Listen To Jonsi's (yes, Jonsi from Sigur Ros) Album a Week Before It's Released

Jonsi is perhaps best known as the singer for the Icelandic super awesome band Sigur Ros. He's also the guy who picked up a bow rather than a pic  to play his guitar, and holy freaking crap does he create some beautiful sounds out of that instrument. Srrsly, I've never heard anything else like it.


As many band front men seem to do these days (see Thom Yorke), Jonsi has branched out own his own to create a solo project.


His first sans Sigur Ros project was a collaboration with his boyfriend Alex and was simply titled "Jonsi & Alex." The result was more experimental and ethereal than Sigur Ros (as is that were possible). I enojyed it. It WILL put you to sleep though, as it is very soothing and ambient.


So now Jonsi has his own solo project, and where his previous work has been somewhat dark and mysterious, his new stuff is way upbeat. You might even consider it something to dance to .. if ... you're,  into .... that .. kind ... of thing.  


So the new album is called "Go" and you can listen to it here.... FREE!


There's also an interview with him and he also DJ's at NPR. Topics in the interview include Iron Maiden and Black Sabbath as well as his musical beginnings in Iceland, and the new album.


I'm not really sure what to make of this new sound yet. Sigur Ros, it ain't, but it will probably find a space in my ipod. If you're new to this whole Icelandic-bowguitar-atmospheric-ethereal sound, you should probably check out a little of Jonsi's work with Sigur Ros. It's quite amazing... I recommend it to all my friends.

This is a beautiful song with beautiful imagery of Iceland to match

(check out his use of the bow on the electric guitar.. GENIUS)

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Neil Young Shows a Little Love for the "Southern Man"

There's a lot of great music out there that was recorded years ago. Neil Young just so happens to have recorded loads of it. The problem is that he, and others like the remaining members of Pink Floyd and The Beatles, is not getting any younger. So there's not too many more times these amazing acts are going to be able to get around and tour.


Well Neil has decided to grace us with a few live shows, and so far most of the announced dates are down here in the good ole South. Thankfully, he will be coming to Nashville, so I won't have to travel to see him. He'll be playing the Ryman Auditorium later this year. 

I actually saw him in concert (sort of) at The Ryman a few years ago. He was there filming "Heart of Gold."
It wasn't actually a concert, per say, but he did take a break from filming to play an acoustic set that included some great songs like Needle and the Damage Done, Old Man, and After the Gold Rush. Nice.
It was also super cool because several of Nashville's greatest musicians showed up to lend a hand.
It was an amazing experience because this event was not open to the public. Tickets were circulated among those "with connections". The only reason I got a ticket was one of my patients had a family member who plays for Neil, so he gave me the hook up.


Interesting aside: I stood behind Merril Streep in line to buy beer. Cool.


Anyhoo, here's the dates for Neil's tour...
May

26 – Louisville, Ky. @ Palace Theatre
29 – Atlanta, Ga. @ Fox Theatre
30 – Spartanburg, S.C. @ Memorial Auditorium

June
1 – Nashville, Tenn. @ Ryman Auditorium
2 – Nashville, Tenn. @ Ryman Auditorium

Notice that he's coming to Nashville for two dates. Nice.

This post was really just an excuse to post the following gems of musical goodness...

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It's Good To Be Beck

It seems that Beck has been pretty bust these days. In addition to producing artists like Charlotte Gainsbourg and Jamie Lidell, 

he's also been inviting friends over to cover some of his favorite albums.

This select group of musicians has been called Record Club, and has included artists yo umay have heard of like, um Devendra Banhart, MGMT, the Liars, Feist, Wilco, and Nigel Godrich (srrsly, this dude is everywhere). His brother-in-law Giovanni Ribisi even stops by to lend a hand.

So, what exactly are these super cool people doing together you ask. Well, they are recording  cover versions of great albums and recording what happens so people like me can blog about it, and people like you can read/watch and think "that's fucking awesome! thanks for sharing."

Thus far, they have recorded Skip Spence's "Oar" (Feist and Wilco), "the Songs of Leonard Cohen" (MGMT and Devendra Banhart), and "The Velvet Underground and Nico" (Nigel Godrich and Giovanni Ribisi). They are currently working on covering "Kick" by INXS (which one of these is not like the other) with St. Vincent and the Liars.

