Kyrie!

Hey folks!


I know that I haven't posted for a while. I have no excuse except the usual ones. Oh well. Suck it up.


Anyway, though, today I'm taking a break from my norm, and posting an explicitly religious song. It's an unusual one, however, and I think that even those of you who aren't Christian can really appreciate it. One reason I'm posting it today is because I'm actually in Austin, Texas (my first time in Texas!) and here with my friend at the True Vineyard office. True Vineyard does great work for women who have been left widowed in Rwanda. You should definitely check them out and help support their mission. Buy some of the REALLY cool things that these women (and others throughout Africa) make to support themselves here.
So, in honor of them and all the work they do in Africa:


GOOD SONG: Kyrie sung by Les Troubadours du Roi Baudouin, arr. by Father Guido Haazen

Happy face!

The Missa Luba was a version of the Catholic Latin Mass (so all the words of the songs are in Latin, or some Greek-- like the words of this song "Kyrie, Eleison") that was put together by a Belgian priest named Father Guido Haazen after he traveled to Belgian Congo (now Democratic Republic of the Congo) in the 1950's. The words may all be Latin, but the style is 100% Congolese. It's a great testament to how cultures can blend beautifully and successfully. The version that I linked to, I believe, is the original boys choir that Fr. Haazen assembled, that toured all over the place. The version that I grew up with is actually a slightly later recording, done by the Muungano National Choir from Nairobi, Kenya, which is also really beautiful.

I think that even if you're not Catholic or religious at all, you can really hear the beauty in this song. Their young voices are so pure and gorgeous, and the call and response is cool. 

If you liked this song, definitely check out the Sanctus, too. Stunning. Love the percussion.

Enjoy!

Over and out,

Anna

Let the air waves flow...

I'm back from my month-long blog hiatus. I had a serious existential (or rather blogistential) crisis in which I questioned the value of blogging, whether I wanted to continue, and tried to figure out why I haven't been listening to that much music recently (one big problem: I have so much music on my computer that the guy at the Apple store said I just shouldn't have iTunes open if I want my computer to run properly. Sigh.)


Not all my questions have been answered, but I didn't like being gone for so long. So, I'm back for now, with a new GOOD SONG!

And miles to go before I sleep...

GOOD SONG: Midnight Mile by Lee Fields & The Expressions (original by the Rolling Stones)


This song is from the Lee Fields & The Expressions album "Faithful Man" which came out just a few weeks ago. He sings with the in-house band of his label (Brooklyn's Truth & Soul), who also have played with Adele, Aloe Blacc, Jay-Z, etc. So they're pretty damn good. Which is fitting, since Lee Fields is into his fifth decade of recording and deserves some good musicians backing him up. It's kinda crazy, since he's been making great music for ages, and yet he doesn't even have his own wikipedia page! How crazy is that? Someone should get on that....


His original songs on the album are really fantastic (like the song "You're the Kind of Girl") but I totally fell for this song Rolling Stones cover. It's from their album Sticky Fingers, and it really works as a soul song, even with it's strange, poetic verses seemingly about isolation on the road. 
I love the lyrics:


"When the wind blows and the rain feels cold
with a head full of snow
with a head full of snow
In the window there's a face you know
Don't the night pass slow
Don't the night pass slow

The sound of strangers sending nothing to my mind
Just another mad mad day on the road
I am just living to be lying by your side
But I'm just about a moonlight mile on down the road

Made a rag pile of my shiny clothes
Gonna warm my bones,
Gonna warm my bones
I got silence on my radio
Let the air waves flow,
Let the air waves flow
For I'm sleeping under strange strange skies
Just another mad mad day on the road
My dreams are fading down the railway line
I'm just about a moonlight mile down the road

I'm hiding sister and I'm dreaming
I'm riding down your moonlight mile
I'm hiding sister and I'm dreaming
I'm riding down your moonlight mile
There I go now coming home now baby
Yeah, there I go now coming home now baby
Yeah, I'm coming home 'cause

I'm just about a moonlight mile on down the road
On down the road, down the road."


It's an interesting choice for a R&B artist to cover, and he does it amazingly well. He gives it a sort of haunting feel, with a heartbeat rhythm to it. That quavering flute in the background is supernatural. It definitely feels like a song to listen to it in the car in the rain, with the wipers on. 


If you liked this song, you might also check out:
Al Green
Otis Redding
Sharon Jones
James Brown
Eli Paperboy Reed

Over and out,
Anna

Sweet Darlin' Girl (A Good Love Song is Hard To Find, Post #2)

I know I missed Valentine's Day. Oh well. Here is another beautiful, wonderful, true love song.

Such a baby face.

