A Cause For Attention
Artists Against Hunger and Poverty release a compilation for a great cause.
This week: World Hunger Year (WHY), and Artists Against Hunger & Poverty - The SERVE2 Compilation
A music collection is not complete without at least a few enjoyable compilation albums.
The holiday season has brought on the usual surge of bands covering Christmas songs (and I happily admit to owning quite a few), but World Hunger Year (WHY) has done something different...Posted by Leen Morrissey on Dec 06, 2007 @ 12:00 am
Takin' You Back
Old musicians can make new music, too.
People tend to forget the aging rock stars that are past their prime, usually forgot for good reason. However, sometimes new material from old musicians can be downright incredible. Give these tracks a listen because I'm sure you will be able to appreciate them.
Bob Dylan - Workingman's Blues #2 - Released in 2006, Modern Times was another solid Bob Dylan release from this last decade. His voice has deteriorated (although it was never very good to begin with) and from what I hear he just plays a keyboard on stage live; but this is a great tune.
Bruce Springsteen - O Mary Don't Weep - For those who aren? aware, The Seeger Sessions, which was released in 2006, is the first covers album The Boss has ever done. All of the tracks are folk singer Pete Seeger originals. Springsteen heads up a 13-piece band of reinterpretations of Seeger's songs. For those who enjoy Bruce Springsteen, this album is a must have.
Nick Drake - They're Leaving Me Behind - The song is old but the release is new. Family Tree is a compilation of unreleased home recordings. The album is hit-and-miss with some low quality, 40 second long tracks. It is more of a piece of history than an artistic statement. Family Tree is certainly not essential but it is interesting.
Posted by Greg Herald on Dec 05, 2007 @ 12:00 am
We've Got You Covered
Sing us a Christmas song, The Polyphonic Spree.
There is something completely delightful about The Polyphonic Spree. It may be their cult like sense of togetherness that I've longed for my entire life, or the fact the robes they used to wear can't be anything short of breezy - which is something we all need in the summertime (this can not be said for their new black fatigues).
The Polyphonic Spree, more often than not, cover Nirvan's "Lithium" at their show live shows, turning the Cobain strained vocals into a pretty happy song. Happy is nothing new for the Spree - as every one of their songs seems like it was dosed with sunshine and choked with a rainbow. There is one particular song that isn't so happy, however, and it's their cover of "Happy Christmas (War Is Over)."Because of John Lennon, "Happy Christmas" would be nearly impossible to turn into something positive, as Lennon delivers the original in such a sad and thought provoking manner. Polyphonic Spree takes the same angle, but adds another element; defeat. The inflection of Tim DeLaughter's voice seems to tell the listener that war may indeed be over, but it will never go away. Take a listen, and get yourself depressed for the Christmas season.
The Polyphonic Spree - Happy Christmas (War is Over)
Posted by Wes Soltis on Dec 04, 2007 @ 12:00 am
And Now You Have...
Get to know Sig Transit Gloria
Sig Transit Gloria could be the quintessential band that had their music most accurately describe their career. Possibly the only band to ever be dubbed "keyboard-core," Sig Transit Gloria featured loud guitars, rapid drumming and some of the most hyperactive keyboarding you'll ever hear. The songs were aggressive and fast, much like their career. Sig Transit Gloria released one EP and one full length - and broke up shortly after the full length was released. They could be considered the biggest, "Have you heard of these guys?" band to come out of Chicago over the past decade - their legacy was over before it even had a chance to start.
There is a light pole on Lake Shore Drive that has a Sig Transit Gloria sticker on it. I often wonder if any former members drive by the sticker (they are from Villa Park, after all) and wonder if they should reform or not. Either way, this sticker has reminded me of their non-existence for the last couple of months.
"Chapter One" was featured on a RedLine Distribution sampler that I acquired several years ago. An angry song, Sig Transit Gloria wishes their "valentine" to please die over twenty five times. The moment the keyboard kicks in, you'll completely understand why they were solely and rightfully labeled as "keyboard-core."
Sig Transit Gloria - Chapter One
Posted by Wes Soltis on Dec 03, 2007 @ 12:00 am
Your Listening Pleasure
Daft Punk, Ariel Pink and The Gorillaz in this week's YLP.
Daft Punk - Television Rules The Nation/Crescendolls - Even from the music alone, Daft Punk's Alive 2007 spectacle proves why they are consistently hailed as one of the greatest electronic music acts of all time. Through remixing (almost) all of their tracks together into the ultimate DJ set, the duo manages to not only recontextualize their three widely different albums, but vastly improve on many of their lesser tracks...
Posted by Jason Prechtel on Nov 30, 2007 @ 12:00 am