Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Stuck in My Head - October 20, 2010


The last song I heard blasting from my car speakers as I came into work this morning was "Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains) from Arcade Fire's most recent album, The Suburbs.  This tune hasn't left my brain all day long.

The first time I heard the penultimate track on this stellar album, I thought that it sounded like an MGMT rip-off.  I still enjoyed it thoroughly, but it didn't stand out.  A few months later, this might be my favorite song on the record.  It's so damn catchy I can't help myself.  It could very well end up on my top songs list at year's end.  Stay tuned.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

The National - Live at House of Blues, Dallas (Oct. 9, 2010)


I recently took in one of the best concerts of my life.  The National rolled through Dallas last Friday, and I'll never forget it.  This was just one of the many stops on this ridiculously massive tour, so some of the dialog and between-number shenanigans came off as contrived and corny.  I will gladly forgive these guys though because the treat they bestowed upon my ears is one that will stay with me for a long time.  Tight and polished, the band ripped through great song after great song in a set that ended far too early for this particular fan boy.  We got numbers from High Violet and Boxer obviously, and the multiple cuts from Alligator and Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers would have been a pleasant surprise had I not stalked out a few setlists the week prior.  Goosebumps and chills were standard features on this night, but the standout tracks for me were "Mistaken for Strangers," "England," "Squalor Victoria," "Afraid of Everyone," and a completely off-mic and acoustic sing-along of "Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks."

Monday, October 4, 2010

"I heard cuts by The Kinks on your speakers..."


My Kinks listening frequency has grown exponentially over the past year or so.  I admit it; I loved the song "Lola" growing up, and it was that song that drove me to ask my dad to rip me the greatest hits double-disc later in life.  Why did I wait so long?  Well, I had heard a few too many reports that this band was nothing better than a Beatles rip-off.  As my musical tastes grow and mature, I realize how false those accusations really were.

While The Kinks will never touch the Beatles in my musical hierarchy (no band will), I feel lucky that I have given this material a fair shake.  I went from never hearing a thing outside of the classic rock radio standards to developing a true admiration for quite a few albums.

As I often do, I started with what seems to be the most critically acclaimed, The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society.  I loved it from the first go round, and I ventured out from there.  Now, Something Else By The Kinks, Muswell Hillbillies, Arthur, and (of course) Lola Vs. Powerman and the Moneygoround are all given significant play time on my iPod.  As many have claimed, The Kinks are not known for being a strong "album band" (could have fooled me).  So, I still find time to rock the greatest hits compilations from time to time as well.

Friday, October 1, 2010

Morning Drive - October 1, 2010


Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
What a beautiful face
I have found in this place
That is circling all round the sun
What a beautiful dream
That could flash on the screen
In a blink of an eye and be gone from me
Soft and sweet
Let me hold it close and keep it here with me

And one day we will die
And our ashes will fly from the aeroplane over the sea
But for now we are young
Let us lay in the sun
And count every beautiful thing we can see
Love to be
In the arms of all I'm keeping here with me

Anna's ghost all around
Hear her voice as it's rolling and ringing through me
Soft and sweet
How the notes all bend and reach above the trees  

Now how I remember you
How I would push my fingers through
Your mouth to make those muscles move
That made your voice so smooth and sweet
And now we keep where we don't know
All secrets sleep in winter clothes
With one you loved so long ago
Now he don't even know his name

What a beautiful face
I have found in this place
That is circling all round the sun
And when we meet on a cloud
I'll be laughing out loud
I'll be laughing with everyone I see
Can't believe how strange it is to be anything at all