blog: This Is What God Thinks
Pitchfork Baffled That Musicians Aren't as Lame as They Are
April 16, 2008
I don't know what it is about Pitchfork - they're like Mitt Romney. How can you be so divisive and closed-minded‚ and still be taken seriously by anyone? Like‚ really? There's that many people that voted for Romney? They kind of remind me of my fascination with Bill O'Reilly - the guy is such an asshole‚ that I go to sites like Crooks & Liars and Media Matters to watch video clips to be reminded what an asshole he is. And then I say to myself‚ "Self‚ we're so fucked." What is it about these divisive folks - in their refusal to open up and investigate a different viewpoint - that makes them so popular? Hmm…
I remember hearing the buzz years ago about Pitchfork and about how they had become the premiere tastemakers in underground music. And of course‚ what they've built is very admirable. I started to check it out and one of the first things I read was their news section about some festival's lineup and they nonchalantly referred to Medeski Martin and Wood as "lame." Really? Then I started seeing the power this site had over people - all these lemmings repeating the gospel according to Pitchfork on blogs‚ message boards‚ even in my local paper. Man‚ these people already have their minds made up about what is good and bad before they even listen.
Then‚ I had a hilarious interaction with one of their writers after a show one time - I was talking to one of the members of a band and he told me their album was reviewed and that they found out that Pitchfork always takes .2 off of any album rating that a writer gives a review - you know‚ sort of as a coolness cushion. It was fucking hilarious. The writer reprimanded the musician for exposing company secrets. But anyway‚ there I was basking in the afterglow from the experience of hearing this band play and I'm hearing about how their music was critiqued with decimal points. Talk about missing the point.
So‚ now‚ this is great: The Fiery Furnaces are playing six shows with String Cheese Incident keyboardist Kyle Hollingsworth. And this is what Pitchfork had to say:
Amidst a flurry of website updates about album-titling caucuses‚ fan-assisted songwriting‚ and democratically chosen setlists‚ the Fiery Furnaces have found time to schedule yet another tour.
This spring/summer trek includes one-off shows with the Cool Kids and the Raconteurs‚ but the Friedbergers' most interesting pair-up is the addition of Kyle Hollingsworth to their band for the first six shows.
But who‚ you may ask‚ is Kyle Hollingsworth? He would be the keyboardist for jam-band journeymen the String Cheese Incident. But what‚ you may ask‚ the fuck? We knew Matthew & Eleanor had some jammy tendencies‚ but apparently the roots run deeper than we thought.
This news comes from a story on JamBase.com confirmed by Thrill Jockey‚ and we'd like to thank reader Tobias Sincere for the tip.
Strange collaboration? Not really. Musicians play together - that's what they do. That's how they evolve. And if they knew anything about the members of SCI‚ regardless if they think they suck‚ they would know that they've always tried to collaborate with diverse musicians to bring in something fresh to their music - like Jim Lauderdale or Perry Farrell for example.
What really gets me is that they really promote dividing music fans based how musicians are‚ essentially‚ marketed. Instead of embracing collaborations like this where the musicians are going to be challenged and playing out of their element‚ they immediately ask‚ "What the fuck?"
But the more I think about it‚ the more I wonder if it's Mitt Romney to blame or the people that would actually vote for him. Is it Bill O'Reilly or is it the people that allow this asshole to have a forum? Anyway‚ music is above and beyond that. Come on‚ people‚ it's time to leave some doors open. You might realize your club is holding you back and you're missing out.
"Nice use of Michael McDonald"
April 2, 2008
I remember guitarist Max Verna of the Ominous Seapods - the greatest rock band ever - one time commenting from the stage about growing up in the 1980s: "Bad hair, bad music and bad drugs."
Now, 1980s music has the bulldog effect on me. You know, so ugly, it's cute. Yeah, the music is so terrible, it's good.
Fellow enthusiast Scot MacMillan, (aka DJ Filthy MacNasty) was spinning tunes at the SoM Headquarters post-Lotus last Saturday night, and he busted it all out. Even the '80s TV show theme songs.
Eventually we came to discussing the legendary vocalist Michael McDonald. I was sore from laughing the next day. What do you think? When is it appropriate to use Michael McDonald? My vote for "nice use" comes from 1977…
Voted "Nice Use of Michael McDonald"
"Peg" by Steely Dan - check about 6:15 in...
