New Music Monday

 
I like music.

Yes, I do.

So when some new tunes come along, tunes which strike a chord, well ... happy camper me is more than willing to explore more.

Early this morning, I got a notification on   the Facebook of a new posting in one of the groups I haunt (Pacific Northwest XTC Fan Group) and one of its founding members, Phil Corless. Phil posted a song by a group I hadn't previously heard of before, Teleman, an English indie pop band formed in London half a dozen years ago from the ashes of Pete And The Pirates.

The song in question - Düsseldorf - is a catchy little number that not only got my toe tapping but spurred me onward to more of their output.

I've only gotten a couple tunes under my belt so far this morning but I look forward to streaming more from them while at work today.

For your dining and dancing pleasure, here are a couple for your perusal. Please enjoy.

.......... Ruprecht ( STOP )

T-Shirt Collection: Gorillaz

Birthday present from my most recent celebration: A brand new Gorillaz shirt showcasing their 5th studio album "Humanz."

Another day, another addition to my T-shirt collection ...

.......... Ruprecht ( STOP )

Nine Inch Nails Revisits John Carpenter's Halloween Theme

Admittedly, a lot of cool films came out in the 1970s. And especially when I was in high school: Star Wars, Jaws, Alien, Close Encounters Of The Third Kind, Logan's Run, Animal House, Apocalypse Now, Superman, Rocky and, of course, John Carpenter's Halloween.

As teens, we did a lot of movie watching, a majority of it at the Puente Hills Mall in Rowland Heights, California, east of downtown Los Angeles. (It was this same mall where Back To The Future would later be filmed in the mid-1980s.) And, while I'm not completely certain, it was probably at this mall I caught Halloween when it debuted in late October of 1978.

The film (which would eventually establish itself as one of the true horror classics, one which still stands up today) was on the top of our list to see that Halloween season. It was terrifically creepy, it was responsible for initiating my love affair with Jamie Lee Curtis (her first starring role as a matter of fact) and would cement its theme in my head for years to come.

Today, Friday the 13th, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross of the band Nine Inch Nails have re-imagined the film's main theme. How convenient and how appropriate. I've been a NIN fan from the very start when they released their debut album Pretty Hate Machine back in 1989. Since that time, Reznor (the only constant mainstay of the group in all their incarnations) has released a bevy of NIN records and EPs, won a couple Grammy Awards for his efforts and even managed (along with Ross) to garner an Oscar for Best Original Score for 2010's The Social Network.

So how does NIN's version of the Halloween theme stack up to the original? Pretty well truth be told. It's understandably polished from the 1979 original but with clear reverence to Carpenter's composition without too many added extras. My biggest critique? It's overly long. Clocking in at the better part of eight minutes, it becomes rather tedious around the five minute mark. That's not to say there aren't some nice flourishes, eerie backgrounds and swells that add to the ambiance of the track. But it's a bit of an effort to sit through in its entirety. 

Both Carpenter's original along with NIN's update are provided here for your dining and dancing pleasure. Please enjoy as All Hallow's Eve rapidly approaches.

.......... Ruprecht ( STOP )

Prince Story

With the surprising and unexpected passing of one of rock and roll's most singular voices, my "Prince" story isn't really mine at all.

It is. But indirectly.

In actuality, it's my son's story. But he's my son so I have the right to write about it.

In early 1991, Sinéad O’Connor released "Nothing Compares 2 U" (originally written by Prince). It made waves when it debuted, the accompanying video saw massive airplay on MTV (Music Television) and was a worldwide #1 hit in many countries. O'connor's video lent a striking take to the music, the majority of it involving nothing more than her bald and powerful portrait singing to the camera. It was polarizing. For me, that was part of its appeal.

And it was for my son as well.

When the video appeared, it didn't matter what he was doing at the time. He dropped his toys. He quit jumping around. He became still, silent as a tomb and was motionlessly transfixed to the television screen, wide-eyed while watching the song play out. I watched him often during these times; he barely seemed to breathe.

