Showing posts with label Charlotte Martin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Charlotte Martin. Show all posts

Monday, November 1, 2010

back to blogging, and back to the 90's

After another 5 month hiatus, I'm back! Determined to keep hiatuses down to a couple weeks max from now on. I have been doing the tumblr thing as of late, and have found this to be a most excellent source of finding new (or rediscovering old) music. Music, shoes, and everything sparkly and Tori Amos about sums up my daily tumblr feed.

In the world of music, I have recently been on a huge Pearl Jam kick. Not sure I would have considered myself a fan (based on not even owning a full album) until now. I credit "Elderly Woman Behind a Counter in a Small Town" with turning me into one. I'm not gonna lie, at first I didn't even like the original version. I first heard Charlotte Martin's ah-mazing cover of the song, but after a few listens I fell in love with the original as well. The original usually eclipses the cover eventually, because it's, well, the original. Still working on adding to my Pearl Jam collection, but right now I would have to say my two absolute favorites are "Nothingman," and "Jeremy." I know the latter is one of their chart toppers, but I can't get over how crazy the message is and the uncanny-ness of everything that happened in years after. I have watched this live performance of the song about 100 times in the past week. Moving along.

Sidenote: Has anyone ever heard a comparison made between Eddie Vedder and Mac Powell? I seem to recall someone comparing them before. I guess I have to admit I hear a slight similarity in the tone of their voices, but Eddie Vedder > Mac Powell times a thousand. I have never liked Mac Powell's voice, but I would have come to that conclusion either way.

I've decided there are lots of decades I would preferred to have lived in for the sake of the music that was around. Don't know that anything can take the place of spot #1 which would go to the years that Pink Floyd was in its prime. The 90's gets a pretty high spot on the list though (obviously I was already born then, but you know what I mean). I was elementary school age during the early 90's, and might like to revisit it as someone age 18 or 19 ish, or whatever age it is when you start really appreciating music.

As seen on a comment on a youtube video (Pearl Jam performing Jeremy live), the early 90's may have been the "last years that music was considerable." Does that even make sense? I think I know what the guy is trying to say. And frankly, early 90's music is quickly becoming my most favorite genre to listen to. I'm starting to see it as a peak before it all took a turn for the worst. Kind of like a drug habit. Seven years in rehab, you're doing great then you crash. Early 90's would be the "doing great" run. Thoughts?

Whatever the case may be, you can bet that at any given afternoon in the near future, I'll probably be listening to some mix of Pearl Jam, Oasis, The Cranberries, Lisa Loeb, etc. and enjoying every minute of it.

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Blue October show + other stuff

SO in recent news, I saw Blue October a couple weekends ago in Charlotte at Amos' Southend...awesome show. I have been a big fan of Blue October for quite a while, so I was happy that I could finally catch them in CLT. They mostly played songs off their new album entitled Approaching Normal, which I hadn't really listened to. One of my favorite new ones was "My Never," and I also didn't realize it was connected to Breaking Dawn (Twilight series). Of course they still played a few older ones like "Congratulations" (one of my absolute favorites). You can never fully appreciate the sound and energy of a band until you hear them live, and Blue October is definitely worth seeing. Justin is awesome, as is the rest of the band. Amos' Southend is also a great venue if you live in the Charlotte area. I loved the atmosphere AND they have decently priced drinks...I definitely plan on going back. I should have bought the new album before the concert, but I didn't. I do have it now though, and I can't stop listening. "Dirt Room," and "Picking Up the Pieces" are two favorites right now.

I finally bought the new Yeah Yeah Yeahs album, and I'm still getting used to it. It's almost dance party-ish. Not sure how I feel about that, which is exactly what I said when I first heard "Zero." I'm still in that same place. But I'm glad the itunes version includes acoustic versions of several of the songs- adds a little bit of variation to the mix. I can say that I always admire bands for going where they haven't been before in terms of sound. I think it's a mark of a real artist (or in the YYYs case, artists). 

Kings of Leon was in Charlotte recently as well and I could kick myself for not going. Saw an interesting fact pop up on twitter from John Acuff (Stuff Christians Like) - Kings of Leon's new album actually sold more copies in the UK than Coldplay's newest album. I knew Kings of Leon was huge in the UK, but that's pretty darn impressive. Ahh well, I'm sure they'll roll into this area sometime again in the near future. 

I suppose I'll leave you with my spin list for the week!

1. Dirt Room -Blue October
2. Picking Up the Pieces -Blue October
3. Hysteric -Yeah Yeah Yeahs
4. Cherry-Coloured Funk -Charlotte Martin
5. Keep Me In Your Pocket -Charlotte Martin
6. Ickis Wish -I Nine
7. Come Around -M.I.A. (feat. Timbaland)
8. Stoned -Dido
9. Anne -Santigold
10. Oh My God, Whatever, Etc. -Ryan Adams

I know, quite the range of genres there. Keeps my iPod interesting. ;)