Archive for the 'Have you heard?' Category
(Chronologically Listed)
christmastime is here
Well, once again Christmastime is indeed here (as my bank balance will attest), and I hope you’re making a very merry week of it. Just in case you happen to be in more of a “Charlie Browniest” way - here’s a good one to launch the spirit of the season. Enjoy, and have a warm and wonderful day.
By the Vince Guaraldi Trio, here’s the real deal:
white winter hymnal
Here’s some claymation inspiration from Seattle’s Fleet Foxes. I hope you enjoy this and a warm, harmonious and happy winter. Peace.
dichotomic deference
Stirred but not shaken. Repulsed yet yearning. Overstimulated and highly under-motivated. I’ve had much to do, think and write about which all amounts (for me) to not much to share. I suppose its all in the processing. And yet… I embrace dichotomous dilemmas such as this itsy bitsy grand funk railroad as one of life’s little riddles to be ridden as opposed to resisted. So, inasmuch as I could contentedly remain silent (when you’re unsure of just what you want to say, it’s usually best to say nothing, I hear) I’m gonna write, but I’m just sayin’…
Sunday: Went to a rainy matinee screening of Slumdog Millionaire. Talk about dichotomies; sweet/bitter, tender/brutal, beautiful/ugly, funny/sad, rich/humble, heartwarming/heartbreaking – a veritable rainbow’s range of emotional color all condensed into 2½ hours of inspired filmmaking. My favorite (this year) since In Bruges. Two more words: see it.
Monday: Went to see Franz Ferdinand. Truth be told it was pouring cats and dogs and I’d have just as soon been home in my p.j.’s and fuzzy slippers (okay, truth be told I don’t really have fuzzy slippers) with a good book and the sound of the rain on the roof. But as it turned out, after enduring the opening band we finally had the pleasure of enjoying Franz Ferdinand. They rocked the roof off, and were well worth the wait. It was their last show before heading home for Christmas so that may have made it especially special.
Tuesday: Basic – pizza, beer, friends and laughs. Thanks.
Tonight: P.J.’s, holiday cards, and TV to see who’s get’s kicked off the cooking island for the crappiest kickshaw.
In keeping with what seems to be my theme of the week, here’s some Darts of Pleasure. Hope you enjoy. That’s all, thanks for checking in and know that this too, whatever it is, shall pass.
oh geez - sorry about the ad.
full moon fever
Believe it or not, I have a stockpile of music saved specifically for the occasion of the full moon, but I’m posting remotely so sharing a song from said stockpile isn’t possible. However, it is worthy of sharing, in case you weren’t aware (I’m a lunar-watcher and had no idea) that tonight is the largest full moon of the year. And they mean BIG. The biggest. Enjoy, howl loud and often, and watch out for the other guy. Peace.
Read the big sky show story here.
Okay, here’s something for you to listen to, too. A little live Neil fits the bill just beautifully.
How could I not…
the devil and the lair
Arrogant. Scheming. Gluttonous. Arrested. O.J.? Nope. Just another elected official confirming that evil and idiocy are alive and well and living together in their Illinois lair. Embroiled in a “corruption crime spree”, expletive-inclined Governor Rod Blagojevich was taken into (and unfortunately released from) custody today, on charges of corruption relative to, among other things, the Cubs, President-elect Barack Obama’s vacant senate seat, the firing of Chicago Tribune editors/critics and even a children’s hospital. To give you an idea as to his audacity, here’s a fiery little tidbit extracted from the 74-page affidavit:
On October 8, Blagojevich told a person described only as “Individual A” that he was willing to make $8 million available for Children’s Memorial Hospital, but “I want to get [Hospital Executive 1] for 50.”
Individual A felt that Blagojevich was talking about a $50,000 campaign contribution from the hospital’s chief executive officer and that the $8 million referred to a recent commitment by Blagojevich to secure state funds via “some type of pediatric care reimbursement.”
“Intercepted phone conversations between Rod Blagojevich
Shameless, selfish, devious devil.
