+DRAWING+MODEL+MUSIC+BEER+: Forgotten Firsts

Forgotten Firsts playlist

It's a good feeling. When you have something that you know people will like. You show up, you share it and from the jump you know, "Yeah, this is working." It's a good feeling.

The conceit was pretty simple. Even familiar. I told my new boss about it as I was leaving work that day and he told me how he had made a similar mix for his brother. Hell, he reminded me of "Tainted Love."

But hearing those familiar lyrics, melodic turns and rhythms in the hands of the originator forces you to take stock of what you know about a song. Sure, "Tainted Love" still clips along at a brisk pace. But the drums are rougher; the song swings harder. A female takes the lead ~ how do the sexual dynamics feel now? Horns, guitar and voices carry the melody, not a synth. The heat is palpable. I don't care which is better ~ I want to listen to how each version brings out a new nuance to the song.

Next week, we'll head the other direction and visit covers of songs by artists from different countries or in different languages. Trust me: you don't need to know a foreign language to appreciate a lesbian punk-cumbia band's take on Black Sabbath's "Iron Man." Join us on Wednesday, May 25; hit the Fbook page for more details...

Spring Again

My new business

spring 2011

You may have heard I've been busy. Great to get some bills, but I've had to re-think how I organize my time.

Yes, these are the mundane machinations behind juggling work. Fascination street, right?

The latest seasonal blend is a peculiar one. Go ahead, compare with 2010. Sure, it opens with a sunny blast: Rapha, Frankie and this year's preppy response to Vampire Weekend. But the beats slow down. Sounds become sharp and harsh. You can feel the anxiety lurking deep in the swamp. Maybe that's why we open with a reaching reading of a recent post-adolescent's taut relationship blooz: it's a warning beacon.

The line from stutter step hyphy-dub to 1 non-blonde pop to enya/cloud/ol'/g rap is solid and clear. At least to me. Hopefully you'll hear it, too?

Side 1 closes with the most lucid Smog I've heard in a minute. Yes, it fades on the same line NYT drooled over. Poof, and the song is gone.

Side 2 is meant to pick up the pace, like San Antonio. I'm less into the music than the ol' rappers and young lions' ability to link sound and vision.

The rest are filled with quick thrills. The Aussies sound familiar. And 2001 found some drums c. 1981 (don't worry, it hasn't actually been 10 years when you go 20 back).

The closer provides hope. Quasi-cloud crooning makes the heart go pitter-patter, so the Canadian makes the beat go clippity-clop.

Wasn't 2010 supposed to be the year of the druthers? Why all the dark choonage so far? Maybe 2011 will turn that frown around come summer? Wouldn't hold your breath:

Liner Notes v.3 Blahcast

Found these in a box. And, yes, that's Cats & Ozzy

Liner Notes v.3

Coming home from +DRAWING+MODEL+MUSIC+BEER+ last night I got the news. I pulled into a bar to watch the telecast. Felt helpful to experience the moment of surprise and shock with others -- in addition to the discomfort of being around misplaced enthusiasm.

I woke up today listening to my usual line-up of Monday morning podcasts: WTF, MMPC, the Bugle. Most aren't necessarily political, but I still inexplicably wanted them to speak to the recent turn of events. Of course, all were recorded prior to Sunday night. Not sure what I would have expected anyway.

I feel sheepish talking about the pod/blahcast. But I'll get over it.

I finally gave it a name: "Liner Notes." And, like my blahg, I'm calling it a blahcast. I'm still talking about chunes that I'm digging. And I aim to whittle down the playlist so I can get more in-depth about a small handful of songs. But I had a backlog of material from the entire month of April, so I burned through tracks on this one. There's some +DRAWING+-related material from the "Hi Lo Hi" night. There's also some wordy rappinghood courtesy of Monch and Gab. And there was even time for Paul McCartney's ukulele jam "Ram On."

Listen in: it's a new day, same as yesterday.