Category: music

>anti-war songs

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>The 1960s (which really ran from about 1956 to 1974) produced some of the greatest anti-war songs. For example follow this link and look under Vietnam War. During the 1960s music played a huge part in how people thought and felt about the Vietnam War, war in general, and violence around the world. Today there is a War on Terror (whatever that means) and there is music being produced in response as well – follow that same link and look under 9/11, War on Terror, and Iraq. But, and tell me if I am wrong, the anti-war music of today is not yet anywhere near the cultural impact as during that famous previous era. Of course, neither is the anti-war movement itself.

Here are some ‘under the radar’ recent anti-war songs:

I have to say none of these songs do it for me. The first two are nice soul searching and sad, but so what? I want anti-war songs that shake it up, move me to action, rally the protesters, and most especially, songs that people can sing along to. The third song is a critique of U.S. foreign policy. Although I agree with some of the sentiments in that song, again it just doesn’t work. It doesn’t say anything new and the video is mostly distracting.

Maybe what needs to happen first is a stronger groundswell of anti-war sentiment. We need more protests, more action, more visible activity on the whole if we want songs that can rally us. And it should not have to be the old-timers from the sixties that lead the charge.

>the un-silence of silence

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>There are many significant musical works of the 20th century. Perhaps none more important than John Cage’s 4’33” Here is a wonderful performance of the seminal work:

And if you are wondering why the heck did Cage write such a piece, here he explains:

I do not know what I think of Cage’s philosophy. Much of my favorite art is 20th century abstract work, so I like Cage’s too. But I don’t know if I think it is music, or if is just sound that I like. I also don’t entirely agree with him that his sounds are merely sounds with no meaning or internal connection. To me his work seems both inner and outer, but maybe not is the same way we are used to more conventional art. Regardless, it speaks to his genius that compositions many decades old can still be considered avant garde.

>Baroque, Werkmeister, and Orbits

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>Consider the planets…

…and how they move.

And then consider the music of Bach, here performed by Glenn Gould:

There is a connection of sorts between the two. That connection would be Andreas Werckmeister and his theories about music, mathematics, and the orderly movement of the planets.

And then consider the opening scene from the Werckmeister Harmonies:

I cannot say I have any comments – except to say it is interesting to put these different pieces side by side.

>Fleet Foxes, Black Cab Seesions, and Daniel Johnston

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>So I missed the local concert a couple of days ago of Fleet Foxes. But once upon a time they rode around in a black British cab and recorded this:

And just for giggles, if you like British black cab music, check out these other sessions (in fact, you must):

Finally, the incomparable Daniel Johnston:

In case you hadn’t guessed already, there’s a whole lot more of those black cab sessions on line.

>Margot and the Nuclear So & So’s

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>Here’s a band I hadn’t heard of, but now want to see real bad.

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2399745&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2398667&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2397829&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1

I swear I see Ben Bridwell of Band of Horses in the crowd.

>another meme

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>Anything to do with creating fake band album covers piques my interest. There is a meme going around facebook lately that has the instructions listed below. Here is my cover:

1 – Go to Wikipedia. Hit “random… Read More”
or click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random
The first random Wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.

2 – Go to Quotations Page and select “random quotations”
or click http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3
The last four or five words of the very last quote on the page is the title of your first album.

3 – Go to Flickr and click on “explore the last seven days”
or click http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days
Third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.

4 – Use Photoshop or similar to put it all together.

5 – Post it to FB with this text in the “caption” or “comment” and TAG the friends you want to join in.

>that ribbon of highway

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>The inauguration was a great day filled with many notable moments. The clip below has got to be of one of the best:

God bless Pete Seeger.

>Mingus 1964, Mingus 1974

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>Observations of Charles Mingus, 10 years apart:

Live in Norway, Part 1, 1964

Live in Norway, Part 2, 1964

Umbria Jazz Festival, 1974

>Au revoir 2008

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>

May you all have a wonderful and blessed new year!

Musical Bonus:
Here’s Au Revoir Simone on the streets of New York performing Stay Golden:

http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/xlgmw

I know it’s kinda random, but “au revoir” is in their name, and it’s good music, and it’s fun to see them walking in New York singing.

>yes they CAN

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>

Where has CAN been all my life? I love experimental rock/fusion. You know, that kind of music that you can mind-meld into while it drives everyone else crazy? On a whim I picked up four of their disks at the library today and then subjected my family to several tracks while driving home. At one point I stopped the music and my littlest yelled out “more music!” That’s my girl. My wife said it was “interesting.”

CAN was the quintessential krautrock group and a seminal band of the experimental rock genre. Their past works continue to garner critical praise. They never gained huge monetary success, but have become one of the most influential bands in history. But I never knew who they were until now.

Here are a few videos of the band doing its cool thing:

Mother Sky, 1970:

Paperhouse, performed live for German TV in 1972:

Bring Me Coffee or Tea, 1972:

Halleluwah, 1972:

Sing Swan Song, 1973 in Paris:

from a 1971 documentary: