10-30 Georgetown, TX - Southwestern University (public onsale 10/8)
10-31 Wheaton, IL - Edman Chapel at Wheaton College
11-05 New York, NY - Terminal 5 (SOLD OUT)
11-06 Boston, MA - The Orpheum
11-07 Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory
11-08 Baltimore, MD - Ram's Head Live
11-09 Ithaca, NY - Cornell University, Barton Hall
11-11 Montclair, NJ - Wellmont Theatre
11-12 East Lansing, MI - Wharton Center at Michigan State University (public onsale 10/10)
11-24 Los Angeles, CA - The Wiltern
11-25 San Francisco, CA - Warfield Theatre
11-29 Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom
11-30 Seattle, WA - The Moore Theatre

[audio http://osaldalingua.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/04-the_decemberists-im_sticking_with_you.mp3]

I'm sticking with you
'Cos I'm made out of glue
Anything that you might do
I'm gonna do too

You held up a stage coach in the rain
And I'm doing the same
Saw you're hanging from a tree
And I made believe it was me

I'm sticking with you
'Cos I'm made out of glue
Anything that you might do
I'm gonna do too

People going to the stratosphere
Soldiers fighting with the cong?

But with you by my side I can do anything
When we swing
We hang past right or wrong

I'll do anything for you
Anything you want me too
I'll do anything for you
Oohoh I'm sticking with you
Oohoh I'm sticking with you
Oohoh I'm sticking with you

I'm sticking with you, The Decemberists (2008), original The Velvet Underground

Artist: The Decemberists
Single: Volume I. Valerie Plame / O New England
Label: Rough Trade
Release date: 14/10/08
Link: www.myspace.com/thedecemberists

Other the course of the next three months The Decemberists will be releasing three volumes of singles under the banner of Always The Bridesmaid. Here's what we thought of the songs!

Valerie Plame

The Decemberists have this knack of sounding either completely depressing or extremely happy with no middle ground. This song thankfully falls on the happy side, which is probably a good choice from them considering it's the first song of this singles series. It's got all the classic elements that I love about this band, the instrumenatition and the way the band works together works so well. This song feels like the lovechild of The Polyphonic Spree,an American folk band and some British pop band. Oh yes and did I mention that British band happens to be The Beatles? The ending is the most blatant rip off of 'Hey Jude' I've ever heard but guess what? It's still great!

Rating: 4/5

O New England

Another happy one from those Oregonians (Oregons? Oregonites?). It's a fairly strong song but lacks the chorus of 'Valerie Plame' to make it stand out. There really isn't much more to in than that.

Rating: 2.5/5

... I know.  What the fuck.

BUT the Decemberists, of all people, have in fact recorded a song about the infamous Valerie Plame, and it will be the first track on their Always a Bridesmaid series out this October.  It's a far cry from The Crane Wife, but power to them.  I think it's hilarious.  And the horns section sounds awesome. 

The first volume of Always a Bridesmaid will be out October 14; the Decemberists will also be playing Cornell November 11.  Let's start a carpool?

- Caitlin Dewey, blog editor

Speaking of politics, Larry Flynt has apparently posted an ad on the LA craigslist page looking for a Sarah Palin look-alike to perform in a porn film.  Hopefully she won't be "doing" a John McCain look-alike.  that would be disturbing.  A moose, however...  I'd definitely watch that.

Suggested titles:

Juneau You Want It

Northern Xxxposure

Laying the Alaskan Pipeline

Frozen Tuna

Shrinkage in Anchorage

VPILF

The Decemberists seem to be taking a little page out of the Bishop Allen book lately (almost). Though The Decemberists will be releasing an album sometime in 2009, first they are releasing "Always The Bridemaid: The Singles Series" which will come out in three volumes starting in October. They will be released digitally and on vinyl, but oddly there is no word about cd format. It keeps it more interesting this way, and plus the vinyl release is colored.

The First Volume titled "Valerie Plame" comes out October 14th, with Volume Two coming out on November 4th called "Days of Elaine". Volume Three out on December 2nd is titled "Record Year". Keep in mind that these will be only 2-3 songs. I guess this will hold us all over until The Decemberists go back in the studio to make another full length, but it is pretty safe to say that the singles series is going to be spectacular.

The Decemberists are going on tour later this fall so be sure to check out the tourdates on their Myspace www.myspace.com/thedecemberists

And here is one of my favorite things, The Decemberists performing 'O Valencia' on Letterman a couple of years ago. (I would put up the new song but Capitol Records is real strict and I don't feel like getting sued this week) Enjoy!

