Guac & Roll - Musings of Music and Burritos

Uh, I missed that one.

2011-10-26T14:10:00.001-04:00

I feel like I missed something here. Do you remember Matthew Sweet? Well, I don't. But I wish that I did.
Upon a recent jaunt through Spotify's music recommendations, I connected to Sweet's music after completing a full listen of Jellyfish's "Spilt Milk" (which, by the way, happens to be a fantastic album). So there I am, listening to Sweet's "Girlfriend" and realizing that I just absolutely missed this album.
You know that feeling when you discover a diamond in the rough? Yeah, that was this one. It got me thinking though, how could I have missed this?
It was 1991 and I feel like I was gobbling up as much music as I could, and yet this slipped right through the cracks. At the time, the best way to discover new music was on the radio or from a friend's mixtape, so it's no wonder that I find this little gem all these years later combing an extensive catalog of music. That's the beauty of a system like Spotify or iTunes or any of the other online libraries, suddenly the power is right in your hands. No longer is it necessary to listen to what the radio wants you to hear. You create your own radio and listen to what you want to hear. There's a Matthew Sweet out there for everyone. What's yours?

The Last Music Library You'll Ever Need. Until the Next One.

2011-10-09T22:00:00.001-04:00

Look out iTunes, Spotify is here. For those of you that haven't experienced the wave of music's future, I encourage you to go to www.spotify.com and download the last music library system you will ever need. Sure, it took a while for it to get to the US, but now that it's here, I can't imagine it going anywhere else.

What amazes me so much about Spotify, though, is that it does seem to have staying power over all the other music player start-ups that have come (and pretty much gone at this point). MOG? Rdio? Last.fm? Anyone use these any more? Or did you ever to begin with? I really liked Rhapsody when it came out, but why pay $10/month, when I can get Spotify's music for free? And the radio advertisements aren't yet annoying. I almost enjoy listening to them because I know that's the only way any of the artists are getting paid (from those advertisements). Maybe it's just Spotify's slick interface that out-shines the rest of them. Essentially, it feels like iTunes, just without 30-second snippets and having to purchase everything. Instead, it's all neatly organized and F R E E, free.

So, I guess the next question is... what's going to take its place next year? Free iTunes?

You win this round, Muse

2010-08-06T15:53:00.002-04:00

So here's the thing: I have a hard time keeping up with new music all the time. I do my best, but every so often something falls through the cracks and suddenly I realize that I'm waaaay behind in listening to it.
This was the case with "Absolution" by Muse. I must have had this album on my iPod for 3 years before I finally got around to listening to it. And I'll be frank, too: I had low expectations. Everything that I had heard from them felt overly grandiose and epicly epic of epic proportions. So, I guess I wasn't being all that fair. All of that said, upon this listen, I got it. Something made sense to me in a way that it hadn't before and I was pleasantly surprised by the album. It still had the epic epic-osity, but it was somehow more enjoyable, especially on an hours-long car ride. Songs like "Sing for Absolution" and "Falling Away with You" have a smooth-trance like feel with lead singer Matthew Bellamy evoking Thom Yorke's vocal delivery, while "Stockholm Syndrome" makes you want to crank the system to 11 (did I mention epic?).
I'll admit that I wasn't sure I would like it and I may not be completely convinced, but you win this round, Muse.

Top Jazz Picks of, Well, Whenever

2009-11-28T13:51:00.002-05:00

I wrote this up recently for a friend who asked me for some jazz recommendations. These are pretty much standard listening for any newcomer to jazz. Have a look and a listen and let me know what you think.

Giant Steps and My Favorite Things by John Coltrane: They say that Coltrane ushered in a sort of spirituality to jazz that hadn't existed before. This feeling can certainly be felt in some of his recordings. I enjoy these two albums because, sonically, they are amazing and his technicality is unreal. McCoy Tyner plays piano on both, who is a talented performer in his own right. If you really want to experience the spirituality though, check out A Love Supreme. As Prego would say, it's in there.