GOOD LOVE SONG: Believer by Ben Kweller

This song has some of the beautiful lyrics out there. Here they are in their entirety:

"When you're hurt you heal others.

When you're in need you give.
Because of you I am living the most that I can live.

Oh, sweet darling girl
I'm so glad you found me.
Oh, sweet darling girl
Your power surrounds me.

Remember me, don't forget me,
I have something true.
My path is dark, my steps uncertain, 

Unless I walk with you.

Oh, sweet darling girl
I'm so glad you found me.
Oh, sweet darling girl
Your power surrounds me.

Your power...surrounds me.

You speak to me without speaking.
You touch so I can feel.
With your strength I am stronger, 

at last I know I'm real.

Oh, sweet darling girl
I'm so glad you found me.
Oh, sweet darling girl
Your power surrounds me.

Your power...Oh...

Whoa... sweet darling girl
I'm so glad you found me.
I'm so glad that you found me, yeah you did
And your power surrounds me."

You get a real sense of this woman's beauty and goodness, without any reference to her physical attraction or sexiness or what have you. Kweller has really penned a tribute, not just a love song. It's amazing. And it gets stuck in your head, too. I think the song must be about his wife, Lizzy, who he married a few years back and has two kids with. 

Ben Kweller got into music ages ago with his band Radish, but then hit it big with his solo album "Sha Sha" that came out in 2002. A few more albums have come out since, and his new one "Changing Horses" is due out soon. His voice sounds pretty young and teenage-y, even though I'm sure he's long past his teenage years now. While I don't usually like that type of voice, for some reason, I still like him. This song, though, is definitely one of his deeper and more mature ones.

Enjoy!

If you liked this song, you might also check out:

Ben Folds (they've recorded together)

Guster

Ben Lee (they also have recorded together)

Rhett Miller/ Old 97's

Dr. Dog

Over and out,

Anna

A Good Love Song is Hard To Find, Post #1

So, like last year, this February is love-themed. It's not a unique or surprising theme, but well, I don't care. Suck it up. There's a lot of great music out there about love. This month I'm really trying to limit myself to songs that I think are about REAL love. Not lust. Not infidelity. Not infatuation. Not "liking." LOVE. LURRRRVE.

Dark and brooding much?

First one up: 
GOOD (LOVE) SONG: Into My Arms by Nick Cave


This song is truly one of the most beautiful love songs in the world. Nick Cave's deep, strong voice is amazing and all that, but the lyrics are what make this song amazing. Why so amazing? He speaks about doubt and faith, the desire to protect someone, to walk with someone in the right path, and being with someone forever. 
THAT'S what I'm talkin' bout.


Here are the lyrics, all of em (I couldn't just take one part):


"I don't believe in an interventionist God
But I know, darling, that you do
But if I did I would kneel down and ask Him
Not to intervene when it came to you
Not to touch a hair on your head
To leave you as you are
And if He felt He had to direct you
Then direct you into my arms

Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms

And I don't believe in the existence of angels
But looking at you I wonder if that's true
But if I did I would summon them together
And ask them to watch over you
To each burn a candle for you
To make bright and clear your path
And to walk, like Christ, in grace and love
And guide you into my arms

Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms

But I believe in Love
And I know that you do too
And I believe in some kind of path
That we can walk down, me and you
So keep your candles burning
Make a journey bright and pure
That you'll keep returning
Always and evermore

Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms."


Nick Cave is a badass. So is his band "The Bad Seeds."Nick Cave manages to sound like a lover, a preacher, a prophet, a homeless man, and a rock n'roller all at the same time. The man is incredible. A little background: he was born in Australia, sang in the choir as a boy, and now sings, writes poetry, writes novels, acts, paints, and does lots of cool things. Many of his songs delve into issues of belief/disbelief, sin/redemption, and love/hate. Although he doesn't identify himself as Christian or even strictly religious, he does admit that "there is some divine element going on" within his songs. He isn't afraid to touch the big questions. I HIGHLY recommend most of his stuff. I was going to post his song "Red Right Hand" for Halloween, but I got too lazy. Check it out if you're in for something dark and creepy...


If you liked this song, you might also like:
Tom Waits
Leonard Cohen
Lou Reed
Morphine


Over and out,
Anna

A morsel from Earle

Hey ladies and gentlemen!
I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while. I've been working on my school play and things got a bit crazy. So much for my New Years' Resolution, right?
I don't have a full-length post for you right now, but I just thought I'd shoot this one out there:

Justin Townes Earle's new album comes out March 27th, but you can listen to his new single "Nothing's Gonna Change the Way You Feel About Me Now." Unsurprisingly, it's a but of a melancholy song, but it's beautiful, and definitely worth a listen. I'm a huge fan of his and can't wait for his new album.

