Psycho A Go Go

I'm fairly sure the less I say about this video the better. Except that this era seems too good to be true; Music wise, dance wise, and cage wise.

Song 161: The Sonics - Psycho

They Spinnin'

Today I am going up to Syracuse for my brother's college graduation. Don't worry everything is already set up for the weekend. I guess its just a Farewell Friday here at Every Day, Another Song. Enjoy one of my favorite Soul/RnB turned Disco groups, The Spinners.

Song #160: The Spinners - Working My Way Back to You

The Keymaster

If you watch Martin Scorsese's film The Last Waltz, you learn that in exchange for joining The Band, keyboardist Garth Hudson asked each member to pay him 10 dollars a week. It turns out he was telling his parents that he was teaching these guys Piano so they wouldn't think he was wasting his classical talents. In my opinion he made a better use of them then just doing dusty old Bach recitals in Canada.

(Photo by Watt Casey, Jr.)

How about the shape those Keyboards are in huh?


Song #159: The Band - The Shape I'm In (From The Last Waltz)

If It Ain't Broke

The other day my alarm went off and played a song I was immediately drawn to, even in my extremely cranky and vulnerable first moments of the day. I ran into the other room and grabbed my iPhone, clicked the Shazam App and put it up to the alarm clock. 10 seconds later I discovered it was a really current sounding group called Broken Bells. I set that information aside for a few days until I went and grabbed the album.

Since I was so out of it when I first heard them, I had the unique opportunity to give it a "second-first" listen and I was still incredibly impressed. It sounded vaguely familiar though, as if it wasn't a full band but instead a "project" where one guy probably lays the instrumental track and another guy sings. Then I even  recognized the distant, distorted voice as someone I had heard before, but I just couldn't place it. It loosely reminded me of the vocals on Magical Mystery Tour (specifically Blue Jay Way) but with more of an Indie/Emo twang, (as if George Harrison wasn't Indie, maybe even Emo too. Discuss?) so I eventually just assumed it was a knockoff of the Shins. Later when I finally subjected all these baseless assumptions to the ultimate answer box: the Interwebs, I discovered Broken Bells was actually a side project between the lead singer of The Shins, James Mercer, and famed online producer, DJ Dangermouse (of Gnarls Barkley, Gorillaz, DangerDOOM and The Grey Album fame). I guess I was pretty right. Some of the album sounds really derivative of Dangermouse and Mercer's other projects but for the most part, the combination of those wailing Indie lyrics with the one man band that is Dangermouse is probably one of the best albums I've heard all year. The single, The High Road, is out of this world, musically that is... the beginning sounds like interstellar communication from a race beyond.

Song #158: Broken Bells - The High Road

Redbone

I've been listening to this band made up entirely of Native Americans. That's why I was surprised when they played that Cajun style thang.

Song #157: Redbone - Crazy Cajun Cakewalk Band

Dubbed on Both Sides

Biggie Sunday yesterday was usurped by Mother's day. So just like the last time this happened we will have to smoosh Biggie Sunday and Rasta Mon Day together. Luckily I just found this Album of Mos Def Reggae Remixes from a producer named Max Tannone. On one hand, this song features one of my favorite tracks off the Harder They Come Soundtrack, Johnny Too Bad by the Slickers chock full the ultimate rhythm section Sly and Robbie. On the other, Mos Def fires off what I think is a sick freestyle called Beef. I really love this first track. Listen to the rest of the album here.

Song #156: Mos Dub - Johnny Too Beef by Max Tannone

A Blog from My Mom on Mother's Day

As the only female in our house while your host, Matthew and his little brother  David were growing up (even the turtle was a boy), I felt it my sacred duty as their mother to teach my sons about “the fairer sex."

Men always think we’re impossible to understand, too confusing and unpredictable. I’ll let you in on a little secret – we’re much simpler than you think. And, if you’re honest, you probably want the same things we do. Since this is “Every Day Another Song,” let me explain in music.

• We want you to love us for who we really are and to tell us that we’re wonderful, beautiful, smart, capable, and always desirable (don’t you want that, too?) 

• We want mutual respect and support – a real partner and cheerleader.

• We want us to want the same things – have the same dreams and goals in life.

• We want fun and romance. Remember those birthdays, anniversaries, “just because.” days, and a slow dance every so often.

And, while I don’t believe love is enough to sustain a long-term relationship all on its own, it surely is the basis of one – and, after all, we could all use a guardian angel.

So, guys, on this Mother’s Day and always, I…

 .

Love and kisses,
Mom

Song #155: A TON... Including but not limited to: Billy Joel - Just The Way You Are, Ethel Merman - Coming Up Roses, Ella Fitzgerald - Isn't It Romantic, Bing Crosby & Grace Kelly - True Love and Dean Martin - I Wish You Love