Metallica Hates Bloggers
Metallica was against Napster back in the 90’s and today, they appear to be against bloggers.
Wha wha what?
What, exactly, did Metallica think a bunch of music bloggers were going to do with their newfound ear candy?
I Look Funny When I Sing
I recently did a song at a friend’s Christmas show. I have posted a few pics over at The Company Line’s website.
I don’t know why I make such funny faces when I sing, but I certainly do. Very odd. I couldn’t look any less like a rockstar than I probably do.
Once - DVD Movie Review
I have been looking forward to seeing Once for a while now. I saw a trailer for it on HDNet’s show “Just Trailers” and immediately recognized the beautiful music from the movie. In fact, Once is at its heart, something of a musical. The whole movie is based on an unnamed male singer/songwriter who performs on the street when he isn’t working in his father’s Hoover repair shop in Ireland. He meets a lovely Scandinavian girl and they start to make beautiful music together.
The movie peaks during the recording sessions from a story standpoint, but from a musical standpoint, the first time they sing together in a music shop. The couple sits together on a piano bench as the song slowly starts to come together. The harmonies start to break through and as cheesy as it could have been, it just worked.
The storyline is typical, but the real story here is obviously the music. Almost all the music in the film was performed live during filming with no overdubbed soundtracking or lip syncing. It is a far cry from the type of musical where people sing lines of dialogue. Instead of building songs into the story, they built a story around the songs. The result was really great, in my opinion.
I am guessing that this will be a movie for people who want to like the music first. It almost watches like a series of music videos. So don’t expect a conventional film, and you will be fine.
28 Theme by John Murphy
There is an intense piece of music that I have heard no fewer than three times in the last few months. It is a score type piece of music that happens in the background of movies and television. I finally figured out what it is.
It is called “28 Theme” by John Murphy. I think it originates from the soundtrack for “28 Weeks Later” the movie sequel to 28 Days Later. I heard it again in the debut episode of the Bionic Woman which has yet to air, except on the Internet. Who knows if the same music will be in it when the show finally hits the air, but it makes an appearance before the bionic woman jumps the gap between two buildings for the first time.
I heard the song one other place, but I don’t remember exactly where it was. I think it might have been the movie “Sunshine.”
Anyway, it sounds like something that would happen if Trent Reznor was handed the baton for your local symphony orchestra. Really cool stuff. Check it out if you get the chance. You can find it on iTunes and you can also get it on the soundtrack for 28 Weeks Later. Although I think it is called “The Beginning” on the soundtrack for whatever reason.
Album of the Day 07/17/2007
As part of my new job, I occasionally get to pump some tunes while I am working. Despite the fact that I am all iPod’ed out nowadays, I still prefer to listen to entire albums. Today’s album is The Bends by Radiohead. It is an oldie but a goodie. There are at least three worthy singles on that album and very little filler. Street Spirit is among the best album closing songs that I can think of on any album that I own. My Iron Lung, The Bends, and Fake Plastic Trees ensure that this album sits in a select group of albums that is completely listenable and enjoyable from beginning to end.
NPR Podcast Featuring Ben Gibbard Acoustic Show
Hey kids, you really should log onto iTunes and download this podcast of NPR’s show “All Things Considered” featuring a solo acoustic show of Ben Gibbard at the 9:30 club in Washington DC. I am betting that the audio won’t be available forever as a podcast out of their system. If you ever fall out of love with Death Cab for Cutie, I am betting that listening to this stripped down acoustic version of their songs (as well as some Postal Service and some covers) will definitely put you back on the Ben Gibbard bandwagon.
Gibbard even breaks out the piano for “Passenger Seat.”
Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova - The Swell Season
This is my new favorite album. I haven’t talked about music in a while, but everyone should listen to this album. If you like Iron and Wine, David Gray, and Damien Rice, you will absolutely fall in love with this music. There is acoustic guitar and piano as the baseline and then there are strings and other additions to fill out the sound. At the heart of it is a man and woman harmonizing beautifully to reflective songs. The song “Falling Slowly” gives me chills, so if you want to start somewhere, I would start there.
The album is also available at iTunes and at my favorite site, eMusic.
What is that MUSIC?
I just got to work early this morning and I can faintly hear “You Raise Me Up” by Josh Groban, and I have no idea where it is coming from. I have been here early lots and lots of times and I have never heard music before. As far as I know you aren’t even allowed to play it.
I can’t believe it. I am turning into John Lithgow from Footloose, except I am calling people out for listening to cheesy adult contemporary music.
Rage Against the Machine Reunites
For one night at the Coachella Festival in California, the men of Rage Against the Machine are going to get back together. I saw Rage in 1996 and I have never seen a more energetic performance in my entire life. I have never seen a room bounce the way it did when those four guys hit the stage together. I know everyone loves Audioslave, but they can’t pack the same punch as when Zach de la Rocha is fronting the band. I wish I could be there for this.
John Mayer
I have never had any desire to like John Mayer. There are a number of reasons for that, but I present exhibit A “You’re Body is a Wonderland.”
But, after hearing him on the radio with his keen sense of who he is and how the world might see him, he climbed partially out of the douche hole that I had him suffocating in.
And now after hearing his new song “Waiting on the World to Change” (at least until it gets over-played) I have to give credit where it is due.
That song is just a well-written pop-song with great lyrics and sensibilities.
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