Here is this GOOD SONG:
"Nothing's Gonna Change the Way You Feel About Me Now" by Justin Townes Earle.

Nothing's gonna change and it looks like Justin just don't give a hoot.

Over and out,
Anna

Animal Lover

OK! Really trying to post more, like I said. 
Here goes:


GOOD SONG: Animal Life by Shearwater, from their upcoming album "Animal Joy" (due out next month).
A little bit about Shearwater first. The band's frontman, Jonathan Meiburg,  is obsessed with birds (like my dad!) so they named the band after the bird. A lot of their music has really interesting natural themes, especially bird themes. They focus a lot on the natural world, but not in an annoying, hyper-obsessed enviro-freak kind of way. I respect them for their fascinating and gorgeous and very well-crafted album covers, inserts, and other stuffs that go along with that. There is real craft going on here, folks, on many levels. Meiburg and bandmate Will Sheff were both members of the band Okkervil River, which is also based out of Austin, TX. Their sound is quite different, though, which you might not automatically have expected. Their fourth, fifth, and sixth albums (which were awesome) entitled "Palo Santo," " Rook," and "The Golden Archipelago" respectively, were a sort of trilogy. This new album is a departure from those. 


As for the song: I love Meiburg's voice. And the music builds and swells. I think it would be a good song to run to, if I ever did any running. 

I know. I don't get the tuxedo either. I like the bird, though.

If you liked this song, you might also check out:
The National
Wye Oak (Wye Oak opened for Shearwater)
Midlake
Coldplay (and Shearwater opened for Coldplay)


Over and out,
Anna


P.S. I love this little story about Meiburg coming to D.C.'s Smithsonian Museum:

"I had an amazing experience in D.C.," Meiburg says. "I went into the Natural History Museum and called up a scientist who works there who a paper of his I'd read 15 years ago about specimens of a giant, flightless, extinct bird of prey that he had discovered, basically. And sure enough, he was there, and he came down, and I talked to him about it for about 45 minutes. It was fantastic."

And that was an amazing experience?

"Oh, it was magical," Meiburg says. "I got to see the bones." (from npr.com)

Speak From Your Heart!

Hey there folks! Welcome to 2012. I hope you're prepared to listen to some good music while you wait for the end of the world to roll around.

I promise I will try to be better about posting more good music more regularly this year.

Speaking of good music, Porcelain Raft is releasing a new album "Strange Weekend" on January 24th. Here is a single off the upcoming album that I thought was a great tune. I love the refrain,
"And I don't wanna listen/
Unless you speak from your heart."

GOOD SONG: Unless You Speak From Your Heart by Porcelain Raft

Who is Porcelain Raft, you might well ask. Well, it's one dude whose name is Mauro Remiddi. He was born in Rome (one of my top five places in the world). And that's about all I know about him, folks. Sorry.

Apparently he looks like this.

If you liked this song, you might also check out:

Washed Out

Toro Y Moi

The XX

Panda Bear

Beach House

Over and out,

Anna

Best of 2011

Sorry this is a bit late...

Here are my favorite albums of 2011, in no particular order:

Laura by Diego Garcia
GOOD SONG: All Eyes On You

El Camino by the Black Keys (back again from last year!)
GOOD SONG: Gold on the Ceiling

Helplessness Blues by Fleet Foxes
GOOD SONG: The Shrine/An Argument

Stone Rollin' by Raphael Saadiq
GOOD SONG: Heart Attack

Bon Iver by Bon Iver
GOOD SONG: Michicant

The Rip Tide by Beirut
GOOD SONG: Goshen

Ceremonials by Florence & The Machine (back again from last year's list, too!)
GOOD SONG: Spectrum

There were a lot of other good albums from this year, and a lot of bad ones, too (I won't mention those) but I'd say these are the ones that I find myself listening to the most, and are consistently, track-to-track, good.


But what do YOU think??


Over and out,
Anna

A few Christmas songs for you...

I have pretty traditional tastes when it comes to Christmas carols. Here are some of my faves by one of my favorite choirs, The Cambridge Singers:

GOOD (CHRISTMAS) SONG: Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow
This is a great Christmas song that is also actually a very old spiritual that was sung by slaves. Once I realized that, the song made much more sense and was much more meaningful. The main singer would sing the verses and the other slaves would sing the refrain "Rise up, shepherd, and follow." It was a way for the slaves (who were forbidden to be educated and to learn how to read and write) to transmit the Nativity story. It's interesting, though, because according to the Gospels, it was the Magi who actually followed the star, whereas in the song, it's the shepherds. I think the slaves would have found the lowly shepherds easier to identify with and the words "Rise up" and "follow the star" would have resonated with them greatly (rising up out of the fields, following the North Star to safety, etc.). This song is AWESOME when sung by a men's choir. It is just made for it.

