Gonna go downtown

An interesting take on this song. It's pointlessly fast, that solo won't make anyone forget Jimi Hendrix and he doesn't seem to know the words. And he calls it a 'tribute'? Oh, those kooky '60's!

The Byrds -- 'Hey Joe' (from the Monterey Pop Festival)

It isn't hard to do

I just watched The U.S. vs. John Lennon. It could've worked as an examination of a celebrity desperate to do something useful (as if an abstract conecpt like peace could be moved like a product) or as an examination of a White House so paranoid that they harass pop stars (as if the society won't simply belch up another and another). Instead it fell in between, illuminating neither. And John Lennon is a subject for reverence so it is, of course, un-critical. (Left-wing-ers only critique the things they don't like--thus the source of their pointlessness--honestly, does anyone look to Gore Vidal for fair and balanced commentary?) So in the movie Lennon, far from coming off as a pacific visionary, felt like a drifting goofball of a guy propped up by hangers-on who had their own plans for his cult of personality. And the Nixon White House, while it was indeed a stunningly paranoid place, wasn't spending that much time on the guy--jeez, they act like Haldeman had absolutely nothing else to do than to keep tabs on Lennon's parking tickets. That said, it is an interesting narrative and has tons of good footage so I definitely give the film a thumbs up.

So what does that have to do with today's offering? Well, this video is a clever, well-made mish-mash of random political rhetoric combined with pop music, itself re-configured in a way the youth culture can get down with. I think John Lennon would've appreciated this. And Richard Nixon would've hated it. Good enough for me.

Mash-up of 'Walk on the Wild Side' & 'Imagine'

PS -- Since we're all looking for a pop star that really did make a difference in the lives of people--real people, not just overfed, over-confident fatass American suburbanites--then where are the lovingly crafted documentaries about this guy?

I'll give you my everything

This guy rules! Burke was an R&B man way back in the day (almost a 'crooner') and when that window of time passed, Burke didn't, he soldiered on for decades keeping the vibe alive. Here is a live performance and he is in fine form playing the title track from an album of a few years back that is one of my favorites of the time. Commanding attention from his throne he looks like a well-preserved version of Marlon Brando, no? The joyous and lovable version I presume.

Solomon Burke -- 'Don't Give Up On Me'

Who's gonna stop us?

Conspicuous consumption never looked so hip. Smooth mix all about getting ahead and living the good life only to be besieged by hangers-on and copycats. The cultural elite has gone through a demographic shift lately.

Clipse -- 'Mr. Me Too'

'You don't memorize it--you know it!'

Schoenberg is the tough stuff, a 20th century composer more interested in turning music inside out instead of continuing the mainstream fascinations and this piece is perhaps the pre-eminent example of piano complexity. Mitsuko Uchida is a fine player and listening to her talk shop is pretty cool.

Mitsuko Uchida talking about (and playing a bit of) Schoenberg's Piano Concerto Op.42

BONUS -- Here's an excerpt of Mitsuko Uchida playing Scoenberg

Everything depends on you

Nice little tune when you're waiting for the Powerpuff Girls to come save your ass.

Apples in Stereo -- 'Signal in the Sky'

Ever since the fire went out

Here's some live footage of Welch and Rawlings doing what they do best and it sounds pretty good. (Odd the advances in digital photography: digital video always makes you feel two miles away from what you're looking at but the sound is terrific. So the visual hasn't improved but the aural has…uh, okay) This is one of those classic songs everyone was waiting for them to do and here it is. But when will they finally do 'Love Lift Us Up Where We Belong'?

Gillian Welch (w/David Rawlings) -- 'Jackson'

To roam this wide world alone

I've been listening to this guy for years, its funny to actually see what he looks like. At first he doesn't look like what I thought he would. But, no, he kinda does. He looks like he could play a few tunes, knock back a coupla beers, pick up that 7-10 split, then play a few more tunes.

Bonnie 'Prince' Billy -- 'Goodbye Old Stepstone'

I don't know why

Some classic early footage of the Ramones before they were big--or even much of a band it seems like. Perhaps it’s the years of Howard Stern that's wormed into my brain but don't these guys seem like the quintessential New Yorkers? The sound isn't great but I suspect that's because the sound in the club was probably pretty awful.

The Ramones -- 'Judy is a Punk'

I'm a slave to work

Do you like British humour? You know, goofy-looking fat guys and hot chicks jumping in and out random doors and whatnot. Well, get ready for a treat, as a schlubby fish-and-chips-er gets relentlessly hounded by hot chicks for no apparent reason. Man, England looks like a beautiful place for ugly dudes with no money.

Belle & Sebastian -- 'Step Into My Office'

Discipline without the discipline

Caught these guys last weekend and they were killer. I'd never heard them before and was introduced by friends who brought a mixture of enthusiastic support and cold shouldered indifference, so I had no idea what to expect. This song is a hint but imagine it louder and faster and you get the idea. I found myself in a crowd of newby moshers: they had the energy but no sense of balance and an unrealistic need for personal space; it was a struggle at first but they grooved eventually. The band on the other hand grooved well from the gitty, so if you get the chance to see them in person I highly recommend these joes.

LCD Soundsystem -- 'Movement'

I'm not a rabbit!

This is about as close as I get to show tunes. Madeline Kahn doing the world weary Marlene Dietrich routine from Blazing Saddles. Good stuff. Not sure why it has the sub-titles. (Another example of a song from a movie that is otherwise not a musical, an odd preoccupation of mine)

Madeline Kahn (as Lili Von Stupp) -- 'I'm Tired'