Si tuviéramos que hacernos eco de todas las novedades que se filtran nos volveríamos locos, nos echarían de nuestras casas, nos quedaríamos sin banda ancha y a Indiespot le saldrían telarañas, y nadie quiere que esto suceda. Aún así, no está mal hacerlo de vez en cuando, de una forma sana y disfrutable. Hoy es el turno de The Decemberists, que a pesar de tener nombre de hype de turno de la NME (yo los confundo con The Courteneers, los nombres se parecen, sin duda), merecen la pena. Ocupan esta extraña posición que es el lado heavy del club del ukelele (vamos, que hacen folk) y este otoño publicarán una serie de singles llamados Always The Bridesmaid que, vaya por donde, ya se ha filtrado. A destacar la versión que se marcan de 'I'm Sticking With You' de The Velvet Underground, que les queda que ni pintada. Dentro, algún vídeo a modo de cata.

Les explico. En primer lugar encontrarán a Colin Meloy, cantante de The Decemberists, presentando 'Valerie Plame', el primero de los singles de la serie Always The Bridesmaid, y que, a mi parecer, es un temón. En segundo lugar tienen una especie de lección de cómo tocar The Smiths con un solo acorde. La víctima es la fantástica 'Ask'. No tiene mucho que ver con el motivo de este post pero me la he encontrado escarbando en YouTube y no me he podido aguantar.

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The Decemberists are set to release Volume I of Always The Bridesmaid: A Singles Series on October 14th, 2008. Available digitally and as 12" vinyl, Volume I features the songs "Valerie Plame" and "O New England." You can watch The Decemberists debut the song "Valerie Plame" on Late Night with Conan O'Brien on November 3rd.

Volume II and Volume III of the series are to be released November 4th and December 2nd. The band plans to release the series on 12" vinyls through their own label, Y.A.B.B. Records/Jealous Butcher Records while the digital versions will be released through Capitol Records.

Preorder is available now at The Decemberist's online store, located here. Anyone who preorders all three volumes through their store will recieve a limited edition version of Always The Bridesmaid: A Singles Series on colored vinyl.

Currently, The Decemberists are in the studio working on a new album. The band plans to play a few shows in select U.S. cities in November.

Track Listings for Always The Bridesmaid: A Singles Series

Volume I:
"Valerie Plame"
"O New England"

Volume II:
"Days of Elaine"
"Days of Elaine (long)"
"I'm Sticking With You"

Volume III:
"Record Year"
"Raincoat Song"

Para mí, y aunque suene exagerado, Colin Meloy es uno de esos mid age bacanes que hay que admirar. Yo lo meto en el mismo saco que a Ben Gibbard y James Mercer, quizás no con el mismo fanatismo que siento por esos dos, pero sí que son absolutamente comparables en cosa de talento.

Hace poquito, casi nada en realidad, se filtró un EP de su banda, The Decemberists, que según lo que tengo entendido, iba a ser lanzado en noviembre y por partes, lo que no fue tan. El disco en cuestión lleva el nombre de Always The Bridesmaid: A Singles Series y, déjenme decirles, está bastante bueno. Muy a lo The Crane Wife, pero un poco más animado, ondero y buena onda. Pero, claramente, sin dejar ese toque melancólico que los caracteriza. Además, cabe destacar, que en el EP se incluye el cover de Im Sticking With You de Velvet Underground.

Lindo lindo para estas tardes de alergia y plátano oriental.

One really cool thing though - we will be able to put up a pre-order this week (I hope, I hope!) for our next exclusive. Its going to be awesome - I can't wait to share FINALLY.

PS: The Bloodhound Gang vinyl all came to my doorstep tonight. Pictures tomorrow, shipping on Thursday for those who have already pre-ordered.

New Releases:

Off With Their Heads - From The Bottom (White)

Pixies - Trompe Le Monde (180 Gram) 

Police, The - Synchronicity 

Pre-orders:

Decemberists, The - Always The Bridesmaid: Volume 1 

Ludacris - What Them Girls Like 

Nelson, Willie - Red Headed Stranger 

Oasis - The Shock Of The Lightning 

Plain White T's - Natural Disaster

bed wetters of the world, hand it over... hand it over...

The art of the concert poster has experienced a revival in recent years. Contemporary work by the likes of The Small Stakes, Little Jacket, F2 Design and Methane Studios has begun to rival the great gig posters of the psychedelic era, such as the work of Wes Wilson and Rick Griffin.

Andrew Lindstrom, a freelance web designer based in Vancouver, has collected the 50 best contemporary designs. He says, "nowadays, the majority of indie bands have a growing collection of poster art that is just too incredible to simply throw away once the show has ended. Not surprisingly, this has led to the gig poster being something of a collectors item for music fanatics everywhere."

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- The Decemberists.

Then "Grace Cathedral Hill" by The Decemberists came up on my iTunes shuffle, and everything seemed to snap into focus all of a sudden. I guess the subject matter of the song really reminded me of the Bay Area and San Francisco, and also the people there I miss. The gentle strumming of the acoustic guitar, combined with the swirling organs, created a hazy, dream-like effect. Somehow the song added it up to create a moment of clarity, of sorts.

[audio http://sympositorium.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/07-grace-cathedral-hill.mp3]

I'm not in any kind of clear mental state to write anything coherent about the song, but I think this Stylus review sums it up pretty good:

"A gorgeous tribute to San Francisco, and a lovely escapism tune at the same time, the beauty of "Grace Cathedral Hill" lies in how prosaic the tale is, yet how picturesquely told it is. It's New Year's Day. The male protagonist stares at the dying Cathedral hill, and decides to enter the basilica atop it. He coughs up a quarter to light a candle only to watch it melt to its wick. Turning on his heels, he and his "green-eyed girl" traverse bustling Hyde St. Pier for a hot dog. In the distance the National Anthem is heard. It's made clear that his mate is crestfallen, and he hopes that a night on the town will cheer her up: "on a motorbike...all the city lights blind your eyes tonight, are you feeling better now?" It doesn't. He stares into her moist eyes, cursing the charlatan's on the corner selling faux religious talismans: "Fifty-three bucks to buy a brand new halo." He inwardly declares his love for this Irish brat, finally understanding that he will go to the ends of the earth for her--and why not? He's already been to the Catholic church...."

The song really does a very good job of conjuring up San Francisco, and maybe this is just the cold medicine speaking, but I am feeling a bit nostalgic about that place. Sometimes I wish I were back there.

With Colin Meloy's solo record and tour behind them, The Decemberists have announced U.S. dates for November...anyone down for NYC?

11-05 New York, NY - Terminal 5
11-06 Boston, MA - The Orpheum
11-07 Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory
11-08 Baltimore, MD - Ram’s Head Live
11-09 Ithaca, NY - Cornell University, Barton Hall
11-11 Montclair, NJ - Wellmont Theatre
11-24 Los Angeles, CA - The Wiltern
11-25 San Francisco, CA - Warfield Theatre
11-29 Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom
11-30 Seattle, WA - The Moore Theatre

Loud Noise and Pictures: Describe the band as if you were making a trailer for a Hollywood blockbuster.
Martin Green: Nick, Mark and Martin formed in 2005 via a Melbourne musician's website. Martin had about 80 songs written at the time and had split from two Australian based line-ups. After auditioning many guitarists and drummers, he was delighted to discover that both Mark and Nick could not only play well, but had very similar ideals to his own. Since then Damn The Maps have only gone forward. They recorded several EP's and in 2008 they released their debut album 'Input Output.' They joined with Vent Music and Amphead and released physically in Australia and digitally worldwide. They share a love for a good song, that's pretty much it in a nutshell.
Sound wise, Damn the maps have a relatively commercial sound with a little bit of distortion here and a little eeriness there. They are most commonly compared to Radiohead, Tool and Pink Floyd. They have an honest sound. I.e. they write about what's going on around them day to day.
Their hopes are pretty simple, to write great albums and play great shows. Coming soon to grungy stadium near you… 

LNaP: To me, Damn the Maps music evokes the sounds of other notable Aussie pop/rock acts such as Jebediah, Something For Kate, Pollyanna and Eskimo Joe. Do other Australian bands influence your work, or does it come from somewhere else?
MG: Unfortunately I can't say that we are influenced by much in the way of Australian music. We have been more drawn to international influences and a far more international sound than what I feel is produced in the southern hemisphere.
Our influences go as far back as The Byrds, Beatles, Zeppelin, Sabbath, Neil Young etc to The Decemberists, Deftones, Radiohead, The Shins, and Grandaddy. I'm personally heavily influenced by great lyricists - Roger Waters, Colin Meloy, even Eminem. I just don't feel that the lyrics coming from our biggest musical exports are as influential as the best internationals. You won't find any unicorn references on our album sorry.

LNaP: You've had a few of your songs get some rotation on JJJ, how hard is it for an up and coming Australian band to get enough recognition to receive airplay? Is it luck, hard work, or simply having the right connections?
MG: I think that it all comes down to a good song. Radio stations like Triple J have staff that are bombarded with hundreds and thousands of singles, EP's and albums a week and they churn through what they can to try and find the good stuff. I'm sure that many songs make it for many reasons whether it be the reputation of the label, their producer, their artwork, their persistence or simply the quality of the songs. We have a small independent label, are self produced, have independent artwork and we have had a song from all three of our releases played on Triple J. So hopefully I can conclude that we must be doing something that they like and I hope that that something is being able to write a good song. 

