Let's go dark wave on this 80s Thursday. I was always intrigued by Clan of Xymox (AKA Xymox), but never really owned any of their records until a few years ago when I got 1989's Twist of Shadows from a now defunct CD trading site (RIP Lala.com). I can't say I listen to it often, but it's certainly filled with electro-gothy goodness. Here's the video for Twist of Shadows' highest charting single.
20 June 2013
19 June 2013
19 June 2013 - Morris Day & The Time - Jungle Love
Few people can successfully steal the spotlight from Prince. Morris Day, however, did just that in Purple Rain. He truly stole the show. And this song, from their 1983 album Ice Cream Castle, was one of the highlights of that.
Here's what you don't know, though. The song, cowritten by Morris Day and Jesse Johnson, was performed on record by three artists. Morris Day provided the vocals, Jesse Johnson some guitar.... and Prince Rogers Nelson himself played the rest. There is some debate over whether Johnson even did guitar! Day was required to follow Prince's vocal track note for note. Since they were signed to Prince's label, he had full creative control.....
....which led to tension and a rift between Prince and The Time, who were themselves accomplished musicians and producers.
But forget about all that drama for five minutes. Listen to this great, funky song!
Here's what you don't know, though. The song, cowritten by Morris Day and Jesse Johnson, was performed on record by three artists. Morris Day provided the vocals, Jesse Johnson some guitar.... and Prince Rogers Nelson himself played the rest. There is some debate over whether Johnson even did guitar! Day was required to follow Prince's vocal track note for note. Since they were signed to Prince's label, he had full creative control.....
....which led to tension and a rift between Prince and The Time, who were themselves accomplished musicians and producers.
But forget about all that drama for five minutes. Listen to this great, funky song!
18 June 2013
18 June 2013 - New Radicals - You Get What You Give
"Fashion shoots with Beck and Hanson/Courtney Love and Marilyn Manson/You're all fakes run to your mansions/Come around we'll kick your asses." It's lines like that from You Get What You Give that are sorely missing on modern rock radio today.
The New Radicals should have been HUGE. Certainly this song was. But somewhere between the release of the first two singles off of Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too, the band's leader, Gregg Alexander, decided he'd much rather be the man behind the scenes (producing and writing for others). Good for him, but I often wonder what could have been. Well, at least we got this late 90s gem.
The New Radicals should have been HUGE. Certainly this song was. But somewhere between the release of the first two singles off of Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too, the band's leader, Gregg Alexander, decided he'd much rather be the man behind the scenes (producing and writing for others). Good for him, but I often wonder what could have been. Well, at least we got this late 90s gem.
17 June 2013
17 June 2013 - The Jets - Crush On You
The eight eldest children (of 17!) of the Wolfgramm family from Minneapolis, MN, decided to start a band. From 1986, this family band had a cute, innocent hit song. It would not be their only hit, but it was their first big one.
The song itself was pretty standard pop/R&B that was appropriate for the era, but it was less sleazy... more innocent than its contemporaries. The video continued the theme of innocence, and showed eight brothers and sisters just having a good time performing a fun, lighthearted song about the confirmation of a crush.
And yes. They were named after the gang from "West Side Story."
The song itself was pretty standard pop/R&B that was appropriate for the era, but it was less sleazy... more innocent than its contemporaries. The video continued the theme of innocence, and showed eight brothers and sisters just having a good time performing a fun, lighthearted song about the confirmation of a crush.
And yes. They were named after the gang from "West Side Story."
14 June 2013
14 June 2013 - Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out
I couldn't tell you when I first heard this song. I know it is indispensable for me now.
The song starts off very guitar-heavy, and somewhat light musically. Lyrically, it's about shooting someone, so not so light. But then, about 50 seconds in, the song, while remaining guitar-heavy, adds a heavy drum and bass piece. And the tempo and feel of the song changes strongly, and not to the lighter. It's a well constructed song, and I like how it so seamlessly changes like that after such a long time. There's a third change, which goes more to the jangle-pop sound that is so core to the band.
The song starts off very guitar-heavy, and somewhat light musically. Lyrically, it's about shooting someone, so not so light. But then, about 50 seconds in, the song, while remaining guitar-heavy, adds a heavy drum and bass piece. And the tempo and feel of the song changes strongly, and not to the lighter. It's a well constructed song, and I like how it so seamlessly changes like that after such a long time. There's a third change, which goes more to the jangle-pop sound that is so core to the band.
13 June 2013
13 June 2013 - Yazoo - Don't Go
I was flipping through some stacks of vinyl last night (desperately trying to organize them . . . to little avail) when I came across Upstairs at Eric's, the fantastic debut by Yazoo (Yaz). I can't even remember the last time I played it and probably should have put it on, but I was immersed in the latest records by Steve Earle and Billy Bragg (and a pretty intense 3 OT hockey game). It's not like I haven't heard it before. What I haven't heard, though, is the new Alison Moyet record (The Minutes) which came out last month. Need to get on that one as I hear it's quite good.
12 June 2013
12 June 2013 - Primitive Radio Gods - Standing Outside A Broken Phone Booth With Money In My Hand
So far, I think this is the longest titled song we've featured on this blog. A Top 10 hit in 1996, it certainly isn't the hit song with the longest title of all time (we won't even go there), but it is long enough to be frequently abbreviated or abridged.
The song itself is very simple, with a heavy drum and bass accompaniment alongside mournful lyrics and a repeated sample from the B.B.King song "How Blue Can You Get?" But all these simple components together make a very dense and complex song that draws you in again and again.
The song itself is very simple, with a heavy drum and bass accompaniment alongside mournful lyrics and a repeated sample from the B.B.King song "How Blue Can You Get?" But all these simple components together make a very dense and complex song that draws you in again and again.
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