You think you are badass. But you aren’t, compared to the man himself, Chuck Norris. Somehow the man has achieved massive cult status (apparently he deserves it? Don’t hurt me, Chuck!).
Here are just a few of the suppositions from www.chucknorrisfacts.com that made me do that silent laugh thing:
- Chuck Norris is currently suing NBC, claiming Law and Order are trademarked names for his left and right legs.
- There is no chin behind Chuck Norris’ beard. There is only another fist.
- Crop circles are Chuck Norris’ way of telling the world that sometimes corn needs to lie down.
- Contrary to popular belief, Chuck Norris, not the box jellyfish of northern Australia, is the most venomous creature on earth. Within 3 minutes of being bitten, a human being experiences the following symptoms: fever, blurred vision, beard rash, tightness of the jeans, and the feeling of being repeatedly kicked through a car windshield.
- Some people wear Superman pajamas. Superman wears Chuck Norris pajamas.
- If you ask Chuck Norris what time it is, he always says, “Two seconds ’til.” After you ask, “Two seconds ’til what?” he roundhouse kicks you in the face.
- Chuck Norris once ate three 72 oz. steaks in one hour. He spent the first 45 minutes having sex with his waitress.
- If you spell Chuck Norris in Scrabble, you win. Forever.
Well, I am safely back from my work trip/junket to sunny California with a touch of a sunburn and a smile on my face. My flight home was canceled once we had already boarded the plane Friday night, so we all unwedged ourselves from our tiny seats, waited in an immense line for rebooking and our $400 travel voucher, and then proceeded to heartily make the best of it with some cool fellow young-’un passengers and the help of a cheesy bar at the hotel they put us all up at. It was like LOST, minus the crashing part, the black thing in the jungle that eats people, and all the freaky “coincidences.” But we had the camaraderie. And I apparently have brought back a slice of Cali with me because it is pushing 70 in Colorado today, and that is something to pause and enjoy. Life is good, kids.
Black Sweat Prince Oh yeah, I just posted Prince on my blog. Truth be told, the Great Tiny Sexy One kind of scares me (in the same vein as David Bowie in the underrated ’80s classic Labyrinth), but this song is funky and sexy and should make you stand up in your cubicle and kind of grind a little bit. Feel it. Just make sure the boss isn’t looking. From his upcoming album ’3121′, out on March 21.
I Need Someone John Davis (formerly of Superdrag) Okay, now stop gyrating your pelvis from the Prince bizness immediately because John Davis has found God and cleaned up his act. And he has been making some pretty dang sweet music since then. This is a live track from Maxwell’s on 4/8/05, right after the release of his self-titled album John Davis, which is just laden with harmonies, lovely piano, and some intelligent and introspective lyrics.
Sugar Blue Too Jeff Finlin This one comes courtesy of wonder-fan Vangelis who sends me good stuff from the scenic shores of Greece. Jeff Finlin was featured on the Elizabethtown soundtrack (I still have not seen that movie! Argh!) – and I like Finlin’s folksy Dylanesque-ballad Americana sound with the piano backing. The lyrics talks about ‘walking the streets so dark,’ and that is exactly what this song makes me think of. From his 2005 CD Somewhere South of Wonder. Thanks for everything, Vangelis.
Better Way Ben Harper This is the new one from Ben Harper, off his upcoming new album Both Sides of the Gun, due March 21. Ben Harper is one of my first and deepest musical loves, ever since he sang me a song for my 16th birthday. Yeah, we go way back. This song has a slightly middle-eastern feel to it, and listen to Ben crank it out towards the end. Check him out on tour, he is always amazing in his passion and his virtuosity with that Weissenborn.
Ghost Ryan Adams from the Technical Cowboy Services Sessions I think I love Ryan Adams the most when his voice cracks because he is not worried about perfection, he is worried about expressing his emotion. And that is a beautiful thing (and exactly what is wrong with most of the contestants on American Idol – the exception being Taylor Hicks – but that is an embarrassing sidenote best kept to myself, eh?). Thanks to Jennings for unearthing and posting the Cowboy Technical Services (mini) Session with Ryan Adams, containing this and two other great songs.
Now, doesn’t all that make the upcoming week seem a little bit brighter, tiger?
Now this is a mixed bag because the 15 seconds of this song is really nothing more than a teaser, and I can’t even say what I think at this point, other than that this song has a pretty solid, catchy riff. Kind of reminds me of Do The Evolution in the caged energy and making me want to jump around. You can download 15 seconds of the song here if you want to hear it for now. Your trusty blogger here will try her best to seek out a full-length mp3 as soon as possible.
