What is it with squabbling rock siblings? Let's hope they don't kill each other before they finish the new album.
Wednesday, 16 March 2011
Oh yes!
I think I'm a bit late picking this up but I for one welcome this news about a band that seems to divide opinion: As Promised!
What is it with squabbling rock siblings? Let's hope they don't kill each other before they finish the new album.
What is it with squabbling rock siblings? Let's hope they don't kill each other before they finish the new album.
Tuesday, 15 March 2011
Still trying to learn guitar...
...So I've started lessons. As mentioned in the passing (Who is your favourite guitarist) my first real tune was Johnny B. Goode. I thought I'd post videos of the songs I'm learning to play so I can get depressed about what I'm aiming for!
There are a fair number of versions of Mr Berry playing this on YouTube. Each one is different and every one is goode!
I think I have the basic chord sequence OK now. I'm working on making it sound more interesting by adding twiddly bits and I'm supposed to be working up to adding a lead solo bit (although that's still a couple of weeks away).
...But I still am nowhere near sounding like Chuck! Sigh! I'm away now to practice my duck walk.
There are a fair number of versions of Mr Berry playing this on YouTube. Each one is different and every one is goode!
I think I have the basic chord sequence OK now. I'm working on making it sound more interesting by adding twiddly bits and I'm supposed to be working up to adding a lead solo bit (although that's still a couple of weeks away).
...But I still am nowhere near sounding like Chuck! Sigh! I'm away now to practice my duck walk.
Friday, 11 March 2011
Free Music Friday #92: Columbia Records Sampler
Another interesting freebie from Amazon UK. (Sorry UK only I suspect - unless you know different!) Thirteen tracks, given away for free, on a Columbia Records Sampler album.
It is a bit of a mixed bag but hopefully you'll find something of interest. For me, it is worth downloading the whole thing for the tracks from the Foo Fighters and the Kings of Leon alone, not to mention an interesting offering from Glasvegas.
And while you are there, why not check out the current crop of tracks available for free download. The two that caught my ear are My People from Yusef (the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens) which has an understated feel to it and Sympathetic Type from Duff McKagan's Loaded which is wonderfully raucous.
It is a bit of a mixed bag but hopefully you'll find something of interest. For me, it is worth downloading the whole thing for the tracks from the Foo Fighters and the Kings of Leon alone, not to mention an interesting offering from Glasvegas.
And while you are there, why not check out the current crop of tracks available for free download. The two that caught my ear are My People from Yusef (the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens) which has an understated feel to it and Sympathetic Type from Duff McKagan's Loaded which is wonderfully raucous.
Tuesday, 8 March 2011
Spinal Tap or The Rutles - Discuss
I have recently rediscoverer of The Word Podcast. I first came across it some time ago but the sound quality on the first couple I listened to was so poor that I didn't bother keeping up with it.
For some reason, I recently decided to give them another go and have been listening regularly now for a couple of months. They seem to have sorted the recording quality issues and you now at hear what everyone is saying!
The format is essentially that of two old duffers talking nonsense to each other with occasional interjections from who ever else happens to be about! It has to be said that normally that kind of description would make me run a mile. It is precisely the sort of zoo format radio (as practiced by Messrs Evans and Moyles) that drives me nutty. But somehow, I don't find it annoying in a podcast.
Mostly they talk nonsense, but often there are nuggets buried in their banter and usually their guests are very interesting (a recent-ish favourite of mine was Wilko Johnson in podcast 144).
The particular focus of this post, however, is a series of Tweets sent in by a regular podcast listener. They take the form of So-and-so or thingumy-bob - Discuss. I think the point is that the answer doesn't matter as much as the discussion and they take novel or obscure targets rather than well worn debates like "The Rolling Stones or The Beatles". For example, two recent Tweets posed: "Duran Duran or Spandau Ballet" and "Vivian Stanshall or Ivor Cutler". (For the record, I disagreed with the podcast's pronouncements in both cases.)
I though this would be a format that I could shamelessly steal and use on this blog. Whether any other debate topics ever appear will depend on your reaction to this one. So here is the first of what may be a series of debates:
The format is essentially that of two old duffers talking nonsense to each other with occasional interjections from who ever else happens to be about! It has to be said that normally that kind of description would make me run a mile. It is precisely the sort of zoo format radio (as practiced by Messrs Evans and Moyles) that drives me nutty. But somehow, I don't find it annoying in a podcast.
