Category Archives: Friday Music Day

Friday Music Day

FMD — Live Music

11 Comments

So it's no secret that I go to a bunch of live music shows and 2018 was no exception (see full list in comment below). By my count I will have seen well over 50 live acts this year, although a lot of that was due to my Memphis and Nashville trips where I saw over a dozen acts on Beale Street and Broadway. I have only one regret, I missed the David Byrne show at Northrop, which I heard was excellent. I had a chance to go, but the $140 price tag turned me off. Now I'm kicking myself.

Some Highlights:
Most fun show -- The Posies
Artist having most fun -- Liz Phair
Most visually stunning -- Thom Yorke
Most anticipated -- Guided by Voices Dec 30 (duh).

2019 promises to be fun too as I already have tickets for Neil Young solo acoustic, Teenage Fanclub, two different Billy Bragg shows, and the Flesheaters. Also the Blue Ox festival in Eau Claire looks really good too.

What shows did you see this year? What was your favorite?

Hope to see you at a show sometime in 2019!

Friday Music Day

FMD — Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

31 Comments

So the Rock and Roll 2019 Inductees came out yesterday. Here they are:

• The Cure
• Def Leppard
• Janet Jackson
• Stevie Nicks
• Radiohead
• Roxy Music
• The Zombies

I guess no big surprises. Well Def Leppard is a surprise. I like big dumb hair metal like anyone else but in the Hall of Fame? Whatever.

Was surprised The Zombies weren't already there. Can't be many boomer-centric bands left who haven't been inducted.

What do you think of the inductees? Upset Devo didn't make it?

Drop 'em if you got 'em.

Friday Music Day

FMD — The White Album

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Yesterday was the 50th anniversary of The Beatles releasing their album The Beatles, or as it is commonly known The White Album. In celebration of the anniversary, the album was re-released with a remaster of the original, a bunch of demos and alternate takes, and other studio arcana. Here's a hagiographic article on it I highly suggest reading if interested.

https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/the-accidental-perfection-of-the-beatles-white-album

The common refrain of The White Albums was this was when the Beatles starting to break up. Many of the songs appeared to be one or two Beatle composing and recording on their own. One thing the re-release has shown as that they were much more collaborative than previously advertised. The so-called Escher Demos really point this out. I wish that the Escher Demos were in fact released as a stand alone. I would definitely pick that up.

My own history with The White Album goes back only 40 years or so. As a teenager, I listened to The White Album a lot, stoned, in my bean bag chair, with headphones. Which is what white suburban teenage boys did a lot of in the late 70s and early 80s. So I know this album intimately. Even as a teenager and into adulthood, some of the one-off songs bugged me so when I was able through I-tunes, I eliminated what I considered the crap songs. That left me with a solid 18 song album in the 55 minute range. It had a nice mix of the rockers and softer songs. I've listened to this version of The White Album for the last 10 years or so.

Reading some of the articles on the making of The White Album, I learned that there was discussion among the Beatles to release two albums instead of one double album. This intrigued me. My 18 song version could probably be broken down to a two album hard and soft version, in fact I could probably add Martha My Dear to the soft version to make it a bit longer, instead of an EP.

So below is my "Rock" version of the White Album. It's 12 songs, 37 minutes long and pretty much every song is a killer. Savoy Truffle makes it because the song rocks, even if the lyrics are dumb. Why Don't We Do it in the Road and Everybody's Got Something to Hide make it for the same reason. The order is the same as the original album except I put Revolution #1 at the end. It also follows the basic structure of mostly Lennon-McCartney songs, with a smattering of Harrison, and a Ringo song. The White Album is beloved because of its sprawling, druggy, vibe. If they had released my Rockin' White Album version, who knows how history would've been changed :o)

Back in the U.S.S.R.
While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Happiness Is a Warm Gun
I'm So Tired
Don't Pass Me By
Why Don't We Do It in the Road?
Birthday
Yer Blues
Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey
Helter Skelter
Savoy Truffle
Revolution 1

Friday Music Day

FMD 11/9/18: Wedding Music

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I'm going to a wedding this weekend. So let's talk wedding music. What's good for a first dance? Father/Bride dance? What song do you have a piano version played of as people are waiting in the church after the ceremony (if you did the church thing). What goes on the do-not-play list for the DJ? Etc.

Not too long ago I was at one where there was a version of "She Drives Me Crazy" played as people were milling about. That was... fun? We supposedly had our pianist play Linus and Lucy after the ceremony, but I wasn't around to hear it, so... I still haven't gotten confirmation on that.

Friday Music Day

FMD — Low

15 Comments

From the Oxford Dictionary:

Low

5. depressed or lacking in energy:
"I was feeling low"

Duluth's second most famous band (behind Trampled by Turtles), Low has been around for 25 years and has generally developed a pretty strong cult following. Although I wouldn't call their music depressing or lacking in energy, it certainly has a certain somberness quality to it. It's great for more a chilled listening experience. I've seen them at First Avenue, where I had to stand up, and it seemed uncomfortable at times, I had to spend to too much energy standing to really let the music wash over me. (That's a compliment btw). I've also seem them at music halls, seated, which seemed much more appropriate. Also their Drone not Drones shows at the Cedar are famous for letting you just be in the music. Even their noisier records lend themselves to listening more than dancing.

Anyway, Low has a new album out which is just excellent, I encourage you to check it out. Below is a review from the Strib. They play tonight at the Fitzgerald, which I missed out on getting tickets to. Fortunately, The Current is broadcasting the show on the radio and streaming it as well. If you just want to spend some time tonight, chilling out listening to music, I strongly encourage you to check it out.

http://www.startribune.com/in-its-25th-year-duluth-trio-low-goes-even-further-with-bold-new-album/499300311/

Oh and drop your lists.

Friday Music Day

FMD 10/26/18: A New Start

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No, not the Arrested Development reference.

Spoiler SelectShow

We recently moved into a new house. It's smallish, but fits us well, and there's room to grow. The basement is completely unfinished and there are already footing poured for an addition if we ever wanted to grow outward too. This all has me thinking about opportunities, including the opportunity to set up a home for ideal music listening purposes.

I've not really followed all the various systems and whatnot, and I suppose I'll probably never actually get to do some cool system but... if you had a new start on a home, what kind of listening devices/locations/functions would you like to have?

As for right now... I'd be happy with finding a working CD player and eventually unpacking my old collection. It's been far too long. Maybe I'll get lucky and come across the right box this weekend.

Drop a list too, if'n you're inclined.