Saturday, April 17, 2010

Record Store Day!


In just 10 hours, I'll be on the doorstep of Radio-Active Records to celebrate Record Store Day 2010.
Kris and I already pre-ordered all of the stuff we want to buy, as it is limited edition. What's this day all about, you ask? It's the celebration of independently owned record stores across the country, and worldwide. Many bands release records that you can only purchase on this day. It also includes live performances, and lots of other great stuff. So, wherever you live, make it a point to support your local record store. Go dig through the vinyl and fall in love with a new band, or maybe just one that's new to you :)

Happy RSD!

Want more info? Go here: Radio-Active Records blog or here: Record Store Day

Monday, April 12, 2010

Palladia

I do so enjoy this channel. Better than just a string of music videos every day, they also show live concerts and other assorted performances.

I set my DVR for Kings of Leon, parts of the 2009 Glastonbury Festival, a Green Day performance from Munich, and various others I can't recall.
Tonight, I watched a performance that included several artists, but it was also a documentary of sorts. There were sit-down interviews with each of the performers, most of which I fast-forwarded through to get to Dave Matthews Band.

The featured song for their portion of the documentary was "Take Me to the River", and DMB was joined by Al Green. Imagine my surprise when the camera panned to stage left, and there stood Leroi Moore. I didn't even think about what year this performance could be from, turns out it was 2006, before he passed away. To see and hear him play after only seeing recent stuff was beautiful. He had a sound that was all his own.

Thanks, Paladia, for playing the awesome stuff.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Pop Culture Fluff

Scanning the headlines on Rollingstone.com, a few names pop up that I've been seeing everywhere: Justin Bieber, Ke$sha, etc.
It's always interesting to see how pop culture evolves every decade, only to come
full circle and make the same cycle of trends popular all over again. There is no originality. Right now, the Grunge look is back in style, and 90s bands are reuniting like crazy.
In ten years, none of these artists will be making headlines in Rolling Stone. But in twenty years, they'll all be reuniting to play to the nostalgia of adults that were kids when they were around the first time.
I'm always pleased to report I am blissfully unaware of what these one hit wonders sound like.
Anyone remember Tweet, Big Tymers, Nine Days or Eamon? Bet you didn't until I rattled them off :)
Enjoy having those songs stuck in your head!

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Yo Gabba Gabba!

Fort the last several months, I'd heard lots of great stuff about the Nickelodeon kid's show "Yo Gabba Gabba!". Until recently, I didn't have a child that was old enough to pay attention to a television, so I never had reason to check it out. Then, all of my friends in their 20s and 30s started raving about this show...even the childless ones. So I did some research and discovered that the show is created by Christian Jacobs, a member of the Aquabats.
Jacobs and co-creator Scott Schultz have scored some well-loved names in contemporary music to be a part of their show. Regular contributers include Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo, and Biz Markee in a segment called "Biz's Beats". Recent musical guests include: Of Montreal, Mos Def, Weezer, Weird Al, The Killers, The Flaming Lips. It's every music lover's dream come true, in rainbow colors! If you've never checked it out because you thought it was just for kids, I highly recommend adding it to your DVR list.



"Singing and dancing to music is AWESOME!"

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Music Banned in Mogadishu

I try not to be preachy with my political beliefs. I would never want someone to force their politics on me, so I try to show the same courtesy. The one thing I've always thought was important, however, was to have an educated opinion. In any event, bear with me on this blog, as it is still music related. Many Americans take for granted the freedoms that our country provides. It's easy to stay in our insulated little bubble, not thinking too much about how people around the world live. In some parts of the world, you don't even have the freedom to listen to music.
I recently came across an article discussing a ban of music of all kinds in Mogadishu, Somalia. The consequences radio station broadcasters will face if they fail to cease is unclear, but the message sent in the accompanying photo is not: It contains man inside a radio station whose window contains a bullet hole. This resonates with me on two levels: One, as a passionate music lover. Two, as a ten year veteran of radio. Sometimes, it's easy to forget how good we have it, as we complain about everything that's wrong with our nation. Things we consider to be basic rights and liberties are not granted to those in other countries, and this one would be heartbreaking for me, and a lot of other people I know as well.
So turn your radio up a little louder today. Instead of bitching about how your favorite station plays the same five Metallica songs repeatedly, be thankful that you have music to listen to.

Friday, April 2, 2010

Erykah Badu's Video Controversy

http://vodpod.com/watch/3316188-erykah-badu-window-seat-official-video

I've been reading and hearing buzz everywhere for the last several days about the video for Erykah Badu's song, "Window Seat", in which she strips naked. At first, I deliberately avoided having anything to do with it, as I often do with anything the media dubs controversial. But curiosity got the best of me, and after all, I do write a music blog. I watched the video, and I think it's bold and daring. I'm not a fan of her music, I could really care less about her, but she made a statement. It's unfortunate in this modern age that something as simplistic as shedding your clothing is considered a "statement", but she went for it nonetheless. So did Matt&Kim, Alanis Morrisette, and Blink-182 . If you've never seen Matt&Kim's video, for which Badu's was inspired, do check it out. I actually like theirs much better. Call it performance art, a cry for media attention, whatever you wish. But the thing to be disappointed about is the sentiment that fairly liberal people have been echoing for years: "What is the big deal?". Many raise the point of exposing children to nudity. If you don't want your children exposed to it, that's a personal decision you have control over. But why are we sheltering the general public from something that we all see every day? Just because you are nude does not mean you're going to have sex. Just because you're exposed to violence, such as Badu getting shot at the end of the video, does not mean you are going to commit an act of violence. If given the knowledge of right and wrong, as guided by a parent or guardian, you know the difference.
But I digress, as this debate is older than I am, and I'm sure will continue to rage on for years to come.
What are your thoughts on Window Seat, and other videos like it?