Voted "Bad Use of Michael McDonald"
Check out this gem from 1986. Who wouldn't want to party with these guys?!
Jim James and the Jacket in a Suspicious State of Mind
March 29, 2008
So‚ a few days after My Morning Jacket's nearly two-hour set at South By Southwest‚ Live Music Beth and I were seated on the couch at SoM HQ‚ streaming the show from NPR.org. Our mouths agape‚ eyes bulging‚ we kept bursting out laughing and making comments like "What the hell is this?!" Mike would occasionally step into the room‚ listen for a moment‚ and nod sagely before going back to his desk to plan world domination.
The odd facial expressions were in reaction to a new My Morning Jacket song called "Highly Suspicious." It was the fourth song in the band's SXSW set‚ which featured new material from the band's upcoming album‚ Evil Urges‚ mixed with golden oldies.
I've had a great time trying to describe the sound of this song to a bunch of people over the last couple of weeks‚ but I think the only way to get it across is to listen to it - or‚ in this case‚ watch them play it.
This video is from a few days before SXSW‚ but if you want to hear the show - which is a great example of the Jacket's monstrous abilities as a live band - check it out the stream at NPR.org.
"Highly Suspicious" is sure to be a conversation piece for a little while‚ as it's such a wild mix of elements the Jacket have been playing with in the last few years - Jim James's convincing falsetto‚ James and guitarist Carl Broemel's punishing six-string assaults‚ and a collective crushing ton of rock. And as for a new sense of humor? I'll let you decide on that one.
Also‚ David Fricke does a good job of putting the song in perspective over at that Rolling Stone website thing. You may have heard of it. (Also‚ they have a video of the SXSW performance‚ which is of much higher quality than this version. Though I don't want to drive you away and into the lap of a corporate rock mag‚ there are benefits to having buckets of cash and influence. One of them is you can buy the rights to have a high-quality‚ legal video on your site. We're getting there...)
Radiohead: Adam King tries to convince me they are aliens…
March 23, 2008
I love this brilliant‚ geeky music shit. Adam King (I Shit Music) told me about this and wrote about it on his Pure Pop blog. Basically, OK Computer and In Rainbows are complimentary albums created ten years apart, and if they are synched up by alternating tracks from each album (with minor adjusting) it feels like one cohesive piece of music. If you really want to geek out, there's a ton of other great findings that Radiohead fans have discovered - just dig around a bit. Here's an excerpt from Adam's blog:
...Turns out that behind being the most psychedelic musical geniuses of all time‚ they're even more so musical geniuses. From many scattered clues‚ much akin to those posted on the internet during Pink Floyd's last tour in the 90's‚ there has been a secret hidden in the last Radiohead album. The album was announced 10 days before it's release on 10/10‚ and 10 years after OK Computer's release‚ and both titles have ten letters‚ and much‚ much more…. But the secret is that the two albums are actually companion tracks of one great piece. What one must do‚ is retrack the albums together alternating tracks. So you start with "Airbag" off OK Computer and then segue that into "15 Steps"‚ the first track off In Rainbows. Keep going track for track‚ using "Fitter Happier" as the center piece between the two halfs. What you get is a playing of songs that fit together far beyond any coincidence. The albums seem like they were actually made to be played as a whole. The most signifigant‚ and obvious sign is the cut from "Subterranean Homesick Alien" into "Nude." "Nude" actually starts with the reverb from SHA still lingering‚ it's fuckin' amazing‚ and beautiful‚ and has got me shaking listening to it at 1 in the morning on this Friday night.