Kind of Blue by Miles Davis. I mean, if you don't know this one by heart, well, you should. Could this be considered the birth and death of cool all in one?

Waltz for Debby by Bill Evans. Evans was in Miles' group when they recorded Kind of Blue (along with Coltrane, Adderly, Paul Chambers and Jimmy Cobb). But Evans' contribution was his romantic feeling. In fact, it is believed that he co-wrote 2 of the tracks on Kind of Blue, which Miles didn't give him credit for. So when people talk about that cool/romantic feeling on that album, maybe some of that is due to Evans. Anyway, any trio album with Evans is going to be good. Waltz for Debby is right up there.

Criss Cross by Thelonious Monk. Monk helped develop bebop and Criss Cross is a landmark album. It's an easy album to enjoy because the melodies are both odd yet enjoyable. Also, Charlie Rouse plays a mean sax.

Headhunters by Herbie Hancock. This is where jazz meets funk and gets down. The new version of Watermelon Man takes a song from his established canon and re-imagines it in a matter that is downright funkalicious. It is literally impossible to listen to this track and sit still. Just try it, I dare you.

The Inner Mounting Flame by The Mahavishnu Orchestra. This is where jazz meets rock: fusion. Also Bitches Brew by Miles is another landmark album that sold a ton. I like the one by Mahavishnu better though. This might be a tough album to really listen to, so if you have to pick one track, listen to "Dance of Maya" - it's pretty mind blowing and really shows off fusion at work. It's half jazz, then rock, then both. It's amazing.

Largo by Brad Mehldau. Mehldau seems to run the gamut and can play any style. He often mixes in a lot of current pop but with strong jazz sensibilities. Largo was produced by Jon Brion (Aimee Mann, etc.) and exists as a meeting of the minds between jazz and pop. He covers the Beatles and Radiohead while mixing in his own writing. "When it Rains" is instantly classic.

Raphael Saadiq - Oh Yes

2009-05-05T14:58:00.001-04:00

Admittedly, I don’t know too much about Raphael Saadiq’s previous work. I do know that he was (and is, I guess) the lead singer for Tony! Toni! Tone! He has collaborated with several artists throughout his career including D’Angelo, Snoop Dogg, The Roots and more. But based upon an interview on WFUV’s Words and Music from Studio A, I wanted to give “The Way I See It” a listen. I was not disappointed.

The album is homage to 1960’s soul and Motown; genres of music for which Mr. Saadiq has an obvious love, but also mastery. Upon first listen, it wouldn’t have surprised me if I’d found that half of the tracks were written 30-40 years ago. That said, he has a few tricks up his sleeve that add a contemporary flair.

The disc opens with “Sure Hope You Mean It” – a jauntily-paced track that sounds like it could have been recorded by The Temptations 40 years ago, though Saadiq’s lyrical approach is modernized. Rather than a straight profession of love, he’s cautious about letting himself go; as he sings: “Don’t fool me baby/Sure hope you mean it girl.”

Other tricks that Saadiq employs include welcoming guest artists that add verve to several songs. Joss Stone guests on “Just One Kiss” and Stevie Wonder’s harmonica solo on “Never Give You Up” is soulful, fresh and fun. But the finest moment comes in collaboration with Jay-Z on “Oh Girl.” Hidden at the end of the album, this track is worth the price of entry. Between Saadiq’s soulful swoon and Jay’s hip-hop chops, this standout track is a meld of sounds both old and new. The result is a fresh new sound successfully intermingle both worlds.

Overall, the album hangs together well and makes for a laid back groove. There is a distinctly soulful vibe that is palpable, which Saadiq executes superbly. The guests add flavor too, but the main soul is all his own.