New album still slated for May 2 on the J Records label. Vedder has said of the new album, during a Brazilian radio interview, “It’s easily the best stuff we’ve done but also some of the hardest stuff. It’s very aggressive, because again, it’s kind of a product of what it’s like to be an American these days. It’s pretty aggressive, especially when you turn it loud.”
The album is currently untitled, but Vedder says he was kicking around titles which play off of one of the best albums from the ’90s, Soundgarden’s Superunknown: “I was thinking of the word ‘un-owned’ — not owned by anybody,” he said. “The sky is un-owned. The moon is un-owned. We’re un-owned. We want to remain un-owned. The title was ‘Superun-owned.”
Today is Johnny Cash’s birthday and the man deserves a nod. This has basically been ‘The Year of Johnny Cash,’ what with the Walk The Line movie and all the pursuant renewed interest in The Man In Black.
So I won’t dwell too much on his history, but just throw a few songs up there that we can all appreciate in his honor today.
First, the simple percussion and gritty epitomization of Cash’s unique style and who he was all comes together to make this a gem of a song. I guess he succeeds in his exhortations to get rhythm because I have to tap my toes when I hear this:
Bob Dylan & Johnny Cash did a whole session in Nashville in 1969 of great tunes together. Here is one of my favorites:
“Matchbox” (Carl Perkins cover!) – Johnny Cash & Bob Dylan
And this one I am putting up just because it *always* makes me smile to hear the standard, famous introduction to the Live at Folsom Prison recording, probably one of my favorite Cash CDs: “Hello, I’m Johnny Cash.” Just something about the way he says it encapsulates who he was.
Also, I am currently reading an interesting biopic on the man, called “The Man Comes Around: The Spiritual Journey of Johnny Cash,” which is a fascinating look at his messy, honest, and at times broken faith and path to redemption. This title track from the 2002 CD of the same name was a late discovery for me (just recently), and I really like the whole dusty spoken-word apocalyptic feel to it.
I am in such a *ridiculously* good mood today. The sun is shining, the honeysuckle is blooming at Santa Clara, I had a nice lunch with my grandpa, who tells elaborate stories which include sentences (in his Georgia drawl) like, “I surely would like a nice hot dog.” And I have been sauntering around campus with my iPod and listening over and over to one of my favorite songs EVER, one that I could listen to and NEVER get tired of it: Over The Hills and Far Away by Led Zeppelin.
Let me tell you why I love this amazing, unbelievable song. It builds from a lovely little simple bluesy riff at the start, the vocals gently start in, then at 1:15 (on the version I have) there is a little bridge, and you know, you KNOW that the burst is coming, the song breaks into glorious, insane, fabulous rock. I myself always get this enormous goofy smile of anticipation during those 9 glorious seconds between 1:15 and 1:24. I defy you to listen to it and not rawk out and FEEL IT deep inside your soul.
And then after all the beautiful sonic madness, wicked guitar solos, thundering drums, it deconstructs back down to the same perfect little riff, and you’re done. It is ABSOLUTELY one of THE best songs to listen to on a day like today. It almost makes me want to explode in its perfection.
Chad has a link to a very interesting article entitled, “Everybody Cares, Everybody Understands: Finding a Use for Elliott Smith,” a cover story from the L.A. City Beat. As Chad says, “A whole lot of journalists/writers miss the boat entirely when writing on Elliott, but thankfully, Ron Garmon gets its right.” Check it out.
Aquarium Drunkard has recently posted up two extensive and amazing collections of Ryan Adams music, and he shows no signs of abating. The man is on a roll. Let’s all just stand back and let him do his thing (and hope he doesn’t swallow his tongue). Check out the 48 Hours Sessions and Ryan Adams & The Cardinals complete Loft Sessions from XM Radio, and love Aquarium Drunkard as much as I do!
Why do you visit music blogs? A grad student from Florida is doing his thesis on this topic and wants to give you a chance to get fifty smackers in the form of an iTunes gift card to one lucky respondant. It takes about 5 minutes. Help a brother out.
I found these on eMusic and the bickering reminded me fondly of fighting with my own siblings: Oasis: Wibbling Rivalry Noel’s Track (mp3) and Liam’s Track (mp3)
As the mother of a two-year-old, I have spent more time watching Blue’s Clues than I really care to (“You’ve just figured out Blue’s Clues, ‘cuz you are very smart!“). I found it quite amusing when Nathaniel posted on the former host Steve, and the music he is making now. Who knew?! There is life after childrens’ television!
Matthew Sweet takes his dulcet voice and teams up with Susanna Hoffs of The Bangles (who were my first cassette tape ever in the fifth grade, which I still occasionally like to rock to when I feel the need to Walk Like An Egyptian) to release an album of ’60s covers! What a splendid idea. You can stream three songs on their MySpace page: And Your Bird Can Sing (originally by The Beatles), Run To Me (Bee Gees), and Sunday Morning (Velvet Underground). Other songs covered on the album include tracks by the Beach Boys, Dylan, Neil Young, The Who, and Fuel friends The Zombies.
