World Music Wednesday

Many of you may have heard Brazilian singer Seu Jorge’s covers of David Bowie songs for the soundtrack to The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou. That CD is a fine introduction to his tropical acoustic sound, but I have been pleased to also discover his recent solo album Cru (Sept 2005, the title translated means “raw”).

Seu Jorge is now a popular star in the Portuguese world, regularly selling out his live shows at home and abroad. But 32-year old Jorge was once a homeless kid who grew up in a favela, a Brazilian slum. He has come a long way from his hard-knock past, and worked his way up through local theater and musical opportunities until he landed a role in the critically acclaimed and wrenching 2002 movie City of God, where he played the part of Knockout Ned.

That same year he also released his first album, Carolina (2002) which had much less of the organic feel you may be familiar with, and experimented with different Afro-Brazilian funk sounds and hip-hop/dance music. Carolina was named Album of the Year in his native Brazil. Cru is his sophomore solo release, and is closer in feel to his Life Aquatic sessions – highlighting his hypnotic voice and laid-back sound. Some selections:

“Fiore De La Citta“
Jorge sings in Italian, and it is gorgeous and very mellow.

“Don’t“
Yes, an Elvis cover. Listen to how he re-invents it! Jorge said of this track, “[Elvis] took from black music in the first place, and I was taking it back, imagining myself in cowboy boots.”

“Bem Querer“
A bit more uptempo, with subtle and refined electronica backing, gentle guitars, and stirring vocal chants.

Other standout tracks on the album include “Tive Razão” and (yet another) Serge Gainsbourg cover, “Chatterton” (which I just realized makes three straight weeks in a row for me of World Music Wednesdays which have included a Gainsbourg cover). Anyway, I find the breadth of his music remarkable and very enjoyable: from his choices of whose songs to reinvent, to his own explorations of samba, folksy reggae, and bossa nova, all infused with his own unique sound.

“If you had to nominate someone as the coolest man on the planet, for this week anyway, Seu Jorge would be a good candidate.”
—Peter Culshaw, The Telegraph (UK)

Etta James

Happy birthday Ms. Etta James, born today in 1938. While best known for the delicate string serenade and huge vocals of “At Last,” I prefer her more raucous bluesy side, of which this song is a perfect example:

“I Just Wanna Make Love To You” – Etta James

Oh, you have GOT to love the lyrics, “All I want to do is wash your clothes . . . All I wanna do is make your bread, just to make sure you’re well fed. I don’t want you sad and blue, I just wanna make love to you, oooooo.” Every man’s domestic dream?

Although that is a whole intimidating lot o’ woman to love.

OK Go see them on tour

OK Go is one of my pet bands of 2005 since they rocked my socks off in concert when they were touring with The Redwalls last summer. I’ve posted about OK Go before, and today got the good news that they just announced some new tour dates. They have intelligent, scathing lyrics and a really great, tight pop sound (handclaps abound), so you should take some time to see if they jive with you as well.

DOWNLOADS:
Oh Lately It’s So Quiet – OK Go
The boys get all falsetto Prince-throwback on this fabulous track. It’s sexy and a bit mysterious (about getting over an old flame) but still fun. “Darlin’, if you’re not here haunting me, I’m wondering whose house are you haunting tonight? Whose sheets do you twist, whose face you kiss…whose house are you haunting tonight?”

A Million Ways – OK Go
Please tell me that you have seen the dance video for this song (above) because it is sheer brilliance. Again, clincher lyrics do it for me on this cut:
“Sit back, matter fact,
teasing, toying, turning, chatting,
charming, hissing, playing the crowd.
Play that song again, another couple Klonopin
A nod a glance a half hearted bow.
Oh such grace, oh such beauty
and lipstick and callous,
and fishnets and malice.
Oh darling, you’re a million ways to be cruel.”

You’ve also gotta love the backing lyric to the chorus “One, zero, zero, zero, zero, zero, zero cruel.” Baby, it’s as good as it gets.

I highly recommend both of their CDs, OK Go (2002) and Oh No (2005).

TOUR INFO EMAIL
“…As for OK Go, they’ve spent January widening the rock-hole over the United Kingdom with a severely sold-out tour. America, it’s your turn now. (And look alive, Canada, because you’re next.):
Headlining Shows:
1/24 Brooklyn, NY–North Six
1/25 South Burlington, VT–Higher Ground
1/26 Providence, RI–Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel
1/27 Boston, MA–Paradise Rock Club
1/28 New Haven, CT–Toad’s Place

Supporting Controller.Controller:
1/30 Moncton, NB, CA–Manhattan
1/31 Halifax, NS, Canada–The Pavilion EARLY SHOW
1/31 Halifax, NS, Canada–Stage Nine LATE SHOW
2/02 Montreal, QC, Canada–Cabaret Music Hall
2/04 Kingston, ON, Canada–Grad Club EARLY SHOW
2/04 Kingston, ON, Canada–Grad Club LATE SHOW
2/06 Guelph, ON, Canada–Vinyl
2/07 Hamilton, ON, Canada–The Casbah
2/08 Waterloo, ON, Canada–Starlight

Supporting Motion City Soundtrack:
2/16 Milwaukee, WI–The Rave
2/18 Marquette, MI–Northern Michigan University
2/20 Lawrence, KS–Granada Theatre
2/21 Englewood, CO–Gothic Theatre (dang, I’ll be in Cali!)
2/22 Salt Lake City, UT–Lo Fi Cafe
2/24 Pullman, WA–Washington State University
2/25 Seattle, WA–Neumos
2/26 Portland, OR–Loveland
2/28 San Francisco, CA–Slim’s
3/02 Los Angeles, CA–Henry Fonda Theatre
3/03 Pomona, CA–Glass House
3/04 San Diego, CA–Soma
3/05 Tempe, AZ–Marquee Theatre
3/07 Austin, TX–Emo’s
3/08 Dallas, TX–Gypsy Ballroom
3/09 Houston, TX–Meridian
3/11 St. Petersburg, FL–State Theatre
3/12 Orlando, FL–House of Blues

Bonus Show:
4/21 Forth Worth, TX–Main Street Arts Festival–FREE SHOW

Sheck it out.

Monday Music Roundup

It’s Monday, time again for me to open wide the vast musical archives (which are actually quickly filling up my 30GB iPod – I think I need a new 60. Your favorite friendly music blogger is currently accepting donations) to pull out some selections for y’all. And today’s caveat is that EZArchive (which stores the songs) may be acting weird. If you can’t get the tunes, stop back by later.

In the meantime I will give EZArchive a stern talking-to.

Satisfied Mind
Johnny Cash
I first heard this song done by Jeff Buckley on his Sketches (For My Sweetheart The Drunk). His version is saturated with a gorgeous and rich beauty (and was, incidentally, played at his memorial service – side note). Ben Harper also does a bluesy-gospel version with the Blind Boys of Alabama. But Johnny Cash, as always, puts his signature desolate and wind-blown sound to this song (from the Kill Bill 2 Soundtrack of all places) and it makes me feel all nostalgic and Grapes-of-Wrath-ish just to listen to it. God bless Johnny Cash.

Cayman Islands
Kings of Convenience featuring Feist
I posted on Norway’s Kings of Convenience before, but never about the lovely Canadian songstress Feist, who I have been hearing more and more professions of love for from the mouths of my musical friends. Feist paired with Kings for a few tracks on their album Riot On An Empty Street, released in 2004. This is a very mellow song with a nice blending of voices, with folksy finger-picking simple melody and lilting vocals. Check out “Homesick” from the same album for a straight up Simon & Garfunkel reunion.

Hard Times
Eastmountainsouth
This duo has now broken up, but Eastmountainsouth was a lovely surprise discovery that I made in 2004, scoring free tickets to go see them in a small club in San Francisco. Kat Maslich is from Clinch Mountain, Virginia, and she joins Alabama/Tennessee native Peter Adams on their evocative eponymous 2000 release. Maslich’s warm and powerful alto voice leads the album, alternating and meshing seamlessly with Adams. The organic and rural-sounding album employs a variety of styles of music, mostly centering around folk and acoustic melody, but incorporating hints of plucky bluegrass guitar and resonant piano. I highly recommend the album, and I wish you could still see them live as they were stunning. Oh, and this song was also featured on the Elizabethtown soundtrack last year.

Sunshine (live 11/13/03)
Matt Costa
I just got reminded (by a little birdie of sorts) of this great track that I’ve had sitting in my “To Blog” playlist for about three months now. Matt Costa was was number three on Fader Magazine’s “Top Ten Things You Didn’t Appreciate Enough In 2005,” - an acoustic singer-songwriter in the vein of pal (and informal promoter) Jack Johnson. Costa has toured with Jack, as well as Donavon Frankenreiter (and probably G. Love), so you get a sense of his vibe. Costa also collaborates with Jack on the new Curious George soundtrack, which I buckled and pre-ordered on iTunes so I could get the excellent track “Upside Down,” which makes we want to swing in a hammock somewhere. But, again, that’s sort of off-topic. Sorry. “Sunshine” is from the 2005 album Songs We Sing. Check it out, you flip-flop-wearing surfer, you.

