Music Anarchy !

[VALIS]

A few months ago I started paying attention to the CD "Everyone is Here" by the Finn Brothers (Neil Finn is a New Zealander, and was the main force behind the Aussie band Crowded House.) I am now hooked. I ended up getting almost all the Crowded House CDs (Crowded House, Temple of Low Men, Woodface, Together Alone), both Finn Brother's CDs (Everyone is Here, Finn [*]), and three Neil Finn solo CDs (Try Whistling This, One All, Dizzy Heights).

This is pop music, sort of, but it is truly brilliant. Neil Finn (and sometimes his brother) compose beautiful melodies, amazing chord progressions, interesting structure and timing, and just wonderful singing. The songs are personal, painful, sensual, uplifting, puzzling, fun, and every time I listen to them I hear more to like. I've got a three-hour playlist that is on continuous repeat (if not on my iPod, in my head).

[*] Don't get "Finn" by a solo artist named Finn -- that's completely different.

[JoeP]

Thanks for that Paul. I loaded The Finn Brothers on Pandora this morning and listened to them on the way in to work. I agree with you about them, somewhat pop but more than that. Very nice. Some of the harmonies remind me of Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova in the movie Once.

[VALIS]

Of that whole lot of CDs, I think my current favorite is "Temple of Low Men" by Crowded House. I'm still not in tune with the "Dizzy Heights" solo album. The rest of the albums have many, many, great songs, so a favorite is really a moving target.

Amusing factoid: Neil Finn was thinking that their second album (Temple...) would have to be called "Mediocre Follow Up". It's anything but.

[IrieMon]

Thanks for the referral to the Finns.... found out they also fronted that early 80s new wave band Split Enz (which I completely forgot about).

Six Months on a Leaky Boat !

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPTvkIwEsB0

Great acoustic version of a Crowded House classic:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSLKIKyg6MQ

[BeauV]

The Admiral just sent me a YouTube of these kids from about 2009, they've grown up singing together as "Daves Highway". While I'm not a big fan of the lyric content of "christian music", these kids are really quite amazing. Good fun to rumble around on YouTube looking for their stuff.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kADiLsOwx2Q[/youtube]

[BeauV]

Just hanging out in my SF apartment missing my Admiral and listening to something I first heard way way way back in my mis-spent youth. One of my favorites:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A24JZkgvNv4[/youtube]

[Ish]

Janis doing Summertime was one of her best. My misspent youth was more aimed this way...
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WANNqr-vcx0[/youtube]

[JoeP]

Just hanging out in my SF apartment missing my Admiral and listening to something I first heard way way way back in my mis-spent youth. One of my favorites:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A24JZkgvNv4[/youtube]

Man, I really loved that album.

[Tucky]

I'm old enough to remember seeing most of those bands routinely at the Fillmore- in 1968 at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds (I suspect that may be pricy real estate now) we saw Country Joe, Big Brother, the Youngbloods the Doors I think, and the Dead, among others. Ahhh, youth.

[BeauV]

I'm old enough to remember seeing most of those bands routinely at the Fillmore- in 1968 at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds (I suspect that may be pricy real estate now) we saw Country Joe, Big Brother, the Youngbloods the Doors I think, and the Dead, among others. Ahhh, youth.

Jesse, I ran off to San Francisco during the summer of '68 when I was a Jr. in High School because I just couldn't stand missing out. What a crazy time that was! Thank heavens I was a sailor and could mooch a berth to sleep in on the marina, most of my friends were sleeping in the park or someone's front porch. The music was "pretty good" but seems to have become a lot better as the decades have gone by. The old recordings re-set me to reality. It was a magical time and something I hope my granddaughters never do!! BV

[JoeP]

I envied my 3 older sisters who were going to college in the SF area at the time. They would bring me concert posters and the latest music when they came home to visit.

[Orestes Munn]

Man, I really loved that album.

Me too. My 24 yo daughter would tell you that turning her on to JJ was one of the least ambiguously good things I ever did for her. Items on her desert island playlist also include tracks from "Music From Big Pink," early Rolling Stones, and, better yet, assorted pre-motown R&B and classic Salsa from the 60s and 70s, all due to her weird old Dad's influence. Kid never took to classical music, even the most accessible stuff. Strange.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbKQujrpDKQ[/youtube]

[SloopJonB]

Man, I really loved that album.