LNaP: How would you describe the current Australian musical scene Damn the Maps are a part of?
MG: I think the biggest thing I've noticed is the reduction in major signed artists and a huge increase in independent music. Despite our obvious disdain for certain aspects of technology, I also think that the new software based studios and home set-ups along with services tailored specifically for the independent musician have given many artists the chance to realise their dream (or at least be able to release a product) This should in turn reduce the amount of unrecognised genius in the world. (I hope) I think it's brilliant to see independent artists living off their work and winning awards at the mainstream events. Also I think that the internet has changed everything. It's making the music industry a lot more interactive. Fans are able to vote online for all sorts of gig line-ups and awards. It's not so much about who has simply sold the most physical records anymore.

LNaP: How important are websites like Myspace and Triple J Unearthed to new unsigned bands today? Do you think it is a reaction to shows like Popstars and Idol that people now think they can be successful via popularity rather than talent? Do things like Myspace friend numbers translate into record sales/increased numbers at gigs?
MG: Myspace is certainly a valuable tool for us for networking and allowing people to be exposed to our music. Rather than the old days of waiting forever to be picked up by a huge record company that then spends innumerable dollars promoting a band to the world and then waiting for people to come to that band, Myspace allows the band to go to the people. If you have plenty of time to browse people's profiles and take the time to notice them, they in turn notice you. We get such amazing feedback from 'friends' from all around the world, simply because we took the time to find them. Whether this translates into record sales and gig attendance, we can't yet say as it is still quite early. However it is definitely a great way to stay in contact. Also we notice that people that have seen us at gigs have rushed home and become our friends so as to stay in touch with us. This is very handy.
Some bands/people become very successful simply via exposure alone. It's what they do next that decides how long they remain popular. OK GO was a brilliant example with their treadmill video on Youtube. Fortunately they could back up their video with a pretty catchy album.

LNaP: Since Input Output's release in May, the band has been touring pretty hard, how have audiences reacted to it all – and how are you all holding up considering you're only about halfway through the tour?
MG: Actually we have been doing sporadic touring. I.e. travelling a few days at a time and returning home. However our full tour begins in October when we head to New Zealand. We should then start getting to know how successful things are going. At the recent shows, of the people that have been coming, the response has been fantastic. We now hope that word of mouth allows the Damn the Maps name to spread and in turn pull more people to the shows.

LNaP: The album seems to have a recurring theme – that of a more natural existence or better time. Songs cover topics addressing anti-technology, perceived beauty, and the good old days/simpler times etc. Was there a conscious effort to tackle these themes or am I way off the mark?
MG: There is definitely a recurring theme. A lot of this album was written when I was holding down a corporate day job. I was travelling into the city every day to show up and log on at places that were very different from how and where I grew up. I would find myself surrounded by these 40 something year old suits complaining about their jet skis and wardrobes being too small and how their air conditioning sucks far too much power from their aircraft carrier of a car. I eat in various cafes and watch them systematically install security cameras in every cornice and the ever popular LCD TV screen to distract you with product while you eat. I'm bombarded with meaningless emails and surrounded by mobile phones, media players and computers the whole day, all of which send us into a panic when they break down or buzz with a new trivial trick or text message. I grew up on a farm where I would cycle 18kms to my friend's house with my $20 bass guitar on my back so we could sit on his deck and try and play Jimi Hendrix songs through his 6 watt champ.
There was not so much a conscious effort to create this theme, it's more like I couldn't help it because I was surrounded by it day in day out.

LNaP: Input Output features some beautifully quirky artwork from German artist Mateo, how did the band get turned onto his work?
MG: We were put into contact with Mateo via a very good friend of ours. We absolutely love his work and are delighted that we could use it for the album. We hope this is mutually beneficial as we feel that an album cover provides great exposure for artists of all levels and at the same time good artwork on an album can draw massive attention to a band. Shapeshifter by Marcy Playground or pretty much any cover done by Hypgnosis is a great example.

LNaP: Once the tour is done, what is in store for the band? Get the hell away from the other guys for a bit, or start working on some new material?
MG: Once we finish the tour, we hope to go straight into the studio. We have a substantial amount of album number 2 already written and we are keen as mustard to start recording again.

Thanks to Martin and the lads from Damn the Maps. Try and get out to one of their shows, or grab their CD 'Input Output' from JB or iTunes.

