My Favorite Moments In Rock

Led Zeppelin- "Black Dog" (3:06 -3:23)
I've often thought, if I ever had to pick a song to enter a room to it would be Led Zeppelin's "Black Dog." Out of Jimmy Page's vast catalog of furious fretwork, I've always particularly loved the guitar sound on this track. It's so dark, rich, and syrupy. However, my only lament has been that whenever anyone praises this song, they only mention its stop-start structure or guitar solo. Maybe I'm listening too closely, but I love the 17 glorious seconds that happen right before the solo: double-tracked guitars!

The Unicorns- "Tuff Ghost" (2:07 – 2:33)
This song probably contains the most inventive bass solo I've heard in indie rock since The Breeder's "Cannonball." Just when you think the song's the slow-burning organ groove and scattered melodies are coming to an end, the bass solo comes abruptly from left field to grab you, galloping to a syncopated dance-rock rhythm. (And if you can believe it) Its buzzsaw fuzz takes a page right out of Cream's psychedelic syrupy guitar sound on "Sunshine of Your Love." It's quite simply delicious.

Radiohead- "Reckoner" (4:02 – 4:41)
This song comes from the sixth track of Radiohead's landmark pay-your-own-price album, In Rainbows. When I initially heard this song, it was certainly not what I considered a standout song for the band –at least until I heard the last 40 seconds of it, and I found myself listening to it over and over again. (According to my iTunes, I've listened to the song 31 times.) Radiohead's ability to create simple and subtle musical structures that are hauntingly beautiful is stupefying. After four minutes, the band manages to take you on a journey of cymbal-crash waves, cavernous atmospherics, and milky reverb-drenched vocals; finally sending you off with a sweet guitar melody and swelling strings.

Weezer- Tired of Sex" (2:02 – 2:10)
Let me start by saying, I love Pinkerton, and subsequently, I love Rivers Cuomo. Although, he has never quite been able to reach the caliber of songwriting since that album's 1996 release date, it remains among my favorite albums. When I listen to "Tired of Sex" I hear the frustration, angst, and neuroticism that made me fall in love with Pinkerton (and Rivers) to begin with, and I don't think the band was ever able to capture that essence better than in this song. Rivers yelps, ponders, and screams(!) as he muses on his meaningless sexual encounters --which is ironic because Rivers is widely known for being reclusive and took a two year vow of abstinence before getting married in '06. By the time you get to the song's solo, it's bursting with so much energy, it literally sounds like an explosion. Whenever I hear it, I get excited about music again. From the thunderous drum intro, to the synth outro, it sticks to your cranium like gum on hot asphalt.

Bloc Party- "She's Hearing Voices" (3:10 – 3:23)
I can't imagine anyone listening to this song (preferably on headphones), and not getting riled up. In the same vein of Joy Division's icy atmospherics, Bloc Party has gone on to master the art of jangly, reverb-saturated guitar riffs and post-punk cool. From the skull-crushing drum intro, to the song's staccato, tremolo-picked chords, and the panicked call-and-response chorus, Bloc Party sets up a sense of urgency. It all leads up to an impeccable guitar solo that's almost orgasmic in it's nature.

I Like It "Hard N Phirm."

Things That Are Great About This Video:
1. Yes, they are singing about Pi.
2. The video is a tribute to the television show 'Zoom.'
3. It contains wizards and robots.
4. See video at 2:07
5. Members of the band (strangely) resemble Weird Al Yankovich.


Things That Are Great About Hard N Phirm:
1. Anyone who can write entertaining songs about advanced mathematical constants, and record badass unironic bluegrass covers of Radiohead (aptly titled "Rodeohead") gets my vote as an awesome band.
2. Listen to "A Pony Named Jesus."
3. Band member Chris Hardwick is quite an excellent blogger
4. As far as I know, no other band has ever recorded explains the workings of the human heart as a Spanish love song, tells you when the cinnamon rolls are done, and drops a robot in a vat of pudding.


Listen to them.

Okay, I Officially Don't Like Vampire Weekend.

Listen to track four, and you'll see why. It is probably the worst piece of music I haven't heard in a while. It makes me want to react violently whenever I hear it.


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When It Rainz, It Pourz

AmpLive
Rainy Dayz Remixes

How often do you find music that's good, free, and legal? If you often wonder this, then Oakland, California-based DJ, AmpLive (half of hip-hop duo Zion I) has answered this perplexing question.

AmpLive has managed to take Radiohead's landmark, pay-your-own-price album, In Rainbows, and turn it into something that is equally as innovative. While the concept of mixing rap music with rock-and-roll is certainly not a new concept, AmpLive deserves props for transforming a beautifully floating song like “Nude” into an infectious, beat-driven remix. Instead of completely changing song structures, AmpLive leaves the essence of the songs of in tact. “Weird Fishez” builds on the loop-like nature of the original with added hip-hop pizazz. If you are a fan of DJ Dangermouse's 2004 mash-up, The Grey Album, then Rainy Dayz is for you.

Radiohead vocalist Thom Yorke’s spliced vocals work extremely well with AmpLive's ridiculously catchy, stabbing beats. Codany Holiday's vocals on "15 Stepz" are well-executed, sexy, and smooth. The change from the original musical texture provides quite a nice variation. Other tracks on Rainy Dayz include guest appearances from Del the Funky Homosapien, Chali 2na of Jurassic 5, Too $hort, and MC Zumbi.

The album's release was halted after AmpLive received a 'cease & desist' letter from Radiohead's publishers, and his tracks almost never saw the light of day. Amplive made some of these remixes a while back with the intention of giving them away for free. After much protest, via YouTube clips from AmpLive, on February 13th it was announced that an agreement was made by both parties. AmpLive was given permission to release the album as a zip file free of charge here.