No Burritos for a Week

2009-04-14T09:43:00.003-04:00

I think I'm beginning to feel the plight of my ancestors. We're now at day 6 of Passover and with 2 boxes of matzah down, I am craving a tasty burrito filled with guac, cheese, beans and the rest of the good stuff. In some ways, this holiday is meant to be celebratory, but I think I'll celebrate most when I can eat tortillas and tacos again! :)

Loose Boots, Tight EP

2008-09-22T14:56:00.002-04:00

God bless the indie scene. If it weren’t for the emergence of the internet and subsequently access to independent artists and labels, I may never have come across honeyhoney and their EP “Loose Boots.” Though only 5 tracks long, the disc whets ones appetite for more from the songwriting duo of Suzanne Santo and Ben Jaffe.

Santo’s vocals, at once silken mixed with grit, deliver lyrics of immediacy and absolute directness. This girl’s got no time mess around, she’s straight up blunt and telling it like it is. “Little Toy Gun” (assumedly the single) leads off the disc and gets things moving. Lyrically aggressive, Santo seems to ponder a better means of break-up rather than the normal phone call, “I know you sat all alone so many nights waiting for me/Cold, your face like a stone I hang up the phone when we disagree/Standing there by my side when the fighting is done/Glaring at me in the light is my little toy gun.” The song feels somewhere between a Hawaiian surfing film and a car chase.

This is followed by the wild romp of “Give Yourself to Me.” After which, the duo slows it down for “Bouncing Ball” a track that allows Santo to stretch out and show some range.

But the highlight comes in the form of “Thursday Night” a relaxing charmer of a song. Fed up with the games lovers play, a frustrated Santo lays it on the line. “I’m sitting here with you tonight, you make an awful pretty sight and since it’s just us two tonight, I think that we should screw tonight.” It doesn’t get much more direct than that, but Santo’s delivery is so soft and smooth that unless you’re listening for it, you just might miss it.

Though only 5 tracks long, the EP is certainly worth a listen. The band has been signed to Kiefer Sutherland’s IronWorks label and a full-length album is on the way shortly. I. For one, will be looking forward to it.

Uncle Moe's

2008-09-19T15:43:00.002-04:00

So I eat a lot of burritos. Just last week I was serving jury dury and there just so happened to be a Chipotle near the court house. In 6 days of service, I ate 5 burritos. They were all delicious and varied in meat, salsa and guac proportions. (I have yet to finalize a "regular.")

While most were at said Chipotle, one day I snuck off to enjoy a gut-stuffer from Uncle Moe's Burritos, located in the heart of Park Slope, Brooklyn. Uncle Moe's is an independent establishment specializing in gigantic burritos. How large are their burritos, you ask? Well, your average "California" burrito (check their menu for plenty of other option) necessitates not one, but two tortillas to ensure all the fixins and veggies stay in. Last week, I enjoyed a chorizo and portabella mushroom burrito topped with rice, black beans, guac, sour cream, cheese, lettuce and salsa. Dare I say, it was delicious. So delicious, in fact, I considered going back for dinner. I can't remember, now, why I didn't. Must have had an emergency or somethin'.

Hm. I think just writing this is making me jones for another one. I'll catch up with you guys later. I'm gonna go catch the F train. Laters.

No Duffy. I'm begging you for mercy.

2008-07-31T17:50:00.002-04:00

So I listen to a lot of music. And while I wouldn’t always admit this (though I am on my blog, so go figure that out) I’m a pretty big fan of poppy/trashy/bubblegummy pop. Every now and then I’ll turn on VH1 to see what the latest trash is on the airwaves. I’ve come to enjoy such nuggets as Estelle’s “American Boy” or Charlotte Something’s “How I Could Just Kill a Man.” So light. So airy. So simple and poppy.

Recently though it brought me to Duffy’s smash hit “Mercy.” And I gotta say, sorry Duffy, I’m not buying it. Go beg someone else. I have no sympathy for overused, tattered lyrics that are just oozing with lame.