Overheard at the wharf yesterday between a English boy and his dad: “Dad! The seals are so cool! I want to be a SEAL.” “Oh, well actually you are. I was going to wait until you were sixteen to tell you. I found you on the beach, rehabilitated you. I think you’ve adjusted quite well.”
File under COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY: Matt’s got new Guns’N'Roses. Oh yes, you read me right. That was a name I personally never wanted to hear again. I thought Axl died. No? Apparently not. Huh.
They’ve been covered by everyone from Elliott Smith to The Fastbacks to Santana to The Posies. Influential musicians on a number of levels, their sound was pure 1960s British Invasion pop heaven with a slightly sophisticated edge.
The Zombies were a British band during the mid-60s, whose greatest successes came only after the band had broken up. Best known for their hits “Time of the Season,” “She’s Not There,” and “Tell Her No,” The Zombies’ music was notable in part because of their use of minor key changes, keyboards, and lovely melodic harmonies. Overall, it’s a nice little package.
As Stephen Dunstan says, The Zombies picked the “worst, least appropriate name for a music group ever. Visions of stiff-limbed, raggedy faced Woody Strode-a-likes. They should have just called themselves The Charming English Boys Who Sing Like Angels And Play Like Demons. That name would not have fit onto a record.” It wouldn’t have fit on a record, but it is catchy and accurate.
That’s why I found this collection of tracks to be absolutely charming, an insight into the burgeoning (then floundering) career of the British quintet, during a time when the world was a bit more innocent, and the music perhaps a bit more pure. I think you should listen to this entire set as a whole, as it is collection of snippets across 4 years of live Top of the Pops performance in England for the radio show (there is another first section of the set as well, which I am not posting but you can purchase the whole shebang on Amazon).
Interspersed with great live music from The Zombies (and lots of covers) is fascinating interview dialogue. As the interview introduction says, “Even more popular in America than they are on this side of the pond . . . THE ZOMBIES!” (insert crazed shrieking here):
(With me, you have options: Do things individually, or download all these songs as a zip file at the end of the post) “I Must Move” (1965) “Just Out of Reach” (1965) “Whenever You’re Ready” (1965) - this was one I really enjoyed, hadn’t heard before. *Interview dialogue here talks about how they are enjoying their second tour of America, and what their take is on the “new rock folk protest bit.” Interesting social climate. They also read some fan mail, including an endearingly simple letter from “Francis & Marilyn,” requesting a song for their “youth club.” “It’s All Right” (1965) -swingin’ Curtis Mayfield cover More conversation about how wild the American fans are, how we all have cars and how two girls followed them for hundreds of miles, to their bewilderment. “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” (1965) – Carole King cover “When The Lovelight Starts Shining In Her Eyes” (1965) “Just A Little Bit” (1965) “Sitting in The Park” (1966) - this is a *great* song. It is an example of perfect songwriting: the song makes you FEEL like it SOUNDS, and the lyrical content dovetails perfectly off the mood that is set. It’s almost as if the song could be a soundtrack to the story it tells, if that makes sense. “Gotta Get Out of Myself” (1966) “Goin’ Out of My Head” (1966) -Little Anthony & The Imperials cover “This Old Heart of Mine” (1966) -also done by Isley Brothers, among others “Friends of Mine” (1967) - there is something sublime about listening to this loud, and just getting lost in the layered harmonies. It makes my soul happy. Life just seems a bit simpler, better, and happier when you are listening to something like this. “The Look of Love” (1967) - Burt Bacharach “Final Interview Snippets /Jingle” (1968) – The band talks about how they have broken up after “slogging away for 3 1/2 years,” and also how they have just finished a new LP coming out later that month. They are asked in the interview, “well, wouldn’t it be better to wait until the LP is maybe a huge success and then see if it is a go?” but they dismiss the possibility – and the song that cues up, from their new album (Odessey and Oracle, their best seller, their masterpiece), is “Time of the Season,” their biggest hit.
BONUS, because I love you all: The ever-fabulous KCRW featured The Zombies on a broadcast in 2004 which you can stream on their website, following the reunion in 2003 of the group and new album they released, entitled As Far As I Can See.
Hey kids, just a quick note to say that there is no World Music Wednesday this week on account of me travelling and having no time to construct something worthwhile. Kim Nalley was amazing yesterday, though. Man, alive, I love her. Anyway, I am having trouble getting reliable internet access here at the University. Apparently it is a highly guarded secret to actually tap into the network (I’m working from a computer lab now just like a good little student would – been a long time!), but by this afternoon I hope to post up something rad that I am really excited about. So stay tuned! I am off to the beach whilst I wait for information technology to come by my suite and hook me up with the internet goods. Yay!!
