Around this time each year, LA’s most well-known rock station, KROQ, puts on a benefit concert that they call “Acoustic Christmas.” I’ve gone twice, including the great show last December.
There are two nights – here’s the lineup:
Night One: Foo Fighters, AFI, Incubus, My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, Papa Roach, 30 Seconds to Mars, +44, Wolfmother, Saosin
Night Two: Foo Fighters, The Killers, Beck, The Raconteurs, Evanescence, Panic! At The Disco, Angles & Airwaves, Gnarls Barkley, Snow Patrol, She Wants Revenge
For me, Night Two is infinitely better than Night One, though I would like to catch Wolfmother eventually. Beck, the Ranconeurs, the Killers and Gnarls Barkley make the second night more than worthwhile.
So why is KROQ killing me? Usually, they send out an email to their “Street Team” announcing a presale which gives me a reasonable shot at landing tickets. This morning, they announced that this year tickets will go on sale (on TicketBastard) when they play “Everlong” by the Foo Fighters. Well, I guess that’s all well and good, but play the f’ng song already! I’ve been listening all day, heard more AFI and My Chemical Romance (and other Foo Fighters songs) than I would otherwise listen to in a lifetime, and I still haven’t heard “Everlong.” To make matters worse, the late afternoon DJ (“Stryker”) said that tickets could go on sale anytime…today or two days before the show (which is next weekend).
Now that the clock has struck 5 on the West Coast, I’m pretty sure they won’t play the song today. But as I type this, My Chemical Romance is playing (yet again) in the background.
Russian-born Regina Spektor makes quirky, piano-driven music for the hipster set. She scored a minor hit this year with “Fidelity” from Begin to Hope, her fourth full-length release, but her catalog features several great songs. Where possible, I included links to a live performance or the proper video for each song (hosted by YouTube). I also included links to iTunes and/or Amazon for convenient purchase. Let’s get to know Regina Spektor.
“Fidelity” – Begin to Hope
This song is insanely catchy, from the lovely melody to the creative chorus. It’s one of the few of her songs that doesn’t feature the piano, but it works nonetheless. iTunes | Amazon
“Samson” – Songs / Begin to Hope
This track is also available on Begin to Hope, but the version on Songs is longer (and therefore, better). “Samson” is Spektor’s signature tune. Her voice and the piano are gorgeous and the lyrics are inventive. iTunes | Amazon
“Buildings” – 11:11
This song is about an alcoholic wife who is enabled by her husband. Despite the subject matter, it’s quite lovely. iTunes
“Ode to Divorce” – Soviet Kitsch
This haunting track is about a breakup. Spektor hits one out of the park when she asks, “Won’t you help a brother out?” iTunes
“Modern Girls & Old Fashion Men” – Reptilia (by The Strokes)
The Strokes brought Spektor in for this duet, which is a little bit harder than most of Spektor’s usual fare. The song still shows off her considerable singing chops. iTunes
“On the Radio” – Begin to Hope
Like “Fidelity,” this song is meant to be radio-friendly. The strings and piano at the beginning are inviting and the lyrics (which describe listening to “November Rain” on the radio) are quite witty. iTunes | Amazon
“Us” – Soviet Kitsch
This track shows of Spektor’s great voice and illustrates the beginning of the stuttering singing style she later used in “Fidelity.” The video is pretty quirky, not unlike her music. iTunes
As I recently reviewed U2’s 18 Singles – a collection hoping to tap into the kind of success that The Beatles 1 had a few years ago – it occurred to me that I could put together a better 18-song playlist. Remember, I’m going for the band’s hits; so bigger in this case is probably better.
First, I must identify the “must-haves.” Here is my list: “Angel of Harlem,” “Beautiful Day,” “Desire,” “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” “Mysterious Ways,” “One,” “Pride (In The Name of Love),” “Sunday Bloody Sunday,” “Where the Streets Have No Name” and “With or Without You.” These are the band’s signature songs. (Only “Angel of Harlem” was excluded from 18 Singles.)
Now, I need to identify the best of the rest: “All I Want Is You,” “Bad,” “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me,” “I Will Follow,” “New Year’s Day,” “Sweetest Thing” and “Vertigo.” Are there better songs not yet mentioned? Probably, but you’d be hard-pressed to find something bigger or more popular.