Let’s have a look, shall we?

The opening verse begins “I love you/But I gotta stay true.” Sounds like you’ve got some difficult feelings to sort through. You love the guy, but you’ve got to be true to yourself. Phew, that sounds pretty tough. (Yawn.)

A little further on she rasps “You got me good, just like you new you would.” I mean, is Ron Isley coming in for a guest appearance? I half expect him to show up and break into “Twist and Shout.” (Heard it before. Ready to change the station.)

But wait, she’s not quite done yet, she follows with “I don’t know what you do/But you do it well/I’m under your spell.” Really, Duffy? Really? I mean, were you listening to “I Put a Spell on You” before jotting down some lyrics? Besides that, it sounds like a pretty dire situation on your hands. You don’t even know what he’s doing to you, and yet he’s influencing your every move. I’ll bet he even commanded you to write this song. Yeah, that’s it. You didn’t even write this song. It’s him. He knows what you need. But he’s not giving it to you, just letting you complain about it to others while not letting go. Wow, so meta. (Yawn. Stretch. Yawn. Turn the dial.)

Not only have I heard these lyrics a million times before, but their overuse has rendered them lifeless, boring and just plain lame. And I wanted so badly to like this song. It's enjoyably simple. Sadly for Duffy, though, simple turned to lame real quick. I do hope, however, that she gets it all figured out with her man. Then maybe her follow up can start with lyrics like “I’m free to do what I want, any old time.” I mean, they worked before, didn’t they?

Charles Mingus. Live.

2008-05-08T18:49:00.002-04:00

If time travel were a possibility for me, I would do a lot of crazy things. Along the way, I think I would travel back to see Charles Mingus play live. Sadly, the last Deloreon was sold from Bay Ridge Honda last week, so I’m stuck with this live recording of Mingus at Antibes. Which is just what this is, a live recording. A recording of Mingus and his band cutting up one night at a festival in Antibes (wherever the hell that is).

Live performances can be a mixed bag. Raw emotion and energy can be captured in a way that studio recordings can’t replicate. And there is no lack of that here. Born out of bebop and strong gospel ties, Mingus’ work is never void of character and emotion. But within the emotion lies error. So while the energy of a live performance can be felt, so too can its shortcomings.

Recorded in 1960, following Mingus Ah Um and Ming Dynasty, Mingus at Antibes features a generally piano-less quintet. The group is considerably smaller than his more well-known endeavors; Mingus Ah Um was recorded as an Octet for example.

Though his band is certainly accomplished (Eric Dolphy, Booker Ervin, Ted Curson) the lack of piano leaves a void that is not easily replaced. This is with the exception of “I’ll Remember April” in which Bud Powell joins. But Powell’s comping only reasserts what is missing from the rest of the performance. Recordings of “Better Get Hit In Your Soul” and “Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting” seem empty without a fuller baselined harmonic structure.

Additionally, mistaken moments hurt the overall performance. Whereas Miles Davis’ forced splee-ahs feel intended and endeared, the snafus within this recording are hardly charming and more often just sound like, well, mistakes. A missed re-entrance on “Better Get Hit In Your Soul” is a prime example.

This is not to say that the entire performance is lacking. “What Love” is gorgeously heartfelt and listening to Curson and Dolphy trade fours on “I’ll Remember April” is really worth the price of admission. Admission to, well, this live show.

“Just Don’t Care” For Those Lyrics

2008-04-25T15:13:00.002-04:00

Alright people, this is getting a little ridiculous. It seems some song lyrics are as cyclical as skinny-legged jeans; leaving us for a brief moment only to enjoy a resurgence a few years later. Why is it that we constantly hear the same tired, uninspired song lyrics cropping up throughout pop music? Every time I hear it, I silently hope that it will be the last time, alas, it never is. Maybe it’s an lyrical rite of passage to write a song marrying “maybe” with “baby” or “girl” with “world,” but then, maybe these songs should never receive airplay to begin with.

