31 May 2013 - Jamiroquai - Virtual Insanity

Remember when this song was everywhere? I do.  And I love this funky sound.

But let's talk for a minute about this video.  Let's talk about the video.   How the hell did the furniture and, for that matter, Jamiroquai, move like that?  Answer - the only stationary part of the room was the floor.  The room itself moved around.  The set was built on wheels over an undetailed floor.  The sofas were sometimes bolted to the wall, until they needed to move, and then they were unbolted.  Remarkably simple.

But back to the funky sound.  The song itself is heavily jazz influenced, much like the rest of the band's sound.  That's right.  I said band.  Jay Kay is the singer for Jamiroquai.  He is NOT Jamiroquai.  In fact, the rest of the band appears in the video, in the corridor scene.



In this live version of the song, you can hear a heavier jazz influence, complete with scat.  It's good to see that, on stage, the song sounds as good as it does in studio.

30 May 2013 - OneRepublic - If I Lose Myself

Last night, OneRepublic singer and songwriter to the stars Ryan Tedder (a native Oklahoman) performed Counting Stars off his band's latest album Native for the inspiring Healing in the Heartland Relief Concert. To be honest, I really didn't know too much about his band beyond Secrets and Apologize (that last one I know more for Taylor Swift covering it on her live album). I certainly liked what I saw and plan on checking out some more of his band's songs (FYI for those who still pay for their music, Native is only $3.99 at Amazon right now). Here's the video for Native's first single.

29 May 2013 - Tegan and Sara - Walking With A Ghost

Raise your hand if you thought this was actually originally a White Stripes song.  I admit it - I did.

And this isn't the first time you've seen Tegan and Sara on this blog, either.  Back then, I compared them to Simon & Garfunkel, and I stand by that comparison.  And I also said that despite that, and despite the lyrically brilliant songwriting, they still felt like a guilty pleasure.  I stand by that statement as well.

You're going back to look and see if I really said those things.  I did.

Now, I really do love the White Stripes version of this song.  It's well done.  This version is far less bombastic, but brings a different ache to the song.

And yes, Scott, it's a better version - are you happy now?!



As a bonus, here it is with three guitars.  It's a richer sound, and yet more stripped down.

28 May 2013 - Ian McCulloch - Candleland

I can't believe I'm admitting this, but when Ian McCulloch's solo debut came out in 1989 I liked it better than his previous work with Echo and the Bunnymen. While I still enjoy hearing Candleland every so often, I have to say I was wrong, wrong, wrong. It happens. Still though, I think Ian's solo albums were pretty solid, yet surprisingly overlooked. Here's the video for Candleland which features backing vocals by Liz Fraser of the Cocteau Twins.

24 May 2013 - Suzanne Vega - Blood Makes Noise

So, what happens when a really good folkie turns her back on folk music and tries her hand at electronic music?

Pretty good, interesting electronic music.   Suzanne went with a mechanical sound and a Metropolis feel to the video, but lyrically, it's as deep as anything she did as a folkie.



Since this time, Ms. Vega has, of course, returned to folkier ways.  Here is a live version of this song, more punky and less electronic, but still interesting.  This performance is from SxSW 2010.  Note how bass-heavy, and not electronic, this song is.  And yet it works well still.



Finally, here is a minimalist version of the song.

23 May 2013 - Public Image Ltd - Rise

Here's a slice of 80s Thursday goodness with Johnny Rotten's post Sex Pistols band Public Image Ltd. This one was off their 5th record, 1986's Album/Cassette/Compact Disc (the title depended on the format which I always thought was a cool concept).

22 May 2013 - Mr. Oizo - Analog Worms Attack / Analog Worms Sequel

What the hell is an analog worm, you ask?

A Worm is an analog musical effects processor.  More on that in a minute.

This minimalist song, from the 1999 debut by Quentin Dupieux, is not his best known song.  But it does have the coolest audio effects I have heard on any song.  His simple but noisy work has been an influence on electronic music all these years later.

The song - in fact, the whole album - was recorded exclusively on analog, and not digital equipment.  This is noteworthy.  He got these sounds (with the help of scratch DJ friend Feadz) without computers or digital manipulation.



The reinvention of this song, "Analog Worms Sequel", which is essentially the same track without vocals, scratching, and slightly different instrumentation, was the official close to this album.  ("Flat Beat", which was a huge hit in the UK, was a bonus track that appeared after five minutes of silence).  Again, analog.