May 29, 2004
Counterpoint #2
The counterpoint in this one is the horn solo well into the song--the trumpet and some other horn thing do a little dance together.
Posted by jimweed at 02:06 AM | Comments (0)
May 27, 2004
Counterpoint #1
This is the first track in a series of several tracks that all have some form of counterpoint. There are some tracks that have counterpoint but aren't that good and them ones will be excluded from this series. I'm only including ones what are good.
Counterpoint is the technique of combining two or more melodic lines in such a way that they establish a harmonic relationship while retaining their linear individuality. Kind of like two melodies dancing together. This first track is from Supergrass' second album In It For The Money and it's pretty amazing. The counterpoint in this song comes in when they sing the chorus.
Posted by jimweed at 09:08 AM | Comments (0)
May 25, 2004
On That Day
Slowreader - On That Day (video)
Slowreader - On That Day (AAC)
Here is a song and a video of that song. Both are under 2 minutes. Slowreader I first heard a while back when pitchfork started the free download foolishness (which is also how I first heard about the Unicorns). So pitchfork isn't all bad. When I first saw the video (thanks Keith) I was kind of "meh" but then the jitteriness of it caught my eye. Then I watched it again and there are many cool little things in it. So I kept watching it over and over. I bet they shot it in a few hours with a miniscule budget yet no shortcuts were taken. There are many favorite parts in this two minutes but the one that comes to mind right now is the gangly guy behind the singer--especially when the song ends.
Posted by jimweed at 02:03 PM | Comments (0)
May 24, 2004
Low Flying Owls
Low Flying Owls - Georgie Shot Johnnie
This is from the outfit that opened for Clinic. I thought they sounded pretty alright so I purchased a CD after the show. Not a good decision but I did like this one track. They looked like rock stars and that's usually not a good sign.
Also, my friend Keith told me the instrument the guy in Clinic plays that sounds like a harmonica is a melodica. Like the one in the picture below. Except the singer in Clinic had a two-foot long tube between the mouthpiece and the melodica.
Posted by jimweed at 09:24 AM | Comments (0)
May 21, 2004
Not Much Dissection Here
I saw them a couple of nights ago at Liquid Joe's in SLC and it was really great. I'm having a tough time putting into words what it was like. The words the keep coming to my head are: hypnotic and ominous. Stupid words but they work in this context. Before they started there were all these cathedral bells getting louder. Then a bunch of Liverpudlian blokes dressed in scrubs and face masks walked through the crowd all business-like onto the stage and started into the show.
The singer was a very small man with a hole in his mask so he could sing. He also had this little keyboard instrument that he'd play by blowing through a tube attached to it--sounds kind of like a harmonica (anyone know what this is called? a philochord?). And those background falsetto vocals are from the bassist who is as big as the singer is small.
They are known for playing short sets--like 40 minutes. And true to form they played for 45 minutes. It has to do with leaving the crowd wanting more or something.
After the show I was talking to my friend Jody Cootie in front of the bar and after about a half an hour I saw Clinic walking out of their bus in their regular skids trying to sneak back into the bar inconspicuously. I made eye contact with a couple of them with a "Not so sneaky but I won't say anything to anybody" look in my eyes that they probably didn't understand or care about.
They really pull off the costume thing. I found the following on the internet:
Q: It adds to the mystery as well. Speaking of that, every picture I've seen of you guys you've been wearing masks. Where did the idea of the masks come from and why do you choose to wear them?
A: Very early on, I think we were really disillusioned with the egocentric nature of being in a band where there's this combination of different personalities who, almost like, stand up to the limelight. You go and see a band and you can cringe sometimes; there's sort of that "here comes the guitar solo, step into the spotlight." Please. It's more like breaking down the identity of the band into one giant glob rather than like, individual personalities. I think it's a great way of creating a bit of tension when you're watching a band play rather than that sort of individual … it almost distracts from the music when you're more interested in what the person's playing as an individual onstage.
Posted by jimweed at 06:15 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
May 18, 2004
Minimum Wage
Nerd anthem inspiration from another MP3 blog (I don't remember which one).
Posted by jimweed at 03:44 PM | Comments (2)
May 17, 2004
Nørdic Treasure
This is downbeat electronica which isn't really my thing. But this track is my thing. My brother is kind of into such so when I got a hold of this I was going to introduce it to him but he already had the CD. So there's that.
They are from Norway which, if this was an RPG, would be like a 3 point character attribute bonus. It reminds of the two other electronica outfits I enjoy: Groove Armada and Boards of Canada. I'm also "discovering" the Chemical Brothers for the first time.
Also, don't forget Iceland. Learn from it: Nói
Posted by jimweed at 05:23 PM | Comments (3)
May 16, 2004
Some Voices
Everybody gots something to say. So we will say it with music.
The concept is to make good things available to friends. In the future, when I secure the wherewithal and knowhow, I'd like to make this into a house where folk who are not me can also upload and share. So here is the first MP3:
I found this over to another MP3 blog (I don't remember which) and I love it more than my own life and I don't know why. It was recorded by Alan Lomax whom I know almost nothing about but was a documentarian of sounds and such.
Posted by jimweed at 11:46 PM | Comments (0)