This is a pretty cool idea, I think. Please enjoy the following nuggets of audio goodness and let me know what you think. Do you think it's a good idea to cover/remake albums?

This version of of "i'll be Your Mirror" is absolutely a beautiful song.

Record Club: Velvet Underground & Nico "I'll Be Your Mirror" from Beck Hansen on Vimeo.


Record Club: Songs Of Leonard Cohen "So Long, Marianne" from Beck Hansen on Vimeo.

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Like You've Got Something better to do on Sunday Night

I'm always trying to find new cool stuff to provide you with sights and sounds to make your brain happy. Well, tonight's your lucky night. The BBC has done it again. Their new 11 part series on nature shit debuts on Amurican tv tonight.


I so love the BBC. I so love nature, especially the animal part. So this is my latest joy-inducing bit of goodness. The BBC films our world like no one else does. Their images are like buttah. That is to say, the footage they get is unsurpassed because they will send their film crews out into the middle of nowhere and promise to kick them in the shins and babysit Amy Winehouse if they don't come back with award winning stuff. To avoid such misery, their film crews will build hideouts and stalk/wait for animals to come along and do what animals do. 

So imagine some dude sitting in a shrubbery waiting minutes/hours/days to get footage of a bug hiking up a 10 billion foot tree for a shot at a piece of ass from a she bug. They shoot this bug booty call from every conceivable angle, throw in a little CGI, and have David Attenborough narrate the whole thing. The result is an incredibly interesting story and shows the particular critter's behaviour in a way that also shows their personality. Of course if someone filmed my life and David Attenborough narrated it, that would actually make for some interesting television.


I happened to get a sneak peak at this series while on a boat in the middle of the ocean on one of my recent dive/shark stalking adventures. I must say that it is highly entertaining and does not disappoint. 


Here's a little clip about the big beetle that could. I must say that it is the funniest animal clip I've ever seen (this clip is long but the funny part starts at 1:35, 5:08 ad after is classic, 5:55 LOL) . He is persistent.




The 11 part series begins tonight on Discovery and Animal Planet...

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Build A Better Mouse Trap

You should check out this video for the song "This Too Shall Pass" by OK Go! It is filled with much goodness and it will make you smile. 






That was awesome!! I'm going to try that in my garage this weekend.

Ok Go, originally formed in chicago, now resides in LA. The forming members met as teenagers and have been performing together since 1998. they got their name from an instructor at a camp for the arts who would give instructions for an assignment and then would say "Ok Go!". 


They got their big break in 2007 when their video for "Here It Goes Again" became a You Tube sensation, won them a Grammy, and displayed their penchant for treadmills.


Put these guys in your ipod.... Ok GO!

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My Girlfriend Has A New Record...

My wife recently commented on a blog post, and in doing so basically gave me the green light to have a girlfriend. She kindly selected Zoey Deschanel for me. Way to go honey!


Well, it appears that my supposed concubine's band has a new album coming out next week. She and Him's second album entitled Volume Two will be released on Tuesday, but you can listen to the whole thing right here. 


Deschanel wrote the songs, which are a collection of musings and longing for love, but the way she sings, it ends up sounding like she's smirking while singing. It's like she's saying "yeah, like i'd be pining for someone. i'm freaking hot!! they should be pining for me!! this shit ain't real."


You: "isn't this music a little girly sounding?"
Me: "um, sort of. maybe. yes. Fuck You! it's cool."
You: "chill out dude."
Me: "sorry. i still think you should check it out..." 


...  here's a video for the song "in the sun"

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Who Else See the Leprechaun say "Yeah!" ..... "yeah"

Many of you (although I'm not sure that "many" people are actually reading this blog... leave comments!!) may have already seen this, but damn it's so funny that it bears repeating. Happy St. Patrick's Day Y'all

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Definitely Not Seeing Evil ... Taschen Books

Ok, I admit that this post is a bit off topic, and it certainly demonstrates a bit of metro-sexual prowess, but I just had to share this.


Taschen books. This is some awesome shit. For real. They have something for everyone, and they are European so they must be cool.


I stumbled on some of these book in the photography section of Borders. I pulled aside a few books that I wanted to take a closer look at, and what do you know, they were almost all by the same publisher.

Taschen started off as Taschen Comics in 1980 in Cologne, Germany by Benedikt Taschen. Initially the company published Taschen's extensive comic collection (ok?), but branched out to become an art book publisher know for providing exposure for lesser known artists.


The mission statement of the company is "to publish innovative, beautifully designed art books at popular prices." Hmmm, not really sure if their definition of "popular prices" is the same as mine; their books range in price from a few dollars to tens of thousands!! They actually have the distinction of publishing the second most expensive book ever.

Their topics have a decidedly retro feel to them and are quite varied including art, architecture, travel, design, photography, comics, advertising, and more controversial topics like historical erotica, fetish imagery, and good old fashioned pornography. I like naked people. He he.


But it's all in the name of art, so it's ok if you have this book about boobs here above sitting out on your coffee table. Or maybe if breasts aren't your thing, then perhaps a cool book on hotels would be nice.

... or maybe you need to spruce up your home with a little design inspiration (my wife would be proud of me for pointing this one out)

I love photography, so I think these would be cool.....

You can check out their website here. 


So f books with lots of words just aren't your thing, you should buy some books by Taschen. The pretty pictures therein are top notch, and as I have said before ... you will be cooler.


Here's a few more:

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Why Does Music Do What It Does?

I was going to Starbucks this morning to get my daily coffee, venti bold with room. I didn't have to work today, so I just threw on whatever clothes were close at hand, which not surprisingly included a Radiohead t-shirt. 


So when I walked in the door at S-Bucks, this dude was sitting at a table by the door and said "hey, is that I Radiohead shirt?" "Yeah." I said, "doesn't it rule?!" I thought that was the end of the conversation, but oddly enough this guy had more to say. "I have a couple of their albums " he said, "what do you think of them." At this point my instinctive reaction was to say "OMG! They freaking rock!!!" and start to hyperventilate, but I played it cool and instead replied "I think they're pretty brilliant." 


What surprised me was that he then said "Why?" I thought "Because they're awesome! Duh!" I actually don't remember what I said, but I tried to wrap up this conversation so I could get some caffeine in my system.


So as I stood in line, I began to wonder what it is about music by Radiohead, or Sigur Ros, or The Beatles, or any number of artists that appeals to me. And furthermore, what is it about Kenny Chesney, or Lynard Skynard, or Lady Ga Ga that keeps them behind my ipod's velvet rope.


What is it about music that appeals to us in general, and as individuals specifically? I mean, everyone loves artists like the Beatles, right? Right? Damn straight. And just as universal is the disdain for say... Chris Gaines. Why is that? Is there an alternate universe where Chris Gaines is the greatest? Let's hope not.


I think part of what is appealing about music, is that it is consistent. What I mean by that is that you can hit the repeat button, and the song is the same as it was the last 100 times you heard it. You can rely on it. Music will be there for you unchanged. Stable. An unchanging dependable constant. Like Pi.


So when you listen to your favorite artist, they will be dependable. Or at least their music will be. And it becomes a part of your daily life, just like going to work or getting your Starbucks.


But what about the music? It's just sounds. What is it about the combination of sounds that appeals to the masses, or to the individual?


Maybe taste in music is learned. People often learn their religion or political views from their parents. Is this the same with music?


Maybe it's geographic. Do people in the South like country music more? Are Northerners more into hip-hop? 


Maybe it's socio-economic. Do people in unemployment lines listen to the same tunes as Warren Buffett? 


I'm sure it's a combination of all of the above. But what amazes me is the power that music has to stir emotions, and that, my friends,  is universal. Whether you're happy, or sad, want to get you groove on, or just want to chill and contemplate the universe there's a song out there for your needs.


So for me, music is part of my daily life, and judging by the sight of ipods everywhere you look, my guess is that it plays a part of everyone else's daily life too. The artists on this blog plus many others a pumped into my ears every day, and my life is better for it. I can't exactly tell you, or the dude at Starbucks this morning, why. It just is.


What artists do it for you? and why?

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Miloko Plus...A Clockwork Orange Review

My initial intention with this blog was to shine the spotlight on music and films and other related media that don't suck. Well, I've been hitting music pretty hard so , since today is Oscar night, now I'm gonna hit on movies and I'll start with a movie that hits viewers hard ... Stanley Kubrick's A Clockwork Orange.

Let me begin by saying that there is much more to this film than a few rape scenes. Whenever I tell someone that I love this movie, they cringe and say "...isn't that the one with the bad rape scene?" Well, yes, but there's also tons of social commentary in there as well. Not to mention the fact that, in my opinion (and lots of other people as well), Clockwork is a masterpiece of film making. And now I'm going to tell you why with some help from a Scottish man who knows his films.