Despite the fact he wasn't even two years of age, I don't mind bragging I did a good job of introducing him to all sorts of music to fill his mind and fuel his imagination. Some favorites included BTO ("Takin' Care Of Business"), The Cramps ("Chicken") and a heaping helping of oldies, Bowie and lots and lots of standards.

But it was always "Nothing Compares 2 U" that isolated the child into single-minded focus, no matter how many times the video played on the screen.

To this day, I don't know if he even remembers that. I'm going to have to ask him ...

.......... Ruprecht ( STOP )

 

T-shirt Collection: Bob Marley

Musical guy that I am (claim to be), don't you think I would sport a Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley shirt in my collection?  Why but of course.

Get Up, Stand Up.

.......... Ruprecht ( STOP )

Genre Shift

Earlier in the week, I was privy to a most interesting segue on the radio.

Here it is in all its interestingness ...

You're welcome.

.......... Ruprecht ( STOP )

The Theatre Of The Obvious - Cause Of Death

Ladies & Gentlemen:


For your dining and dancing pleasure, may I present ... The Obvious:

.......... Ruprecht ( STOP ) 

It's The Same Old Routine ... But It Never Gets Old

It’s the same old routine … every road trip.

But it never gets old.

“I don’t like any of these,” she says.

“Yes. You do,” I respond.

“Which one? I don’t recognize any. Are you sure?”

“Yes. I’m certain. Put on any of the World Party discs and you’ll see. You especially like the songs on 'Egyptology'.”

“I think you’re wrong,” she states emphatically.


In my mind I prepare to start counting as soon as the first tune begins to play. I have a personal goal to meet, you see, as I rarely get to count up to the number 15 before she let’s on she does know what's playing.

The CD is slipped into the player and I begin to count.

At the 11 second mark comes the revelation: “Okay. Maybe you're right. I know this one …” She can't but help break out into a grin.

I look over, smile back at her and tell her I love her.

We'll gladly repeat this routine again in a couple weeks on our next trip .....

................... Ruprecht ( STOP )

50 Bands

Rupe was intrigued at Clark Brooks challenge in listing 50 Artists or Bands I've seen in concert.

The Rules: List the first 50 acts that come into your head. An act you saw at a festival counts, as do opening acts count, but only if you can't think of 50 other artists. In addition, list the first concert you ever saw.

This was pretty much a breeze for me ... but I see where it could get difficult for many. I got stuck a few times after 45, but an additional couple dozen came flooding in after I went to bed .....


1. DEVO
2. The Cure
3. The Cramps
4. David Bowie
5. Depeche Mode
6. Flock Of Seagulls
7. Lyle Lovett
8. Queen
9. Lenny Kravitz
10. Frank Black
11. Tears For Fears
12. Crowded House
13. Stan Ridgway
14. Oingo Boingo
15. Annie Lennox
16. Sting
17. Peter Gabriel
18. Sweet Pea Atkinson
19. Booker T. & The MGs
20. Tones On Tail
21. The Police
22. The Clash
23. The The
24. 3 Dog Night
25. BTO
26. Wall Of Voodoo
27. The Blasters
28. The Reverand Horton Heat
29. Johnny Lang
30. Adam & The Ants
31. Thompson Twins
32. Stray Cats
33. The Fenigans
34. The Orb
35. Pet Shop Boys
36. El Vez
37. Mojo Nixon
38. The Doobie Brothers
39. The Gore Gore Girls
40. Men At Work
41. Tracy Chapman
42. Klaus Nomi
43. Grizzly Bear
44. Dick Dale
45. Haunted Garage
46. Dramarama
47. The B-52s
48. Love & Rockets
49. Graveyard Farmers
50. Andy Prieboy




First band I ever saw live? During high school years, Adam & The Ants at the Hollywood Bowl with my cousin.

........................ Ruprecht ( STOP )