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David Byrne and Brian Eno “Strange Overtones” Live in Paris

by on Monday, October 19, 2009 at 12:11 am EDT in Arts & Entertainment, Music

Here’s a song for fellow Roxy Music and Talking Heads fans.  Over a year ago, when I first learned Byrne and Eno were releasing an album together, I googled their site, Everything That Happens.   I was both shocked and delighted to learn they were giving away the album’s first single, “Strange Overtones,” as a free download.

I downloaded it and played it — again and again and again …  The song has a late Roxy Music vibe to it.  My first impression was this could pass as an 11th track from Avalon, but with David Byrne singing … Talk about a stroll down memory lane, this track does exactly that for me.  I absolutely love it.

It’s been a year since I downloaded it, and taking a quick gander over at my iTunes, I see that this song has a play count of 57!  This track has gotten play fifty-seven times in a single year!!  

Here’s a pretty good live version of the song, done on Paris television. Enjoy!:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5-GJIMPujQ[/youtube]

 

The single “Strange Overtones,” the full length CD, Everything That Happens Will Happen Today, and a live EP can all be purchased here:  David Byrne & Brian Eno

Watch: Camera Obscura “If Looks Could Kill”

by on Friday, October 9, 2009 at 10:32 pm EDT in Arts & Entertainment, Music

Here’s a Scottish band that I absolutely adore.  Their sound takes me back to my youth in the 80s.  My wife and I had the pleasure of seeing them at the Cat’s Cradle in Carrboro, NC recently.  They are amazing!  Tracyanne Campbell is the best songwriter of her generation.  I’m not exaggerating.

These days, most artists seem to be good for a single or two and a trough of fillers.  Tracyanne writes beautiful, memorable albums.  Camera Obscura have made me excited about music again.  Here’s one from their Let’s Get Out Of This Country album, entitled “If Looks Could Kill”  Enjoy!:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztIWgEO0vRc[/youtube]

 

Camera Obscura’s single “If Looks Could Kill” and its full length CD, Let’s Get Out Of This Country, can be downloaded here:  Camera Obscura - Let's Get Out of This Country - If Looks Could Kill

Watch: Tuomo “Don’t take it too hard” – BEST SONG OF 2008!

by on Friday, October 9, 2009 at 9:54 pm EDT in Arts & Entertainment, Music

This is my favorite song from 2008. In fact, it’s one of my favorite tunes written in the new century.

This talent, Tuomo, is largely unknown, and I believe he’s still unsigned.  For those of you in the American Music Industry, he’s hiding out in Finland. FIND HIM, AND SIGN HIM!

This song stands up to anything Stevie Wonder has ever written, and Stevie is an absolute favorite of mine.  This video was filmed in Tokyo.

Enjoy:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ut8xTgw7zr4[/youtube]

 

Get Tuomo’s single “Don’t Take it Too Hard,” or the full length CD, My Thing, here: Tuomo - My Thing - Don't Take It Too Hard


Watch: Colin Newman’s latest Band, Githead, perform “Drop”

by on Friday, October 9, 2009 at 9:32 pm EDT in Arts & Entertainment, Music

For those of you who followed the band, Wire, back in the 1970s and 1980s, as well as Newman’s solo efforts in the 80s, you’ll love his latest band, Githead.  Here they are performing an acidic-trip, house-hop number entitled “Drop”.  Very catchy: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gnLYtmacbo[/youtube]   The Githead single, “Drop,” or the full length album, Art Pop, […]

Watch: Bon Iver “Skinny Love” on David Letterman

by on Friday, October 9, 2009 at 2:32 pm EDT in Arts & Entertainment, Music

My sister just tipped me off on this band, Bon Iver.  For those of you in the ‘know’ I’m sure you’re sayin’, “Hey, that song’s been out nearly a year!  Get with the program!” 🙂  Point taken.  Anyways, for those of you who are also just a step behind the times, here’s a great song […]

People Who Died: Jim Carroll (August 1, 1949 – September 11, 2009)

by on Saturday, September 26, 2009 at 8:30 pm EDT in Arts & Entertainment, Music

Alex Williams of the New York Times did a nice writeup on the life and final years of the great downtown writer, poet, and musician, Jim Carroll. On Carroll’s latest work: He (Carroll) was trying to finish his first novel, tentatively titled “The Petting Zoo,” an ambitious book about an art-world prodigy of the 1980s, […]