Kubrick adapted the novel of the same name by Anthony Burgess into a film which follows the life of "our humble narrator", Alex DeLarge. The film begins showing Alex and his droogs relaxing at the Korova Milk Bar and preparing for a night in which they engage in several acts of "ultra-violence" before returning to the milk bar for a nightcap. 


Alex asserts his role as their "droogan leader", even ends up resorting to violence to prove his point. Eventually this leads to Alex being betrayed by his droogs. He is caught, arrested, convicted, and sentenced to prison. 


Aaah, but there is hope for "our humble narrator", as he learns of the Ludovico technique which if Alex agrees to, will have him free in a matter of a few weeks. This Ludovico technique is a form of psychological conditioning which trains Alex to be repulsed by even the thought of violence, and thus will "cure" him.

Alex is subsequently released, but soon finds that his "cure" has left him unable to function in society. He is outcast by his family, his former droogs are now police officers and they beat him, and in an ironic twist he lands at the home of one of his former victims who turns out to be  the only one who will help him. 


In the end, Alex has become a political pawn, and the government who was behind the Ludovico technique is exposed and the public sees how the "cure" is more of a curse. They reverse the effects of Alex's conditioning, and he he is back to his old was declaring "I was cured alright."


What is fantastic about Clockwork is partially the message and themes, but more importantly, how that message is communicated. Kubrick is a master of symbolism and foreshadowing, and nothing, I mean nothing, is accidental. The colors in a room, the positions actors have on screen, words, everything is done with intent.


I hope you'll give this film a chance, or if you've already seen it then give it a second chance and ask your self:

What is the function of violence?

How are we "conditioned?"

What is the origin of "goodness?"

So, without further ado, I would like to present a series of videos which explain some of the brilliance of Clockwork and will have you viewing film differently from now on...


P.S. there's scenes of ultra-violence and nudity from the movie so if you don't like that type of thing, get outta here


the first 4:20 is a foreward by the reviewer Rob Ager. The good stuff starts after that



there's naked people in this one, so don't watch if easily offended... 






Yeah yeah yeah, some of that is far-fetched, but overall this guy does a great job of decoding this masterpiece.


What do you think? I'd appreciate comments very much and would be interested in your thoughts.


Peace out droogies...

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The Garden is Back in Bloom... Soundgarden Reunites

On January 1, 2010 Chris Cornell tweeted that his former band Soundgarden would be reuniting. Time to dust off my old flannel shirts and Doc Martens. Seriously though, this is a good thing, right. These guys rock so hard it'll make you need to have your spine adjusted. 


The first time I heard of Soundgarden was my freshman year in college, and I still had a vagina. This dude at the end of the hall had a poster for Louder Than Love on his wall and it kind of scarred me. I was into whinny frat boy music, and I just prayed that the mean boy at the end of the hall didn't play his Soundgarden music too loud.


Within a year grunge had become mainstream, and I had consumed my glass of Kool Aid. It was good. I quickly snatched up copies of Nevermind, Ten, and Bad Motorfinger, and was on my way to becoming a bad motherfucker.


The band released a handfull of albums, with each one becoming more and more mainstream and accessible eventually going so far as to land in the cassette player of then girlfriend now wife's Jetta.


Their music is always packed with testosterone and other anger inducing ingredients, and any time I need to break shit I play one of their albums. Johnny Cash (the original bad motherfucker) covered "Rusty Cage", other songs were features in mainstream media, but songs like "Nothing to Say" and "Outshined" are for me their quintessential songs.


Let's hope the second time around can reproduce some of their original kick-assness!!


What band would you like to see reunite?


This song makes me want to kick someone in the nuts...

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Listen To Gorillaz Album A Week Before Release ... Fo Free (Thanks Jay!)

It's been awhile since we heard from the virtual band brain-child of Damon Albarn, Gorillaz. Well the wait is over and they have a new album called Plastic Beach. It is set to be released next week, but NPR has it available to listen to it in it's entirety right here. Thanks to my brother-in-law Jay, who works with the good folks over at Los Bastardos Unidos for bringing this to my attention. Jay's a cool motherfucker.


I've listened to some of it so far. It's sounds a bit more hip-hop than their previous efforts, but I haven't listened to all of it yet. Snoop D-O double G is on the title track... it's tha shizzle!!

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