You must check out this website and message board: http://puddlegum.net/radiohead-01-and-10/
So‚ Adam sparked my interest. Besides, it's Saturday night and I got some time to kill. Matt Bushow (SoM co-editor) and I fired it up. Here's the playlist:
1. Airbag (OK Computer)
2. 15 Step (In Rainbows)
3. Paranoid Android (OK Computer)
4. Bodysnatchers (In Rainbows)
5. Subterranean Homesick Alien (OK Computer)
6. Nude (In Rainbows)
7. Exit Music (For A Film) (OK Computer)
8. Weird Fishes/Arpeggi (In Rainbows)
9. Let Down (OK Computer)
10. All I Need (In Rainbows)
11. Karma Police (OK Computer)
12. Fitter Happier (OK Computer)
13. Faust Arp (In Rainbows)
14. Electioneering (OK Computer)
15. Reckoner (In Rainbows)
16. Climbing Up The Walls (OK Computer)
17. House Of Cards (In Rainbows)
18. No Surprises (OK Computer)
19. Jigsaw Falling Into Place (In Rainbows)
20. Lucky (OK Computer)
21. Videotape (In Rainbows)
22. The Tourist (OK Computer)
Now... here's my text message conversation with Adam King during the process:
MM: Ha ha I'm listening to Radiohead now. Last two songs would be from OK Computer?
AK: No‚ you put "Fitter Happier" - the unlabeled 7th track of OK as the middle. So it goes "Karma Police" then "Fitter Happier" then "Faust Arp" from In Rainbows.
MM: Got it!
AK: They recommend ten second cross fades with songs too‚ but it doesn't matter
MM: ha ha ha ha
AK: On Rainbows by itself the album is recorded with sacred geometry ratios too. Golden ratio of 1/1.618 comes 2 minutes and 49 seconds into revolver when in rainbows is first sung. Sick.
MM: Wow‚ I just pooped everywhere.
AK: Hear how the 4 beats at the end of "Airbag" set new tempo for "15 Step"? Aliens bro. Aliens.
Ten minutes later
MM: Golden ratio?
AK: The ideal mean. Like a snail shell or da Vinci - perfect man. The ration point represents when it advances one more level within itself. They go way deeper still. Lets get into more at some point. They are literally operating on a whole other fuckin level man. Real deal‚ next level of consciousness shit. So inspiring.
MM: So the point beyond perfection = aliens…
AK: Oh yeah. That's my goal.
MM: Word - u rule
I ended up listening to Radiohead for one hour and forty minutes straight. It was really fucking good. They could be aliens…
Bob and David together again!
March 21, 2008
If your favorite band is Titannica‚ if you pray to DaBob (terradaloo!)‚ if you love the magical‚ pansexual‚ non-threatening spokesthing Pit-Pat‚ if you've got to follow your red balloon‚ if your favorite film is Coupon: The Movie‚ if you were on the 18th hole‚ if you like masturbating in a closet while people are waiting for pie to cool... then this news will make you very happy: Check it out!
Pitchfork Baffled That Musicians Aren't as Lame as They AreApril 16, 2008
I remember hearing the buzz years ago about Pitchfork and about how they had become the premiere tastemakers in underground music. And of course‚ what they've built is very admirable. I started to check it out and one of the first things I read was their news section about some festival's lineup and they nonchalantly referred to Medeski Martin and Wood as "lame." Really? Then I started seeing the power this site had over people - all these lemmings repeating the gospel according to Pitchfork on blogs‚ message boards‚ even in my local paper. Man‚ these people already have their minds made up about what is good and bad before they even listen.
Then‚ I had a hilarious interaction with one of their writers after a show one time - I was talking to one of the members of a band and he told me their album was reviewed and that they found out that Pitchfork always takes .2 off of any album rating that a writer gives a review - you know‚ sort of as a coolness cushion. It was fucking hilarious. The writer reprimanded the musician for exposing company secrets. But anyway‚ there I was basking in the afterglow from the experience of hearing this band play and I'm hearing about how their music was critiqued with decimal points. Talk about missing the point.
So‚ now‚ this is great: The Fiery Furnaces are playing six shows with String Cheese Incident keyboardist Kyle Hollingsworth. And this is what Pitchfork had to say:
Amidst a flurry of website updates about album-titling caucuses‚ fan-assisted songwriting‚ and democratically chosen setlists‚ the Fiery Furnaces have found time to schedule yet another tour.
This spring/summer trek includes one-off shows with the Cool Kids and the Raconteurs‚ but the Friedbergers' most interesting pair-up is the addition of Kyle Hollingsworth to their band for the first six shows.
But who‚ you may ask‚ is Kyle Hollingsworth? He would be the keyboardist for jam-band journeymen the String Cheese Incident. But what‚ you may ask‚ the fuck? We knew Matthew & Eleanor had some jammy tendencies‚ but apparently the roots run deeper than we thought.