Reach Down
Pearl Jam with Chris Cornell
Once again, I had something else here in the number 5 spot, but then I realized today’s line-up was waaay too sparse and mellow and I am feeling a bit rockin’ today myself. So let’s rock a bit. I am getting all excited to receive the 2005 Pearl Jam Christmas Single vinyl. ‘But it is January,’ you say, ‘not Christmas.’ Well, in the 12 or 13 years as I have been in the Ten Club (the Pearl Jam fanclub), I don’t think I’ve ever gotten the annual record before February. This song was featured on the 2003 Christmas single, and this Temple of the Dog “reunion” took place October 28th of that year at a star-studded evening of music.

Thanks to Franz pointing this out: You can download this entire show at http://www.glidemagazine.com/downloads25.html. This amazing evening featured an acoustic set, and electric set, and three encores – filled with gems. Collaborating musicians include Jack Irons, Chris Cornell (also did 2 solo songs, one of his own and one Audioslave), John Frusciante (RHCP), Jack Johnson, and Lyle Workman. Grab the show for download before it is gone!

My favorite Seattle-ites are the topic of a new photo book coming out this Spring, “5×1: Pearl Jam Through the Eye of Lance Mercer.”

Happy birthday Sam Cooke

Today is the 75th birthday of Sam Cooke, one of the sweetest, purest soul voices I know. Born Samuel Cook in 1931, he added the “e” to the end of his last name later in life – he thought it added class. As a Browne-with-an-”e” myself, I have to agree. Classy.

Starting as a gospel singer, he gave the world 33 years of his music before he died in 1964 – the victim of a motel shooting whose details are still disputed. What a loss; think of all the beautiful music he still had inside.

There’s a sweeping new biography about Cooke out now, “Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke” by pop music writer and Elvis chronicler Peter Guralnick. I have heard excellent things about it, and intend (!) to read it this year.

I know I said this before, but Sam Cooke always sounds like slow-dancing barefoot in the kitchen, especially this song. It is absolutely my favorite by him:

“Bring It On Home To Me” – Sam Cooke

A few rhetorical questions for my pal Elton

1. Why, exactly, does the band need a seamstress?
2. Do the sheets have to be linen? Or will any other fabric do? We’re out of linen, dude.
3. How the *flip* does she dance IN YOUR HAND? Is she teensy Polly Pocket seamstress?

Thank you.

White Label Tees

So you wish you were at the epic Stone Roses show at Spike Island in Cheshire May 27th, 1990, but alas you weren’t. But now you can have the t-shirt with the ticket stub on it. Pretty cool.
White Label Tees is a neat concept, they’ve got some great shirts printed with ticket stubs from a variety of amazing acts from all the shows you only wish you were at (or maybe you actually were at them, in which case I heartily salute you).

Find everyone from Nirvana to Dylan, The Clash, Elvis, Iggy Pop, The Jam, Led Zep, The Pixies, The Ramones, The Sex Pistols, Bruce, Woodstock, etc. I went to a concert last weekend and it was like Scene/high-school student mania and I saw THREE guys with the same Iron Maiden shirt. Differentiate yourself.

With so many choices, you can go hog wild, in a classy, understated sort of way.

New-ish Ray LaMontagne

This is a previously unreleased track from Ray LaMontagne. He started playing it live at several shows last summer, including this version from Bonnaroo 2005. “Empty” has become one of my favorite of his songs (although picking a favorite Ray LaMontagne song is like picking favorite children). I love the rolling folk sound and the beautiful lyrics, with that bittersweet harmonica that just cuts through the middle. Someone compared it to Ryan Adams’ “Winding Wheel” and I do see the grounds for comparison. One thing is for sure, this man knows how to write a song. Take a look at the lyrics, preferably while listening to this gorgeous song.

“Empty” - Ray LaMontagne

Empty
She lifts her skirt up to her knees
walks through the garden rows
with her bare feet laughing.
I never learned to count my blessings
I choose instead to dwell in my disasters

I walk on down the hill
through grass grown tall and brown
and still it’s hard somehow to let go of my pain

On past the busted backs
of old and rusted Cadillacs
that sink into this field collecting rain.
Will I always feel this way?
so empty, and estranged

And of these cutthroat busted sunsets
these cold and damp white mornings I have grown weary.
If through my cracked and dusty country lips
I spoke these words out loud
would no one hear me?

Lay your blouse across the chair
let fall the flowers from your hair
and kiss me with that country mouth so plain

Outside the rain is tapping on the leaves
to me it sounds like they’re applauding us
the quiet love we make
Will it always feel this way?
so empty and estranged …

Just last night I was reminded of just how bad it had gotten

Violent Femmes are on tour! I saw them once in Santa Cruz (CA) and it was a mixed experience but definitely glad that I went. I remember that singer Gordon Gano was belligerent that night and kept bullying the crowd. So, uh, stay away from the front I guess.

But the boys that helped us all blister in the sun and learn how to count our pills whilst we are overdosing are icons of . . . slacker rock? Off-key folk-punk? Whatever you call it, icons for sure and I think you need to go see them.

Jan 28 Tucson, Rialto Theatre
Jan 29 Tempe, Marquee Theatre
Jan 31 San Diego, House of Blues
Feb 1 Los Angeles, House of Blues
Feb 2 Santa Cruz, Catalyst Club
Feb 3 San Francisco, The Fillmore
Feb 4 Stockton, CA, Bob Hope Theater
Feb 5 Arcata, CA, Humboldt University
Feb 17 Thessaloniki, Greece, Principal Club
Feb 18 Athens, Greece, Club 22
Feb 19 Athens, Greece, Club 22
Feb 21 Cork, IRL, Savoy
Feb 23 Limerick, IRL, Trinity Rooms
Feb 24 Galway, IRL, Roisin Dubh
Feb 25 Dublin, IRL, Vicar St.
Feb 26 London, Shepherds Bush Empire
Feb 28 Oslo, Norway, Rockefeller
March 9 Cleveland, House of Blues
March 10 Columbus, LC Pavilion (formerly the Promo West Pavilion)
July 28 Del Mar, CA Del Mar Race Track

And if you don’t already have it: “Prove My Love“ – Violent Femmes

I hope you know that this will go down on your permanent record.

Seriously. Listen to The M’s.

My Old Kentucky Blog & Fluxblog have both posted recently on The M’s from Chicago. These guys are fabulous, I hadn’t heard them before but they just made my day:

DOWNLOADS:

- “Plan of the Man” and “Trucker Speed“ (from upcoming album Future Women, out 2/21/06)

- “Holding Up“ and “2×2“ (from The M’s LP, 2004)

- “Banishment of Love“ (from The M’s EP, 2002)

Here’s what some reviewers have had to say about them:

“The M’s capture that glorious moment when the British Invasion bands of the ’60s were still grappling with their love of R&B while flirting with the more sophisticated harmonies and hooks of classic pop songwriting. Melodies unfold with craftsmanlike attention to arrangement and harmonic development, but never at the expense of swagger. Sex lurks behind every androgynous turn, from falsetto harmonies that evoke T Rex’s Marc Bolan in his glam glory to rhythms that shamble like back-alley lovers loaded on cheap wine.”
- #8 on Greg Kot’s Best of 2004, Chicago Tribune, December 10, 2004

“The four M’s call Chicago home, but with their fuzzy riffs and psychedelic melodies, they could be mistaken for a bunch of British tunesmiths by the names of Ray Davies, Damon Albarn, Marc Bolan, and John Lennon.”
- Spin Magazine, August 2004

“Three-part harmonies and a Kinks-inspired bounce…Garage-rock fans shouldn’t miss…”
- Jim Derogatis, Pop Music Critic for the Chicago Sun Times

Check out their website for a spate of upcoming shows. I would love to see these guys live. I am not too sure about what is going on with the pervasive alien/monster/Transformer theme on their site and in their promo pictures (see above). Kind of reminds me of the movie Empire Records where Mark eats the special brownies and then sees the Gwar monsters talking to him on the TV, and subsequently wanting to eat him. Hmmm.

Anyways, from their site: “Future Women on CD or 180 gram vinyl at Polyvinyl Records. Buy now and you’ll get the album shipped on February 10, eleven days before the February 21st release date! All this for the low-low non-Wal-Mart price of $10 (plus S&H).”

Not a bad deal, I just preordered it. I really dig their sound. I think I should have lived in the early ’60s. Born too late!