Sep 13 2008 8:00P	Idgaff Bar	Abbotsford, Victoria
Oct 15 2008 8:00P	The Espy, St Kilda	St Kilda, Victoria
Oct 22 2008 8:00P	San Francisco Bathhouse, Wellington, NZ	Wellington, Wellington
Oct 23 2008 8:00P	Kings Arms, Auckland, NZ	Newton, Auckland
Oct 24 2008 8:00P	Basement, New Plymouth, NZ	New Plymouth, Taranaki
Oct 25 2008 8:00P	Brewers Bar, Mt Maunganui, NZ	Mt Maunganui, Bay of Plenty
Nov 6 2008 8:00P	Red Room Bar, Qld Uni, Brisbane, QLD	Brisbane, Queensland
Nov 7 2008 8:00P	Bon Amici, Toowoomba, QLD	Toowoomba, Queensland
Nov 8 2008 8:00P	Great Northern Hotel, Byron Bay, NSW	Byron Bay, New South Wales
Nov 12 2008 8:00P	Hopetoun Hotel, Sydney, NSW	Sydney, New South Wales
Nov 13 2008 8:00P	Oxford Tavern, Wollongong, NSW	Wollongong, New South Wales
Nov 14 2008 8:00P	The Sando, Newtown, Sydney, NSW	Sydney, New South Wales
Nov 20 2008 8:00P	Supper Club, Darlinghurst, Sydney NSW	Darlinghurst, Sydney, New South Wales
Nov 21 2008 8:00P	Tasmania - details soon	Hobart, Tasmania
Nov 25 2008 8:00P	The Espy, St Kilda	St Kilda, Victoria
Nov 26 2008 8:00P	The Foundry, Perth, WA	Perth, Western Australia
Nov 27 2008 8:00P	Prince of Wales, Bunbury, WA	Bunbury, Western Australia
Nov 28 2008 8:00P	The Dunsborough, Perth, WA	Perth, Western Australia
Nov 29 2008 8:00P	Rocket Room, Perth, WA	Perth, Western Australia
Nov 30 2008 8:00P	The Railway Hotel, Fremantle, WA	Fremantle, Western Australia
Jan 3 2009 8:00P	Barwon Club, Geelong	Geelong, Victoria

]]> http://k2pop.wordpress.com/?p=22 Tue, 02 Sep 2008 02:45:34 +0000 k2pop http://k2pop.de.wordpress.com/2008/09/02/mad-men-of-four-martini-lunches-and-the-decemberists/ Among the many fascinations of the AMC series "Mad Men" is its time-capsule quality: the early-'60s era it recreates with such fetishistic attention has both eerie parallels to contemporary times (a tension between the social pressure to conform to a mass-marketed idea of consumer conformity) and clanging contrasts (everyone smokes like creosote-lined chimneys! And drinks like unquenchably thirsty fish!)

I'm not surprised to find such parallels between then-and-now while watching "Mad Men," but I was reminded of the era's historic roots while reading "Positively 4th Street," David Hajdu's smart. concise exploration of the early '60s folk boom, how it became the seedbed for Bob Dylan's artistic rebellion/flowering; the fascinating coincidence of Dylan's relationship with Joan Baez, in which he was boosted by her fame; and the marriage of Baez' sister, Mima Farina, and jack-of-all-artistic-trades Richard Farina (a self-styled musician, he was also a songwriter and novelist, whose too-early death left a legacy of the book, "Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up To Me" and his friendship with the famously reclusive Thomas Pynchon, who cooperated with Hajdu's biography by FAX).

So there I am, reading along, comfortably ensconced in the early-middish '60s world of the Dylan/Baez/Farina nexxus, when I come across this line, in reference to a pre-publication work lunch between Farina, his agent, and his editor:  Richard Mills, Farina's agent "Drank four martinis, his usual, and warned that any overt drug imagery on the cover could hurt the book's sales."

Four martinis?! His "usual?"! OK, clearly business protocol was different in those days. The detail is a passing example of Hajdu's skill, the glancing reference underscoring the ridiculous hypocrisy of social norms objecting to "drug imagery" co-existing with tossing back four martinis mid-day while supposedly working in an assumed clear-headed fashion.

And speaking of passing references, how unexpected was it that Sunday night's "Mad Men" episode began with a montage of women suiting up for battle -- that is, their professional day ahead -- with, in addition to them squirming into undergarments, the brassy musical accompaniment of Portland's own The Decemberists, with Colin Meloy declaiming opening lines from "The Infanta," from the group's CD, "Picaresque"? The sounds of Portland are able, it seems, to penetrate the decades.

So yesterday was my first day of classes at Catholic University of America  and I was observing the state of our youth, so to speak.  Cute, nubile freshman boys and girls were bouncing around completely clueless on campus, eager to please and thirsty for something to happen.  But of course, since they picked a church affiliated university, you and I know that they're going to have to find some action on the down-lo around here. God love them Catholics though...some of my most subversive and downright yummy-dirty moments have been thanks to their tutelage.

But I do feel it's part of my karmic retribution payment plan to offer these doe-eyed babes some assistance in discovering what part of the college experience is all about...and since I'm married, I can't go with my first choice of taking some green-eyed, tossled-hair young laddie into my private lecture hall and making him earn some extra credit of the carnal knowledge kind, I'll settle for bestowing upon them the other  thing I do really well: making music mixes.

Now, I know for many of you college freshmen, you've been spoon-fed such lame music acts like the Jonas Brothers, Rihanna, or most anyone from the American Idol syncophant machinery and think you listen to good music. You're wrong.  Sorry to be harsh, but it's true. Hey, in my day the music industry was pushing shit like Flock of Seagulls and Millie Vanilli, so don't feel too bad. 

This was the unfortunate inspiration for lots of...

This at my high school.

Michael Shilling, the music reporter from MSN.com, gave his choices for you (in fact, I swiped this concept from him, thanks Mike) - and he's certainly dead-on with mentions like Death Cab for Cutie, Sonic Youth, Public Enemy, and Sleater-Kinney, but I think I could contribute some more towards your musical education:

10. The Cure

Even though The Cure has been around since the late seventies (believe it or not) they're best known for their sonorous goth-pop stylings throughout the eighties and early nineties. They're still making music today, gearing up to release Hypnagogic States this fall, but I'd recommend you start with the album, Boys Don't Cry, then jump to Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me - and then move onto their tour de force, Disintegration - which South Park is famous for being quoted as saying "is the best album ever!" It's still true. 

Why are They Important For Your Musical Education: Because few bands could pull off both electronic pop whimsy and earnest self-importance quite like The Cure.  These guys were Emo before Emo existed, but frankly, they did it with a heck of a lot more sophistation and talent than what I see today. And they still have a sense of humor to top it all off. So put that in your lesson planner ;-)

9. Beck

I recently wrote a review of Beck's latest, Modern Guilt , where I waxed on and on about the virtues of Beck to our musical canon. I'll leave it to you to click on the link so I don't repeat myself  :-)  except for this...

Why are They Important For Your Musical Education: As I've previously stated : " His tongue-and-cheek arrangements have always seemed to tip their hats to other musical genres such as 60s psychedelic, hip-hop, indie rock (on and on) while still creating something - dare I say - genuinely original in flavor and sound."  Kids, that's a rarity in and of itself. So go listen to Mellow Gold, Odelay, Sea Change, Guero - well, all of them.

8. The Decemberists

Ok, by now, you've got some more musical meat in your belly, and you're ready for something more.  The Decemberists are an indie folk rock group from Portland, Oregon, known for their clever lyrics steeped in world history and modern fiction. Actually, on second hand, maybe you should wait until you're a junior or senior in college in order for you to get half the references in this group's songs.  It gets a bit "out there" at times, but totally worth it. If I could create a new genre for them, I'd coin The Decemberists' music experimental intelligencia folk rock.  Too much?

Why are They Important For Your Musical Education: Because this group is part of a cadre of bands bringing the benefits of a liberal arts education to good use.  They're smart and funny and MADE for the college rock scene.  I guarantee sooner or later, you'll be up all night, drinking cheap wine with the pretty boy or girl, who is pouring their heart out to you about how they're sooo misunderstood...then you'll play a couple of Decemberists' songs from your iPod dock station (followed by Marvin Gaye or Barry White if you want to get laid) and in the words of Emeril LaGasse - BAM! Works almost everytime...

7. Tie Between Elliott Smith and Jeff Buckley

It would be so easy to lump these two artists together on the singular issue of their untimely deaths.  And perhaps it's true that we, as music lovers, worship our fallen princes when this immortal coil is cut before their time. But you know you're dealing with an important artist when each generation discovers them anew, and feels as if they've found the Holy Grail.  Everyone I  love to hang with all count these guys in their top ten of favorite artists, because they're exceptional songwriters of their times and beyond.

Why are They Important For Your Musical Education: Because albums such as From a Basement on a Hill (Smith) and Grace (Buckley) remain timeless classics, and they're like the Harvard University of songwriting. To use a culinary reference, they're both like the New American cuisine of the music industry...taking tried-and-true comfort food and pushing the flavor profile beyond its original confinement, yet still remaining recognizable and appreciated. That's the best way I can explain it.