This news comes from a story on JamBase.com confirmed by Thrill Jockey‚ and we'd like to thank reader Tobias Sincere for the tip.
Strange collaboration? Not really. Musicians play together - that's what they do. That's how they evolve. And if they knew anything about the members of SCI‚ regardless if they think they suck‚ they would know that they've always tried to collaborate with diverse musicians to bring in something fresh to their music - like Jim Lauderdale or Perry Farrell for example.
What really gets me is that they really promote dividing music fans based how musicians are‚ essentially‚ marketed. Instead of embracing collaborations like this where the musicians are going to be challenged and playing out of their element‚ they immediately ask‚ "What the fuck?"
But the more I think about it‚ the more I wonder if it's Mitt Romney to blame or the people that would actually vote for him. Is it Bill O'Reilly or is it the people that allow this asshole to have a forum? Anyway‚ music is above and beyond that. Come on‚ people‚ it's time to leave some doors open. You might realize your club is holding you back and you're missing out.
"Nice use of Michael McDonald" April 2, 2008
Now, 1980s music has the bulldog effect on me. You know, so ugly, it's cute. Yeah, the music is so terrible, it's good.
Fellow enthusiast Scot MacMillan, (aka DJ Filthy MacNasty) was spinning tunes at the SoM Headquarters post-Lotus last Saturday night, and he busted it all out. Even the '80s TV show theme songs.
Eventually we came to discussing the legendary vocalist Michael McDonald. I was sore from laughing the next day. What do you think? When is it appropriate to use Michael McDonald? My vote for "nice use" comes from 1977…
Voted "Nice Use of Michael McDonald"
"Peg" by Steely Dan - check about 6:15 in...
Voted "Bad Use of Michael McDonald"
Check out this gem from 1986. Who wouldn't want to party with these guys?!
Jim James and the Jacket in a Suspicious State of MindMarch 29, 2008
The odd facial expressions were in reaction to a new My Morning Jacket song called "Highly Suspicious." It was the fourth song in the band's SXSW set‚ which featured new material from the band's upcoming album‚ Evil Urges‚ mixed with golden oldies.
I've had a great time trying to describe the sound of this song to a bunch of people over the last couple of weeks‚ but I think the only way to get it across is to listen to it - or‚ in this case‚ watch them play it.
This video is from a few days before SXSW‚ but if you want to hear the show - which is a great example of the Jacket's monstrous abilities as a live band - check it out the stream at NPR.org.
"Highly Suspicious" is sure to be a conversation piece for a little while‚ as it's such a wild mix of elements the Jacket have been playing with in the last few years - Jim James's convincing falsetto‚ James and guitarist Carl Broemel's punishing six-string assaults‚ and a collective crushing ton of rock. And as for a new sense of humor? I'll let you decide on that one.
Also‚ David Fricke does a good job of putting the song in perspective over at that Rolling Stone website thing. You may have heard of it. (Also‚ they have a video of the SXSW performance‚ which is of much higher quality than this version. Though I don't want to drive you away and into the lap of a corporate rock mag‚ there are benefits to having buckets of cash and influence. One of them is you can buy the rights to have a high-quality‚ legal video on your site. We're getting there...)
Radiohead: Adam King tries to convince me they are aliens…March 23, 2008
...Turns out that behind being the most psychedelic musical geniuses of all time‚ they're even more so musical geniuses. From many scattered clues‚ much akin to those posted on the internet during Pink Floyd's last tour in the 90's‚ there has been a secret hidden in the last Radiohead album. The album was announced 10 days before it's release on 10/10‚ and 10 years after OK Computer's release‚ and both titles have ten letters‚ and much‚ much more…. But the secret is that the two albums are actually companion tracks of one great piece. What one must do‚ is retrack the albums together alternating tracks. So you start with "Airbag" off OK Computer and then segue that into "15 Steps"‚ the first track off In Rainbows. Keep going track for track‚ using "Fitter Happier" as the center piece between the two halfs. What you get is a playing of songs that fit together far beyond any coincidence. The albums seem like they were actually made to be played as a whole. The most signifigant‚ and obvious sign is the cut from "Subterranean Homesick Alien" into "Nude." "Nude" actually starts with the reverb from SHA still lingering‚ it's fuckin' amazing‚ and beautiful‚ and has got me shaking listening to it at 1 in the morning on this Friday night.
