Music

Last week, a "version" of Beck's upcoming album was "released" on the web. We didn't hear it, and we don't want to. Shame on [major web zine, we won't link to it] for posting a review. It's not even finished being mixed and tracked. We may be anxious, but we'll wait for what the artist intends. Beck deserves that respect.

We just installed an Airport Express for the red house, finding low-resolution internet radio to play on the hi-fi. Hoping to stumble upon something we've never heard, we are wary of the "eclectic" stations -- inevitably something nasty comes along and ruins a perfectly good nap.

This search for sonic focus will be ongoing, and we are off to a good start:

Radio Reposado describes itself as "funky lounge" and streams at 24 kbps in iTunes. In actuality, it is indeed a funky lounge in Cuernvaca, Mexico. We hear Coltrane, Tito Puente, some cool hiphop, Mexican garage psychadelia, Motando Cabos, and Paul Anka.   read more »  

Camper Van Beethoven's gear was stolen -- AGAIN -- last night. That's the third time in two tours (Montreal, Columbus, and now Dallas).

So keep your eyes open for CVB's replacement gear, which is listed here. Somehow the thieves slipped past the Comfort Suite's security guard and raided their van.

If you have any gear you can lend when they come to your town, they promise to give it back. Gives new meaning to being one of the hottest acts out there on the road.

The Soundscape Preservation Society just posted a Mother Hips show from 1995 on etree. I remember this show... it was at Mississippi Nights in STL, exactly 2 weeks before I got married. Our west coast correspondends at the time were raving, so we were already hip to Back to the Grotto.

They opened for up-and-coming Leftover Salmon on a Friday night for their STL debut. Only 15 people or so attended, but Mother Hips played as if we were 1200 strong.

Mother Hips still confound us. They had a habit of shifting directions just as people were catching on. They emerged as a "Band That Jammed" with exceptionally strong songwriting - well documented on Grotto and also on this bit torrent. But just as word got out, they fired their drummer and turned country-ish along the lines of Gram Parsons. Less explosive, but steadier.   read more »  

Our friend in Madison, Wisconsin gave us the heads up, and good golly some fresh torrented tapes, but we blew off their recent Fillmore show. And we're sorry, because their first studio release in 15 years is easily their best and a definite contender for Album of the Year 2004. The album is called New Roman Times.

Today's Camper Van Beethoven is 3 bands in 1. You get the pop-sensibilities of Cracker. You get the progrock of the Monks of Doom. And you get the classic Camper (w/ violin).
And if you see them live, you might even get an acid-soaked version of Fleetwood Mac's "Tusk"!   read more »  

Hardly an "instant" classic, this film took nearly 35 years to make. It was filmed on and near a train that travelled westward through Canada in 1970 w/ the Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, Buddy Guy, The Band, and many more. The train stopped to play 5 shows.

There was fan rioting at the festival sites because the People somehow got it in their minds that the music was Theirs, so it should be free. But the train rolled on, and the musicians partied down! The promoters just watched their money flow, and now the document is finally untangled.

If you like trains and you like intimate superstar jam sessions, this is your classic film.   read more »  

Desolate. Poetic. Cinematic. Enter the dry crusty world of the Sonora Desert. Quite a scene they have down there.

To make a long story short, Giant Sand evolved from the 80's band Giant Sandworms, and moved from L.A. to Tucson, Arizona in the early 90's. It took songwriter/singer/guitarist Howe Gelb a few years before finally settling with a steady band lineup, who themselves moonlight significantly as Calexico(read on).

New to Giant Sand? Start with the masterpiece - Chore of Enchantment. For an album that was recorded over 3 years in several different studios and w/ different producers, it is one of the most coherant and intriguing "concept" albums since Pink Floyd's "The Wall". The album is a tribute to Howe's friend and co-hort Rainier Ptacek.   read more »  

Hard to believe, but after all these years, the Kinks sound more relevant than ever.

The Kinks are misunderstood because they are belovedly remembered for a handful of songs that inarguably reside in anybody's greatest 100 rock song list. "You Really Got Me" and "All Day and All of the Night" might be in anybody's top 10.

Back in the day, they defied conventions and were punished for it, while the Beatles and Rolling Stones cleaned up America. The Kinks conjured up the unexpected flavor: 1965, London is swingin', the whole world is gettin' high and gettin' laid, and the Davies brothers belt out "Oh won't you tell me... Where Have All the Good Times Gone??" It also didn't help that labor union snafus banned them from touring the United States for 3 years during the end of the 60's, setting up a pattern of multiple comebacks rather than defending their rightful throne.   read more »  

We mustered up a contingent of folks to check out the Stork Club in downtown Oakland. It's a little rock-and-roll club that has a fun layout and a bar built of Barbies in their boxes. Nice share of Elvis boxes too. We like the venue's rules: band's set will be 25 to 45 minutes in duration. Short and sweet, so we decide to check out multiple unknowns. Featuring the Upsidedown.

The Upsidedown are from Portland, and dress it better than anybody. They lend serious consideration to their headgear. We feel we've just wandered in from the tundra, and are treated to a sonic warmth radiating from a tripped-out Guild with glowing white pedals. Thoughts of them appearing in L.A. at the Knitting Club the night before made us giggle.   read more »  

Whatever may ail you this holiday season, you can always count on Jack McDuff to bring you through! Feel bothered? Alienated? Trapped? Bored? A whee bit stressed? ... this space recommends "Glide On" for smooth, funky organ / guitar music that gets you out of tough fixes.

Take it from a man who feels the pressure of pulling magic tricks from his arse each and every Christmas...... Jack McDuff : Gliiiiiiiiiide ON.