Accessorizing the Room

Okay, so we have added a new feature to add to your Tuning Room experience--hopefully you have noticed the throwback graphic over on the right. I will probably be also adding some mp3s here and there as well, but thought Mixwit provided a nice way to share a set of music (with some limitations) that you can click on, listen to and browse, while on the site. My actual profile over at MW is here and that shows the playlist for that particular mix and will show all mixes in the future when there is more than one. Let me know what you think of that option and if you have other suggestions for sharing tunes. Hopefully the RIAA won't shut this one down too!

(hat tip to Lisa B. for the lead on streaming possibilities)

Three to Consider: Additional Input Requested

The August edition of UNCUT has its usual plethora of suggestions to consider. Three that got pretty rave reviews are all tempting, but thought I would see what you all had to say about these before I went out bin sorting. And I should mention that I haven’t listened to everything I have that is new or borrowed and I wouldn’t want to violate the “no more buying until all recent additions have been digested” now would I? Right.

Okay, so here are three to consider.

The Hold Steady’s new release, Stay Positive (which isn’t all that new now), has been getting positive reviews all over the place, but Allan Jones is ecstatic: “If it was their intention with this record to, among other things, leave the listener speechless, they’ve done a good job. I’ve been listening to it virtually non-stop for the last few weeks, and I’m still trying to find the right words to describe Stay Positive [snip].” Now I have none of their albums so this would be a first and I am not sure I am in the mood for a rockin’ album right now, but this review and the Q&A with front man Craig Finn makes seriously consider dipping my toe in this pond.

Next up is Randy Newman’s new release, Harps and Angels which is his first offering in ten years—not counting all the soundtracks and arranging he is doing . . .and I am not discounting that work at all (who am I, The Academy?) since he did the soundtrack for what is probably my favorite movie of all time. It has been a while since I have actively listened to his stuff, but here again UNCUT has a provocative way of promoting this latest effort: “In the event, Harps & Angels provokes approximately equal parts gratitude that Newman got around to it, and vexation that he doesn’t do this sort of thing more often. Exactly 40 years since his eponymous solo debut, it’s both awesome and faintly depressing how few compete in his league.”

Finally, someone I know virtually nothing about, Micah P Hinson, but his new effort Micah P Hinson and the Red Empire Orchestra sounds, um, interesting: “But the real beauty of this wholly engaging record is the contrast between Hinson’s dry basso profundo and the (almost) euphoric banks of strings that swell behind banjos and acoustic guitars. The chamber music-noir of “I Keep Havin’ These Dreams” sounds like a despondent relative of “Eleanor Rigby”, while “We Won’t Have To Be Lonesome” has the ‘60s sweep of a Spectoresque teen ballad. . . . Rich in its moods, this could well be Hinson’s best yet.”


Shop or stop?

Running on Empty?

I am sure TR readers continue to check in for updates on presidential campaign tunes, so let me oblige with an update on John McCain's travails with musical artists (which you surely all know about already). Mr. Mellencamp may have requested that Johnny Mac stop using his tunes, but Jackson Browne is actually suing The Maverick's campaign for using "Running on Empty" in a campaign ad.

Unfortunately (from this perspective) his campaign may be running on empty (or less "fuel") but is doing it more effectively than Barack's full-tank-campaign--yes, I know this is a long-distance race and not a sprint.

But seriously, isn't it time for everyone to suggest a new (pissed-off?) soundtrack for the Dems? I know (sans Lisa B) you all have refrained from weighing in on campaign music, but c'mon! What tunes are needs to turn this thing around?

Update: For more interesting campaign music discussion read David Issacson's wonderings about what happens when you have a Rage Against the Machine concert across the river from the Republican National Convention.

When Wednesday Is Monday

Well, we are back from two glorious weeks of vacation up on Lake Michigan which involved cold waters. tons of sun, building in the sand, grilling, Michigan wine (don't laugh they are getting it down), family, late night cards, and an amazing lack of stress. Got some music listening in which I will write about soon, although not a lot of new stuff as our annual beach vacation tends to be about listening to waves and talking with family more than anything.

Tomorrow is back to the coal mine which I have been gleefully ignoring--including email, which might be the best vacation gift of all. As a matter of fact, it was pretty much a screen free trip all around and I am not looking forward to the e-deluge that awaits me.

So tomorrow is Wednesday, but it is in fact, my Monday. So here is a little Elvis to usher in my "week".

Carefree Highway

So tomorrow I leave to join the family and head north through the Michigan pines up to the shores of the big lake for a week of cool weather, fresh water, sand, fresh air, calming breezes, fresh fish, and hopefully another collection of summer vacation memories. But first I leave you with a confession: I love Gordon Lightfoot’s music. There, I said it—and I am proud of it.