"The Shepherds Led by the Star Arriving in Bethlehem" by Octave Penguilly L'Haridon

GOOD (CHRISTMAS) SONG: Twas in the Moon of Wintertime
This song is also known as "The Huron Carol" and is Canada's oldest Christmas song! It was written by St. Jean de Brebeuf, a Jesuit missionary to the Huron tribe in Canada. He wrote it originally in the native Huron language, and it was then translated into English years later. It still refers to God as "Gitchi Manitou" which means God in Huron. Traditional nativity imagery is replaced by Huron imagery: Jesus being born "within a lodge of broken bark" "wrapped in a ragged robe of rabbit skin"and is adored by visiting chiefs who give him gifts of "fox and beaver pelt." I love that this great saint took the story of Christ's birth and made it accessible to the Native Americans he was working with in both language and imagery and still kept the mystery and sanctity of it clear.

"Rest on the Flight Into Egypt" by Luc Olivier Merson

GOOD (CHRISTMAS) SONG: I Wonder as I Wander
This song has an interesting story: unlike most traditional carols, which come from Germany or England or some other similar Northern European country, this song originates somewhere in Appalachian North Carolina. The composer John Jacob Niles heard a snatch of it being sing by a young girl dressed in rags, got it stuck in his head, and then elaborated upon it. I think it is lovely and haunting in its simplicity.

Hope you all have a very merry Christmas!

Over and out,
Anna

Thank you for holding

Thank you for holding on...
Sorry I've been a bit MIA recently. I'm back in action, though! More good music coming your way, just in time for Christmas!

Channeling the spirit of every awesome female singer ever is a hard job,
but somebody's gotta do it.

GOOD SONG: "Hold On" by the Alabama Shakes

This band is so good that they just made up this song, right on the spot, in a live performance, when one of the band members'  guitar string broke (hence the title "Hold On"). Say wha??

They're from Athens, Alabama, and so far have only put out a short four-song EP, but the full-length album is coming soon.  The lead singer and frontwoman Brittany Howard has the most amazing voice--  retro and kinda punky at the same time. So much soul! YES! But they can do much, much more than just soul/RnB. They can definitely also play some serious, unpretentious rock n' roll. I'm psyched for their album. Their song made it onto a Zales jewelry commercial, so I'm sure they will be hitting it big-time soon. Although maybe getting your song onto a holiday commercial before you've even released a full album counts as already hitting it big-time...

If you liked this song, you might also like:
Otis Redding
Sharon Jones
Raphael Saadiq
Rolling Stones
Kings of Leon
Janis Joplin

Over and out,
Anna

Everyone Loves Bobby D (Covers Month Post #4)

Yes! Making my four-post-a-month quota! Whoo-hoo!

Last post for COVERS MONTH:

GOOD (ORIGINAL) SONG: Lay Lady Lay by Bob Dylan

I am a HUGE Dylan fan (as anyone in their right mind should be, of course). I love this song, even though it doesn't sound like "normal" Dylan. It's from his 1969 album "Nashville Skyline," which shows off Dylan's amazing folk-song writing skills, but with much, much smoother-sounding vocals. Why? He quit smoking! And, boy, can you tell! All the songs on this album are FANTASTIC, I can't lie. This one is great, though. It's obviously slightly sexually charged (lay on his bed, yeah yeah, I get it), but still rather sweet to me. Maybe it's that he's calling her lady. My favorite line?

"Why wait any longer for the one you love

When he's standing in front of you?"

Oh yeah, and you gotta love the cowbell.

He's Norwegian. He's not comfortable singing if it isn't snowing.

GOOD (COVER) SONG: Lay Lady Lay by Magnet w/ Gemma Hayes

This one has a much sexier, fuller, more lustrous sound. Check out those violins! Magnet, a Norwegian singer, has chosen to make it into a duet with Irish singer Gemma Hayes, which totally works. Magnet (a.k.a. Even Johansen) has a smooth voice, too, but in a much different way than Nashville-Skyline-era-Bobby-D. I don't know how I'd describe it. Languid? Sleepy? Soft? And Gemma Hayes's voice has a nice, slightly husky twang to it. It's definitely worth a listen. I wouldn't say I like this song better than the original, but it gives it a run for its money. It's from his album 2003 "On Your Side," which I got when it came out, and have enjoyed since then. I'm a big fan of Norway's music scene. They've been producing a lot of great musicians for a while now. 

BEST MOVIE EVER!

I would be ashamed to make a post of great Dylan cover songs without mentioning the fantastic film "I'm Not There" (2007). I am a HUGE fan. It's great for Dylan fans, or anyone interested in music or film, for that matter. It's especially interesting if you have read Bob Dylan's book Chronicles, Volume One and/or seen the Fellini film "8 1/2." It makes a lot more sense if you have seen them. It's a very odd film.  

