The Current Music Blog  

The Current Music Blog: December 30, 2011 Archive

< December 29, 2011 | Main | January 1, 2012 >

Today in Music History: Monkee Business

Posted at 7:20 AM on December 30, 2011 by Jill Riley (2 Comments)
Filed under: Music History

Birthdays:
Bo Diddley is 83

Patti Smith is 65 (New York punk godmother, poet, singer)

Jeff Lynne is 64 (Electric Light Orchestra, Traveling Wilburys)

Del Shannon was born on this day in 1934. (Best known for his 1961 hit "Runaway." He committed suicide on February 8, 1990, in Santa Clarita, California.)

This Day in Music:

In 1967, "Hello, Goodbye" off Magical Mystery Tour by The Beatles was the #1 single in the country.

In 1978, Emerson, Lake & Palmer broke up.

In 1989, Nirvana bass player Krist Novoselic married Shelli Dilley near Seattle.

In 1999, George Harrison was stabbed repeatedly during an attempted early morning robbery at his home near London. The 56-year-old musician and his wife Olivia struggled with the intruder and were able to hold him until the authorities got there. The couple recovered from their injuries at a nearby hospital.

History/Birthday Highlight:

Michael Nesmith is 69. (The most talented member of The Monkees and an '80s video pioneer who produced the original pilot for what was to become MTV.)

Davy Jones is 66. (The "cute one" of The Monkees; maraca and tambourine player extraordinaire.)

Comment on this post

Morning Show: Jill Riley's Top 5 2011 Viral Videos

Posted at 7:25 AM on December 30, 2011 by Jill Riley (4 Comments)
Filed under: Morning Show

Disclaimer: These are not high concept, intelligent or a testiment to the human race.

5. Ted Williams- The Man with the Golden Voice
I only picked this because I'm sure I'm going to end up like this guy someday.


4. Lonely Island with Michael Bolton "Jack Sparrow"
Who knew Michael Bolton was a funny guy? (caution: strong language)


3. The Honey Badger
The Current's David Campbell showed me this video when I was bummed out one day. It's my go to video for a good laugh. (caution: strong language)


2. Rebecca Black "Friday"
It's awful.... but that hook is just so catchy. The lyrics are so right on and thoughtful. I mean, who doesn't love Friday when it comes around?


1. Thom Yorke of Radiohead shows his moves.
Thom Yorke finally shares his love of interpretive dance with the world.

Comment on this post

Random Vinyl: Scratches, Warps and Skips

Posted at 2:00 AM on December 30, 2011 by Jill Riley
Filed under: Random Vinyl

12/19-12/23
Monday: Friend & Lover, "Reach Out of the Darkness" (1969)
Tuesday: Foghat, "Fool for the City" (1975)
Wednesday: The Kingsmen, "In Person" (1963)
Thursday: Pylon, "Chomp" (1983)
Friday: "Phil Spector's Christmas Album" (1981reissue)

12/26-12/30
Monday: No Random Vinyl
Tuesday: Janet Jackson, "Control" (1986)
Wednesday: Prince, "Batman Motion Picture Soundtrack" (1989)
Thursday: Rick James, "Street Songs" (1981)
Friday: Electric Light Orchestra, "A New World Record" (1976)

9:30 Coffee Break: 2011 Rock 'n' Roll Heaven Part 2 of 2

Posted at 8:40 AM on December 30, 2011 by Jill Riley (8 Comments)
Filed under: 9:30 Coffee Break

For Friday's 9:30 Coffee Break we'll continue to reflect on singers, musicians, songwriters and music producers who passed away in 2011. Leave your suggestions for artists to feature on the air and your personal thoughts in the comments section.