But the most egregiously overused rhyme in music today (and yesterday, too) is the pairing of “air” with “care.” Or more directly, this sentence: “Throw your hands in the air and wave them around like you just don’t care.” The original lyricist should be receiving royalties for the number of times it’s reprised in pop music. Artists ranging from OutKast, Dr. Dre and Ed Lover to Sting have made use of the lyric somewhere along their careers. And hey, I get it, you want people to get into the music. You want them to show their interest and get them excited. But there has GOT to be another way to do it. What about asking crowds to piggy-back on each other? Or wave just one arm? There are a ton of words that you could rhyme with “arm.” (“Everybody throw up an arm! For lunch I ate a chicken parm!” See how easy that was?)

The latest iteration of the well-worn Air/Care rhyme comes in the form of Michael Stipe’s tenor whinny on REM’s single “Man-Sized Wreath.” While not taken verbatim, Stipe offers “Throw it in the air, kick it around the dance floor like you just don’t care.” While I understand writing lyrics can be difficult I would expect more from an accomplished lyricist like Stipe. These lyrics are tired, worn and in need of a rest. There are too many other words out there to be used for artists to constantly be leaning on these old hands (see my arm suggestion earlier).

I therefore resolve that lyrics such as these be retired and enshrined in Cleveland’s Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame. Think of it, each rhyme could have a gold plaque lined with the artists that have sung their praises through the years. Maybe this would finally force some artists to offer us something new.

The New Brooklyn Interpol

2008-04-24T12:01:00.000-04:00

Last night, I attended a majestic show at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) called “American Tunes” that featured the songbook of Paul Simon. While Simon played plenty of his hits through the years, he also invited several current musicians to join him on stage to reinvent some of his greatest songs. Performers included Amos Lee, Gillian Welch, Josh Groban, Olu Dara and a little known, Brooklyn-based, band called Grizzly Bear.

Ten minutes alone on stage was enough to establish their unique sound by reinventing two Simon classics, “Graceland” and “Mother and Child Reunion.” I was immediately struck by Grizzly Bear’s controlled sound. Every note was consciously meant and meticulously emphasized. I could hear their intent beyond the notes. “Graceland” was reinterpreted to incorporate a several minor chord changes and new syncopations while “Mother and Child Reunion” was slowed down considerably and layered with a stark guitar wailing over a sprawling, undulating bass.

So for all you Interpol lovers, the next big thing has arrived. Grizzly Bear’s quiet, haunting sound creates a deep trance similar to Interpol’s breakout “Turn on the Bright Lights.” Tracks like “Deep Sea Diver” and “Knife” are fine examples of their slow, chilling effected sound. If only we could get the Paul Simon songs recorded too.

Today is going to be a good day

2008-04-11T09:27:00.000-04:00

I feel good this morning. As I was driving to work I turned on the newest rock station in NYC, 101.9 WRXP - The Rock Experience. I have listened to this station for the past month. They do a good job of mixing Classic Rock with Modern Rock and some Contemporary stuff in between.

This morning at approximately 8:44 EST, they played none other than my favorite band on the planet: dada. I was besides myself. I thought to myself: "Self, how could this get any better? Maybe if they played some David Bowie, my favorite artist, right after this." AND THEY DID! Immediately following dada's "Dizz Knee Land" they played "Let's Dance"!

I think RXP was trying to tell me something. Message received my friends, message received.

The Arrival... Not Charlie Sheen's

2008-04-08T12:34:00.000-04:00

With her third album, Kathleen Edwards has begun to find her own voice. No longer the love-child of Lucinda Williams and Neil Young, Edwards emerges with a sound and voice all her own.

