The Current Music Blog: June 19, 2009 Archive

Today In Music History: Nick Drake's Birth Anniversary

Posted at 8:34 AM on June 19, 2009 by Steve Seel

Ann Wilson (vocals, Heart) is 58.
Paula Abdul is 46.

1967 - During an interview with Life Magazine Paul McCartney admitted that he had taken LSD.
1971 - Carole King started a five week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with "It's Too Late / I Feel The Earth Move". Both songs were from her Tapestry album.
1976 - Future Smiths singer Stephen Morrissey had a letter published in music magazine Record Mirror and Disc asking the editor why they paper had not included any stories on The Sex Pistols.

Singer songwriter Nick Drake was born on this day in 1948. Drake committed suicide on November 25th 1974 aged 26. His legacy has been huge and has grown far beyond the modest success he experienced during his life; tons of acoustic performers from the past decade especially cite Drake as a significant influence. We played "One Of These Things First."

Colonial Vipers Attack Two Harbors with free music!

Posted at 10:10 AM on June 19, 2009 by Barb Abney

If you know Colonial Vipers Attack, you know Two Harbors. They changed their name earlier this year.

Two Harbors released the record All The Places We Would Rather Be earlier this month. Today on our Song Of The Day podcast. You can grab the tune "You Pulled The Rug Out" for free!

Catch Two Harbors on The Local Show with David Campbell this Sunday evening at 6:00 p.m.

If you're a new subscriber to the Song Of The Day podcast, you'll also receive new music from Solid Gold, Yeasayer and Calexico.

Beard Rock!

Posted at 10:07 AM on June 19, 2009 by Steve Seel

Yesterday, Mary Lucia and I had a discussion in the cube-farm about the preponderance, over the past decade, of beards in indie rock. Not just any beards, she clarified, but "civil war beards." And she's right. From Doug Martsch of Built To Spill to Mark Everett of Eels, long bushy beards started becoming fashionable in the late 90s, and grew into a wholesale indie-rock style in this decade.

As if on cue, Jill and I came accross a blurb in NME online today from the aforementioned Mr. Everett about how ladies love a man with a beard. So we thought, "there's our topic for the 9:30 Coffee Break: Beard Rock."

We asked for your suggestions on great beards in rock and roll, past and present. We could only get to a small fraction of your excellent suggestions.

1) Fleet Foxes, "White Winter Hymnal"
2) Iron & Wine, "Teeth In the Grass"
3) George Harrison, "What Is Life"
4) Devendra Banhart, "At The Hop"
5) Electric Light Orchestra, "Livin' Thing"
6) My Morning Jacket, "Two Halves"

Got requests for many of the classic beards, too: ZZ Top, Jerry Garcia, even George Clinton. Thanks again to everyone for a fun Friday topic.

Random Vinyl 6/15-6/19

Posted at 12:34 PM on June 19, 2009 by Jill Riley (2 Comments)
Filed under: Random Vinyl

Every weekday at 6:30am, we sift through our vinyl collections and play a randomly chosen track.

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Monday: Split Enz, "Waiata" (1981)
The New Zealand new wavers' follow-up to their breakthrough LP "True Colors," this one didn't have a hit quite as big as "I Got You," but it did have some sterling songs - including our selection, "History Never Repeats." Neil Finn - later of Crowded House and solo fame - sings the lead vocal.

Tuesday: The Dixie Cups "Iko Iko" (1964)
They gave themselves the writing credits on this song... even though the tune all ready existed in another shape or form.
Side A: "Iko Iko" (2:05)
Side B: "Gee Baby Gee" (2:30)
Label: Red Bird
Catalog#: RB10 024
Format: Vinyl, 7"
Released: 1964

Wednesday: Simon and Garfunkel, "Bridge Over Troubled Water" (1970)
Turn down the lights and get into Zen mode. This album is a must have for your wax collection. We played "El Condor Pasa (If I Could)" and realized we didn't know Spanish enough to translate that title live on the air. Paul Simon pulled a Dixie Cups on this song and gave himself some writing credits he probably shouldn't have.

Thursday: Prince and the Revolution, "Purple Rain" (1984)
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of Purple Rain, we should all purify ourselves in the waters of Lake Minnetonka. We thought we'd start the party by playing all 8 minutes and 45 seconds of "Purple Rain."

Friday: Utopia, "Utopia" (1982)
Todd Rundgren's sometimes-side-project-sometimes-full-time-band, Utopia, had been going for several years when it finally released a self-titled album in 1982. They boys were decked out in their new-wavey best black n' white duds on the cover in keeping with the styles of the day. We played the deliciously gooey glob of pop sugar, "Feet Don't Fail Me Now."

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3 tunes from life changing records...

Posted at 12:02 PM on June 19, 2009 by Barb Abney
Filed under: My Three Songs

Erich Yahner from Minneapolis picked today's My 3 Songs set because...

"These are three great tracks from three great albums that each changed my life...albeit in very different ways."

R.E.M. - "Finest Worksong"
Sarah McLachlan - "Hold On"
Afghan Whigs - "66"

Make your "My 3 Songs" requests here.