Me too. My 24 yo daughter would tell you that turning her on to JJ was one of the least ambiguously good things I ever did for her. Items on her desert island playlist also include tracks from "Music From Big Pink," early Rolling Stones, and, better yet, assorted pre-motown R&B and classic Salsa from the 60s and 70s, all due to her weird old Dad's influence. Kid never took to classical music, even the most accessible stuff. Strange.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbKQujrpDKQ[/youtube]

Sounds like she were brung up proper.

Well, that Salsa thing might be a bit weird.....

Took a long time for Big Pink to become "known" but Cheap Thrills was the best Janis ever did IMO - Piece of My Heart was (is) my favourite.

You should check out what Grace Slick is doing - she made an entire life's career out of those lyrics.

[Orestes Munn]

Man, I really loved that album.

Me too. My 24 yo daughter would tell you that turning her on to JJ was one of the least ambiguously good things I ever did for her. Items on her desert island playlist also include tracks from "Music From Big Pink," early Rolling Stones, and, better yet, assorted pre-motown R&B and classic Salsa from the 60s and 70s, all due to her weird old Dad's influence. Kid never took to classical music, even the most accessible stuff. Strange.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbKQujrpDKQ[/youtube]

Sounds like she were brung up proper.

Well, that Salsa thing might be a bit weird.....

Took a long time for Big Pink to become "known" but Cheap Thrills was the best Janis ever did IMO - Piece of My Heart was (is) my favourite.

You should check out what Grace Slick is doing - she made an entire life's career out of those lyrics.

I will look into Grace Slick's activities. Daughter also keeps a few Jefferson Airplane tracks on her phone (along with crap that would make you retch, of course).

[bob perry]

I received the latest Jackson Browne album yesterday, vinyl of course. It's called STANDING IN THE BREACH. It's very good and the sound is much like Jackson's first album with an almost David Lindley style lead guitar track Almost, but not quite.
But the songs are all about growing old and how the corporations are eating us. It's tiresome. I don't listen to music to hear other people's grief. But I think it's just a function of aging. Jackson has women figured out now so he can't wax on about what 's going on with women. And I guess any more songs about masturbation are out of the question. So he sings about the woes of the world and his aging body. That's very droll.

So,,,I dug into my pile and came up with the Jackson Browne album LATE FOR THE SKY. Of course David Lindley's lead playing makes this lp. But Browne's songs are really first rate and he was really full of it back then, 38 years ago! The album still sounds good but not as good as the new one. The copy I played I bought before I married Jill, 38 years ago. The LP is in remarkable shape. But I went on line and found a new, unopened copy for $12.95. I was mentally prepared to pay up to $300 for the LP. Surprise.

My other new music find is Sea Sick Steve. I have one double LP, SONIC SOUL SURFER. t's very good and sounds a lot like a whit,e aged surfer dude singing in a John Lee Hooker style of blues. I have another LP on the way.

[TheOffice]

I pulled out my 6 album Crossroads collection by Clapton over the weekend and cranked it up. The occasional clicks and pops were refreshing after years of MP3s.

Trying to get Stones tickets at 10:00. Wish me luck!

[BeauV]

Good luck on the Stones tickets - wish I could see them again! Mmm? I'll have to work on that.

[Rob McAlpine]

Watching the Stones these days is like watching a 1984 Celtics and Lakers reunion game - with canes and walkers.

I've been listening to Brussels Affair lately, the Stones with Mick Taylor in 1973, with much better sonic quality than Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out.

I saw Jackson Browne with David Lindley in Providence in the early 70's. Terrific show, I think Maria Muldaur opened, "Midnight at the oasis, put your camel to bed".

[bob perry]

I saw Jackson Browne also in the early 70's. Small place and a great show with David Lindley on lead. I saw Lindley once again in a really small place in Ballard. He played with a percussionist. The music was too esoteric for my pedestrian tastes.

The Stones lp's have never been known for good sound. I don't play any of them. I'm very picky. I need great music and great sound or it doesn't work for me. Sea Sick Steve's double lp has very good sound. I think there is more attention being paid to the sound today as kids tire of MP3 quality compression. My son is totally hooked on vinyl but he also plays a lot of downloaded music. He does know the difference. Sea Sick Steve and my newest Lang Lang lp both came with MP3 downloads free. I noticed one LP that came with MP3 download and a free cd. Covering all bases.