You must check out this website and message board: http://puddlegum.net/radiohead-01-and-10/
So‚ Adam sparked my interest. Besides, it's Saturday night and I got some time to kill. Matt Bushow (SoM co-editor) and I fired it up. Here's the playlist:
1. Airbag (OK Computer)
2. 15 Step (In Rainbows)
3. Paranoid Android (OK Computer)
4. Bodysnatchers (In Rainbows)
5. Subterranean Homesick Alien (OK Computer)
6. Nude (In Rainbows)
7. Exit Music (For A Film) (OK Computer)
8. Weird Fishes/Arpeggi (In Rainbows)
9. Let Down (OK Computer)
10. All I Need (In Rainbows)
11. Karma Police (OK Computer)
12. Fitter Happier (OK Computer)
13. Faust Arp (In Rainbows)
14. Electioneering (OK Computer)
15. Reckoner (In Rainbows)
16. Climbing Up The Walls (OK Computer)
17. House Of Cards (In Rainbows)
18. No Surprises (OK Computer)
19. Jigsaw Falling Into Place (In Rainbows)
20. Lucky (OK Computer)
21. Videotape (In Rainbows)
22. The Tourist (OK Computer)
Now... here's my text message conversation with Adam King during the process:
MM: Ha ha I'm listening to Radiohead now. Last two songs would be from OK Computer?
AK: No‚ you put "Fitter Happier" - the unlabeled 7th track of OK as the middle. So it goes "Karma Police" then "Fitter Happier" then "Faust Arp" from In Rainbows.
MM: Got it!
AK: They recommend ten second cross fades with songs too‚ but it doesn't matter
MM: ha ha ha ha
AK: On Rainbows by itself the album is recorded with sacred geometry ratios too. Golden ratio of 1/1.618 comes 2 minutes and 49 seconds into revolver when in rainbows is first sung. Sick.
MM: Wow‚ I just pooped everywhere.
AK: Hear how the 4 beats at the end of "Airbag" set new tempo for "15 Step"? Aliens bro. Aliens.
Ten minutes later
MM: Golden ratio?
AK: The ideal mean. Like a snail shell or da Vinci - perfect man. The ration point represents when it advances one more level within itself. They go way deeper still. Lets get into more at some point. They are literally operating on a whole other fuckin level man. Real deal‚ next level of consciousness shit. So inspiring.
MM: So the point beyond perfection = aliens…
AK: Oh yeah. That's my goal.
MM: Word - u rule
I ended up listening to Radiohead for one hour and forty minutes straight. It was really fucking good. They could be aliens…
Bob and David together again!March 21, 2008
new to state of mind
Shows: moe.
Shows: Yonder Mountain String Band
Shows: Grand Point North 2014
Shows: Catskill Chill 2014
Shows: moe.down 15
Shows: Gov't Mule
Shows: Umphrey's McGee
Shows: Newport Folk Festival 2014
Shows: Widespread Panic
Albums: Phish - Fuego
Shows: moe.
Shows: Yonder Mountain String Band
Shows: Grand Point North 2014
Shows: Catskill Chill 2014
Shows: moe.down 15
Shows: Gov't Mule
Shows: Umphrey's McGee
Shows: Newport Folk Festival 2014
Shows: Widespread Panic
Albums: Phish - Fuego
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Blog: Radiohead: Adam King tries to convince me they are aliens…
Blog: New Video/Song From Dr. Dog - "Broken Heart"
Blog: Mountain Oasis welcomes NIN‚ Bassnectar and Pretty Lights
Blog: Mehliana Tour (Brad Mehldau + Mark Guiliana)
Blog: Video: Club d'Elf with Marco Benevento - "Bass Beatbox"
Blog: Reed Mathis and Victor Wooten Talk Bass
Features: Conversation with Kurt Rosenwinkel
Features: Conversation with Tommy Benedetti of John Brown's Body
Features: Conversation with Bill Kreutzmann
Shows: Rothbury 2009