There are a TON of great covers of Dylan songs throughout the movie. In fact, the entire soundtrack is awesome Dylan covers by all sorts of musicians. Here is give you one of my favorite original/cover duos:

I beg to differ, Mr. Zimmerman.

GOOD (ORIGINAL) SONG: Moonshiner (live) by Bob Dylan 

From his album "Live at the Gaslight 1962" (recorded at the Gaslight, in Greenwich Village, a few blocks away from my house), this song is an old, old song. It's definitely not a Bob Dylan original. It's probably an American folk song, but some say it's Irish. Personally, given the use of the very American term "moonshine" I would say it's American. Whatever it is, it's melancholy and beautiful. This has his more recognizable voice. It is a heartbreaking song sung from the point of view of a lonely old alcoholic. 

"The whole world's a bottle,

and life's but a dram,

when the bottle get's empty,

it sure ain't worth a damn."

Moral of the story: you are what you drink, folks. 

"We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars."
-Oscar Wilde

GOOD (COVER) SONG: Moonshiner by Bob Forrest

Although it's hard for me to choose, I think this may be my favorite cover on the whole soundtrack. And that's saying a lot! Bob Forrest takes this song and OWNS it. The harmonica! Amazing! The percussion! Awesome! I love how everything kicks into gear after the line "Their breath is as sweet as/ a dew on the vine." I feel he gives the song more feeling than Dylan does, honestly. Given Forrest's long, public struggle with (and final victory over!) addiction, there may actually BE more feeling there. A sad song overall, but Forrest nails it, and makes it moving and new every time I listen to it. 

Go out and buy that soundtrack!!

If you liked these songs, you might also like:

Kings of Convenience

The Tallest Man on Earth

Neil Young

John Prine

Thelonious Monster

Over and out,

Anna

Preachers and Talking Heads (Covers Month Post #3)

Another great song and great cover:

I have to admit,"smarmy" is the first word that comes to my mind
when I see this photo.

GOOD (ORIGINAL) SONG: Take Me to the River by Al Green, from his album "Al Green Explores Your Mind."
This song is classic R&B/soul amazingness. It's clearly a "woman done did me wrong" sort of song, but with some baptismal overtones. I like the little dedication in the beginning.
Al Green (or the Reverend Al Green, as he is known now) is a living legend. He is one of the most famous soul singers of all time. He sold more than twenty million records! Insanity. Like me, he was the sixth child in his family, and unlike me, was the son of a sharecropper. In 1974, at the height of his career, things changed. Supposedly after a horrible incident with a girlfriend of his (who gave him serious burns and then killed herself), he became a preacher at Full Gospel Tabernacle Church in Memphis. He still does some recording, but his role as preacher remains first and foremost in his life. Perhaps this song was a hint of future baptisms to come...
His voice, high and strong, is sooooo good. I'm sure he is a fantastically charismatic preacher.

Gooftacular.

GOOD (COVER) SONG: Take Me to the River by the Talking Heads, from their album "More Songs About Buildings and Food"(great album title).
Theirs is quite a different version, which I can appreciate. I mean, what good is a cover song, really, if you don't take it and make it your own? The beat is fantastic. They make the song kinda trippy, especially with that organ in the background (I think that's what that is). The Talking Heads understand this.
I have a special place in my heart for the Talking Heads. They rose to fame on my very street, at the late, great CBGB on Bleecker Street (about four blocks from where I grew up). David Byrne, the lead singer, still continues to make awesome music, although the band itself broke up in 1991. Their sound is hard to pin down, but Byrne's voice is very distinctive. They're famous for using odd instruments and combining all sorts of influences. I love them.

If you like these songs, you might also check out:
Marvin Gaye
Otis Redding
Jackie Wilson
Brian Eno
Tom Tom Club
Television

Over and out,
Anna

Break It Down! (Covers Month Post #2)

H'okay, moving on with Covers Month:

Look at that snazzy man. He's diabolically snazzy!
Maybe it's the hat...

GOOD ORIGINAL SONG: Stop Breaking Down Blues by Robert Johnson

What an awesome song! And definitely cover-worthy. Johnson himself is quite the legend-- an incredible blues musician and guitarist, he died by being poisoned (supposedly) in 1937 (the same year he recorded this song) at the age of 27. Eric Clapton called him "the most important blues singer that ever lived," which is quite a statement. Legends about him making a deal with the Devil in return for musical ability abound, and the man has some crazy stories. This song, though, is pretty straight-forwardly amazing. It's a pretty funny song to me-- basically a guy complaining about all the other people in his life who are "breaking down" on him. Bluesy yet also a pretty upbeat song.

