WoW! Mbongwana Star

Angst at Songlines

Rarely do I complain about a review, but the most recent Songlines has just made such an egregiously incorrect assessment of Who is William Onyeabor? that I need to consider my trust of the magazine, notorious for never trashing anything, regardless of how crap I consider some folk music from the end of the earth. In the most remote chance and anyone saw this review, I must protest!!!

This is one of the best things I found recently and Songlines gave it one!!! star. Nothing in that fan mag gets one star, ever! The review says "it is at times laughably awful -- sufficiently pedestrian and repetitive to suggest that it may all be a joke", "the song gets progressively worse and all vocals and lyrics are clumsy" and ""Atomic Bomb" sounds like the worst sort of 70s porn film soundtrack".

Let's compare that to emusic, ranking it in top 100 albums of the year..."he blends nuclear warfare with orgasmic megatonnage in the irrepressible “Atomic Bomb", "dazzling distillation of this mystery man’s work". Or the Guardian review: "fantastic and largely unknown".

Tell me this isn't great.

Cover Night Again Soon!

Jesus Died For Somebody's Sin

Oh, yeah, so The Doors covered, I discovered, Van Morrison, who used to be in Them, who inspired Patti Smith, to use her poem, that still oozes with coolness on Tricky's new album.

Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs

I have been hearting them all day long. Saw this last night... smitten.

Live. Wow. 

Love Me And My Music

I don't know? What do you do when someone you love likes music I hate. Convince them of their error? Hide their music?

Who Cares If You Were Annoyed?!

This is a post for me -- The 10 Most Annoying Concert Behaviors. Thank you. Let's be honest, I take pictures, but my pictures are good! And sometimes Robyn is dancing on her own just a bit too fast for my low-speed shot. I got to take more than one or two pictures of her. She's just that good!

Let's be clear and ask ourselves -- Did I annoy someone to take this shot of Femi Kuti?

Yes, I did, and I am very sorry. But doesn't my pleasure in viewing this picture on a regular basis -- remembering my elation! -- outweigh the slight irritation of the person behind me? Just "go with the flow and just relax". We're all in that concert together and I was just a bit too excited, you see!

And I don't go to hear Morrissey!

I go to take his picture and to scream my lungs out over him. I have to show myself that I have as much angst with the world as he did growing up in Manchester. I want to be Morrissey, not listen to him sing! I dare say I would rather hear the off-key guy (and they are all guys except for my wife) singing over Morrissey next to me rather than the artist himself. It's part of the show!

And I do like a vido clip of my favorite song when I hear it. Usually that clip has my better half screaming the lyrics in my ear, which doesn't go on youtube for anyone's pleasure, but it makes me happy. Call me sentimental, but it's want I like from a good show. My Lovebox 2008 series of the Flaming Lips will go down in history, or at least it will do down in my history. Sorry to all those who got frustrated seeing my camera. Your sacrifice has given me great joy.

The over-40 quips are a bit harsh. Just cause we are in our late early 40s doesn't automatically mean we stand up less. You have to be 45 to really be old and grumpy.

Fela Kuti Glastonbury 1984!

Maya Jane Coles Makes Me Happy!

Maya Jane Coles set @ ENTER. Closing Party, Sake bar, Space, Ibiza - 20-09-2012

Terry Callier

Discovered late, but certainly someone that is missed.

You Goin' Miss Your Candyman.

The Dø Live Session

This is very nice. Such a different sound live than on recordings. But both fantastic.

Very Cool

Pays to follow  @Sami_Yenigun at NPR. Especially when he dances all night.

If The Name Fits...

If I become a father in two weeks and still plan to keep my wellies, I have not choice, do I?

I'd rather hang with "camp glampers" than with "festival dads", but I don't see why I can't be both.

This looks much nicer than Glasto or Womad, especially this summer! I didn't see many kids in the video promo.

Please Help Me Find Molly

Mom and Dad's Record Collection

Not sure it was NPR that had the idea first (I did, of course), but it is a great idea! I laughed and cried a few times in the space of my run listening to Remembering Mom And Dad's Record Collection on All Songs Considered. Love, love, love the stories behind the songs. It was great for the commonalities, like the love/hate relationship with Hotel California, as well as learning new names. How does one miss Yma Sumac?

I loved the time in my late 20s when my Mother heard me playing what I thought was fairly cool jazz, having just "discovered" Ahmad Jamal. Not only did she recognize it right away, I found out she a loads of vinyl from the 1950s, none of which had seen the light of day in my lifetime. I don't know why she didn't share this with me when I'd do everything in my power to avoid piano practice! It might have given me a bit more motivation.

I propose a series of music nights dedicated to the theme of Mom and Dad's Record Collection!

Oh, Bob!

I can't name my blog Burnin' and Lootin' and not post when I learn about a new Bob Marley documentary coming out in a week.

Clip here. How exciting.

Soundclouding -- I Am Hooked

Lykke Li: Sadness Is A Blessing (Gold Panda Remix)

Just playing with Soundcloud -- whole new ways to explore and share. Join, follow and share (with me).

The Dø

Loved this show last night - The Dø!



Playing again at The Garage on 11 April, but I am not here.

ASC's "These Go To 11: Songs Best Heard Extra-Loud"

What a great idea for a radio show -- ASC did a show of 11 songs that deserve to be turned up extra loud.

I notice that there is no good dance songs, though one can open up whole new genres of songs to turn loud when you consider that Kelly Clarkson (also love this review!) counts with Led Zeppelin.

I recreated what I could and added my own to a Spotify playlist. Any other thoughts?

I think this would be the all time winner! I bet that surprised you.

Spotify Comes to USA!

Spotify arrived in America! I might be able to move back now.

“We’ve made it easier to listen, and we’ve made it easier for people to share,” Mr. Ek said. “Hence, people tend to get more into the experience, and they tend to find new music and build larger collections that they want to take with them. And therefore, they also pay more for music.”

If Apple’s iTunes ushered in digital music’s first phase as a large-scale business, then Spotify and other services like it could be its future. Rather than selling individual tracks to be downloaded, subscription services sell monthly access to vast catalogs of music, with whatever songs a listener wants to hear streamed directly to his computer or mobile phone.