It requires all of the discipline within me to come in out of the sunshine of Santa Clara (sweet beard of Zeus, it is a gorgeous day here) to post up what I had in mind for today. Well, actually, I have a meeting in 20 minutes so I had to come inside. That and the sunburn I was starting to get. My lilly-white skin is not used to these climes anymore.
Anyways, a lovely perk of my visit here is that the cosmic timetables were smiling upon me and I coincidentally picked the same week to come visit that the incomparable Kim Nalley is performing at the free Music at Noon series at SCU (tomorrow, Wed the 22nd, at noon in the Music & Dance building). If you are in the area, she gets my strongest recommendation of someone that you should see live at all costs. I guarantee you will be entertained &/or impressed &/or tap your toes. It is not my normal style of music, but she converted me into a fan within about 30 seconds of seeing her live.
Kim Nalley sings jazz & blues like nobody’s business, strongly reminiscent of legends like Billie Holliday, Nina Simone and Dinah Washington. Her voice is strong and distinctive, and she really knows her stuff. Plus she scats. Who does scatting anymore? Seriously. It is a lost art.
In addition to being a regular performer at SCU’s Music at Noon (lucky us!), Kim has performed on both a national and international level at many of the world’s major jazz and blues festivals including the Umbria Jazz Festival in Italy, the Monterey Jazz Festival, the Mississippi Valley Blues Festival, and the Du Maurier JazzFest in Vancouver and Jazz Festivals in British Columbia, Victoria and Edmunton.
Kim Nalley has just completed a tribute album to Nina Simone, called She Put A Spell On Me. It is getting some good reviews. You can read more about it on CDBaby, preview the tracks, and possibly decide to order it. The record release party festivities are Feb 22-25 at Nalley’s nightclub in San Francisco, Jazz At Pearl’s. Should be a fabulous series of shows. Read what this San Francisco guy thought after seeing Kim live.
Here are two great tracks from her 2003 album Need My Sugar. The title track makes me blush, because, you know, ladies don’t sing about those kinds of things, do they? Ha. She sings like an angel, but she gets down and racy. See what you think.
“Nalley sounds a little like Billie Holiday and a little like Dinah Washington, but ultimately she sounds like no one but herself, and she is spectacular.” -Eric Fidler, Associated Press
“A trip to San Francisco is often said not be complete without hearing Kim Nalley perform. Glamorous, garrulous and dramatic like a diva of the 1950′s, Kim evokes an era when women were classy and brash.” -CDBaby
“God, this woman can sing!” -Blues Access Magazine
Random sidenote: I laughed out loud (that’s mean! I know!) at Steve Perry’s Celebrity Playlist. Something about the enthusiasm of the first paragraph reminded me of this guy’s website. They sort of look alike too. Anyways, the list (well, actually just the narrative) makes me cringe a little. But who knew that the Journey frontman also liked Eels? As Steve-o says, “E is real Ball-Z.”
Uh, okay. Just don’t stop believin’ and we’ll all be chill.
Name: Heather Browne Location: Colorado, originally by way of California Giving context to the torrent since 2005.
"I love the relationship that anyone has with music: because there's something in us that is beyond the reach of words, something that eludes and defies our best attempts to spit it out. It's the best part of us, probably, the richest and strangest part..."
—Nick Hornby, Songbook
"Music has always been a matter of energy to me, a question of Fuel. Sentimental people call it Inspiration, but what they really mean is Fuel." —Hunter S. Thompson
Mp3s are for sampling purposes, kinda like when they give you the cheese cube at Costco, knowing that you'll often go home with having bought the whole 7 lb. spiced Brie log. They are left up for a limited time. If you LIKE the music, go and support these artists, buy their schwag, go to their concerts, purchase their CDs/records and tell all your friends. Rock on.
You think you are badass. But you aren’t, compared to the man himself, Chuck Norris. Somehow the man has achieved massive cult status (apparently he deserves it? Don’t hurt me, Chuck!).
My flight home was canceled once we had already boarded the plane Friday night, so we all unwedged ourselves from our tiny seats, waited in an immense line for rebooking and our $400 travel voucher, and then proceeded to heartily make the best of it with some cool fellow young-’un passengers and the help of a cheesy bar at the hotel they put us all up at. It was like LOST, minus the crashing part, the black thing in the jungle that eats people, and all the freaky “coincidences.” But we had the camaraderie. And I apparently have brought back a slice of Cali with me because it is pushing 70 in Colorado today, and that is something to pause and enjoy. Life is good, kids.
Name: Heather Browne