Artists/songs played Thursday:
Charlie Louvin of The Louvin Brothers
The Louvin Brothers "While You're Cheating on Me"

Amy Winehouse "You Know I'm No Good"

Gil Scott-Heron "The Revolution Will Not be Televised"

Jerry Lieber of the Lieber and Stoller songwriting duo
Carl Gardner, singer in The Coasters
The Coasters "Yakety Yak" (Lieber and Stoller penned song)

Clarence Clemons, tenor saxophone and longtime member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band
Bruce Springsteen "Born to Run"

Trish Keenan, lead singer of Broadcast
Broadcast "Goodbye Girls"

Gerard Smith of TV of the Radio
TV on the Radio "Hours"

Artists/songs played Friday:
Gerry Rafferty
Stealers Wheel "Stuck in the Middle with You"\

Marshall Grant (bassist in The Tennessee Two)
Johnny Cash "I Walk the Line"

Mikey Welsh (Weezer, played on the Green Album)
Weezer "Island in the Sun"

Nate Dogg
Warren G feat. Nate Dogg "Regulate"

Don Kirshner (The Man With the Golden Ear)
The Archies "Sugar, Sugar"

Poly Styrene
X Ray Spex "Germ Free Adolescence"

Andrea True (Disco Singer)
Andrea True Connection "More, More, More pt. 1"

Comment on this post

Transmission Playlist 12/29/11

Posted at 9:55 AM on December 30, 2011 by The Current (1 Comments)
Filed under: Transmission

Listen

Playlist

Joy Division - Transmission
Future Islands - Balance
Washed Out - Amor Fati
Dempsey - Flashback
Smith Westerns - Weekend
Cults - Abducted
Real Estate - It's Real
Dum Dum Girls - Wrong Feels Right
Wilco - I Might
St. Vincent - Cruel
Cat's Eyes - Over You
Girls - Alex
Atlas Sound - The Shakes
Chapel Club - All The Eastern Girls
Fonda - Better Days
Night Manager - Pizza Pasta

Comment on this post

The Current Presents: The Current Staff Review 2011

Posted at 12:28 PM on December 30, 2011 by The Current
Filed under: The Current Presents

Mark Wheat hosts this week's Current Presents. He writes:

After broadcasting your Top 89 albums of the year twice over the weekend, at 9 p.m. Sunday, January 1 we'll wrap up our review of the year in music. I'll host a chat with DJs 'Super' Mac Wilson, Looch, and Jill, and the music department who helped The Current have a great year of discovering new music: Program Director Jim McGuinn, Lindsay Kimball, our Assistant Program Director, and David Safar, the new Music Director.


A few writers have recently been suggesting that it was a boring year for music. We'll give our opinions on that, remember some of our fave live shows, and look forward to another year. It's like a big old Musicheads edition!


Join us on Sunday, January 1 at 9 p.m. for another edition of The Current Presents, and Happy New Year!


Transmission Video of the Day - Electric Light Orchestra "Do Ya"

Posted at 1:58 PM on December 30, 2011 by Jake Rudh
Filed under: Transmission

I still remember my cool cousin Kurt blasting this in his late 70's Nova with windows down cruising a country road.


Thanks for the memories Jeff Lynn and happy b-day man!


Visit the Transmission homepage

The Local Show Staff's Top Ten of 2011

Posted at 2:25 PM on December 30, 2011 by Bethany Barberg
Filed under: Local, The Local Show

As 2011 wraps up it is time for one final look back at the past 12 months of local music. Check out each Local Show staff member's Top Ten (and sometimes more) favorite songs of 2011. Tune into the Local Show this Sunday at 6PM to hear ten of the best local debuts and hear each staff member chat about their top picks.


David Campbell - Host of The Local Show
Little Man - Found Is A Passion - Orbital Amusement EP
Haley Bonar - Candy Machine Gun - Golder
Night Moves - Country Queen - Colored Emotions
Polica - Wandering Star - Give You The Ghost
Big Quarters - Perfect Match - Party Like A Young Commie
Brian Just - We Don't Break Bread - If You Like To Be Alone Or If You Need To Be With Someone
M.anifest - Suffer - Immigrant Chronicles: Coming to America
Buffalo Moon - Kind to Me - Selva Surreal
Peter Wolf Crier - Settling It Off - Garden of Arms
The Bombay Sweets - I Take You Alone - The Bombay Sweets
Doomtree - Bangarang - No Kings
Matt Latterell - Hostage and Wash Your Hands - Life On Land
Baby Boys - All My Friends - unreleased
Dragons Power Up! - Ballahol - The Best Love Is Free Vol. 2
Low - Try To Sleep - C'mon
BadNraD - Bad Girl - Bad Girl EP


