got a call last October from a sister he never knew he had. His reaction to the New York Daily News was priceless. "I'm like, 'What!?'" he said. "It took me a little while to kind of breathe normal again - and not just sit in my house staring at YouTube videos of him running around like a crazy person."

Does Nugent do anything that doesn't involve running around like a crazy person? Here's the true inspiration for Spinal Tap, the video for "Wango Tango."

Well, this story has a happy ending. Mann says Nugent's first words to him were "Hello, son." And before long, Nugent said "Let's go shoot some guns." That's more like the Nuge we know and love.

Read the full story here.

Song In My Head

The song in my head this morning is "Jesus Fever" by Kurt Vile. Vile's a Philly guy with a Pete Yorn vibe, and I really like the chord changes in this song. Enjoy!

Video Vault Friday!

I just stumbled on this -- don't ask me what I was doing at the time. But this is Manchester's own Van Der Graaf Generator and it just puts to shame any other example of prog-rock I can think of. Be sure to check out the saxophone player -- he's wielding a pair of mighty saxes at the same time. In fact, the keyboard player has two keyboard decks and everything is just bigger and cooler than yours.

Video Vault Friday!

Today's date is 3/11. Every year on this date I am reminded of the folly that was a certain 90s rock-rap band who's crappy songs seemed inescapable on mainstream alternative radio (How's that for an oxymoron?)

I apologize in advance for this. Please forgive me.

There Is A Light That Never Goes Out

Check out Mike Richardson's column about the Smiths on Pitchfork. It's a dense take on the enduring qualities of a band that was the soundtrack to so many teenage lives, mine included. It also includes links to demo versions of "Ask", "Sheila Takes a Bow", "Frankly Mr Shankly" and "There is a Light That Never Goes Out",  which Richardson rightly calls the band's "crowning achievement".

Here's the full link:
http://pitchfork.com/features/resonant-frequency/7944-resonant-frequency-77/

Song In My Head

The song in my head this morning is Arcade Fire's "Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)". I finally downloaded the album ($7.99 on iTunes makes it a no-brainer), and while I haven't played it through yet, I can't stop singing this song. Here's a live performance version from Madison Square Garden last year:

Happy Birthday, Comrade!

One of the Discordants celebrates a birthday today -- a rather monumental birthday. And to mark that milestone, I present my top five birthday songs of all time. I tried to pick songs that are out of the mainstream -- everyone knows "Birthday" by the Beatles, Stevie Wonder's "Happy Birthday", "Birthday" by the Sugarcubes and the Smiths' "Unhappy Birthday". And frankly, none of those songs would crack my top five anyway. Here's my list:

#5
The Ting Tings - "Happy Birthday" (from Yo Gabba Gabba)

Cover of the classic Altered Images song complete with 80s dancing and a slew of adorable kids. Not to mention birthday boy Brobee and DJ Lance. After all, listening and dancing to music is awesome.

#4
Lee Scratch Perry - "Happy Birthday"

The Beastie Boys did a song with him and named it in his honor. Plus, everyone needs some classic dub on their birthday.

#3
The Fall - "Birthday"

Cover of the 1968 Idle Race song which was written by Jeff Lynne. Interesting note, this song contains no apparent contribution from Mark E. Smith. The Fall also have another very good song called "Birthday Song", which was written and performed by MES. (See below)

#2
The Vandals - "Happy Birthday to Me"

Huntington Beach's finest. Great punk rock lyrics like "It's my birthday and I'll do what I want to. F--- you, it's my birthday." And it gets better from there. This is not the same song as the Cracker song of the same name, which is also a great tune.

#1
Cibo Matto - "Birthday Cake"

Grand Royal's own. You'll laugh your way through this one when you play it for the first time, but after a couple of spins, you'll love it. "Extra sugar! Extra Salt! Extra oil and MSG!!"


So there's my five favorite birthday songs. Now, I would expect you to ask me to name ten, so here goes:

#10 - Blur - "Birthday"
#9 - Ween - "Birthday Boy"
#8 - The Residents - "Birthday Boy"
#7 - Cracker - "Happy Birthday to Me"
#6 - The Fall - "Birthday Song"

Let me know what I'm missing, and from all of us, have a very happy birthday!

Song In My Head

The song in my head today is "Fall Back Down" by Rancid. I've been singing it to my 3-year-old daughter and 1-year-old son a lot lately, but after breakfast today we listened and danced to the song. They loved it. Kids love happy punks.

How the Beastie Boys Saved Blur

Here's an interesting factoid about two of my favorite bands, the Beastie Boys and Blur. In 1992, Blur made their second trip to America. It was a complete and utter failure, as America was much more interested in the music that was coming out of Seattle at the time. To make matters worse, Blur's record company had lined up gigs in secondary markets, where the audience for an arty English band was even smaller. As John Harris writes in his great book Britpop, "the gloom was momentarily lifted [in Atlanta] by the news that their fellow EMI artists the Beastie Boys were staying in the same hotel. Blur telephoned their suite, in anticipation of a night's revelry. The Beastie Boys, unfortunately, told Blur to fuck off."

The trip went so badly that, upon returning to England -- and after a poor live performance -- Blur's record company threatened to drop them. Not to mention, their rivals Suede were on the cover of all the music magazines. Blur could have easily been swept aside. But Damon Albarn was more than equal to the existential challenge facing his band. Drawing inspiration from bands like the Kinks and the Jam, Albarn decided that the appropriate response to a music industry in awe of grunge and all things American was to go English. In a big way. Nothing about American music at the time spoke to Albarn, so he wrote the seminal track "For Tomorrow" which was to become the first single off Modern Life is Rubbish. Albarn sings about life in England over an intricate chord structure and (gasp) a horn section, something that hadn't been featured in pop music in years. Blur followed up with Parklife and The Great Escape and became kings of the movement they helped create, Britpop.

Blur's stylistic shift is well-documented, but the role the Beastie Boys played in it is not. When I first read about it in the book Britpop, I thought -- damn, what a lost opportunity: Blur and the Beastie Boys together for what would have been an epic night. But then I figured the Beasties diss -- along with a slew of other things -- helped push Blur to new heights musically, and for that I should be grateful. Listen to the difference yourself. Here's Blur's "Popscene", complete with hard-driving guitars, written to coincide with their fateful 1992 U.S. tour:

And now here's the quintessentially Britpop anthem "For Tomorrow". It's an incredible jump forward -- an advance of light years: