Fats Waller: Ain't Misbehavin'

There is nothing like the warmth of an old vinyl record and records by Fats Waller are some of my favorites.  Few people record music like they did back then.  While modern recording studies no doubt have their benefits, the nostalgia found in the sound of a vinyl record is astounding.  Heavy as they may be, vinyl records have a special place in my music collection.  Much of the music from the early 1930's and 1940's just hasn't been reproduced into modern formats yet.  

The following clip is taken from a old film in which Fats Waller plays his classic song "Ain't Misbehavin."  It shows all the great elements of Fats.  He is simply one of the greatest entertainers to ever have lived and a simply brilliant musican.  Enjoy. 

Fats Waller - Ain't Misbehavin'

Building Bridges: Gnarles Barkely, Radiohead and Christopher O'Riley

As many of  you know, I absolutely love the band Radiohead.   Perhaps even more of you wonder why.  To explain my love I could try to show you the pervasive operatic themes the permeate their melodies, or the deep electronic rhythms and organic beats that create the foundation for their music, the catchy guitar riffs, or even the significance of their experimental music that influences other musicians today - but none of that would really matter to many of you, would it.  Nope, didn't think so.  So I am going to try a different approach.  

When introducing your ear to new music, I am a firm believer in building bridges.  Mostly because that is how I have come to love certain types of music I once hated.

In this case, I am attempting to build a bridge to the band Radiohead - whom many just simply find "scary" or "weird."  I have selected the song "Reckoner" as a starting point off of their near perfect album "In Rainbows" from 2007.   Reckoner is a simple and powerful song that has very operatic vocal harmonies and lots of soul.  I am posting two versions of this song for your listening enjoyment.  The first is a cover by the band Gnarls Barkley - you remember, they did that absolutely amazing song, "Crazy," a few summers back; and secondly, the original version by Radiohead.  Both versions of this song are awesome.  Gnarles Barkey opens up the music of Radiohead to their audience and in turn introduces Radiohead fans to the alternative soul scene.  It is a two way street.  Not only has Gnarls Barkley covered songs by Radiohead, but so has the classical pianist and host of "From the Top" on NPR, Christopher O'Riley.  There is also his version of "Exit Music for a Film" written  by Radiohead after both versions of "Reckoner."  It is one of the ways I was first introduced to classical music, along with films I have mentioned in previous posts.  I hope you enjoy all of them. 

With all of that said.  I just want to leave you with one thought about building bridges.  In music, as I just illustrated , different types of listeners can be introduced into new types of music.  I truly believe that music is not the only medium that this phenomena occurs.  It happens with cultures, it happens with ethnicities, or at least has the ability to.  So I encourage all of you to not only stretch your musical pallet and explore the many different forms and genres that music takes around the world, but to also to get out there and met someone different than you.  Whether it be culturally, economically, or even politically explore someone else point of view and see what makes them tick.  In the end you may learn more about yourself than the other person.  Celebrate the diversity and the freedom we have to express it, especially here in the good ol' US of A!  Don't hate what you don't understand or even what you may disagree with - in the end the hate and demonization of those with whom you disagree accomplishes little.  However, what does accomplish something is reaching across aisle because it builds bridges.  

Gnarles Barkely - "Reckoner"

Radiohead - "Reckoner"

Christopher O'Riley - "Exit Music for a Film"

Radiohead - "Exit Music for a Film"

Listening Seasonally: Damien Rice - "The Blowers Daughter"

I truly believe that different styles of music, much like clothing or types of food, are best in different seasons.  It's an eating thick hearty stews in the fall as opposed to salads in the summer kinda thing.   Musically there are sounds that just fit cold windy days and nights.  My meat and potatoes of this time of year create sounds the totally surround you.  Bands like Radiohead, Damien Rice, Snow Patrol and Sigur Ros just feel right in this weather.  Bands like the Beach Boys or Bob Marley just seem out of place.  Their open airy sound just lets in a draft.  

