Thursday, August 2, 2012
...
Well, I made it halfway through the year, then got sidetracked while on vacation. I'm going to retire this blog for the time being ... but you haven't heard the last from me, Internet!
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
7/4/2012
The Band -- "Across the Great Divide"
When I think of American bands, The Band is the first one to come to mind -- even though most of the band's members hailed from Canada. No matter. They understood America, the part of America that matters. The sound on this track, as on many others from their eponymous second album, is an amalgam of everything you can find in American music, in all of its genres, and yet it never sounds generic. There's a certain kind of talent that goes into pulling that off.
When I think of American bands, The Band is the first one to come to mind -- even though most of the band's members hailed from Canada. No matter. They understood America, the part of America that matters. The sound on this track, as on many others from their eponymous second album, is an amalgam of everything you can find in American music, in all of its genres, and yet it never sounds generic. There's a certain kind of talent that goes into pulling that off.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
7/3/2012
Althea & Donna -- "Uptown Top Ranking"
Joe Gibbs produced: this was Althea & Donna's one great recording. It splits the difference between funk and reggae, with memorable results.
Joe Gibbs produced: this was Althea & Donna's one great recording. It splits the difference between funk and reggae, with memorable results.
Monday, July 2, 2012
7/2/2012
Elvis Presley -- "I Forgot to Remember to Forget"
Elvis was a great entertainer, never more so, to my mind, than at the beginning of his career. Here's a relatively innocuous novelty ballad that the King made unforgettable.
Elvis was a great entertainer, never more so, to my mind, than at the beginning of his career. Here's a relatively innocuous novelty ballad that the King made unforgettable.
Sunday, July 1, 2012
7/1/2012
The Clash -- "Kingston Advice"
Unexpectedly, a song about the homeland of reggae by a band that was constantly dabbling with reggae -- yet there's no reggae sound at work here. Nevertheless, one of my favorite tracks from Sandinista! The sound is powerful without being easy, derivative, or too reliant on blunt force. For some reason, The Clash never played this one live, to my knowledge. They should have.
Unexpectedly, a song about the homeland of reggae by a band that was constantly dabbling with reggae -- yet there's no reggae sound at work here. Nevertheless, one of my favorite tracks from Sandinista! The sound is powerful without being easy, derivative, or too reliant on blunt force. For some reason, The Clash never played this one live, to my knowledge. They should have.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
6/30/2012
Led Zeppelin -- "Over the Hills and Far Away"
I'm not a huge Zeppelin fan but my daughter (age 6) has taken a shine to them. This is nostalgia for me -- one of the first songs I learned how to play on guitar.
I'm not a huge Zeppelin fan but my daughter (age 6) has taken a shine to them. This is nostalgia for me -- one of the first songs I learned how to play on guitar.
Friday, June 29, 2012
6/29/2012
Neil Young and Crazy Horse -- "Powderfinger"
Classic Americana from one of its finest practitioners. The crackle coming from that amplifier would inspire legions of imitators.
Classic Americana from one of its finest practitioners. The crackle coming from that amplifier would inspire legions of imitators.
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