6. Zero 7

Please accept my most sincere apology for not giving Zero 7 the write up they so aptly deserve sooner.  Hailing from the UK, Zero are a downtempo styled, electronic pop duo comprising Henry Binns and Sam Hardaker. The band's songs feature vocals from Mozez, Sia Furler, Tina Dico, Sophie Barker, José González, and for the first time, Henry Binns providing backing vocals on the third album, The Garden. There are many rumors about how the band got their name. The main yarn stems from a nightclub the duo visited in Honduras called 'Zero' which played only seven songs. Another rumor is that their name came from a nightclub they visited in Mexico, named Zero Siete.

In any event, buy all three of their albums and listen to them in order. And yes, they get better and better with each listen.

Why are They Important For Your Musical Education: Because they're just great, that's why.

5. The 60s Trinity: Jimi, Janis, and Jim

 In the beginning, the music and the drugs were meant to serve as conduits towards higher consciousness. And for a while, it seemed to work for these three.  While there are many other artists who are an integral part of the free-lovin' 60s hippie movement, Jimi, Janis, and Jim wrote and performed some of the most original and powerful music ever created for the 60s and otherwise.

Period.

Unfortunately, each of them eerily died at twenty-seven years old and never knew when enough's enough.

Why are They Important For Your Musical Education: Because no one played a guitar like Jimi Hendrix (even Clapton was intimidated by him), no one sang the blues like Janis Joplin (except maybe Bessie Smith), and no one tapped into the darkness of the collective unconsciousness with his performances and lyrical arrangements better than Jim Morisson.

4. John Coltrane and Miles Davis

You kids are probably still too young to fully crawl into and appreciate jazz. Heck, I didn't have my great awakening until my thirties, so I get it.  However, I throw these guys down on the list for two reasons: (1) You should at least have heard of these guys. Nothing's more annoying to your elders (ahem) than to mention an iconic figure of the 20th century and to have you little lambs just stare at us blankly and ask such nonsense like "who are The Beatles?" So, now you've heard of John Coltrane and Miles Davis. (2) I have a kernel of faith in my soul that there's a few cool kids out there who are ready for jazz. Consider this your grad school.

Why are They Important For Your Musical Education:  Because these two (and others) change the direction of jazz - considered the only genuinely American musical art form, BTW.  These guys steered jazz away from the catchy, b-bop, World War II/Dixie land bubble gum stuff towards a deeper, more introspective, and extemporaneous expression of not only the post-war and segregation African-American experience, but of the inherent ecstacy and turbulence for all of us during the mid-century (well, not me so much, I wasn't born until disco was king, but you get my long-winded point).

3. 70s and 80s Punk: The Sex Pistols, The Ramones, Black Flag, etc., etc...

Personal confession time: I'm not a big fan of punk rock. There's a few songs here and there from Black Flag, The Clash, and The Ramones that I like, but otherwise, no. I don't listen to this stuff regularly by any means. Born out of the UK and New York's underground music scene, punk reflected a larger-scaled fury from the people too poor and overworked to enjoy the decandent spoils of 60s hippy-rock and 70s disco.  Characters like Sid Vicious and Johnny Rotten yelled and spat and pissed on their audiences, but you got their point.  Not much immediately came of all of it, but it was certainly expressive nonetheless.

Why are They Important For Your Musical Education: Because you don't have to like it in order to appreciate the punk movement, and understand that all the rage and disdain for authority that's part of this genre served as a backdrop for my Generation X's irreverent atttitude towards the status quo.  Plus, where do the young um's think bands like Green Day and Good Charlotte (gag) got their mojo from, hmm? 

 2. U2

Let's get this other stuff out of the way first. Yes, U2 is about as mainstream and commercial as they get these days. And you know what? Who the fuck cares - why? Because they are one of the only bands in the history of music that I can think of that has continuously produced excellent music and has harnessed its popularity and appeal to sincerely change the world for the better.

Starting off as a quasi-Christian-inspired scruff outfit from Ireland, their early stuff from albums such as War  was pure-hearted protest music.  They're cleaned up and moved on since then, more apt to sing about the revolutions within our relationships than in Northern Ireland, but they got smart about it.  Instead of just singing - and inevitably capitalizing - on other's suffering and doing little, these guys keep the preaching at a minimum and are fighting global poverty as real power brokers.  For me, Bono is like the Christ of rock-n-roll, and I love worshipping at his concerts - which are still some of the best live shows I've seen.

Why are They Important For Your Musical Education: Because they prove better than anyone I can think of that music and activism can save us all.

1. You

Why you? Because in the end, rock-n-roll should be about what speaks to you, what serves as the personal soundtrack in your mental mix tape.  And of course, there's nothing more rock-n-roll than to tell your predecessors to kiss off. So I'll take the hint and leave it up to you ;-)

1. A song with an impressive intro: Stronger- Kanye West.

Who doesn't love some good Kanye West? Especially with a nice collaberation between him and Daft Punk? This makes for a lovely intro.
 