If any of you are digging out your old turntables I'd be happy to help you with choice of a new cartridge. The cartridge can age and get "stiff" at the grommet. You can get a good cartridge for between $150 and $10,000. If the cartridge is no good then the sound don't stand a chance. Kind of like old sails.

I had a call over the weekend from a sailor in Maine. He's a fan of my work and he read that I was an audiofool. He designed and built his own daysailer. It's very nice. He makes stereo speakers for a living. His "entry level" speaker runs $25,500.00 His top of the line speaker is over $200,000. Check out Rockport Technologies. There is a photo of his boat on the "contact" page. No, he did not offer me free speakers or even a discount.

[TheOffice]

Bob,

I see some bartering in your future! Those new speakers will sound great in your office! If I could afford those speakers I would not be sailing a 32 year old C&C 35/3. I'd have a Bob Perry custom racer/cruiser about 42 feet with an aft centerline queen berth per the admiral.

95% of the time my stereo is just part of the TV system. I rarely get to sit down and just listen to music.

Got the Stones tix for Raleigh NC. It's only rock n roll, but I like it, like it, yes I do!

Joel

[Orestes Munn]

Watching the Stones these days is like watching a 1984 Celtics and Lakers reunion game - with canes and walkers.

...but older and, great as they were, they're not Pablo Casals at 80.

[SloopJonB]

sounds a lot like a white aged surfer dude singing in a John Lee Hooker style of blues.

Now there's a concept.

The Stones should retire from performing live - they've become a self parody.

I remember when Elvis died, some agent or promoter was quoted as saying "Good career move". It was cringe inducingly cynical but also very true - he had nowhere to go but down.

Similar thing applies to the Stones - geriatric bad boys with Knighthoods just don't cut it.

[bob perry]

I got my second Sea Sick Steve and the Level Devils lp today.
It's very good and just straight ahead blues. No frills.

[JoeP]

I just tried Seasick Steve. They have a clean not over-produced sound, like you are in the room with them. I like it.

[bob perry]

I did find a "new and unopened" copy of Browne's LATE FOR THE SKY for $12.95. I was prepared to pay a lot more. That is good music.

The,,,I got my new Brian Wilson double LP yesterday, NO PIER PRESSURE. Trust me, buy this on any format you like. It is very good and there is no preaching, just good, eclectic Brian Wilsony music. I played both LP's and I almost played it again.There is none of this "Here, let me show you how much more musically airy-o-dite I am than you" BS . It's sophisticated music that you can easily enjoy.

[BeauV]

All, I really doubt that you could ever find a vinyl version, but I've recently become enamored of The Devil Makes Three. Sample here:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARL3u5nr7LU[/youtube]

[bob perry]

I like that Beau. They have a great vocal blend. Not sure it's the kind of music I could listen to for an hour though. Banjos are for me like bagpipes are for others. Interesting guitar that guy is playing.

[BeauV]

I like that Beau. They have a great vocal blend. Not sure it's the kind of music I could listen to for an hour though. Banjos are for me like bagpipes are for others. Interesting guitar that guy is playing.

Bob, I hear you on the banjos. BTW, I bought a Banguitar or Guitarjo - basically a 6 string banjo which is tuned like a normal E-tuning on a Guitar. It's fun to be able to instantly play the "banjo". I think it's technically called a Baritone Banjo. It is the perfect instrument for this kind of music, providing a high frequency component to the music that replaces the need for a snare drum and high hat cymbal. It can, however, drive sane people crazy if you play it too long by itself. It goes great with a normal 6-string guitar.

[bob perry]

When I was in junior high I would bring my guitar to school some days. My math teacher played the guitar so I always brought my guitar into the math class because some days he'd pick it up and play for us. That was a treat for me. He played a song about the logger who stirred his coffee with his thumb. I loved to listen to him play. He also had a banjo and he let me borrow it for a while. I took it home and drove my parents nuts with my efforts on it. It's not easy to play the banjo softly. I don't believe I have ever seen the instrument you are describing. But it does sound interesting.

[kimbottles]

I like that Beau. They have a great vocal blend. Not sure it's the kind of music I could listen to for an hour though. Banjos are for me like bagpipes are for others. Interesting guitar that guy is playing.

You either love the pipes or you hate them, not too much middle ground for them.