While I am exaggerating of course, I really do listen to different types of music year round - even the Beach Boys,  there are just certain types of music that fit during different times of the year.  Around this time of year I mentally put pack up and put away a lot of my light "warm weather collection" and unpack the heavier stuff from my "cold weather collection" from seasons past.  Then I put them on as I would a warm sweater, sip my hot cocoa, and celebrate the arrival of the colder weather. 

Coincidence or not, most of the artists I love during this time of year come from England, Scotland, Ireland, Iceland, etc... you know the colder places.  In the summer I find myself diving deep into the warmer climates of Africa or South America.  While there are blaring exceptions to this trend or maybe I am crazy, I do often find this to be true.  

So today, in my ode to fall mood, I'm listening to one of my seasonal favorites "The Blowers Daughter" by the Irish singer/songwriter Damien Rice from his debut album "O" in 2002. 

"The Blowers Daughter"

Gustavo Santaolalla: "De Usuahia a la Quiaca" (Literally "From Usuahia to Quiaca")

"De Usuahia a la Quiaca" was written for the film "The Motorcycle Diaries."  The music is played as the main characters are sweeping along mountain roads on their journey through South America on a motorcycle.  Since watching the film, this piece of music has become one of my favorites for traveling.  Not just because of the film in which I first heard it played,  but because of how it is written.  Somehow the composer created a piece of music that makes you feel that you should be on a journey, or that you already are on one.   A journey that begins slowly, filled with uncertainty.  A journey that grows as new sights, sounds and people come across our path.  A journey that ultimately becomes an adventure. 

De Usuahia a la Quiaca

Sigur Rós: Hoppípolla (or "Jumping into Puddles")

Often the music I listen to comes directly from a sort of family tree of influences.  For instance, an artist or band I enjoy mentions they like this or that album and then I go check it out.  It is a method which really saves a lot of time.  

This band, Sigur Rós, is just such an example. I remember Chris Martin from Coldplay describing Sigur Rós way back in 2000 as being music of "pure emotion," which actually describes their work quite well.  Being in a different language, I can't understand a word they are saying, but you feel it. This particular song may have first been introduced to a more mainstream audience when it was used to promote the television program Planet Earth. Hoppípolla, off the album Takk, is perhaps one of the most powerful and emotional pieces of music off that album and that I have ever heard.  It makes me want to explore, smile, and give someone a hug all at the same time. 

Here is the Planet Earth Video, but if you are interested check out their music video here which is equally as touching, but in a totally different way. 

Hoppípolla

David Bowie: Rock & Roll Suicide

Some mornings I wake up with a song just running through my head.  Doesn't everybody? This morning, rather humorously, it was David Bowie's "Rock & Roll Suicide."  Specifically, my mind started playing the song about 2 minutes and 28 seconds into this morning -  you know the part when Bowie starts singing "give me your hands, because you're so.. wonderful," with the bgvs chanting "wonderful" along with him all the way.  A great way to start the morning if you ask me. Random, but still nice. 

Here is a video of the song.  I admittedly picked the boring video, mostly because I didn't want to scare the children.  David Bowie can be just a bit much in the morning.  He is just so weird. Yet still I have to confess a very guilty pleasure.  Few believe me, but I am telling you his song writing is amazing!  You have got to look past all the hair and makeup. 

Rock & Roll Suicide

Gypsy Kings: "Trista Pena" (or "Sad Pain")

This song is almost in a league of it's own.  It takes you somewhere else, somewhere sad and far away.  The first time I heard this song I almost cried.  It is one of my favorites from the Gypsy Kings. It is simply a classic.  Yo tengo gusto de los reyes de Gypse mucho.  Son muy buena. 

"Trista Pena" 

The Walkmen: "If Only it Where True"

Another great indie band coming out on New York City - The Walkmen.  This is just a really simple little song that I haven't been able to get out of my head for the last few days. 

"If Only It Where True"

Bonnie 'Prince' Billy: "The World's Greatest"

I love covers that cross genres.  One of my favorites is this track by Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, an American Folk singer covering the R. Kelly song, "I am the Greatest." I was honestly surprised to hear this was an R. Kelly song.  This song really grows on you in spite of  the overwhelming sense of narcissism that permeates the lyrics. 

"The World's Greatest"

Gillian Welch (with David Rawlings): "Throw Me the Rope"

This haunting tune was recently preformed live at the infamous Newport Folk Festival.  I love the soothing sound of this song.  Its beauty soothes a tired spirit. 

"Throw Me the Rope"

Velvet Underground: Sunday Morning

I love Sunday morning.  Peace.

Sunday Morning 

Fleet Foxes: Tiger Mountain Peasant Song (Cover)

I know that I've already blogged about how super awesome Fleet Foxes are, but this is totally different...well at least a little different.  This is a cover of their song "Tiger Mountain Peasant Song" by these two gals.  Wish I could tell you who they are - but I cant, so there.  What I can tell you is that they have some really amazing harmonies.  They have to be sisters.  

I also threw in the original Fleet Foxes version for you to enjoy them both.  I keep going back and forth between them.  I can't decide which one I like more. 

Tiger Mountain Pleasant Song (Cover)

Tiger Mountain Pleasant Song

Aqualung: If I Fall

My friend Brian really deserves the credit for this one.  He recently introduced me to Aqualung (Thanks man!).  As for Aqualung being a band, it actually is not one.  It is the name of the music that Matt Hales creates.  Matt said he was tired of being in bands and all that, and all I can tell you is that he is a pretty darn good song writer.  His stuff reminds me of many of my other favorite UK bands.  So, as an introduction to Aqualung, here is a simple little song from filled with smooth harmonies and that "in a warm cloud" feeling you get from a lot of those bands from cold climates.

If you have time check out Aqualung on myspace music, I particularly like the song "On my Knees" that you can find there. 

"If I Fall"

My bass is bigger than your bass

The real tragedy is that someone out there is actually coveting this thing.  This thing is ridiculous and by the way, it's not really mine. 

John Lennon: Jealous Guy

Happy birthday Mr. Lennon.  Here is one of my favorite John Lennon songs - Jealous Guy.  I heard he actually wrote it while he was with the Beatles, maybe that is why it's so good.  I just love the chord progression, you have to look past some of the cheesiness. 

Jealous Guy

Johannes Ockeghem: Missa Pro Defunctis

Missa Pro Defunctis (or Mass for the Dead) is one of the earliest polyphonic pieces of music to have survived to this day.  It is thought to have been written between 1410 and 1497, which is just really cool to think about.  It's simply awe inspiring.  I love turning this up as loud as I can take it and letting it shake my very soul.  

Chopin: Ballade No. 1

I actually lied a few post back.  I said that "orawa" by Kilar was my first love in classical music.  Actually, that is not true.  Even though that piece is one of the first I loved, the first time I truly fell in love with classical music came when I saw the movie "The Pianist" for the first time.  

The movie is set during the Second World War and is about a Polish Jewish musician (named Szpliman) and his struggle to survive the destruction of the Warsaw ghetto by the Nazis.  He goes into hiding for months if not years.   He even hides in an apartment with a piano unable to play it for fear of being discovered.  

Playing the piano was his love, his livelihood, and it would seem even his very soul.  The war took that away from  him, at least until this scene (see video) when is discovered in an old abandoned house by a Nazi officer.  Then the officer eventually asks him his profession to which he responds, "I am... I was a pianist."  The officer seems not to believe him, so he tells him to play on the grand piano in the next room.

He begins to play slowly at first, but then he begins to play with all of the passion and emotion that has been bottled up within him since he first went into hiding.  All the death, the sadness, and the hunger he has seen and experienced spills out of him like a flood through his music.

While just watching this one part of a scene doesn't do the moment its full justice, I hope it catches at least a part of it.  It is one of the most powerful moments I have ever seen in a film.  Purely stunning.  The beauty of music juxtaposed with the harshness of war creates a moment of clarity. 

Here is a short and a long version of that scene, in that order. 

Short Version:  Chopin Ballade No. 1

Long Version:  Chopin Ballade No. 1

Wilco: "Please Be Patient with Me"

All of us have times in our lives when we feel like someone just needs to chill out and be patient with us.  It could be our parents, our siblings, friends, spouse, etc... anyone.  When someone doesn't understand where you are coming from and they just react out of that fear it makes things harder.  In many ways this song is someone pleading with the other for patience.  Asking, begging "please be patient with me." 

Often that person who is asking for patience needs to go on that journey regardless of the outcome.  Often the outcome is not what the other feared and often the journey is not what we thought it would be.  Rarely are things clear - there is a point when you just have to love a person who is going through something, because that is all you can do.   You can't just change them, you have to be patient with that person.  

So be patient with someone out there. 

"Please Be Patient With Me"

First Ladies Sing Off: Clinton vs. Bruni

There is little doubt that the First Ladies and Gentlemen of the world play an important role in influencing their significant others in both domestic and international affairs.  However, here we must ask ourselves a much more important and relevant question - "can they sing?"  So I begin to think to myself - "how can we accomplish an event of such monumental and historic proportions?" And then it hits me - A Sing Off!  Brilliant! 

Who do we pick as the contestants of the first ever annual Sing Off (est. 2008), you ask.  Why not former First Lady Clinton and the current first lady of France Carla Bruni I tell you.  "What great choices," you say.  "Thanks," I say. 

Now, I know what you are thinking - "How are you going to make that happen Jared?"  Well, I will tell you how.  After months of writing letters, picketing and eventually physically strapping myself to Bill Clinton for a few days as a form of peaceful protest - I got what I wanted.  Well, at least kinda of what I wanted: a video of Hillary singing the National Anthem of the United States of America off YouTube. 

In vivid contrast to Former President Bill, President Sarkozy was a bit easier to deal with - not sure why.  He told me that he would post a video of Carla singing just last night.  However, I have heard rummers that Sarkozy has been drinking.  Either way it makes no difference to me, easy peasy, done.  Now we have all the material needed to judge this sing off.  Brilliant!

So without further adieu, I give you the first ever Music Matters Sing Off!  Let us begin first with the current First Lady of France Carla Bruni and here video.  After which Hillary Clinton's video challenge will immediately follow.  You can even play them at the same time if you like.  As for the winner -  you be the judge. 

First Lady of  France Carla Bruni - "Quelqu'un m'a dit"

First Lady of the US of A Hillary Clinton - "The National Anthem" 

Seu Jorge: Covering David Bowie - "Life on Mars", "Changes"

Cover songs often just get a bad wrap. Cover bands, for example, are often considered to be the Diet Pepsi version of the real thing. Often they fall short of expectations. However, from time to time, someone comes along and covers another's music and something magical happens. 

Case in point, Seu Jorge, a Brazlian musician, covered a number of David Bowie songs for the film "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou" (which just happens to be an amazing picture). The outcome - some amazing songs. The cool thing about these songs is that everyone - fans, embarrassed closet David Bowie fans like myself, and those who simply can't stand his music can find something special in these songs. 

Here are some of my favorites. By the way, if you are interested, click on the titles above the videos to go to the David Bowie versions of these songs on YouTube - just as awesome in my opinion. 

"Life on Mars"

"Changes"

Feist: The Reminder - "So Sorry" , "1 2 3 4"

The Canadian musician Feist... all I can tell you is that her album - "The Reminder" - was on my top 2 albums list last year.  It is a classic, the music is timeless and fresh all at the same time.  Here are two song from this little Canadian friend of ours.  The whole album is amazing by the way.

"So Sorry"

" 1 2 3 4"

,

Panda Bear: "Comfy In Nautica"

I'll  be honest - as a rule I'm not crazy about Panda Bear, but this song just makes me feel good and there is nothing wrong with that.  It is very Beach Boys and quite honestly, the Beach Boys are better yet nevertheless, this song is pretty cool.  

"Comfy In Nautica"

Why music sings... well at least one reason

Perhaps the most amazing aspect of music to me is its ability to transcend language, time, and faith. For instance, personally in music I see God. I see his power, his beauty, his grace and his truth. It breathes life into me when I am weak, it meets me wherever I am. Which is just very cool.