Now I don’t want to pigeonhole any TR readers, but I am going to take a wild guess that most of you who stop by don’t have much Gordon in your collection and might not share my affection for his music. Don’t worry—say anything you want. This attachment is too deep to shake. But why? Ah, that is the interesting question. Two words: big brother.

See, here is the deal. Growing up I, like so many kids, just wanted to be like my oldest sibling (I loved my older sister too--and Little Sis, but I wanted to be my older brother). He was (and is) a real music lover, although in a somewhat more mellow vein than I ended up going. But Gordon was definitely one part of his collection that I heard plenty off and absorbed as an adolescent.

This was further deepened when my brother learned to play guitar and played different music with his friends including, yup, Gordon. So there I am a teenager—what to do. Learn to play guitar, right? And what could be cooler than getting to play guitar with your older brother and friends and what shall we play among other things? Yup, Gordon.

Now add to all this big brother adoration the fact that we grew up in Michigan—you know right across the lake from Ontario where you know who is from. So much of the music is about terrain not so different from what I am experiencing growing up. And yes, I even love The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald—you would too if you vacationed in Paradise, MI which is on Whitefish Bay and you saw what Lake Superior looks like when it is dangerously rocking!

So this all sounds like excuses, but they are not. They are all wonderful memories of growing up. And to this day, cool fall weather, or a cool rainy day (or even when I yearn for that weather) leads me to throw in some Gordon. And of course heading up into the pines of northern Michigan really makes me want to hear Gordon (Neats will tell you that there is a specific moment when Gordon is appropriate on the drive north).

Now beyond that, let me also say that I think Gordon’s music is more than just nostalgia for me, but that he is an artist worth listening to some—not all of it, but much of it. You can go back to older albums like If You Could Read My Mind which includes the first recording of “Me and Bobby McGee”—yup first one to record that—along with his own classics. Or look to his mid-career stuff which I like so much because it was what I listened to the most growing up. Check out Endless Wire, Summertime Dream or Dream Street Rose. Or check out the next set of albums including Shadows, Salute or Waiting For You.

I am still working on how I want to add music files, so for now here are a few links to some Gordon tunes over at the Tubes (no endorsement of the images here, they are just the studio versions of the songs that I am offering up as there just isn't a good selection of live video out there).

• Restless
• Canadian Railroad Trilogy
• Carefree Highway
• Protocol
• Whispers of the North
  

So I head up north with plenty of Gord’s Gold in my CD pack. We will see you on the other side in a couple of weeks. I hope to return to some interesting suggestions about campaign songs (see post below).

Nothing Says "Vote For Me" Like . . .

I already noted John Mellencamp's request of the McCain campaign regarding their use of his tunes on the campaign trail. Now it appears that someone has stepped in to fill the void and provide "The Maverick" with his own custom rally tune.

So let's open up the blog lines here and see what people think about campaign tunes. Best campaign tunes from the past? If you could pick a campaign tune for Obama or McCain (or your candidate), what would it be?

Any Given Thursday: First Impressions

So today after dropping of Neats & Boys at the airport so they could get a head start on vacation (much lamenting about to occur over at my other place*), I consoled myself predictably at the music store. I found much of what I was looking for with the exception of Jayhawks--at least those recommended by you dear readers; however, the music that has been giving the Thiels a workout today has been something I wasn't planning on picking up: John Mayer's 2003 live album, Any Given Thursday.

Now I know you all are going to get tired of hearing me mention that I am catching up on much music (why the hell did he think he could start a music blog anyway?), but Mayer is another artist who I have been meaning to explore, but haven't. So this is my first. Why this one? Not sure--it seemed to pick me more than I picked it--great title, liked the idea of hearing how he performed and just total randomness.

First impression: this is going to get a lot of listen to, particularly since I am going to be in a car a lot soon, driving long distances and this just says great road album to me--not to mention The Engineer is always down with some guitar tunes as he chills out in the back of the van while The Artist and The Boss yap it up mid-van.

I, of course, immediately went and checked out what others had to say and read about mixed reviews as critics seemed caught between Mayer's rising pop star image and his clearly growing guitar prowess. Whatever. The music and performance are both solid and fun--both/and rather than either/or. This is a live album that makes you wish you were there even with the screaming adoration.

But I am new here and know you won't steer me wrong. So let's hear what you all think. Thoughts on this disc vs. other offerings, other discs to pursue, or am I just too easily entertained and uncritical?

*The other place is invite only, so friends and family who want to keep up with the Brothers K just need to let me know.