There are a lot of covers of this song, unsurprisingly, but here are my faves:

Only TRUE rock stars can get away with the no shirt + vest combo.

GOOD (COVER) SONG #1: Stop Breaking Down by the Rolling Stones

Whoa! Nice one! This cover is from "Exile on Main Street" (1972) which is one of my top ten albums of all time, which is saying a lot. The whole album is GENIUS. This song in particular is great-- they made it much more raw with that piano riffing and the harmonica and wailing gee-tar. They took this song and OWNED it.

Fringed shirts are also largely owned by rock stars. 

GOOD (COVER) SONG #2: Stop Breaking Down by the White Stripes

This song is from their self-titled album released in 1999 (wow, that was a long time ago). They took that whole "raw" sound to a WHOLE 'nother level here. Jack White's distinctive whine  + those bashing drums = Robert Johnson rockin' out in his grave.

I have a hard time deciding which version of this song I like the best. It basically depends on my mood. Check 'em out. What's your opinion?

If you liked this song/these songs, you might also like:

The Black Keys
Muddy Waters
Leadbelly
Led Zeppelin
The Raconteurs

Over and out,
Anna


 

Run for Cover(s)!

H'okay, so I am declaring this November to be GOOD (COVER) SONG Month! Hip hip hooray! Huzzah! And there was much rejoicing. This month's posts will be dedicated to artists who have done great covers of songs by other artists. There are many. It will be a difficult task to narrow it down to just a few, but I will proceed, undaunted in my quest.
Here goes nothin':

You can tell he's a metalhead because he has long hair parted in the middle.
And because she looks pissed. 

GOOD (COVER) SONG #1: Orion by Rodrigo Y Gabriela (the original is by Metallica).

I have never been the biggest Metallica fan, so maybe this good cover song post is a bit unfair, since I'm bound to think that many covers of this song will be better than the original. But whatever. The cover is legitimately really amazing. And am I surprised? No. Rodrigo Y Gabriela are insanely good musicians.

Originally from Mexico, they began their music careers playing in a metal band. Hence their awesome musical chops. Much as I dislike a lot of metal, technically, metal musicians are often the best of the best (as my former metalhead brother likes to remind me). They grew frustrated with the scene, moved to Europe, started busking in Ireland, and the rest is history. Their most recent album, 11:11, dropped in fall of 2009. Their surprisingly cool blend of flamenco guitar with metal riffs is quite unique and a lot of fun to listen to. I guess it makes sense- both the metal world and the flamenco guitar world revolve around guitar and percussion, and give rise to a lot of virtuosos. Listen to that percussion-- all done on the guitar itself! So cool. They way they use their hands reminds me a lot of these guys.
If you have to get up at 3:30 am and give a loved one a ride to the airport in the dark, and you're still tired, they're a good band to listen to. Trust me on that one.

If you liked this song, you might also like:

Metallica (obviously)
Slayer
Led Zeppelin
Gypsy Kings
Paco de Lucia

Over and out,
Anna

Some cutesy fun

Still need a bit more help getting up in the morning?
Here's another remedy for ya:
GOOD SONG: Light Bulb (ANR Remix) by Rachel Goodrich

So THIS is the famed founder of Shake-a-billy.
Interesting.

Such a fun song! I recommend it as a purely fun, danceable ditty to brighten your day a bit. Don't think too much about the words. The remix is better than the original, which is too cutesy for my taste. However, the original song has a HILARIOUS video:
Check it out here: Lightbulb video
Rachel Goodrich is a Miami-based musician, who claims to be a "shake-a-billy" artist. Yeah, OK, whatever the heck that means. I hate all these new micro-genres that people make up. Anyway, though, her music is definitely fun and quirky (although I fear she might be a perfect living example of Problem #4 here) . She can play the guitar, ukulele, banjo, kazoo, autoharp, piano, and others (question: who *can't* play the kazoo?). Her first album, entitled "Tinker Toys" came out in 2008, and her new self-titled album came out this year.  If you like twee-pop, or retro-sounding/vaudevillian stuff, you will enjoy her un-remixed music.

If you liked this song/the original song, you might also like:
The Boy Least Likely To
Lykke Li
Jens Lekman
April Smith & the Great Picture Show

Over and out,
Anna

The Viking of 6th Avenue

New York has been home to many weirdos, freaks, characters, and oddballs (including me). One of the greatest?
MOONDOG!!
A.K.A. "The Viking of 6th Avenue"

I'm seriously considering dressing up as Moondog for Halloween.
Unfortunately, most people would just assume I was a Viking.
Dang.