Grade: A

Recommended Tracks: “Nudez” and “Weird Fishez.”

For more on AmpLive visit: www.myspace.com/amplive.

Things I Love.

As if you care, here is an assortment of YouTube clips, articles, and links I'm digging at the moment...maybe you will too.

Greg Kot and Jim DeRogatis on Conan O'Brien

Greg, there's a dark cloud over us...

-Check out Gnarls Barkley's new single here.

-Surprisingly good (and free) hip-hop remix of Radiohead's In Rainbows. Clicky.

-Also, check out this podcast of Thom Yorke guest-DJing on All Things Considered here.


Buddy Rich + Animal = What more could you ask for?

-Interesting article in the LA Times about the racial diversity in the indie rock scene. Clicky. BTW, Ann Powers kicks ass.

This song is pretty rad...I don't care what Jim DeRogatis says about it.


-This man is brilliant.

I Don't Wanna Grow Up.

Lately I've been listening to music that was either created by or marketed people under the age of 12, which I guess is strange, but I am strange...

My favorite of these artists are Care Bears on Fire. CBOF is a pre-teen trio from Brooklyn, New York who play a refreshing blend of catchy, raucous punk rock. Although the oldest member of the band is only thirteen-years-old, CBOF are veterans of the Brooklyn indie scene. The group has been playing together since 2004, formerly performing under the name Nada Clue. In 2007, the pint-sized punkers got exposure from various musical outlets, and their single “Everybody Else” was even been featured on a Converse shoe commercial. While the members of the band aren't musical virtuosos (sometimes the drumming and guitar solos are choppy) they play with impressive skill for their age. Their unique blend of power chord packed rock demands to be played with songs like “Met You on Myspace” (the story of meeting a 300 year old unicorn via Myspace --i love it!) and “Five Minute Boyfriend.”

I'm also obsessed with this song. It's quite possibly best song I've heard all year.

Operator Please- Just A Song About Ping-Pong


Baby-core anyone?
I recently noticed an inordinate amount of rock music for babies. Several companies (including, Rockabye Baby! and Punk Rock Baby) specialize in making instrumental lullaby covers of popular bands. The NY Times even did a write up on this trend. On iTunes, I sampled their Radiohead album. It was quite nice. Since Radiohead already has a lot of soothing song structures ("Karma Police" and "No Surprises"), the transition from the originals worked within the lullaby context. However, Nine Inch Nail's "Closer" has no business being turned into music for babies...tsk tsk.

In Rainbows.

Radiohead
In Rainbows

Brit-rockers Radiohead have always been known for pushing the boundaries of music and now they're pushing the boundaries of music distribution thanks to their forward-thinking decision to allow fans to pay as little or as much as they want for their latest album, In Rainbows (which is available only by download via their website inrainbows.com). Radiohead feels that their fans should choose the price they feel the album is worth.

Apparently, this decision has been paying off well, because the band is getting people to pay for something they can readily get for free. According to a British survey about a third of the first million customers paid nothing, but the remaining two-thirds paid about $10 on average for the album.

Not only does the name-your-own-price tag make this album irresistible, but the music rocks as well. While their last album, Hail To The Thief, had themes of disaffection and cynicism with song titles like "We Suck Young Blood" and "A Wolf at the Door", their latest release offers a more uplifting message. In Rainbows also takes steps toward more straightforward territory with vocalist/songwriter Thom Yorke penning his most direct lyrics in years.

The album opens with "15 Step", a busy, clicky and profoundly addictive song that comes across something like an upbeat version of Hail To The Thief's "Sit Down, Stand Up." The next track is "Bodysnatchers" in which the band launches into rock mode with guitarist Johnny Greenwood delivering a deliciously fuzzed-out guitar riff. Here you see Yorke's theme of paranoia and fear of control that is present on previous albums. "I have no idea what I'm talking about/I'm trapped in this body and can't get out" he yelps.

On next the couple of songs the band slows the tempo beginning with the beautifully floating "Nude" on which Yorke's milky reverbed voice sails on a cloud of strings swells and choral overdubs. Following it is the gentle melodic structures of "Weird Fishes/Arpeggi" and "Faust Arp", which sounds eerily like the Beatles' "Julia."

Although In Rainbows is certainly not Radiohead's most guitar-oriented album the sparse and simple riffs should not be taken for granted. This song structure works particularly well on the romantically direct "All I Need" which features almost no guitar. The undercurrent theme of eroticism ("I'm an animal trapped in your hot car" and "I'm a moth who just wants to share your light"), droning synth backbeat, and climatic ending make this song great for headphones. It is followed perfectly by the cymbal-crazed "Reckoner” and "House of Cards" with its lazy, clipped guitar chords coasting on waves of reverbed feedback.

The closing track is "Videotape" with its slow burning piano elegy playing against a stuttering, off-kilter drumbeat. "When I'm at the pearly gates...This is my way of saying goodbye," Yorke sings. Other themes of death and mortality run throughout the song. There is also mention of Mephistopheles, the Faustian name for the devil. It's perhaps the most rueful songs on Rainbows, but it is truly beautiful in it's sadness.

The main downside, is that the album is on the short side lasting about 43 minutes. However, the upside is that the songs on the album flow together as a tight cohesive unit. It is a great album to put in the CD player and let go --then again, most of Radiohead albums are this way.

Grade: A

For the record, I paid $0 for the album. Radiohead is great, but I am in college after all.