To illustrate why I find music so profound, I have attached an article written by Nick Hornby. It pretty much sums up why I find music so powerful. Start by playing this video, its the best version of the recording of "One Man Guy" I could find on YouTube. The actual video is irrelevant, so just start it and read on. I hope you enjoy it.

"One Man Guy"

And here is the article:

Nick Hornby, a self professed atheist, listens to a Rufus Wainwright song and he begins to question his belief in God not existing - awesome. To me that is the coolest thing I have ever heard. It is just too awesome. Now that is something that is truly beautiful in my mind.

If these were silent, the very stones would cry out.

- Luke 19:40

Spoon: "Don't You Evah" & "The Ghost of You Still Lingers"

I give you Spoon, a band out of Austin, Texas that has been around for longer than you would think, like 1994.  Their album "Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga" was highly reviewed last year and I have to admit it has it's sweet moments.  

Here are two of my favorite songs from that album.  Somehow they are refreshing to my musical pallet.  Somehow different.  Often I get Elvis Costello vibes from their music, but that could just be me.    

"Don't You Evah"

& "The Ghost of You Still Lingers" 

Wojciecha Kilara: Orawa

Imagine yourself standing on the edge of a vast space. The wind running through gently your hair and then you are slowly lifted off your feet high into the air.  Then you begin to soar through the air as if you are on the wings of eagles. 

This is a minimalist piece of music, give it chance.  Like my last entry you really need to engage yourself in the music.  Shut your eyes and let it take you on its wings into the air.  This piece is one wild ride.  It is one of those pieces that got me into classical music for the first time.  In many ways its my first love of classical music, but certainly not my last.  I once listened to this piece eight times in a row, slowly digging deeper into the piece - each time peeling away a layer, and each time finding more.  It's simply amazing. 

"Orawa"

From Amelie: Comptine d'un autre ete - L'apres midi

The song moves me from darkness into the light.

Andrew Bird: Armchair Apocrypha - Fiery Crash

Andrew Bird is one of those musicians that has been on my radar for a while now.  However, until recently I had never really taken the time to really listen to his music. After purchasing his album Armchair Apocrypha a few weeks ago I feel in love with his music. Here is a live version of one of my favorites - Fiery Crash.

Salif Keita: 'Folon'

For those of you who are skeptical about "world music," listen to Salif Keita. Ketia was born as an albino and was forced out of his village at a young age because he was thought to be bad luck. Since then he has become a world renowned musician. His music is entrancing. I have to remind myself that this clip is just one guy with one guitar. He is my favorite African singer. He totally blows my mind.  I get chills everytime. 

NPR: Live Concerts from All Songs Considered

This is one of my favorite podcasts ever.  If you are a podcast person and like live music its amazing.  The reason I am telling you about this is because NPR recently added a Fleet Foxes concert to their catalog. Check it out on iTunes under NPR. Or got to this link to their website.

Ron Sexsmith: Never Give Up On You, Gold in Them Hills

I first heard Ron Sexsmith when he opened in Birmingham for Coldplay during their Rush of Blood to the Head Tour.  I have been a fan ever since. The first song on this video, "Never Give Up on You," can bring me to tears.  Ron is one of those musician's musicians and doesn't have a face that record companies really want to put on a magazine or an album cover but he is a brilliant song writer. The second video is of another song he wrote and recored a duet with Christ Martin of Coldplay - "Gold in Them  Hills"

Santogold: The Creator

A guilty pleasure. I can't explain to you why I like this song, I just like it. Its really weird ska, rap, electronic mix.

Philip Glass: Violin Concerto, 1st Movement

Nothing like a little classical music in the morning. Philip Glass is one of those modern composers that will one day be thought of as a Mozart or Schubert in my opinion. This piece is one of my all time favorites in classical music. It the profoundly thought provoking. There are a lot of people out there who have never given classical a serious try, this is good place to start. It's good for the soul.