Seriously, folks, this man was a MUSICAL GENIUS. And also, probably, totally bonkers. Which is one of my favorite combinations ever.
Background? Moondog (born Louis T. Hardin, in Kansas) was a blind jazz musician who moved to New York City in the 1940's and lived (by choice!) as a street musician, mostly on 6th Avenue, dressed as Odin, the Viking god. 
H'amazing.
Anyways, he had a genius for mixing traditional elements of jazz, like saxophone and flute, with native American percussion and ambient city street noises, like honking horns. His music is instantly identifiable by its unusual rhythms, characteristic lack of any instruments other than woodwind and brass (with a few exceptions), and funny names. Some of his songs also have male choruses and such. Those are good ones, too. If you're curious, watch the Jens Lekman video I posted at the bottom of this post.
As I have mentioned before, I am not a huge jazz fan, but this guy's music is just incredible. And different. Because of his talent and his strategic busking location, he managed to catch the attention of many famous musicians of his time, like Benny Goodman, Charlie Parker, Leonard Bernstein, Toscanini, and Philip Glass.
You HAVE to give him a listen.


GOOD SONG #1: Bird's Lament by Moondog
This song was written in honor of Charlie Parker. Such great saxamaphone.
GOOD SONG #2: Get a Move On by Mr. Scruff (with heavy sampling of Bird's Lament by Moondog)
What an awesome remix! And look at that video-- hilarious! Most of his videos have that goofy animation, actually. Another wonderful human being.

GOOD SONG #4: All is Loneliness by Moondog, sung by Janis Joplin.

Oh yeah, and he invented the Trimba.

(How did I find out about Moondog, you might ask? I was at a Jens Lekman concert in 2007 in NYC and he covered Moondog's song "Paris." You can watch him sing it at that VERY SAME concert here on this GOOD SONG VIDEO. Gotta love youtube!)

Over and out,
Anna

Better than an alarm clock!

Need a little help getting up in the morning?

I know I do. What with this incredibly gloomy MONTH of bad weather, it hasn't been too easy to get my butt out of bed and out the door every day.
I recommend a healthy helping of some GOOD SONGS to assist you in your quest.

Their music is so energizing, it almost makes me want
to go biking. Almost.

GOOD SONG #1:Pumped Up Kicks by Foster the People

GOOD SONG #2: Call It What You Want by Foster the People.

Foster the people was originally called Foster & the People, but because people kept messing it up, the new version stuck. Mark Foster, Mark Pontius, and Cubbie Fink (yeah, amazing name, I know) are the three main members, with some other dudes (Sean Cimino and Isom Innis) coming out to play at their live performances. They formed in California and DANG, do they make some find indie-pop. Really, if this stuff doesn't get you out of bed with your head bopping, I don't know what will. They released an EP in January, and their full album, entitled "Torches," dropped in May of this year. There are already various remixes of this stuff (check out The Hype Machine), which doesn't surprise me at all. It's just begging for it.

FYI, they will be playing on SNL on October 8th (this coming Saturday).

If you liked these songs, you might also check out:
Passion Pit
Local Natives
The Go! Team
Campire Weekend
and lots of other indie-pop groups which are popping up (ha! pun!) all over the place

Over and out,
Anna

My favorite post ever... Also my dorkiest.

Today is a very important day. It's two people's birthdays. Guess. No, not me and my friend. Guess again.

Yes, that's right! You guessed it!

BILBO AND FRODO BAGGINS!

HAPPY HOBBIT DAY!

Good Lord, I do love hobbits.

OK, so I know I am a huge dweeb. I really don't care. I am in fantastic company, because do you know who else were big LOTR/Hobbit dorks?

LED ZEPPELIN.
That's right. So I am not ashamed.

And in honor of this festive occasion, I am posting one of the best renditions of a Led Zep song ever done:
GOOD (TOLKEIN-FRIENDLY) SONG: Battle of Evermore by the London Philharmonic covering Led Zeppelin

Note: PLEASE do NOT dismiss this song just because it is by Led Zeppelin (for those of you not into classic rock) or because it has some LOTR references in the original lyrics. It is AMAZING!!

This song is from an entire album of Led Zeppelin covers played by the London Philharmonic entitled "Kashmir: Symphonic Led Zeppelin." If you ever thought you might want to go marching into battle against orcs and goblins and ring-wraiths, this should be your soundtrack. I'm really not kidding.
I love this one song from the album because it's beautiful and stirring and magical-sounding and all sorts of cool/nerdy adjectives.
I picked it for today, because the original song (GOOD SONG ALERT!) has lyrics that reference Lord of the Rings.
For example:
"Oh war is the common cry, 
Pick up your swords and fly.
The sky is filled with good and bad that mortals never know.

Oh, well, the night is long 
The beads of time pass slow,
Tired eyes on the sunrise, waiting for the eastern glow.