That leaves room for one song. Regrettably, I’m only choosing amongst the singles, so personal favorites like “In a Little While,” “Hawkmoon 269,” “So Cruel” or “A Sort of Homecoming” do not qualify. Nor does “Flower Child,” an All That You Can’t Leave Behind castoff that I’m utterly convinced would be a huge hit for the band if they would only release it as a single.
Looking at the list of the band’s singles, “Discotheque,” “Staring at the Sun,” “Numb” and “Stay (Farwaway, So Close!)” jump out. Of the four, the last two didn’t chart as well as the first two, so the final spot goes to either “Discotheque” or “Staring at the Sun.” Listening to each as I keep my criteria in mind, I can envision the band opening a concert with “Discotheque.” “Staring at the Sun”? Not so much.
So here’s the final 18-song tracklist, in chronological order:
1. I Will Follow
2. New Year’s Day
3. Sunday Bloody Sunday
4. Pride (In the Name of Love)
5. Bad
6. Where the Streets Have No Name
7. I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
8. With or Without You
9. Desire
10. Angel of Harlem
11. All I Want Is You
12. Mysterious Ways
13. One
14. Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me
15. Discotheque
16. Sweetest Thing
17. Beautiful Day
18. Vertigo
Spoon is the brainchild of frontman/guitarist Britt Daniel and drummer Jim Eno. Hailing from Austin – the home of the University of Texas – the band’s sound feels as if it were shaped in a college town, benefiting from all the creativity and calculation in the air. With help from co-producer Mike McCarthy, Daniel pays great attention to detail and each of the band’s tracks is pleasurable to the ear in one way or another. Over the past decade, the band has released five albums, and while their early punk stuff drew comparisons to the Pixies, the band has been able to refine its sound over its last four releases, developing a kind of rock that is both melodious and thoughtful. Spoon is working on a sixth album, tentatively titled Trouble Minx, for release sometime in 2007. But for now, listen to these 11 songs, and pay special attention to what’s going on in the lower frequencies. Daniel’s ability to create interesting, repeating bass lines and piano riffs is almost unparalleled. When possible, I included links to the songs at iTunes and Amazon and also included either a proper video or live performance for each song (from YouTube). Spoon is a terrific live band, so if you get the opportunity, be sure to see them perform. Spoon MySpace Page | Official Site
BE Reviews: Girls Can Tell | Kill The Moonlight | Gimme Fiction
“The Way We Get By” – Kill the Moonlight
This is the first song I play for people when I’m trying to get them into the band. Daniel called this track “one of the most immediate” of his tunes, going on to say, “Once I sang that chorus the first time and got it on tape, I kind of knew it was going to be a good one.” It’s catchy from the start – he sings over an infectious yet delightful piano riff. It was also a breakthrough of sorts; the song ended up on the first Music from the O.C. mix. You can watch a decent live version here or watch an “O.C.” video below, which has the song as its soundtrack. iTunes | Amazon
“I Turn My Camera On” – Gimme Fiction
This track has a dance vibe that surprised even Daniel, who said, “Jim [Eno] – the drummer – was the guy that sent it into sort of this dance feel. I didn’t really have that idea for it. I wasn’t sure what it was going to be, but he really sent it off into that direction.” Daniel’s Jagger-like falsetto completes the track. The band got more love from another TV show – the song ended up on the “Veronica Mars” soundtrack and Daniel even appeared in an episode, singing a karaoke version of Elvis Costello’s “Veronica.” iTunes | Amazon
“They Never Got You” – Gimme Fiction
Daniel described this track as one that “was more of a personal tune to me, about what it felt like to me growing up.” The message is clear: it’s OK if you don’t fit in. Notice the gorgeous bass line. If this track were required listening for every teenager, high school would be a lot easier. iTunes | Amazon
“Everything Hits at Once” – Girls Can Tell
This is the most accessible track from 2001’s Girls Can Tell. You can hear the band’s sound developing in the subtle keys and the interesting guitar in the bridge leading up to the catchy chorus. Daniel describes the song’s genesis: “I remember thinking that once I had it, that I was really excited about the melody…[we] went through four or five different choruses trying to come up with one that really stood out and made it a great song.” The band put together an animated video for the song, which you can watch below. iTunes | Amazon