Mostly they talk nonsense, but often there are nuggets buried in their banter and usually their guests are very interesting (a recent-ish favourite of mine was Wilko Johnson in podcast 144).
The particular focus of this post, however, is a series of Tweets sent in by a regular podcast listener. They take the form of So-and-so or thingumy-bob - Discuss. I think the point is that the answer doesn't matter as much as the discussion and they take novel or obscure targets rather than well worn debates like "The Rolling Stones or The Beatles". For example, two recent Tweets posed: "Duran Duran or Spandau Ballet" and "Vivian Stanshall or Ivor Cutler". (For the record, I disagreed with the podcast's pronouncements in both cases.)
I though this would be a format that I could shamelessly steal and use on this blog. Whether any other debate topics ever appear will depend on your reaction to this one. So here is the first of what may be a series of debates:
Spinal Tap or The Rutles - Discuss
Saturday, 5 March 2011
Free Music Friday #91: Drive By Truckers
I was sure I had featured the Drive By Truckers here before... but apparently not! They are often described as Alt Country, but but I identify Southern Rock coming through fairly strongly.
I found two tracks currently available for download, so we'll start with the more Rock-ish one: Used To Be A Cop from the recently released album Go Go Boots. I'd say this was fairly typical of the stuff I'd heard from them before although it is perhaps a bit more acoustic and laid back than material on The Big to Do
(which is the only album of theirs I currently own).
This track is like others of theirs that I like, in that it tells a story. We have a character sketch of an ex-cop whose life seems to be spiralling down the plughole. The story is told from his perspective and there are hints of troubles and tribulations in his past that have contributed to bring him to the place he describes in the song. So I do feel some sympathy for this character but at the same time I can't help but wonder how many of his problems are of his own making.
The music is downbeat and poignant and fits the mood of the lyrics perfectly. You can download it by entering your email address in this widget:
And you can watch a video of it while it downloads:
The band also made a love song available for free download on February 14th, although, from the download available above, you are hopefully not expecting a straightforward love song. This track, Everybody Needs Love, is more at the Country end of things. What do you think? Would you have sent this to your true love on Valentine's Day?
P.S. Late again! I think I'm going to have to change the name of this feature to Songs On Saturday!
I found two tracks currently available for download, so we'll start with the more Rock-ish one: Used To Be A Cop from the recently released album Go Go Boots. I'd say this was fairly typical of the stuff I'd heard from them before although it is perhaps a bit more acoustic and laid back than material on The Big to Do
(which is the only album of theirs I currently own).This track is like others of theirs that I like, in that it tells a story. We have a character sketch of an ex-cop whose life seems to be spiralling down the plughole. The story is told from his perspective and there are hints of troubles and tribulations in his past that have contributed to bring him to the place he describes in the song. So I do feel some sympathy for this character but at the same time I can't help but wonder how many of his problems are of his own making.
The music is downbeat and poignant and fits the mood of the lyrics perfectly. You can download it by entering your email address in this widget:
The band also made a love song available for free download on February 14th, although, from the download available above, you are hopefully not expecting a straightforward love song. This track, Everybody Needs Love, is more at the Country end of things. What do you think? Would you have sent this to your true love on Valentine's Day?
P.S. Late again! I think I'm going to have to change the name of this feature to Songs On Saturday!
Friday, 25 February 2011
Free Music Friday #90: Just Another Rider
If I am asked about the kind of music I like, I normally describe myself as a Rock fan who is discovering the Blues. So, I surprised myself the other day when I named a Blues guitarist as my favourite (see Who is your favourite guitarist?).
Given my current appreciation of the Blues, it seemed appropriate to feature a Blues/Rock veteran in a Free Download Friday. Gregg Allman has recently released Low Country Blues
and it is a belter! It is mostly covers with one original song that he co-wrote with Warren Haynes and to whet your appetite, they are giving it away as a free download:
Given my current appreciation of the Blues, it seemed appropriate to feature a Blues/Rock veteran in a Free Download Friday. Gregg Allman has recently released Low Country Blues
and it is a belter! It is mostly covers with one original song that he co-wrote with Warren Haynes and to whet your appetite, they are giving it away as a free download:Gregg Allman - Just Another Rider by MMMusic
While you are waiting for it to download, you can watch Gregg perform it in the studio:
His voice is brilliant and there's a real soulful quality to the track. I'd say it's one of my favourites on Low Country Blues but the there's not a duff track on the whole album!