Previous efforts, Failer and Back to Me, often offered whimsy as she took on topics like dating and mating in modern times. The Edwards of old offered lyrics like “But I don’t think your wife would like my friends” (from “Westby” on Failer). Lyrics like this spoke comically about Edwards playing hard to get. These sentiments, however, no longer are part of her canon with her latest release. The title track, “Asking for Flowers,” pleads sorrowfully, “Asking for flowers / Is like asking for you to be nice / Don’t tell me you’re too tired / Ten years I’ve been working nights.” Apparently, the earlier play was for naught; she wound up in the relationship she had playfully avoided. These sentiments are furthered in “The Cheapest Key” in which Edwards complains “B is for bullsh*t and you fed me some.”

Continuing her maturation, Edwards takes on larger issues that the standard heartache.
Songs like “Oh Canada” and “Oil Man’s War” show Edwards beginning to play in a political realm of sadness and turmoil.

Musically, Edwards’ evolution is on full display. Tracks like “Buffalo” and “Asking for Flowers” boast a timbre richness that she had yet to capture on tape. There is a newfound cohesiveness that trumps the previous adjunct instruments. Asking for Flowers succeeds in delivering a rich, textured sonic feel.

Other standout tracks include “Goodnight, California” and “I Get the Money, You Get the Glory,” a country-honk tune that, in one of the more creative lyrical offerings, boasts allusions to Gretzky and Marty McSorley, two of hockey’s greatest. The pedal-steel guitar is a welcome addition as well.

Edwards’ arrival is on full display. At times capricious but overly moody, she has given us a album of that is fully her own both lyrically and sonically.

Duped!

2008-03-17T16:01:00.001-04:00

So I apologize that all of my posts to Guac & Roll thus far have been about music. I had wanted to write more about burritos, however, there has been a dearth of burritos in my life recently. There was, however, hope upon the horizon.

I recently received a phone call from my sister to say that the very town that I grew up in had just opened up a Moe’s burritos. I was ecstatic! The gods had shone down upon our tiny Northeastern town. For those of you unaware of the glory of Moe’s, let me educate. When I lived in Atlanta, there were 3 major chain burrito joints: Chipotle, Willy’s and Moe’s (R.I.P. Tortillas…). Of the three, only Chipotle has extended into the Northeast. I still miss Moe and Willy dearly, so you can imagine my excitement upon learning that Moe would be back in my life again. Oh how I had missed him…

I could almost hear that familiar greeting (“Welcome to Moe’s!”) in my head as I revved my engine and made my way to the new locale. What I found, however, was a sick, cruel joke of a restaurant called “Moe’s.” But this was no Moe as I had known him. This Moe made bagels and pizza, “fresh” on the premises. How could he? What kind of sadistic pervert would use Moe’s name to fashion his own personal gains in bagelry?

I think that a little piece of me died that day. I stumbled back to my car and drove up the road to Wendy’s whereupon I ordered the #6 combo, with a coke and no tomato.

I still miss Moe and wish him well. Maybe one day I’ll see him again. One day. One day soon….

I give you now the perfect Moe’s burrito order:

The Triple Lindy with Beef. Black Beans. Rice. Beef. Salsa. Cheese. Sour Cream. Guacamole. Black Olives. Rolled in a fresh tortilla and served with a side of corn chips. Might I also recommend the Billy Barou nachos or the Closetalker salad. Either is a fine alternative to the TL.

The Bird and The Bee - Follow Up Follows Through

2008-02-05T16:08:00.000-05:00

"Please Clap Your Hands" follows up The Bird and The Bee’s self-titled debut. The initial disc struck a balance between George’s dulcet harmonies and Kurstin’s pop-melody sensibilities. "Please Clap Your Hands" follows suit and proves their first disc was no fluke.

Inara George, the Bird, and daughter of Little Feat’s Lowell George, has a deep understanding of her voice and finds successful complexity in its use. Few modern vocalists can match George’s range and grasp of harmonic structure. Feathering layered vocals atop one another, George successfully melds harmonies and melodies that are becoming increasingly uncommon in modern pop.