The pain of war cannot exceed 
The woe of aftermath,
The drums will shake the castle wall, 
the ring wraiths ride in black, 
Ride on."


I hope you enjoyed that magical moment. Enjoy your pipe-smoking, dragon-slaying, second-breakfast-eating, ring-wearing, riddle-sharing, or whatever else you do today in honor of hobbits everywhere.

If you liked this song, you might also check out:
anything by Hans Zimmer
The London Philharmonic playing Pink Floyd (it happened!)

Over and out,
Anna

Dream Team Number TWO!

GOOD SONG #2: End of the Line by the Traveling Wilburys

Jeff Lynne (the fourth greatest record producer of all time)? Check.
Tom Petty? Check.

Roy Orbison? Check.

George Harrison? Check. 

BOB DYLAN? CHECK. 

AAAH! So much talent in one photo! My blog might explode!

DUDE.
THAT is a sick line-up of all-stars. You can't get a whole lot more talent packed into a group of four.

Sadly, they only recorded two albums, and the second one hadn't even come out before Roy Orbison died. Each band member took on a pseudonym, pretending to be one of four Wilbury brothers. George was Nelson Wilbury, Jeff was Otis, Roy was Lefty, Tom was Charlie T., and Bob was Lucky. They also had a drummer, Jim Keltner, who went by the name Buster Sidebury. Clearly, they were all so famous at this point, they were just enjoying being goofy and having a fun time and making great music at the same time. It was born out of friendship and collaboration and just pure love for music and fun times. Their songs are generally pretty lighthearted and upbeat and pretty awesome classic rock.
I absolutely love the combination of all these famous voices together. They work together surprisingly well.
I think they might take the cake as the msot ridiculously talented musical all-star supergroup.
Enjoy.
And remember:
"Well it's alllll right,  even if you're old and grey
Well it's alllll right, you still got something to say
Well it's allllll right, remember to live and let live
Well it's allllll right, the best you can do is forgive."


If you liked this song, you might also check out:
Obviously Petty, Dylan, Orbison, Harrison, etc.
Also:
Electric Light Orchestra
The Eagles
The Hollies
Neil Young
John "Cougar" Mellencamp
John Fogerty


Over and out,
Anna

Dream Teams for the Athletically Challenged

The other night some friends and I were talking about sports. Or, rather, they were talking about sports and I was listening. I was never really into sports (I like this one, though). However, the idea of the "dream team" fascinates me. Especially musically. 

Here is the first of two musical dream teams that I think deserve some love on the AGSIHTF.

Hey! That's not Reggae Pie! That's Chinese take-out!

GOOD SONG: Reggae Pie by Mister Heavenly

Joe Plummer- Modest Mouse drummer? Check. 

Ryan Kattner- Man Man singer? Check.

Nick Thorburn- Islands/The Unicorns singer? Check.  
(Oh yeah, and Michael Cera was the bass player for a while. Go figure).
That's some serious indie rock cred going on there. You can see the influences of all their individual styles in Mister Heavenly, and it really works. 
I love the song Reggae Pie for its slightly trippy sound- gotta love the sludgy organs in the background. Kattner (aka Honus Honus) has a unique voice with a sort of deep, crazy, ominous edge to it, yet it works really well with Thorburn's totally different, much higher voice. 


I find the lyrics interesting, too:
"It is too late to say that I want you
more than a man should ever admit to?
Is it passé to claim that I need you
more than a man should ever commit to?
And I don't care if I'm out of line.
And I don't care if we're marking time.
And I don't care if you'll never be mine,
Cuz I'm yours."


Is there a limit to how much a man can say he loves someone or wants someone or needs someone before he starts to lose cred with his friends? Or before he starts looking crazy? Or before he starts to feel "uncool?" Probably. Because, let's be honest, for many people these days, looking hip and un-passé is not easily compatible with loving someone and being dependent, in any way, upon another. It's not cool 
to seem as if you aren't totally yourself without anyone's help. 


Alright, no more pontificating on the plight of modern-day love (and the lack there-of). Anyhoo, they have only one album so far, which was just released, entitled "Out of Love." It's a bit goofy-- what do you expect from an album from the "Doom Wop" genre? (Who thinks up these genres, anyway?). It's definitely worth a listen (or more than just one, I'd say), especially with indie all-star musicians like that in their starting line-up. OK that's where my "sporty" vocabulary ends. If I go any further, I might embarrass myself.  

BUY THEIR MUSIC HERE: Mister Heavenly on Sub Pop Records

If you liked this song, you might also check out:
(obviously)
Man Man
Modest Mouse
Islands
The Unicorns
and also...
Dr. Dog
Foster the People
Yellow Ostrich
Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros

Over and out,
Anna