While you are waiting for it to download, you can watch Gregg perform it in the studio:
His voice is brilliant and there's a real soulful quality to the track. I'd say it's one of my favourites on Low Country Blues
but the there's not a duff track on the whole album!Thursday, 24 February 2011
Who is your favourite guitarist
I have now had four guitar lessons and week three was the best fun yet as I was given twelve bar Blues (in various keys) and Johnny B. Goode
to practice for homework; my first real tunes. Excellent!
What triggered this post though, was a throw away comment from my teacher, Les. He said something along the lines of, "If you said to me that you wanted to sound like your favourite guitarist, then...". I'm ashamed to say I tuned out of the next bit because I started thinking, "Who is my favourite guitarist?".
On the face of it, you would think it was a fairly simple question. If, for example, I was asked to name my favourite band, the answer, without a moments thought, would be, Rush. If I was asked for a favourite drummer, it's Neil Peart - no question. Favourite bass player - silly question. Nobody has a favourite bass player. (Or at least nobody important, so we can safely ignore them.) But favourite guitarist... I'm finding that tricky.
One issue is a question of style. Are we talking Rock, or Metal, or Blues, or... Here are some examples and contenders to make my point:
I still remember hearing Van Halen's debut album for the first time (I bought it on cassette!). I was simply stunned by Eruption
- 1 minute 42 seconds worth of guitar genius. I'm still hugely impressed with it, so does that make Eddie Van Halen my favourite? Well perhaps. At least he might be until I listen to John Lee Hooker who is perhaps the complete antithesis of Eddie's finger tapping pyrotechnics but a single-note solo from Mr Hooker, accompanied by foot-stomping and moans can blow the flashier competition out of the water with its power and emotional depth. Then moving sideways to Chris Whitley, we have a sparse, almost discordant guitar sound that can be achingly beautiful. Or there's Stevie Ray Vaughan (who I first heard on a single by David Bowie), and Clapton, and Hendrix, and Page, and Young, and ... the list goes on. How are you supposed to pick a favourite?
If I pick a favourite today, it is likely to change tomorrow. But if you force me to pick one, just now I'd probably go for Joe Bonamassa. I like the way his solos flow naturally out of the music so they don't feel tacked on as an afterthought. He is steeped in the Blues but he knows his Rock and isn't afraid to experiment and explore other genres. And he is frighteningly prolific!
So, today, it is Mr Bonamassa. Tomorrow, who knows?
Does anyone else have this problem, or is it just me? Who is your favourite?
to practice for homework; my first real tunes. Excellent!What triggered this post though, was a throw away comment from my teacher, Les. He said something along the lines of, "If you said to me that you wanted to sound like your favourite guitarist, then...". I'm ashamed to say I tuned out of the next bit because I started thinking, "Who is my favourite guitarist?".
On the face of it, you would think it was a fairly simple question. If, for example, I was asked to name my favourite band, the answer, without a moments thought, would be, Rush. If I was asked for a favourite drummer, it's Neil Peart - no question. Favourite bass player - silly question. Nobody has a favourite bass player. (Or at least nobody important, so we can safely ignore them.) But favourite guitarist... I'm finding that tricky.
One issue is a question of style. Are we talking Rock, or Metal, or Blues, or... Here are some examples and contenders to make my point:
I still remember hearing Van Halen's debut album for the first time (I bought it on cassette!). I was simply stunned by Eruption
- 1 minute 42 seconds worth of guitar genius. I'm still hugely impressed with it, so does that make Eddie Van Halen my favourite? Well perhaps. At least he might be until I listen to John Lee Hooker who is perhaps the complete antithesis of Eddie's finger tapping pyrotechnics but a single-note solo from Mr Hooker, accompanied by foot-stomping and moans can blow the flashier competition out of the water with its power and emotional depth. Then moving sideways to Chris Whitley, we have a sparse, almost discordant guitar sound that can be achingly beautiful. Or there's Stevie Ray Vaughan (who I first heard on a single by David Bowie), and Clapton, and Hendrix, and Page, and Young, and ... the list goes on. How are you supposed to pick a favourite?If I pick a favourite today, it is likely to change tomorrow. But if you force me to pick one, just now I'd probably go for Joe Bonamassa. I like the way his solos flow naturally out of the music so they don't feel tacked on as an afterthought. He is steeped in the Blues but he knows his Rock and isn't afraid to experiment and explore other genres. And he is frighteningly prolific!
So, today, it is Mr Bonamassa. Tomorrow, who knows?
Does anyone else have this problem, or is it just me? Who is your favourite?
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