The Bee, Greg Kurstin, has built a name for himself separately, boasting a resume that includes: The Flaming Lips, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Jenny Lewis (of Rilo Kiley fame). Each have all benefited from Kurstin’s production and song-crafting.

Highlights begin with the opening track: Polite Dance Song. It’s distraught lyrics and delivery float above the disco-pop background. The result is a duality that is pop-sensible but stress-laden, giving way to oxymoronic humor: “Would you please clap your hands / And get up on your feet / I’m begging you to get up and dance / It’s such a crazy kick-ass beat.”

Music can be commanding at times. Lyrics like “Throw your hands in the air / and wave them like you just don’t care” are more demanding than inviting. George is sensitive to this. Maybe we don’t want to be told what to do? Maybe we’d prefer to be spoken to, instead of at. Better to ask than just assume that we’ve come to party. So she politely pleads: “Pardon me, the music is moving / Moving from left to right / Apologies for losing my cooling / Losing the day tonight.”

The closing track, The Bee Gees’ How Deep Is Your Love, continues to show George’s vocal range as she sweetly swoons across the familiar melody. Though unlike the Brothers Gibb, George’s solo vocals are all that is needed to affect a warm, sweet feel. Backing vocals by Sia are a nice touch, if not a little underused.

The EP is chock full of musical nuggets leaving listeners wishing their were more than just 5 songs. Hopefully, more EPs are on the way.

On a scale of 1 to Enjoyable; it’s right there at a 7. I’d buy it if I hadn’t done so already.

New year's recipe

2008-01-02T15:09:00.000-05:00

Happy new year everyone!

Here's a new holiday stew for you:

1/4 cup The Clash
1/4 cup early Elvis Costello
1/8 Hot Hot Heat
Heat to boil and then simmer, mixing in various vocal harmonies and guitar fuzz.

Serve at room temperature and you've got The Fratellis! Their album, Costello Music, is out right now. Check it out!

Don't Forget... The Contestant! (Pretty Please)

2007-12-21T14:41:00.000-05:00

Don’t Forget the Lyrics – The experience

While not a music review per se, I must relate to you all the happenings of my most recent weekend. Last Thursday I happened upon “Don’t Forget the Lyrics” on Fox television. Admittedly, I rarely watch shows like these because I generally prefer a comedy or sporting event plus I get rather incensed when a contestant butchers a song that I know by heart. Anyway, for whatever reason, I watched.

The first contestant did fairly well, but was stumped by Elton John’s “Someone Saved My Life Tonight.” He didn’t know the rest of the lyric is “you almost had your hooks in me, didn’t you dear?” I knew this immediately. I have this song on repeat on my iPod.

At this point my girlfriend looked at me and said, “When are you trying out for this show?”

I replied, “Never. They never have casting calls and it’s impossible to get in.”

Well, after the next contestant failed to sing the second verse to “Hard to Handle” – a song I sang with my college a cappella group – I figured I’d look casting calls. And wouldn’t you know it, they had one in New York on Sunday. So… I went.

The first day was ridiculous. After standing in line for 2 hours, and then sitting and waiting for another 2, I met with a producer for 5 minutes. He was quite affable and he quizzed me on a bunch of songs. I think I did pretty well, but then, I’m sure he said that to everyone.

The songs ran the gamut. I knew lyrics by The Beatles, Dolly Parton and Prince (among others) though I didn’t know AC/DC’s “Back in Black” or any Pat Benatar (upon further thought, I should have just shouted “We are young!!” – alas…). So he tells me that if I made the cut I would get a call that night to come back Monday for a written test and a screen test. No call Sunday night. Sad, sad times.

But Monday’s tune was different. That night, I got a call from “Hunter” with the show (he was also quite nice, in a sugar-coated kind of way). Apparently my application had been overlooked (huzzah!) and they wanted me to come in for a screen test the next day. Um, ROCK ON.

