Matt Berninger, of The National.
As my friend said to me, “No wonder we like them.”
This album has aged so well. It felt like a big deal when this was released, and it’s held up. The album’s street date was pushed back in the wake of 9/11, and “New York City Cops” was removed from the album (which I got, at the time). The original album artwork (released in Europe) was so much better than this, which was stripped onto the US version.
Is This It still sounds so good on a hot summer day.
NPR: The Many Voices Of Lauryn Hill
NPR scored an rare interview with Lauryn Hill. Of course I love The Miseducation Of Lauryn Hill, and have wondered every now and then what’s happened to hear. There are a lot of weird rumors out there, so this is nice to see. I remember buying the album in my college bookstore.
Quick Thoughts On The National
Interesting, this new album. Here’s the thing: I have never been able to really get into The National. I’ve listened, and liked/respected what I heard. I’m told they’re really excellent live, but every time I put their music on, it just never quite sunk in with me. I do think it had some to do with his voice. It distracted me a bit, and I didn’t listen close enough, which may be lazy, but is also the truth. I go back and forth between how I feel about music that you have to work at to appreciate. I sorta chalked this band up to ‘it’s not you, it’s me.’ As High Violet was coming out, there was quite a bit of buzz. Feeling that The National was not quite my cup of green tea, I was curious, but not dying to listen. I knew I’d get to it eventually.
As soon as it came out, beyond the press, a few people I know keep telling me that I had to listen to it, so I finally picked High Violet up. I grabbed me from the first track and I have basically listened to it non-stop all weekend. I think it’s very very good.
Part of me is excited about it, because I feel—at least in my case—sometimes there is a right time for music to click, for whatever reason. It can be as simple as listening in the right setting to get over some small hurdle. From what I hear, and what I’m told, this album isn’t a huge departure from Boxer, so I’m looking forward to relistening to some of that work with fresh ears.
Now Playing: The Only Living Boy In New York
Sometimes getting a song stuck in your head can be a good thing.
Every now and then I get a song so stuck in my head that there’s nothing I can do, so I just run with it. Lately that song is Simon and Garfunkel’s “The Only Living Boy In New York.”
Elliott Smith — “Angeles”
A guy and a guitar. Shit.
Girls: Lust For Life
So mnik turned me onto this album, and it’s really great. Now that I’m reading about it, I remember hearing a bit of the story here a while ago, but I didn’t place it with the band. I love the look of the video too.
Also, the review on Pitchfork is the first one I can remember reading in a while that I actually liked.
Elliott Smith - “Waltz #2 (XO)”
Love seeing him play and sing this confidently. Chills.
The recorded version on XO has one of my favorite bridges ever ever. Gorgeous arrangement and heavenly vocals. Twelve perfect bars.
What Merlin said. I’m reading the 33 ⅓ book on XO right now, and it’s great so far.
Phish’s Trey Anastasio’s Most Amazing Show: Big Cypress Midnight Dawn
“You’ve been through an adventure.”
I was there. That’s an understatement.
And Your Bird Can Sing
Thanks for posting this. I absolutely love this song. It played a role at our wedding. I never got John’s “throwaway” comment.
“And Your Bird Can Sing” (Take 2 w/Overdubs)
What I love:
- Without the (albeit insanely amazing) leads from Paul1 and George playing from the top, you get to hear George’s (unused) gorgeous 12-string Rick arpeggios. Jesus, what a boner that gives me. Big Rick boner. LOVE that sound.
- The chatter and clowning.
I’m not a deep Beatles scholar, but I think this (Apr 1966) wasn’t too long before things started to well and truly unravel internally.
I wonder how many times after this John and Paul would have this much fun in the same room at the same time. Makes me kinda weepy actually. Sucks that the two guys responsible for giving the world so much joy ended up enjoying so little of it for themselves.
John calls this one “a throwaway,” but it’s categorically one of my favorite Beatles songs and has to be regarded as one of the quintessential inspirations for every power pop song since.
Final version (stereo):
Fact: Paul was arguably the best guitar player in the band. “The End?” Bunch of that is Paul. Yep. ↩
I can not stop playing this. The thing is, I’ve never really cared for Alica Keys, but she kills it here.
tlvx:
Empire State of Mind, Jay-Z. 2009.
“The lights will inspire you.” This has been my jam for like the past week.
Phish’s “Backwards Down The Number Line” is now available on iTunes. I can’t get enough of this song. I absolutely love the sentiment here, especially considering the past few years in their lives. I also dig the look of the art for the single.