The song’s a lot prettier than the guy (who’s in serious need of a new ‘do, anyhoo). By Longwave off their newly released CD, Secrets are Sinister. Indeed.
read the short AP version here
read the long criminal complaint here
Did I mention that today, December 9, is also International Anti-Corruption Day? How perfectly apropos.
the next time around
Comprised of Fabrizio Moretti (of The Strokes), Rodrigo Amarante (of the Brazilian band Los Hermanos) and Binki Shapiro, this is Little Joy with a back porch taste of their sweet, island-inspired sound from their self-referred DUMBO sessions off their self-titled CD, released last month. Hope you like it, and hope your week is comprised of much joy.
Got me thinking about The Strokes, and the next time around, and ended up at Someday. Go figure.
prop 8 parody
“Prop 8 - The Musical” starring Jack Black, John C. Reilly, Neil Patrick Harris, Maya Rudolph, Alison Janney and many more, lends a humorous perspective to the shocking and ridiculous passing of Proposition 8, banning gay marriage in blue California. A much deserved send-up.
Click here to sign a petition to re-open Prop 8 for California.
Click here to visit the Vote No on 8 site.
sleepy tigers
The insomnia lingers. Not even an Ambien/chamomile cocktail provided a fully restful night. Maybe it’s the planetary conjunction of Venus and Jupiter emitting some sort of strange energy beyond the sky-show glow; the brightest alignment of the year, I hear. Yet in spite of (over) a week of weird sleep, I’ve also exhumed some (even weirder) deep-rooted energy that’s got me heading out to the cliffs extra early and rockin’ and rollin’ my way through the day. I heard this song off the new release by Her Space Holiday this afternoon, and found myself tippy-tapping and finger-snapping all the way through it. Even wiggled it a little bit. It’s a playful number - hope you enjoy it, too. Do have a beautiful day, and if you please, say a little prayer that a restful night finds this sleepy tiger soon. Peace.
end of the Harcourt era
Last week marked much. Amongst other things my favorite holiday (this year’s celebration of thanks was unique and non-traditional, quite festive, and absolutely blessed) and the dreaded onset of my seasonal insomnia (whateva…). It also marked the end of an extraordinary era of introductions to and interviews with an assorted array of music makers on one of my favorite shows (KCRW’s “Morning Becomes Eclectic”) by one of my favorite voices, Nic Harcourt. The voice that launched a whole bunch o’ big(ish) artists, Harcourt offered more than a mere harmonious start to the day, he’s also served as a valued constant; a sound one could count on, rain or shine… sorta like the mail, but way better. Along with anticipation of the unpredictable adventures of the day-to-day, it’s something that’s gotten me excited most every working morning at 9. Okay, I’m easy. Don’t judge.
One of my oft-used mantras is that the only true constant in life is change, and I fully embrace movement and evolution, lest our spectacular planet become spectacularly boring, yes? MBE will live on, just sans Nic. And so onward we go - with all the best to Jason Bentley in his assumption of the helm.
Hard to select one song to bid farewell (he’ll still host a Sunday evening show, anyhoo). This being a “thanks for the memories” inspired post, I thought I’d go with this hopeful little ditty by Travis, from their 2003 CD 12 Memories. Travis was introduced to the U.S. by Harcourt, and provided the last artist interview of his tenure as Music Director. So now, without further ado, “Love Will Come Through”… may it come through for you.
And in keeping with my meager attempt at tradition, something new, too. “Something Anything”, that is, from Travis’ recently released Ode to J Smith. Hope you enjoy.
give a little love
I’ve been anxiously anticipating the new CD by Sir Tom Jones since I heard the song “Never” in pre-release. Then I heard the following, and, well suffice it to say I grew even more anticipatory. Have a listen and let me know if you’re not compelled to dance naked (save for the go-go boots) during this one… enjoy, and give a little love - go on and do it. Do what you can… try to understand.
And now, Never:
Did I mention that he’s like, 70? For those of you who may not be familiar with his glory, panty-garnering nights of yore, have a look-see at this 1964 video and give me your best argument if you’ve any doubt that this Welshman earned his knighthood if by merely serving as his own one-man, finger snapping, hand-clapping band. Brutal.
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Tee of the Month
