Archives For Music

Say what you will about the music of Mr. Springsteen but I am always stunned by his ability to speak so eloquently about his art, music and mythic writing (that captures his american life so perfectly and profoundly). He is our great observer and this HBO documentary sums up so beautifully why he is one of our national treasures. Listen to a true master explain how he made his great double album, The River.

 

One of the things most overlooked is his pinpoint writings on love.
 
“She’ll lead you down a path
There’ll be tenderness in the air
She’ll let you come just far enough
So you know she’s really there
Then she’ll look at you and smile
And her eyes will say
She’s got a secret garden
Where everything you want
Where everything you need
Will always stay
A million miles away”

 

From: The Secret Garden

 

Music Break: Turkuaz

September 8, 2015 — Leave a comment

Nice to see Funk has a new champion! If you like pure “white folk” funk – it don’t get much better than this! Turkuaz a really excellent band based in Brooklyn NY is coming to Ardmore PA, in October.  I hope we can fit everybody in there!

via Aris Peter Hampers

 

Music Break: Turkuaz

Joni Mitchell has taken ill this past week and since most only know her for her 1960’s folk tunes lets remember her for her fitting exploration of mortality and love in her now recognized masterpiece Hejira.  Given her mind, music and ethereal beauty she is possibly one of the most mesmerizing yet original artists of this age, moving from folk to jazz with effortless grace; Something few have done – or will ever achieve.

She is a true Artist of uncompromising artistic achievements.

“We all come and go unknown
Each so deep and superficial
Between the forceps and the stone

Well I looked at the granite markers
Those tribute to finality to eternity
And then I looked at myself here
Chicken scratching for my immortality
In the church they light the candles
And the wax rolls down like tears”…

 

 Hejira

I’m traveling in some vehicle
I’m sitting in some cafe
A defector from the petty wars
That shell shock love away
There’s comfort in melancholy
When there’s no need to explain
It’s just as natural as the weather
In this moody sky today
In our possessive coupling
So much could not be expressed
So now I’m returning to myself
These things that you and I suppressed
I see something of myself in everyone
Just at this moment of the world
As snow gathers like bolts of lace
Waltzing on a ballroom girl

You know it never has been easy
Whether you do or you do not resign
Whether you travel the breadth of extremities
Or stick to some straighter line
Now here’s a man and a woman sitting on a rock
They’re either going to thaw out or freeze
Listen
Strains of Benny Goodman *
Coming through the snow and the pinewood trees
I’m porous with travel fever
But you know I’m so glad to be on my own
Still somehow the slightest touch of a stranger
Can set up trembling in my bones *
I know no one’s going to show me everything
We all come and go unknown
Each so deep and superficial
Between the forceps and the stone

Well I looked at the granite markers
Those tribute to finality to eternity
And then I looked at myself here
Chicken scratching for my immortality
In the church they light the candles
And the wax rolls down like tears
There’s the hope and the hopelessness
I’ve witnessed thirty years
We’re only particles of change I know I know
Orbiting around the sun
But how can I have that point of view
When I’m always bound and tied to someone
White flags of winter chimneys
Waving truce against the moon
In the mirrors of a modern bank
From the window of a hotel room

I’m traveling in some vehicle
I’m sitting in some cafe
A defector from the petty wars
Until love sucks me back that way

© 1976; Crazy Crow Music

via http://jonimitchell.com/

Ok one old one (as she is just mesmerizing here…)

Music Break: Joni Mitchell Live

Seinabo Sey Live

February 27, 2015 — Leave a comment

In less than a year Seinabo Sey went from bedroom demo tape recordings to Grammy award winner! Now she is the darling of the music industry. Find out why.

If you don’t have 14 mins then start at 5:06

via https://www.youtube.com/user/CultureboxFTV

Well its only been 7 years but Modest Mouse is giving us a new great song titled Lampshade on Fire and an album on the March 17th it looks like. A few other singles have been released on ITunes as I look today – which is a bit odd but hey we are talking about Modest Mouse here and they follow no rules but their own!  Included below is the amazing 2004 video of Float On (from the last time we heard from them)…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Music Break: Modest Mouse