“My Mathematical Mind” – Gimme Fiction
The piano riff that drives this track is so simple, yet so emotive. This song was written when Daniel left Austin for Galveston for a while to focus on his songwriting. He describes the process: “‘My Mathematical Mind’ was one that just came up there and it was like – ‘Let’s just throw this down. I know I’m not going to be able to use it, but let’s just throw this down and put it on tape.’ And those are sometimes the best songs, those that you just think like, ‘Ah, let’s just throw down this stupid idea.’” The guitar gets a little rough at the end, mirroring the frustration he felt about his songwriting. iTunes | Amazon
“I Summon You” – Gimme Fiction
This melancholy track seems to be about the pain associated with a long-distance relationship. Some of the lyrics – “The law enforcement’s impressed you’ve survived to this age/ Strapped-up soldiers / They’ll lock you in a cage without goodbye / For a nickel bribe” – could be describing someone who’s in jail, or maybe they’re just emotionally incarcerated. iTunes | Amazon
“Small Stakes” – Kill the Moonlight
This track starts with a quickly repeating guitar riff and never lets up. Daniel uses an echo on his vocal, which is rare for him. The ascension in the verse is especially dramatic. The track seems to be about the contrast between those that chase their dreams and those that don’t. iTunes | Amazon
“The Beast and Dragon, Adored” – Gimme Fiction
This is my favorite Spoon song, but I must warn you, it takes a little while to sink in. The title of the song comes from the name of a French tapestry in one of Daniel’s grandmother’s art books from the ‘50s. He describes its inspiration: “…that was when the Iraq war was starting and I was watching way too much (CNN) Headline News. It was basically on all the time in my shitty little apartment and the world was feeling a little bit apocalyptic.” It’s appropriately dramatic, and the random guitar screeches portray a feeling of anger. After about five listens, you’ll either think this song is insanely good or you’ll never want to hear it again. iTunes | Amazon
“Utilitarian” – A Series of Sneaks
Spoon’s second full-length effort, A Series of Sneaks, was a transition of sorts for the band, as it moved from punk to a cleaner rock sound. This track features a strong opening guitar riff that is the backbone of the song. It’s a fairly simple track, but still effective. iTunes | Amazon
“Sister Jack” – Gimme Fiction
This track has a good beat and an infectious chorus. It’s the band’s fifth most downloaded song at iTunes and is more immediate than most of the band’s work. Video at YouTube | iTunes | Amazon
“Vittorio E.” – Kill the Moonlight
This stark song joined “The Way We Get By” and “My Mathematical Mind” on the soundtrack to Will Ferrell’s movie, “Stranger than Fiction.” The lone guitar conjures up feelings of isolation and introspection. The song’s title comes from a subway stop in Rome; Vittorio Emanuel was the first king of a united Italy in the late 1800s. See, you learn stuff when you listen to Spoon. iTunes | Amazon
First they skewered Owen Wilson in an open letter to his brother, Luke. Now the guys from Steely Dan (Donald Fagen and Walter Becker) have set their sites on Wes Anderson, writer/director of “Rushmore,” “The Royal Tenenbaums” and “The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.” Apparently, Steely Dan is a big fan of Anderson’s first film, “Bottle Rocket,” but they feel that his subsequent films have been progressively worse.
Steely Dan goes on to outline two strategies to “help” Anderson get back on track, providing lyrics to two separate songs that they’ve written for his next project. But before they agree to work with Anderson, there are a few conditions…
Same thing for the mandolins and the twelve-string stuff and the harpsichord, they’re out. You yourself may be partial to those particular instruments. We’re not. Remember, we saw “Tom Jones” in its original theatrical release when we were still in high school, we had to listen to “Walk Away Renee” all through college and we fucking opened for Roger McGuinn in the seventies, so all that “jingle-jangle morning” shit is no big thrill for us, OK?
I find these letters fascinating, not so much for their flowery words or content, but for the simple fact that these guys from Steely Dan actually think that anyone gives a fuck what they think about a movie.
The only explanation I can come up with is that somewhere in this universe, there is a tear in the space/time continuum, which leads to a parallel universe where the guys in Steely Dan are highly respected film critics. And somehow these letters got through…damn wi-fi.