Jon Schober - Local Music Assistant
1. John Maus - Keep Pushing On (4evr and evr)
2. Sea Weeds - Fall Boi
3. Hollow Boys - America Modern
4. Kasey McKee - Don't Fool Me
5. The Blind Shake - Hurracan
6. Hot Freaks - Boo
7. Buffalo Moon - Kind To Me
8. Food Pyramid - Last Shuttle To the Red Planet
9. Night Moves - Horses
10. Gramma's Boyfriend - We R Ctrl


Lindsay Kimball - Assistant Program Director
1. Polica - Wandering Star
2. 4onthefloor - Lion Hearted
3. Caroline Smith and the Goodnight Sleeps - Tank Top
4. Communist Daughter - Ghosts
5. Doomtree - Bangarang
6. Halloween, Alaska - Dance By Accident
7. Night Moves - Horses
8. No Bird Sing - After Life Insurance
9. Kid Dakota - Fiber Optic Failure
10. Adam Svec - Forest For the Trees
11. We Became Actors - Swimming Pools


Bethany Barberg - Local Music Assistant
Night Moves - Country Queen
Crimes - Gold in Your Eyes
Polica - Wandering Star
Mason Jennings - Well of Love
Haley Boanr - Silver Zephyers
Brian Just - Electric
Dead Man Winter - Wasteland
Charlie Parr and Nicholas Mrozinski MN Beatle Project Vol. 3 - Rocky Raccoon
The Cloak Ox - Wax Museum
Alpha consumer - Storms coming (Sleep Tight)
The Bombay Sweets - I Take You Alone
Low - Try to Sleep
Seaweeds - Fall Boi
The Color Pharmacy - Violin Winds
4onthefloor - On Tuesday
Matt Latterell - Wash Yer Hands


Sophie Frank - Production Intern
Wizards Are Real - Stay Golden
Hollow Boys - American Modern
Fire In The Northern Firs - Flavor Savior
Halloween, Alaska Empire, Waist
4onthefloor - Lionhearted
Polica - Wandering Star
John Maus - Believer
Peter Wolf Crier - Settling It Off
Crimes - Scene Of The Crime
Mystery Palace - Lose It All


David Safar - Music Director
Brute Heart -- Blindfolded
Caroline Smith and the Good Night Sleeps -- Tank Top
Doomtree -- Little Mercy
Haley Bonar -- Raggedy Man
Halloween, Alaska -- Empire Waist
Howler -- I Told You Once
Low -- Try To Sleep
Mason Jennings -- Raindrops on the Kitchen Floor
Peter Wolf Crier -- Settling it Off
Sims -- Bad Time Zoo
Spyder Baybie Raw Dog and 2 Percent Muck -- Grocery Store
The Blind Shake -- Hurr-A-Can
The Cloak Ox -- Wax Musuem
The Jayhawks -- Pouring Rain at Dawn


Derrick Stevens - Production Manager
1. Haley Bonar - Money
2. Halloween, Alaska - Empire Waist
3. Sims - Burn It Down
4. Dead Man Winter - Nicotine
5. Dessa - Mineshaft
6. 4ontheFloor - Workin' Man Zombie
7. Rogue Valley - Onward and Over
8. Villa Rosa - Uma Thurman
9. Caroline Smith & The Goodnight Sleeps - Strong Shoulders 10. Mally - Lights Off

Transmission's Top 75 Tracks of 2011

Posted at 6:06 PM on December 30, 2011 by Jake Rudh
Filed under: Transmission

Thanks for clicking on to check out Transmission's top 75 tracks of 2011. Enjoy your stay.


There is no order to this and the descriptions will be short. You may not agree with the brief descriptions or think they're too simple, but remember folks with varying musical backgrounds are looking at this. If you dig what Transmission is based on (new wave/post-punk/synth-pop/electro/glam/garage/Brit-pop/60's/mod/etc)...add to it ambient, experimental and chill-wave, then I think you'll dig some if not most of these tracks.

Enjoy!


* There are loads more, but I can only put three hours into this. The list doesn't include the many fantastic local acts who put out some outstanding numbers this year. I might compile those next.

** You can hear many of these and more on my weekly radio program (Transmission / Thursday nights / 10pm / The Current) --> http://minnesota.publicradio.org/radio/programs/transmission/

December 2011
S M T W T F S
        1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30 31


Master Archive
Recent Entries
Tools
Categories
Services
Become a Sponsor