The Current Music Blog: November 2, 2007 Archive

The Stream 11/02/07

Posted at 8:50 AM on November 2, 2007 by Barb Abney

The Decemberists cancel tour.

Led Zeppelin postpone tour.

Get new Saul Williams album for free.

Today In Music History:
1956 - Chris Fairbrass (Right Said Fred, "I'm too sexy") was born.
1961 - kd Lang was born.
1974 - George Harrison played the first night of his solo world tour (the first Beatle to do a solo tour.)
1984 - Marvin Gaye Sr. was sentenced to prison for the manslaughter of his son, Marvin Gaye.
1986 - Billy Bragg was arrested for cutting through wire fences at a US Air Base in England.

"My 3 Songs" for Friday

Posted at 2:11 PM on November 2, 2007 by Steve Seel

Aaron Plys of Ithaca NY (let's hear it for these out-of-state listeners this week ... incredible) says of these songs, "they are for my girlfriend as she studies for her graduate school entrance exams."

1) Feist, "Mushaboom"
2) Felt, "Morris Day"
3) M.I.A., "Paper Planes"

Song Of The Day - Telly Tunes 11/02/07

Posted at 2:59 PM on November 2, 2007 by Barb Abney

Tunes On The Telly:
Tonight:
Talib Kweli on Carson Daly
Tomorrow Night:
Feist on SNL
Wilco on Austin City Limits

Song Of The Day Info -Local Music - Terry Eason
Today on our Song Of The Day Podcast we're featuring Terry Eason with the tune "Miracle Man"from his latest album Sentimental Vanity which is in stores now.
More here and/or here.

The River - Side 4

Posted at 3:00 PM on November 2, 2007 by Mac Wilson

Ramrod -- Everything about the song indicates that we're turning that last corner and entering the homestretch of the album (is it a coincidence that Bruce opens Side 4 with a 1-2-3-4! call?) and is essentially one last chance to rock out before things get tidied up. Maybe this is why "Ramrod" tends to pop up in Springsteen's encores -- a simple jolt of energy that's virtually impossible not to clap along to. My only caveat is with the live version: the studio version's prominent organ line is pushed almost completely to the side.
The Price You Pay -- A stark yet rousing track, with plenty of biblical references. The theme of working one's way through endless tribulations is directly descended from Darkness on the Edge of Town (there's even a mention of the promised land!) yet the tone is still hopeful and defiant. Bruce breaks out the harmonica for a few bars at the song's end, but it fades out after about ten seconds; I'm always disappointed by the fade and I wish that portion were longer. Still, an underrated track near the record's end.
Drive All Night -- The eight-minute epic. For years, I thought it was terribly overwrought (at least the "heart and soul" section certainly is), but the steadiness of Garry Tallent's bass is downright hypnotic, making for a moody, atmospheric penultimate track. Unfortunately, I think this may be the song that sounds the most dated now: that guitar line sounds more like something from The Roger Whittaker Christmas Album. Not as bad as I once thought, but along with "Crush on You", it's the album's low point.
Wreck on the Highway -- After complex sagas swathed in layers of interpretation, we get the seemingly-straightforward account of a man who comes across an accident on his way home late one night, stays with the unfortunate victim until the authorities arrive, then silently heads home back to his wife. Although the narrator makes it home safe, he is haunted by the horror of what he has encountered: has the victim died? how will the victim's wife react? was it all a dream? "Wreck on the Highway" has always made a vivid impression on me; its characters and imagery haunt my mind much the same way the memory of the accident haunts the narrator. Out of all the scenes from The River, the most memorable and the most touching is the mental image of the song's narrator climbing into bed at night, resting safely next to his wife, yet wide-eyed, haunted (yes, I know I used the word 'haunt' four/five times in this paragraph) and glad to be alive. It's deeply unsettling, but the narrator is alive and ready to face a new day. After the soft organ fades, the song slowly starts up again for a lovely acoustic guitar part, sounding much like the first hints of sunlight on the horizon.

I hope you enjoyed my chronicle of The River. I'm even more excited for the big show tonight at XCel! I'll try to post a recap sometime Saturday. Until then, I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that he plays "Further On (Up the Road)".

Guest DJ Set 11-02-07

Posted at 9:40 PM on November 2, 2007 by Mark Wheat

First Friday of the Month Resident DJ ESP aka Woody McBride this week provides a collection of the minimal releases on his own communique records available on beatport.com.

The mix includes tracks by;
- ' the push ' which is Mpls's Dave Wesley (remember Sursumcorda?) and Case Orshare
- Antony Dupont of Troyes France
- the red hot minimal artists Dakota Veer of Madison WI
- and three tracks from Paris France's Jack Haze
- ending the set is a new rocker from dj esp and local vocalist faux jean - sung in german...
this song is catching fire in clubs across europe and will be released with remixes in early 08.

Minimal Communique compilation volume 3 will be out Dec 15.

Check www.machinebasedreasoning.com for more minimal music culture and watch for a 7th St.Entry showcase on first Saturday's January thru April hosted by dj esp.

visit djesp.com for more info, submit demos and buy music.

keep the sound underground.

THANK YOU !!!

Posted at 10:04 PM on November 2, 2007 by Mark Wheat

Thanks to everyone who supported us during this recent Member Drive! We wrapped up this afternoon, but contributions continue to come in and nearly number 17,000 now!! It's always so humbling and inspiring to read all the comments that you make when pledging. So many people contributing their hard earned cash to enable us to do what we love to do, play music on the radio, is an amazing vote of confidence, you trust us. I think that makes all of us try a little harder, all year round, working to deserve that trust. I believe that connection is what makes public radio so special.
Cheers!