2. A song with a literary allusion: Peter Pan- Patrick Wolf

Patrick Wolf and Peter Pan, what a combination. Peter Pan was a book before the Disney Movie, but I'm sure you all knew that. So, this is my literary allusion. Patrick Wolf's music fits the part, I believe, with the violins and the beautiful melodies he manages to produce.

(I couldn't find this one, so, good luck with that. Sorry!)

3. A song released 20+ years ago: Guns of Brixton- The Clash

There were so many options for this one, but this song came on my iTunes when I was talking to Paul about it. Who doesn't love a little bit of The Clash? I know I do. The song was released in 1979.
 
4. A rap song that fits within the realm of hipsterness: Good Friday- Why?

Yoni Wolf once again produces a great song that manages to fit perfectly in this category. This song is a perfect blend of rap and hipsterism, sweet music to my ears. This song has racked up the plays on my iPod and my computer, so give it a listen.
 
5. A song by the first band you saw in concert: Take Me Home Please- Reggie and the Full Effect

I'm not going to comment. I could have gone the more embarrassing route and picked a My Chemical Romance song, but I have some pride. I was young and, surprisingly, it was a decent concert.
 
6. A song that mentions or alludes (clearly) to a historical figure: Cape Canaveral - Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band

Don't get me started on Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band again. I would have used this for #14, but I ended up using the Mystic Band and Bright Eyes by the time I got there. In this song, Socrates is mentioned and a Greek philospher, though in a different way, still counted. 
 
7. A song employing a foreign language either in part or whole: Qué Onda Guero -Beck

When we decided on this track, I thought this would be difficult. But then I remembered good old Beck. So, Beck was chosen for this track. 
 
8. A song that describes your hometown: Devil Town- Daniel Johnston

What a perfect song to describe my hometown. This song  just fits everything that is my hometown. It was covered by Bright Eyes and is featured on his album, Noise Floor Rarities. Daniel Johnston's original is wonderful, but the cover is almost just as good. I recommend both.
 
9. A song that mentions fruit: Lime Tree- Bright Eyes

I surprisingly had many, many options for this one. I was going to use "Peach Plum Pear," a cover by Final Fantasy, but I decided on this one. There was also another Bright Eyes song, "Bowl of Oranges." Fruit is clearly mentioned in the title.
 
10. The most heart wrenchingly sad song you know: Trouble (Cover) - Elliott Smith

There were so many options for this one, and I think I had to change it at least five times. This one won it though. Elliott Smith's cover of the Cat Stevens song is brilliant and heart-wrenching, but you can't help but listen to it. It brings tears to my eyes every time.

11. A song containing alliteration: On the Bus Mall- The Decemberists

The alliteration varies in this song, switching between verses. I read the lyrics and found the examples and the pattern seems to be two or three words with the same letter. Makes for lovely alliteration, if I do say myself.

(I only could find covers and since I didn't feel like listening to them all, you can find it. Plus, a cover is hardly ever as good as the original.)

12. An unlikely cover: Hurt- Johnny Cash ( Originally a Nine Inch Nails song)

Nine Inch Nail's song, "Hurt" is a great song to begin with. Then, Johnny Cash comes and makes it incredible. He took the song and changed it, for the better. It is beautiful and full of emotion and one of the best songs, ever.

13. A song that name drops another artist: Grace Kelly- Mika

Another song that gave me some trouble, but then I thought back and this song popped out. Freddy Mercury is name dropped and this is a fun little tune that gets stuck in your head.

14. A song by the band you most swoon over: Music When the Lights Go Out- The Libertines
 
Conor Oberst would be in this place if I didn't use him already. However, The Libertines are a close second, as the whole band is lovely. So, Pete Doherty may be a heroin addict and doesn't hang out with the best people, and maybe Carl Barat was a bit hypocritical when he kicked Pete out of the band as he was on coke, but lets face it: they are some of the most attractive men in the world. They both earned a place on the Top 5 in my book. You may argue, but this is my opinion. They're hot, and their music is great, even in the spin-off bands, Dirty Pretty Things and Babyshambles. 

15. A song about endings: Casimir Pulaski Day- Sufjan Stevens

Another song that almost made it into the saddest song category, but I decided it was fitting to be here as well. This song is beautiful and sad, pretty and meaningful. A classic example of Sufjan Stevens, and if you haven't heard this song, you better listen.

So, there it is! My response. Man, that was fun. Sorry that the videos are iffy, but most of the songs are there! Have a ball, folks.