So there I was again, waiting with numerous others for 5 minutes with the big time producer. While waiting, I actually had to take the written test, which I zipped through. Of the 28 songs, I’m guessing I got 20. It was really interesting, some of the other people were poring over the questions and checking and then rechecking their work. I figured that I either got the words or not, but there was no reason to kill myself over not remembering the words to “Friends in Low Places,” it just wasn’t going to happen (not the chorus, I would have got that).

Soon enough I took an on-screen test. It was actually pretty interesting. They asked me to sing a song that I knew all the words to, but they also said that I should perform it as if 1,000,000 Americans were watching and they all had a remote in their hands. Nerve-wracking anyone? So I rocked out to “Hard to Handle” and then gave them a little taste of “Let’s Get it On,” which was deliciously received.

Finally, I actually played a game simulation but they picked the category for me. They picked 70’s and I had the options of “We are the Champions” or “Fly Like an Eagle.” So I went with the Steve Miller Band and got it right (they were looking for “let my spirit carry me” in the chorus). And with that they thanked me for my time and I was on my merry way. At that point, I probably should have asked when, if ever, I would hear from them, but I was so nervous that I just ran out of there without asking. Some woman in the waiting room told me 2 weeks, another said 6 months. Yeah, I’m not holding my breath.

All in all, it was a lot of waiting, but a lot of fun. I got to sing a bit in front of a big time producer and, well, miss some work doing it! And who knows, maybe one day you’ll be channel surfing and come upon a shaggy Brooklyn-based blogger who can’t remember the words to “Borderline” and it’ll make you think, “I could do that. When are the auditions?”

Hot Hot Heat's Third: Broken Heart, Broken Sound

2007-12-18T09:30:00.000-05:00

Hot Hot Heat’s first album, Make up the Break Down, was aggressively self-righteous with energy that bustled from one track to the next. Sophomore effort Elevator brought a few catchy hooks and revealed more of Steve Bays’ faux-punk pop vocals, while maintaining a similar attitude. Their latest venture, Happiness LTD, however, has lost the edge and stumbles because of it.

The attitude has changed dramatically over the 3-album span. Make Up the Break Down’s best quality was its complacency with rejection; even if their hearts were broken, they handled rejection with panache (“I’ve been hoping you’re moping around the street again…I’ve been poking a voodoo doll that you do not know I made for you, of you, I stick my needles through”). Elevator’s “Goodnight Goodnight” continued the self-righteous trend, sneering: “Goodnight, goodnight, you’re embarrassing me, you’re embarrassing you.”

With Happiness LTD, the band puts forth a newer, darker voice filled with broken love and misery. It’s as if the previous flippancy was simply a ruse to cover the band’s real feelings. And they are sad. So so sad. The title track opens with “Happiness is limited, but misery has no end.” If only we’d known how you felt!

Musically, Happiness LTD is adventurous, but the dark direction succeeds in removing the sound that got them on the map to begin with. Experimentation with strings, fewer synthed keys and lackluster, streamlined drum beats support the new vision and succeed in undermining the fun aggression that was Hot Hot Heat.

Of course, the album boasts a few hidden gems. “Harmonicas and Tambourines” and “Conversation” have the flippant drive that hearkens back to Heat’s glory days. The melodies are playful but keep pace with overdriven drums.

Overall though, the album fails to impress. On a scale of 1 to “I’ve Had Better” – it’s right in there at a 4.

Guac and Roll?

2007-10-22T13:13:00.000-04:00

Hi Everyone,
Glad you found my page. This blog is dedicated to the two things I love most in life: music and burritos. Both of which, I consider myself to be a bit of a connoisseur. So check back often to read about great music and great burritos.

Well, I think that just about wraps it up. Oh, oh! Get it?? Wrap??? Like a burrito?? BOOM!

(That's pretty much what you can expect to read here; enjoy.)